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

Thursday, January 23

Shifting Gears - "Accommodations" (ABC, 9:02PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Matt joins Riley at Carter’s high school open house, where he’s unsettled to learn about the “accommodations” made for his grandson’s anxiety. Meanwhile, Riley reconnects with Caitlin, a former classmate, and sets her up with Gabriel.

Only Murders in the Building - "Sparring Partners" (ABC, 9:33PM ET/PT)
Closing in on the killer, Mabel takes her investigative talents into the ring; Oliver and Charles duke it out over a birdcage only to end up confronting their deepest paternal struggles.

Only Murders in the Building - "I Know Who Did It" (ABC, 10:12PM ET/PT)
The question of who did it remains, along with a few more questions that have been raised.

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "An Old Mustang" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Georgie worries that he’s leaving Connor out of his new project with Jim. Meanwhile, Mandy and Audrey struggle to decorate CeeCee’s nursery without fighting.

Ghosts - "The Primary Source" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Sam’s book publisher requires source material for her biography on Isaac, she and Jay take a field trip to find a diary he claims he hid when he was alive.

Animal Control - "Baby Kangaroos and Chickens" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank and Victoria compete to win Fiona's affections at the new kennels' fundraiser; Emily gets some very bad advice from Bettany on her speech; Patel and Shred find themselves facing the world's most charming squatter.

Going Dutch - "Korfball" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Everyone in town is talking about the upcoming Korfball match between the Americans and the Dutch; the colonel refuses to lose to the Dutch and Quinn brings out her high school alter ego "The Rocket" to make her dad proud.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 20)

Thursday, January 23

James Marsden (30 Rock) - Catch James on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Fortune Feimster (FUBAR/Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Fortune appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Denis Leary (Going Dutch/No Good Deed/Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/The Job) - Denis stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Nick Kroll (Big Mouth/The League/Cavemen) - Nick appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Britt Lower (Ghosted/Man Seeking Woman/Big Lake) - Britt is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!), Paul F. Tompkins (The Great North/BoJack Horseman/DAG) and Joe Manganiello (How I Met Your Mother) - Thomas, Paul and Joe are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Al Madrigal (Lopez vs Lopez/About a Boy/Gary Unmarried/Welcome to The Captain) - Al appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Jason Biggs (Outmatched/Mad Love/Drexell's Class) - Jason and his wife Jenny Mollen are telling Drew about their new show Dinner and a Movie that features an episode focusing on 50 First Dates on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.