Friday, November 13, 2020

Fri-Yay: Any Hope Left for Broadcast Sitcom Ratings?; BET Presents CBS Monday Series Tonight; BUZZR Remembers Alex Trebek Tomorrow

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

The Conners

by Vincent

This fall has seen the triumphant return of many sitcoms after being put on hiatus for COVID-19 related reasons. Nearly every network has its sitcom slot back, at least partially, and it should be cause for celebration that networks can air original programming again. Yet, most sitcoms are returning with ratings down sharply from where they were a year ago. Even reliable hits like The Conners and Young Sheldon are struggling to crack a 1.0 in the demo (live+same day). Broadcast ratings overall are down once again this season (after a brief surge during lockdown in the spring), but sitcoms seem to be hit especially hard. Is there any hope for a breakout sitcom to come along and buck the trend?

It's always possible, of course - but as of now, it just simply seems like reality TV and select drama series are leading the way for broad hits capable of scoring big numbers. Shows like This Is Us, Grey's Anatomy, The Masked Singer, and NBC's Chicago series still pull in healthy numbers. And while the bigger sitcom hits like Young Sheldon and The Conners aren't doing badly, either - they just aren't quite living up to the biggest hits on network TV. It seems that many sitcom audiences are simply finding their content elsewhere, whether it be the shows on streaming service or different sitcoms on those same streaming services. Hopefully, a show can break through like The Conners did a few years ago and become a substantial hit. But for now, we might just have to accept that sitcom audiences are more splintered than ever.


The Neighborhood - Welcome to the Soul Food

BET will spotlight CBS' upcoming Monday night line-up prior to their new season premieres. The special presentation of select encore episodes of CBS' popular series The Neighborhood, Bob ♥ Abishola and All Rise will air on BET and BET HER, Friday, Nov. 13 beginning at 8:00 PM, ET/PT. All three series return with original episodes for their 2020-2021 season premieres on Monday, Nov. 16 on CBS.


Alex Trebek

Television's treasured game show host, Alex Trebek will be remembered by BUZZR network with an extra special tribute featuring his game show appearances from the last 40 years. Though best known as the host of Jeopardy!, Trebek once-upon-a-time appeared as a contestant on Card Sharks (1980s) as well as hosted episodes of Classic Concentration and To Tell The Truth in the late 80s and early 90s. BUZZR network shines a special light on Trebek's unforgettable career and celebrates his breadth of work with these iconic appearances on Saturday, November 14, 2020 from 12:30pm – 2:00am EST. BUZZR's afternoon of tribute programming will begin with episodes of Card Sharks in which viewers see Trebek in the rare role of contestant competing in a charity tournament on behalf of the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect. Trebek famously vies against other well-known, historical masters of ceremonies such as Bill Cullen, Gene Rayburn and Tom Kennedy.

Additionally, BUZZR has lined-up back to back episodes of Classic Concentration, in which Trebek appeared as an adored host taking a very genuine interest in those around him. Interspersed within Classic Concentration programming, BUZZR will also air a rare 1990's episode in which Trebek hosted a revival of To Tell The Truth starring panelists Ron Masak, Mother Love, Frank Runyeon and Kitty Carlisle. In addition to this this special programming tribute, BUZZR TV in conjunction with Fremantle, will be making a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Network (PanCAN) in honor of Alex Trebek and Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month (November). You too can donate to PanCAN in Alex’s memory or a loved one today at pancan.org. Please join BUZZR in remembering a true television icon, Alex Trebek, and tune-in on Saturday to watch some of his most spectacular moments captured on television!


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, September 28

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 25)

Thursday, September 28

  • George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - Catch George on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. He joins Drew for the entire show opening up about meeting the love of his life Amal, revealing the sweet thing they still do for each other to this day, their engagement story and more on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Eva Longoria (Telenovela) - Eva appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Hank Azaria (The Simpsons/Brockmire/Free Agents/Herman's Head) - Hank is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Diane Morgan (After Life) - Diane appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Sebastian Maniscalco (How to Be a Bookie) and Baron Vaughn (Grace and Frankie/Corporate) - Sebastian and Baron are guests on repeats of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
  • Garcelle Beauvais (Survival of the Thickest/The Jamie Foxx Show) - E! News has an interview with Garcelle at 11pm on E!.
  • Kerry Washington (Unprisoned) - Kerry is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 10pm on Bravo.
  • Ed Begley Jr. (Young Sheldon/Your Family or Mine/Gary Unmarried/Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)) - Ed talks about his new book To the Temple of Tranquility...And Step On It! A Memoir on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Tiffani Thiessen (Saved by the Bell/Alexa & Katie/Good Morning, Miami/Saved by the Bell: The College Years) - Tiffani discusses her latest cookbook, Here We Go Again: Recipes and Inspiration to Level Up Your Leftovers, on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Sam Jay (Bust Down) - Sam talks about her just-released HBO comedy special, Salute Me or Shoot Me, on Sherri, so check your local listings.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (June-October)

Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series Family Matters - The Complete Series Step by Step - The Complete Series ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition)

06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
07/18 - South Park - Seasons 21-25 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
07/25 - The Neighborhood - Season Five
07/25 - Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin - Season One
07/25 - Superstore - The Complete Series
08/22 - Back to Life - Season 1 / Season 2
08/29 - Smiling Friends - Season 1 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/05 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Sixth Season
09/12 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Second Season
09/12 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/26 - Family Matters - The Complete Series
09/26 - Step by Step - The Complete Series
10/10 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Thirteen / The Complete Season Fourteen
10/17 - ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) (Shout! Factory Special Offers)
10/17 - Night Court (2023) - The Complete First Season
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

09/28 - New Season of Wolf Like Me on Peacock; Max Original Animated Series Debuts October 19
09/27 - Moonlighting Coming to Hulu; Showtime Announces Date for The Curse
09/26 - Rick and Morty Season 7 Trailer; Fox's Krapopolis Debuts Well
09/25 - Laff Fall 2023 Schedule with Last Man Standing and Man with a Plan; Upload Returns October 20
09/24 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 25, 2023)
09/23 - SitcomsOnline Digest: An End on the Horizon for WGA Strike?; Hallmark Ready for Christmas
09/22 - The Santa Clauses Season 2 Launches November 8; CBS Alters Fall Schedule
09/21 - Penn & Teller: Fool Us Gets New Return Date; Netflix's Unicorn Academy Premieres November 2
09/20 - Paramount+ Announces Colin from Accounts; The Really Loud House Gets Halloween Movie
09/19 - The Simpsons Season 34 Streams October 11 on Disney+; Good Burger 2 Set for Holiday Season
09/18 - Hulu's Huluween and Disney+'s Hallowstream Line-Up; Shining Vale Returns October 13 on STARZ
09/17 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 18, 2023)
09/16 - SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Cancels Wonder Years Reboot; Byron Allen Makes $10 Billion Offer to Buy ABC
09/15 - Antenna TV's Bewitched Halloween Marathon; Rewind TV's Sabrina the Teenage Witch-O-Ween Marathon
09/14 - Dancing with the Stars Season 32 Cast; BUZZR Celebrates 40 Years of Press Your Luck
09/13 - TBS Acquires Modern Family; The Frasier Awards on COZI TV
09/12 - Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen Gets CBS Late Night Run; Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy Special
09/11 - Matt Rife Gets Netflix Special; Star Trek Day and Kid Cudi Join Forces
09/10 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 11, 2023)
09/09 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner Bros. Television Suspends Deals with Top Creators; Fran Drescher Re-Elected President of SAG-AFTRA
09/08 - CBS Announces Hosts of Game Show; New Goosebumps Premieres Friday the 13th This October on Disney+ and Hulu
09/07 - MeTV Presents Svengoolie's Halloween BOOnanza!; The CW Moving Fall Comedies to Thursdays
09/06 - CBS to Air NCIS: Sydney This Fall; Fox Makes Fall Change
09/05 - TBS and TNT September Stunts Include Big Bang Theory Batman Day Marathon; Netflix UK Produced Series Updates
09/04 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2023 Include Three's Company
09/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 4, 2023)
09/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: No Third Season for How I Met Your Father; Spectrum Dispute with Disney Could Spell End of Cable
09/01 - September Is Anniversary Month on Hulu; Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween Returns for Its 25th Anniversary
08/31 - Max's Original Comedy Series Starstruck Season 3 and Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Premiere Dates; AXS TV Announces Fall Programming Lineup
08/30 - The Partridge Family Coming to AXS TV Starting Oct. 2; CBS to Air A Tribute to Bob Barker Special Aug. 31, Marathon of Match Game Episodes to Air Sept. 2 on Game Show Network
08/29 - Once Upon a Time Coming to Hulu; Young Love Launches on Max in September
08/28 - Remembering TV Legend Bob Barker; Wolf Like Me Returns in October on Peacock