SitcomsOnline.com News Blog: March 2021

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

CBS Renews Young Sheldon for 3 More Seasons; DWTS Returns for Season 30 This Fall

CBS announced that it has renewed television's its top-rated comedy Young Sheldon for three additional seasons, beginning with the 2021-2022 broadcast season and lasting it through the 2023-2024 season. The CBS original series premiered Sept. 25, 2017. The series is averaging over 9.6 million viewers each week in Live+7 data. In the single camera, half-hour comedy Young Sheldon, viewers get the chance to meet the iconic, eccentric and extraordinary Sheldon Cooper in childhood in East Texas, as the young once-in-a-generation mind (series star Iain Armitage) embarks on his innocent, awkward and hopeful journey toward the man he will become in The Big Bang Theory. It stars Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Montana Jordan, Raegan Revord and Annie Potts. Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak are the executive producers for Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., in association with Warner Bros. Television. In its current season 2020-21, the series will air 18 episodes, with its season finale set for Thursday, May 13.

Dancing with the Stars

ABC has picked up Dancing with the Stars for its milestone 30th season on ABC. Host Tyra Banks and judges Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli are all expected to return. Dancing with the Stars is the hit series based on the BBC Studios global format in which celebrities perform choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, including Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. Hosted by supermodel and businesswoman Tyra Banks, the series returns to the ballroom with an all-new lineup of celebrities this season. ABC's Dancing with the Stars is produced by BBC Studios' Los Angeles production arm. Andrew Llinares and Tyra Banks are executive producers. During its fall 2020 run, ABC's Dancing with the Stars ranked as the #1 entertainment series in its 2-hour time slot among Adults 18-49. DWTS grew over its prior season by 9% among Adults 18-49. A premiere date, celebrity contestants and pro dancers will be announced at a later date.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Amazon Starts Production on Being the Ricardos, An I Love Lucy Movie; NBC Schedules Lil Rel Game Show

Amazon Studios started principal photography on writer-director Aaron Sorkin's drama Being the Ricardos this week in Los Angeles. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star as real-life couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the stars behind the groundbreaking and classic 1950s television sitcom I Love Lucy, that focused on a happily married though seemingly mismatched couple - a flame-haired, accident-prone American housewife, and her sensible Cuban-American bandleader husband - that became the top-rated and most beloved show of the era. The film is set during one production week of I Love Lucy - Monday table read through Friday audience filming - when Lucy and Desi face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage.

Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman (The Undoing) is the eponymous redheaded star of I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, and fellow Oscar winner Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls, No Country for Old Men) is her husband, Desi Arnaz, the Cuban-American actor, musician, and president of their television production company, Desilu Productions. On I Love Lucy, Ball and Arnaz portrayed America's most famous TV couple, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. But in real life their relationship was infamously more complex and tumultuous than the hilarious fictional characters they portray. The film co-stars Oscar winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash, Palm Springs) and Nina Arianda (Stan & Ollie, Florence Foster Jenkins) as Lucy and Desi's I Love Lucy co-stars William Frawley and Vivian Vance. Frawley played the Ricardo's neighbor Fred Mertz on the iconic sitcom and Vance was Fred's wife and Lucy's best friend, Ethel Mertz.

Joining the ensemble in co-starring roles are two-time Emmy winner Tony Hale (Veep, Arrested Development) as I Love Lucy executive producer and head writer Jess Oppenheimer, along with Alia Shawkat (Search Party, Arrested Development) and Jake Lacy (Fosse/Verdon, The Office) as the show's longtime writing partners, Madelyn Pugh & Bob Carroll Jr. Rounding out the cast are Clark Gregg (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Nelson Franklin (Veep), John Rubinstein (Family), Linda Lavin (Alice, The Good Wife), Robert Pine (CHiPs) and Christopher Denham (Billions).

Small Fortune

Small Fortune, NBC's newest team competition game show hosted by Lil Rel Howery, premieres on Monday, May 31 at 10 p.m. ET/PT and will air thru July 19, right before the Olympics. The series is a British import based on Youngest Media's popular U.K. format and is unlike any team competition ever seen on U.S. television. In each heart-pounding episode, teams of three from various backgrounds, including first responders and Olympians from around the country, work together to earn a shot at competing for the $250,000 cash prize in the "Big Little Heist" finale game. To get there, each team must prove their skills on miniature playing fields from a shrunken sushi conveyor belt with tiny chopsticks ("Teeny Sashimi") to a mini Ellis Island ("Statue of Liberteeny"). Challenges will require considerable dexterity and intense focus because with games this small, there's no room for error as the slightest miscalculation or tremble may result in losing tens of thousands of dollars. In the eight-episode series, Howery raises the stakes by mixing encouragement with his brand of laughs to keep the players on their toes and audiences equally as anxious and entertained.

Monday, March 29, 2021

Antenna TV Spring 2021 Schedule; Eric Stonestreet to Host Fox Series

Antenna TV's Spring 2021 schedule will launch a week from today on Monday, April 5. No new series will be added, but a number of shows will be on hiatus, while What's Happening Now!! returns to the schedule on weekends. But first on weekdays, there will be some time changes and encores being added. Encore hours of I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, Three's Company, Barney Miller and The Jeffersons will be added. Jeannie/Bewitched remain airing from 1-3pm, but will also now air 5-7am. Three's Company remains 4-5pm but gets a late night encore from 2-3am. Barney Miller returns to weekdays and gets a primetime airing from 8-9pm and an encore from 3-4am. And The Jeffersons remains in prime from 9-10pm, but gets an encore from 4-5am. There are some other timeslot changes, but one other major note is Gimme a Break! returning to weekdays replacing Who's the Boss? from 5-6pm. Who's the Boss? will be resting a bit as it gears up to air on the upcoming Antenna TV companion network focusing on the '80s (and some 90s) later this year. It will only air right now on Sundays from 11pm-12am. Family Ties and Growing Pains have also been cut quite a bit, as they rest up for the potential move.

Quite a few 80s/90s shows have been removed completely from the lineup such as Archie Bunker's Place, Benson, Dear John, Wings, Sabrina, Becker and NewsRadio, as they rest up, so they perhaps all make the move to the new companion network. Maude and The Partridge Family is also off the line-up for now as they may be needed more later this year when shows move to the companion network. Only series that has left due to its contract being expired is The Joey Bishop Show. Meanwhile, '80s series What's Happening Now!! returns to weekends with a bang, airing two hours on weekends from 5-7pm. It will also air Saturday mornings from 7-9am. Other weekend changes include encores of Growing Pains, Soap, Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life and 227 being added on Sundays, so you get a second chance to watch, while a second hour of I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched is added on Saturdays. And finally My Two Dads moves from 4am to 7pm on Sunday nights.

Eric Stonestreet

Multi-Emmy Award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) will host new unscripted competition series Domino Masters, premiering in the 2021-2022 season on Fox. Produced by Fox Entertainment's fast-growing in-house unscripted studio, Fox Alternative Entertainment, the series will feature teams of domino enthusiasts facing off in an unbelievable domino toppling and chain reaction tournament. Throughout the competition, Stonestreet, alongside the judges, will encourage the domino aficionados, introduce incredible challenges and put the creations to the test until one team is crowned the Domino Masters. The series brings imagination and creative ingenuity to life when teams of domino enthusiasts go head-to-head in a toppling tournament to create mind-blowing masterpieces, with infinite possibilities and thousands of tiles and unique kinetic devices. Sixteen skilled teams will compete against each other in ambitious domino building challenges to be crowned the country's most talented amateur domino topplers. In each episode, the teams will be given a bold theme and exciting custom elements to incorporate into their topples. The competing pairs who most impress the judges will progress to the next round, until the finale, during which the top teams will face off for a cash prize, the ultimate trophy and the grand title of Domino Masters. Stonestreet's last hosting gig was the ABC reality series The Toy Box in 2017.

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 29, 2021)

It's Sunday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of March 29-April 2, 2021, 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, March 29

Lil Rel Howery (Rel/The Carmichael Show) - Watch Lil Rel on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Eddie Murphy (The PJs) - Eddie appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Eric Andre (Man Seeking Woman/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Eric is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Allison Janney (Mom/Mr. Sunshine) - Allison appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Kyra Sedgwick (Call Your Mother) - Kyra is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Vanessa Hudgens (Powerless) - Vanessa discusses The Princess Switch: Switched Again on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Mario Lopez (Saved by the Bell/Saved by the Bell: The College Years) - Mario guest hosts The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Elizabeth Berkley Lauren (Saved by the Bell) - Elizabeth appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan talks about his new sitcom and making history as the longest-running SNL cast member, plus a surprise by his co-star, TV icon Don Johnson on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Kyle Chandler (What About Joan) - Kyle talks about Godzilla vs. Kong on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Rebel Wilson (Super Fun Night) - Rebel talks about Pooch Perfect on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Suzanne Somers (Three's Company/She's the Sheriff/Step by Step) - Suzanne opens up about her shocking home invasion on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Tracee is a guest on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.

Tuesday, March 30

Nicole Byer (Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Catch Nicole on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Megan Mullally (The Great North/Will & Grace/Breaking In/Rachel Gunn, R.N./The Ellen Burstyn Show) and Nick Offerman (The Great North/Parks and Recreation) - Megan and Nick chat with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Michael Chiklis (Daddio) - Michael appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/The Game) - Tika discusses mixed-ish on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Tracy Morgan (The Last O.G./30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - Tracy is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Rebel Wilson (Super Fun Night) - Rebel will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Food Between Friends authors Jesse and Julie Tanous join Drew for Battle of the Bites on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Raegan Revord (Young Sheldon) - Raegan kicks-off her new Reading with Raegan Book Club on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.

Wednesday, March 31

Jamie Foxx (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!/The Jamie Foxx Show) - Watch Jamie on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Lauren Graham (M.Y.O.B./Conrad Bloom/Townies/Good Company) - Lauren appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - Jerry is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Laura Benanti (The Detour/Go On) - Laura appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Ricky Gervais (After Life/The Office) - Ricky chats about his series After Life on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan is a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew appears on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
Jackée Harry (Tyler Perry's The Paynes/The First Family/Sister, Sister/227) - Jackée talks about NBC's Days of Our Lives on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Christopher Meloni (Surviving Jack/The Fanelli Boys) - Christopher talks about Law & Order: Organized Crime on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Issa Rae (Insecure) - NBC's Today catches up with Issa on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
William Shatner ($h*! My Dad Says) - William reveals how he’s more active than ever at 90 and why he says he won’t retire until he’s dead on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.

Thursday, April 1

Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Catch Melissa on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Nasim Pedrad (Chad/Mulaney) - Nasim appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Regina King (227/Leap of Faith) - Regina is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Kathryn Hahn (Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathyn appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World) - Sabrina is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Patton appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Beth Behrs (The Neighborhood/2 Broke Girls) - Beth is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Miles Brown (black-ish) - Miles appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Kyle MacLachlan (Carol's Second Act/Sex and the City) - Kyle will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Dwayne Johnson (Young Rock) - Dwayne talks about NBC's Young Rock on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Dylan McDermott (LA to Vegas) - Dylan talks about Law & Order on People in 10 at 8am.
Justine Bateman (Family Ties) - Justine talks about Face on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.

Friday, April 2

Dana Carvey (One of the Boys) - Watch Dana on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Lena Durham (Girls) - Lena appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Tim Allen (Last Man Standing/Home Improvement) - Tim talks about Last Man Standing on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Zendaya (K.C. Undercover/Shake It Up) - Zendaya talks about starring in and producing the film Malcolm & Marie on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
John Stamos (Fuller House/Grandfathered/Jake in Progress/Full House) - John appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Iain Armitage (Young Sheldon) - Iain is a guest on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Ali Wentworth (Nightcap) - Ali appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Justine Bateman (Family Ties) - Justine will be on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Kyle MacLachlan (Carol's Second Act/Sex and the City) - Kyle talks about PBS' Atlantic Crossing on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Demi performs on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Vivica A. Fox (Mr. Box Office/Getting Personal/Arsenio/Out All Night) - Vivica talks about her coronavirus scare on The Doctors, so check your local listings.

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, March 28

Bless the Harts - "Dance Dance Resolution" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT)
Jenny takes a mother/daughter bonding moment a little too far after Violet shows interest in learning to dance; Wayne takes Betty to a flea market in hopes that she will finally give him the recognition he deserves.

The Simpsons - "Uncut Femmes" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
It is revealed that Chief Wiggum's wife is more than she seems; Marge takes part in a jewel heist.

The Great North - "Avocado Barter Adventure" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Wolf tries to find the perfect six-month anniversary gift for Honeybee; Judy interviews Honeybee for the school newspaper and learns about her thrilling early years in Fresno, Calif.

Bob's Burgers - "Y Tu Tina Tambien" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When Tina is forced to listen to Spanish audio lessons in the library to improve her grade, she develops an unexpected crush; Louise and Gene want to dunk Mr. Frond at the Wagstaff Spring Fair.

Family Guy - "Customer of the Week" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After feeling unappreciated by her family, Lois taps into her villainous side and attempts to win best customer at her favorite coffee shop.

Monday, March 29

Breeders - "No Connection" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Paul fears his culturally fragmented family has lost a vital connection; gentrification impacts Jim and Jackie as the last of their old neighbors move out and more young professionals move in.

Tuesday, March 30

black-ish - "100 Yards and Runnin'" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Bow and Dre let their competitive streaks out during their family game night and things escalate when they place a bet. Meanwhile, Junior and Olivia are at a turning point in their relationship when one person says “I love you”.

mixed-ish - "She's a Bad Mama Jama" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Alicia’s mom, Grandma Shireen, stays with the Johnson’s after her surgery, but taking care of grandma becomes a full-time job. Meanwhile, Denise tests each of the kids to see who is best fit to take care of her when she gets old one day.

Young Rock - "My Day with Andre" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Hawaii, 1982: Dewey spends a day with Andre the Giant that neither will ever forget; Lia and Rocky prepare for the huge Island Battle Royale, where more than the title is at stake; in 2032, candidate Johnson reveals his running mate.

Kenan - "You Go, Squirrel!" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Kenan has some odd encounters with a squirrel that he believes might be Cori's spirit; Rick and Gary think they've missed Kenan's birthday and try to organize an impromptu surprise party.

Wednesday, March 31

The Goldbergs - "Bever-lé" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When the NFL players go on strike and the football season is threatened, Barry gets concerned that he and Murray will no longer have anything to talk about which leads Barry to try out for the Eagles team himself. Against Erica’s advice, Beverly decides to start selling a nutritional product from a sketchy company in an attempt to gain financial independence.

American Housewife - "The Election" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Katie pushes Cooper (Logan Pepper) to share his passion for the culinary arts and ambition of becoming a chef with his autocratic father, Doyle Bradford (Joel McHale). Meanwhile, Greg and Principal Ablin (Jerry Lambert) go head-to-head when the election results offer an interesting twist. And the Otto family gets the surprise of a lifetime.

The Conners - "Money, Booze and Lies" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Becky meets up with an old friend and feels pressured to impress him while Dan questions his position at the hardware store, leading to a massive fight between him and Ben.

Call Your Mother - "One Bad Mother" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Lane’s judgmental mom, Barbara (played by Kym Whitley), comes to town, Lane tries to temporarily rid his apartment and life of anything that she may disapprove of, including Jean and Jackie. Meanwhile, Freddie attempts to hide his professional success to make Jackie feel better about her current difficulties, and Sharon inappropriately gets cozy with Danny while sleepwalking.

Thursday, April 1

Young Sheldon - "A Box of Treasure and the Meemaw of Science" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon, Dr. Linkletter and Meemaw team up on a science experiment. Also, Mary is jealous that Pastor Jeff and Brenda (Melissa Peterman) are spending time together, and Georgie has a new side hustle.

United States of Al - "Pilot" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Marine veteran Riley, home at last after serving in Afghanistan, is happily reunited with his friend Awalmir, who goes by Al, the interpreter with his unit, after a long struggle to get him a visa to travel to the United States from Afghanistan.

Mom - "Tiny Dancer and an Impromptu Picnic" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Bonnie goes to extreme lengths to protect someone she loves. Also, Jill struggles to make sense of a messy new relationship. Steve Valentine returns as Rod.

B Positive - "Canine Extraction" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Gina has three days to teach Cannoli the dog new tricks before his owner returns from overseas. Also, Drew must deal with Maddie growing up.

The Moodys - "Episode 201" / "Episode 202" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Sean Sr. contemplates retirement as he and Ann take a road trip across the country; Sean Jr. continues to brew up get-rich-quick schemes; Bridget returns home while her fancy new townhouse is being renovated.

Friday, April 2

none scheduled

Saturday, April 3

Side Hustle - "Hot Tubby's" (Nickelodeon, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The kids are excited when they're hired to film a commercial for Hot Tubby's Hot Tub Giveaway Contest; after the store's owner refuses to pay them, the kids decide to get back at him by pulling off a heist.

Sunday, April 4

Bless the Harts - "Easter's 11" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT)
When attendance at their local church begins to drop, the Harts plot to bring down the neighboring megachurch; Violet tricks Wayne into helping her pull a prank that backfires.

Complete TV Listings

Saturday, March 27, 2021

SitcomsOnline Digest: Don Cheadle to Narrate Wonder Years Reboot; Sharon Osbourne Out at The Talk

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing more about that reboot of The Wonder Years, the end of Superstore, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Don Cheadle is set to take on the narrator role in the reimagining of The Wonder Years. (Hollywood Reporter)
With Superstore recently ending after six seasons, the creator and executive producers talked about the end with Deadline (don't read if you want to avoid spoilers). (Deadline)
Mr. Mayor has gotten a second season renewal. (Variety)
Sharon Osbourne, the last person to be part of the show since it debuted over a decade ago, is no longer part of The Talk. (Yahoo!)
Jessica Walter and George Segal both died this week. (Chicago Tribune)
Season (or series for some shows, like Mom) finale dates for CBS have been set. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (MARCH 27 - APRIL 2)

Decades has a Fall Guy binge for this weekend.
Saturday Night Live is new tonight with host Maya Rudolph and musical guest Jack Harlow.

Friday, March 26, 2021

Fri-Yay: Superstore Series Finale; Remembering Jessica Walter of Arrested Development and Richard Gilliland of Designing Women

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!

by Vincent

Last night, NBC's Superstore came to an end. The show has been one of the best network sitcoms of the past decade, and in my mind, one of the most underrated sitcoms of all-time. It's a hilarious show with an excellent ensemble that tackled working class issues that no other show has even come close to tackling, and it deserves to be mentioned in the same conversation as The Office, Community, 30 Rock, The Good Place or any of the other beloved NBC comedies of modern times. The show is also going out with a great season - even though losing America Ferrera and dealing with the issues of the COVID-19 pandemic don't sound like they would make a great Superstore season, they really have. The way Superstore depicts its employees' dealing with the pandemic has made for some great dark and true-to-life humor, and continued its amazing turn of taking serious issues and making funny, thoughtful TV.

At the time I'm writing this, I haven't watched the show's series finale yet. But in some ways, I'm dreading the show's end, just because Superstore has been such a consistent delight these past six years, and I'm not ready for the show to end just yet. With Superstore leaving, it'll leave a huge hole in the network TV landscape, and I truly hope that the show has a revival on streaming the way The Office and Parks and Recreation did - as many people as possible deserve to watch this truly incredible series. So farewell, Superstore, and thanks for all of the laughs and real moments you've given us.

Jessica Walter

Emmy-winning actress Jessica Walter, who starred as Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development, has died. She died in her sleep at her home in Manhattan, New York, on March 24. Ms. Walter was 80.

Walter's early television guest appearances included Flipper, The Fugitive, The F.B.I., Name of the Game, Mannix, Mission: Impossible, Alias Smith and Jones, Mannix, Banacek, Barnaby Jones, The Magician, Columbo, Hawaii Five-0 and Ironside. She won an Emmy Award in 1975 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for her work in the NBC police drama Amy Prentiss. Amy Prentiss was a relatively young investigator who becomes the first female Chief of Detectives for the San Francisco Police Department following the previous chief's death. The series was a spin-off of Ironside.

She had a recurring role as Claudia Bradford in eight episodes the 1984-1985 ABC sitcom Three's a Crowd. Claudia Bradford was Vicky Bradford's (Mary Cadorette) mother and James Bradford's (Robert Mandan) ex-wife. The Three's Company spin-off also starred John Ritter and Alan Campbell.

Walter provided the voice of Fran Sinclair on the 1991-1994 ABC sitcom Dinosaurs. Fran Sinclair was a ten-ton allosaurus who was the mother and homemaker of the Sinclair family. The cast providing voices included Stuart Pankin, Jason Willinger, Sally Struthers, Kevin Clash, Florence Stanley, Sam McMurray and Sherman Hemsley.

Walter starred as Celia Calloway on the 1998-2000 Lifetime sitcom Oh Baby. Celia was the bossy mother of Tracy Calloway (Cynthia Stevenson). The series also starred Joanna Gleason, Matt Champagne, Dina Spybey, Doug Ballard, Jack Coleman, Patrick Kerr and Don McMarcus.

Arrested Development

She starred as the scheming alcoholic socialite matriarch Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development. Lucille is the wife of George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor) and the mother of Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman). Walter received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series for the role in 2005. The series aired on Fox for three seasons from 2003 to 2005 before being revived by Netflix for seasons four (2013) and five (2018-2019). It also stars Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, David Cross and Ron Howard (narrator).

Retired at 35

Walter starred as Elaine Robbins on the 2011-2012 TV Land sitcom Retired at 35. It ran for two seasons and 20 episodes. The series follows a successful New Yorker named David (Johnathan McClain), who decides to leave the rat race and his job in the big city and visit his father (George Segal) and mother (Jessica Walter) who live in a retirement community in Florida. The series also starred Josh McDermitt, Ryan Michelle Bathe (Season 1) and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Season 2).

Jennifer Falls

She starred as Maggie Doyle on the 2014 TV Land sitcom Jennifer Falls. The series follows Jennifer Doyle (Jaime Pressly), a single mother who, after losing her high salary job, has to move back in with her mother, Maggie. It also starred Missi Pyle, Ethlan Suplee, Nora Kirkpatrick and Dylan Gelula.

Walter provided the voice of Malory Hunter on the FX/FXX animated series Archer for 11 seasons from 2009 to 2020. Malory Hunter is the mother Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin). The show has been renewed for season 12. Others providing voices include Judy Greer, Amber Nash, Chris Parnell, Adam Reed, Aisha Tyler and Lucky Yates.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included Love, American Style, Aloha Paradise, Joanie Loves Chachi, The Love Boat, Coach (5 episodes as Susan Miller), You Wish, Just Shoot Me! (as Eve Gallo, the mother of Maya (Laura San Giacomo) and the ex-wife of magazine publisher Jack Gallo (George Segal)), Rules of Engagement, Happy Hour, The Big Bang Theory, The Odd Couple (2016), Difficult People and American Housewife.

She had a supporting role as Phyllis Koster, the wife of David Koster (William Shatner), on the short-lived 1965 CBS police drama For the People. She had a recurring role as Melanie McIntyre, Trapper John's (Pernell Roberts) former wife on the CBS medical drama Trapper John, M.D. from 1979 to 1985. In 1982, she appeared as Anne McPherson on the NBC drama The Round Table. She played Ava Marshall on the short-lived 1983 NBC primetime soap opera Bare Essence. She starred as Connie Lo Verde on the 1988 NBC drama Aaron's Way. She was a regular as Tabitha Wilson on the first half of the first season of 90210 from 2008 to 2009.

Some of her other drama television guest appearances in the 1970s and 1980s included McCloud, The Streets of San Francisco, McMillan and Wife, Wonder Woman, Quincy, M.E., Knots Landing, Matt Houston, Hotel, Magnum, P.I. and Murder, She Wrote. Her later guest appearances included Babylon 5, Law & Order, One Life to Live (6 episodes), Jack & Jill, Touched by an Angel, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Saving Grace, Gravity, NCIS and Good Girls.

Her film credits included Play Misty for Me (1971), Grand Prix (1966), The Group (1966), Going Ape! (1981), Spring Fever (1983), The Flamingo Kid (1984) and PCU (1994).

Ms. Walter was a brilliant actress. She was so funny and memorable as Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development. She made everything she appeared in much better. 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 Arrested Development messsage board. View photos in our galleries.

Richard Gilliland

Character actor Richard Gilliland, who appeared as J.D. Shackelford on Designing Women, has died. He died on March 18 following a short illness in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Gilliland was 71.

Operation Petticoat

Gilliland starred as Lt. Nick Holden in the first season (1977-1978) of the ABC sitcom Operation Petticoat. Lt. Nick Holden was a wheeler-dealer supply officer. The first season also starred John Astin, Melinda Naud, Yvonne Wilder, Dorrie Thomson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bond Gideon, Richard Brestoff and Jim Varney.

He starred as Tom Stafford on the short-lived 1989 CBS sitcom Heartland. The series was about an old-fashioned farmer named B. L. McCutcheon (Brian Keith) moves in with his daughter (Katie Layman), son-in-law (Richard Gilliland) and their family. The series also starred Jason Kristofer, Devin Ratray and Daisy Keith.

Just Our Luck

Gilliand starred as Keith Barrow on the short-lived 1983 ABC sitcom Just Our Luck. Keith Barrow was a mild-mannered TV weatherman for KPOX-TV who frees a hip, fun-loving 3,000-year-old genie named Shabu (T.K. Carter) after being imprisoned in his bottle for nearly two centuries. The series also starred Ellen Maxted, Rod McCary, Richard Schaal, Hamilton Camp and Leonard Simon.

Designing Women - Richard Gilliland, Annie Potts and Jean Smart

He had a recurring role as J.D. Shackelford on 14 episodes of the CBS sitcom Designing Women from 1986 to 1991. J.D. Shackelford was Mary Jo Shively's (Annie Potts) boyfriend who worked as a talent scout for the Atlanta Braves. Gilliland married Jean Smart (Charlene Frazier-Stillfield) in 1987. The series also starred Dixie Carter, Delta Burke (1986-1991), Meschach Taylor, Julia Duffy (Season 6), Jan Hooks (Seasons 6-7) and Judith Ivey (Season 7).

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, Mary, Night Court, Valerie, Davis Rules and Becker.

He had a recurring role as Jeffrey Milgrom in seven episodes of thirtysomething from 1989 to 1990. Some of his television drama guest appearances from the 1970 and 1980s included The Streets of San Francisco, Medical Center, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Blue Knight, McMillan and Wife (as Sgt. Steve DiMaggio), Trapper John, M.D., The Waltons, Fantasy Island, Hotel, St. Elsewhere, Hunter, Hearbeat and Jake and the Fatman.

Some of his later guest appearances included Murder, She Wrote, Matlock, Winnetka Road, Touched by an Angel, Dark Skies, Early Edition, The Practice, Party of Five, Judging Amy, Joan of Arcadia, Crossing Jordan, 24, Dexter, Desperate Housewives, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Minds and Imposters.

Mr. Gilliland was a talented and versatile character actor. He was a familiar face on many sitcoms and other television series over the years. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Designing Women message board. View photos in our galleries.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

New Weekly Celebrity Sleepover Talk Show After SNL; Raven-Symoné Heads to HGTV Series

It's time for the ultimate slumber party and you're invited! LXTV, the Emmy-winning production company, and a part of NBC and Telemundo Owned Stations, announced the launch of Celebrity Sleepover, an entirely different kind of interview show, hosted by 1st Look and reality star Johnny 'Bananas' Devenanzio. The new weekly show, launching Saturday, April 3 on NBC Owned & Affiliate stations (check local listings), is comprised of four fun-filled installments, and is a place where your friends are your favorite celebrities, the games are for adults only, and you can eat and be merry to your heart's content.

Guests include actress and host Tiffani Thiessen (April 3), The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey (April 10), music icon Sammy Hagar (April 17), Grammy and Emmy-nominated comedian and musician Margaret Cho (April 24), and Worst Cooks In America chef Anne Burrell (April 3 & 24). In a nod to Johnny’s own reality TV roots, he’ll also be joined by casts from The Real World NY Reunion (April 17) and The Challenge All Stars (April 24)-- Johnny, a The Real World: Key West alum, has appeared on 20 seasons of The Challenge. Shot from his own living room, Johnny remains the life of the party, and invited guests and viewers get to take part in every sleepover challenge imaginable. Whether he’s competing in the ultimate food dare, sharing the spookiest story, dabbling in the kitchen to create the best in midnight munchies, or mastering the most elegant cocktail, Johnny gives fans a reason to stay up late.

Celebrity Sleepover will air following Saturday Night Live on NBC-owned television stations: WNBC in New York; KNBC in Los Angeles; WMAQ in Chicago; WCAU in Philadelphia; KXAS in Dallas-Fort Worth; KNTV in the San Francisco Bay Area; WRC-TV in Washington, D.C.; WTVJ in Miami-Fort Lauderdale; KNSD in San Diego and WVIT in Hartford and on more than 200 NBC affiliates across the country (check local listings for airtimes). Celebrity Sleepover will also be available to watch on demand.

Raven-Symoné - Photo Credit: Quentin Ryan

HGTV has greenlighted a new one-hour pilot, What Not To Design (wt), starring singer, actress and design enthusiast Raven-Symoné (That's So Raven, Raven's Home, The Cosby Show). Based on the wildly popular TLC show What Not To Wear, the pilot follows Raven and her team of experts, designer Nina Ferrer and craftsman James Worsham, as they lead a style intervention to overhaul home design disasters. From homes with outdated, over-the-top decor to ones with out-of-control memorabilia collections, the houses – and the owners – are in for a major change. During the pilot, Raven and her team will meet with homeowners who are stuck in a style rut. They will survey what items to keep, toss and sell online to maximize the budget. After that, it’s out with the old as the rooms are emptied of everything, including carpet, drapes and wallpaper.

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Remembering George Segal, Pops from The Goldbergs; HBO Max Comedy Series Made for Love Drops April 1

Actor George Segal, who starred as Jack Gallo on Just Shoot Me! and as Albert "Pops" Solomon on The Goldbergs, has died. He died of complications from bypass surgery in Santa Rosa, California, on March 23. Mr. Segal was 87.

Some of Segal's early television guest appearances included The Play of the Week, Armstrong Circle Theatre, The United States Steel Hour, Naked City, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Channing, The Doctors and the Nurses and Arrest and Trial.

His first television starring role was as Andy Kooper on the 1987 CBS sitcom Take Five. The short-lived series was canceled after only two episodes had aired. In the semi-autobiographical series, Andy Kooper has a midlife crisis after his wife had divorced him and her father had fired him from his public relations job. He sang with his buddies in the Lenny Goodman Quartet, a semi-pro Dixieland jazz band in which he sang and played the banjo. The series also starred Severn Darden, Derek McGrath, Bruce Jarchow, Jim Haynie, Melanie Chartoff, Todd Field and Eugene Roche.

Just Shoot Me!

Segal starred as Jack Gallo on the 1997-2003 NBC workplace sitcom Just Shoot Me!. The series ran for seven seasons and 148 episodes. Jack Gallo was the successful yet often oblivious owner and publisher of a New York City fashion magazine called Blush. Segal was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999 and 2000 as well as a Satellite Award in 2002 for the role. The series also starred Laura San Giacomo, Wendie Malick, Enrico Colantoni, David Spade, Chris Hogan (1997) and Rena Sofer (2002-2003).

Retired at 35

He starred as Alan Robbins on the 2011-2012 TV Land sitcom Retired at 35. It ran for two seasons and 20 episodes. The series follows a successful New Yorker named David (Johnathan McClain), who decides to leave the rat race and his job in the big city and visit his father (George Segal) and mother (Jessica Walter) who live in a retirement community in Florida. The series also starred Josh McDermitt, Ryan Michelle Bathe (Season 1) and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Season 2).

The Goldbergs

Segal has starred as Albert "Pops" Solomon on the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs for eight seasons since 2013. "Pops" is the eccentric but lovable grandfather of a semi-autobiographical family based on that of series creator Adam F. Goldberg. He is Beverly Goldberg's (Wendi McLendon-Covey) laid-back widower father and a World War II Veteran. Segal was an accomplished banjo player and played it several times on the show. The cast includes Jeff Garlin, Sean Giambrone, Troy Gentile, Hayley Orrantia, AJ Michalka (Season 3–4; recurring 1–2 and 5–6, guest 7) and Sam Lerner (Season 5–present; recurring 2–4).

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Larry Sanders Show, The Naked Truth (4 episodes), Caroline in the City, Bette, The War at Home and Entourage (3 episodes). He appeared on five episodes of the sketch comedy series Tracy Takes On.... Some of his voice credits included Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, American Dad! and The Simpsons.

He starred as Daedalus Patrick Murphy on the 1988-1989 ABC crime drama Murphy's Law. He played Gordon in seven episodes of the syndicated adventure series High Tide from 1994 to 1995. Some of his television drama guest appearances included Murder, She Wrote, Burke's Law, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Private Practice, Boston Legal and Pushing Daisies.

Segal was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and won two Golden Globe Awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance in A Touch of Class (1973). Some of his other film credits included Ship of Fools (1965), King Rat (1965), The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967), Where's Poppa? (1970), The Hot Rock (1972), Blume in Love (1973), California Split (1974), For the Boys (1991) and Flirting with Disaster (1996).

Mr. Segal was a talented and verstatile actor. He was very funny as Jack Gallo on Just Shoot Me! and perfectly cast as "Pops" on The Goldbergs. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment he brought us during his long career. He will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Just Shoot Me! and The Goldbergs message boards. View photos in our galleries.

Kim Tyler

We also remember child actor Kim Tyler. He was best known for his role as Kyle Nash on Please Don't Eat the Daisies. He died on February 10 at his home in Hollywood Heights, California, surrounded by loved ones, after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Tyler was 66.

Please Don't Eat the Daisies

Tyler starred as Kyle Nash, the oldest son of Joan (Patricia Crowley) and James (Jim) Nash (Mark Miller), on the 1965-1967 NBC sitcom Please Don't Eat the Daisies. The series ran for two seasons and 58 episodes. It also starred Brian Nash, Joe Fithian, Jeff Fithian, Shirley Mitchell, Harry Hickox (1965-1966), King Donovan (1966-1967), Dub Taylor (1965-1966), Ellen Corby, Bill Quinn (1966-1967) and Jean VanderPyl (1966-1967).

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Hazel, The Andy Griffith Show (as Billy Gray in the episode "One-Punch Opie"), The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (6 episodes), The Addams Family, My Three Sons and My Favorite Martian. He appeared on episodes of The 20th Century-Fox Hour in 1956 and The Law and Mr. Jones in 1961.

His family said he was a talented musician, a proficient poker player and an amateur videographer. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Michelle.

Mr. Tyler was very good on Please Don't Eat the Daisies. It was surprising that he didn't continue acting after the series ended. Please Don't Eat the Daisies is a wonderful series that should be shown again in syndication or be available on DVD or streaming. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Please Don't Eat the Daisies message board.

Made for Love - Cristin Milioti

The Max Original Made for Love debuts with three episodes on Thursday, April 1. The season continues with three episodes on April 8 and concludes with two episodes on April 15. Based on the novel by Alissa Nutting, the comedy series is a darkly absurd and cynically poignant story of love and divorce following Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), a thirty-something woman on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), a controlling tech billionaire. Soon she discovers that her husband has implanted a monitoring device – the Made for Love chip – in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her, and know her "emotional data" as she tries to regain her independence. Through the chip, Byron's able to watch Hazel's every move as she flees to her desert hometown to take refuge with her aging widower father Herbert (Ray Romano) and his synthetic partner, Diane. Made for Love stars Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen, Dan Bakkedahl, Noma Dumezweni, Augusto Aguilera, Caleb Foote and Ray Romano. The series is executive produced by Christina Lee, Alissa Nutting, Patrick Somerville, Dean Bakopoulos, Liza Chasin and SJ Clarkson. Christina Lee is showrunner and Paramount Television Studios is the studio. Stephanie Laing directed the pilot and is a Co-EP. The season was directed by Laing and Alethea Jones.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Mr. Mayor Returning for Season 2; CBS 2020-21 Season Finale Dates

NBC has given a season two renewal to its new hit comedy Mr. Mayor. 9 episodes aired in the first and aired from Jan. 7 through Feb. 25 of this year. The Mr. Mayor pilot, which aired Jan. 7, has grown to a 3.7 in the 18-49 demo and 16 million total viewers, up +509% and +217%, respectively, from its live + same day performance. The series premiered as NBC's best Thursday comedy launch in total viewers (6.6 million in live+7) since the premiere of the Will & Grace revival in 2017. The series stars Ted Danson, Holly Hunter, Vella Lovell, Mike Cabellon, Kyla Kenedy and Bobby Moynihan. Robert Carlock, Tina Fey, Jeff Richmond and David Miner executive produce. Eric Gurian serves as a co-executive producer. The comedy is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, Little Stranger, Bevel Gears and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Mom

CBS announced season finale dates for its original primetime comedies, dramas and unscripted series for the 2020-2021 broadcast season, including the series finales of Mom, on Thursday, May 13 (9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT), and of NCIS: New Orleans on Sunday, May 23 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network. Dates for upcoming new comedy The United States of Al and new drama Clarice will be announced later, as they go into summer. See below for a list:

Wednesday, April 14
8:00-9:00 PM Tough as Nails (Second Season Finale)

Friday, April 30
8:00-9:00 PM MacGyver (Fifth Season Finale)

Friday, May 7
9:00-10:00 PM Magnum P.I. (Third Season Finale)

Thursday, May 13
8:00-8:30 PM Young Sheldon (Fourth Season Finale)
9:00-9:30 PM Mom (Series Finale)
9:30-10:00 PM B Positive (First Season Finale)

Friday, May 14
9:00-11:00 PM Blue Bloods (Two-Hour 11th Season Finale)

Monday, May 17
8:00-8:30 PM The Neighborhood (Third Season Finale)
8:30-9:00 PM Bob ♥ Abishola (Second Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM Bull (Fifth Season Finale)

Wednesday, May 19
9:00-10:00 PM Seal Team (Fourth Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM S.W.A.T. (Fourth Season Finale)

Sunday, May 23
8:00-9:00 PM The Equalizer (First Season Finale)
9:00-10:00 PM NCIS: Los Angeles (12th Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM NCIS: New Orleans(Series Finale)

Monday, May 24
9:00-10:00 PM All Rise (Second Season Finale)

Tuesday, May 25
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS (18th Season Finale)
9:00-10:00 PM FBI (Third Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM FBI: Most Wanted (Second Season Finale)

Monday, March 22, 2021

NBC Puts Meghan Trainor Comedy in Development; Apple TV+ Straight to Series Comedy with Maya Rudolph

Meghan Trainor is coming to NBCUniversal Television and Streaming Entertainment with an NBC comedy series in development as the first project under a cross-platform overall deal between the global superstar and NBCU. The new alliance is a first-of-its-kind for the company, encompassing potential projects across scripted and unscripted content throughout NBCU's larger Television and Streaming Entertainment portfolio, which includes NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, SYFY, Universal Kids, USA and Peacock. Within this ecosystem, Trainor will have the opportunity to leverage her talents across network, cable, streaming and syndication programming. Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Meghan Trainor emerged with her 2014 breakout single "All About That Bass" and disrupted contemporary music with nostalgic pop beats and powerhouse vocals that delivered a worldwide anthem for female empowerment. Trainor cemented her rising status as one of the most prominent artists in popular music by charting eight multi-platinum singles, selling millions of albums worldwide, selling out three headline tours, writing multi-platinum hits for top pop and country artists, and receiving countless industry awards and nominations. She is one of only five female artists to receive a diamond certification for her hit single "All About That Bass," which shares the RIAA Gold & Platinum Awards top honor with only 15 other singles in history.

Maya Rudolph

Apple TV+ announced a straight-to-series order for a new half-hour comedy series that will star Emmy Award winner Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live, Forever), and is created by Peabody and Emmy Award winner Alan Yang (Little America, Master of None) and Emmy Award winner Matt Hubbard (30 Rock, Forever). Rudolph will star as Molly, a woman whose seemingly perfect life is upended after her husband leaves her with nothing but 87 billion dollars. The new series will be created, written and executive produced by Yang and Hubbard. In addition to starring, Rudolph will executive produce through her production company, Animal Pictures, with Natasha Lyonne and Danielle Renfrew Behrens also executive producing. Dave Becky of 3 Arts will also executive produce. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, will serve as the studio. The project marks the second collaboration between Apple TV+ and Yang following the premiere of the three-time Independent Spirit Award and NAACP Image Award-nominated anthology series Little America; it will join Apple TV+'s acclaimed and award-winning roster of Apple Original comedy series, including the Golden Globe and multiple Critics Choice Award-winning Ted Lasso.

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 22, 2021)

It's Sunday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of March 22-26, 2021, 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, March 22

Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Watch Tracee on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
David Tennant (Camping) - David will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Nicole Byer (Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Steve Harvey (The Steve Harvey Show) - Steve will be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Joel McHale (Community/The Great Indoors) - Joel appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard (Breeders) - Martin and Daisy talk about Breeders on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.

Tuesday, March 23

Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Catch Chelsea on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Dana Carvey (One of the Boys) - Dana appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Megan Mullally (The Great North/Will & Grace/Breaking In/Rachel Gunn, R.N./The Ellen Burstyn Show) and Nick Offerman (The Great North/Parks and Recreation) - Megan and Nick are guests on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother/Undeclared) - Jason appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Office) - Ellie will be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Retta (Parks and Recreation) - Retta is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Sarah Wright Olsen (Marry Me/Mad Love/The Loop/Quintuplets) - Sarah appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother/Free Spirit) - Alyson will be on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.

Wednesday, March 24

Seth Rogen (Undeclared) - Watch Seth on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Retta (Parks and Recreation) - Retta appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Minnie Driver (Speechless/About a Boy) - Minnie is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
William Shatner ($h*! My Dad Says) - William chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Lauren Graham (M.Y.O.B./Conrad Bloom/Townies/Good Company) - Lauren talks about Disney+'s The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Ali Wentworth (Nightcap) - Ali guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Sara Gilbert (The Conners/Roseanne/Living Biblically/Bad Teacher/Welcome to New York) - Sara appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Ben Feldman (Superstore/A to Z/Living with Fran) - Ben is a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.

Thursday, March 25

Maya Rudolph (Bless the Harts/Big Mouth/Up All Night) - Catch Maya on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Christopher Meloni (Surviving Jack/Misery Loves Company/The Fanelli Boys) - Christopher appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew is a guest on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Holly Robinson Peete (American Housewife/Love, Inc./For Your Love/Hangin' with Mr. Cooper) - Holly will be on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Ali Wentworth (Nightcap) - Ali guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Finesse Mitchell (Outmatched/A.N.T. Farm) - Finesse will be on The Real, so check your local listings.
Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta) - Brian appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Boris Kodjoe (The Last Man on Earth/Second Time Around) - Boris dishes on playing a firefighter captain on Station 19 on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R) - George talks about the AARP Movies for Grownup Awards on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 10am hour.
Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Tracee talks about The Runaway Bride on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.

Friday, March 26

Amy Poehler (Duncanville/Parks and Recreation) - Watch Amy on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Tracee appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri talks about Hysterical on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
William Shatner ($h*! My Dad Says) - William talks about Senior Moment on Couch Surfing at 8am.
Vivica A. Fox (Mr. Box Office/Getting Personal/Arsenio/Out All Night) - Vivica is a guest on The Doctors, so check your local listings.

Sitcoms Airing This Week

Sunday, March 21

Bless the Harts - "Nose Bud" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT)
Jenny spends the weekend away at a wild bachelorette party with Brenda and leaves Wayne in charge of Violet; Betty falls for the local strip club owner.

The Simpsons - "Manger Things" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A secret from Flanders' past is revealed; a never-before-seen room in the Simpson home.

The Great North - "Period Piece Adventure" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Judy asks Alyson to help her with an exciting opportunity to lead an art project at school; the local paper prints a story involving Beef.

Bob's Burgers - "Sheshank Redumption" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Linda's new routine of diet and exercise gives her gastrointestinal trouble on the day of parent-teacher-student conferences.

Family Guy - "Meg's Wedding" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Meg plans her wedding to an unexpected Quahog resident; Peter's arms are torn off, and he is left with tiny hands that have yet to grow back.

Monday, March 22

Breeders - "No Surrender" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
The kids are growing up fast -- Ava is now 10 and Luke is about to turn 13, and with their burgeoning independence comes the question of whether Paul and Ally's parenting style still works.

Breeders - "No Fear" (FX, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Luke's anxiety is becoming a problem at home and school, leaving his parents to question whether a medical diagnosis would make his life easier or harder; Ally faces further tension after her mother is robbed.

Tuesday, March 23

black-ish - "Jack's First Stand" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When Jack decides to go vegan, Dre is unsupportive because he is worried about messing up their bonding nights where they both would eat BBQ and watch MMA fights together. Meanwhile, Diane wants to buy a limited-edition Beyoncé doll with her allowance, which concerns Bow that Diane is not saving money.

mixed-ish - "You Give Love a Bad Name" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Paul and Alicia encourage sex-positive conversations with Bow until she invites her crush over to their house and they worry about what’s happening behind closed doors. Meanwhile, Johan and Alvin are looking at advertisements, magazines and even the constellations to see if they can see boobs.

Young Rock - "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Pennsylvania, 1987: Ata's relationship with Dwayne gets tested after she makes a heartbreaking discovery about her son; with Rocky on the road, Ata must take matters into her own hands.

Kenan - "Flipp'd" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Kenan's former boy bandmate-turned-huge popstar comes to town, Kenan finds himself doubting Gary's effectiveness as a manager and contemplates a change; Mika gives Aubrey and Birdie a lesson in feminism and the art of persuasion.

Wednesday, March 24

The Goldbergs - "Love Triangle" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
As Adam’s girlfriend, Brea, heads to visit her cousin at the University of Virginia (UVA), Beverly projects her own insecurity onto Adam, convincing him to do a grand gesture to prevent Brea from choosing UVA for college. Meanwhile, when Geoff asks Erica to go to the local Nancy Glass talk show with him, a disappointed Barry teams up with Geoff’s sister Joanne to change his mind.

American Housewife - "How Oliver Got His Groove Back" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Katie plays matchmaker by impersonating Oliver on his social media account to win over a girl. Meanwhile, Lonnie (Matt Shively) helps Greg dig up dirt on his political rival.

The Conners - "Walden Pond, a Staycation and the Axis Powers" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Dan feels helpless when Louise refuses to let him put himself at risk for her. Meanwhile, when Jackie learns the competing restaurants are posting negative reviews about The Lunch Box, she recruits Neville to help her confront them.

Call Your Mother - "California Jeanin'" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
As Jean’s birthday approaches, Jackie and Freddie compete over who is getting her the best gift; and Jean’s best friend, Sharon, surprises her in Los Angeles but their time spent celebrating quickly takes a turn.

Thursday, March 25

Young Sheldon - "Freshman Orientation and the Inventor of the Zipper" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
College orientation does not go as Sheldon planned. Also, Mary is invited to a party when she’s mistaken for a university student, and George Sr. helps Pastor Jeff set up a children’s nursery.

B Positive - "Phantom Limb" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After missing Maddie’s soccer game due to dialysis, a depressed Drew begins to question if all his sacrifices are worth it.

Mom - "Lumbar Support and Old Pork" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bonnie has an unexpected reaction when she learns that Adam’s bar is doing well. Also, Christy and Tammy go on a double date.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "On a Dead Guy's Bench" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob enlists Tunde’s help to buy an engagement ring, but his plans to propose to Abishola are upended by her belief that a traditional marriage is more trouble than it’s worth.

Call Me Kat - "Cat-A-Versary" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When one of the oldest cats in the café dies unexpectedly, Kat decides to turn the one-year anniversary of the Cat Café into his funeral; Kat, Randi and Oscar all try to make amends for mistakes they made.

Last Man Standing - "Your Move" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
While Mike is away, Kristin learns what it takes to be in charge at Outdoor Man; Vanessa and Kyle debate how to upgrade the backyard play area and Ryan teaches Mandy how to play chess, but he may be the one getting schooled.

Superstore - "Perfect Store" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Some inside information leads the Cloud 9 employees to try to make the store seem perfect for one day.

Superstore - "All Sales Final" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The employees celebrate the past, present and future of Cloud 9.

Friday, March 26

none scheduled

Saturday, March 27

Side Hustle - "Jag-Jitsu" (Nickelodeon, 8:00PM ET/PT)
After the kids enroll in Jaget's new martial arts class, a rivalry develops.

Sunday, March 28

The Simpsons - "Uncut Femmes" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
It is revealed that Chief Wiggum's wife is more than she seems; Marge takes part in a jewel heist.

Complete TV Listings

Saturday, March 20, 2021

SitcomsOnline Digest: James Burrows to Direct Pilot for ABC Comedy Starring Alec Baldwin and Kelsey Grammer; Carl Reiner's Archives Find a Home

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're getting an update on a comedy pilot for ABC, hearing of more drama for The Talk, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

James Burrows has been lined up to direct a new ABC comedy starring Alec Baldwin and Kelsey Grammer. (Deadline)
The Talk is becoming similar to The View in even more ways, as it is now on hiatus over some controversial issues involving the panelists. (Deadline)
Carl Reiner's archives will soon have a home. (NY Times)
Medical dramas are dealing with COVID-19 in ways that other TV shows aren't. (Deadline)
A crew member for The Conners died on the set this week after a medical event. (USA Today)
A premiere date for the final season of Younger has been set. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (MARCH 20 - MARCH 26)

It's a weekend of The White Shadow on Decades.
You can catch all nine seasons of The Office for free on Peacock without paying for a subscription, but only through Wednesday.
Superstore comes to an end Thursday night on NBC.
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers debuts Friday on Disney+.

Friday, March 19, 2021

Fri-Yay: Evaluating the 2020-2021 Freshman Sitcom Class; Damon Wayans Jr. to Star in TBS Pilot Kill the Orange-Faced Bear

by Vincent

Believe it or not, in just a few short months we will be at the end of the 2020-2021 TV season. It's certainly been a non-traditional season, and while the TV season has long been a window of time that's evaportated someone in the advent of cable and streaming services, it feels even less relevant in the time of COVID, where most shows were delayed and some shows, indeed, still haven't returned. Still, it seems like a good time to evaluate the freshman class of sitcoms. And, frankly, it's a fairly uninspiring class. Some of it could be blamed on COVID causing less pilots to be finished in time to be picked up to series. Still, the new sitcoms on broadcast TV this fall don't inspire a lot of long-term confidence.

The buzziest new shows belong to NBC, as Young Rock and Kenan both come from established names. Unsurprisingly, Young Rock in particular has drummed up the most interest of any new sitcom - and yet still, the show's ratings and buzz have fallen quite a bit from where they premiered several weeks ago. Other freshman series include Call Your Mother on ABC and Call Me Kat on FOX. Call Me Kat attracted some eyeballs early on, but like Young Rock, those ratings have largely faded. And Call Your Mother has not done particularly well, either, and has attracted very little critical acclaim or buzz.

Overall, it's yet another disappointing year for broadcast TV sitcoms. With broadcast television increasingly relying more and more on unscripted hits to weather the tide of falling TV ratings, we are desperately in need for a well-made sitcom to steer the changing tides.

Damon Wayans Jr.

TBS announced that it has cast Damon Wayans Jr. (Happy Endings, Let's Be Cops), Jessy Hodges (Indebted, Barry), Alex Karpovsky (Homecoming, Girls), and Nate Torrence (Hello Ladies, Weird Loners) in its upcoming scripted comedy pilot, Kill the Orange-Faced Bear. The pilot is scheduled to begin shooting in Portland in May. Kill the Orange-Faced Bear is a comedy pilot about one man's epic revenge journey after a bear eats his girlfriend. Damon Wayans Jr. will play Hank, the charming, funny and grieving man who's hell-bent on tracking down the bear who attacked his girlfriend on a camping trip. We'll follow his side of the story as well as the bear's, who is just trying to move on from the incident and navigate the other idiot bears in her life. Jessy Hodges will play Stacy, Hank's late girlfriend, as well Jamie, her twin sister with a confusing secret. Alex Karpovsky is Ronnie, an oddball park ranger who has a score to settle with Hank. Nate Torrance is Murray, Hank's best friend and boyfriend to Jamie, who is just trying to keep everyone together.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, November 22

Happy's Place - "Happy's House" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bobbie agrees to take Isabella to Happy's house in search of a connection to their late father, leading Bobbie to worry about what they may find; Gabby hopes to strike it rich by searching through Happy's penny collection looking for a rarity.

Lopez vs Lopez - "Lopez vs Orlando" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Rosie's spoiled nephew Orlando visits, Mayan sets out to expose Rosie's cultural gender bias; George wants to teach Chance the value of hard work, but, instead, helps him create a toxic work environment.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Whacking the Mole" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Abishola has a romantic dream about Bob, she tries to suppress her feelings for him and pays the price.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Ralph Lauren and Fish" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob and Abishola finally go on a proper date, which is interrupted by Dottie's medical emergency.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Tough Like a Laundromat Washing Machine" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob hires Abishola to take care of Dottie in his home while she recovers; Dottie has a hard time dealing with her limitations and takes it out on Abishola.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Useless Potheads" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With Abishola only helping part-time, Bob, Douglas and Christina struggle to take care of Dottie.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Wiz-Taken Identity" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Billie struggles with a spell, Roman says he could do it if he was a wizard: to prove him wrong, Billie uses a Power Glass to transfer her powers to Roman.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - " Ain't Gnome Party Like a Wizard Party" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Justin embraces mortality to live with his family; his new challenge arises when Alex introduces Billie, a wizard-in-training, seeking Justin's mentorship.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)

Friday, November 22

Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Watch Kerry on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown/Space Force/Silicon Valley) - Jimmy is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Andy Richter (Andy Barker, P.I./Quintuplets/Andy Richter Controls the Universe), Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) and Aparna Nancherla (Lopez vs Lopez/Search Party/Corporate) - Andy, Thomas and Aparna are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke talks about her new book Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Drew is joined by the hilarious Andrew to celebrate all things Thanksgiving on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Rosie Perez (Human Resources/Search Party) - Rosie tells Sherri about her new Apple TV+ psychological thriller Before on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace will be on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:15am.