Saturday, March 19, 2022
SitcomsOnline Digest: Amazon Buys MGM; This Is Us Star Cast in ABC Comedy Pilot
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're learning of a new acquisition of MGM (but is it real this time?), the renewal of an ABC comedy favorite, and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- Amazon has purchased MGM, or so we think, as previous "sales" of MGM to Turner in the 80s and Sony in 2006 have turned out to not be what they seem. (NPR)
- With the NBC series This Is Us coming to an end, cast members are in high demand for other new series, and this week we're hearing about Chris Sullivan being cast in a pilot for ABC. (Deadline)
- Although a Quantum Leap reboot is in the works for Peacock with a whole new cast, Scott Bakula is looking to return to the NBC primetime lineup as star and executive producer in a series in which he will be playing a much different role. (TVLine)
- With all of the reboots that are in the works (including many that don't quite make it to TV), it's easy to forget what is being worked on, but there is an Early Edition reboot in the works and it now has an actress attached to the starring role. (Deadline)
- The executive producer of Dancing with the Stars is out, and former host Tom Bergeron (who was fired by the same executive producer) had something to say about it. (Deadline)
- In maybe one of the most unsurprising renewals of the season, ABC has renewed Abbott Elementary for a second season. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (MARCH 19 - MARCH 25)
- Atlanta returns with a new season on Thursday on FX.
- Although it isn't a rare thing for them to do, E! is having a Saved by the Bell marathon this weekend.
- Decades has a binge of feature films (and two part episodes of hour long series) this weekend.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, January 22
Shifting Gears - "Job" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Riley, desperate for work, reluctantly takes a job at Matt’s shop. Meanwhile, Gabriel and Stitch secretly stray from Matt’s vision on a high-stakes restomod project.
Abbott Elementary - "Strike" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
City buses have stopped running due to a strike, resulting in many students being absent from school. The teachers at Abbott try to find creative solutions and adapt to hybrid learning. Meanwhile, Gregory and O’Shon strike up a friendship.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 20)
Wednesday, January 22
- Lucy Liu (Joey/Pearl) - Watch Lucy on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts/White Famous), Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts/Duncanville/Disjointed/Animal Practice) and Punam Patel (Ghosts/Return of the Mac/Kevin from Work) - Utkarsh, Betsy and Punam are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris talks about Watson on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am, on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour, and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) and Nick Kroll (Big Mouth/The League/Cavemen) - Andrew, Nick and Lin-Manuel Miranda are chatting with Drew about their Broadway show All In: Comedy About Love on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. They're also talking to Drew about parenting advice, how they were raised and how comedy brings people together.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
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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