Tuesday, March 31, 2020
The CW Announces Returns of Series Affected; Adult Swim Orders YOLO: Crystal Fantasy
The CW has released return dates for their series. Some shows have gotten pushed back so they can extend the season into May with the shorter episode orders, while some other series (Supernatural, Legacies) are on hold so they can finish production on the season. Batwoman and Supergirl will return on Sunday, April 26. Both of those shows will now have 20 episodes this season instead of 22. Roswell, New Mexico is unaffected and will continue to air Mondays at 9. The Flash and DC's Legends of Tomorrow return with new episodes on April 21. It looks like the former will have 19 of 22 episodes and the latter will have 14 of 15 episodes produced. Riverdale returns Wednesday, April 15 with 21 of 22 episodes, while Nancy Drew returns April 8 as planned and is unaffected. Katy Keene also is unaffected and will return as planned on April 16, while Friday dramas (Charmed, Dynasty) are all-new the rest of the season and will have all 22 episodes.
Adult Swim goes down under for its next original series, YOLO: Crystal Fantasy, which hails from YouTube creator, Michael Cusack, well known for his animated comedies. The new series premieres later this year. YOLO: Crystal Fantasy follows two Australian party girls, Sarah and Rachel, looking for fun times, new experiences, positive vibes, and hopeful horoscopes in the bizarre town of Wollongong. Sarah's quest is to find love, whereas Rachel hungers for chaos, often bringing them into conflict as they encounter surreal Australiana, strange bush creatures, and eccentric nomads.
Cusack's viral hit Ciggy Butt Brain first caught the eye of Justin Roiland who later asked him to create an Australian version of Rick and Morty, giving life to Bushworld Adventures. Cusack's animation is known for combining his brand of biting satire with his own somewhat unpolished drawing style. The quarter-hour animated series is created by Cusack (Bushworld Adventures, Ciggy Butt Brain) and produced by Cusack and Mike Cowap. Executive Producers include Cusack, Greta Lee Jackson, and Emma Fitzsimons. The series is produced by Princess Pictures. Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is a WarnerMedia network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), Adult Swim is the #1 network with persons 18-24, 18-34 and 18-49 and is seen in 85 million U.S. homes.
Monday, March 30, 2020
Schedule Changes on ABC, CW Due to COVID-19; Insecure: The Game
ABC announced some schedule changes due to the COVID-19 crisis. ABC's Grey's Anatomy will now have its season finale on Thursday, April 9 at 9pm instead of May 14, as they only got to complete 21 episodes this season of its 25 episode order. So 4 episodes will not be produced, but they could be added on to next season's order. Station 19 and How to Get Away with Murder will still have their finales on May 14, as they both had already wrapped production before this pandemic crisis began. On Mondays, ABC is pulling the previously-booked episodes of American Idol. They will now join the Sunday rotation, so ABC can extend the season and delay the start of the live episodes as much as they can. No word yet on if the live episodes will even happen. On Mondays (tonight and next week), ABC will air repeats of Celebrity Family Feud at 8pm and again at 9:00pm next week, but tonight there will be a special 20/20 on the COVID-19 crisis. At 10:00pm next week (April 6), ABC will air a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Greatest of All-Time special (the season finale of The Good Doctor airs tonight at 10). As a reminder, Millionaire returns to ABC on April 8 for 8-weeks hosted by Jimmy Kimmel with celebrities playing for charity.
The CW Network announced new nights and times for two of its spring premieres, the second season of In the Dark and The CW debut of DC's Stargirl. With an earlier premiere date due to Legacies production being halted, the second season of In the Dark will now launch on Thursday, April 16 at 9:00pm ET/PT, following an original episode of Katy Keene at 8:00pm ET/PT. New series DC's Stargirl, starring Brec Bassinger, Luke Wilson and Amy Smart, will shift one week, making its CW debut on Tuesday, May 19 at 8:00pm ET/PT, leading into the on-going adventures of DC's Legends of Tomorrow at 9:00pm ET/PT. DC's Stargirl airs on The CW one day after it makes its digital debut on the DC UNIVERSE subscription service (Monday, May 18). Additionally, every episode of DC's Stargirl will be available to stream on The CW's free digital platforms (CWTV.com and The CW app), following its broadcast on The CW Network. As already announced, beginning tonight (March 30), The CW will air Whose Line Is It Anyway at 8:00pm and 8:30pm instead of Supernatural, since that series was halted in production.
Glow Up Games, a new creative tech studio founded by an all women of color team, announces their premier launch title: a free-to-play mobile game based on HBO's popular comedy series Insecure. Produced in partnership with HBO, Insecure: The Come Up Game takes the world of Issa Dee and her friends and brings the friendships, drama, and misadventures to life. The game will be released this year to tie in with season four of the show, with new features and story content being added monthly. With The Come Up Game, players will find themselves trying to realize their LA dreams, climbing from the club to the boardroom – and reflecting their journey through a rap creation game inspired by Issa's own mirror rhymes in Insecure.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 30, 2020)
For the week of March 30-April 3, 2020, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!
Monday, March 30
- Tracy Morgan (The Last O.G./30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Watch Tracy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC.
- Issa Rae (Insecure) - Issa talks about Insecure on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Leslie Odom Jr. (Big Day) - Leslie performs on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - Sean guest hosts The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea will be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Ilana Glazer (Broad City) - Ilana is a guest on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- The Cast of The Brady Bunch - The cast of The Brady Bunch is hanging with Rach and they’re dishing on what it was like to renovate the Brady house on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
- Rob Lowe (The Grinder/Parks and Recreation) - Rob talks about 9-1-1: Lonestar on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Catch Demi on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She will also be on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Rob Lowe (The Grinder/Parks and Recreation) - Rob appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - Sean is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother) - Josh talks about Hunters on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Josh Gad (1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Ron Livingston (Loudermilk) - Ron talks about A Million Little Things on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Matt Fraser (Meet the Frasers) - Matt is a guest on The Doctors, so check your local listings.
- Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Watch Eric and Jesse on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC.
- Ryan Reynolds (Two Guys and a Pizza Place) - Ryan is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Anna Faris (Mom) - Anna appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry is a guest on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC. He will also be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Nico Santos (Superstore) - Nico talks about Superstore on People Now at 1pm.
- Issa Rae (Insecure) - Issa talks about The Lovebirds on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Adam Pally (Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam talks about Indebted on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Carly Hughes (American Housewife) - Carly talks about American Housewife on a repeat of Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Jennifer Aniston (Friends/Muddling Through/Ferris Bueller/Molloy) - Catch Jennifer Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC.
- Amy Poehler (Bless the Harts/Parks and Recreation) - Amy is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood/The Last O.G./The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - Cedric appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Rob Huebel (Medical Police/Transparent/Burning Love) - Rob is a guest on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - Sean stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Kyle Richards (Down to Earth) - Kyle is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
- Jaime Camil (Broke) and Pauley Perrette (Broke) - Jaime and Pauley talk about Broke on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT. Jaime will also be on People Now at 1pm.
- Mario Cantone (Sex and the City) - Mario appears on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
- Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Melissa is a guest on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Tisha Campbell (Outmatched/Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) - Tisha talks about Outmatched on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Marsai Martin (black-ish) - Marsai appears on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) - Watch Miley on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- John Krasinski (The Office) - John is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Woody Harrelson (Cheers) - Woody appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Kathy Bates (Disjointed) - Kathy is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Billy Eichner (Friends from College/Difficult People/Parks and Recreation) - Billy appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Retta (Parks and Recreation) - Retta is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Norman Lear (Producer of All in the Family/Sanford and Son/One Day at a Time/The Jeffersons/Good Times/Maude) - Norman is a guest on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Fortune Feimster (The Mindy Project/Champions) - Fortune appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Billy Gardell (Bob Hearts Abishola/Mike & Molly/Yes, Dear) and Folake Olowofoyeku (Bob Hearts Abishola) - Billy and Folake are guests on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
- Laura Prepon (That '70s Show/Are You There, Chelsea?) - Laura appears on Couch Surfing at 8am.
- Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela talks about The Good Place on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Lisa Whelchel (The Facts of Life) - Lisa talks about You Light Up My Christmas on a repeat of Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Jane Lynch (Angel from Hell) - Jane is a guest on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
All listings are subject to change. Visit our blog and main site for daily updated listings. Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Sunday feature! We do listen!
Sitcoms Airing This Week
Sunday, March 29
Last Man Standing - "Break Out the Campaign" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Vanessa turns to Mike and Carol for advice on her State Assembly campaign; Kyle is overcome with anxiety when Ed gifts him an expensive watch.
Outmatched - "Royal Rumble" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Mike and Kay get caught in a lie about Leila's birthdate, they throw her a party with a theme of her choice; Brian, Nicole and Marc struggle with the news that Rita and Irwin would be their guardians if something happens to Mike and Kay.
The Simpsons - "Screenless" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Marge implements a screen time limit for the whole family, she realizes that she is the one addicted -- not her husband and children.
Family Guy - "Peter & Lois' Wedding" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Wi-Fi goes out in the Griffin house, leaving the family with nothing to do for the evening; Peter and Lois decide to tell the kids the story of how they met and fell in love in the '90s.
Monday, March 30
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Soul Food" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Butlers and Johnsons decide to go on a double-date and everyone gets more than they bargained for at a new restaurant. Also, Grover invites Malcolm and Marty to be the first guests on his new podcast.
Bob Hearts Abishola - "Where's Your Other Wives, Tunde?" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dottie, Auntie Olu and Uncle Tunde must find a way to reconcile when they’re forced to eat dinner together. Also, Bob and Abishola have differing opinions on the progress of their relationship.
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Wagon" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
(Repeat)
Dave and Tina discover a common bond when they attend a concert together. Also, Gemma seeks the Butlers’ help when an unwelcome visitor takes up residence in the Johnson home.
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Dealbreaker" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Gemma sets a reluctant Malcolm up on a blind date with a teacher at her school, she discovers new details about the origins of her relationship with Dave. Also, Marty helps Calvin and Tina plan for their future.
Breeders - "No Talking" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
In the wake of Michael's death, the family stay with Darren at his country house, but Paul's attempt to give Ally space by taking on kid duties and Darren's fixation on work doesn't help Ally find a chance to say goodbye.
Tuesday, March 31
The Conners - "The Preemie Monologues" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Harris is forced to confront Darlene about her lifestyle, while Jackie involves herself in other people’s problems to avoid confronting her own. Meanwhile, Becky is overwhelmed by the costs of raising a baby, so her family steps in to help.
Bless This Mess - "The Letter of the Law" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Rio is bummed she can’t afford to go to Iceland for her best friend’s wedding, so the nuptials are moved and brought to the farm. Meanwhile, Rio is forced to take on Deb’s mail route after she quits, and Mike and Jacob help Rudy get over Constance.
mixed-ish - "Let Your Hair Down" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After a teacher tells Rainbow to make sure her hair is “neat” for picture day, she becomes self-conscious and begins a complicated relationship with her hair. Meanwhile, Johan and Santamonica struggle with their own hair identity.
black-ish - "Hair Day" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bow takes Diane to get her hair done at the salon and wants to spend this time together as a bonding opportunity, but Diane isn’t having it. Diane is conflicted about relaxing her hair again and embarks on a hair journey with the help of Bow, Ruby and her hair stylist, Yaya (Jill Scott). Meanwhile, Dre and Junior compete to have the best barbecue.
Schitt's Creek - "Start Spreading the News" (Pop, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Moira receives some unexpected news, and David makes a tough decision about where he wants to live.
One Day at a Time - "Penny Pinching" (Pop, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After a disastrous evening, Penelope realizes she needs to change her relationship to money and do the unthinkable -- buy something new; Elena struggles to make it to an important e-sports match.
Miracle Workers: Dark Ages - "Dark Ages: Moving Out Part 2" (TBS, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Al and Prince Chauncley face their biggest challenge yet.
Wednesday, April 1
The Goldbergs - "Island Time" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Erica, Barry, Geoff and the JTP go on a spring break trip and things are not what they expect. Meanwhile, Adam questions if college is for him when his test scores are not as good as he was hoping for.
Schooled - "Lainey's Mom" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
With some encouragement from Coach Mellor, Lainey reunites with her mother. While inspired by the film “Good Will Hunting,” Wilma adds a new, unorthodox addition to the robotics club.
Modern Family - "I'm Going to Miss This" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Mitchell is having a hard time letting go of his old life and Gloria steps in to help him say goodbye. Meanwhile, Haley, Luke and Alex decide to throw a party at the Dunphy house when Claire and Phil leave for a trip, and Dylan’s mom takes the twins for the night.
American Housewife - "The Battle for Second Breakfast" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Katie begins to feel like the third wheel when the topic at second breakfast starts revolving solely around Angela and Doris’ new relationships. Meanwhile, Greg struggles with Anna-Kat’s newfound independence.
Dave - "Talent Shows" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Dave is in Philly for his first concert ever, and the gang stays with his parents; after reuniting with his overnight camp friends, Dave ponders his artistic roots.
In The Cut - "Barbershop Through the Years" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When the city announces it will demolish Jay's business to make way for a new freeway, everyone must come together to convince an appraiser that the barbershop is a historical landmark.
Thursday, April 2
Young Sheldon - "A House Sale and Serious Woman Stuff" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Sheldon learns the house next door is for sale, he takes it upon himself to find the perfect neighbors. Also, Missy is torn when she’s forced to pitch against her boyfriend at the baseball game.
Man with a Plan - "The V-Word" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Andi’s doctor advises her to stop taking birth control pills, Adam and Andi disagree on an alternate option.
Mom - "Texas Pete and a Parking Lot Carnival" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Bonnie worries about her therapist, Trevor (Rainn Wilson), when his life hits a serious rough patch. Also, Christy comes to Marjorie’s aid when she has trouble adjusting to a new job.
Broke - "Pilot" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Jaime Camil and Pauley Perrette star in a new comedy about a single suburban mother, struggling to make ends meet, who finds her estranged sister and her sister’s outrageously wealthy husband in need of a place to live after the couple’s money dries up.
Last Man Standing - "Keep the Change" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Mike and Vanessa invite Jen's father to her graduation, Jen struggles with accepting his "plus one" -- his girlfriend Fiona; the Outdoor Man crew debates over which word was said in a viral audio recording that's been tearing the internet apart.
Last Man Standing - "Mysterious Ways" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Vanessa is secretly obsessed with Jen's new video game.
Superstore - "Customer Safari" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Amy joins Jonah for lunch with his parents and brother, but she's caught off guard by their family dynamic. Dina worries about being fun and spontaneous when her new boyfriend surprises her at work. Meanwhile, Garrett and the other employees create a game around the store's weird customers, with a suspicious Glenn hot on their tails.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine - "Admiral Peralta" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Jake and his father deal with unsettled family business. Amy and Rosa work a high-profile case. Terry wants to join the NYPD band.
Will & Grace - "Bi-Plane" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Will and Grace decide to intervene when they discover Grace’s niece (guest start Billie Lourd) is dating a bisexual man (guest star Peter Graham). Jack gets permission from his husband, Estefan (guest star Brian Jordan Alvarez), to sleep with his celebrity hall pass, guest star Ryan Phillippe. Karen struggles to adapt when her assistant, Friday (guest star Vanessa Bayer), books them on an economy flight.
Indebted - "Everybody's Talking About Neighbors" (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After realizing Debbie and Stew are forcing the neighbors to socialize, Dave and Rebecca try to convince them to keep to themselves, insisting neighbors should just be neighbors.
Better Things - "New Orleans" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Sam goes to a wedding.
Friday, April 3
none scheduled
Saturday, April 4
Danger Force - "Say My Name" (Nickelodeon, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The members of Danger Force are given terrible nicknames live on KLVY news, so they come up with a plan to announce to the world who they really are: Volt, AWOL, ShoutOut and Brainstorm.
Sunday, April 5
The Simpsons - "Better Off Ned" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bart bonds with Ned Flanders, which leaves Homer jealous, so he retaliates by mentoring Nelson Muntz; a heroic act by Homer makes Bart look up to him again.
Bob's Burgers - "Three Girls and a Little Wharfy" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Louise skeptically joins Jessica and fifth-grader Megan in their search for Wharfy, a mythical sea monster; Bob takes an online master class by a world-renowned chef.
The Simpsons - "The Winter of Our Monetized Content" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When a video of Bart and Homer fighting goes viral, they begin a journey as social media celebrities; Lisa battles the school's new industrialized detention system.
Duncanville - "Witch Day" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The town celebrates its annual Witch Day, which involves pronouncing a mortified Duncan the "town virgin" for the big ceremony; Annie and Jack steal a dead woman's chili recipe.
Bob's Burgers - "Wag the Song" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tina competes against Gene and Louise to write a new school song for Wagstaff; Bob and Linda battle blinding glare from Jimmy Pesto's new shiny steel awning across the street.
Family Guy - "Cat Fight" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Quagmire opens a cat café in town, Brian decides to take a stand to get the café shut down; when Meg and Brian get in trouble at school, Lois becomes nervous and decides they need to go to church camp to find their way.
Just Roll with It - "Grandpa Gets Grounded" (Disney Channel, 8:46PM ET/PT)
When Grandpa totals Byron's car, Rachel is forced to manage an entire day of errands and extracurricular activities for the whole family with one car.
Saturday, March 28, 2020
SitcomsOnline Digest: One Day at a Time a Hit in Ratings; Late Night Talk Set to Return Next Week
- One Day at a Time had solid ratings when it returned to air as a broadcast series this week. (Variety)
- Late night talk shows are slowly returning with at-home segments, which will eventually evolve into full at-home episodes next week. (Deadline)
- American Idol has shutdown production, obviously, but what do you do when you have a competition series that is still in the middle of the competition? (TVLine)
- Trish Regan has been given the boot at Fox Business after spending weeks calling coronavirus an "impeachment scam." (Deadline)
- Modern Family, which many would consider to be the last "big hit" sitcom to debut on a broadcast network in the era where broadcast sitcoms reigned supreme, is coming to an end next week. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (MARCH 28 - APRIL 3)
- Decades is featuring a weekend of The Big Valley this weekend.
- Fox is airing a coronavirus relief concert on Sunday night.
- Antenna TV has a new lineup that starts Monday.
- Broke debuts on CBS on Thursday night.
Friday, March 27, 2020
Fri-Yay: Review of One Day at a Time Season 4 Premiere; NBC Sets Will & Grace Finale Night and Special I Love Lucy Episode
by Vincent
In the midst of a global pandemic, we can at least still turn to sitcoms for comfort. The fourth season of One Day at a Time premiered this week on Pop TV (and simulcast on TV Land and Logo), which was notable not just because it's a great show but because it was the first episode following the sitcom's transition from streaming service to weekly television series. The fourth season premiere, "Checking Boxes," was the first time the show had to adjust to regular TV rules such as time limits and commercial breaks. It was also the opportunity for the show to draw in a new audience, which is probably why "Checking Boxes" felt very much like the show resetting itself mildly for any new viewers who may not have caught the show on Netflix. The episode's opening scene has special guest Ray Romano taking census information for the Alvarezes, which serves as a quick way to get all of the information needed about the family for anyone who is just now checking the series out. The scene is also a little sillier and broader than the show typically is, incorporating two meta jokes (one being the opening line that takes a shot at Netflix - Alex bemoans "there's nothing good on Netflix anymore" - and another is a play on Everybody Loves Raymond). Both are funny jokes, especially the Netflix crack, but it's a little odd for One Day at a Time, a very classic-style sitcom that has never really tipped its toes in meta, self-referential humor before. Still, it's likely a way to draw some attention for the show, which I'm totally fine with.
The rest of "Checking Boxes" is very much in line with typical One Day at a Time, as Penelope has the census worker causing a spiral and fret about ending up alone. It will take some time to get used to the placement of commercial breaks, as well as the much, much shorter theme song. But for the most part, everything else from One Day at a Time transfers perfectly from streaming to over-the-air TV. The characters are still the same, the writing is sharp with a dose of heart, and the acting is top-notch, with chemistry flowing endlessly through the cast. "Checking Boxes" isn't necessarily top-tier One Day at a Time, but it's a warm, friendly introduction for anyone just jumping on board now, and it's a great welcome back for a show that at one time seemed to be good as gone. It made me incredibly excited that this show is back, and interested to see where it goes from here.
Will & Grace, one of NBC's most beloved comedy series of all time, is set to air its series finale on Thursday, April 23 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Leading into the series finale episode, NBC will air a Will & Grace retrospective special, hosted by Eric McCormack at 8:30 p.m. (following the season finale of Brooklyn Nine-Nine at a special time of 8:00 p.m.) In the special, McCormack will show clips of past and present episodes that highlight the series' most iconic and memorable moments. The retrospective will also feature emotionally-charged reactions from Will & Grace superfans and celebrities who will share stories about what the show has meant to them. The special will cover the litany of guest stars who have appeared as well as the groundbreaking and TV history-making moments the show has created over the years, including the first male-to-male kiss on network television. Elton John and Norman Lear will also make special appearances.
In the season finale episode, "It's Time," with the apartment packed up, Will (Eric McCormack) is determined to not reminisce about his life in the city or his ex, McCoy (guest star Matt Bomer). Grace (Debra Messing), on the verge of giving birth, keeps having false alarms of going into labor. At the behest of Stan, Karen (Megan Mullally) goes to the top of the Statue of Liberty to get closure with her ex-husband. Jack's (Sean Hayes) dream of taking a bow on a Broadway stage becomes a very real possibility. Minnie Driver and Brian Jordan Alvarez guest star. The special I Love Lucy-inspired episode, titled "We Love Lucy," will air Thursday, April 9 at 9 p.m. The episode features stylized recreations of the classic "Vitameatavegamin," "Chocolate Factory" and "Grape-Stomping" scenes featured in I Love Lucy, with Grace, Karen and Jack each imagine themselves as, with Will as the Ricky to all of them. Lucie Arnaz and Leslie Jordan guest star.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
CBS Slates Primetime Special from Home with James Corden; Fox Announces Living Room Concert for America
During this unprecedented time, CBS will present the new, unique primetime special Homefest: James Corden's Late Late Show Special, hosted by James Corden. In the spirit of bringing people together to keep people apart, the special will be broadcast Monday, March 30 from 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. The show will feature James Corden from his garage, chatting with some of the biggest names in music and entertainment, and will include musical performances by BTS in South Korea, Andrea Bocelli in Italy, Dua Lipa in London and Billie Eilish with FINNEAS and John Legend in Los Angeles - from the safety of their homes.
The special will also feature appearances from David Blaine, Will Ferrell and many others. Corden and the entertainers featured in this special will encourage viewers to follow the recommended guidelines from the CDC and government officials to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the strain on the medical community. Additionally, information will be provided on how viewers can donate money to The CDC Foundation* and Feed the Children.
iHeartMedia and Fox announced Fox Presents The iHeart Living Room Concert for America, a music event to provide entertainment relief and support for Americans to help fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to celebrate the resilience and strength of the nation during this pandemic. Hosted by Elton John, the event will feature performances by Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mariah Carey, Tim McGraw and more, from their own homes, filmed with their personal cell phones, cameras and audio equipment, to ensure the health and safety of all involved. The concert will air in the iHeartRadio Music Awards' original broadcast timeslot -- Sunday, March 29, from 9:00-10:00 PM ET/6:00-7:00 PM PT on Fox -- and on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide, as well as via the iHeartRadio app. The benefit special will be broadcast commercial-free.
In addition to featuring music, the hour-long concert will pay tribute to the front line health professionals, first responders and local heroes who are putting their lives in harm's way to help their neighbors and fight the spread of the virus. It also will encourage viewers to support two of the many charitable organizations helping victims and first responders during the pandemic: Feeding America(R) and First Responders Children's Foundation.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Antenna TV Schedule Change on March 30, Doubling Up Comedies; Millionaire 20th Anniversary Premiere Celebs
Antenna TV is doubling up all of its comedies throughout the day beginning next Monday (March 30). The new primetime lineup from 7-10pm features Archie Bunker's Place, Alice and Three's Company leading into Johnny Carson, now back at 10pm. Late Fringe from 11pm-3am gets a makeover, too, with double runs of Coach, NewsRadio, Becker and Designing Women. Relegated to the overnight is Murphy Brown and It's a Living from 3-5am. Other schedule changes include Mork & Mindy now for a full hour from 5-6am, The Partridge Family also gets a full hour from 6-7am, Gimme a Break! expands to 5-6pm and Barney Miller goes a full hour from 6-7pm. This means with all the doubling up, Sabrina, Welcome Back Kotter, 227 and Benson are off the line-up, as is former prime shows Family Ties and Growing Pains. Leaving the schedule also from late night/overnight are Dear John, Wings, Head of the Class, Hogan Family and Silver Spoons. Some of these shows can still be seen in binge form on weekends, which starts this weekend, as we mentioned.
Twenty years after the prime-time series Who Wants to Be a Millionaire debuted on ABC in the U.S., celebrated late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is stepping in as host of a special run of episodes featuring celebrity contestants playing for the charity of their choice. The 20th anniversary event kicks off Wednesday, April 8 at 10:00 p.m. EDT, on ABC, with celebrity contestant Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) playing for Building Hope for Autism and Will Forte (SNL) playing for The Pangea Network. For the first time in the history of the U.S. franchise, celebrities playing on Millionaire can invite a guest to help them answer questions. It could be a relative, a beloved teacher or a famed trivia expert – anyone they want – to help them win as much money as they can for the charity of their choice. Additionally, this special run of shows will be introducing a new lifeline, Ask the Host, and a revolutionary, live, play-along app which will allow America to compete to win the same amount of money that celebrities are playing for on the show.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
ABC Giving A Modern Farewell to Series; Samantha Bee Returns from Home on Wednesday
In anticipation of the Modern Family series finale, ABC is giving viewers a heartfelt look back at one of television's most culturally defining series. The one-hour documentary will explore the 11-year run of this iconic series, from the writing and casting of the pilot, all the way up to the final table read. Through exclusive interviews and reflections with the cast and crew, this documentary will examine the show's origin story and unprecedented success, and revisit many of the hilarious, warm and sometimes twisted moments of this modern family on A Modern Farewell, airing Wednesday, APRIL 8 from 8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT, on ABC. The special can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu. Special appearances by Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, Rico Rodriguez, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, Jeremy Maguire, Reid Ewing and Benjamin Bratt.
Then, it's really, really, really hard to say goodbye on the one-hour series finale of ABC's Modern Family. In part 1 of the series finale, Mitchell and Cam settle in on their new normal, and Phil and Claire decide that one of the kids needs to move out in order to take control of the house again. Meanwhile, as Gloria becomes more successful at work, she notices Jay, Manny and Joe don't seem to need her as much. In part 2 of the series finale, the entire family discovers saying goodbye is much harder than it seems on Modern Family, Wednesday, April 8 from 9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT, on ABC. Episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu. Guest starring is Elizabeth Banks as Sal, Chris Geere as Arvin, Christian Barillas as Ronaldo, Matthew Risch as Jotham, Rory O'Malley as Ptolemy, Rodrigo Rojas as Stefan and Charlie Trainer as Charlie.
Modern Family stars Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett, Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy, Sofia Vergara as Gloria Pritchett, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker, Sarah Hyland as Haley Dunphy, Nolan Gould as Luke Dunphy, Ariel Winter as Alex Dunphy, Rico Rodriguez as Manny Delgado, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons as Lily Tucker-Pritchett, Jeremy Maguire as Joe Pritchett and Reid Ewing as Dylan Marshall.
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee is going into the woods and coming back onto your TV this Wednesday, March 25 on TBS. Samantha Bee, who like the rest of the country is adjusting to working from home, will return to her normal Wednesday 10:30 p.m. timeslot and broadcast her 30-minute late-night series from home. Executive Producer Jason Jones, Bee's husband and quarantine roommate, will film the episode from a socially distant six feet away--and even further away if it's a better angle for Bee. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee has been on hiatus since March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bee has continued to entertain via her mini digital series Beeing at Home with Samantha Bee filmed at her home.
Monday, March 23, 2020
Bounce Sitcom Returns April 1, No Foolin'; Never Have I Ever Gets Netflix Premiere Date
Bounce, the first and only multi-platform entertainment network for African Americans, announced the upcoming return of its original comedy series In The Cut. The new season of the long-running hit will roll-out over thirteen Wednesday nights throughout the spring, starting on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. (ET). Following their weekly premiere on Bounce, the new episodes will also be available on the popular subscription streaming service Brown Sugar on Thursday mornings. Complete seasons one through five are available on Brown Sugar anytime. In The Cut revolves around Jay Weaver (Dorien Wilson, The Parkers) who must adjust to married life with Cheryl (Kellita Smith, The Bernie Mac Show), all while running a barbershop and beauty salon together. This season, the pair - along with Jay's son Kenny (Ken Lawson, The Parkers) and their friends Smitty (John Marshall Jones, Rectify), Mabel (Laura Hayes, Meet The Browns) and Percy (Dorion Renaud) - must contend with their biggest challenges yet - including convincing the city not to demolish the business to pave the way for a new freeway. This season will also include guest appearances from Dawn Halfkenny (Saints & Sinners), Chastity Dotson (Imposters), Luenell (Dolemite Is My Name), YoYo (Love & Hip Hop Hollywood) and Aida Rodriguez (Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready).
Watch out Sherman Oaks High, here comes Devi Vishwakumar. Never Have I Ever, a new series from Mindy Kaling, premieres April 27. Only on Netflix. In the 10 episode series, a new coming-of-age comedy series from Mindy Kaling about the complicated life of a modern-day first generation Indian American teenage girl, inspired by Kaling's own childhood. The comedy stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi, Sendhil Ramamurthy as Mohan Venkatesan, Poorna Jagannathan as Nalini, Richa Shukla as Kamala and John McEnroe as Narrator (Voice).
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 23, 2020)
For the week of March 23-27, 2020, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!
Monday, March 23
- Jake Johnson (New Girl) - Watch Jake on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC.
- Abby McEnany (Work in Progress) - Abby appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Retta (Parks and Recreation) - Retta is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Mila Kunis (Family Guy/That '70s Show) - Mila is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Adam DeVine (The Righteous Gemstones/Modern Family/Workaholics) - Adam appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Kristin Chenoweth (Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Maya Rudolph (Bless the Harts/Forever/Big Mouth/Up All Night) - Maya appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) - Alec guests hosts The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany is a guest on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
- Joel McHale (Community/The Great Indoors) - Joel stops by The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Tony Hale (Veep/Arrested Development) - Tony talks about Archibald's Next Big Thing on People Now at 1pm.
- Mark Consuelos (Alphas/Hope & Faith) - Mark talks about Riverdale on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Dave "Lil Dicky" Burd (Dave) - Catch Dave on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC.
- Julio Torres (Los Espookys) - Julio appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Rob Corddry (The Unicorn/Ballers/The Winner) - Rob is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Lake Bell (Bless This Mess/How to Make It in America) - Lake appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Karen Gillan (Selfie) - Karen is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Billy Gardell (Bob Hearts Abishola/Mike & Molly/Yes, Dear) and Folake Olowofoyeku (Bob Hearts Abishola) - Billy and Folake are guests on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Jennifer Aniston (Friends/Muddling Through/Ferris Bueller/Molloy) - Jennifer appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Selena Gomez (Wizards of Waverly Place) - Selena is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Adam Pally (Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam appears on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
- Tia Mowry (Family Reunion/Instant Mom/The Game/Sister, Sister) - Tia is a guest on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Ron Livingston (Loudermilk) - Ron stops by Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Tim Robbins (The Brink) - Watch Tim on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC.
- Eric Andre (Man Seeking Woman/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Eric appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC.
- Janet Jackson (Good Times/Diff'rent Strokes) - Janet is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Jane Levy (Suburgatory) - Jane appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Patton Oswalt (The Goldbergs/A.P. Bio/The King of Queens) - Patton is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Diallo Riddle (Marlon) - Diallo appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) - Natasha is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Taran Killam (Single Parents) - Taran appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Laurence Fishburne (black-ish) - Laurence is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) and Beth Behrs (The Neighborhood/2 Broke Girls) - Tichina and Beth are guests on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Billy Ray Cyrus (Still the King) - Billy Ray stops by The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Leslie Odom Jr. (Big Day) - Leslie talks about the Stronger Magic Tour on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- David Spade (Rules of Engagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me!) - Catch David on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC.
- John Mulaney (Mulaney) - John appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- The Cast of The Brady Bunch - Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick, Christopher Knight, Eve Plumb, Mike Lookinland and Susan Olsen are guests on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Rory Scovel (Ground Floor) - Rory appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Annie Potts (Young Sheldon/Love & War/Designing Women) - Annie is a guest on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Craig T. Nelson (Coach) - Craig appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke is a guest on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
- Omar Benson Miller (The Unicorn/Ballers) - Omar drops by Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Diggy Simmons and Trevor Jackson (grown-ish) - Diggy and Trevor talk about Freeform's grown-ish on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Nancy Travis (Last Man Standing/The Bill Engvall Show/Becker/Almost Perfect) - Nancy talks about Last Man Standing on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Tina Fey (30 Rock) - Watch Tina on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/Welcome to New York) - Jim is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Glenn Howerton (A.P. Bio/The Mindy Project/That '80s Show) - Glenn appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- John Krasinski (The Office) - John is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Garcelle Beauvais (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Garcelle visits The Real, so check your local listings.
- Amy Poehler (Bless the Harts/Parks and Recreation) - Amy appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick talks about Devs on Couch Surfing at 8am.
- Christopher Knight (The Brady Bunch) - Christopher is a guest on a repeat of The Doctors, so check your local listings.
All listings are subject to change. Visit our blog and main site for daily updated listings. Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Sunday feature! We do listen!
Sitcoms Airing This Week
Sunday, March 22
The Simpsons - "Bart the Bad Guy" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bart accidentally sees a new superhero movie a month before it comes out -- and the world cowers before his newfound plot-spoiling powers.
Bob's Burgers - "Drumforgiven" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Gene gets kicked out of the Ocean Avenue Hifi Emporium, but Louise takes matters into her own hands to defend Gene's honor.
The Simpsons - "Highway to Well" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Maggie goes to preschool, Marge decides to get a job to pass the time and ends up working at an upscale weed dispensary; Homer decides to open his own dispensary that mimics a sketchy drug deal, putting their two businesses at odds.
Duncanville - "Sister, Wife" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
To celebrate their anniversary, Jack and Annie rekindle the passion of their youth by visiting an '80s-themed club; Jing makes Duncan "marry her," but their make-believe union quickly becomes complicated by real marital problems.
Bob's Burgers - "Just the Trip" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
The family takes an unexpected road trip with Nat the limo driver.
Family Guy - "Disney's The Reboot" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After the network decides it is time to reboot the series, three versions of the reboot are shown to a focus group, which produces some surprising feedback.
Monday, March 23
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Fresh Coat" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Tina decides it’s time to make home improvements, Dave volunteers to re-paint the Butler house, violating Calvin’s “man code” and setting off a chain of events that impacts both families.
Bob Hearts Abishola - "Black Ice" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
On Valentine’s Day, when it comes to showing affection, Bob and Abishola have to find a way to meet each other in the middle.
Breeders - "No Dad" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Paul and Ally are thrilled that Sprout, the family gerbil, has finally died but explaining loss to Luke and Ava is more difficult than they thought it would be, as grief manifests itself in mysterious ways and throws the family off course.
Tuesday, March 24
The Conners - "Tats and Tias" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Harris is newly unemployed, depressed and has moved back into the house, while Becky struggles to find affordable childcare. Jackie suggests Becky reach out to Emilio’s family for support and he gladly suggests she contact the two aunts who helped raise him. Dan runs into an old riding buddy, Tony (played by Steve Agee), who recently opened up a leather and tattoo shop and is looking to hire some help. Dan and Darlene tag team to get Harris the job and the family contemplates celebratory tattoos.
Bless This Mess - "Knuckles" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
While cleaning out the basement, Rio jokes about Mike’s lack of follow-through when it comes to his hobbies and various projects. Hurt by this comment, Mike sets out to prove Rio wrong. Meanwhile, Constance struggles to end her romantic endeavors with Pastor Paul who has become quite clingy.
mixed-ish - "Doctor! Doctor!" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Rainbow’s friend Rebecca gets mono (“the kissing disease”), and after helping her out, she becomes interested in the medical field. Alicia fibs to Paul about getting a flu shot, and when Denise gets sick, their distrust of the medical community comes to light. Meanwhile, Johan and Santamonica go to live with Harrison while Denise is sick and start to enjoy his lavish lifestyle.
black-ish - "Dad Bod-y of Work" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Dre is guilted into volunteering at Jack and Diane’s school carnival for Give Back Day. Meanwhile, Rainbow makes an appointment for Junior to get his flu shot, but Ruby has strong opinions against modern medicine.
Schitt's Creek - "The Pitch" (Pop, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Johnny, Stevie and Roland head to New York for their pitch meeting, and the family anxiously awaits their return.
One Day at a Time - "Checking Boxes" (Pop, TV Land and Logo, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After a census taker comes to their home, the Alvarez family thinks on their relationships and what else the future may or may not, have in store.
Miracle Workers: Dark Ages - "Dark Ages: Moving Out Part 1" (TBS, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Al and Prince Chauncley make big plans for their futures.
Wednesday, March 25
The Goldbergs - "Schmoopie's Big Adventure" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mother and son have a bonding experience when Beverly buys a bicycle for Adam just like the one from “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,” while Barry and Erica turn Murray’s furniture store into an after-hours lounge for college students.
Schooled - "Garden Party" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Cool parent Greg distracts CB from being a good teacher to help his son Weasel receive extra credit, while former Principal Ball is upset at Principal Glascott when he approves the use of Ball’s parking spot as a community garden.
Modern Family - "New Kids on the Block" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Haley is determined to follow the advice in her parenting books with the twins, but Phil and Claire think their old methods are better. Meanwhile, Manny is set to direct Jay’s dog bed commercial in the hopes of winning his ex-girlfriend back.
American Housewife - "In My Room" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Katie finds an old piece of furniture in the basement and sets out to recreate her and Greg’s first apartment, reminiscent of a time when life was simpler. Meanwhile, Greg enjoys an unexpected benefit of being the victim of Lonnie’s (Matt Shively) relentless practical jokes.
Gabby Duran & the Unsittables - "Enter the Drainis, Part One" (Disney Channel, 8:46PM ET/PT)
A girl finally finds her moment to shine when she inadvertently lands an out-of-this-world job to baby-sit an unruly group of very important extraterrestrial children who are hiding out on Earth with their families, disguised as everyday kids.
Dave - "Hype Man" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Dave has an opportunity to open for a big rapper, but his nerves cause him to spiral into an identity crisis; when Dave asks GaTa to act as his hype man, GaTa is forced to confront memories from his past and reveal his biggest secret to his friends.
Thursday, March 26
Young Sheldon - "Body Glitter and a Mall Safety Kit" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon learns to listen when an emotional Paige (Mckenna Grace) struggles with her parents’ divorce. Also, George Sr. is furious when Georgie tries to buy his way out of chores.
Young Sheldon - "Contracts, Rules and a Little Bit of Pig Brains" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
George Sr. and Georgie go camping with Meemaw’s new boyfriend, Dale (Craig T. Nelson), but things get complicated when her ex-boyfriend, Dr. Sturgis (Wallace Shawn), tags along. Also, Sheldon and Missy invent a super-game.
Mom - "Fake Bacon and a Plan to Kill All of Us" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Following the sudden death of a friend, Christy and Bonnie look for ways to honor her memory.
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Co-Habitation" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Dave accidentally knocks out the Butlers’ power during a heat wave, Calvin and Tina spend the night at the Johnsons’ home, where Calvin makes a surprising discovery about Dave. Also, Malcolm has some fun at Marty’s expense when he crashes at his little brother’s refurbished apartment.
Last Man Standing - "Along Came a Spider" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mike and Mandy go to extreme measures to help Vanessa connect with voters in her state assembly campaign; Ed's offer to split a baby gift for Kristin and Ryan leads Chuck and Kyle to wonder which of them makes more money.
Outmatched - "Royal Rumble" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Mike and Kay get caught in a lie about Leila's birthdate, they throw her a party with a theme of her choice; Brian, Nicole and Marc struggle with the news that Rita and Irwin would be their guardians if something happens to Mike and Kay.
Superstore - "Carol's Back" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Carol returns to the store post-suspension, Amy struggles with employees who refuse to work with her. Garrett and Mateo take advantage of the gig economy, and Jonah tries to convince Raise The Wage protesters that he's one of them.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine - "Dillman" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When a prank goes disastrously awry, things at the Nine-Nine take a distinctly Agatha Christie turn.
Indebted - "Everybody's Talking About FOMO" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Dave and Rebecca have 24 hours without their kids and the clock is ticking, but they keep being disappointed by their options. At Joanna’s, Debbie and Stew spend the night trying to cheer her up after being ditched by her friends.
Indebted - "Everybody's Talking About Pleasure" (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After Debbie’s meddling, Dave and Rebecca wonder if their sex life is more ebbing than flowing. Joanna forces Stew to right a wrong with her high school girlfriend even though he has no recollection of any offense.
Better Things - "Carbonara" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Sam takes Duke to ballet and Frankie to Pinkberry.
Friday, March 27
none scheduled
Saturday, March 28
Danger Force - "The Danger Force Awakens" (Nickelodeon, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Captain Man and Schwoz recruit four children to attend their Swellview Academy for the Gifted, where the new crimefighters-in-training learn to harness their frequently troublesome and sometimes uncontrollable superpowers.
Tyler Perry's Young Dylan - "The Enforcer" (Nickelodeon, 8:30PM ET/PT)
On his first day at school, Dylan starts a classroom protest over having to wear uniforms.
Last Man Standing - "Break Out the Campaign" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Vanessa turns to Mike and Carol for advice on her State Assembly campaign; Kyle is overcome with anxiety when Ed gifts him an expensive watch.
Outmatched - "Royal Rumble" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Mike and Kay get caught in a lie about Leila's birthdate, they throw her a party with a theme of her choice; Brian, Nicole and Marc struggle with the news that Rita and Irwin would be their guardians if something happens to Mike and Kay.
The Simpsons - "Screenless" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Marge implements a screen time limit for the whole family, she realizes that she is the one addicted -- not her husband and children.
Family Guy - "Peter & Lois' Wedding" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Wi-Fi goes out in the Griffin house, leaving the family with nothing to do for the evening; Peter and Lois decide to tell the kids the story of how they met and fell in love in the '90s.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix and Hulu to Share Rights to Community; Preview of New Netflix Series Never Have I Ever
- Netflix and Hulu will share the rights to Community in a new deal. (Deadline)
- A preview of the new Netflix series, Never Have I Ever, is now available. (Vulture)
- The cable sports networks are having a hard time filling their lineups lately. (NY Times)
- Speaking of the sports, the remainder of the XFL season has been scrapped early, though they claim they'll be back next year. (NY Post)
- The country is in need of medical supplies, and they're getting some from an unlikely source: medical TV series. (The Hill)
- Lyle Waggoner has died at age 84. (Hollywood Reporter)
- Antenna TV will be having their own weekend binges starting next weekend. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (MARCH 21 - MARCH 27)
- The fourth season of One Day at a Time debuts on Pop TV on Tuesday.
- It's Christmas movies all weekend on Hallmark Channel, because why not?
- It's like PAX TV has returned on Decades this weekend, as they air a marathon of Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye.
- The new drama series Council of Dads debuts Tuesday on NBC.
Friday, March 20, 2020
Fri-Yay: Best Sitcom Episodes for Coronavirus Isolation; Antenna TV Weekend Binge Marathons for Tough Times
by Vincent
Well, obviously it's a tough time for all of us right now. Wherever you are, it's likely that you're being affected somehow by COVID-19. For the many who are in isolation or quarantine to "flatten the curve" of Coronavirus, you're probably finding yourself with a whole lot of time to watch sitcoms! I've put together a list of some of my favorite sitcom episodes that have some thematic similarities with COVID-19 that could hit right in these circumstances. I tried not to just focus on bottle or quarantine episodes but instead episodes that tie with the anxieties stemming from this uncertain time.
1. Community - Epidemiology
This episode is maybe the most obvious choice on the list. It's a Halloween episode centered around a mysterious disease that surfaces at Greendale's Halloween party that slowly spreads and spreads despite everyone's effort to quarantine everyone, partly because of questionable decisions made by Dean Pelton, the school's leader. Sound familiar? Granted, it's a lot more fun than it sounds, as it's a loving parody of zombie movies scored by the ABBA soundtrack (and Dean Pelton's voice memos). If you want to laugh about a disease outbreak in a silly way, this is the episode for you.
2. 30 Rock - Larry King
"Larry King" is 30 Rock's take on the 2008 financial collapse, another historical event that is very different than our current predicament but nevertheless does share some similarities. The entire episode has an end-of-the-world vibe as the characters watch the collapse of the Japanese markets that seemingly spell doom for their own financial security, and a lot of the behaviors and quotes reflect on the odd feeling many of us are feeling now, particularly Salma Hayek's "The whole world has gone cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!" or when Jack's mentor Don Geiss recommends that you "go home to your loved ones and hold them close" instead of taking action. In the end, the panic turns out to be largely false, started by a fearmongering Tracy Jordan. If only we could be so lucky.
3. Parks and Recreation - The Master Plan
The more obvious Parks and Rec choice would be Flu Season, but personally I felt Leslie's pain in "The Master Plan" more these past few days. "The Master Plan" is the first appearance of Ben and Chris as budget slashers who arrive to slash Pawnee's budget, and the episode (as well as the following one, Freddy Spaghetti) follow Leslie's desperate attempts to save her job from government shutdown before accepting the inevitable, that her job would be shut down until further notice. It all works out okay for Leslie, obviously, so these episodes at the tail end of Parks and Rec's second season serve as a good reminder that it's okay to be stressed about an uncertain future, as well as giving us hope that it'll all work itself out.
4. The Simpsons - Hurricane Neddy
While this episode revolves around a hurricane rather than a pandemic, the hysteria that Springfield residents experience before the hurricane hits is awfully familiar with the pre-Corona hysteria that we all experienced about a week ago. Rationing at the Kwik-E-Mart, storming the shelves, and mistaking Lisa and Ralph Wiggum as pieces of fruit are all examples of some of the crazy measures that Springfield residents go through that suddenly don’t seem so crazy.
5. Scrubs - My Quarantine
Well, this one is obvious. This Season 4 episode of Scrubs deals with the SARS epidemic, when JD initiates a quarantine at the hospital after suspecting a patient has the infectious disease. It's a humorous look at quarantine that might provide some levity to your own social distancing.
Antenna TV has a new way to bring a smile to your face and help you get through these tough times. Watch feel-good, binge-worthy TV from the comfort of your own home, all for FREE on Antenna TV. Antenna TV will run themed marathons of classic sitcoms including Family Ties, Three's Company, The Facts of Life, Wings, and Welcome Back, Kotter on Saturday and Sundays from 12 noon to midnight ET starting March 28. The news is a little easier to take with marathons of Murphy Brown on Saturday, March 28 and NewsRadio on Sunday, March 29.
The full schedule of Antenna TV's "Binge TV for Free" is as follows:
Saturday 3/28: Murphy Brown, ATV Goes All News with Murphy Brown
Sunday 3/29: NewsRadio, All News Continues with NewsRadio
Saturday 4/4: Alice, Mel's Diner Remains Open
Sunday 4/5: Archie Bunker’s Place, Archie's Bar Remains Open
Saturday 4/11: Head of the Class, School's Still in Session
Sunday 4/12: Welcome Back, Kotter, School's Still in Session
Saturday 4/18: It's A Living, Above the Top Remains Open
Sunday 4/19: Wings, 30th Anniversary Marathon
Saturday 4/25: The Partridge Family, Spend the Day with Family
Sunday 4/26: Three's Company, Spend the Day with Friends
Saturday 5/2: Becker, The Doctor is Here for You
Sunday 5/3: Coach, ATV Still has Sports with Coach
Saturday 5/9: Family Ties, Spend the Day with Family
Sunday 5/10: The Facts of Life, Mother's Day with Mrs. Garrett
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, October 9
Abbott Elementary - "Back to School" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
The neighboring construction site of a new golf course is causing issues at Abbott, forcing the teachers to find creative solutions. An HR representative visits the school. Following their kiss, Janine and Gregory’s relationship status is revealed.
Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Cheat Codes" (Comedy Central, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Chris debates using a cheat code to win a free Nintendo.
Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Halloween" (Comedy Central, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Chris spends Halloween at a church event, hoping to hook up with Tasha.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 7)
Wednesday, October 9
- Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Watch Quinta on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She also talks about the new season of Abbott Elementary on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Rachel Sennott (Call Your Mother) - Rachel is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Eric Idle (Suddenly Susan/Nearly Departed) - Eric stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Michael Keaton (Report to Murphy/Working Stiffs/All's Fair) - E! News has an interview with Michael at 11pm on E!.
- Ali Wong (Big Mouth/American Housewife/Are You There, Chelsea?) - NBC's Today catches up with Ali in the 10am hour.
- Rita Wilson (Girls) - Rita stops by to talk about her new album on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
- Goldie Hawn (Good Morning World) - Goldie appears on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
- Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Sheryl Lee talks about Abbott Elementary on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm. She chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Josh Gad (Wolf Like Me/Avenue 5/The Comedians/1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh talks about his new children's book PictureFace Lizzy and fatherhood on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Jessica St. Clair (Avenue 5/Playing House/Best Friends Forever/In the Motherhood) - Jessica is sharing her breast cancer experience with Drew and Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz is talking about breast cancer diagnoses on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Abigail Spencer (Extended Family/Burning Love) - Abigail discusses her television series Shatter Belt on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Kim Matula (LA to Vegas) - Kim is a guest on PIX 11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:39am.
- Lea Thompson (Caroline in the City) - Lea appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
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)
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