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

Thursday, February 12

Animal Control - "Bagged Birds and Alley Dogs" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Frank spends the day with influencer and park benefactor Roman Park ahead of the grand opening of their annex kennel; friction arises within the newly combined precincts when Emily assigns Templeton, Shred and Patel to work together.

Going Dutch - "The Canuck Stops Here" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Capt. Maggie invites her idol, Gen.Martin, to the base in hopes of pitching herself as a mentee; things get complicated when the Colonel and Gen. Martin develop an immediate attraction toward each other.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 9)

Thursday, February 12

  • Tyler Perry (House of Payne/Love Thy Neighbor) - Catch Tyler on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Maria Bamford (Lady Dynamite/Benched) - Maria is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Constance Zimmer (Entourage/Good Morning, Miami) - Constance talks about the new season of Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer on Live with Kelly and Mark and on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - It's a pizza palooza with Valerie, Joe Isidori and Sunny Anderson on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. It's a Drew Crew game night and Drew, Valerie, Sunny Anderson and Mikel Welch are playing Pictionary with Ross hosting.
  • Trinity Jo-Li Bliss (Best Foot Forward) - Trinity is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:45am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD) St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (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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