Saturday, November 11, 2023
SitcomsOnline Digest: SAG-AFTRA Strike Finally Ends; New Digital TV Broadcast Networks Coming
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we finally have an end to the SAG-AFTRA strike, we're hearing about some new digital TV broadcast networks, and getting an update on the reboot of an animated adult comedy favorite. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- It's over! The SAG-AFTRA strike has ended, and we're getting an idea of how long the season could be for some of our favorite sitcoms (hint: it's not long). (Deadline)
- We don't have many details yet, but some new digital TV broadcast networks (that will also be streaming) are coming soon from a partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery, Lionsgate, and Gray Television. (Deadline)
- What is lost in the news of these new networks, however, is that Gray Television's current country music digital TV broadcast network, Circle, will be shutting down on December 31 to make way for these new networks, though they say that current programming on Circle will be redistributed elsewhere (and it seems that Circle may maintain a streaming presence as well). (Cord Cutters News)
- We're learning a bit more about the King of the Hill revival, but don't look for it to arrive on Hulu for at least a year, as they're still working out casting details. (TVLine)
- Disney is looking to sell Freeform (which is no longer available on Spectrum, one of the largest cable providers) and other networks to A+E networks. (Cord Cutters News)
- Big Brother, the CBS summer reality series that managed to get stretched all the way into November this year, isn't stopping there, and is having a special two week Christmas themed version next month. (Variety)
- FX has renewed The Bear for a third season. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (NOVEMBER 11 - NOVEMBER 17)
- Catchy Comedy is having a binge of All the Family and Sanford & Son this weekend.
- With little new programming to air, CBS is bringing the British version of Ghosts to the lineup starting Thursday night.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, January 22
Shifting Gears - "Job" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Riley, desperate for work, reluctantly takes a job at Matt’s shop. Meanwhile, Gabriel and Stitch secretly stray from Matt’s vision on a high-stakes restomod project.
Abbott Elementary - "Strike" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
City buses have stopped running due to a strike, resulting in many students being absent from school. The teachers at Abbott try to find creative solutions and adapt to hybrid learning. Meanwhile, Gregory and O’Shon strike up a friendship.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 20)
Wednesday, January 22
- Lucy Liu (Joey/Pearl) - Watch Lucy on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts/White Famous), Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts/Duncanville/Disjointed/Animal Practice) and Punam Patel (Ghosts/Return of the Mac/Kevin from Work) - Utkarsh, Betsy and Punam are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris talks about Watson on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am, on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour, and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) and Nick Kroll (Big Mouth/The League/Cavemen) - Andrew, Nick and Lin-Manuel Miranda are chatting with Drew about their Broadway show All In: Comedy About Love on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. They're also talking to Drew about parenting advice, how they were raised and how comedy brings people together.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
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