SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Buys Rural Comedy From "Liberal Redneck" Trae Crowder; Crossover Event Planned for Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon

Saturday, November 17, 2018

SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Buys Rural Comedy From "Liberal Redneck" Trae Crowder; Crossover Event Planned for Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We're already in to Thanksgiving week, and after Thursday, it's going to be all Christmas everywhere! But before that, let's take a moment to sit back and breathe and enjoy these last few moments of fall, as this week, we're hearing about a new comedy from ABC featuring a man known as the "Liberal Redneck," a crossover for The Big Bang Theory, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

It's been under consideration for over a year, but now, ABC has bought a rural comedy that features Trae Crowder, who is known for his stage persona of the "Liberal Redneck." (Deadline)
It probably isn't a big surprise that there is going to be a crossover event between The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon. (Vulture)
Roy Clark, host of the long-running series Hee Haw, has died at age 85. (New York Times)
One has to wonder how much of a future awards shows have on TV, as they are all collectively getting lower and lower ratings every year. This week, it was the Country Music Awards that saw record low ratings. (Deadline)
It just wouldn't be Christmas without a newly colorized I Love Lucy episode, and CBS will be doing that yet again this year, along with some newly colorized episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 20) HOME MEDIA RELEASE

Step by Step - The Complete Third Season (DVD, $29.99): Warner Archive brings the third season of the classic TGIF show to DVD, just in time for Thanksgiving.

WEEKLY PLANNER (NOVEMBER 17 - NOVEMBER 23)

Decades has a binge marathon of Barnaby Jones this weekend.
Steve Carrell makes his return to comedy as host of Saturday Night Live tonight.
ABC will have A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on Wednesday night.
You can spend all Thanksgiving weekend with the Seavers, as Antenna TV will be airing every single episode of Growing Pains all weekend long, starting Wednesday night.
We don't normally point out the airing of a single episode of a classic series that regularly airs on a network anyway, but we'll make an exception for this one since it's a timely favorite: the "Turkey's Away" episode of WKRP in Cincinnati will air both Sunday at 7:30PM ET and Thursday at 9:30PM ET on MeTV.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, November 22

Happy's Place - "Happy's House" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bobbie agrees to take Isabella to Happy's house in search of a connection to their late father, leading Bobbie to worry about what they may find; Gabby hopes to strike it rich by searching through Happy's penny collection looking for a rarity.

Lopez vs Lopez - "Lopez vs Orlando" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Rosie's spoiled nephew Orlando visits, Mayan sets out to expose Rosie's cultural gender bias; George wants to teach Chance the value of hard work, but, instead, helps him create a toxic work environment.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Whacking the Mole" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Abishola has a romantic dream about Bob, she tries to suppress her feelings for him and pays the price.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Ralph Lauren and Fish" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob and Abishola finally go on a proper date, which is interrupted by Dottie's medical emergency.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Tough Like a Laundromat Washing Machine" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob hires Abishola to take care of Dottie in his home while she recovers; Dottie has a hard time dealing with her limitations and takes it out on Abishola.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Useless Potheads" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With Abishola only helping part-time, Bob, Douglas and Christina struggle to take care of Dottie.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Wiz-Taken Identity" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Billie struggles with a spell, Roman says he could do it if he was a wizard: to prove him wrong, Billie uses a Power Glass to transfer her powers to Roman.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - " Ain't Gnome Party Like a Wizard Party" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Justin embraces mortality to live with his family; his new challenge arises when Alex introduces Billie, a wizard-in-training, seeking Justin's mentorship.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Friday, November 22

Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Watch Kerry on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown/Space Force/Silicon Valley) - Jimmy is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Andy Richter (Andy Barker, P.I./Quintuplets/Andy Richter Controls the Universe), Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) and Aparna Nancherla (Lopez vs Lopez/Search Party/Corporate) - Andy, Thomas and Aparna are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke talks about her new book Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Drew is joined by the hilarious Andrew to celebrate all things Thanksgiving on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Rosie Perez (Human Resources/Search Party) - Rosie tells Sherri about her new Apple TV+ psychological thriller Before on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace will be on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:15am.