SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Passes on Sue Heck Spinoff of The Middle; What's Next for TV Land?

Saturday, November 24, 2018

SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Passes on Sue Heck Spinoff of The Middle; What's Next for TV Land?

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Thanksgiving weekend is in full force, and we hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving... and that you're prepared for Christmas, for better or for worse! This week, we're hearing some news about the proposed Sue Heck spinoff of The Middle, a potential change in direction for TV Land, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

What the heck? It seems 2019 may not be the year of Sue Heck after all, as ABC has passed on the spinoff featuring the character of The Middle. (Entertainment Weekly)
TV Land’s last original scripted series, Teachers, has been cancelled, and there is some speculation that the network (which has fallen significantly in ratings from their heyday of the late 90s and early 00s) may be shifting more back to its classic TV roots. (Deadline)
We only pick on Alec Baldwin because we want to see him back on Saturday Night Live where he belongs, and he may be getting closer to that, as this week, a rerun of Shark Tank did double the ratings that his talk show previously did in the same timeslot on Sunday night.(Hollywood Reporter)
Four decades later, the "Turkeys Away" episode of WKRP in Cincinnati still stands out as one of the best Thanksgiving episodes of a series. (Vulture)
Just for a little holiday weekend fun (and since it's a slow news week), here's a list of some interesting things about some classic sitcoms that you may not necessarily know. (Screen Rant)
Laff and Escape have some new series coming for the new year. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 27) HOME MEDIA RELEASE

What I Like About You - The Complete Third Season (DVD, $29.99): Warner Archive brings the third season of the former series from The WB to DVD in this release.

WEEKLY PLANNER (NOVEMBER 24 - NOVEMBER 30)

Decades has a binge marathon of Streets of San Francisco this weekend.
Antenna TV still has Growing Pains going all weekend long, until the final episode.
NBC gears up for the Christmas season on Wednesday night, with the 86th Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center special as well as A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy (featuring John Legend and Chrissy Teigen).
ABC kicks off the Christmas season on Thursday night with three hours of Christmas programming, including Olaf's Frozen Adventure, Toy Story That Time Forgot, and the two hour special, Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration.
CBS isn't going all out like ABC and NBC are with any all-night Christmas specials next week, but they do have what is perhaps the biggest classic favorite on Tuesday night, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, December 8

DMV - "The Next Window" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
At the Big Sac holiday party, Colette tries to impress Noa before his single “window” closes. Meanwhile, Barb’s effort to save the East Hollywood DMV backfires when she accidentally tackles the director, but assistant Sally (Leslie Jones) steps in to help.

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Secrets and Santas" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The Butlers’ anniversary plans take an unexpected turn when a blast from the past, Calvin’s ex-girlfriend, resurfaces. Meanwhile, Malcolm’s meeting gets hijacked, Marty makes a big move toward commitment and Gemma finds herself caught in a holiday misunderstanding.

St. Denis Medical - "No Wonder His Kidney Wants Out" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Ron and Alex react very differently to a seemingly selfless patient; Joyce runs into an old flame; Matt helps Bruce find a new best friend.

The Paper - "Scam Alert" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Ned chases a story about a local scammer operating through a dating app and realizes he may already have the scoop when he learns Esmeralda was one of his victims; Nicole is full of vengeful glee.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 8)

Monday, December 8

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Watch Quinta on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Mila Kunis (Family Guy/That '70s Show) - Mila appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also talks about Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Zooey Deschanel (Physical/New Girl) - Zooey is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World) - Sabrina appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ashley Park (Emily in Paris/Only Murders in the Building/Girls5eva/Nightcap) - Ashley talks about Emily in Paris on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Ana Gasteyer (American Auto/People of Earth/Lady Dynamite/Suburgatory) - Ana chats about Sugar & Booze: A Holiday Spectacular with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - All Access with Linsey Davis sits down with Henry to talk about his life, career and new children's book Detective Duck: The Mystery at Emerald Pond on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Mark Hamill (The Texas Wheelers) - Mark talks about The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Connie Britton (SMILF/Lost at Home/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Spin City) - Connie tells Sherri about starring in The Family McMullen, the sequel to The Brothers McMullen, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Reba McEntire (Happy's Place/Malibu Country/Reba) - Reba talks about season two of her hit sitcom Happy's Place on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Justine Lupe (Nobody Wants This/Cristela) - Justine talks about Netflix's Nobody Wants This on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.