Monday, August 24, 2020
Showtime Picks Up Comedy Series with Big Stars; Three Comedians Get Comedy Specials on HBO Max

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.
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
Tuesday, February 18
St. Denis Medical - "Buffalo Bruce and Matty the Kid" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
An emotional support animal is loose in the halls of St. Denis; Alex goes big for Serena's birthday to mixed results.
Night Court - "Pension Tension" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abby is thrilled when Roz temporarily returns to her job as bailiff, but must make things right when Roz starts ruffling everyone's feathers; Dan co-opts Gurgs' assistant to help realize his dream of becoming a best-selling author.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 17)
Tuesday, February 18
- Joe Manganiello (How I Met Your Mother) - Catch Joe on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - George is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Alan Ritchson (Blue Mountain State) - Alan appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Danny Pudi (Going Dutch/Mythic Quest/Powerless/Community), Jessie Ennis (Mythic Quest) and Ashly Burch (Final Space) - Danny, Jessie and Ashly are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - E! News has interviews with Harry and Lisa Rinna at 11pm on E!.
- Nicole Ari Parker (And Just Like That.../Second Time Around) - Nicole will be on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
- F. Murray Abraham (Mythic Quest) - F. Murray talks about Beckett Briefs: From the Cradle to the Grave on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Connie Britton (SMILF/Lost at Home/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Spin City) - Connie discusses Zero Day on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Halle Berry (Living Dolls - NBC's Today catches up with Halle sometime between 7-9am and in the 10am hour.
- Zachary Levi (Less Than Perfect/Telenovela) and Patricia Heaton (Carol's Second Act/The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Zachary and Patricia talk about The Unbreakable Boy on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Lizzy Caplan (Party Down/The Class/The Pitts) - NBC's Today catches up with Lizzy in the 10am hour.
- Mekki Leeper (St. Denis Medical/Jury Duty) - Mekki is chatting with Drew about the hit new comedy of the season, his stand up, how he met his girlfriend and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Luke Wilson (No Good Deed/Enlightened) - Luke is a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Leighton Meester (Single Parents/Making History) - Leighton appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
New on DVD and 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)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
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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