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

Tuesday, August 25

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 24)

Tuesday, August 25

Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Catch Henry on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Leanne Morgan (Leanne) - Leanne is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kevin Hart (Lil Kev/Die Hart/The Big House/Undeclared) - Kevin appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Will Forte (The Four Seasons/HouseBroken/MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - Will is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Alison Brie (Community/GLOW) - Alison appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jennifer Garner (Party Down/Camping) - Jennifer talks about The Five-Star Weekend on a repeat of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Dave Franco (The Afterparty/Scrubs/Do Not Disturb) - Dave talks about Idiots on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Jaleel White (Family Matters/Grown Ups) - NBC's Today catches up with Jaleel in the 9am hour.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul talks about Power Ballad in the 10am hour.
Eva Longoria (Only Murders in the Building/Telenovela) and Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle/The Louie Show) - NBC's Today has Spy the Lie with Eva and Bryan in the 10am hour.
Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle/The Louie Show) - Bryan discusses his Dos Hombres line on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is joining Drew and Ross Mathews to hit the headlines and Drew has a special Adam Sandler story in honor of his birthday on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.