Saturday, September 16, 2023
SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Cancels Wonder Years Reboot; Byron Allen Makes $10 Billion Offer to Buy ABC
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This would typically be a busy and exciting week where we tell you about all of the brand new fall series that debut this week, and we're so excited about that... but no. There are still two entertainment industry strikes, and we have almost nothing to offer in this respect. But, it's still a busy new week anyway, with a lot of questions about the future of ABC as well as their cable networks. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- The Wonder Years reboot on ABC got a lot of attention when it started, but after a very disappointing second season in the ratings (ABC's worst show of the year), it has been canceled. (Variety)
- We've got our first look at the Frasier reboot. (Deadline)
- Bill Maher has decided he is returning to the air next week despite the strike, but will other late night talk show hosts look for a loophole to return too? (Deadline)
- If you have Spectrum, the second largest pay TV provider in the nation, you now no longer have cable channels such as Freeform (and never will), as the provider worked out a deal with Disney that brought back ESPN, Disney Channel, and FX, but includes the permanent removal of many other channels, leaving many to wonder if Disney is going to shut them down in the near future. (Hollywood Reporter)
- Meanwhile, Nexstar has been having exploratory talks with Disney about buying ABC, and entertainment mogul Byron Allen has went a step further to make a $10 billion offer to purchase ABC and several of their cable networks (including FX and National Geographic). (Reuters)
- While Byron Allen is trying to buy ABC, his syndicated late night series Comics Unleashed is coming to CBS on Tuesday, as they need strike material to replace the already ended Late Late Show with James Corden. (Hollywood Reporter)
- TBS has acquired Modern Family. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (SEPTEMBER 16 - SEPTEMBER 22)
- Catchy Comedy is going very old this week with a binge of Our Miss Brooks.
- American Horror Story returns to FX on Wednesday.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Tuesday, April 14
none scheduled
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 13)
Tuesday, April 14
- Zach Galifianakis (Baskets) - Catch Zach on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Dan Levy (Big Mistakes/Schitt's Creek) - Dan is a guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Joel Kim Booster (Scrubs/Loot/Shrill) - Andy Cohen interviews Joel on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo. He also talks about Scrubs on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Jean Smart (Hacks/Samantha Who?/Center of the Universe/In-Laws/Style & Substance/Designing Women) and Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Jean and Hannah talk about Hacks on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and chat with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Elizabeth Banks (30 Rock/Scrubs) - Elizabeth and Matthew Macfadyen talk about The Miniature Wife on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Selma Blair (Anger Management/Kath & Kim/Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane) - NBC's Today catches up with Selma in the 9am hour.
- Anthony Norman (Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat) - Anthony talks about Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat on the Morning Mash Up on SiriusXM.
- David Cross (Arrested Development/Running Wilde/Oliver Beene) - David Cross tells Sherri about his latest stand-up special, The End of the Beginning of the End, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Jalyn Hall (The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins) - Jalyn talks about starring in The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins on NBC and Peacock on Sherri, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
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