SitcomsOnline Digest: HBO Cancels The Franchise; Alice Actress Linda Lavin Dies

Saturday, January 04, 2025

SitcomsOnline Digest: HBO Cancels The Franchise; Alice Actress Linda Lavin Dies

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We're still in that slow Christmas week of news, but we still have a few headlines, including the cancellation of an HBO series and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

HBO has canceled The Franchise. (Deadline)
Remember when cable companies used to offer free preview weekends of movie channels? Apple TV+ is doing something like that this weekend. (Cord Cutters News)
Linda Lavin died earlier this week, and she had already finished 7 of the 10 episodes of the upcoming Hulu series that she had a role in, Mid-Century Modern, making it unclear how they will proceed now. (TheWrap)
Catchy Comedy has a new Saturday lineup, which features a recreation of the 1970s CBS lineup at night. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JANUARY 4 - JANUARY 10)

You can catch an Alice marathon as a tribute to Linda Lavin this weekend on Antenna TV.
Catchy Comedy debuts a new Saturday lineup this weekend, which includes a recreation of the CBS Saturday night lineup from the 70s, today, followed by a Night Court binge tomorrow.
The crossover event that features the cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on Abbott Elementary airs Wednesday on ABC.
Shifting Gears also debuts Wednesday night on ABC.
CBS brings back a new version of Hollywood Squares on Thursday night.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, October 12

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Guys Have a Sleepover" (FX and FXX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Blinded from LASIK surgery, Dee pleads for the guys to spend the night to keep her safe from neighborhood crime, but they listen to the wolves inside themselves and opt for a dudes-only sleepover of their own.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 12)

Monday, October 12

William Shatner ($h*! My Dad Says) - Watch William on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Leonard Ouzts (Abby's) - Leonard is a guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 11:35pm on CBS.
Natasha Leggero (Broke/Dice/Another Period/Free Agents) and Tommy Davidson (The Varnell Hill Show/The Proud Family/Malcolm & Eddie/Between Brothers) - Natasha and Tommy will be on a repeat of Funny You Should Ask at 12:37am on CBS.
Peter Krause (Sports Night/Cybill) - Andy Cohen interviews Peter on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Keri talks about The Dropout on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Co-host Gayle King talks with Billy on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am. He chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Marilu Henner (Taxi/Evening Shade) - Marilu talks about The Ask on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Christopher Jackson (And Just Like That...) - NBC's Today catches up with Christopher in the 9am hour.
Mikey Day (Kath & Kim) - Mikey talks about Is it Cake? on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Joe Manganiello (Mythic Quest/How I Met Your Mother) - Joe talks about Bloodlines: A Memoir on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.