SitcomsOnline Digest: What Does Disney and Fox Merger Mean for The Simpsons?; New Step by Step DVDs

Saturday, January 26, 2019

SitcomsOnline Digest: What Does Disney and Fox Merger Mean for The Simpsons?; New Step by Step DVDs

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing some speculation about the future of The Simpsons that fans may not want to hear (though it's still way too early to speculate too much). Additionally, we finally have news of some new sitcom DVD releases, something that we haven't had in over a month! Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

The Simpsons has had a long run on Fox, but soon, it will be a Disney show airing on a network owned by a different company, and the strange economics may mean that Disney will need to cancel the show to maximize the profitability. (Variety)
Viacom has acquired the free streaming service Pluto TV, but it remains to be seen how this will change the service. (Deadline)
A lot of naysayers said that continuing Roseanne without the lead actress was never going to work, but things seem to be going fairly well for The Conners in ratings. (Hollywood Reporter)
The Jerry Springer Show is done, but he will be returning to the air with his courtroom series in the fall as that show has reached 90% clearance. (Deadline)
NBC has scheduled a premiere date for sitcom Abby's. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Warner Archive is moving ahead on Step by Step, with Step by Step - The Complete Fourth Season arriving on February 12.
That isn't all from Warner Archive, on February 26 they'll be releasing What I Like About You - The Complete Fourth Season.

WEEKLY PLANNER (JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1)

Decades is airing 77 Sunset Strip all weekend long.
Fox debuts their live musical version of Rent on Sunday night.
New episodes of Will & Grace return Thursday on NBC.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, October 30

Abbott Elementary - "Costume Contest" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
It’s Halloween at Abbott Elementary! Janine and Gregory proudly show off their couple’s costume, but it fails to translate. Meanwhile, Barbara faces pushback from parents concerned about hygiene and her beloved apple-bobbing tradition.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Saved by the Spell" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
On her first day of school, Billie uses magic to impress Roman's best friend; when a jealous Roman steals Billie's wand, he falls into the grasp of a wizard-hunting phantomus.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Something Wizard This Way Comes" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
On Halloween, Billie tells Roman about Pumpkin Belly, a ghoul who eats anyone whose house isn't spookily decorated; Justin, Milo and Giada defend the home from pranksters.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 28)

Wednesday, October 30

Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Watch Sheryl on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Salma appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Kieran Culkin (Solar Opposites/Go Fish) - Kieran is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Emily Osment (Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage/Young Sheldon/Young & Hungry/Hannah Montana), Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) and Vinny Thomas (Platonic) - Emily, Tien and Vinny are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Keri talks about The Diplomat on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty talks about improvising scenes on the hit show The Bear and how he started his career in restaurants on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna is chatting with Drew about directing her first film Woman of the Hour, the crazy serial killer case the movie is based on, finding boundaries in her life, turning 40 and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - Mayan discusses her sitcom Lopez vs Lopez on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Blair Underwood (Fatherhood/The New Adventures of Old Christine) - Blair is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows/Retired at 35/Stacked) - Marissa appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
Melissa Peterman (Happy's Place/Young Sheldon/Baby Daddy/Working Class/Reba) - Melissa talks about NBC's Happy's Place on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.