Saturday, December 25, 2021

SitcomsOnline Digest: Grey's Anatomy Potentially Headed Toward Another Season; Lorne Michaels Looking to Retire

Merry Christmas and welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a slightly slower news week this week, as COVID-19 is starting to cancel things in ways that it hasn't really done since March 2020, but we're here with news about another renewal of a long-running ABC drama, some Saturday Night Live news, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

  • If you're waiting to see what that Grey's Anatomy series finale will look like after 18 years, don't get prepared to see it yet, as talks are underway for it to continue for yet another season (and ABC would like more than just one more season). (Deadline)
  • Aside from a few years when he left the show in the early 80s, Lorne Michaels has run the day to day operations of Saturday Night Live since 1975. Now, he is potentially eyeing retirement, but don't worry, he wants to wait until the 50th season. (Hollywood Reporter)
  • Saturday Night Live didn't quite make it through the annual Christmas show this year, as a sudden uptick in COVID-19 kept much of the cast and crew at home, but a pre-recorded show featuring two of the cast members, Tina Fey, and host Paul Rudd went forward anyway. (PBS)
  • On that same note, televised New Years Eve specials are planned for next Friday night, but Fox has already been forced to cancel theirs and final plans are still up in the air for the other networks. (Deadline)
  • Comedian Jay Johnston, who voiced Jimmy Pesto Sr. on Bob's Burgers, has been fired from that role over his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot. (Deadline)
  • Hallmark and MeTV have plans for Betty White's 100th birthday. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (DECEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 31)

  • It's a "Christmas Carol" with a binge of The Carol Burnett Show on Decades this weekend.
  • Next weekend's binge on Decades actually starts a little earlier, on Friday, with a binge of The Twilight Zone.
  • FXX has a Family Guy marathon 185 hour marathon that lasts until New Years, and includes (we think) every episode from the first 19 seasons.
  • There are a lot more Christmas marathons that you can read about here.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, January 7

Shifting Gears - "Dog" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Matt refuses to let Carter bring a dog into “his” house, Riley starts to wonder if it’s time for her and the kids to find their own place. Meanwhile, Gabe seeks Riley’s advice amid second thoughts about moving in with Amelie.

Abbott Elementary - "Mall" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abbott Elementary returns from winter break at their new temporary school: an abandoned mall. The teachers deal with unique challenges that come with teaching in the new location.

The Golden Girls - 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship

The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship -- A Special Edition of 20/20 (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A behind-the-scenes look at the beloved sitcom's enduring impact on TV and culture, including interviews with superfans Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kelly Ripa, Laverne Cox and former guest star Mario Lopez.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 5)

Wednesday, January 7

  • Alan Cumming (Schmigadoon!) - Watch Alan on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Jodie Foster (Paper Moon/Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice/The Courtship of Eddie's Father) - Jodie is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Simu Liu (Kim's Convenience) - Simu appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Matt Braunger (Up All Night) - Matt is a guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg (Two and a Half Men/Jenny) - Andy Cohen interviews Jenny on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
  • Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
  • Gael GarcĂ­a Bernal (Mozart in the Jungle) - Gael talks about Magellan on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Retta (Parks and Recreation) - NBC's Today catches up with Retta in the 9am hour.
  • Matt Rogers (No Good Deed/I Love That for You) - Matt co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • John Mulaney (Mulaney) - NBC's Today catches up with John in the 10am hour.
  • Chevy Chase (Community) - Chevy talks about his documentary I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu (Emily in Paris) - Philippine chats about the exciting new season of Emily in Paris on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Billy Gardell (Bob Hearts Abishola/Mike & Molly/Yes, Dear) - Billy tells Sherri about his “The Less Is More Tour” comedy tour on Sherri, 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)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series (DVD)
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two (DVD)
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season (DVD)
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 (DVD)
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (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)
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)

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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

01/07 - Saturday Night Live Bobbleheads from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum; Fox Entertainment Signs Tracee Ellis Ross to Deal
01/06 - Emily in Paris Renewed for Season 6; Audible's New Comedy Series Starring Jenifer Lewis, Cedric the Entertainer, and Niecy Nash-Betts
01/05 - Trailer for The Muppet Show Special Event; Season 3 of Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal on Adult Swim
01/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 5, 2026)
01/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Premiere Date Set for Malcolm in the Middle Reboot; NBC Pulls The Paper
01/02 - Bridgerton Season 4 Details and Live Premiere Event; NBC Pulls The Paper from Mondays
01/01 - Happy New Year; Shrinking Season 3 Trailer
12/31 - In Memoriam: Remembering the Sitcom Stars We Lost in 2025
12/30 - Antenna TV and Rewind TV's New Year's Eve and Day Marathons; Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair Premieres April 10
12/29 - COZI TV Postpones The Jeff Foxworthy Show Launch; Netflix Releases Free Bert Trailer
12/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 29, 2025)
12/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Chevy Chase "Hurt" By Not Being Invited to SNL 50th Anniversary; New Lineups for Antenna TV and Rewind TV
12/26 - GET Acquires Psych for January 2026; Details on Netflix's A Different World Sequel
12/25 - Merry Christmas from Sitcoms Online; Interviews from 2025 Christmas Con in Edison, NJ
12/24 - 2025 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day TV Marathons
12/23 - Antenna TV January 2026 Schedule; Rewind TV January 2026 Schedule
12/22 - The Ms. Pat Show Returns January 7; According to Jim Christmas Day Marathon on Laff
12/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 22, 2025)
12/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Historical 19th Century Comedy in the Works at CBS; Bowen Yang Leaving Saturday Night Live After Tonight
12/19 - The Muppet Show 50th Anniversary Event in February on ABC & Disney+; Adult Swim Renews Haha, You Clowns for 2 More Seasons
12/18 - The Oscars Moving to YouTube in 2029; Celebs for Hollywood Squares Season 2
12/17 - MeTV Remembers Rob Reiner with Tribute Marathon; MGM+ to Make New The Magnificent Seven Series
12/16 - The Rob Reiner Story: A Hollywood Tragedy – ABC News Special; Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion Part 2 on CBS
12/15 - Remembering the Legendary Rob Reiner of All in the Family; Trailer for Netflix's His & Hers
12/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 15, 2025)
12/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner/Netflix Merger Gets Complicated; Steve Carell Comedy Rooster Coming to HBO Max in March
12/12 - Survival of the Thickest Final Season Guest Stars; Ted Season 2 Returns in March
12/11 - The Upshaws Final Season Premieres January 15; Mike Epps Gets 5th Netflix Special
12/10 - HBO's Rooster Premieres in March; Fox's Updated Winter 2026 Schedule
12/09 - 83rd Golden Globe Nominations; Paradise Returns on Hulu in February
12/08 - First Look at Bert Kreischer Netflix Comedy Free Bert; School Spirits Season 3
12/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of December 8, 2025)