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

Thursday, November 26

Young Sheldon - "Pasadena" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon visits CalTech for the very first time. Also, Georgie is furious when Mary listens in on a phone call with his girlfriend, and Meemaw tries to cheer up a jealous Missy.

B Positive - "Pilot" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Drew, a recently divorced father, discovers he needs a kidney and finds his donor in the last person he ever would’ve imagined.

Young Sheldon - "A Parasol and a Hell of an Arm" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A church carnival leads Missy to try out for the baseball team. Also, Meemaw struggles after her breakup with Dr. Sturgis.

B Positive - "Die Alysis" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Drew’s condition worsens, he needs to make sure Gina is still serious about donating her kidney and winds up making her an offer she can’t refuse.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 23)

Thursday, November 26

Alison Brie (GLOW/Community) - Catch Alison on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - Jerry appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Brenda Song (Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) and Esther Povitsky (Dollface/Alone Together) - Brenda and Esther are guests on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Sam Richardson (Champaign ILL/Detroiters/Veep) - Sam appears on a repeat of Conan Without Borders: Ghana at 11pm on TBS.
Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City) - Kim appears on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) - Cynthia appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Patti LaBelle (Out All Night) - Patti is a guest on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Jason George (Eve/Off Centre) - Jason chats at the kitchen table on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Holly Robinson Peete (American Housewife/Love, Inc./Like Family/For Your Love/Hangin' with Mr. Cooper) - Holly talks about The Christmas Doctor on ABC's GMA3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Ben Feldman (Superstore/A to Z/Living with Fran) - Ben appears on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Jenny McCarthy (Two and a Half Men/The Bad Girl's Guide/Jenny) - Jenny is a guest on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Tommy Davidson (Between Brothers) - Tommy appears on a repeat of The Doctors, so check your local listings.
Goldie Hawn (Good Morning World) - Goldie and Kurt Russell are guests on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Marlo Thomas (That Girl) - NBC's Today has Thanks + Giving: Meet 3 Patients Celebrating Off Chemo with Marlo sometime between 7-9am.