Wednesday, December 02, 2020
HBO Max Acquires Exclusive SVOD Streaming Rights to The Middle; Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone Get Netflix Sitcom

HBO Max has secured exclusive U.S. SVOD streaming rights to all nine seasons of the acclaimed family comedy The Middle, with a total of 215 episodes available to stream now. Two-time Emmy® winner Patricia Heaton stars in this warm and witty single-camera comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations. Middle-aged, middle class, and living in the middle of the country in Orson, Indiana, Frankie Heck (Heaton) is a harried wife and mother of three who uses her wry wit and sense of humor to get her family through each day intact. Frankie works as a dental assistant, and her unflappable husband Mike is manager at the local quarry and her sardonic partner in the daily grind that is raising their average — yes, most definitely average — family. Between juggling shifts and picking up fast food to be eaten in front of the TV, Frankie and Mike raise their kids — popular slacker Axl; optimistic, awkward Sue; odd, eccentric Brick — with love, humor and solid midwestern pragmatism. Year after year, their struggles continue, but through all the madness shines a loving family — and together, the Hecks put The Middle on the map.
Debuting in 2009 on ABC, the series won the esteemed HUMANITAS Prize in 2016 and was also nominated for multiple Critics Choice Awards throughout its run.
Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone will star in God's Favorite Idiot, a Netflix comedy series about Clark Thompson (Falcone), a mid-level tech support employee who finds love with co-worker Amily Luck (McCarthy) at exactly the same time he becomes the unwitting messenger of God. The series is created by Falcone, who will also EP alongside McCarthy. Netflix has ordered 16 episodes of this comedy, with a premiere date to be announced. More info to certainly come, such as additional casting and if this series is a single-camera comedy or multi-camera comedy. Stay tuned.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, March 20
none scheduled
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 17)
Thursday, March 20
- Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down) - Catch Adam on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - Selena appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Jon Hamm (Grimsburg/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and Emily Spivey (Bless the Harts) - Jon and Emily are guests on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Carmen Christopher (English Teacher) - Carmen is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Annaleigh Ashford (B Positive) - Annaleigh stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11pm on Bravo.
- Bill Burr (F Is for Family/Townies) - Bill chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Brian Tyree Henry (HouseBroken/Atlanta) - Brian talks about Dope Thief on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on ABC News Live Prime at 7pm.
- Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom is a guest on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Lauren Ambrose (The Return of Jezebel James) - Lauren talks about Yellowjackets on CBS Mornings Plus sometime between 7-9am.
- Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Ben Falcone (God's Favorite Idiot/Nobodies/Joey) - Ben talks about What Is Scarier Than Thunder on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Wendi McLendon-Covey (St. Denis Medical/The Goldbergs/Rules of Engagement/Reno 911!) - Wendi is hitting the headlines with Drew and telling her about her hit comedy show St. Denis Medical on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings
- Jay Ellis (Running Point/Insecure/The Game) - Jay is talking about working with Kate Hudson on the hit show and playing basketball in high school and college on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Cristela Alonzo (Cristela) - Cristela is a guest on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and 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
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
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