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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, October 23
Abbott Elementary - "Class Pet" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Janine gets a budget for class pets, but Melissa is resistant to taking on the added work and responsibility for her room’s guinea pig. An IT rep from the school district arrives to set up new computers.
Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Bullies" (Comedy Central, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Chris gets a gig DJ-ing at a drag ball and develops drag queen eyes.
Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Career Tests" (Comedy Central, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Chris and Greg tape over a porno rented from Caruso and must replace it.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 21)
Wednesday, October 23
- Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Watch Billy on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Bernadette Peters (High Desert/Mozart in the Jungle/All's Fair) - Bernadette is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - NBC's Today catches up with Olivia some time between 7-9am.
- Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere) - Bridget talks about Somebody Somewhere on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- David Henrie (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place/Wizards of Waverly Place/How I Met Your Mother/The Pitts) - David discusses Wizards Beyond Waverly Place on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings. One or two Wizards Beyond Waverly Place cast members will be on New York Living at 10:05am.
- Judith Light (Who's the Boss?/Phenom/Transparent) - Judith talks about Before on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Mariska Hargitay (Can't Hurry Love) - Mariska talks about the greatest thing sheĆ¢€™s learned since turning 60 on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Dexter Darden (Saved by the Bell) - Dexter talks about Peacock's Fight Night; The Million Dollar Heist on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Essence Atkins (Poppa's House/Marlon/Mr. Box Office/Are We There Yet?/Half & Half/Smart Guy/Under One Roof) - Essence talks about Poppa's House on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - The Ropers - The Complete Series (VEI)
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - Video Scrapbook
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
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)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive
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