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
Monday, September 14
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The War on Alcohol" (FX and FXX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Dennis, Dee and Frank look to recruit white-collar suits for happy hour while Mac and Charlie seek to enlist blue-collar factory workers so they can return the bar to the melting pot it once was.
Adults - "Talia" (FX and FXX, 9:33PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Anton learns that his sister is starting a family, while Issa begins thinking about her own fertility. Written by Shaun Menchel; Directed by Maggie Carey.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 14)
Monday, September 14
- Mariska Hargitay (Can't Hurry Love) - Watch Mariska on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She also talks about hosting the Emmys on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Salma appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also talks about Without Blood on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Tracee is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Tyler Perry (House of Payne/Love Thy Neighbor) - Tyler talks about Why Did I Get Married Again? on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Ke Huy Quan (Head of the Class/Together We Stand) - Ke talks about Never Say Die: A Memoir on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Star Raving Mad/Doogie Howser, M.D.) - Neil talks about Sunny Dancer on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Olivia Rodrigo (Bizaardvark) - Drew is kicking off season 7 with an extra special interview with Olivia on site at the first ever Daisy Chain Fields Festival! Olivia is joining Drew to debut personal space, a new intimate interview style where Drew gets to know her guests on a deeper level on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Tony Danza (Taxi/Who's the Boss?/Hudson Street/The Tony Danza Show) - Tony appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:15am.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/29/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
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