Friday, January 15, 2021
Fri-Yay: What Does the Future Hold for Sitcoms on Streaming Services?; Disney+ Has Its Teenage Doogie Howser

by Vincent
On January 1, the unthinkable happened: The Office, arguably Netflix's biggest hit of its acquired collection, was removed from the service. Of course, it wasn't unthinkable, exactly: Netflix first announced this would be happening nearly two years ago, after NBC claimed exclusive rights for the program for its budding streaming service Peacock. But it was still a major blow that caused a lot of outcry on social media. As we enter the next phase of the streaming era - which finds networks and studios increasingly making their own, separately priced streaming services and pulling their content off of where it was previously - it begs the question: will consumers follow their favorite shows, or will they find new shows instead?
It's still too soon to tell if The Office caused an uptick in subscribers for Peacock (which has been around since the summer, but easily has its biggest promotional push now that it has acquired arguably the biggest sitcom of the past 20 years.) But on social media, people aren't responding happy to see The Office in a new home, even with the enticement of extended cuts and deleted scenes. People are angry that their favorite sitcom has been taken away from them, and they seem to prefer venting on social media rather than signing up for Peacock. You might say, "why not just sign up for Peacock? It starts at 4.99/month." But to be fair, the amount of streaming service keeps piling up. To access the library you would've had access to on Netflix alone just 5 years ago, you'd have to sign up for Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max. Now to add another steaming service to the mix - it's understandable why people are angry, or opting to buy The Office DVDs on Amazon instead (Amazon reported an increase in sales of them after The Office left Netflix.) Still, if Peacock (or any other competing service) continues to add more and more shows, is it possible people will cancel Netflix and migrate to it? The Netflix brand is very strong, so it's going to take a lot for that to happen. But then again, Netflix keeps losing more and more series, and the more studios and networks that make their own Netflix series, the smaller their library will get. That's why Netflix has bet so much on its original programming in recent years. But will that be enough? The streamer has had plenty of original hits, but nothing blockbuster to the level of Orange is the New Black or Stranger Things in a few years now. Plus, reports of viewing activity have shown that long-running network series like The Office tend to be the most popular shows on streaming services due to their place as "comfort TV," and Netflix - with its new policy of ending shows after 3 or 4 seasons (original sitcoms like One Day at a Time, Alexa & Katie, The Ranch, No Good Nick), and keeping seasons to 10 episodes or less - doesn't really make programming of that kind anymore. We'll see where the next few years and the splintering of streaming services leaves sitcoms, but for now, I suggest finding your favorite sitcoms on the streaming services you have and holding them tight. (Also, if you're a Netflix subscriber looking for a show to replace The Office, might I suggest Community?)
Genius. Doctor. Teenager. Peyton Elizabeth Lee has been cast in the leading role as Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., an all-new Disney+ Original Series. Doogie Kameāloha, M.D., a re-imagining of the popular ABC series Doogie Howser, M.D., has been picked up to series, as we previously mentioned. Kourtney Kang (Fresh Off the Boat, How I Met Your Mother) is set to write and executive produce for 20th Television. Set in modern-day Hawaii, the 10-episode comedy follows Lahela "Doogie" Kameāloha, a mixed race 16-year-old girl, juggling a budding medical career and life as a teenager. Guiding Lahela (and also complicating things) is her family, including her spit-fire Irish mother who's also her supervisor at the hospital, and her Hawaiian "Local Boy" father struggling to accept that his daughter is no longer his little girl. Stay tuned for a premiere date and much more!
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Saturday, February 4
none scheduled
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 30)
Friday, February 3
- Eddie Murphy (The PJs) - Watch Eddie on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- D'Arcy Carden (The Good Place/Barry) - D'Arcy appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary/Go On/Everybody Hates Chris) - Tyler is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Will Arnett (Murderville/Arrested Development/Flaked/The Millers/Up All Night/Running Wilde) - Will is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Harrison Ford (Shrinking) - Harrison talks about the prequel series 1923 on NBC's Today some time between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Wendell Pierce (The Odd Couple/The Michael J. Fox Show/The Weber/The Brian Benben Show/The Gregory Hines Show) - Wendell unpacks the new TV series Accused on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Craig Robinson (Killing It/Ghosted/Mr. Robinson/The Office/Lucky) - Craig is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Jennifer Grey (Red Oaks/It's Like, You Know...) - Jennifer talks about taking on the controversial role of religious leader and Christian diet guru in her Lifetime film Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time/Happily Divorced/9 to 5) - Rita appears on The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
- Connie Britton (SMILF/Lost at Home/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Spin City) - Connie talks about Dear Edward on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
- Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony discusses his "Get Real with Diabetes" campaign on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (November-February)
11/08 - Frasier - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/08 - Young Rock - Season Two (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/15 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Seven / The Complete Season Eight
11/22 - That '70s Show - The Complete Series (Mill Creek)
11/29 - Ghosts - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/06 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - 70th Anniversary Ultimate Christmas Collection
12/13 - And Just Like That... - The Complete First Season
12/13 - Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
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