Tuesday, March 02, 2021

Freeform Spring and Summer 2021 Updates; discovery+ Gets Back to the Future Expedition

Cruel Summer

At Freeform’s virtual TCA presentation, Walt Disney Television's young adult network announced that Single Drunk Female, from Simone Finch and Jenni Konner, has been picked up to series. The network also announced the highly anticipated series premiere of new drama Cruel Summer and unveiled a first look at the Jessica Biel produced thriller. Freeform also announced the premiere date for the critically acclaimed comedy Everything's Gonna Be Okay and unveiled key art for the new season. The newly announced premiere dates add to Freeform's slate, which includes signature hit The Bold Type, premiering this spring, and Motherland: Fort Salem, premiering this summer. Fan-favorite original series Good Trouble and grown-ish are currently airing all-new episodes and will return with additional episodes this summer, premiere dates to be announced soon.

Freeform has ordered comedy Single Drunk Female to series. After a spectacularly embarrassing public breakdown, irreverent alcoholic Samantha Fink is forced to move back home with her "Smother" to sober up and avoid jail time. But when her childhood BFF reveals surprising news, Samantha starts to learn there is a fine line between party girl and walking disaster. Single Drunk Female stars Sofia Black-D’Elia, Ally Sheedy, Rebecca Henderson, Sasha Compère, Lily Mae Harrington and Garrick Bernard. The series comes from 20th Television and is written and created by Simone Finch (The Conners), who will executive produce along with Jenni Konner (Camping, Girls), Phil Traill (Good Girls) and Nora Silver. Leslye Headland (Russian Doll, Star Wars: The Acolyte) directed and executive produced the pilot. From creator, writer and star Josh Thomas and produced by Avalon for Freeform, the second season of the half-hour comedy Everything's Gonna Be Okay will premiere Thursday, April 8, at 10:00 p.m. EDT/PDT with two back-to-back episodes. In addition to Thomas as Nicholas, the series stars Kayla Cromer as Matilda, Maeve Press as Genevieve and Adam Faison as Alex. Thomas, Stephanie Swedlove and Kevin Whyte serve as executive producers, with David Martin, Jon Thoday and Richard Allen-Turner executive producing for Avalon. After the series premiere, new episodes will air Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. EDT/PDT.

Freeform’s highly anticipated psychological mystery, Cruel Summer, will premiere with a two-hour event on Tuesday, April 20, at 9:00 p.m. EDT/PDT. From executive producer Jessica Biel (The Sinner), Cruel Summer is a psychological thriller that follows two young women: Kate Wallis, the popular girl with a charmed life who one day goes missing, and Jeanette Turner, the nerdy wannabe who is accused of being connected to Kate's disappearance. All signs point to Jeanette’s guilt, but is Kate really who she seems to be? Set over three summers and told through shifting points of view, the series challenges perception and follows how one girl can go from being a sweet outlier to the most despised person in America. The series stars Olivia Holt, Chiara Aurelia, Michael Landes, Froy Gutierrez, Harley Quinn Smith, Allius Barnes, Blake Lee and Brooklyn Sudano. Cruel Summer comes from studio eOne and was created by Bert V. Royal. Tia Napolitano serves as showrunner. Executive producers include Napolitano, Royal and Iron Ocean Productions' Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple. Max Winkler directs and executive produces the pilot. After the series premiere, new episodes will air Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. EDT/PDT.


Expedition: Back to the Future - Josh Gates and Christopher Lloyd

Josh Gates, avid explorer and host of Discovery Channel's Expedition Unknown has spent his career traveling the world investigating history's greatest legends and mysteries. Now, he's setting out on the journey of a lifetime in search of the most iconic car in Hollywood history - The DeLorean Time Machine from the classic sci-fi trilogy Back to the Future. Together with screen-legend Christopher Lloyd, Josh travels across the country and through the history of one of cinema's greatest franchises on an epic search for this timeless vehicle all in hopes of delivering and donating it to The Michael J. Fox Foundation. The special four-part series, Expedition: Back to the Future streams Monday, March 15 on discovery+. Josh Gates has taken viewers on thrilling global adventures, but none quite like this. Scouring iconic Hollywood locations in search of their coveted prize, Josh and Christopher soon realize their quest is full of unexpected turns and will extend beyond the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, so they enlist the help of some familiar faces including Michael J. Fox, Donald Fullilove, Lea Thompson, James Tolkan, and Harry Waters Jr. But, first they must meet with the man who started it all, co-creator of the Back to the Future trilogy, Bob Gale.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, May 8

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Ladies Love Brunch" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Georgie tries to juggle his mom, his mother-in-law and Mandy on Mother’s Day. Meanwhile, Audrey wants to meet Connor’s girlfriend.

Ghosts - "The Devil Went Down to Woodstone" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam and Jay host a big party for the launch of Sam and Isaac’s vampire book. Mary Holland (Patience), Punam Patel (Bela) and Matt Walsh (Elias Woodstone) return as guest stars.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 5)

Thursday, May 8

  • Paula Poundstone (Home Movies) - Paula performs stand-up comedy on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) - Natasha appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle talks about Netflix's Survival of the Thickest on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
  • Maria Bamford (Lady Dynamite/Benched) and Doug Benson (You're the Worst) - Maria and Doug are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • John Benjamin Hickey (HouseBroken/The Big C/It's All Relative) - John stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11:15pm on Bravo.
  • Patricia Clarkson (Davis Rules) - Patricia is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11:15pm on Bravo.
  • Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - E! News has an interview with Kerry at 11pm on E!. Kerry and Omar Sy discuss their highly anticipated new film Shadow Force on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Rebel Wilson (Super Fun Night) - Rebel chats about Juliet & Romeo on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - In A Little Bit Extra Valerie and Ross Mathews are sharing more of their conversation with Al Roker in Charleston at the Food & Wine Classic on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) and Randall Park (Young Rock/Blockbuster/Fresh Off the Boat/Veep/Supah Ninjas) - Morris and Randall talk about Watson on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


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