Friday, December 21, 2018

Fri-Yay: Comedy Central Cuts Comedies; NBC Schedules More Mid-Season 2019 Shows, Includes Return of A.P. Bio

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

Detroiters

by Vincent

Last week, Comedy Central cancelled both Detroiters and Another Period. It was, frankly, a shame - both shows, particularly Detroiters, were truly weird, funny, and creative in ways the best Comedy Central shows are. As Comedy Central cancels these two series and also looks to the end of Broad City next year, it leaves me wondering: what does the future look like for the comedy-focused cable network? For the past five years or so, the network has enjoyed something of a creative renaissance, with shows like Broad City, Review, Nathan for You, Inside Amy Schumer, Another Period and Detroiters giving the network a lot of excellent, creative series and allowing it a reputation for being a home for daring and experimental comedy. Now, though, most of those shows have either been cancelled (Review, Nathan for You, Detroiters, Another Period), will be ending soon (Broad City) or on a seemingly never-ending hiatus (Inside Amy Schumer).

So what's left? Well, the network still has Corporate, which is in a similar vein as the network's past shows, but other than that...it certainly seems as if it may be moving away from the constant stream of high-quality originals it once had. It's unfortunate, especially for a show like Detroiters, cut down in its prime. There is currently an online movement to get another network to pick up Detroiters - and while it seems like a bit of a long shot for a small scale cult hit, I'm hoping that zany comedy like Detroiters can find a home somewhere.


A.P. Bio

The sixteenth season of The Voice will premiere on Monday, February 25, 2019 from 8:00-10:00pm ET/PT with new coach John Legend joining Kelly, Blake and Adam on the panel. It will be followed on Monday nights by The Enemy Within, the new drama starring Jennifer Carpenter and Morris Chestnut at 10:00pm ET/PT. Both will air through May 20. The Voice will also air on Tuesdays from 8:00–9:00pm ET/PT through March 5. On February 26, it will be followed by the third season premiere of World of Dance from 9:00–11:00pm ET/PT. The Voice will return to Tuesday nights when live episodes begin on April 23 and will air from 8:00–9:00pm ET/PT through the rest of the season thru May 21.

World of Dance moves to its normal time period Sunday, March 3 where it will air from 8:00–10:00pm ET/PT followed by the second season of Good Girls at 10:00pm ET/PT through May 12. The second season of comedy A.P. Bio will premiere on Thursday, March 7 at 8:30pm ET/PT where it will air through May 16. Following This Is Us on Tuesday, March 12, NBC will premiere the new drama The Village at 10:00pm ET/PT. It will air in that time period following the remaining three episodes of This Is Us and then will move to 9:00PM ET/PT from April 2-May 14 followed by New Amsterdam which is at 10:00pm ET/PT.



Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, January 24

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "There's Something About the Russos" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Billie's neighbor, Bella Bianchi, sees her using magic, Billie and Milo try to convince her it is fake... until their efforts result in Bella getting stuck in the lair.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Ready Player Wand" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Billie's excited for her first Family Game Night with the Russos, but when she chooses a wizard game, the entire family is transported into it!

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 20)

Friday, January 24

  • Bill Burr (F Is for Family/Townies) - Watch Bill on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Ben Stiller (Arrested Development) - Ben is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Pauline Chalamet (The Sex Lives of College Girls) - Pauline appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Joel Kim Booster (Loot/Shrill) - Joel is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Lucy Liu (Joey/Pearl) - Lucy talks about her film Presence on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Topher Grace (Home Economics/That '70s Show) - Topher talks about Flight Risk on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Susie Essman (Curb Your Enthusiasm/Broad City/Baby Boom) - Drew is chatting with best friend duo Susie and Joy Behar on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. They're also doing an audience Q & A about love.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Drew is chatting with Morris about starring in Watson on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Martin Lawrence (Partners/Martin/What's Happening Now!!) - Martin stops by to talk about his new standup tour on Sherri, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series

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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

01/24 - Prime Video George Lopez Special; Netflix Renews The Lincoln Lawyer for Season 4
01/23 - Tubi's New Comedy The Z-Suite Launches February 6; The White Lotus Renewed for Season 4
01/22 - Fox Announces Animation Domination 2025 Schedule; Abbott Elementary Renewed for Season 5
01/21 - Fox Renews Murder in a Small Town; O.J. Simpson Netflix Docuseries
01/20 - Rewind TV February 2025 Schedule; Shifting Gears and Abbott Elementary Score Big for Premieres
01/19 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 20, 2025)
01/18 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Frasier Reboot Canceled at Paramount+; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Coming to MeTV Toons
01/17 - Remembering Bob Uecker of Mr. Belvedere, Punky Brewster Creator David W. Duclon, and Others We Recently Lost
01/16 - Apple TV+ Prime Target Trailer; Apple Cider Vinegar Premieres in February on Netflix
01/15 - My Three Sons to Join FETV Lineup Starting February 3; St. Denis Medical Renewed for Season 2
01/14 - Game Show Network Acquires The Wall; NBC's The Hunting Party to Premiere After NFL Divisional Playoff Game
01/13 - Antenna TV February 2025 Schedule; SNL First Two 2025 Episodes Before 50th Anniversary Event
01/12 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 13, 2025)
01/11 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Saturday Night Live Hosts Announced; The West Wing Returns to Max After Brief Disappearance
01/10 - The Jeffersons 50th Anniversary Marathon on Antenna TV; FETV to Air Uncut Episodes of Most Series
01/09 - Trailer for Apple TV+ Comedy Mythic Quest; Upcoming Season of Harlem Is Final Season
01/08 - Roy Wood Jr. Comedy Special on Hulu; The Late Show Gets Post AFC Championship Game Airing
01/07 - HGTV's Celebrity IOU New Season; Joey King and Cooper Koch to Announce 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations
01/06 - 82nd Golden Globe Winners; Shoresy Returns in February on Hulu
01/05 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 6, 2025)
01/04 - SitcomsOnline Digest: HBO Cancels The Franchise; Alice Actress Linda Lavin Dies
01/03 - Antenna TV Pays Tribute to Linda Lavin with Alice Marathon; Catchy Comedy Recreates Classic CBS Saturday Night Lineup from the 1970s
01/02 - Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Crossover Event; The Night Agent Returns January 23 on Netflix
01/01 - Happy New Year; Antenna TV's New Year's Day Fresh Start Marathon; ABC's Shifting Gears Official Trailer
12/31 - In Memoriam: Remembering the Sitcom Stars We Lost in 2024
12/30 - Remembering Linda Lavin of Alice; Hulu Releases Chad Powers Teaser
12/29 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 30, 2024)
12/28 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Cable Networks No Longer a Priority for Paramount; Paramount+ Removes Vintage Nickelodeon Series
12/27 - Max Renews Creature Commandos for Season 2; Fox's Denis Leary Comedy Gets First Look
12/26 - Cobra Kai Final Episodes in February on Netflix; HBO Slates 13th Bill Maher Comedy Special
12/25 - Merry Christmas from Sitcoms Online; The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Coming to DVD in February
12/24 - 2024 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day TV Marathons