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
Thursday, April 2
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Three Angry Women and a Prophylactic" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy’s attempt to help Missy (Raegan Revord) with boys backfires when Mary (Zoe Perry) finds out and Georgie is caught in the crossfire.
Ghosts - "The Water Heater" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam and Jay try to replace their broken water heater, but Isaac turns the upgrade into a campaign issue in his bid to represent the basement ghosts. Meanwhile, Kyle (Ben Feldman) attempts to make Bela jealous by pretending he’s dating Hetty.
Animal Control - "Bats and Camels" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Templeton and Frank compete for the endorsement of a legendary Animal Control officer in an effort to win Animal Control officer of the year; Emily spirals when Shred goes on a date with Daisy's friend.
Going Dutch - "Apache Helicopter Parent" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Stroopsdorf hosts its first-ever international peace talks, and when Captain Maggie is assigned the seemingly simple task of handing out cheese, The Colonel turns into a full-blown helicopter parent.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 30)
Thursday, April 2
- Elizabeth Banks (30 Rock/Scrubs) - Catch Elizabeth on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown/Space Force/Silicon Valley) - Jimmy appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Ramy Youssef (#1 Happy Family USA/Ramy/See Dad Run) - Ramy stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory/8 Simple Rules/Ladies Man) - Kaley appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Erik Griffin (I'm Dying Up Here/Blunt Talk/Workaholics) - Erik is a guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
- Constance Zimmer (Entourage/Good Morning, Miami) - Constance tells Sherri about the new season of The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix and her "Talk 50 to Me" podcast on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Zendaya (K.C. Undercover/Shake It Up) - Drew is chatting with Zendaya about her newest movie The Drama on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney guest co-hosts The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Arsenio Hall (Arsenio) - Arsenio talks about Arsenio: A Memoir with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs) - Sean and Gaten Matarazzo talk about Pizza Movie on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
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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