Saturday, July 01, 2023
SitcomsOnline Digest: Actors Strike in the Works Too?; NBCUniversal Introducing New (Classic) Content for FAST
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Independence Day week is upon us, and we're still in the middle of a writers' strike that appears to be on the verge of getting even more complicated and drawn out, but nonetheless we have news for you (and actually, it's a pretty busy week of news)! Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- Forget about a writers' strike; even if they do come to an agreement, SAG-AFTRA is now on the verge of potentially striking, and just as a show can't go on without writers, it also can't go on without actors. (CNN)
- Free ad supported television, or FAST, is quickly becoming a major player in streaming media, and now NBCUniversal is introducing some new channels on Xumo Play and Freevee, which will feature series such as Saturday Night Live, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Saved by the Bell, Major Dad, Punky Brewster, The A-Team, The Rockford Files, and more. (Variety)
- It's going to be Ryan Seacrest taking over at Wheel of Fortune. (Variety)
- The Price is Right aired the final episode "from Television City in Hollywood" on Monday, as the show prepares to move to Glendale for next season. (Deadline)
- In the tradition of reduced budgets, which seems to be affecting everything lately, ESPN has decided to let go of several prominent on-air talents (Deadline)
- Boy ghosts world? It seems that Ben Savage hasn't spoken to his Boy Meets World castmates in three years, and they're not really sure why that is. (Entertainment Weekly)
- The end has come for Geraldo Rivera at Fox News, and it is unclear what is next for him. (Daily Beast)
- Futurama is about to come back, and Hulu has released a trailer for the new season. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (JULY 1 - JULY 8)
- Now that Decades has evolved to just comedy, H&I is taking over the annual tradition of the Twilight Zone marathon, which will start Sunday at noon and run through Tuesday.
- Syfy is taking a different approach with their Twilight Zone marathon this year, by featuring the most recent version of the series from Jordan Peele (though some of the classic Rod Serling episodes will be part of the lineup as well).
- With Catchy Comedy not airing Twilight Zone, there is a binge of Green Acres.
- The A-Team arrives on H&I beginning Wednesday.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Monday, October 13
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the new Normals" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Johnsons and Butlers face big changes and unexpected challenges as Tina discovers a new passion, Malcolm navigates work and family boundaries and Courtney takes a major step with Marty. Meanwhile, Dave’s tech experiment backfires and Gemma’s parenting plan goes awry.
DMV - "Pilot" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
East Hollywood Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driving examiner Colette pines for her coworker Noa while enduring teasing from colleagues Gregg, Vic and Ceci. Also, new manager Barb rallies the crew to save their branch from government shutdown.
TV We Love - "I Love Lucy" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A deep dive into "I Love Lucy," widely regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time; exploring the groundbreaking partnership of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, whose comedic brilliance and bold business moves forever changed television.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 13)
Monday, October 13
- Kat Dennings (Shifting Gears/Dollface/2 Broke Girls/Raising Dad) - Watch Kat on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building/Mulaney/I'm a Big Girl Now/The Associates) and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - Steve, Martin and Selena are guests on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks) - Keanu and Alex Winter are guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) - Jason appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Laverne Cox (Clean Slate) - Andy Cohen intervews Laverne on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
- Patricia Arquette (High Desert) - Patricia talks about Murdaugh: Death in the Family on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Bradley Whitford (Perfect Harmony/Trophy Wife) - Bradley talks about The Diplomat on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Colin Hanks (Life in Pieces) - Colin chats with the hosts about John Candy: I Like Me on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City/The Michael J. Fox Show) - Michael discusses his new book Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Ayo Edebiri (Big Mouth/The Bear) - Co-host Gayle King sits down with Ayo and Julia Roberts on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Tim Meadows (DMV/Schooled/No Activity/Son of Zorn/Mr. Box Office/The Bill Engvall Show) - Tim talks about DMV on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
- Brian Baumgartner (The Office) - Brian talks about the We Need A Fourth podcast on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect/Suddenly Susan) - Sherri talks about The Sunshine Queens on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Jaleel White (Family Matters/Grown Ups) - Jaleel joins Sherri to talk about the new season of his hit game show Flip Side on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Vanessa Lachey (Truth Be Told/Dads) - Vanessa and Nick Lachey talk about Netflix's Love is Blind on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Cristela Alonzo (Cristela) - Cristela talks about Netflix's Stay Classy on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is showing Drew how to make the perfect pumpkin spice meatballs on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - 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
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