Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Comcast to Launch 2 New Networks; Disney Sitcom Launches Jan. 25
Comcast Corporation announced it has selected two new African American majority owned independent networks to be broadly distributed on Comcast Cable systems beginning in January 2019. After a thorough evaluation of dozens of proposals, Comcast selected AFRO and CLEO TV, both of which will provide quality entertainment that highlights and features TV and movie content about African American and black communities. AFRO, a channel from Afrotainment, is a 24-hour polycultural black network mainly broadcasting top-rated Nollywood and black movies, dramas, sitcoms, music, talk, and late night comedy shows. CLEO TV is a lifestyle and entertainment network targeting Millennial and Gen X women of color. Derived from the name Cleopatra, one of the most powerful, trendsetting, rule-breaking and iconic women in history, CLEO TV will offer quality content that defies negative and cultural stereotypes of today’s modern women. The network promises a unique and diverse offering of short-form and long-form content including travel, home design, cooking, talk shows, movies, docu-series, sitcoms and much more.
AFRO and CLEO TV will join over 100 diverse networks available across Xfinity platforms, which offered over 14,000 hours of diverse on demand and online programming in 2017. In 2011, as part of Comcast’s commitments made in connection with the NBCUniversal transaction, Comcast agreed to launch 10 new independently owned and operated networks by 2019, including eight that are minority-owned or -operated. Six minority-owned networks have already launched, including BabyFirst Americas (2012), El Rey (2013), Kids Central (2017), and Primo TV (2017) which are primarily Hispanic American owned and operated; and ASPiRE (2012) and REVOLT (2013) which are majority African American owned. AFRO and CLEO TV will be the next two networks to launch as part of this commitment.
Sydney to the Max, a sitcom introducing 13-year-old actress/musical artist Ruth Righi (Broadway's School of Rock The Musical) in her first leading role, is set to premiere Friday, Jan. 25 at 8:300 p.m. EST/PST, on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW. Created by Mark Reisman (Frasier, Wings, The Exes), the series is geared for kids ages 6-14 and families. It also stars Ian Reed Kesler (Suits), Caroline Rhea (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Phineas and Ferb), Jackson Dollinger (Puppy Dog Pals), Ava Kolker (Girl Meets World) and Christian J. Simon (The Amazing World of Gumball).
Set in the present day with flashbacks to the 1990s, the comedy revolves around outgoing middle schooler Sydney Reynolds who lives with her single dad Max in the house he grew up in, along with her progressive grandmother Judy - three generations under one roof. As Sydney's preteen pursuits begin to expand with unexpected and funny twists, Max tries to get a better sense of the guidance, perspective and support she needs. Grandma, full of both parental wisdom and wisecracks, has a razor-sharp memory that proves Max's own teenage antics parallel Sydney's. Flashback scenes to a young Max and his best friend Leo juxtapose the funny predicaments invented by Sydney and her vivacious friend Olive. Caroline Rhea plays Judy in both eras. Ian Reed Kesler is adult Max, Jackson Dollinger is young Max, Ava Kolker is Olive and Christian J. Simon is Leo.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Tuesday, February 18
St. Denis Medical - "Buffalo Bruce and Matty the Kid" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
An emotional support animal is loose in the halls of St. Denis; Alex goes big for Serena's birthday to mixed results.
Night Court - "Pension Tension" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abby is thrilled when Roz temporarily returns to her job as bailiff, but must make things right when Roz starts ruffling everyone's feathers; Dan co-opts Gurgs' assistant to help realize his dream of becoming a best-selling author.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 17)
Tuesday, February 18
- Joe Manganiello (How I Met Your Mother) - Catch Joe on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - George is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Alan Ritchson (Blue Mountain State) - Alan appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Danny Pudi (Going Dutch/Mythic Quest/Powerless/Community), Jessie Ennis (Mythic Quest) and Ashly Burch (Final Space) - Danny, Jessie and Ashly are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - E! News has interviews with Harry and Lisa Rinna at 11pm on E!.
- Nicole Ari Parker (And Just Like That.../Second Time Around) - Nicole will be on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
- F. Murray Abraham (Mythic Quest) - F. Murray talks about Beckett Briefs: From the Cradle to the Grave on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Connie Britton (SMILF/Lost at Home/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Spin City) - Connie discusses Zero Day on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Halle Berry (Living Dolls - NBC's Today catches up with Halle sometime between 7-9am and in the 10am hour.
- Zachary Levi (Less Than Perfect/Telenovela) and Patricia Heaton (Carol's Second Act/The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Zachary and Patricia talk about The Unbreakable Boy on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Lizzy Caplan (Party Down/The Class/The Pitts) - NBC's Today catches up with Lizzy in the 10am hour.
- Mekki Leeper (St. Denis Medical/Jury Duty) - Mekki is chatting with Drew about the hit new comedy of the season, his stand up, how he met his girlfriend and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Luke Wilson (No Good Deed/Enlightened) - Luke is a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Leighton Meester (Single Parents/Making History) - Leighton appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive
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