SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

SitcomsOnline Digest: New King of the Hill Reboot Details; CBS Makes Late Night Changes

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a somewhat busy week, but we've got highlights, including a lot to take in about the King of the Hill reboot. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Not only do we have a premiere date for the King of the Hill reboot, we've even got opening credits... and we suggest watching them and frequently pausing to catch every little detail of what has happened in the past decade and a half. (Deadline)
• Jenna Fischer is talking about her favorite episodes of The Office, and they're mostly ones after Steve Carell left the show. (Deadline)
• CBS is putting Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen in their post-Colbert timeslot next season... again. (Hollywood Reporter)
• The back and forth between CBS and Sony on who owns the distribution rights to Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! is now back to CBS having the rights. (AV Club)
• Former Simpsons music composer Alf Clausen, whom we actually interviewed nearly 20 years ago, has died. (Variety)
• Loretta Swit, known for her role on M*A*S*H (and who played Cagney in the pilot for Cagney & Lacey, but wasn't able to play the role because she couldn't get out of her M*A*S*H contract) has died. (Hollywood Reporter)
• We have our first look at Leanne, a Chuck Lorre sitcom coming to Netflix. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (MAY 31 - JUNE 6)

• Tomorrow's binge on Catchy Comedy is Brooklyn Bridge.
• Antenna TV has an Alice marathon tomorrow.
• Fox has a new season of The Quiz with Balls on Monday.

FX's Adults Pilot Available on Social Platforms; BET and BET+ Premiere New Tyler Perry Series in June

FX's Adults, a new comedy series created by Ben Kronengold & Rebecca Shaw, made its first episode available on several top video and social media platforms on Thursday, the day after the series premiered on FX and the same day that the full eight-episode season became available on Hulu and TVE/VOD. The first episode, "Pilot," is available in its entirety on Hulu's YouTube channel and FX's Facebook channel. The full episode can be watched in snackable segments on FX's TikTok and FX's Instagram accounts.

FX's Adults premiered on Wednesday, May 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FX with its first two episodes. The entire eight-episode first season is now available on Hulu and FX On Demand via television providers. FX will continue to air two episodes each Wednesday for the following three weeks. FX's Adults is an ensemble comedy series about a group of twenty-somethings in New York trying to be good people, despite being neither "good" nor "people" yet. "Samir" (Malik Elassal), "Billie" (Lucy Freyer), "Paul Baker" (Jack Innanen), "Issa" (Amita Rao) and "Anton" (Owen Thiele) are five friends crashing together in Samir's childhood home, where they share their meals, anxieties and, occasionally, toothbrushes.

Created by Ben Kronengold & Rebecca Shaw (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), the show puts a slightly heightened twist on the wins, losses and humiliations of starting out in the adult world. Whether they're trying to get ahead at work, navigating the healthcare system, hosting a dinner party or dating in the age of Find My Friends, the group is finding that nothing about the real world is simple, and all their best intentions tend to make things worse.

Tyler Perry's Divorced Sistas will premiere on Monday, June 9, on BET, after the 2025 BET Awards, and will be available to stream on BET+ starting Tuesday, June 10. New episodes from the eight-episode season will drop weekly on BET+, with Episode 2 premiering Thursday, June 12, and the first half of Season 1 concluding on Thursday, July 24.

Five friends, Rasheda, Geneva, Naomi, Tiffany, and Bridgette, all battle life and relationship woes at some stage of divorce, marriage, and dating. But it's the battle within their circle that tests their true character and love for one another. The ensemble cast features LeToya Luckett (Greenleaf), Khadeen Indréa (Ellis Ever After), Porscha Coleman (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!), Briana Price (Step Up: High Water), Jennifer Sears (Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Funeral), RonReaco Lee (Survivor's Remorse), DeVon Franklin (Kingdom Business), Donovan Christie Jr. (Tyler Perry's The Oval), and Robert Christopher Riley (Dynasty).

Netflix's New Chuck Lorre Sitcom Leanne; Apple TV+ Season 4 Premiere of The Morning Show

Netflix released the first official images from Leanne, a new comedy series starring Leanne Morgan and co-created by Susan McMartin, Chuck Lorre and Morgan. All 16 episodes will premiere globally on July 31st. Leanne's life takes an unexpected turn when her husband of 33 years leaves her for another woman. Starting over when you're a grandmother and in menopause isn't exactly what she had in mind, but with the help of her family she will navigate this new chapter with grace, dignity and jello salad.

Creators: Susan McMartin, Chuck Lorre, Leanne Morgan. Executive Producers: Chuck Lorre, Susan McMartin, Nick Bakay, Leanne Morgan, Judi Marmel. Cast: Leanne Morgan, Kristen Johnston, Celia Weston, Blake Clark, Ryan Stiles, Graham Rogers, Hannah Pilkes. Recurring Guest Stars: Tim Daly, Jayma Mays, Annie Gonzalez, Blake Gibbons.

Apple TV+ revealed a first look at the highly anticipated fourth season of The Morning Show, the award-winning and global hit drama starring and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, alongside showrunner and executive producer Charlotte Stoudt and director and executive producer Mimi Leder. The 10-episode fourth season will premiere globally on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 with the first episode, followed by one episode weekly until November 19, 2025.

Season four of The Morning Show opens in spring 2024, almost two years after the events of season three. With the UBA-NBN merger complete, the newsroom must grapple with newfound responsibility, hidden motives, and the elusive nature of truth in a polarized America. In a world rife with deepfakes, conspiracy theories, and corporate cover-ups - who can you trust? And how can you know what's actually real? Along with Aniston and Witherspoon, the star-studded season four ensemble cast includes Billy Crudup, Karen Pittman, Nicole Beharie, Nestor Carbonell, Mark Duplass, Greta Lee, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Aaron Pierre, William Jackson Harper, Boyd Holbrook, and returning fan-favorite Jon Hamm.

Max Renews Hacks for Season 5; Byron Allen Coming Back to CBS Late Night

Max has renewed the multi-Emmy®-winning comedy series Hacks for a fifth season ahead of the season four finale, debuting this Thursday, May 29 at 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET. Over the course of its run, the series has garnered 48 Emmy® nominations, including a season three win for Outstanding Comedy Series. Hacks has been a top five series on Max since its season four debut in the U.S. and a top 10 series globally. Season four has been pacing as the series’ best season yet and has achieved both domestic and global week-over-week growth every week so far this season.

Six-time Emmy® winner and Tony Award® nominee Jean Smart, three-time Emmy® nominee and Critics Choice Award winner Hannah Einbinder, three-time Emmy® winner Paul W. Downs, SAG Award® nominee Megan Stalter, Emmy® nominee Carl Clemons-Hopkins, SAG Award® nominee Mark Indelicato, and SAG Award® nominee Rose Abdoo return alongside Dan Bucatinsky, Helen Hunt, Tony Goldwyn, Kaitlin Olson, Jane Adams, Lauren Weedman, Christopher McDonald, Poppy Liu, Lorenza Izzo, Johnny Sibilly, Paul Felder, Polly Draper, Luenell, and Aristotle Athari. Julianne Nicholson, Michaela Watkins, Bresha Webb, Robby Hoffman, Eric Balfour, Danny Jolles, Gavin Matts, Grover Whitmore, III, Holmes, Jasmine Ashanti, Katy Sullivan, Matt Oberg, Sandy Honig, and Jake Shane joined the cast in season four.

Byron Allen-hosted comedy talk show Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen will air Monday through Friday with back-to-back, half-hour episodes following The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, beginning Monday, September 22 (12:37-1:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live on Paramount+. In fall 2023, Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen aired in a successful limited run on CBS in the same time slot.

Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, produced by Allen Media Group and executive produced by Byron Allen, Carolyn Folks and Jennifer Lucas, has been airing in first-run strip syndication since its premiere in September 2006 and can be seen on CBS owned-and-operated television stations nationwide.

Antenna TV Summer 2025 Schedule; Rewind TV Summer 2025 Schedule

Antenna TV's Summer 2025 schedule kicks off with 227 joining the line-up from sister network Rewind TV. 227 is airing weeknights from 6pm-7pm ET | 3pm-4pm PT and on Saturday nights at 10pm-11pm ET | 7pm-8pm PT. 227 will lead into The Jeffersons on weeknights, which is expanding to two hours from 7-9pm ET | 4-6pm PT and also on Saturdays from 3-5pm ET | 12-2pm PT. Three's Company is moving to 4-5pm ET | 1-2pm PT, with an encore in the mornings from 5-6am ET | 2-3am PT. The only other change in the line-up is to weeknights in the overnights from 1am-5am ET | 10pm-2am PT, with back-to-back Drew Carey, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie and Alice.

Stunts on Antenna TV this summer include the Father's Day Too Close for Comfort 45th Anniversary Marathon, the Independence Day McHale's Navy Marathon, I Dream of Jeannie's 60th Anniversary 60 Episode Marathon on 8/16-8/17 and the Labor Day Archie Bunker's Place Marathon. More details on each to come!

Meanwhile, sister network Rewind TV's Summer 2025 schedule kicks off with Designing Women joining the line-up from Antenna TV. So 227 and Designing Women are making the switch. Designing Women is airing weeknights 8-9pm ET | 5-6pm PT and on Sunday mornings from 7-9am ET | 4-6am PT. The rest of the schedule are just minor changes on weekdays, with early mornings now back-to-back The John Larroquette Show and Dear John from 6-8am ET | 3-5am PT and Sabrina the Teenage Witch getting 3-4pm ET | 12-1pm PT.

Memorial Day 2025 TV Sitcom Marathons

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 26, 2025)

SitcomsOnline Digest: Zach Braff Joins Scrubs Reboot; 7th Heaven Reboot in the Works

   Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's Memorial Day weekend, so summer is just about here, and we're here with more news about reboots (of course!), renewals, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Zach Braff has joined the Scrubs reboot at ABC. (Variety)
• A 7th Heaven reboot is in the works, though it seems it won't involve the original cast (but an original cast member is the executive producer). (Deadline)
• The CW has renewed Scrabble (with new host Craig Ferguson) and Trivial Pursuit. (TV Insider)
• The Chrisley family has landed a new reality series, even with mom and dad sitting in prison. (Deadline)
• The Steve Wilkos Show, the last holdout from the tail-end of the golden era of trashy daytime TV talk shows, has been renewed for a 19th season. (Deadline)
• George Wendt, who played Norm on Cheers, died this week. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (MAY 24 - MAY 30)

• It shouldn't come as a surprise, but tomorrow's binge on Catchy Comedy is Cheers in honor of George Wendt, which was changed from the one that was originally planned.
• A new Antenna TV lineup starts Monday, with 227 returning to the lineup.
• A new season of Rick and Morty arrives Sunday night on Adult Swim.
• Adults premieres Wednesday on FX.
• Animation Domination Thursday starts this week on Fox, with new episodes of favorites from Sunday night.

Discovery Channel's Shark Week with Tom Bergeron; Apple TV+ Season 2 of Hit Series

Summer's most-anticipated television programming event, Discovery Channel's Shark Week, returns for its historic 37th year on Sunday, July 20 at 8PM ET/PT. The network previously announced the upcoming Shark Week special Dancing with Sharks (wt) and released the first official promo clip for the 2025 celebration. A full programming schedule for Shark Week will be distributed in the coming weeks.

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning television personality Tom Bergeron, Dancing with Sharks (wt) is a new Shark Week 2025 special that features an unprecedented underwater dance competition between expert divers and their shark partners. Blending skill, grace and the daring pursuit of the ultimate underwater thrill, five divers all trained by a world-class underwater choreographer will compete to show off their skills during epic underwater dances. Each diver will attempt to outperform their competitors, with moves including the Hammerhead Hoedown and Tiger Trot, and redefine dancing with danger. They will have one shot to wow the judges and be crowned the first-ever champion of Dancing with Sharks (wt).

Apple TV+ debuted the official trailer for the second season of its acclaimed, hit drama The Buccaneers. The eight-episode second season will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with one episode on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 followed by one new episode every Wednesday through August 6, 2025.

The trailer reveals the next chapter for the young American Buccaneers — sisterhood, romance, wit, steamy love affairs, extravagant gowns, spectacular landscapes and jaw-dropping plot-twists. The Buccaneers welcomes returning cast members to its second season, including Kristine Frøseth, Alisha Boe, Aubri Ibrag, Josie Totah, Imogen Waterhouse, Mia Threapleton, Emmy Award nominee Christina Hendricks, Guy Remmers, Matthew Broome, Josh Dylan, Barney Fishwick, Amelia Bullmore, Fenella Woolgar and newcomers Leighton Meester, Greg Wise, Jacob Ifan, Grace Ambrose and Maria Almeida.

TV Legend Henry Winkler's New HISTORY Series; The CW Renews Family Law

Hosted, narrated, and executive produced by Emmy(R) Award-winning TV legend Henry Winkler (Happy Days), Hazardous History with Henry Winkler premieres Sunday, June 15 at 10/9c on The HISTORY Channel.

Each 60-minute episode of this nostalgia-drenched series tells the stories of the things we did for fun, for money, or out of plain boredom that you can't do anymore. Pastimes, practices, and products that were once allowed, even encouraged, which you will never see again in modern America. There was a time, not long ago, when doctors would recommend smoking, and when we stored our food in toxic refrigerators, and unknowingly played with radioactive toys, flew down slides that ripped our skin off, and decorated our Christmas tree with ornaments made from asbestos. Fast-paced, informative, and a little bit scary, from perilous playgrounds to precarious products, it's a running cavalcade of the most exciting, reckless, unsupervised tales of Americana in our history.

The CW Network announced the original scripted drama series Family Law starring Jewel Staite (Firefly, The L.A. Complex) and Victor Garber (DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Alias) will return for a 10-episode fourth season on Wednesday, July 23 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT). As Season 4 kicks off, Abigail's (Jewel Staite) home, work and romantic life are up in flames. Her boyfriend Ben (Benjamin Ayres) has fallen off the wagon, Sofia (Eden Summer Gilmore) has written a devastating essay about her mother’s alcoholism and Harry (Victor Garber) has passed her over for equity partnership.

Remembering George Wendt of Cheers; Platonic Season 2 First Look

Actor George Wendt, who starred as Norm Peterson in Cheers, has died. He died in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles on May 20. His death coincided with the 32nd anniversary of the Cheers series finale. Mr. Wendt was 76.

Wendt's first role as a series regular was as Gus Bertoia in the short-lived 1982 CBS sitcom Making the Grade, which was created by Gary David Goldberg. George Bertoia is a physical education teacher at Franklin High School in St. Louis. The series also starred James Naughton, Graham Jarvis, Alley Mills, Steve Peterman, Zane Lasky, Philip Charles MacKenzie, and Veronica Redd.

He starred as Norm Peterson in 1982-1993 NBC sitcom Cheers. Norm Peterson is a bar regular and occasionally employed accountant. He made a prominent entrance to the bar in every episode. He would be greeted by a cheer of "Norm!" and make a wisecrack as he walked to his barstool.

The role earned Wendt six consecutive nominations from 1984 to 1989 for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He also directed the episode "Airport V" in 1988. The cast included Ted Danson, Shelley Long (1982-1987), Rhea Perlman, Nicholas Colasanto (1982-1985), John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer (1984-1993), Woody Harrelson (1985-1993), Kirstie Alley (1986-1993), and Bebe Neuwirth (1986-1993).

Wendt appeared as Norm Peterson in a 1985 crossover episode of St. Elsewhere. He also made one guest appearance each in the three other sitcoms set in the Cheers universe: the spin-off The Tortellis in 1987, the Wings episode "The Story of Joe in 1990, and the Frasier episode Cheerful Goodbyes in 2002. Some of his other appearances as Norm Peterson included Mickey's 60th Birthday in 1988, The Magical World of Disney - "Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration" in 1990, and The Earth Day Special in 1990.

He starred as George Coleman in the short-lived 1995 CBS sitcom The George Wendt Show. Based on the NPR radio show Car Talk, the series revolved around George and Dan Coleman (Pat Finn), two wise cracking brothers who own a car garage in Madison, Wisconsin. The series also starred Brian Doyle-Murray, Mark Christopher Lawrence, and Kate Hodge.

Wendt starred as Les Polanski in the second season (1997) of the sitcom The Naked Truth. In the second season, the show switched networks from ABC to NBC and was retooled. Meatball-mogul Les Polanski buys the celebrity tabloid The Comet, intending to make it a respectable publication. The second season also starred Téa Leoni, Holland Taylor, Mark Roberts, Jonathan Penner, and Darryl Sivad.

He had a recurring role as Mike Shelby in six episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch on The WB from 2001 to 2002. Mike Shelby is Sabrina Spellman's (Melissa Joan Hart) boss at the Boston Citizen newspaper.

Wendt starred as Tug Clarke in the short-lived 2006 The WB sitcom Modern Men. Tug Clarke is a retired pro football player who owned a local restaurant. He is the father of Tim Clarke (Josh Braaten) and Molly Clarke (Marla Sokoloff). The series also starred Jane Seymour, Max Greenfield, and Eric Lively.

He starred as Buzzy in the short-lived 2015 TBS sitcom Clipped. Clipped takes place in a Charlestown, Massachusetts barbershop called Buzzy's, named after the original owner who still works there. The series also starred Mike Castle, Ashley Tisdale, Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Pinkston, Matt Cook, and Diona Reasonover.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Soap, Taxi, Alice, M*A*S*H, Day by Day, Roc, Seinfeld (as himself), Bob (as himself), The Building, The Larry Sanders Show (as himself), The Martin Short Show (as himself), Good Company (as himself), Spin City, Madigan Men (4 episodes as Carl), Becker, Rock Me Baby, George Lopez (2 episodes), Hot in Cleveland, Kickin' It, Kirstie, Childrens Hospital, Fresh Off the Boat, and The Goldbergs.

Wendt hosted Saturday Night Live twice in 1986 and 1990. In the early 1990s, he made cameo appearances on several episodes as Bob Swerski, one of the Chicago Superfans (along with cast members Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Robert Smigel, and one-time host, Joe Mantegna).

Some of his other television guest appearances included Hart to Hart, The Twilight Zone (1986), Tales from the Crypt, Columbo (1995), Masters of Horror, Ghost Whisperer, Harry's Law, and Franklin & Bash.

He had film roles opposite Robert De Niro in 1991's Guilty by Suspicion and with Mel Gibson in 1992's Forever Young. Some of his other film credits included No Small Affair (1984), Dreamscape (1984), Fletch (1985), House (1985), Gung Ho (1986), and Man of the House (1995).

Mr. Wendt was very funny and memorable as Norm Peterson. Wendt, Danson and Perlman were the only three cast members who appeared in every episode of Cheers. Norm's entrances at the bar, such as "It's a dog-eat-dog world, Sammy, and I'm wearing Milk-Bone underwear" were always hilarious. We thank him for the many laughs he brought us on Cheers and television during his legendary career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Cheers message board. View photos in our galleries.

Watch a special Catchy Binge and tribute to George Wendt this Sunday (May 25) starting at 6a ET | 3a PT, featuring some of his most memorable episodes of Cheers. Tune in and raise a glass as Catchy Comedy remembers George Wendt all Sunday long.

Apple TV+ today revealed a first look at the second season of Platonic, the critically acclaimed half-hour comedy starring and executive produced by Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. The 10-episode sophomore season will premiere globally on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 with the first two episodes, followed by one episode weekly until October 1, 2025. Co-created, directed and co-written by Nick Stoller and Francesca Delbanco, Platonic season two picks up with everyone’s favorite pair of best friends (Rogen and Byrne) as they contend with new mid-life hurdles including work, weddings and partners in crises. The duo tries their best to be each other’s rock — but sometimes rocks break things. The season two cast also includes Luke Macfarlane and Carla Gallo, and introduces Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett as guest stars.

Platonic is produced by Sony Pictures Television, where Stoller’s Global Solutions has an overall deal. Byrne, Stoller, Delbanco and Conor Welch executive produce along with Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver for Point Grey Pictures. In addition to Platonic, Rogen stars in Apple TV+'s comedy The Studio, which he wrote, directed and executive produced alongside Goldberg, and Byrne stars in Apple TV+’s dark comedy Physical.

The CW Renews Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble; Mike Birbiglia: The Good Life on Netflix May 26

The CW Network announced that it has renewed family game shows Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble for 30-episode second seasons to air in 2026. Fan favorite Emmy® Award-winning actor, director, producer, and podcaster, LeVar Burton (Roots, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Reading Rainbow) will return to host and executive produce Trivial Pursuit.

Multiple Grammy-nominated, Peabody, and Emmy® Award winning actor, writer, producer, director and comedian Craig Ferguson (The Late Late Show, Celebrity Name Game) joins Scrabble as the show's new host. Former Scrabble host Raven-Symoné (That's So Raven) stays on board the hit game show as an executive producer for Season 2. Both series based on the classic board games are produced by Hasbro Entertainment alongside Lionsgate Alternative Television, with Mattel Television Studios co-producing Scrabble.

Mike Birbiglia: The Good Life is coming soon to Netflix on May 26. In his latest hour, Mike Birbiglia - who merges storytelling, theater, and comedy in a way that The New York Times has called "Birbiglian" - opens up about his father's recent stroke and discusses how it has prompted him to reevaluate his own approach to fatherhood.

North to Shore Festival Returns This June in NJ; S.W.A.T. Sets Spinoff Series

Building on the momentum of two extraordinarily successful festivals in 2023 and 2024, Prudential North to Shore Festival will return in June 2025 with an expanded lineup that runs from June 14 through June 29. Conceived by Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy in 2023, this year’s festival returns with a special focus on comedy and music -- Laughs and Jams. In its first two years, the festival brought in more than $25 million for ticketed events and has drawn a total audience of over 500,000 to more than 650 shows in 250 venues in Newark, Asbury Park and Atlantic City, making it New Jersey’s largest summer arts festival. Prudential Financial returns as the festival’s title sponsor, as part of the Newark-based company’s celebration of its 150th anniversary.

Then, for two consecutive weeks, comedians of all stripes and musical acts will perform in venues across Asbury Park and Newark. At the same time, free community events will welcome festival-goers with a taste of the rich and varied arts and culture scene that thrives in each city. This year’s lineup will include Bleachers; George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic; Gregory Porter; Jack’s Manequinn; Jon Stewart, John Mulaney, and Pete Davidson; Josh Johnson; Lawrence; Natalia Lafourcade; Slightly Stoopid; Stone Temple Pilots; Streetlight Manifesto; The String Cheese Incident; Third Eye Blind; Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and many others.

Here are the Newark events:
June 17: String Cheese Incident at Prudential Hall at NJPAC.
June 18-20: Black Creative Economy Summit at Symphony Hall.
June 19: Natalia Lafourcade at Prudential Hall at NJPAC.
June 20: Hot 97’s Summer Jam at Prudential Center. Lineup TBA.
June 20: Third Eye Blind, Stars at Prudential Hall at NJPAC.
June 20: Two Funny Mamas featuring Sherri Shepherd and Kym Whitley at Victoria Theater at NJPAC.
June 21: Kumail Nanjiani at Victoria Theater at NJPAC.
June 22: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at Prudential Center.
June 22: Bassem Youssef at Prudential Hall at NJPAC.
June 22: Bob Summer at NJPAC
June 23: Food Insecurity Panel at Chase Room at NJPAC.
June 26: Stone Temple Pilots, Parlor Mob at Prudential Hall at NJPAC.
June 26: Newark International Film Festival: Tate Brothers Panel Discussion
June 27: Jon Stewart, John Mulaney, Pete Davidson at Prudential Center.
June 27: Joey Diaz at Prudential Hall at NJPAC.
June 27: Nicole Byer at Victoria Theater at NJPAC.
June 27: New Jersey Symphony at Branch Brook Park. (free)
June 27: Sounds of the City: Felix Hernandez’s Rhythm Revue Dance Part at Chambers Plaza at NJPAC. (free)
June 27: Newark International Film Festival: Acting class with Tobias Truvillion.
June 27: Newark International Film Festival: “Hip Hop to Hollywood,” Dupré “DoItAll” Kelly & Friends.
June 28: L.L. Cool J’s Rock the Bell Festival at Prudential Center. Lineup TBA.
June 28: Josh Johnson at Prudential Hall at NJPAC.
June 28: Rosebud Baker at Victoria Theater at NJPAC.
June 28: Sounds of the City: Big Daddy Kane at Chambers Plaza at NJPAC. (free)
June 28: Yogi Fest by Tye Daye at Lincoln Park.
June 28: Newark International Film Festival: Acting class with Morocco Omari.
June 28: Newark International Film Festival: Acting Class with Wendy McKenzie.
June 29: Gregory Porter at Prudential Hall at NJPAC.
June 29: Martin Amini at Victoria Theater at NJPAC.
June 29: Sounds of the City: Lettuce at Chambers Plaza at NJPAC. (free)

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) announced at LA Screenings a series order for S.W.A.T. Exiles, a new spinoff series starring Shemar Moore, who will reprise his role as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson. The new series expands the popular S.W.A.T. universe, underscores SPT's commitment to producing high-quality content and enhances the value of key intellectual property (IP) in the evolving television landscape.

SPT will produce and distribute the 10-episode series globally, focusing on finding the right homes and partners for these new stories to reach the passionate S.W.A.T. fanbase and attract new viewers. Development is currently underway with production scheduled to begin this summer in Los Angeles, preserving jobs for the 200-person local production crew who have been instrumental to the success of the original series for the last eight seasons.

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 19, 2025)

SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Picks Up New Dan Levy Comedy; First Look at King of the Hill Reboot Artwork

  Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we are hearing about a new Netflix comedy, hearing about the reboot of Malcolm in the Middle, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Netflix has picked up a new comedy with Dan Levy and Laurie Metcalf. (Variety)
• Filming has wrapped up for the reboot of Malcolm in the Middle. (Entertainment Weekly)
• It ain't much, I tell you what, but we do have a first look at a poster for the King of the Hill reboot. (USA Today)
• We're learning a bit more about the follow-up project to The Office, which now has a name, The Paper. (Hollywood Reporter)
• You know you never called it Max anyway, but Max is now rebranding back to HBO Max. (NPR)
• Speaking of HBO Max, as South Park prepares to debut on Paramount+, what will happen with it on HBO Max? (Deadline)
• We have the fall lineup for ABC, the only one announced this week with any sitcoms on the fall lineup. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (MAY 17 - MAY 23)

• Tomorrow's binge on Catchy Comedy is The Honeymooners.
• Season 50 of Saturday Night Live comes to an end tonight.

Michael J. Fox to Guest Star on Shrinking; The CW Picks Up Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent

Apple TV+ announced that Michael J. Fox, the multi-award-winning actor, will guest star in the upcoming third season of Shrinking. Details around the role are being kept under wraps. Co-created by Segel, Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, and starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford in one of his first television roles, Shrinking follows grieving therapist Jimmy (played by Segel) who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives … including his own.

In addition to Segel and Ford, Shrinking stars Emmy Award nominee Christa Miller, Emmy Award nominee Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell and Ted McGinley. The cast of Shrinking season three also includes previously announced additions Emmy SAG and Golden Globe Award-winner Jeff Daniels, who will guest star as Jimmy's father, and Sherry Cola and Isabella Gomez.

Shrinking is produced for Apple TV+ by Warner Bros. Television, where Lawrence and Goldstein are under overall deals and Lawrence’s Doozer Productions. Lawrence, Segel, Goldstein, Neil Goldman, James Ponsoldt, Jeff Ingold, Liza Katzer, Randall Winston, Annie Mebane, Rachna Fruchbom and Brian Gallivan all serve as executive producers on season two. Ashley Nicole Black and Bill Posley serve as executive producers on season three.

Since its global debut, Shrinking has been honored with SAG Award nominations for performances by Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, as well as nods for Emmy Awards, Critics Choice Awards and the WGA, among many others. Apple TV+ also recently partnered with Michael J. Fox on the acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning documentary, STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie.

The CW Network announced it has picked up the drama series Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent for two seasons. The 10-episode first season based on the classic series format created by legendary producer Dick Wolf and starring Aden Young (Rectify) and Kathleen Munroe (City on Fire) will premiere on The CW in Fall 2025. Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent is an original adaptation of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, based on the legendary Law & Order global brand. The series' 2024 launch in Canada was the #1 primetime premiere on Citytv and was the #1 primetime debut for a drama of the season.

The first season follows the Specialized Criminal Investigations Unit’s detective duo, Detective Sergeants Henry Graff (Aden Young) and Frankie Bateman (Kathleen Munroe), as they investigate high-profile homicides in Canada’s largest metropolis. Their unique investigative skills are showcased through psychological tactics, with a heavy focus on the motives and actions of the criminals. These cases delve into the worlds of high finance, politics, real estate, media, and more.

2025 Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront; 2025 Netflix Upfront

At the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront presentation in New York yesterday, it was announced that Max, the company's premier streaming platform, will be rebranded HBO Max this summer. Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO of the Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, announced programming plans and outlined a vision for the entertainment networks during the 2025 Upfront presentation for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Dungey, who assumed oversight of such brands as Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, TBS, TNT, TLC, Adult Swim, OWN and others in January, shared her top priorities for the portfolio which are to create the next generation of culture-shaping programming, broaden collaboration with WBD's streaming platform HBO Max(R) to attract unique audiences, and enhance and extend the power of the group's premium brands.

Dungey announced several exciting new series for 2025/2026 during the presentation to advertisers at Madison Square Garden, including:

· Food Network's competition show Family Recipe Showdown, produced and hosted by Academy Award(R)-winning actress Octavia Spencer, and Guy's Flavortown Games (wt), featuring Emmy(R) Award-winning host and restaurateur Guy Fieri;
· Discovery's Dancing With Sharks (wt), a Shark Week special hosted by Emmy(R) Award-winning television personality Tom Bergeron;
· Investigation Discovery's (ID) They Know What They Did, narrated and executive produced by Golden Globe(R) Award-nominated actress Jennifer Love Hewitt. ID also will premiere a compelling new series that features an unprecedented collaboration between Vanity Fair Studios and Dick Wolf's Wolf Entertainment;
· HGTV's latest home renovation competition Renovating the Bachelor Mansion (wt); and
· OWN's new reality series Heart & Hustle: Houston (wt).

Dungey also previewed TLC's upcoming 90 Day: Hunt for Love, the next spin-off in the 90 Day Fiancé juggernaut, and TNT's High Value Target (wt), a new scripted limited series about the interrogation of Saddam Hussein. She also confirmed that the first season of HBO Max(R) and Warner Bros. Television's breakout hit medical drama The Pitt will premiere on TNT in advance of the show's season two premiere on HBO Max(R). These are among the many popular series that will return for new seasons: Food Network's Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, HGTV's Ugliest House in America, and Adult Swim's Rick and Morty and My Adventures with Superman.

At Netflix's third Upfront presentation, it was no secret that Netflix continues to deliver quality and variety in its series and films, which drives engagement and attention.

New Title Announcements:
Untitled Dan Levy - A new comedy series starring Dan Levy, Laurie Metcalf and Taylor Ortega.
All the Sinners Bleed - In this series, the first Black sheriff in a small Bible Belt community must lead the hunt for a serial killer.
The Body - A gritty, coming-of-age drama created by Quinn Shepherd, following a group of badly behaved girls who begin having prophetic visions and set off mass hysteria in their town.
Fight for '84 - After the US Olympic boxing team is tragically killed in a plane crash in 1980, a new coach (Jamie Foxx) is brought in to rebuild the team and leads them to victory in the 1984 Olympics in this upcoming movie.
Here Comes the Flood - Starring Denzel Washington and Daisy Edgar-Jones, this new film chronicles a bank guard plotting with a master thief to steal, the rise and fall of his relationship with a bank teller and a series of twists that unveil the con game at the center of it all.
PRIME TIME - A new documentary series that will peel back the layers of Deion Sanders, one of sports’ most electrifying and polarizing figures.
Star Search - The iconic talent competition series is officially returning — live, reimagined, and supercharged for today’s audience.

New Live Events:
NFL Christmas Gameday (2025)

Series Renewals:
Bridgerton Seasons 5 & 6
Forever Season 2
Love on the Spectrum Season 4
Million Dollar Secret Season 2
My Life with the Walter Boys Season 3
Survival of the Thickest Season 3
The Diplomat Season 4
The Four Seasons Season 2

Release Date Announcements:
On Netflix This August
America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys

On Netflix This Summer
Building the Band

On Netflix 2026
The Golden Ticket

Release Date Announcement and Assets:
On Netflix Early 2026
Bridgerton Season 4 New Clip

Tyler Perry's Straw New Asset
Wednesday Season 2 New Asset
The Old Guard 2 Trailer

Chad Powers Premieres September 30 on Hulu; Upfront Premiere Dates for FX on Hulu

Meet the new face of college football. Glen Powell is Chad Powers. Hulu's new comedy series will premiere September 30th with two episodes. New episodes stream weekly on Tuesdays. Hulu's half-hour comedy Chad Powers, from co-creators and executive producers Glen Powell and Michael Waldron will premiere September 30th. Eli Manning serves as executive producer along with Omaha Productions' Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ben Brown and ESPN. Waldron and Adam Fasullo are executive producing for Anomaly Pictures. Luvh Rakhe will executive produce and Tony Yacenda will serve as director and executive producer. The series stars Powell, who is also co-creating, co-writing and executive producing under his production co-banner Barnstorm Productions.

When bad behavior nukes hotshot QB Russ Holliday's college career, he disguises himself and walks onto a struggling Southern football team as the talented, affable Chad Powers. Based on the sketch produced by NFL Films and Omaha Productions that aired on ESPN+ as part of the Eli's Places series, the half-hour comedy from 20th Television will stream on Hulu. Powell and Waldron co-wrote the pilot. The series stars Glen Powell as Russ Holliday/Chad Powers, Perry Mattfeld as Ricky, Quentin Plair as Coach Byrd, Wynn Everett as Tricia, Frankie A. Rodriguez as Danny and Steve Zahn as Jake Hudson.

Premiere dates were set for three upcoming FX, Hulu and Disney+ series, including the fourth season of the Emmy(R)-Award winning The Bear, the series premiere of the much-anticipated sci-fi drama from Emmy-Award winning producer Noah Hawley, Alien: Earth, and the new drama series from acclaimed producer Sterlin Harjo, The Lowdown. FX also released new episodic images and key art from Alien: Earth, key art from season four of The Bear, and a first look at The Lowdown.

· FX's The Bear, the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning hit series, will premiere its fourth season on Wednesday, June 25 on Hulu, with all 10 episodes available beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and on Disney+ internationally.

· FX's Alien: Earth, a new drama series from Noah Hawley inspired by the acclaimed feature film franchise, will premiere on Tuesday, August 12, with the first two episodes available to stream on Hulu at 8 p.m. ET and on the FX linear channel at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and on Disney+ internationally. A new episode of the 8-episode season will premiere each following Tuesday on Hulu beginning at 8 p.m. ET and on FX at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

· FX's The Lowdown, a new drama series from Sterlin Harjo and starring Executive Producer Ethan Hawke, will premiere on Tuesday, September 23 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FX with the first two episodes of the eight-episode season. A new episode will premiere each following Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FX. Episodes will be available day after premiere on Hulu. The new series is also coming to Disney+ internationally.

ABC Upfront 2025-26: Fall 2025 Schedule; Ted: The Animated Series Coming to Peacock

ABC 2025-26

Fall 2025

Mondays
8:00PM ESPN's Monday Night Football

Tuesdays
8:00PM Dancing with the Stars
10:00PM High Potential

Wednesdays
8:00PM Shifting Gears
8:30PM Abbott Elementary
9:00PM The Golden Bachelor
10:00PM Shark Tank

Thursdays
8:00PM 9-1-1
9:00PM 9-1-1: Nashville (NEW!)
10:00PM Grey's Anatomy

Fridays
8:00PM Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
9:00PM 20/20 (two hours)

Saturdays
7:30PM College Football

Sundays
7:00PM America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00PM The Wonderful World of Disney

Unscheduled Mid-Season/Summer 2026:
New Comedy:
New Drama:
New Reality/Unscripted:
Returning Comedy:
Returning Drama: The Rookie, Will Trent
Returning Reality/Unscripted: American Idol, Celebrity Jeopardy!

Notes: ABC announced its fall 2025 primetime schedule today following a highly successful season as the No. 1 multiplatform network. In the first full broadcast season where Nielsen reported on competitive multiplatform ratings, the network outperformed its competition dominating cross-platform rankings and earning all top 5 programs in the 2024/2025 broadcast season across Adults 18-49: High Potential (No. 1), Abbott Elementary (No. 2), The Rookie (No. 3), 9-1-1 (No. 4) and Shifting Gears (No. 5). The network also boasts nine of the top 20 programs in the demo across platforms adding Will Trent (No. 10), Grey’s Anatomy (No. 11), Dancing with the Stars (No. 14) and The Bachelor (No. 17).*

The No. 1 comedy of the season, Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning Abbott Elementary, will return Wednesdays, joined by season two of the No. 1 new comedy this season, Shifting Gears.

New seasons of previously announced returning series American Idol, Celebrity Jeopardy!, The Rookie and Will Trent will debut in 2026. Fall premiere dates will be announced at a later date, as well as additional midseason announcements and renewals.

Discuss ABC's 2025-26 lineup and also you can view complete program information.

Peacock announced the series pickup of Ted: The Animated Series (WT) from Seth MacFarlane, following the success of the record-breaking, live-action #1 Original Streaming Comedy Ted. The animated series picks up after the Ted films. MacFarlane (Family Guy, American Dad!, The Orville) is set to reprise the voice of the iconic and loveable foul-mouthed teddy bear "Ted," and will also executive produce all episodes alongside executive producers Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh (Modern Family), who also executive produced the live-action series Ted. Original film franchise stars return as series regulars to voice their roles:

· Mark Wahlberg (The Union, The Family Plan) as "John"
· Amanda Seyfried (Long Bright River, The Dropout) as "Sam"
· Jessica Barth (Ted & Ted 2) as "Tami-Lynn"

Additional series regulars include:

· Kyle Mooney (Y2K, Saturday Night Live) as "Apollo"
· Liz Richman (Little America, Ted) as "Ruth"

The series comes from UCP (a division of Universal Studio Group), Fuzzy Door and MRC. Following its January 11, 2024 launch, season one of Ted broke records as Peacock's most-watched original title to date and was the #1 Original Streaming Comedy in the U.S. for more than two consecutive months (per Nielsen). The series was also a global hit becoming the biggest U.S. comedy launch on Sky in the UK in over 20 years. It was recently renewed for a second season.