Saturday, October 31, 2020
SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox to Remake British Comedy; Judy Justice Headed to IMDb TV
Happy Halloween, and welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week is a bit of a slow week, but we've got some news about a new comedy next season for Fox, we're hearing about where Judge Judy is going next, and we have plenty of Halloween marathons for you to catch today. Let's get going!
- Schitt's Creek is becoming a much bigger hit in the ratings after ending than it was when it originally ran. (Deadline)
- Fox has picked up a remake of the British comedy This Country for next season. (Deadline)
- There won't be a Rose Parade in January due to COVID-19, but it will still live on as a variety special. (Hollywood Reporter)
- Big Brother is returning for a 23rd season on CBS. (CBS)
- Judy Justice, the upcoming court show featuring Judge Judy Scheindlin in her post-Judge Judy career, will be part of IMDb TV. (Deadline)
- If you're a Netflix subscriber, you're about to pay a bit more for the service. (CNBC)
- Saturday Night Live is new tonight, and will be next week too, for an unprecedented six week run of new episodes. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 6)
- Antenna TV has a day full of Bewitched today.
- Cozi TV is celebrating Halloween with a day of The Munsters, then the Halloween episodes of Roseanne tonight (and if you want to watch those Halloween episodes of Roseanne earlier, TV Land has you covered there).
- Decades has a weekend of Dark Shadows.
- FETV has a marathon of The Addams Family today as well.
- Young Sheldon and Mom returns to CBS on Thursday night, along with the new series B Positive.
Friday, October 30, 2020
Fri-Yay: The Best Sitcom Halloween Episodes; CBS All Access Renews No Activity for 4th Season
by Vincent
This weekend is Halloween, and whether you're spending the weekend participating in Halloween festivities or not, you can make the weekend a little more festive with these highlight sitcom Halloween episodes.
The Simpsons - Treehouse of Horror V (Available on Disney+)
Any Treehouse of Horror installment from the Simpsons' first 10 seasons is a genuine candidate for this list, but the very best is the entry from the show's 6th season, most notable for the show's classic Shining parody. It perfectly balances creepy and funny, and is still, in my mind, the gold standard of a horror episode of a sitcom, animated or not.
Bob's Burgers - Fort Night (Available on Hulu)
Bob's Burgers is another series that has made Halloween a special time of year, and nearly all of its Halloween episodes are delightful. But the very best Halloween episode is probably Season 4's Fort Night, which introduces the character of Millie. Similar to the Simpsons episode listed, Fort Night is actually genuinely creepy, as the childrens' fate is left up to the wildly unstable Millie character. It's also just a great time seeing all of the Belcher kids together in one place.
Parks and Recreation - Halloween Surprise (Available on Hulu and Peacock)
This Parks and Rec episode isn't quite like your typical Halloween episodes, as it centers around Ben proposing to Leslie, but it's nevertheless a sweet and surprising episode that makes great use of the holiday. It's rare to call a Halloween episode "sweet", but this episode definitely gets that honor. And it's no surprise that Parks and Rec would take the darkest holiday of the year and make it heartwarming.
Happy Endings - Spooky Endings (Available on Hulu)
Maybe the all-out funniest episode of the list, Happy Endings' sole Halloween episode is a hysterical laugh riot from start to finish. There is pretty much a joke every other second in this episode, which has a simple premise (the gang goes to a costume party while Jane and Brad house sit in the suburbs) but fills that premise with so many jokes that you'll find yourself endlessly laughing for the entire 22 minutes.
Boy Meets World - And Then There Was Shawn (Available on Disney+)
Technically this isn't a Halloween episode, but it's a horror movie send up that fits in perfectly with the season, as the show pokes fun at slasher films. It's a really funny episode and a fairly early example of a live action sitcom experimenting with its genre and form. You don't typically expect it from TGIF sitcoms, but Boy Meets World did a great job with it.
Community - Epidemiology (Available on Netflix and Hulu)
Community spoofed zombie films with its second season Halloween episode, and if you can get past the fact that parts of this episode is about the school being quarantined due to the outbreak of a "zombie" virus (yes, it hits a little close to home, minus the zombie part), this is an extremely funny parody of horror movies that's one of Community's most imaginative and fun concept episodes.
CBS All Access, ViacomCBS' digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, announced the fourth season renewal for its original, half-hour comedy series No Activity. In a departure from previous seasons, the fourth season will feature all the fan favorite No Activity. characters in animated form. This season will find Special Agent Nick Cullen (Patrick Brammall) realizing his dream of joining the FBI, but he will soon discover that being an FBI agent isn’t that special after all. After being assigned to a seemingly dull observation detail, he finds a potential career case in the form of an emerging cult. A large scale operation soon takes aim at the cult but it's unclear which side will break first. Despite the promotion, Cullen's path continues to cross with former partner Judd Toldbeck's (Tim Meadows), who adjusts to life with a new partner of his own.
No Activity's third season found demoted detectives Cullen and Tolbeck back in uniform with a revolving door of quirky new partners and even quirkier criminals, while robots - and Dylan McDermott - tried to take over Janice and Fatima's jobs in dispatch. Season three starred Brammall, Meadows and a stellar guest cast, including Beth Behrs, Joe Keery, Keegan-Michael Key, Sunita Mani, Jason Mantzoukas, Dylan McDermott, Paula Pell, Amy Schumer, Amy Sedaris and J.K. Simmons. No Activity is produced by CBS Studios in association with Funny Or Die, Jungle, and Gary Sanchez Productions, and is based on the Stan original series produced by Jungle. The series is co-developed and executive produced by Brammall and Trent O'Donnell, alongside executive producers Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Joe Farrell, Mike Farah, Joe Hardesty and Jason Burrows. Nina Pedrad, Steve Toltz, and Becca Kinskey serve as co-executive producers. As in previous seasons, O'Donnell will direct all episodes. Flight School Studio serves as the animation studio for the upcoming season.
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Even More Ted Lasso on Way at Apple TV+; Craig Robinson to Host The Masked Dancer on Fox
Following its breakout first season and early second season renewal, Apple TV+ has renewed Ted Lasso for a third season, ahead of its second season start of production in London early January. Since its premiere on August 14, 2020, critics and fans globally have hailed the series as "terrific," "hilarious," "heart-swelling" and "infectious." The Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh first season of Ted Lasso is now available for viewers to binge on Apple TV+. Ted Lasso stars Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, a small-time college football coach from Kansas who is hired to coach a professional soccer team in England despite having no experience coaching soccer. The series also stars Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster and Nick Mohammed. In addition to starring, Sudeikis serves as executive producer, alongside Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Cougar Town) via his Doozer Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, a division of NBCUniversal Content. Doozer's Jeff Ingold also serves as an executive producer with Liza Katzer as co-executive producer. The series was developed by Sudeikis, Lawrence, Joe Kelly and Brendan Hunt, and is based on the pre-existing format and characters from NBC Sports.
This December, Fox takes The Masked Singer concept and adds a little twist. Based on Fox's The Masked Singer and inspired by a popular segment featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, all-new celebrity competition series The Masked Dancer will be hosted by comedian Craig Robinson (The Office, Hot Tub Time Machine). Joining the show as panelists are Ken Jeong (The Masked Singer, I Can See Your Voice), world-famous choreographer and singer Paula Abdul (American Idol), actor and the former "Giraffe" Mask on The Masked Singer Brian Austin Green (Beverly Hills, 90210) and actress and singer Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical).
The Masked Dancer will feature celebrity contestants shaking their tail feathers, while covered from head-to-toe in elaborate costumes and face masks, leaving audiences to guess their identities. Costumed celebrities will be joined on stage by masked partners and back-up dancers, as they perform a series of dances together; spanning from hip-hop to salsa, jazz to tap dancing and more. When it comes to dance styles, the sky is the limit. Each week, a series of clues will be sprinkled throughout packages, costumes and routines, leading the panelists one step closer to figuring out which famous faces are freestyling behind the masks. Between all of the celebrity competitors on the show, they've amassed more than 38 million albums sold worldwide, 20 Emmy(R) Award wins, 20 Grammy(R) Award nominations, 10 World Dancing titles, five New York Times Best-Selling Author titles, four Olympic gold medals and three Broadway show appearances. Guest judges and premiere date to be announced soon.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
COZI TV Halloween Marathons of The Munsters & Roseanne; Apple TV+ Orders Another Comedy, This Time with Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen
COZI TV invites viewers to celebrate Halloween with a holiday treat, a "Halloweenathon" special. Starting at 9 AM on Saturday, October 31, viewers can watch 22 back-to-back episodes of the iconic television series, The Munsters, followed by eight straight hilarious Halloween-themed episodes of Roseanne at 8 PM. (check local listings). The Munsters follows the hilariously spooky Munster family as they try to lead a regular life at 1313 Mockingbird Lane. The marathon of The Munsters includes a wide range of favorite episodes, including "My Fair Munster," where Grandpa slips a love potion into his granddaughter's oatmeal for her to find a boyfriend and "Autumn Croakus," where Grandpa writes a love letter to a matrimonial agency in hopes of finding a wife. The Roseanne series is well-known for their annual Halloween episodes and will include the episode "Boo," which introduces the family's love for the holiday and the annual prank wars between characters Roseanne and Dan. It also features "Trick Me Up, Trick Me Down," where the Conner family's neighbor discovers Dan gutted and bloody on the kitchen table as part of another classic prank. COZI TV viewers can watch The Munsters and Roseanne regularly seven days a week at 7 PM and 9 PM respectively.
Apple TV+ will expand its award-winning offering of comedy series with Platonic, a new series starring Emmy and Golden Globe nominees Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen, and co-written by Nick Stoller and Francesca Delbanco (Friends from College). The series will be produced for Apple by Sony Pictures Television. The series reunites Byrne and Rogen with director Nick Stoller following their collaboration on the Neighbors films. Platonic is a 10-episode, half-hour comedy which explores the inner workings of platonic friendship. A pair of former best friends who met in their youth (played by Byrne and Rogen) reconnect as adults and try to mend the rift that led to their falling out. As their friendship becomes more consuming, it destabilizes their lives and causes them to reevaluate their choices.
In addition to writing, Stoller will direct. Rose Byrne, Seth Rogen and Conor Welch will serve as executive producers on the series. Platonic will premiere alongside upcoming Apple Original comedy series including Physical, also starring Rose Byrne; The Afterparty, a new comedy from Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe Award winners Chris Miller and Phil Lord, and Sony Pictures Television; Schmigadoon!, a musical comedy project executive produced by Lorne Michaels; Mr. Corman, directed, written and executive produced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt; as well as returning series including Peabody Award winner Dickinson, and critically acclaimed comedies Ted Lasso and Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet.
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Freeform's The Clock Is Ticking Special with Yara Shahidi; Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Ends on New Year's Eve
Freeform announced the digital series The Clock Is Ticking, starring and executive produced by Yara Shahidi (grown-ish), as part of the network's multiplatform voting initiative. The two-part digital series, which will live on Freeform's Instagram, will debut tonight (Tuesday, Oct. 27) and on Election Night on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The digital series focuses on preparing young voters for the upcoming election. From demystifying the ballot to providing helpful resources on what to expect if you plan to vote in person and even what to bring with you to the polls, including Yara's go-to snacks and her grown-ish inspired playlist, the series is a fun and informative guide to the 2020 election.
The Clock Is Ticking is part of the network's "Kick 2020 in the Ballots. FF'ing Vote" initiative, a non-partisan, multiplatform voting campaign that encourages young adults to tackle the issues affecting their lives with the most powerful weapon they possess: Their vote. The campaign also features the series Kal Penn Approves This Message, which finales tonight (Tuesday, Oct. 27) at 10:30 p.m. In the premiere episode, Yara will demystify the ballot. While completing her own ballot, she provides viewers tips to coding it like a textbook and figuring out how to connect the issues they care about to the measures they are voting on. Yara urges viewers to treat voting like the "greatest group project there is," encouraging viewers to build community through their vote. And then next week, it's election day! If you plan to head to the polls to drop off a completed ballot or vote in person, Yara will share some tips on what to bring to be prepared, including her grown-ish inspired playlist and what she packs in her bag for the trip to her polling place.
Her name is Sabrina Spellman, and she'll never sign it away. The final chapter of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina premieres December 31, only on Netflix. In the series, magic and mischief collide as half-human, half-witch Sabrina navigates between two worlds: mortal teen life and her family's legacy, the Church of Night. Cast includes: Kiernan Shipka, Miranda Otto, Lucy Davis, Ross Lynch, Michelle Gomez, Chance Perdomo, Jaz Sinclair, Richard Coyle, Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph, Abigail Cowen, Lachlan Watson and Gavin Leatherwood.
Monday, October 26, 2020
TBS Orders 3rd Season of Miracle Workers; SNL Extended to 6 New Episodes in a Row - A Record!
TBS has ordered a third season of the top-rated anthology comedy series Miracle Workers, this time transporting cast members Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Viswanathan and Karan Soni to the American Old West. The network has tapped Dan Mirk and Robert Padnick to serve as showrunners for the newest installment. Miracle Workers debuted in 2018 as the #1 new cable comedy of the season. Hailed by Awards Daily as a "welcome cure for the winter blues," the second and most recent installment Miracle Workers: Dark Ages currently ranks as a top five cable comedy, reaching 27.5 million viewers across TBS' linear and digital platforms.
Set in the year 1844, the new season of Miracle Workers will follow an idealistic small-town preacher (Radcliffe) who teams up with a wanted outlaw (Buscemi) and a liberated prairie wife (Viswanathan) to lead a wagon train west on the Oregon Trail across an American landscape which, much like today, is fraught with both promise and peril.
Saturday Night Live is extending its unprecedented run with consecutive shows during its 46th season. In addition to the previously announced five shows in a row (Oct. 3 through Oct. 31), there will now be an additional sixth original SNL on Nov. 7 on the Saturday following Election Day. John Mulaney hosts this Saturday, Oct. 31, with musical guest The Strokes. After the 6 all-new episodes in a row, SNL will be on hiatus for the rest of November and will return for three all-new shows in December (Dec. 5, 12 and 19) to wrap up the Fall run (9 total episodes, plus primetime Election special on Nov. 2 at 10pm). Saturday Night Live is produced in association with Broadway Video and airs LIVE on Saturdays at 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT on NBC. The creator and executive producer is Lorne Michaels.
Sunday, October 25, 2020
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 26, 2020)
For the week of October 26-30, 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, October 26
- Zoe Lister-Jones (Life in Pieces/Friends with Better Lives/Whitney) - Watch Zoe on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Giancarlo Esposito (Dear White People/Bakersfield P.D.) - Giancarlo appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about The Mandalorian on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Malin Åkerman (Trophy Wife/Sin City Saints) - Malin will be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Skai Jackson (Bunk'd/Jessie) - Skai appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City) - Kim is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Jill Kargman (Odd Mom Out) - Jill will be on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Eva Longoria (Telenovela) - Eva talks about CBS's Essential Heroes: A Momento Latino Event on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
- Alfonso Ribeiro (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/In the House/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso appears on ABC's GMA3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley talks about The Witches on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Arden Myrin (Still the King/Working) - Arden discusses her memoir Little Miss Little Compton on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Catch Tig on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Jessica Capshaw (Odd Man Out) - Jessica talks about the film Holidate on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- James Van Der Beek (What Would Diplo Do?/Friends with Better Lives/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - James appears on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
- Glenn Howerton (A.P. Bio/It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The Mindy Project) - Glenn will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley talks about The Witches on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Joey McIntyre (Return of the Mac/The McCarthys) - Joey performs on ABC's GMA3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Emma Roberts (Scream Queens/Unfabulous) - NBC's Today catches up with Emma in the 9am hour.
- Yeardley Smith (The Simpsons/Herman's Head/Brothers) - Yeardley is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Gillian Jacobs (Community/Love) - Watch Gillian on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Ken Jeong (Community/Dr. Ken) - Ken appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Bette Midler (Bette) - Bette is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also talks about New York Restoration Project’s Hocus Pocus Hulaween on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS. She chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Anna Faris (Mom) - Anna appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) - Natasha is a guest on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- D. L. Hughley (The Hughleys) - D. L. appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Rickey Smiley (The Rickey Smiley Show) - Rickey will be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Thomas Middleditch (B Positive/Silicon Valley) - Thomas is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Mario Cantone (Sex and the City) - Mario appears on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
- Emma Roberts (Scream Queens/Unfabulous) - Emma will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Phil Rosenthal (Creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) - Phil is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your loca listings.
- Michael Fishman (The Conners/Roseanne) - Michael talks about the season premiere of The Conners, directing his first episode and why he has become a mental health advocate on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- China Anne McClain (Tyler Perry's House of Payne/A.N.T. Farm) - China will be on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Ilana Glazer (Broad City) - Ilana is a guest on ABC's GMA3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela talks about TBS's The Misery Index on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy will be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- America Ferrera (Superstore) - Catch America on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Julie Andrews (Julie) - Julie is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Lauren Ash (Superstore/Super Fun Night) - Lauren is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- James Van Der Beek (What Would Diplo Do?/Friends with Better Lives/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - James appears on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
- Loretta Devine (Family Reunion/The Carmichael Show) - Loretta will be on The Real, so check your local listings.
- Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs/Rules of Engagement/Reno 911!) - Wendi appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Joey McIntyre (Return of the Mac/The McCarthys) - Joey is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Michael Ian Black (The Jim Gaffigan Show/Ed) - Michael talks about A Better Man on ABC's GMA3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Ben Feldman (Superstore/A to Z/Living with Fran) - Ben talks about Superstore on NBC's Today in the 9am hour and on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Kelly Ripa (Hope & Faith) - Kelly talks about three of her favorite Halloween costumes over the years on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
- Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) and Ben Falcone (Nobodies/Joey) - Meliss and Ben are guests on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Michael Strahan (Brothers) - Michael discusses the loss of his father and his experiences with racial bias on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
- Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Watch Nick on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Jason Alexander (Seinfeld/Bob Patterson/Listen Up!) - Jason is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- David Arquette (In Case of Emergency/Double Rush/Parenthood) - David appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Jason Ritter (The Class) - Jason is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Kristin Chenoweth (Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin will be on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Miles Brown (black-ish) - Miles appears on The Real, so check your local listings.
- Zoe Lister-Jones (Life in Pieces/Friends with Better Lives/Whitney) - Zoe is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Alfonso Ribeiro (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/In the House/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso will be on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
- Gillian Jacobs (Community/Love) - Gillian talks about Come Play on Couch Surfing at 8am.
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, October 25
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Campaign" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dave makes a run for city council, working hard to earn Calvin’s support, only to have a controversial photo threaten to derail his entire campaign. Wayne Brady guest stars as longtime incumbent Isaiah Evans.
Monday, October 26
One Day at a Time - "Perfect" (CBS, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Network Television Premiere)
When Alex needs a large sum of money right away, Penelope becomes worried. Also, Schneider and Avery contend with an unwanted gift from Dr. Berkowitz.
One Day at a Time - "Supermoon" (CBS, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Network Television Premiere)
When a supermoon appears in the night sky, each couple takes a turn going up to the roof and discovers an elaborate romantic setting fit for a marriage proposal.
Tuesday, October 27
The Conners - "Keep on Truckin' Six Feet Apart" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Conners are back and dealing with the pandemic, and life’s financial troubles loom over the family. Dan is still trying to catch up on back-mortgage payments and avoid a potential eviction, while the Lunch Box is closed for everything but takeout and delivery. Becky and Darlene are both forced to search for additional income at the newly reopened Wellman Plastics plant.
black-ish - "Hero Pizza" (ABC, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The season premiere of “black-ish” takes us to the beginning of the global pandemic for the Johnsons. As a first responder, Bow receives her family’s praise for her work, with Junior being her biggest fan. But over time, the family loses their enthusiasm, and Bow discovers someone in her house is breaking the quarantine lockdown rules. Meanwhile, Dre tries to convince everyone that he too is an essential worker.
Wednesday, October 28
The Goldbergs - "It's All About Comptrol" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Geoff and Erica come to a point in the relationship where they realize they are in different places in college; and Geoff makes an important decision while Beverly tries to find a new purpose in her life as she seeks political office as the city comptroller.
American Housewife - "Graudation" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Katie goes to great lengths to appease Principal Ablin (Jerry Lambert) in order to ensure Taylor graduates high school. Meanwhile, Greg finishes ghost writing the final chapter of Lonnie’s (Matt Shively) book. And while Oliver is devastated to learn Cooper’s (Logan Pepper) family will be moving out of Westport, Anna-Kat tells Franklin (Evan O’Toole) she is ready to venture outside her comfort zone and plans to attend sleep-away camp during summer break.
The Conners - "Halloween and The Election vs. The Pandemic" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Mary is devasted that Halloween has been canceled by the city, so Darlene and Becky enlist Jackie and the rest of the family to create an unforgettable experience. Meanwhile, Mark goes toe-to-toe with another kid at school who doesn’t believe in wearing a mask on “The Conners.” Michael Fishman, who stars as D.J. Conner, makes his directorial debut.
black-ish - "Dre at Home Order" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Dre underestimates how hard of an adjustment operating during a pandemic will be for the Johnsons. Meanwhile, Junior’s attempts to bring his girlfriend closer to the family are stymied by the new realities of social distancing.
Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Been a Long Time" (BET, 8:00PM ET/PT)
House of Payne is the hilarious comedy about Retired fire chief Curtis Payne and his lovely wife Ella. Together the loving couple navigate the problems of life with their quirky modern day family.
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "A Huge Debt" (BET, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Leah tries tracking Sandra's cell phone when she comes up missing.
Family Time - "Notorious D-O-G" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Lisa brings home a stray, despite Tony's aversion to dogs; Lisa's and Vivian's Soul Sisters Catering secure their biggest gig yet.
Thursday, October 29
Young Sheldon - "A Secret Letter and a Lowly Disc of Processed Meat" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon discovers that Mary’s been keeping a secret about his future. Also, Meemaw is furious when she learns Dale fired Georgie.
Mom - "Texas Pete and a Parking Lot Carnival" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
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.
Superstore - "Essential" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
During the coronavirus pandemic, Amy and Jonah try to bring order to the chaos in Cloud 9 while being pulled in multiple directions; the employees learn what it means to be "heroes," while Amy and Jonah's impending move to California looms large.
Connecting... - "Day 82" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Michelle tries to meet a pressing work deadline and prepare a dish for a socially distanced dinner, all while fielding the world's questions about race in America; Garret and Ben find a way to escape from it all.
Friday, October 30
none scheduled
Saturday, October 31
none scheduled
Sunday, November 1
The Simpsons - "Treehouse of Horror XXXI" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The annual terror-themed trilogy, including a frightening look at the 2020 election, parodies of Pixar and "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and a ninth birthday Lisa just can't get over.
Bless the Harts - "Dead Mall" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The Harts visit Greenpoint's abandoned mall, which brings back fond memories from the 2000s; their reminiscing is interrupted when a mall rat named Stacey takes them hostage.
Bob's Burgers - "Heartbreak Hotel-oween" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Louise's plan to get revenge on Halloween for a candy transgression hits a snag when the Belcher kids meet a mysterious elderly woman at a hotel; Linda and a very squeamish Bob donate blood at a vampire-themed blood mobile.
Family Guy - "CutawayLand" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Peter and Lois accidentally set up a cutaway gag together, which somehow transports them into the cutaway itself.
Saturday, October 24, 2020
SitcomsOnline Digest: Another Addams Family Reboot in the Works?; Quibi Says Goodbye After Six Months
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about a potential Addams Family reboot (why not?), a political fundraiser featuring the Happy Days cast, and more. Let's get going!
- A reboot of The Addams Family doesn't exactly sound unreasonable to us, although hopefully it'll be better than what Fox Family had in the late 90s. (Deadline)
- COVID-19 has brought a lot of uncertainty to the TV season, but at least black-ish will have a full season. (Variety)
- Let's Make a Deal is prepping to return to the air, with a mix of virtual and in-person contestants. (Deadline)
- A theme in political fundraisers this year (particularly the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, for some reason) seems to be cast reunions of classic TV shows, and now a virtual one is coming up for Happy Days, although Scott Baio has expressed his dissatisfaction with this and will obviously not be participating. (The Hill)
- It was hyped forever and had billions of dollars in financing, but nothing could save the short form series streaming service Quibi, which is now dead after six whole months. (Techcrunch)
- MeTV is getting deeper into classic cartoons, as they have now acquired Looney Tunes. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (OCTOBER 24 - OCTOBER 30)
- Decades has a somewhat unusual binge this weekend, with Hammer House of Horror and One Step Beyond.
- Antenna TV has a full weekend of The Jack Benny Program this weekend to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the series.
- Antenna TV begins to celebrate Halloween on Friday with a binge of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
- A new season of This is Us debuts Tuesday on NBC.
- ABC brings back American Housewife for a new season on Wednesday.
- Superstore returns to NBC on Thursday.
Friday, October 23, 2020
Fri-Yay: Archer Goes Back to Its Roots for Season 11; Everybody Loves Raymond Cast Reunion Tonight
by Vincent
Though the years, Archer has gone through many changes. What started out as an animated spy comedy slowly morphed into many different shows, from a show about dealing cocaine to a noir detective series to a space odyssey, with sometimes little rhyme or reason given for the shifts. More recently, Archer has spent the last several seasons with its lead character in a coma, and having each season be a different hallucination. This year, though, the show has snapped back to normal - and although it isn't as sharp as it was in its first handful of seasons, it's the funniest it's been in years.
I always admired Archer's willingness to abandon its original premise and do whatever it's creator felt like doing. After it's fourth season, which showed some natural signs of decline, the show switched it up to be a Miami Vice-esque crime comedy, and its changed every year since (going back to a spy agency for a season, then to a detective show, then starting the multi-year coma saga). Still, though, some years it felt like Archer was straining to stay interesting and cover genres it didn't really have its heart in. Now that it can settle down and truly address its main characters, it’s gotten much funnier and easier to watch - and it's been a delight during a time when fresh episodes of shows are just tricking in.
The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), celebrating their 30th anniversary as the first and largest myeloma-specific foundation in the world, announced that Ray Romano and his Everybody Loves Raymond castmates will reunite for a special evening to honor co-star Peter Boyle and re-create scenes from the sitcom that ran from 1996-2005. In addition to Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Monica Horan and co-creator and Executive Producer Phil Rosenthal will participate in the two-hour event, along with special guests and bonus content.
The IMF 14th Annual Comedy Celebration will take place tonight (Friday, October 23) at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. It is particularly special for the organization this year, as October marks the IMF's 30-year anniversary. To tune in to this table read and celebrate 30 years of service to the myeloma community, the event will be available to stream on IMF's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/IMFMyeloma, IMF's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/myeloma and on the organization's event website at comedy.myeloma.org.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Peter Boyle Research Fund, named for the beloved actor who died in 2006 after a four-year battle with multiple myeloma - a complex and often misdiagnosed cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. It is the second most common blood cancer in the world. Through laughter, the event honors Boyle and raises crucial funds to find a cure for myeloma. The Peter Boyle Research Fund has supported the IMF's innovative research programs since the fund's inception in 2007. For the 14th year, Loraine Alterman Boyle serves as Event Chair for the annual IMF Comedy Celebration in honor of her late husband. Since 2007, the annual event has featured more than 50 celebrity comedians and musical performers, and raised $8 million.
Thursday, October 22, 2020
CBS Announces More Fall Premieres; REELZ Books Jennifer Aniston Special
CBS announced November primetime premiere dates for five more scripted series. The four dramas and one comedy span time periods on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Additional premiere dates will be announced shortly. The returning shows include drama FBI and spin-off FBI: Most Wanted on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 9-11pm; Monday 10pm drama Bull on Nov. 16; drama Seal Team on Wednesday, Nov. 25; and the comedy The Unicorn on Thursday, Nov. 12. These programs join the previously announced upcoming season premieres of NCIS, Young Sheldon, Mom, The Neighborhood, Bob ♥ Abishola, All Rise, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans and S.W.A.T., as well as 60 Minutes, 48 Hours and The Amazing Race, which have already debuted. Stay tuned for premiere dates for Evil, the entire Friday night lineup of MacGyver, Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods, and new drama The Equalizer.
This November, REELZ is premiering an all-new special! Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends premieres on Tuesday, November 24 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. She's an award winning sitcom star, movie star, producer and philanthropist. There are many levels to global superstar actress Jennifer Aniston who became a fan favorite on the 10-season hit TV series Friends before transitioning her career to star in successful movies and returning to TV on a popular streaming service (The Morning Show on Apple TV+). But the road to success did not come without challenges. Learn about her four failed TV series that preceded Friends. Explore her inner struggle to find lasting love with facing very public divorces from Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux. Aniston radiates a vulnerable warmth both on and off screen that keeps her fans loyal her popularity ever present as evident by her record setting introduction to Instagram in 2019 as the fastest person to amass 1 million followers. Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends is co-produced by Legacy Distribution & EntertainMe.
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
MeTV Network Acquires Looney Tunes and More Classic Cartoons; Kaley Cuoco HBO Max Series Announces Nov. 26 Premiere
The MeTV Network is bringing back some cartoon classics to air every Saturday morning! The network also announced the launch of its new original weekday morning series Toon In With Me. The hour-long program will feature original characters, comedy sketches, special guests, interviews, games and more. These episodes will include some of the most popular classic cartoon shorts ever made. Toon In With Me will launch in January 2021 every weekday morning at 7am ET/PT. Then get up early on Saturday mornings for Saturday Morning Cartoons, a three-hour weekend block of animated favorites. Saturday Morning Cartoons will launch in January 2021 as well, and will air from 7am-10am ET/PT every Saturday morning. The block will feature Warner Bros. superstars Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Road Runner and the many other cartoons made famous in the Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes shorts. Other characters making appearances will be Tom and Jerry, Droopy Dog, Popeye, Tex Avery and more. More to come. That's All (for now) Folks!
HBO Max's eight-episode limited series The Flight Attendant takes flight with three episodes on Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 26, followed by the launch of two new episodes on December 3, two episodes on December 10, and the finale episode on December 17. Starring Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant is a story of how an entire life can change in one night. A flight attendant (Cuoco) wakes up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man – and no idea what happened. The dark comedic thriller is based on the novel of the same name by New York Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian. Starring alongside Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory, 8 Simple Rules, Charmed) is Michiel Huisman, Rosie Perez, Zosia Mamet, Michelle Gomez, T.R. Knight, Colin Woodell, Merle Dandridge, Griffin Matthews and Nolan Gerard Funk. The series is produced by Warner Horizon Scripted Television, Berlanti Productions & Yes, Norman Productions. Greg Berlanti, Kaley Cuoco, Steve Yockey, Marcie Ulin, Meredith Lavender and Sarah Schechter serve as executive producers, and Suzanne McCormack is Co-Executive Producer. Susanna Fogel directs and executive produces the first two episodes.
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Antenna TV Officially Announces Returns of The Jeffersons and One Day at a Time; Holiday Movie Reunites Family Matters Siblings
Antenna TV has officially announced the returns of The Jeffersons and One Day at a Time to its programming schedule beginning in January 2021, as we first broke a month ago. Both sitcoms were developed and produced by Norman Lear, began airing in the mid-1970s and ran for ten years. The Jeffersons stars Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford, a married couple who “move on up” from Queens to a luxurious high-rise in Manhattan where they live with their housekeeper, played by Marla Gibbs. The groundbreaking comedy also addressed many social issues, including everything from racism to alcoholism, suicide to gun control. The Jeffersons was produced by ELP Communications and distributed by Sony Pictures Television.
At the time it originally aired, One Day at a Time was only the second TV sitcom to feature a divorced mom. The comedy stars Bonnie Franklin raising her daughters played by actresses Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli. Set in Indiana, the show follows Ann Romano's struggles as a single mom and career woman. Bertinelli, who plays the youngest daughter, was one of the sitcom’s breakout stars. One Day at a Time was produced by T.A.T. Communications and distributed by Sony Pictures Television.
We also hinted, Caroline in the City will be coming to Antenna TV sometime in 2021 as well. A few other series will return or premiere in late 2021 and early 2022, so don't go "suddenly mad" trying to guess, as there is still a long time to go before we announce those. And finally, once again on Halloween, Antenna TV is brewing up BEWITCHING days with the twitchiest of witches and the sweetest of sorceresses. On Friday, October 30, 2020 Antenna TV will air a Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Spell-o-Ween Marathon from 4pm-5am (with a Johnny Carson break at 10pm) and on Halloween Day (Saturday, October 31, 2020) there will be a Witch-o-Ween marathon of Bewitched from 10am-6am. Treat yourself to two days of both comedies.
After losing her parents in a car accident, Elle (Joslyn Y. Hall of Atlanta), a career-driven investment banker has given up on love and Christmas until she meets Wesley (David L. Rowell of Com-pli-cat-ed), a former NBA player and CEO of a small marketing firm. Impetuously, Wesley invites Elle home for Christmas in South Carolina, with his parents (Kellie Shanygne Williams and Darius McCrary of Family Matters). With hesitation, Elle accepts and is given a much bigger present than she could ever have imagined! Christmas in Carolina is widely available On-Digital and On-Demand, November 1, 2020. Lensed on location in South Carolina, the film was directed by Peggy Williams working from a script by Stacie Davis, and stars Joslyn Y. Hall (Atlanta) and David L. Rowell (Com-pli-cat-ed) alongside Kellie Shanygne Williams and Darius McCrary of Family Matters who reprise their roles as siblings.
Monday, October 19, 2020
Disney+ Says "Simpsons Forever"; TBS Orders 4th Season of The Last O.G.
Disney+, which launched last November giving The Simpsons a new streaming home, is now the ultimate entertainment hub for fans of Springfields most famous residents. With the recently added 31st season and nearly 300 hours of the worlds longest running scripted primetime sitcom, on Friday Disney+ kicked off its new "Simpsons Forever" brand campaign celebrating the forever place of everyone's favorite family in the hearts and homes of fans around the world. The service also debuted "The Simpsons Horror" collection, including 30 episodes of the iconic genre-bending "Treehouse of Horror" franchise. The new collection is the latest in Disney+'s series of themed sets including "The Simpsons Predicts," "The Simpsons Travels," "The Simpsons Rock" and "The Simpsons Sports" collections. As part of the "Simpsons Forever" campaign, Disney+ will curate more collections of episodes for new viewers to discover. Every month, Disney+ will also highlight its favorite episodes themed to current events and trends in Disney and pop culture.
After first premiering on television nearly 31 years ago, The Simpsons is now one of the most popular franchises around the world and remains one of Disney+'s most streamed series since the service launched last November. With its "Simpsons Forever" campaign, Disney+ is celebrating fans' forever love of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie and the service's comprehensive collection of The Simpsons entertainment. The campaign will come to life all year long with on-service content and product updates, special events, social activations, and surprise and delight moments. Last week, Disney+ surprised guests at the Disney+ Drive-In Festival with special The Simpsons screenings during its nightly lineups. And earlier this year, the service launched a product update allowing fans to enjoy The Simpsons episodes in their original aspect ratio and also offered the short "Maggie Simpson in 'Playdate with Destiny'" across its social channels for free.
To watch all of The Simpsons content on Disney+ including 31 seasons of the series, animated shorts "Maggie Simpsons in 'The Longest Daycare'" and "Maggie Simpson in 'Play date with Destiny,'" and The Simpsons Movie, visit DisneyPlus.com/SimpsonsForever.
TBS has ordered a fourth season of Tracy Morgan’s critically-acclaimed comedy series The Last O.G. Co-created and executive-produced by Academy Award® winner Jordan Peele, the Brooklyn-centric series has consistently ranked among cable's top ten comedies with the most recent season reaching 20 million viewers across TBS' linear and digital platforms. The Last O.G. follows Tray (Morgan), an ex-con who is shocked to see just how much the world has changed when he is released from a 15-year prison stint. After finding a place to live and new forms of income, Tray continues to meet challenges as he re-paves his way in his newly affluent Brooklyn neighborhood.
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 19, 2020)
For the week of October 19-23, 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, October 19
- Emma Roberts (Scream Queens/Unfabulous) - Watch Emma on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken 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.
- America Ferrera (Superstore) - America chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Luke Wilson (Enlightened) - Luke will be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Sara Gilbert (The Conners/Living Biblically/Bad Teacher/Welcome to New York/Roseanne) - Sara talks about The Conners on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany guest hosts The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Marlon Wayans (Marlon/The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) - Cynthia appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Zachary Quinto (So Notorious) - Zachary talks about The Boys in the Band on ABC's GMA3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Jane Lynch (Angel from Hell) - Jane talks about Weakest Link on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Michael Keaton (Report to Murphy/Working Stiffs/All's Fair) - Catch Michael on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Jason Alexander (Seinfeld/Bob Patterson/Listen Up!) - Jason appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Tim Robbins (The Brink) - Tim is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Alexandra Wentworth (Nightcap) - Alexandra will be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Romeo Miller (Romeo!) - Romeo is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.
- Joel McHale (Community/The Great Indoors) - Joel will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie/New Girl/Burning Love) - June appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Casey Wilson (Black Monday/Marry Me/Happy Endings) - Casey is a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Sutton Foster (Younger) - Sutton talks about why she's teaming up with Cookie Monster from Sesame Street on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
- Reba McEntire (Reba/Malibu Country) and Melissa Peterman (Reba/Working Class/Baby Daddy) - Reba and Melissa share stories from their podcast on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), Patricia Heaton (Carol's Second Act/The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond) and Brad Garrett (Single Parents/'Til Death/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Ray, Patricia and Brad reunite on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Michael Gross (Family Ties) - Michael talks about the 30th anniversary of Tremors and Tremors: Shrieker Island on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Watch Tracee on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She will also be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Eric Andre (Man Seeking Woman/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Eric appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Eva Longoria (Telenovela) - Eva will be on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Susan Kelechi Watson (Louie) - Susan is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig will be on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Sara Gilbert (The Conners/Living Biblically/Bad Teacher/Welcome to New York/Roseanne) - Sara appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) - Sarah is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Marlon Wayans (Marlon/The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon talks about On the Rocks on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
- Lauren Ash (Superstore/Super Fun Night) - Lauren appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Brandy (Zoe Ever After/The Game/Moesha/Thea) - Brandy talks about her struggle with depression, new music and what's next on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Michelle Buteaun (First Wives Club) - Michelle talks about raising twins, relocating to London with her family to tape next season of her hit show The Circle, her new book and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood/The Last O.G./The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - Cedric talks about CBS's The Greatest #AtHomeVideos on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Tim Robbins (The Brink) - Tim talks about the Bobbo Supreme podcast on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) - Kym is a guest on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- Teri Polo (I'm with Her/Man Up!) and Blythe Danner (Adam's Rib/Tattingers) - Teri, Blythe and the cast of Meet the Parents reunite on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Jane Lynch (Angel from Hell) - Jane talks about Weakest Link on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Jay Pharoah (White Famous) - Catch Jay on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Patton appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Michael Keaton (Report to Murphy/Working Stiffs/All's Fair) - Michael is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Josh Gad (1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- D'Arcy Carden (Barry/The Good Place) - D'Arcy is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Jane Lynch (Angel from Hell) - Jane will be on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Marlon Wayans (Marlon/The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 10:30pm on Bravo.
- Kristin Chenoweth (Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea will be on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Kim Coles (Living Single) - Kim appears on The Real, so check your local listings.
- Parvesh Cheena (Connecting.../A to Z/Outsourced) - Parvesh is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Jesse will be on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
- William Shatner ($h*! My Dad Says) - William appears on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Kevin talks about hosting The MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
- Emma Roberts (Scream Queens/Unfaboulus) - Watch Emma on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsa appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle (Pen15) - Maya and Anna are guests on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony talks about black-ish on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Annie Potts (Young Sheldon/Love & War/Designing Women) - Annie is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.
- Marlon Wayans (Marlon/The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy/American Dad!/The Cleveland Show) and Liz Gillies (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/Victorious) - Seth and Liz talk about their new album Liz Gillies and Seth MacFarlane: Songs From Home on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Malin Akerman (Trophy Wife/Sin City Saints) and Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls/Raising Dad) - Malin and Kat talk about Friendsgiving on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Peter Facinelli (Nurse Jackie) - Peter talks about his latest projects, including becoming certified in hypnotherapy, and watch as he tries to hypnotize one of the hosts LIVE on E!'s Daily Pop at 11am.
- Tommy Davidson (Between Brothers) - Tommy will be on The Doctors, so check your local listings.
- Lena Waithe (Master of None) - Lena talks about Bad Hair on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Jay Pharoah (White Famous) - Jay talks about Bad Hair on Couch Surfing at 8am.
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, October 18
Mom - "Beef Baloney Dan and a Sarcastic No" (CBS, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bonnie suspects that Adam’s sponsor (Courtney Thorne-Smith) has an ulterior motive. And Christy is caught in the middle when Tammy plays hard to get with Chef Rudy.
Monday, October 19
One Day at a Time - "Boundaries" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Network Television Premiere)
When Alex catches his mother in a compromising position, Penelope decides to talk to him about human sexuality while also defending herself against Lydia’s old-school judgments.
One Day at a Time - "One Halloween at a Time" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Network Television Premiere)
When Alex catches his mother in a compromising position, Penelope decides to talk to him about human sexuality while also defending herself against Lydia’s old-school judgments.
Tuesday, October 20
none scheduled
Wednesday, October 21
The Goldbergs - "Airplane!" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Beverly surprises the family with an end-of-summer vacation to Miami with the flight down resembling the classic film, and Geoff accidentally spills to Erica the real reason for the trip.
The Goldbergs - "The Prettiest Boy in School" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Adam, now a senior, returns to William Penn Academy as he wrestles with the fact that he is a cool kid and no longer a nerd while his original friend group isn’t as lucky. Meanwhile, Beverly attempts to have a more grown-up relationship with Erica and Barry before they head back to college.
The Conners - "Keep on Truckin' Six Feet Apart" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
The Conners are back and dealing with the pandemic, and life’s financial troubles loom over the family. Dan is still trying to catch up on back-mortgage payments and avoid a potential eviction, while the Lunch Box is closed for everything but takeout and delivery. Becky and Darlene are both forced to search for additional income at the newly reopened Wellman Plastics plant.
black-ish - "Hero Pizza" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
The season premiere of “black-ish” takes us to the beginning of the global pandemic for the Johnsons. As a first responder, Bow receives her family’s praise for her work, with Junior being her biggest fan. But over time, the family loses their enthusiasm, and Bow discovers someone in her house is breaking the quarantine lockdown rules. Meanwhile, Dre tries to convince everyone that he too is an essential worker.
Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Moving On" (BET, 8:00PM ET/PT)
House of Payne is the hilarious comedy about Retired fire chief Curtis Payne and his lovely wife Ella. Together the loving couple navigate the problems of life with their quirky modern day family.
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Mary Jane" (BET, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Leah learns that Mr. Brown has cut down Vinny's plants in the back yard.
Family Time - "Somebody's Watching Me" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Tony and Donnie spy on Ebony and her new boyfriend; Lori is recruited to be the face of hair care.
Thursday, October 22
none scheduled
Friday, October 23
none scheduled
Saturday, October 24
none scheduled
Sunday, October 25
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Campaign" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dave makes a run for city council, working hard to earn Calvin’s support, only to have a controversial photo threaten to derail his entire campaign. Wayne Brady guest stars as longtime incumbent Isaiah Evans.
Saturday, October 17, 2020
SitcomsOnline Digest: Fried Green Tomatoes Series Starring Reba McEntire in the Works at NBC; Last Man Standing to End After Nine Seasons
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about a new series from Norman Lear, the end of the run for a Fox sitcom that has a dedicated fanbase, and more. Let's get going!
- Here is something that seems like it was just created in a random idea generator: a TV series version of Fried Green Tomatoes starring Reba McEntire and produced by Norman Lear is in the works at NBC. (Variety)
- Last Man Standing has had a rather peculiar run, as it has aired on both ABC and Fox, and never aired in a prominent timeslot or was particularly buzzworth. But now it is ending after the upcoming ninth season. (Deadline)
- TBS has renewed The Last OG for a fourth season. (Deadline)
- The Spectrum original series LA's Finest has been cancelled after two seasons. (Variety)
- Antenna TV is celebrating Jack Benny with a 70th anniversary marathon next weekend. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (OCTOBER 17 - OCTOBER 23)
- Decades has a binge of the 80s series Beauty and the Beast this weekend.
- ABC becomes the network of fun and games on Sunday nights starting Sunday, including the debut of Supermarket Sweep.
- New episodes of scripted sitcoms return to the ABC lineup on Wednesday.
Friday, October 16, 2020
Fri-Yay: COVID-19 Storylines on TV, Will Viewers Watch?; Antenna TV's 70 Episode Jack Benny Marathon for 70th Anniversary
by Vincent
This past week, NBC premiered the first new sitcom since the COVID-19 pandemic began: Connecting..., a sitcom shot remotely about a group of friends meeting through video chats during quarantine. If you haven't heard of it, you might not be some: the show attracted just a bit over 1 million viewers for its premiere, low numbers even in a world where broadcast ratings continue to drop. The show will likely finish out its 8-episode order, but there's no doubt that it didn't attract much interest. Which leads me to wonder: how much will viewers want to watch the pandemic reflected back at them?
It's a fair question given many shows are planning to incorporate COVID-19 into their storylines this year, from Connecting... to Superstore to black-ish, as well as dramas like Grey's Anatomy, The Good Doctor. And yet, I personally think people watch TV shows as a means of escape, which includes escaping from our anxiety-ridden reality. Will viewers think the same thing? That could be part of why they didn't connect with Connecting... (despite the show actually being pretty solid, as noted in our review). As more and more shows premiere and cover COVID-19, it will be interesting to see whether viewers embrace the real life stories or whether they prefer to forget.
Antenna TV will air 70 back-to-back episodes of The Jack Benny Program starting next Saturday, October 24 to mark the program's 70th television anniversary. The 70-episode marathon will feature the best gags, guests and glares from The Jack Benny Program. First a radio program, the show's cast regularly broke the fourth wall to interact with the audience and included running jokes such as Benny's age, forever frozen at 39. The Jack Benny Program 70th anniversary marathon starts Saturday, October 24 at 10 a.m. ET and continues through 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 25.
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Last Man Standing to Conclude After Season 9 in 2021; CBS Announces Fall 2020 Premiere Dates
The hit family comedy Last Man Standing, starring Tim Allen, will conclude with its upcoming ninth and final season to premiere this January. When the series ends, it will have filmed 194 episodes in total, with the three last seasons having aired on Fox, beginning in the fall of 2018. The first six seasons aired on ABC. Additional information on the upcoming final season, including its premiere date, will be announced at a later time. Last Man Standing stars Allen as Mike Baxter, a happily married father of three daughters, who usually finds himself the odd man out in a home dominated by women. In addition to Allen, the series stars Nancy Travis as Mike's wife, Vanessa Baxter; Amanda Fuller as their oldest daughter, Kristin Baxter; Molly McCook as middle daughter Mandy Baxter-Anderson, Christoph Sanders as Mandy's husband, Kyle Anderson; Jordan Masterson as Kristin's husband, Ryan Vogelson; Jonathan Adams as the Baxters' neighbor and Mike's co-worker, Chuck Larabee; Krista Marie Yu as foreign exchange student Jen; and Hector Elizondo as Mike's longtime business partner and Vanessa's step-father, Ed Alzate.
CBS announced the November primetime premiere dates for 10 scripted series. The five dramas and five comedies span time periods on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday nights. Additional premiere dates for November will be announced shortly. The new comedy joining the CBS schedule on Thursday, Nov. 5 is B Positve, from award-winning executive producer Chuck Lorre and creator Marco Pennette, starring Emmy Award-nominee Thomas Middleditch and Tony Award-winner Annaleigh Ashford. The series is inspired by Pennette's personal experience as a transplant recipient.
The returning shows include NCIS on Tuesday, Nov. 17; comedies Young Sheldon and Mom on Thursday, Nov. 5; Monday's comedy hour of The Neighborhood and Bob ♥ Abishola, followed by drama All Rise on Monday, Nov. 16; Sunday's after 60 Minutes will be NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans on Sunday, Nov. 8; and the two-hour premiere of S.W.A.T. on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Also, classic NCIS launches Sunday, Nov. 8, featuring fan-favorite episodes from the drama's previous 17 seasons, creating a three-hour block of NCIS following 60 Minutes on Sunday nights. These programs join the previously announced season premieres of news series 60 Minutes and 48 Hours, which have already debuted, and reality staple Thw Amazing Race, which premiered last night (Oct. 14). Stay tuned for premiere dates for Bull, FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, Seal Team, The Unicorn, Evil, the entire Friday night line-up of MacGyver, Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods, and new drama The Equalizer.
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
TBS Brings Out Halloween Sitcom Episodes on Halloween; Remembering Conchata Ferrell of Two and a Half Men
Halloween isn't cancelled this year! Get in the spooky season spirit with some fan favorite Halloween themed episodes on TBS. On Friday, October 30, catch Halloween episodes of American Dad!, Family Guy and Bob's Burgers from 3pm-8pm. Then on Halloween itself on Saturday, October 31, it's sitcom Halloween episodes beginning at 6am. First up is Family Matters from 6am-8am, which includes when Urkel's dummy "Stevil" comes to life on Halloween. Then from 8am-10am catch George Lopez Halloween episodes from 8am-10am, which includes "Leave it to Lopez" where George has nightmares that hark back to his childhood television fixation. Moving on, it's Seinfeld Halloween episodes from 10am-12pm, which includes "The Opera." And the sitcom spooky episodes conclude in daytime with Brooklyn Nine-Nine from 12pm-2:30pm, where you will see all Halloween Heists! After some movies, you can catch Halloween episodes of The Big Bang Theory in primetime from 9pm-11pm, which includes when Sheldon tries to spook his friends on Halloween.
Actress Conchata Ferrell, who was best known for her role as Berta the housekeeper in Two and a Half Men, has died. She died on October 12 from complications following cardiac arrest at the Sherman Oaks Hospital in Sherman Oaks, California. Ms. Ferrell was 77.
Ferrell's first starring role was as April Green in the short-lived 1975 ABC sitcom Hot l Baltimore, which was produced by Norman Lear. April was the love of Bill Lewis (James Cromwell), the desk clerk at the dilapidated Hotel Baltimore. The show's title came from the cheap establishment's neon marquee which had a burned-out letter "e". The series also starred Richard Masur, Al Freeman Jr., Jeannie Linero, Gloria LeRoy, Robin Wilson, Stan Gottlieb, Lee Bergere, Henry Calvert and Charlotte Rae.
Some of her early sitcom guest appearances included Maude, One Day at Time (1977), Blansky's Beauties, Good Times and The Love Boat. Her early drama guest appearances included The Rockford Files, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, Knot's Landing, B.J. and the Bear (five episodes as Wilhelmina "The Fox" Johnson), McClain's Law, Lou Grant, Quincy M.E., Cagney & Lacey and St. Elsewhere.
She starred as Nurse Joan Thor in the short-lived 1984-1985 CBS sitcom E/R. She was the head nurse in the emergency room (E/R) at a fictional Clark Street Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. The cast included Elliott Gould, Marcia Strassman, Mary McDonnell, Lynne Moody, Shuko Akune, Corinne Bohrer, Bruce A. Young, Luis Ávalos, Jason Alexander, George Clooney, William G. Schilling and Jeff Doucette.
Ferrell appeared as Dr. Madeline Stoessinger in the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire from 1993 to 1995. Madeline was a friend and progressive soul mate of Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman (Markie Post). Ferrell had first made guest appearances as Dr. Ruth Colquist in two episodes in 1992. The cast included John Ritter, Justin Burnette (1992-1994), J. Skylar Testa, Clark Duke, Billy Bob Thornton, Wendie Jo Sperber (1992-1993), Doren Fein and Leslie Jordan (1993-1995).
She played Marge, the raspy owner of the diner, in the short-lived 1996 ABC sitcom Townies. The series starred Molly Ringwald, Jenna Elfman, Lauren Graham, Billy Burr, Ron Livingston, Lee Garlington, Dion Anderson and Joseph Reitman.
Ferrell appeared as Aunt Pam, a disgrunted postal worker, in the 1997-1998 ABC sitcom Teen Angel. The series starred Mike Damus, Corbin Allred, Maureen McCormick, Katie Volding, Jordan Brower and Ron Glass.
Her best known role was as Berta in all twelve seasons of the 2003-2015 CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men. Berta was Charlie's (Charlie Sheen) housekeeper, a sharp-tongued woman who initially resists the change to the household, but grudgingly accepts it. Ferrell had a recurring role in the first season before becoming a regular for the remaining seasons. She received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2005 and 2007 for the role. The cast included Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Holland Taylor, Marin Hinkle, Melanie Lyskey, April Bowlby (seasons 3-4), Jennifer Taylor (seasons 6-7), Amber Tamblyn (seasons 11-12) and Ashton Kutcher (seasons 9-12).
Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Night Court, Sledge Hammer!, Hooperman, Who's the Boss?, Dinosaurs (voice), The Naked Truth, Minor Adjustments, Friends, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Becker and Grace and Frankie. She appeared as Shirley in five episodes of the Netflix sitcom The Ranch in 2017.
She had a recurring role as Attorney Susan Bloom in the sixth season of NBC's L.A. Law from 1991 to 1992. Ferrell received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1992 for her role. She first appeared as Lorna Landsberg in a 1988 episode. She played Kate Galindo, a secretary, in the short-lived 1989 CBS drama Peaceable Kingdom. She played Martha, the owner and operator of Martha's Boarding House, in the short-lived 2002 ABC drama Push, Nevada. Some of her other drama guest appearances included Murder, She Wrote, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, JAG, ER and Judging Amy.
Some of her film roles included Deadly Hero (1976), Network (1976), Heartland (1979), Mystic Pizza (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990), True Romance (1993), Crime and Punishment in Suburbia (2000), Erin Brockovich (2000), K-Pax (2001) and Mr. Deeds (2002).
Ms. Ferrell was a talented and funny character actress. She made everything she appeared in much better. Berta wasn't one of TV's best housekeepers as far as cleaning, but she was one of the funniest. We thank her for the many laughs and entertainment she brought us during her long career. She will be deeply missed.
Share your memories on our Two and a Half Men message board. View photos in our galleries.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Tuesday, December 3
St. Denis Medical - "A Peanut and Caramel-Filled Miracle" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Ron and Bruce butt heads over a candy bar; Alex is forced to fire an incompetent employee; Matt seeks appreciation for saving a patient's life.
Night Court - "The Hole Truth" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When a citywide sanitation strike makes its way into the courthouse, Abby must find a way to solve it; Julianne shows Dan how to make the most out of the strike.
Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "If It Ain't Broke" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ella prepares to open a battered women's home in the church's unused classrooms, but it is shut down when C.J. cites dangerous fire code violations.
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living "Where's My Refund?" - (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Jeremy and Leah can't seem to see eye-to-eye on how to spend their unexpected I.R.S. refund check; Anastasia and Vinny have their hands full trying to help Theodore study for science.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 2)
Tuesday, December 3
- Kyle Mooney (Arrested Development/Hello Ladies) - Catch Kyle on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Fortune Feimster (Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Fortune is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also discusses her comedy special Fortune Feimster: Crushing It on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
- Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - Selena appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Keri is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- JB Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm/Blockbuster/The Millers/Bent/'Til Death) - JB appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He discusses his series Buy It Now on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Brandon Kyle Goodman (Human Resources) - Brandon is a guest on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- David Alan Grier (St. Denis Medical/Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!/The Cool Kids/The Carmichael Show/Bad Teacher/Life with Bonnie/DAG) - NBC's Today catches up with David in the 9am hour.
- Yara Shahidi (grown-ish/black-ish) - Yara is telling Drew about the new venture she's taking on, where she's currently at with dating and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere) - Bridget talks about Somebody Somewhere on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
- Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken talks about his new film, A Great Divide, and the new season of Accused on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Carlos (Big Time Rush) and Alexa PenaVega (Ruby & the Rockits) - Carlos and Alexa are guests on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 8:50am.
- Alicia Witt (Cybill) - Alicia appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
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 UHD)
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)
11/12 - 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)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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