SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Loses Streaming Rights to Friends; Networks Prepare for Midseason

Saturday, January 04, 2020

SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Loses Streaming Rights to Friends; Networks Prepare for Midseason

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a whole new year, but we're still in the midst of a sort of dead period for now... but we expect things to pick up next week as "midseason" begins! We do have some news about the removal of Friends from Netflix, Alex Trebek preparing for his last Jeopardy! (which is not anytime too soon, we don't think), and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

No one told you life was going to be this way: Netflix has officially removed Friends, and for those who rely upon streaming media for their on-demand needs, it'll be five months before the series returns to streaming media on HBO Max. (Deadline)
It's midseason time, and in case you need to know when you're favorites are returning (or new favorites are beginning), Deadline has you covered. (Deadline)
Alex Trebek, who has been battling pancreatic cancer, isn't giving up on Jeopardy! just yet, but he has already rehearsed what he'll want to say when he tapes his last episode. (Huffington Post)
Mo Rocca has a podcast, Mobituaries, and he recently looked at the 1971 "rural purge" on CBS. (Art19)
In case you missed it, here is a look back at all of the sitcom stars that we lost in 2019. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JANUARY 4 - JANUARY 10)

Decades has a binge of Early Edition this weekend.
Jeopardy!: The Greatest of All Time, a tournament featuring three of the best players of all time, airs Tuesday through Thursday on ABC.
The fifth (and final) season of Schitt's Creek starts Tuesday on Pop.
Netflix has a pair of new comedies on Friday: AJ and the Queen, starring RuPaul, and Medical Police.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, May 3

Family Guy - "Friend's Best Man" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Stewie becomes engaged to Rupert, but Brian is upset when he is not chosen as the best man.

Bob's Burgers - "Children of the Carn" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The kids return to Carniapolis to help an ex-carnie restart what they think is an innocent prank war; Teddy sees his therapist at Bob's.

American Dad! - "Reaper Madness" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
After experiencing a euphoric high from a scary story, Klaus and Hayley band together to search for their next fix.

Family Guy - "Man-Fest Destiny" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Peter and the guys become shipwrecked at Fire Island; Chris and Brian perform a lobotomy on a social-media-crazed Stewie.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 27)

Friday, May 1

Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Watch Henry on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Lea Michele (The Mayor) - Lea appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Rita Wilson (Girls) - Rita performs on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 9am hour.
Jon Cryer (Extended Family/Two and a Half Men/The Trouble with Normal/Partners/The Famous Teddy Z) - Jon chats about Off-Broadway's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) and Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) - Valerie, Eric and Henry Czerny talk about Lifetime's Love, Again on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.