SitcomsOnline.com News Blog: January 2022

Monday, January 31, 2022

Remembering Howard Hesseman of WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class; Nick Renews That Girl Lay Lay for Season 2

Actor Howard Hesseman, who starred as malcontent disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati and as history teacher Charlie Moore on Head of the Class, has died. He died from complications of colorectal surgery in Los Angeles, California, on January 29. Mr. Hesseman was 81.

Hesseman's early sitcom guest appearances included The Andy Griffith Show (2 episodes), Rhoda, Sanford and Son, Laverne & Shirley, Blansky's Beauties and Husbands, Wives & Lovers. He had a recurring role as Dr. Robert Williams on 13 episodes of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman from 1976 to 1977. He appeared as Craig Plager, a member of the group therapy ensemble who was later revealed to be gay, on five episodes of The Bob Newhart Show from 1974 to 1978. In several other episodes of the show, his voice can be heard as a TV announcer (Augie). He had a recurring role as Mr. Franklin on seven episodes of Soap in 1977.

He starred as anti-disco disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever (real name John R. Caravella) on the 1978-1982 CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. Dr. Johnny Fever is a veteran disc jockey who comes to WKRP after being fired from a major Los Angeles station when he said "booger" on the air. Hesseman prepared for the role by working as a DJ in San Francisco at KMPX-FM for several months. He received two Emmy nominations for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1980 and 1981. He wrote an episode in 1981 and directed an episode in 1982. The cast included Gary Sandy, Gordon Jump, Loni Anderson, Richard Sanders, Frank Bonner, Jan Smithers and Tim Reid.

Bonnie Franklin and Howard Hesseman - One Day at a Time

Hesseman had a recurring role as Sam Royer on 16 episodes of the the last two seasons (1982-1984) of the CBS sitcom One Day at a Time. Sam Royer is the father of Mark Royer (Boyd Gaines), who is Barbara's (Valerie Bertinelli) boyfriend and later husband. Sam Royer later becomes Ann Romano's (Bonnie Franklin) second husband.

Head of the Class

He next starred as Charlie Moore on the ABC sitcom Head of the Class. Charlie Moore is a history and social studies teacher at Manhattan's Monroe High School (later changed to Millard Fillmore High School in the final season) who teaches the honors program to intellectual geniuses and helps them aim for their dreams. Hesseman left the series after the fourth season in 1990 and was replaced by Scottish comedian Billy Connolly (in his first major American production) as teacher Billy MacGregor for the final season. The cast included William G. Schilling, Jeannetta Arnette, Leslie Bega (seasons 1-3), Dan Frischman, Robin Givens, Khrystyne Haje, Jory Husain (aka Joher Coleman) (seasons 1–3), Tony O'Dell, Brian Robbins, Kimberly Russell, Dan Schneider, Tannis Valley (seasons 1–3; guest, season 5), Rain Pryor (seasons 3-5), Michael DeLorenzo (seasons 4-5), Lara Piper (seasons 4-5), Jonathan Ke Quan (seasons 4-5) and De'voreaux White (seasons 4-5).

Hesseman reprised his role of Dr. Johnny Fever on nine episodes of the 1991-1993 first-run syndicated sitcom The New WKRP in Cincinnati. He appeared on four episodes in the first season and five episodes in season two. He participated in a four-episode story arc as WKRP's overnight DJ in season two, although he left the station (and the series) before the season ended. He also directed two episodes of the series revival in 1993. The cast included Gordon Jump, Richard Sanders, Frank Bonner, Mykel (Mykelti) T. Williamson, Tawny Kitaen and French Stewart.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included 9 to 5 (1982), Love, Sidney (1983), Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place (1998), Three Sisters, That '70s Show (3 episodes as Max), Maybe It's Me, It's All Relative, Oliver Beene, Mike & Molly and Fresh Off the Boat (2 episodes as Mr. Royce). He hosted Saturday Night Live three times in 1979, 1982 and 1983.

He played Judge Robert Thompson on three episodes of Boston Legal from 2006 to 2007. Some of his other drama guest appearances included Dragnet 1967, Mannix, The Blue Knight, Harry O, Family, Switch, Baretta, Delvecchio, Westside Medical, Quincy M.E, The Rockford Files, Murder, She Wrote (1985), The Ray Bradbury Theatre (1992), Burke's Law, The Outer Limits (1997), The Practice, Family Law, The Pretender, Touched by an Angel, Level 9, Thieves, Crossing Jordan, Boomtown, House, Psych, John from Cincinnati (2 episodes), ER, Lie to Me, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Drop Dead Diva and Chicago Med.

Hesseman starred as Captain Pete Lassard in the film Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985). Some of his other film credits included Steelyard Blues (1973), Loose Shoes (1978), Private Lessons (1981), Doctor Detroit (1983), This Is Spinal Tap (1984), My Chauffeur (1986), Flight of the Navigator (1986), Heat (1986), Inside Out (1986), Rubin & Ed (1991), Little Miss Millions (aka Home for Christmas) (1994) and The Sky Is Falling (1999).

Survivors include his third wife of 33 years, actress and acting teacher Caroline Ducrocq.

Howard Hesseman

Mr. Hesseman was a talented and versatile actor. He was funny and memorable on WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment he brought us during his career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class message boards. View photos in our galleries.

MeTV Network Remembers Howard Hesseman

Sunday, February 6 at 4:00 p.m. ET

4:00 p.m. WKRP in Cincinnati
"Dr. Fever and Mr. Tide (Part 1)"
Forced to host a disco dance show on TV, Johnny comes up with a new alter ego; the phony, smarmy "Rip Tide."
4:30pm WKRP in Cincinnati
"Dr. Fever and Mr. Tide (Part 2)
Forced to host a disco dance show on TV, Johnny comes up with a new alter ego; the phony, smarmy "Rip Tide."

Decades will have an all-day binge marathon (48 episodes) of WKRP in Cincinnati on Saturday, February 5.

Peter Robbins

We also remember child actor Peter Robbins. He was best known for being the first actor to voice Charlie Brown in the Peanuts animated specials. He died by suicide on January 18 in Oceanside, California. He had a lifelong battle with mental illness. Mr. Robbins was 65.

Robbins provided the voice of Charlie Brown, whom he considered to be his childhood hero, in one television documentary, six Peanuts television specials and one movie from 1963 to 1969, including the film A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969) and the television specials A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966).

Blondie

He starred as Alexander Bumstead on the short-lived 1968-1969 CBS sitcom Blondie, which was an updated version of the 1957 TV series that was based on the comic strip of the same name. Alexander Bumstead is the son of Dagwood Bumstead (Will Hutchins) and Blondie (Patricia Harty). The series also starred Jim Backus, Pamelyn Ferdin, Henny Backus, Bobbi Jordan and Bryan O'Bourne.

Peter Robbins in The Munsters

Robbins played Elmer Dudley in The Munsters episode "Rock-a-Bye Munster" in 1964. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Donna Reed Show, The Farmer's Daughter, The Joey Bishop Show, Love on a Rooftop, F Troop, Get Smart and My Three Sons.

His drama guest appearances included Rawhide, The F.B.I. and Bracken's World. He appeared as Grover Martin in the 1963 film A Ticklish Affair, which starred Shirley Jones, Gig Young and Red Buttons. He played Brandon in the 1967 film Good Times, which starred Sonny & Cher.

Mr. Robbins retired from the entertainment industry in 1972, and later pursued his career in real estate, with brief stints in radio. We thank him for his voice work as Charlie Brown and his appearances on television. He will be missed.

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

That Girl Lay Lay

Nickelodeon announced that it has greenlit a 13-episode second season of its hit live-action multi-camera buddy comedy That Girl Lay Lay. The series follows Lay Lay (Alaya "That Girl Lay Lay" High), an avatar from a personal affirmation app that magically comes to life, and her best friend Sadie (Gabrielle Nevaeh Green) as they navigate life as teenagers and discover who they truly are. Season one of That Girl Lay Lay shattered records this Fall with premieres delivering double digit gains on Thursday nights and consistent #1 rankings in the time slot across all TV among K6-11. That Girl Lay Lay follows Lay Lay, a virtual hype avatar who magically comes to life after her best friend Sadie wishes on a star. For her work on the series, That Girl Lay Lay is currently nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the "Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)" category. Season two of That Girl Lay Lay will begin production early this year in Los Angeles with a premiere slated for this summer on Nickelodeon.

Season two of the series will bring more music and magical powers as the two best friends continue to go on even more exciting adventures, working to fulfill Lay Lay's desire to experience everything that comes with being a real teenager. That Girl Lay Lay also stars Peyton Perrine III as Sadie's brother, Marky; Tiffany Daniels as Sadie's mom, Trish; and Thomas Hobson as Sadie's dad, Bryce.

Sunday, January 30, 2022

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 31, 2022)

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 January 31-February 4, 2022, 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!

Sunday, January 30

Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere/Camping/Lady Dynamite) - Catch Bridget on Watch What Happens: Live at 3:30am on Bravo.

Monday, January 31

Will Arnett (Murderville/Arrested Development/Flaked/The Millers/Up All Night/Running Wilde) - Watch Will on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Whoopi Goldberg (Whoopi/Bagdad Cafe) - Whoopi appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Ike Barinholtz (The Afterparty/The Mindy Project) - Ike is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere/Camping/Lady Dynamite) - Catch Bridget on Watch What Happens: Live at 3:30am on Bravo.
Mayim Bialik (Call Me Kat/The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen will be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Michael Rapaport (Atypical/The War at Home) - Michael guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) - Kunal appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris and fitness nutrition expert Obi Obadike discuss wellness in daily life on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Patricia Clarkson (Davis Rules) - NBC's Today catches up with Patricia in the 9am hour.

Tuesday, February 1

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Catch Quinta on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She will also be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Jenny Slate (Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Luis) - Charlie chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. He also talks about I Want You Back on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Sheryl appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Lisa Edelstein (The Kominsky Method) - Lisa is a guest on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Michael Rapaport (Atypical/The War at Home) - Michael guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Trevor Jackson (grown-ish) - Trevor will be on The Real, so check your local listings.
Retta (Parks and Recreation) - Retta gives a look at her new show Ugliest House in America! on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Justina Machado (One Day at a Time) - Justina talks about Disney+'s Ice Age, so check your local listings.
Michelle Buteau (Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle talks about Marry Me on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.

Wednesday, February 2

Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Luis) - Watch Charlie on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Sam Richardson (The Afterparty/HouseBroken/Veep) - Sam appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Dave Franco (The Afterparty/Scrubs) - Dave is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Laura Linney (The Big C) - Laura talks about the fiinal season of the hit series Ozark on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
David Spade (Rules of Enagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me!) - David appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Jay Pharoah (White Famous) - Jay is a guest on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Michael Rapaport (Atypical/The War at Home) - Michael guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Judy Reyes (Scrubs) - Judy is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.
Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere/Camping/Lady Dynamite) - Bridgett will be on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Vivica A. Fox (Mr. Box Office/Getting Personal/Arsenio/Out All Night) - Vivica talks about The Wrong High School Sweetheart on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.

Thursday, February 3

Josh Gad (Central Park/Avenue 5/The Comedians/1600 Penn/Back to You) - Catch Josh on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Anna Chlumsky (Veep) - Anna is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Patricia Clarkson (Davis Rules) - Patricia will be on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
Mario Cantone (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Mario appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
Sam Richardson (The Afterparty/HouseBroken/Veep) - Sam chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Halle Berry (Living Dolls) - Halle will be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Michael Rapaport (Atypical/The War at Home) - Michael guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Isabel May (Young Sheldon/Alexa & Katie) - Isabel is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Eliza Coupe (Pivoting/Future Man/Benched/Happy Endings) - Eliza appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Ike Barinholtz (The Afterparty/The Mindy Project) - Ike will be on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke talks about her modeling years, motherhood and beauty secrets, and makes her favorite childhood dish on The Good Dish Show, so check your local listings.
JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Reba/Better with You) - JoAnna talks about Sweet Magnolias on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.

Friday, February 4

Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Watch Kristen on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ike Barinholtz (The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project) - Ike appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show) - Jennifer is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) - Sarah appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local 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.
Michael Rapaport (Atypical/The War at Home) - Michael guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Mayim Bialik (Call Me Kat/The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Meagan Good (Cousin Skeeter/Raising Dad) - Meagan will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Mayim Bialik (Call Me Kat/The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim appears on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Dwayne Johnson (Young Rock) and Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Dwayne and Kevin are guests on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.

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, January 30

none scheduled

Monday, January 31

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Family" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Dave starts researching his genealogy, he makes a surprising discovery: he and Calvin are more than just neighbors. Also, Tina offers to help Gemma when she’s overcome with morning sickness, and inadvertently stumbles on a new business idea.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Welcome to Lagos" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Bob and Abishola land in Lagos, they rush to rescue Dele from his dad’s place and are a bit surprised at what they find once reunited. Also, Auntie Olu and Uncle Tunde explore their old stomping grounds and realize things have changed since their last visit to Nigeria.

Kenan - "Moving Violation" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When their mom, Bobbi, decides to sell the family home, Kenan and Gary must clear the basement of their childhood memorabilia, leading Gary to evaluate his goals in life.

Kenan - "Destroying Miami" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Kenan, Gary, Mika, Tami and Phil head to Miami for some fun, but with love in the air, they find a lot of trouble; Rick and Loretta stay home to take care of the girls, but things don't go as smoothly as they should.

Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl

Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl - (NBC, 10:00PM ET/PT)
President Joe Biden, Drew Barrymore, Valerie Bertinelli, Cher, Bryan Cranston, Ted Danson, Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer, Goldie Hawn, Vicki Lawrence, Jane Leeves, Jay Leno, Anthony Mackie, Wendie Malick, Joel McHale, Tracy Morgan, Jean Smart, Mary Steenburgen and more will come together to pay tribute to the late actress and animal advocate in NBC’s primetime special “Celebrating Betty White: America’s Golden Girl.”

The special airs Monday, Jan. 31 at 10 p.m. and will be available the next day on Peacock.

Co-stars, friends, admirers and those who shared special moments with White recount their favorite memories and reveal untold stories to commemorate the life and legacy of the trailblazing television star. The telecast will include clips and never-before-seen footage that best capture White’s irreverent tone, spirit and impeccable comedic timing that are a hallmark of her decades-long career.

Tuesday, February 1

Abbott Elementary - "Gifted Program" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Janine convinces Ava to start a gifted program at Abbott led by Jacob. However, when some students begin to feel left out, Gregory and Janine put their heads together and come up with a solution. Elsewhere, Barbara pushes a hesitant Melissa to start dating again.

black-ish - "Ashy to Classy" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Dre overreacts to Devante leaving the house ashy and Bow intervenes, making the situation worse. Jack makes a bold outfit choice for picture day, and while Junior does not approve, Dre attempts to be more supportive.

Abbott Elementary - "New Tech" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When a new computer program is introduced at Abbott, Janine is excited to finally help Barbara out with something. However, Barbara is reluctant to accept change and finds herself in a tricky situation when she decides to lie about her students’ results rather than admit defeat. Elsewhere, Melissa surprises Jacob when she offers up a friend to assist with his lesson on unions, but she ends up teaching Jacob an important lesson herself.

black-ish - "That's What Friends Are For" (ABC, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bow convinces Dre to attend a fundraising event for When We All Vote in hopes to make some new couple friends (and to do their part in increasing participation in each and every election), but Dre is convinced there will be nothing but dud husbands there to befriend. Their expectations are far exceeded when the special guest for the evening is none other than Michelle Obama. To their surprise, the former first lady accepts an invitation for dinner at their house. But on the evening of the special meal, the rest of the Johnsons want to crash the occasion.

American Auto - "Recall" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The executives realize a Payne vehicle may have a faulty part and debate whether to issue a recall.

Grand Crew - "Wine & Headlines" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The crew all do their best to cope after a bad news cycle.

Wednesday, February 2

The Goldbergs - "A Peck of Familial Love" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Adam and Brea attempt remaining just friends post-breakup, while Beverly goes out of her way to protect Adam from further heartbreak. Meanwhile, Barry tries to get closer with Erica.

The Wonder Years - "The Valentine's Day Dance" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Dean’s plans to ask Keisa to the Valentine’s Day Dance are foiled when another boy asks her out first after a new makeover makes her the talk of the school. Meanwhile, Bill and Lillian make Kim sign up for a Big Sister program to have extracurricular activities for her college applications.

The Conners - "Hot for Teacher and Writing a Wrong" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Mark’s returned to public school and finding it hard to fit in; and when Darlene finds out what Mark’s doing to make a little extra cash for college, she’s anything but happy about it. Meanwhile, Becky finds herself in an interesting situation with one of her college professors.

Home Economics - "Pregnancy Test, $12.98" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Connor and JoJo’s Valentine’s Day takes an awkward turn when his ex-wife and daughter crash their romantic evening. While Tom and Marina, and Sarah and Denise try to enjoy an over-the-top dining experience, a pregnancy scare derails their evening.

Thursday, February 3

Young Sheldon - "One Bad Night and Chaos of Selfish Desires" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon and Missy both run away from home, and Mary gets upsetting news about George Sr.

Ghosts - "Halloween" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
On Halloween at Woodstone Mansion, the ghosts try to help Sam and Jay protect their home from the neighborhood kids who annually vandalize the house.

Call Me Kat - "Call Me Your Biggest Fan" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Kat pushes Max to enter a jingle contest; Carter doesn't know how to react when Randi puts nail polish on his son.

Pivoting - "D-Day" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Sarah, Amy and Jodie's made-up annual holiday, "D-Day," celebrates a major moment from "Beverly Hills, 90210"; Jodie clings to every aspect of the tradition, despite Coleen's absence; Sarah worries she's too old to get back into the dating scene.

grown-ish - "Movin' Different" (Freeform, 10:00PM ET/PT)
After experiencing a hit-and-run, Ana is faced with a political and ethical dilemma, which leads her to seek advice from an unlikely source; Aaron is hounded by a student who wants to see him make something special of their midnight class.

Single Drunk Female - "Shamrocks and Shenanigans" (Freeform, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Sam faces her hardest challenge yet: avoiding alcohol on St. Patrick's Day in Boston; Brit gives Sam an unexpected chance to rekindle their friendship; James and Mindy track down his lost keys while battling St. Patrick's Day temptations.

Friday, February 4

none scheduled

Saturday, February 5

none scheduled

Sunday, February 6

The Simpsons - "Portrait of a Lackey on Fire" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Smithers finds true love with a famous fashion designer, but his new relationship may destroy Springfield.

The Great North - "Skidmark Holmes Adventure" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Judy's murder mystery party doesn't go exactly as planned; Alyson invites herself on a date with Beef.

Bob's Burgers - "Manic Pixie Crap Show" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Louise must pay a debt to Millie by attending the Pixie Princess Promenade; a bouquet in the shape of a dog forces Linda to confront her past.

Family Guy - "LASIK Instict" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With her vision waning, Lois elects to get LASIK surgery but exploits her new disability for monetary gain; Peter, Chris and Stewie must partake in all the activities with Doug that his father neglects.

Complete TV Listings

Saturday, January 29, 2022

SitcomsOnline Digest: Comedy Central Sets Fairview Premiere Date; ABC Seeing Success with Abbott Elementary

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! For the second week in a row, we have no news of reboots or revivals (we're sure those stories will be back, though!), but we do have info on an upcoming Comedy Central series, a return to Late Night for David Letterman (for one night, anyway), and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

The new Comedy Central animated comedy Fairview will debut on February 9. (Deadline)
Seth Meyers is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the NBC series Late Night by having original host David Letterman as his guest on Tuesday. (Deadline)
ABC might just have a hit with Abbott Elementary, as the audience has been growing significantly for the series since it debuted. (Deadline)
MSNBC has finalized their plans for the 11 PM hour that used to be filled with Brian Williams. (AP News)
In advance of NBC's Monday night special, Celebrating Betty White: America’s Golden Girl, a preview featuring Cher singing the theme song for The Golden Girls has been released. (Deadline)
If you enjoy the sitcoms on CBS, then you'll be happy to hear that most of them have been renewed for next season, while the rest are still awaiting their fate. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4)

My Three Sons is this weekend's binge on Decades, and they're featuring the earlier years of the show.
NBC's Celebrating Betty White: America’s Golden Girl is set to air Monday night at 10.
South Park finally returns for a new season on Wednesday night on Comedy Central, though it will actually air at 8 instead of the usual 10 PM timeslot (though it appears it will return to the usual timeslot next week).
You can watch the new animated adult comedy Doomlands, which was developed for the failed Quibi streaming service, now on The Roku Channel.
The opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics air Friday on NBC.
Saturday Night Live is new tonight (and this is the last new one for a while, as the series will be taking a few weeks off for the Winter Olympics), with Willem Dafoe as host.

Friday, January 28, 2022

Fri-Yay: Are Network Sitcoms Back…Again?; More Details About Betty White NBC Special

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

After a few off years, the network sitcom might be back. This season we have several solid new sitcoms garnering both critical acclaim and even solid viewership numbers. CBS's Ghosts, ABC's Abbott Elementary, and NBC's American Auto and Grand Crew are all really good sitcoms with the potential to grow into something even better. And all of these shows feel like the type of shows that still could only exist on network TV, which shows that - despite the fact that broadcast is a far less relevant medium than it was even 10 years ago - it may still be the place to be for sitcoms.

All of these sitcoms combine solid characters, quick joke writing and interesting premises. They may not have the experimentation of streaming or cable sitcoms, but sometimes, that just isn't what you want. You want a good, relaxing and funny sitcom to disappear into for a few episodes. And that's exactly what these shows prove network sitcoms can still provide.

Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl

President Joe Biden, Drew Barrymore, Valerie Bertinelli, Cher, Bryan Cranston, Ted Danson, Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer, Goldie Hawn, Vicki Lawrence, Jane Leeves, Jay Leno, Anthony Mackie, Wendie Malick, Joel McHale, Tracy Morgan, Jean Smart, Mary Steenburgen and more will come together to pay tribute to the late actress and animal advocate in NBC's primetime special Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl. The special airs Monday, Jan. 31 at 10 p.m. on NBC and will be available the next day on Peacock. Co-stars, friends, admirers and those who shared special moments with White recount their favorite memories and reveal untold stories to commemorate the life and legacy of the trailblazing television star. The telecast will include clips and never-before-seen footage that best capture White's irreverent tone, spirit and impeccable comedic timing that are a hallmark of her decades-long career.

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Antenna TV's Love Is In (Over) the Air Valentine's Day Marathon; Fox's Spring 2022 Midseason Lineup

Antenna TV has announced their Valentine's Day stunt, that we previously hinted during our Q1 2022 story. Cuddle up with a special someone and say "I do" to an all-day marathon of romantic episodes airing Valentine's Day on Antenna TV. "Love Is In (Over) the Air" will feature curated selections from Antenna TV's lineup including Bewitched, The Jeffersons and Three's Company. "Love Is In (Over) the Air" Valentine's Day Marathon airs Monday, February 14 starting at 5am ET on Antenna TV with regularly scheduled shows but with this love theme.

Domino Masters

Fox is announcing premiere dates for The Masked Singer (March 9), Domino Masters (March 9), MasterChef Junior (March 17) and Name That Tune (March 29), as well as for the spring return of hit drama 9-1-1 (March 21). Additionally, the Sunday Animation Domination block returns with all-new episodes Feb. 27. Featuring all-new secret celebrities, The Masked Singer, returns for its seventh season Wednesday, March 9 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). Following the return of The Masked Singer, all-new competition series Domino Masters (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) debuts. Hosted by multi-Emmy Award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family), the series features teams of domino enthusiasts facing off in an unbelievable domino toppling and chain reaction tournament. Hit culinary competition MasterChef Junior returns Thursday, March 17 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).

Fox's #1 drama series, 9-1-1, starring Angela Bassett, Peter Krause and Jennifer Love Hewitt, returns for its spring premiere with all-new rescues beginning Monday, March 21 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), followed by all-new episodes of 9-1-1: Lone Star in its new time period, for a night of saving lives. Hosted by Tony Award winner Jane Krakowski, with Grammy Award winner Randy Jackson serving as band leader, Season Two of the beloved musical game show Name That Tune premieres Tuesday, March 29 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). And ss previously announced, new single-cam docu-com Welcome to the Flatch premieres on Thursday, March 17 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT). Additional schedule details to be announced Season finale dates for the following programs are as follows: Next Level Chef (March 2); I Can See Your Voice (March 2, last telecast in time period; March 8, season finale); Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer (March 10); Pivoting (March 10) and The Cleaning Lady (March 14).

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

HBO's The Righteous Gemstones Renewed for Season 3; To Tell the Truth Returns Feb. 22 on ABC

HBO announced that the critically acclaimed comedy series The Righteous Gemstones has been renewed for a third season. The nine-episode second season of The Righteous Gemstones, starring Danny McBride, John Goodman, Edi Patterson and Adam Devine, kicked off on January 9 with episodes airing weekly on HBO and HBO Max. The season two finale airs on February 27. Created, written and executive produced by Danny McBride (HBO's Vice Principals and Eastbound & Down), and marking his third HBO comedy series from Rough House Pictures, The Righteous Gemstones tells the story of a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work. Season two finds our blessed Gemstone family threatened by outsiders from both the past and present who wish to destroy their empire. McBride collaborators Jody Hill and David Gordon Green also serve as executive producers and directors. Season two cast includes Danny McBride, Adam Devine, Edi Patterson, John Goodman, Cassidy Freeman, Tony Cavalero, Tim Baltz, Skyler Gisondo, Greg Alan Williams, Walton Goggins, Jennifer Nettles, Jody Hill, Valyn Hall, Kelton DuMont, Gavin Munn, Jason Schwartzman, Eric Roberts, Eric Andre and Jessica Lowe.

To Tell the Truth

Comedic game show To Tell the Truth is back to finish off its sixth season! Anthony Anderson revealed it yesterday on Instagram. Cynthia Erivo, Gary Owen and Donald Faison join as celebrity panelists when everyone's favorite guessing game returns Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 10/9c on ABC. It will air for 6 weeks. When it returns on Feb. 22, Cynthia Erivo, Gary Owen and Donald Faison make up the celebrity panel on To Tell the Truth, airing Tuesday, Feb. 22 from 10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT on ABC. And when it returns that night, the panel isn't clowning around! Panelists include a celeb makeup artist, pee app developer, dino poop collector, clown of the year and duck master. Episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu.

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

CBS Brings Back Ghosts and Monday Comedy Duo for 2022-23; Netflix Orders Comedy with Michelle Buteau

The Neighborhood - Ghosts - Bob ♥ Abishola - Young Sheldon

CBS announced that it has renewed its hit new Thursday comedy Ghosts and its popular Monday night comedy hour of The Neighborhood and Bob ♥ Abishola. These three CBS comedy series join veteran Thursday comedy series Young Sheldon, which was previously renewed for three additional years, beginning with the 2021-2022 broadcast season. So as of now, CBS is bringing back at least four comedies for the 2022-2023 season. No word yet on Thursday comedies B Positive and United States of Al, while upcoming new sitcom How We Roll premieres on March 31. Stay tuned for further updates as we get closer to the May upfront.

Michelle Buteau

Netflix ordered eight episodes of Survival of the Thickest, a scripted comedy starring Michelle Buteau, based on her acclaimed book of essays. Survival of the Thickest centers on Mavis Beaumont (Buteau). Black, plus-size and newly single, Mavis Beaumont unexpectedly finds herself having to rebuild her life after putting all her eggs in one man's basket, but she's determined to not only survive but thrive with the support of her chosen family, a positive attitude, and a cute v-neck with some lip gloss. The series was created by Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel and will be executive produced by Ravi Nandan and Alli Reich from A24. Sanchez-Witzel is also the showrunner for the series, following the recent announcement of her overall deal with Netflix that also includes show development.

The series continues Netflix's relationship with Buteau, who also has her own Netflix stand-up special, Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia; hosts unscripted competition series The Circle; narrates upcoming docuseries The Principles of Pleasure; is set to host the second season of Barbecue Showdown; and starred in the feature film Always Be My Maybe, as well as the series Tales of the City.

Monday, January 24, 2022

Remembering Comedian Louie Anderson; Central Park Returns March 4 on Apple TV+

Emmy-winning actor, game show host and stand-up comedian Louie Anderson, who starred as Christine Baskets on Baskets, has died. He died on January 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada, of complications from large B-cell lymphoma. Mr. Anderson was 68.

Life with Louie

Anderson created and produced the 1994-1998 Fox animated series Life with Louie. The first two episodes aired in primetime on December 18, 1994, before moving to Saturday mornings on Fox Kids in 1995. The series was based on Anderson's childhood with 10 siblings, a sweet-hearted mother and a loud, war-crazed father. He provided the voices of Little Louie and Andy Anderson, Louie's difficult, but caring father. He won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program in 1997 and 1998.

The Louie Show

He starred as Dr. Louie Lundgren on the short-lived 1996 CBS sitcom The Louie Show. Dr. Louie Lundgren is a psychotherapist dealing with his friends and family in Duluth, Minnesota. The series also starred Bryan Cranston, Kate Hodge, Paul Feig, Laura Innes, Nancy Becker Kennedy and Kimmy Robertson.

Family Feud - Louie Anderson

Anderson was the host of Family Feud from 1999 to 2002. He was a regular panelist on Funny You Should Ask from September 2018 until the show went on hiatus in 2020. He appeared on The New Hollywood Squares and Hollywood Squares. In 2013, he appeared on the ABC reality competition series Splash.

Baskets - Zach Galifianakis and Louie Anderson

He starred as Christine Baskets on the 2016-2019 FX comedy-drama Baskets. Christine Baskets is the mother of identical twin brothers Chip Baskets and Dale Everett Baskets (Zach Galifianakis). Anderson received three consecutive nominations for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and won once in 2016 for the role.

Anderson played Lou Appleton on the Perfect Strangers unaired pilot episode. When the show was picked up, he was replaced by Mark Linn-Baker in the role of Appleton (whose first name was then changed from Lou to Larry) as the producers didn't think the chemistry between Anderson and Bronson Pinchot was quite right.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Trying Times, Grace Under Fire, Love & War, Scrubs, Half & Half, Joey, Young Sheldon, Search Party (5 episodes as Bob) and Twenties (2 episodes). His drama guest appearnces included Remington Steele, Chicago Hope, Touched by an Angel, Ally McBeal, Nash Bridges and V.I.P. (2001).

Coming to America - Eddie Murphy and Louie Anderson

He starred as Maurice in the 1988 film Coming to America and the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America. Some of his other film credits included Quicksilver (1986), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), The Wrong Guys (1988), Mr. Wrong (1996), Cook Off! (2007) and Sandy Wexler (2017).

His survivors include his sisters Lisa and Shanna Anderson.

Mr. Anderson was a gifted comedian and performer. His late night talk show appearances were always very funny. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment he brought us during his career. He will be sorely missed.

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

Jim Drake

We also remember television and film director Jim Drake. He worked on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976-1977), Gimme a Break!, The Golden Girls and Night Court. He died on January 10 in Freeland, Washington. Mr. Drake was 77.

Some of his sitcom directing credits included Alice (2 episodes), Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (157), Fernwood Tonight (8), The Facts of Life (3), Sanford (26), Gimme a Break! (14), Buffalo Bill (9), We Got It Made (6), Domestic Life (5), Double Trouble (5), Newhart (5), It's Your Move (4), The Golden Girls (8), Who's the Boss? (5), Roomies (5), Boys Will Be Boys (9), Night Court (63), Dave's World (24), The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (7) and The Suite Life on Deck (2).

He directed the films Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987) and Speed Zone (1989).

In addition to his wife Brigit, he is survived by his daughter Christina, son Kevin and his daughter River, stepdaughter Christel Layton and husband Bob and their daughter Katrina, his brother Tom, and also by his first wife Kirsten.

Mr. Drake received Emmy nominations for his work on Buffalo Bill in 1983 and The Golden Girls in 1986. We thank him for bringing us many sitcom episodes from 1976 to 2008. He will be greatly missed.

Central Park

Apple TV+ announced that Central Park, the critically acclaimed, hit animated musical comedy series, will return with eight all-new episodes on Friday, March 4 on Apple TV+. From creator, writer and executive producer Loren Bouchard, Josh Gad and Nora Smith, the second season of the series will debut three new episodes on March 4, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday thereafter through April 8, 2022. Central Park stars a renowned voice cast that includes Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Kathryn Hahn, Tituss Burgess and Stanley Tucci. New guest stars featured this season include Aparna Nancherla, Billy Porter, Catherine O'Hara, Ellie Kemper and Naomi Ekperigin. In a first look at the second half of the new season, Josh Gad and Rory O'Malley reunite for a catchy musical number called "You are the Music." The song is written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez and also features Tituss Burgess and Emmy Raver-Lampman.

As season two of Central Park unfolds with eight new episodes, the Tillerman family continues to navigate living in and caring for the world's most famous park. Molly experiences the trials and tribulations of adolescence, Cole is challenged by a truly embarrassing moment at school, Paige continues to chase down the Mayor's corruption story, and Owen juggles managing the park, his staff, and his family all with a smile on his face. Meanwhile, Bitsy inches ever closer to her sinister goal of claiming Central Park as her own; with Helen by her side, eternally wondering whether she's made it into Bitsy's will. Every step of the way, we are guided along by our friendly, fumbling, fiddler narrator, Birdie. The complete first season and the first half of the second season of Central Park are now streaming on Apple TV+. Since its global debut, the series has been recognized with Emmy Award nominations for stars Leslie Odom Jr., Tituss Burgess and Stanley Tucci, and an NAACP Image Awards nomination in the Outstanding Animated Series category.

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 24, 2022)

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 January 24-28, 2022, 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!

Sunday, January 23

Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones/Vice Principals/Partners) - Catch Edi on Watch What Happens: Live at 3:30am on Bravo.

Monday, January 24

Tiffany Haddish (The Afterparty/The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Watch Tiffany on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
David Arquette (In Case of Emergency/Double Rush/Parenthood) - David appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Nicole Byer (Grand Crew/Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show. She will also be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Vanessa Bell Calloway (Rhythm & Blues) - Vanessa is a guest on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Marcus Scribner (black-ish) - Marcus appears on The Real, so check your local listings.
Yvonne Orji (Insecure) - Yvonne will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Nicole Ari Parker (And Just Like That.../Second Time Around), Karen Pittman (And Just Like That...) and Sarita Choudhury (And Just Like That...) - Nicole, Karen and Sarita are guests on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) and Finesse Mitchell (Outmatched/A.N.T. Farm) - Kym and Finesse are guests on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Tia Mowry (Family Reunion/Instant Mom/The Game/Sister, Sister) - The Good Dish Show dishes with Tia on her savvy kitchen skills and best quick-fix tips, so check your local listings.
Maggie Q (Pivoting) - Maggie talks about Pivoting on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Christine Baranski (Happy Family/Welcome to New York/Cybill) and Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Christine and Cynthia talk about The Gilded Age on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.

Tuesday, January 25

Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Catch Kristen on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ike Barinholtz (The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project) - Ike appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Nicole Byer (Grand Crew/Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Thomas Middleditch (B Positive/Silicon Valley) - Thomas will be on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Jim Belushi (According to Jim) - Jim is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Mike Schur (The Office/Creator of Parks and Recreation/Brooklyn Nine-Nine/The Good Place/Rutherford Falls) - Mike appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. NBC's Today catches up with Mike in the 9am hour.
Francia Raisa (How I Met Your Father/growni-ish) - Francia appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show.
Jay Pharoah (White Famous) - Jay guest co-hosts The Real, so check your local listings.
Autumn Reeser (Complete Savages/Grounded for Life) - Autumn appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Marsai Martin (black-ish)- Marsai talks about her new Discovery+ series Remix My Space! on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Kevin James (The Crew/Kevin Can Wait/The King of Queens) - Kevin talks about Home Team on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Ming-Na Wen (The Single Guy) - Ming-Na talks about The Book of Boba Fett on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.

Wednesday, January 26

Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - Watch Charlie on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Halle Berry (Living Dolls) - Halle appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Dave Franco (The Afterparty/Scrubs) - Dave is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Cynthia will be on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She is also a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Annaleigh Ashford (B Positive) - Annaleigh appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Daveed Diggs (Central Park/black-ish) - Daveed is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Ming-Na Wen (The Single Guy) - Ming-Na will be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
John Goodman (The Conners/The Righteous Gemstones/Roseanne/Center of the Universe/Normal, Ohio) - John is a guest on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Courteney Cox (Cougar Town/Friends/Family Ties) - Courteney appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show.
Drew Carey (The Drew Carey Show/The Good Life) - Drew is a guest on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Alyssa Milano (Who's the Boss?/Romantically Challenged) - Alyssa talks about Netflix's Brazen on Access Daily, so check your local listings.

Thursday, January 27

Kevin James (The Crew/Kevin Can Wait/The King of Queens) - Catch Kevin on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Ilana Glazer (The Afterparty/Broad City) - Ilana appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Oliver Hudson (Splitting Up Together/Rules of Engagement/My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star) - Oliver and his sister Kate are guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kean will be on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
David Cross (Arrested Development/Running Wilde/Oliver Beene) - David appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Cynthia is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 10:30pm on Bravo.
Tom Selleck (The Closer) - Tom talks about Blue Bloods on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show.
Yvette Nicole Brown (The Mayor/The Odd Couple/Community) - Yvette appears on The Real, so check your local listings.
Julie Bowen (Modern Family) - Julie is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is talking all about her new memoir and cooking up her mom’s upside-down cake on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Ana Gasteyer (American Auto/People of Earth/Subutagory) - Ana talks about American Auto on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley talks about AMC's La Fortuna on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Halle Berry (Living Dolls) - Halle talks about Moonfall on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Trevor Jackson (grown-ish) - Trevor talks about grown-ish on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.

Friday, January 28

Rob Lowe (The Grinder/Parks and Recreation) - Watch Rob on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Francia Raisa (How I Met Your Father/growni-ish) - Francia is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She will also be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show.
Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril/Life's Work/My Wildest Dreams) - Lisa appears on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Tommy Davidson ( The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder/The Proud Family/Between Brothers) - Tommy is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.
Trevor Jackson grown-ish) - Trevor will be on The Real, so check your local listings.
Ike Barinholtz (The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project) - Ike appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.

Sitcoms Airing This Week

Sunday, January 23

The Simpsons - (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)

Bob's Burgers - (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)

The Simpsons - (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)

The Great North - (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)

Bob's Burgers - (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)

Family Guy - (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)

American Auto - "Earnings Call" (NBC, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Katherine promises a big announcement on her first quarterly earnings call; Jack and Elliot negotiate a contract with the line-workers union.

American Auto - "The $10k Car" (NBC, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sadie and Cyrus struggle with how honest to be about Katherine's car idea; Elliot pawns his vicious dog off on Dori.

Monday, January 24

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Big One" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Butlers and Johnsons are rattled in different ways after an earthquake strikes, with Calvin and Tina moving in with Malcolm and Marty while their home is repaired, and Dave going to extremes trying to prepare his family for the next time.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Your Beans Are Flatlining" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Bob is surprised when Abishola’s medical school plans include going to Baltimore – with or without him.

Kenan - "Workaholic" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mika finds herself at odds with Kenan, Pam and Tami when they accuse her of being a workaholic; Gary unintentionally meets a woman whom he really likes and struggles with how to tell her.

Kenan - "The Whole Enchilada" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Kenan has doubts about introducing his secret girlfriend, Janay, to his family; Pam pursues a new business opportunity with Gary, but her competitive nature gets in the way of her own success.

Tuesday, January 25

Abbott Elementary - "Student Transfer" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
After a negative teacher review, Janine gets a confidence boost when a student gets transferred from Melissa’s class into hers, but it turns out the student proves to be too much to handle. While trying to forge a friendship with an uninterested Gregory, it is revealed that Jacob is constantly getting roasted by his students. The two bond after Gregory unintentionally gives Jacob the idea to incorporate the roasts in an educational way.

black-ish - "Hoop Dreams" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Jack gets a job as the locker room attendant for the Los Angeles Lakers, and Dre and Bow feel like they need to step in before letting the job get to his head. Meanwhile, Pops and Ruby realize their daily routine has gotten boring and heed advice from Junior and Olivia.

American Auto - "Commercial" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Katherine and the team reshoot a commercial to make it more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community.

Grand Crew - "Wine & Pie" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Noah's dad is in a funk, so he asks Fay to make his favorite pie; Sherm teaches Anthony to play chess; Wyatt introduces the crew to his brother.

Wednesday, January 26

The Goldbergs - "The William Penn Years" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Never a sports enthusiast, Adam finds himself in a pickle with his peers when he’s recruited to film his high school’s highly awaited last football game of the year and fails to capture his team’s winning touchdown. Meanwhile, Beverly discovers her neighbor Arnie Wolfy (Dan Lauria) is moving and she’s determined to buy his spacious home and move the family in. Murray’s long-standing and unresolved conflict with Arnie challenges Beverly’s plans, but the family comes to appreciate home is where the heart is.

The Wonder Years - "Lads and Ladies and Us" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bill and Lillian decide to join high society club Lads & Ladies as a way to introduce Kim and Dean to positive influences in the community. Bill, Kim and Dean fit right in, but things take a turn when Lillian is treated differently for being a working mom.

The Conners - "Peter Pan, The Backup Plan, Adventures in Babysitting, and a River Runs Through It" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Conner home is decked out for Halloween despite the leak in the roof that forces Dan and Louise to cancel their honeymoon. But all is not lost when Becky surprises the newlyweds and takes them on a virtual adventure around the world. Meanwhile, Darlene continues her spiritual journey, and Harris introduces Aldo’s children to the family, where more tricks than treats await.

Home Economics - "Speeding Ticket, $180" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sofia brings out Tom’s adventurous side which ignites Marina’s jealous side. Meanwhile, Sarah and Denise learn that Shamiah has been confiding in Connor instead of them, leaving them no choice but to take action.

Thursday, January 27

Young Sheldon - "A Lot of Band-Aids and the Cooper Surrender" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon makes friends with his dorm neighbors. Also, George Sr. learns his job is in jeopardy.

United States of Al - "Hunt / Shikar" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Riley, upset that Freddy taught Hazel how to ride a bike while he was deployed, attempts to teach her something new to make up for it. Also, Ariana invites Al to a fundraiser involving spin bikes, where he becomes competitive with Ariana’s handsome cycling instructor, and Art introduces Lois to his favorite secret pastime.

B Positive - "Dagobah, a Room and a Chimney Sweep" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
A therapist and newly divorced dad is looking for a kidney donor when he runs into a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past who offers her own kidney.

B Positive - "A Boss, a Bear Claw and a Defibrillator" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
A therapist and newly divorced dad is looking for a kidney donor when he runs into a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past who offers her own kidney.

Call Me Kat - "Call Me Forty" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Oscar attempts multiple surprises to celebrate Kat's 40th birthday, including meeting his mother; Max tries to figure out why he continually strikes out with women.

Pivoting - "Hell on Wheels" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Sarah dips her toes into the dating pool and enlists Amy and Jodie's help in vetting a woman whom she ran across on a dating app; Amy's maternal instincts are tested when she learns Luke isn't fitting in with other kids.

grown-ish - "It Was Good Until It Wasn't" (Freeform, 10:00PM ET/PT)
The gang copes with the fallout of the explosive events that took place at the luau; Aaron deals with the accountability of his actions at the party; Zoey turns to Pops and Ruby for advice; Ana and Vivek keep a secret under wraps.

Single Drunk Female - "I'm Sorry, But…" (Freeform, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Sam tries to win over Brit by making an amends at her birthday party. Unfortunately, Sam wasn't invited, and neglects Felicia. Meanwhile, when Sam's probation officer stops by, Carol struggles to explain Sam's "situation" to her friends.

Friday, January 28

none scheduled

Saturday, January 29

none scheduled

Sunday, January 30

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings

Saturday, January 22, 2022

SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Going All in on Monday Night Animated Comedies (in May 2023); CBS Cancels Bull After Six Seasons

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about Fox expanding their animation lineup to a full two hours on Monday nights (not until 2023, though), a new series on Fox with an... interesting... title, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Animation is king at Fox, and now, they're looking over a year ahead and planning to go full animation on Monday nights in May 2023. (Deadline)
Fox has a new series in the works with a title that is, umm, interesting (and unless they're going for shock value or move it to a streaming outlet, we feel this could change before making it onto air). (Deadline)
Betty White recorded a last message just weeks before her death, just for her fans, and now her personal assistant has posted it on Instagram. (Deadline)
CBS has cancelled Bull a show that some people may not have even realized existed anyway, after six seasons. (TVLine)
Louie Anderson, known to TV fans mostly for his role as host of Family Feud, Life with Louie, and the FX comedy Baskets, died this week at age 68, just days after announcing he was receiving treatment for cancer. (CNN)
Tim Allen is returning to his role of Scott Calvin/Santa Claus in a Disney+ series. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JANUARY 15 - JANUARY 21)

American Dad! returns for a new season on TBS on Monday.
Decades has a binge of the classic series Batman this weekend.
Promised Land, which is not the same as and not to be confused with the Touched by an Angel spinoff that starred Gerald McRaney and aired on CBS in the late 90s, debuts on Monday on ABC.
Looking for some obscure and lost sitcoms to enjoy that have been available on streaming for a while, but we never actually mentioned here? All 22 episodes of the 1977-1978 sitcom On Our Own can be found on Amazon Prime Video, and four (out of six) episodes of the 1986 CBS sitcom Melba (cancelled after just one episode) are available on Crackle.

Friday, January 21, 2022

One Tree Hill Reunion on New CBS Series; Bel-Air Announces Recurring Cast, Including Karrueche Tran & Duane Martin

Good Sam - Bethany Joy Lenz, Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton

Yesterday, Good Sam star Sophia Bush reunited with her One Tree Hill co-stars Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz on the Toronto set of her new CBS medical drama. Burton and Lenz are set to guest star in an upcoming episode, which began shooting today. On Good Sam, Burton and Lenz will play sisters, Gretchen and Amy Taylor, respectively, who cross paths with Dr. Sam Griffith (Bush) when Amy is admitted as a patient at Detroit's Lakeshore Sentinel Hospital. Additional details about the episode will be announced at a later date, including an air date. Currently, the trio co-host the iHeartRadio podcast Drama Queens, which revisits the experience of filming The CW's beloved coming-of-age drama that wrapped 10 years ago. Their characters - Bush's Brooke Davis, Burton's Peyton Sawyer and Lenz's Haley James - were close friends who weathered life's highs and lows, from high school into early adulthood, together.

Good Sam stars Sophia Bush and Jason Isaacs in a drama about Dr. Sam Griffith, a gifted heart surgeon who excels in her new leadership role as chief of surgery after her renowned boss falls into a coma. When her former boss wakes up months later demanding to resume his duties, Sam is tasked with supervising this egotistical expert with a scalpel who never acknowledged her stellar talent. Complicating matters, the caustic and arrogant Dr. Rob "Griff" Griffith also happens to be her father. As Griff defies Sam's authority and challenges her medical expertise, the big question becomes whether this father and daughter will ever be able to mend their own relationship as expertly as they heal the hearts of their patients. Good Sam airs Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT on the CBS Television Network, and is available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Bel-Air

Peacock's highly anticipated drama series Bel-Air has cast Karrueche Tran, Duane Martin, April Parker Jones, SteVonté Hart, Joe Holt, Scottie Thompson, Jon Beavers, Tyler Barnhardt and Charlie Hall as recurring guest stars.   Bel-Air will premiere on Peacock on Super Bowl Sunday (February 13, 2022) with three episodes at launch and new episodes released every Thursday. Karrueche Tran (Claws, The Bay) will play Ivy, a top-tier social media influencer who offers to help Hilary with her influencer business. Duane Martin (All of Us, Real Husbands of Hollywood) will play Steven Lewis, Philip Banks' campaign manager on his run for LA District Attorney. Steven is a seasoned political strategist and has operated in Democratic Party politics for his entire career. He believes that he can help Phil win. April Parker Jones (If Loving You is Wrong, Supergirl) will play Viola 'Vy' Smith, Will's mother and Aunt Viv's older sister. Having always put her son first, Vy makes the tough decision to send Will to live with her sister, even though they haven't spoken in years. SteVonté Hart (Little Fires Everywhere, Queen Sugar) will play Tray Melbert, Will's best friend and basketball teammate from West Philly. With Will's sudden departure to Bel-Air, Tray risks falling victim to the streets of West Philly. Joe Holt (The Walking Dead: World Beyond, The Punisher) will play Fred Wilkes, the Police Chief and Lisa's father. Wilkes and the Banks' family have run in the same circles for years. Scottie Thompson (NCIS, Macguyver, 12 Monkeys) will play Angela, an interior designer, newly married to Police Chief and Lisa's father, Fred Wilkes. Angela tries to navigate her new role in the family. Jon Beavers (Licorice Pizza, Animal Kingdom) will play Kylo, a social media influencer. He provides Hilary Banks with an interview opportunity to join his influencer house. Tyler Barnhardt (13 Reasons Why, Tales From The Loop) will play Connor Satterfield, Carlton's best friend, lacrosse teammate and the most popular kid in school, second to Carlton. Connor crosses boundaries that cause tension between him and Will. Charlie Hall (Single Drunk Female, Moxie) will play Tyler Laramy, a member of the Bel-Air Academy basketball team and one of Will's good friends at school. Tyler is known for being the class-clown and pushing his teachers' buttons.

Set in modern-day America, Peacock's new one-hour drama series Bel-Air imagines the beloved sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air through a new, dramatic take on Will's complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he's ever known. Executive produced by Will Smith, and inspired by Morgan Cooper's viral trailer that reimagined the iconic, culture-defining '90s sitcom, Bel-Air takes a fresh and raw approach to this world of swagger, style, and aspiration, while exploring Will's complex journey through a current lens. The new series features an ensemble cast that introduces Jabari Banks as Will and a creative team that includes Cooper, who serves as director, co-writer, and executive producer, and co-showrunners and executive producers T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

REELZ Announces I Love Lucy, Gilligan's Island Unknown Story Specials; The Proud Family Revival Premieres Feb. 23 on Disney+

REELZ announced its February 2022 lineup with new original stories every weekend of the month about towering rockers Jon Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper and KISS stars Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, the hits that made Whitesnake, the band breakups of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest and looks at beloved shows I Love Lucy and Gilligan's Island. February 2022 premieres are anchored by the previously announced original documentary America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List. On Saturday, February 26 it's the premiere of The Unknown Story new original specials with back-to-back stories about the legendary sitcoms I Love Lucy and Gilligan's Island revealing the brilliant talent and timeless comedy that made both shows popular for generations of fans. First at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT it's I Love Lucy: The Unknown Story about the six seasons of unforgettable moments that made this TV show a massive hit with stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz reinventing television along the way to create a show that is still adored and imitated decades later. Then at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT it's Gilligan's Island: The Unknown Story with the incredible story of how exactly a show about seven shipwrecked castaways that no network wanted to air became one of the most recognizable TV shows in the world. And when Gilligan's Island came to an abrupt end find out why that was both a blessing and curse to its stars and how passionate fandom played a role in changing the fates of the castaways.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder

Disney+ announced the February 23 premiere date for The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, the highly-anticipated revival of the groundbreaking Disney Channel series, The Proud Family. Featuring an all-star celebrity cast, new episodes will debut Wednesdays on the streaming platform. Lauded television and film composer, songwriter and producer Kurt Farquhar, who wrote and composed The Proud Family theme song, returns as series songwriter and composer for The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. Preserving the lyrics and melody of the iconic and beloved original theme song, Farquhar reimagined a contemporary version for the revival, performed by rising R&B star Joyce Wrice.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder will pick up the story of its central character, Penny Proud, and include her madcap family: parents Oscar and Trudy, twin siblings BeBe and CeCe, and grandmother Suga Mama (and Puff!). Of course, it would not be "The Proud Family" without Penny's loyal crew Dijonay Jones, LaCienega Boulevardez and Zoey Howzer, among others. Cast members reprising their roles from the original series are: Kyla Pratt as Penny Proud, Tommy Davidson as Oscar Proud, Paula Jai Parker as Trudy Proud, JoMarie Payton as Suga Mama, Cedric the Entertainer as Uncle Bobby, Karen Malina White as Dijonay Jones, Soleil Moon Frye as Zoey Howzer, Alisa Reyes as LaCienega Boulevardez, Carlos Mencia as Felix Boulevardez, Maria Canals-Barrera as Sunset Boulevardez, Alvaro Gutierrez as Papi, Raquel Lee Bolleau as Nubia Gross, Marcus T. Paulk as Myron, Aldis Hodge as Frankie, Aries Spears as Wizard Kelly, Cree Summer as Peabo, Patricia Belcher as Principal Hightower and Kevin Michael Richardson as Dr. Payne.

Recurring new voices are: Keke Palmer as Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins, Billy Porter and Zachary Quinto as Randall and Barry Leibowitz-Jenkins, rapper Artist "A Boogie" Dubose as Francis "KG" Leibowitz-Jenkins, EJ Johnson as Michael Collins, Asante Blackk as Kareem, Bresha Webb as CeCe, and Aiden Dodson as BeBe. Guest cast includes: Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Chance the Rapper, Normani, Leslie Odom Jr, Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe, Anthony Anderson, Gabrielle Union, Debbie Allen, James Pickens Jr., Courtney B. Vance, Jane Lynch, Marsai Martin, Jaden Smith, Glynn Turman, Lamorne Morris, Brenda Song, Tina Knowles, Eva Longoria, Holly Robinson Peete, Al Roker, Bretman Rock, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Dominique Dawes, Daniel "Desus Nice" Baker, D.C. Young Fly, Kid Capri, Art Evans, Arturo Castro, Ashton Sanders, Dominique Fishback, Jeremy O. Harris, Karrie Martin, Logan Browning and Princess Nokia.

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.