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, May 20
none scheduled
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 20)
Monday, May 20
- Jennifer Lopez (South Central) - Watch Jennifer on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Paul Reiser (Mad About You/Red Oaks/Married/My Two Dads) - Paul and Michael McDonald are guests on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. They also talk about What a Fool Believes: A Memoir on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Sarah Paulson (Leap of Faith) - Sarah stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Paul Scheer (Black Monday/Fresh Off the Boat/The League) - Paul is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Daniel Radcliffe (Miracle Workers) - Daniel appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Rory Scovel (Physical/Ground Floor) and Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows/The Thundermans) - Rory and Harvey are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Shay Mitchell (Dollface) - Shay appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo. NBC's Today catches up with Shay in the 10am hour.
- Will Smith (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) and Martin Lawrence (Partners/Martin/What's Happening Now!!) - E! News has interviews with Will and Martin at 11pm on E!.
- Drake Bell (Drake & Josh) - Drake shares his story on NBC's Today some time between 7-9am.
- Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) - Hannah is joining Drew and answering a round of questions in balloon pop quiz on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.. She's also telling Drew about voicing her animated character in The Garfield Movie.
- Kadeem Hardison (K.C. Undercover/Abby/Between Brothers/A Different World) - Kadeem stops by to tell Sherri about his role on The Chi on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Tony Danza (Taxi/Who's the Boss?/Hudson Street/The Tony Danza Show) - Tony discusses his Standards & Stories tour on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Dylan McDermott (LA to Vegas) - Dylan is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy can be heard on The Morning Mash Up on SiriusXM.
- Bailee Madison (Trophy Wife) - Bailee appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
- Jeremy Sisto (Suburgatory) - Jeremy is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
New on DVD/Blu-ray
12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/21 - Frasier (2023) - Season One
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