Friday, April 19, 2019
Fri-Yay: Can One Day at a Time Be Saved?; ABC Honors All in the Family and The Jeffersons For One-Night Only and It's LIVE!

by Vincent
About a month ago, you may recall the fanfare on the internet over the cancellation of One Day at a Time. Well, as it turns out, the company that makes the series (Sony Pictures) and sold it to Netflix has spent that month looking for another home for the series. In an interview with Deadline, Sony's entertainment chief says he is "reasonably confident" that the series will find another home and that it has "a number of interested buyers." The suitor that was initially interested (CBS All Access) unfortunately cannot continue to pursue the series, as Netflix apparently has a rule that a linear platform cannot acquire the rights for one of its series for three years. This seems like an archaic and ridiculous rule for what is supposed to be a forward-thinking streaming service. It rings especially hollow when you consider how much Netflix seemed to feel bad about cancelling the show, and how they claimed it was important to get these stories to be told. If that were the case, then why wouldn't Netflix leap at the opportunity to have the story be told by a service that believes they can bring more eyeballs to the series?
Still, if there are other potential platforms interested in the series, let's hope they can make it work. If other streaming services remain unavailable, it leaves me to wonder which network would be the best fit for the series. I could certainly see One Day at a Time fitting nicely with ABC's socially-conscious family sitcom line-ups along series like black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat, but its multi-camera sitcom format might work better on CBS, where it could make a nice partner for Mom. And yet, the show's critical acclaim could make it at home on NBC alongside similarly critically lauded sitcoms like The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Superstore. And we haven't even considered cable networks - could a network like TBS or FX have an interest in the series? It's not out of the question...but frankly, I don't really care where it ends up, as long as we get to see more episodes of the show. Here's to hoping something can work out.
ABC's late-night host Jimmy Kimmel presents a live, 90-minute prime-time event in tribute to classic television sitcoms. Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons' teams Kimmel with television icon Norman Lear and executive producers Brent Miller, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Justin Theroux. This special, airing live Wednesday, May 22 from 8:00-9:30 p.m. EDT, on The ABC Television Network, will take viewers down memory lane, recreating an original episode from each of the Emmy® Award-winning series All in the Family and The Jeffersons. This legendary night of television will be hosted by Lear and Kimmel, and directed by 10-time Emmy winner James Burrows.
All in the Family and The Jeffersons were groundbreaking shows that changed American television. In this new, one-night-only event, Woody Harrelson will take on the role of Archie Bunker, alongside Marisa Tomei who will be playing Edith Bunker, with Jamie Foxx and Wanda Sykes playing George and Louise Jefferson. Ellie Kemper will play Gloria Stivic; Will Ferrell will appear as Tom Willis, and Justina Machado is set to play Florence Johnston. More stars will be named later.
From 1971 through 1979, All in the Family was in the homes of millions of Americans, tackling controversial subjects for the first time such as women's rights, racism and homosexuality. The series followed Archie Bunker as the highly opinionated, working-class family man who viewed the world on his terms. When not arguing with his liberal son-in-law, Archie took refuge in his wife, Edith, who tried to understand Archie's conservative ways and outdated beliefs. The award-winning series shaped ongoing political and social conversations among American families in the post-civil rights era.
The success of All in the Family launched The Jeffersons, running from 1975 to 1985. It was the first television series to feature an interracial couple, and it would go on to be one of the longest-running African-American shows on TV. The series followed George and Louise Jefferson moving on up to the east side and showcasing what it was like to be successful in a predominantly white world. The series changed the landscape and helped shift conversations about race and class, paving the way for other African-American actors and TV shows.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Friday, February 26
none scheduled
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 22)
Friday, February 26
- Will Arnett (Flaked/Arrested Development/The Millers/Up All Night/Running Wilde) - Watch Will on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Queen Latifah (Living Single) - Queen Latifah is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - Will appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Annie Mumolo (Mapleworth Murders/About a Boy) - Annie is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Regina King (227/Leap of Faith) - Regina appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Constance Zimmer (Entourage/Good Morning, Miami) - Constance talks about the series Good Trouble on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany guest hosts The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Mark-Paul Gosselaar (mixed-ish/Saved by the Bell/Truth Be Told) and Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/The Game) - Mark-Paul and Tika are guests on The Real, so check your local listings.
- Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch) and Cherie Johnson (Punky Brewster) - Soleil and Cherie talk about Peacock's Punky Brewster on NBC's Today in the 9am hour. Soleil also appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Freddie Prinze Jr. (Punky Brewster/Freddie) - Freddie is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Jason Biggs (Outmatched/Mad Love/Drexell's Class) - Jason is filling us in on hosting the new game show Cherries Wild on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
- Mary Lynn Rajskub (How to Be a Gentleman/Veronica's Closet/The Larry Sanders Show) - Mary Lynn talks about Live from the Pandemic on Couch Surfing at 8am.
- Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke will be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (October-February)
10/13 - The Jetsons - The Complete Series (Diamond Collection)
10/13 - Our Cartoon President - Season Two
10/23 - Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em - The Complete Collection
10/27 - The Flintstones - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/27 - Head of the Class - The Complete Second Season (WBShop.com)
11/10 - Letterkenny - Seasons 5 & 6
11/10 - The Office - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/10 - Schitt's Creek - The Complete Collection
11/17 - Carol's Second Act - The Complete Series
11/17 - Robbie - Season 1
11/24 - Corporate - Season 1
11/26 - Man with a Plan - Season Four
12/01 - The Neighborhood - Season Two
12/15 - Avenue 5 - The Complete First Season
01/22 - Corporate - Season 2
01/22 - Corporate - Season 3
02/02 - Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In - The Complete Series (2021 Retail Release)
02/23 - Betty White's Pet Set - The Complete Series
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