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

Wednesday, January 14

Shifting Gears - "Friend" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Matt’s reunion with a high school friend stirs up more than nostalgia when he meets their equally opinionated spouse. Meanwhile, Riley spirals when Klatch gets a negative Yelp review. Tuc Watkins, Jim Rash and Jesse Williams guest star.

Abbott Elementary - "Mall Part 2: Questions & Concerns" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Growing pains hit Abbott Elementary as the PTA pressures Janine and Gregory for answers. Meanwhile, Jacob and Barbara become suspicious of Mr. Morton.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 12)

Wednesday, January 14

  • Laura Dern (F Is for Family/Enlightened) - Watch Laura on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Alan Cumming (Schmigadoon!) - Alan appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about The Traitors on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Monique Coleman (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Monique discusses the 20th anniversary of High School Musical on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Kim Fields (The Upshaws/Living Single/The Facts of Life/Baby, I'm Back) - Kim discusses The Upshaws on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan can be heard on The Morning Mash Up on SiriusXM.
  • Kyle Chandler (What About Joan?) - Kyle talks about The Rip on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That.../Divorce/Sex and the City/Square Pegs) - NBC's Today catches up with Sarah in the 10am hour.
  • Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken tells Sherri about the ever-popular The Masked Singer on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - Valerie and Ross Mathews are joining Drew for a memory bank segment reflecting on their biggest moments on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) - Kumail tells Drew about his comedy special Night Thoughts on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Jackie Hoffman (Only Murders in the Building/Starved) - Jackie is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
  • Anissa Borrego (Stumble) and Jarrett Austin Brown (Stumble) - Anissa and Jarrett talk about Stumble on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD) St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (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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