Monday, August 24, 2020

Showtime Picks Up Comedy Series with Big Stars; Three Comedians Get Comedy Specials on HBO Max

Moonbase 8

Showtime has picked up Moonbase 8, a new half-hour comedy series from A24 set to debut this fall. Starring Emmy(R) nominee Fred Armisen (Portlandia), Tim Heidecker (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!) and Golden Globe(R) and Academy Award(R) nominee John C. Reilly (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story), the six-episode series is a workplace comedy that follows three subpar astronauts living at NASA's Moon Base Simulator with high hopes of being chosen to travel to the moon. Created, written and executive produced by Armisen, Heidecker, Reilly and Emmy nominee Jonathan Krisel (Baskets), who also serves as series director, Moonbase 8 is produced by A24 and Abso Lutely Productions.

Set in the isolated desert of Winslow, Arizona at NASA's Moon Base Simulator, Moonbase 8 follows eager astronauts Skip (Armisen), Rook (Heidecker) and their leader Cap (Reilly) as they attempt to qualify for their first lunar mission. While working vigorously to complete their training, a series of unexpected circumstances forces the astronauts to question their own mental sanity, trust in each other and whether or not they're cut out for space travel.


Aida Rodriguez, Phoebe Robinson and Colin Quinn

HBO Max is adding to its ever expanding stand-up slate with three more stars getting specials. First up is the greenlight of a solo stand-up special from comedian, actress, producer Aida Rodriguez. In the special, Aida Rodriguez takes to the stage to confront today's audiences about cancel-culture and the social issues of the day, not just because they're ripped from the headlines, but because they are in the pages torn out of her personal life. Trigger warning: her comedy might offend those who are too uptight to listen anyway. HBO Max also has greenlighted a solo stand-up special from actress, New York Times best selling author, and comedian Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens, Black Frasier), marking her first for television. Robinson brings her singular brand of confessional humor to an hour where she dives into quarantining with her boyfriend, moderating on Michelle Obama's book tour, and failing at being a social justice warrior, among many other topics. And HBO Max announced the greenlight of Colin Quinn's multi-act, socially distant, stand-up special, Summer of 2020: A Drive-In Comedy Special (working title). Directed by Quinn, who will also perform, the special is part documentary and part standup showcase. The comedians will tape at a repurposed drive-in movie theatre in Brooklyn to allow audience members to enjoy the show while social distancing.

All three join HBO Max's exciting slate of stand-up offerings, with previously announced specials from Chelsea Handler, Tracy Morgan, Marlon Wayans, John Early, and Ahir Shah, along with a slate of five specials from Conan O'Brien's Team Coco, which includes which includes solo specials from Moses Storm, and Chris Redd. 


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, October 5

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Frank's Team: A Dark Day for Baseball" (FX and FXX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
In an effort to clean up their image, Paddy's sponsors a local Little League team; but when The Gang spots softness in their franchise, they impose a radical new culture: win no matter what and do whatever it takes to get ahead.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 5)

Monday, October 5

  • Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Watch Anna on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Chris Rock (Everybody Hates Chris) - Chris appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Misty Green on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Doug Benson (You're the Worst) - Doug is a guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Caroline Rhea (Sydney to the Max/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch/Pride & Joy) and Tommy Davidson (The Varnell Hill Show/The Proud Family/Malcolm & Eddie/Between Brothers) - Caroline and Tommy will be on a repeat of Funny You Should Ask at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method) - ABC's Good Morning America has part one of Diane Sawyer's interview with Michael discussing his new memoir One Helluva Ride sometime between 7-9am.
  • Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Jamie discusses new comedy special Take Care of Yourself on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Sarah Chalke (Scrubs/Roseanne/Mad Love/How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)) - Sarah talks about Scrubs on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - CBS Mornings has a new installment of Beg-Knows America featuring Howie sometime between 7-9am.
  • D.L. Hughley (The Hughleys) - NBC's Today catches up wit D.L. in the 9am hour.
  • Teyonah Parris (No Good Deed/Survivor's Remorse) - Teyonah talks about Matchbox the Movie on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Sharon Horgan (Youth/Bad Sisters/HouseBroken/Catastrophe) - Sharon tells Drew about her new show Youth on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Tim Bagley (The Great North/Teachers/Grace and Frankie/Web Therapy/Strip Mall) - Tim appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York.
  • Ming-Na Wen (The Single Guy) - Ming-Na is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray) The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray) Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/20/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete Series (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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