SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Frasier's back – and he's more exactly the same than ever. Paramount+, the highly anticipated streaming service from ViacomCBS, announced that Kelsey Grammer will reprise his celebrated role as Dr. Frasier Crane in the new original comedy series Frasier. Grammer will executive produce along with writers Chris Harris (How I Met Your Mother, The Great Indoors) and Joe Cristalli (Life in Pieces, Perfect Harmony), and Grammnet Productions Tom Russo and Jordan McMahon. The series will be produced by CBS Studios in association with Grammnet Productions, exclusively for Paramount+.

Grammer played the role of Dr. Frasier Crane in three different television series – Cheers, Wings and Frasier – tying the record for longest-running television character. The Juilliard-trained, award-winning actor has won six Emmys, three Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Tony Award and has received an astonishing 18 Emmy nominations, eight Golden Globe nominations, 16 Screen Actors Guild nominations and two Tony nominations. He will next begin production on an ABC comedy series opposite Alec Baldwin. Grammer is represented by UTA and Vault Entertainment. With over 6,000 episodes available, comedy is central to Paramount+. The service delivers never-ending laughs with beloved sitcoms, including Frasier, I Love Lucy, Everybody Hates Chris, Strangers with Candy and Cheers, and is introducing a new generation to the funniest families in television, including Family Ties, The Brady Bunch, Young Sheldon, Mom and many more. Stay tuned for much more info on the return of Frasier!

ViacomCBS also announced during its streaming event that the seventh and final season of Darren Star's critically acclaimed, smash-hit, Younger, will be coming soon to Paramount+. The beloved MTV Entertainment Studios comedy created by entertainment icon, Star, will come to a close with the final 12 episodes available at a soon-to-be-announced date on the ViacomCBS streaming platform. Fans will get early access to the final season on Paramount+ before it airs on TV Land later this year. The first six seasons are currently available to stream on the service. Younger follows Liza Miller (Sutton Foster), a talented editor navigating the highly competitive world of publishing while juggling the complications of mixing business with pleasure, and facing the lie she created about her age to land her dream job. Recently, ViacomCBS MTV Entertainment Group announced an expansive overall production and development deal with Star, which will encompass projects for the Group's extensive portfolio for linear and beyond through MTV Entertainment Studios. The first is Netflix's hit series Emily in Paris starring Lily Collins which was recently nominated for two Golden Globes® and is about to go into production on its second season.

The CW Network announced premiere dates for new series Kung Fu and The Republic of Sarah as well as the new season premieres of DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Dynasty and In the Dark. The network also announced new timeslots for Batwoman and Charmed. The new series Kung Fu, starring Olivia Liang, Tzi Ma and Kheng Hua Tan, will debut Wednesday, April 7 at 8:00pm ET/PT followed by an original episode of Nancy Drew at 9:00pm. Riverdale will be on a pre-planned hiatus and is currently scheduled to return for the back half of season five on Wednesday, July 7 at 8:00pm ET/PT (its mid-season finale airs March 31). DC's Legends of Tomorrow is set to make its season six premiere on Sunday, May 2 at 8:00pm ET/PT followed by an original episode of Batwoman which moves to its new time period an hour later at 9:00pm on Sundays. Dynasty returns for its fourth season premiere on Friday, May 7 at 9:00pm ET/PT following an original episode of Charmed at 8:00pm ET/PT as it returns to Fridays.

Season three of In the Dark begins Wednesday, June 9 at 9:00pm ET/PT following an original episode of Kung Fu at 8:00pm ET/PT. Starring Stella Baker and Luke Mitchell, new series The Republic of Sarah premieres Monday, June 14 at 9:00pm ET/PT following an original episode of All American at 8:00pm ET/PT. And finally, the all-new special World's Funniest Animals: Spring Fling will bring on the cuteness Friday, April 30 at 8:00pm ET/PT).

NBC has set premiere dates for its two upcoming single camera comedies: Young Rock will debut on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and Kenan will debut immediately after on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 8:30 p.m. Both series will air through and including Tuesday, May 4. This means, following its sixth episode of the season on Feb. 9, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist will go on hiatus and return in the spring during another night. Young Rock focuses on different chapters of Dwayne Johnson's life. From growing up in a strong and resilient family, to being surrounded by the wild characters of his professional wrestling family, to playing football at the University of Miami, the show will explore the crazy rollercoaster that has shaped Dwayne into the man he is today and the larger-than-life characters he’s met along the way. Dwayne Johnson, Joseph Lee Anderson, Stacey Leilua, Adrian Groulx, Bradley Constant, Uli Latukefu, Ana Tuisila, Fasitua Amosa and John Tui star.

In Kenan, Kenan, a recently widowed host of Atlanta's #2 morning show, struggles to balance his job and his young daughters despite all the "help" he gets from his father-in-law and his brother/assistant/manager/house guest. Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd, Kimrie Lewis, Dani Lane, Dannah Lane and Don Johnson star.

Actor Peter Mark Richman (often credited as Mark Richman), who appeared as Reverend Snow in Three's Company and as Andrew Laird in Dynasty, has died. He died of natural causes at his home in Woodland Hills, California, on January 14. Mr. Richman was 93.

Richman had a recurring role as Reverend Snow, Chrissy's (Suzanne Somers) father, in three episodes of Three's Company from 1977 to 1979. He appeared in the episodes "Chrissy Comes Home" (Season 2), "Triangle Troubles" (Season 3) and "The Reverend Steps Out" (Season 4). Suzanne Somers had this to say about him in a statement to People: "Comedy is musical. Peter Mark Richman and I understood the music from the very first time we appeared together on Three's Company. He knew his 'stuff.' We lost a good one. Rest In Peace Peter Mark Richman."

He played Nicholas "Nick" Cain in the 1961 films The Murder Men and The Crimebusters. He reprised the role of Nicholas Cain, a former lawyer for the mob, in the short-lived 1961-1962 NBC police drama Cain's Hundred. Richman later starred as Duke Paige in the short-lived 1971-1972 ABC detective drama Longstreet.

Richman had a recurring role as Andrew Laird, a former criminal attorney who is Blake Carrington's (John Forsythe) shrewd and levelheaded chief legal counsel, in 29 episodes of the ABC prime time soap opera Dynasty from 1981 to 1984.

He appeared as Channing Creighton 'C.C.' Capwell in 28 episodes of Santa Barbara in 1984. He had a recurring role as Lawrence Carson in four episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 from 1993 to 1994.

Some of his many television drama guest appearances included The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Combat!, The Fugitive, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Invaders, It Takes a Thief, Hawaii Five-0, The Virginian, Mission: Impossible, The F.B.I., McCloud, Ironside, Barnaby Jones, Police Story, The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, Charlie's Angels, Vega$, Galactica 1980, Hart to Hart, Fantasy Island, Knight Rider, Hotel and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

His other sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat in 1985 and Too Close for Comfort in 1986. He voiced The Phantom in the 1986-1987 animated series Defenders of the Earth.

Some of his other film credits included Family Persuasion (1956), The Strange One (1957), Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) and The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991).

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Helen Richman; five children, Howard Richman and his wife, Cherie, Kelly Lester and her husband, Loren, Lucas Richman and his wife, Debbie, Orien Richman and his wife, Alevé, and Roger Richman; as well as six grandchildren, Jenny, Lily, Max, Julia, Oliver and Danica.

Mr. Richman was a talented character actor. He appeared in over 130 television series and about 30 films from the 1950s before his retirement in 2011. He made only three guest appearances in Three's Company, but he left a lasting impression to fans for his memorable role as Reverend Snow. We thank him for the enterainment he brought us during his long career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Three's Company message board.

The CW has released return dates for their series. Some shows have gotten pushed back so they can extend the season into May with the shorter episode orders, while some other series (Supernatural, Legacies) are on hold so they can finish production on the season. Batwoman and Supergirl will return on Sunday, April 26. Both of those shows will now have 20 episodes this season instead of 22. Roswell, New Mexico is unaffected and will continue to air Mondays at 9. The Flash and DC's Legends of Tomorrow return with new episodes on April 21. It looks like the former will have 19 of 22 episodes and the latter will have 14 of 15 episodes produced. Riverdale returns Wednesday, April 15 with 21 of 22 episodes, while Nancy Drew returns April 8 as planned and is unaffected. Katy Keene also is unaffected and will return as planned on April 16, while Friday dramas (Charmed, Dynasty) are all-new the rest of the season and will have all 22 episodes.

Adult Swim goes down under for its next original series, YOLO: Crystal Fantasy, which hails from YouTube creator, Michael Cusack, well known for his animated comedies. The new series premieres later this year. YOLO: Crystal Fantasy follows two Australian party girls, Sarah and Rachel, looking for fun times, new experiences, positive vibes, and hopeful horoscopes in the bizarre town of Wollongong. Sarah's quest is to find love, whereas Rachel hungers for chaos, often bringing them into conflict as they encounter surreal Australiana, strange bush creatures, and eccentric nomads.

Cusack's viral hit Ciggy Butt Brain first caught the eye of Justin Roiland who later asked him to create an Australian version of Rick and Morty, giving life to Bushworld Adventures. Cusack's animation is known for combining his brand of biting satire with his own somewhat unpolished drawing style. The quarter-hour animated series is created by Cusack (Bushworld Adventures, Ciggy Butt Brain) and produced by Cusack and Mike Cowap. Executive Producers include Cusack, Greta Lee Jackson, and Emma Fitzsimons. The series is produced by Princess Pictures. Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is a WarnerMedia network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), Adult Swim is the #1 network with persons 18-24, 18-34 and 18-49 and is seen in 85 million U.S. homes. 

Actress, singer, model and activist Diahann Carroll, who starred as Julia Baker in Julia and as Dominique Deveraux in Dynasty, has died. She died of cancer on October 4 in Los Angeles, California. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. Ms. Carroll was 84.

Carroll made her television debut at age 18 on January 8, 1954, as a singing contestant on the Dumont Television Network's talent show Chance of a Lifetime. She appeared four consecutive weeks, winning three times. She made guest appearances on variety series and talk shows including The Red Skelton Hour, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Garry Moore Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Danny Kaye Show, The Hollywood Palace, The Dean Martin Show, The Mike Douglas Show and The Carol Burnett Show.

Some of her early television drama guest appearances included General Electric Theater, Peter Gunn, Naked City and The Eleventh Hour. She received her first Emmy nomination in 1963 for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her appearance in Naked City.

She was the first black woman to star in a weekly series in a non-stereotypical role in the 1968-1971 NBC sitcom Julia. Carroll played widowed single mother Julia Baker. She worked as a nurse in a doctor's office at a large aerospace company called Astrospace Industries. Carroll won a Golden Globe Award in 1969 for Best TV Star - Female for the role. She received an Emmy nomination for the Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series category in 1969. The single-camera series also starred Lloyd Nolan, Marc Copage, Michael Link, Betty Beaird, Mary Wickes, Ned Glass (1968-1970) and Lurene Tuttle (1968-1970).

Carroll starred as Dominique Deveraux in the ABC prime time soap opera Dynasty. She appeared in 74 episodes from 1984 to 1987. Dominique Deveraux was the mixed-race jet set diva and half-sister of Blake Carrington (John Forsythe). Billy Dee Williams played her onscreen husband, Brady Lloyd. She also appeared in seven episodes of the spin-off series The Colbys.

She had a recurring role as Marion Gilbert, Whitley's (Jasmine Guy) mother, in nine episodes of the NBC sitcom A Different World from 1989 to 1993. She received her third Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for the role in 1989.

Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, Webster, The Sinbad Show, Evening Shade, Half & Half, Whoopi and Back to You.

Carroll had a recurring role as Ida Grayson in seven episodes of the syndicated western drama Lonesome Dove: The Series from 1994 to 1995. She starred as Justice Angela DeSett in the short-lived 2002 ABC legal drama The Court. She had a recurring role as Jane Burke, the demanding mother of Dr. Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington), in five episodes of Grey's Anatomy from 2006 to 2007. Carroll played an elderly widow named June Ellington in 25 episodes of USA Network's White Collar from 2009 to 2014.

Some of her other television drama guest appearances included Burke's Law, Touched by an Angel, Twice in a Lifetime, Strong Medicine, Soul Food and Diary of a Single Mom.

She made her film debut in 1954's Carmen Jones. Some of her other film credits included Porgy and Bess, Paris Blues, Hurry Sundown, The Split, Claudine, The Five Heartbeats, Eve's Bayou, Peeples and The Masked Saint. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for the film Claudine (1974) in 1975.

Carroll won a Tony Award for best actress, a first for a black woman, in 1962 for her role as Barbara Woodruff in the Broadway musical No Strings. Some of her other theater credits included House of Flowers, Agnes of God, Love Letters and Sunset Boulevard.

She was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on March 3, 1998.

Ms. Carroll was a true TV legend and pioneer. She was wonderful in Julia, Dynasty and her many other television and film roles. We thank her for the many hours of entertainment she brought us during her long career. She will be deeply missed.

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

Aspire is airing Julia all day Saturday in remembrance of star Diahann Carroll. The series airs on their regular schedule. View a listing of upcoming episodes.

Marvel Television and Hulu have announced casting for Marvel's Helstrom - the live-action series based on the popular Marvel comic book. The series will mark Marvel's first foray into terror and is slated for debut in 2020. In Marvel's Helstrom, Daimon and Ana Helstrom are the son and daughter of a mysterious and powerful serial killer. The siblings have a complicated dynamic as they track down the terrorizing worst of humanity - each with their attitude and skills. Tom Austen as Daimon Helstrom - A professor of ethics who moonlights as an exorcist, Daimon has no illusions about saving a world he has no patience for; he just hopes he can help a few of the people closest to him. In his battle against a hidden world, Daimon is determined to root out demons as they arise, and will not stop until they're vanquished.

Sydney Lemmon as Ana Helstrom - By day, Ana runs a successful auction house and suffers no fools, but her true interest lies in hunting down those who hurt others. Traumatized by her father as a child, Ana is driven to rid the world of those like him, even as she secretly worries her father will return. Elizabeth Marvel as Victoria Helstrom - Plagued by demons both real and imagined, Victoria has been institutionalized for twenty years. While she struggles to be herself, she hopes to repair her relationship with her children. Robert Wisdom as Caretaker - Caretaker is a guardian of knowledge of the occult. He uses his knowledge and his relationship with Ana to help keep demonic forces at bay.

June Carryl as Dr. Louise Hastings - A psychologist with a strong faith but an open mind, Hastings is head of the psychiatric hospital where Victoria is being monitored. She has watched over the Helstrom family for years, caring for them as best she can. Ariana Guerra as Gabriella Rosetti - A woman balancing logic and faith, Gabriella arrives from the Vatican to help Daimon and Hastings uncover cases of demonic possession. She wants to save everyone she can, including Daimon. Alain Uy as Chris Yen - Yen is Ana's business partner and her closest friend -- some would say surrogate brother. He carries out the bulk of the auction house's responsibilities and assists Ana with whatever she needs.

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We are officially into that fall news slump already, where everything has premiered and nothing much is happening, but we have casting news about the Punky Brewster sequel series, we are hearing about the renewal of a Pop TV series, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

There are a lot of sitcoms coming to an end in 2019 - from Broad City to Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and also to You're the Worst. Today, I'll be spotlighting the final season of FXX's You're the Worst, which is proving to be an incredibly strong one as the sitcom reaches its conclusion. You're the Worst has been a bit of a quiet favorite over its five season run - it never attracted the amount of viewers of a show like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but those who were on its wavelength were incredibly passionate about it, particularly in the show's strong first and second seasons. The series was an incredibly funny but also heartfelt look at what it's like to be in a relationship when you're kind of broken - and it got a lot more real in its second season, when it revealed one of its central characters of its main couple, Gretchen, suffers from depression. The second season was one of the best TV seasons of the 2010s - funny, heartfelt and intricately written. The show hasn't quite reached those heights since - the third season attempted to look at Jimmy in a similar way that the second looked at Gretchen, but it never quite felt as vital as that season, never quite reaching the level of depth that Gretchen's arc did. In Season 4, the show's couple spent most of the time broken up, which felt like something the show needed to do but also made the show feel a bit split and scattered, struggling to find a central focus as strong as Jimmy and Gretchen's relationship.

Now, though, in its final season, You're the Worst is doing an excellent job of bringing everything to a conclusion, and it's doing it by remembering its characters depths and allowing them to be as real and funny as possible. Ultimately, what makes the show such a special one is its willingness to go to places that other shows wouldn't - whether that's in its characters behavior or in the show's format (such as in the premiere, which centers mostly around a fictional story that Jimmy and Gretchen are telling.) It's great to see the show gain its mojo back and once again focus on the depth of its characters, proving that it's a show we'll really miss once its gone.

The CW Network has given early renewals to ten of its primetime series for the 2019-2020 season. The series being ordered for the 2019-2020 broadcast year include second seasons of The CW's freshman hits Charmed and Legacies, as well as new seasons of Arrow (Season 8), Black Lightning (Season 3), DC's Legends of Tomorrow (Season 5), Dynasty (Season 3), The Flash (Season 6), Riverdale (Season 4), Supergirl (Season 5), and the veteran hit Supernatural (Season 15). Specific premiere dates for each series will be announced at a later time.

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! No week would be complete without talking about Roseanne, although it may be The Conners we talk about more from now on! Additionally, we are hearing of a potential new revival of The Nanny, something happening in the reboot of Dynasty that will totally change how that show relates to the original, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Fillmore Elementary educators are back in session with their hilarious antics when Season three of Teachers premieres Tuesday, June 5 at 10:30pm ET/PT on TV Land, following the season five premiere of Younger. After a much needed long recess, the leaders of the playground are back and ready to conquer a new school year. Last season, Variety hailed the cast, stating, "in terms of acing the midterm, the Katydids have indeed done it," while Bustle said "the female-driven sitcom is hilarious, insightful, and totally cute." The first-look teaser shows the Fillmore Elementary heroines fighting the spread of the vicious and highly contagious lice epidemic. The Teachers are put to the test when the dreaded curse of creepy crawlers enters the classroom, and the question remains - who will make it out alive?

Teachers revolves around a group of elementary school teachers who are trying to mold the minds of America's youth, but don't have their own lives together at all. The series is created by and stars the improv group The Katydids - Caitlin Barlow (Ms. Cannon), Katy Colloton (Ms. Snap), Cate Freedman (Ms. Feldman), Kate Lambert (Ms. Watson), Katie O'Brien (Ms. Bennigan) and Kathryn Renée Thomas (Mrs. Adler). Along with The Katydids, showrunner Ian Roberts executive produce the series. Matt Miller, Alex Fendrich and Matt Abramson are also executive producers.

The CW Network has given early renewals to ten of its primetime series for the 2018-2019 season. The series being ordered for the 2018-2019 season include second seasons of the electrifying freshman hit Black Lightning and Dynasty, which recently saw the debut of Nicollette Sheridan as Alexis Carrington, as well as new seasons of Arrow (Season 7), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Season 4), DC's Legends of Tomorrow (Season 4), The Flash (Season 5), Jane the Virgin (Season 5), Riverdale (Season 3), Supergirl (Season 4), and Supernatural (Season 14). Specific premiere dates for each series will be announced at a later time. The CW also recently announced it would expand its primetime schedule to six nights, Sunday-Friday (8:00-10:00pm ET/PT), beginning in October 2018.

In other CW news, the final season of The Originals will now make its debut on a new night, Wednesday, April 18 at 9pm, following the "Carrie The Musical" episode of Riverdale. Following Wednesday's original episode, The CW's new series Life Sentence will return with new episodes on its new night starting Friday April 27 at 9:00pm ET/PT. Prior to its move to Friday, viewers can binge Life Sentence from the beginning on cwtv.com and The CW App. This scheduling move impacts the previously announced season finale dates for Jane the Virgin, which will now air in its regularly scheduled time period on Friday, April 20 at 9:00pm ET/PT, and Dynasty, which will now have its season finale on Friday, May 11 at 8:00pm ET/PT.

CBS has given full season orders to Monday night second year comedies Man with a Plan and Superior Donuts. Both series will go from 13 episodes to 22 episodes. Man with a Plan stars Matt LeBlanc, Liza Snyder, Kevin Nealon, Stacy Keach, Grace Kaufman, Matthew McCann, Hala Finley and Matt Cook. Jeff and Jackie Filgo, Matt LeBlanc, Michael Rotenberg, Troy Zien and Gregg Mettler are executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Superior Donuts stars Judd Hirsch, Jermaine Fowler, Katey Sagal, David Koechner, Maz Jobrani, Rell Battle and Diane Guerrero. Bob Daily, Neil Goldman, Garrett Donovan, Mark Teitelbaum, John R. Montgomery, Michael Rotenberg, Josh Lieberman, Jermaine Fowler and Betsy Thomas are executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

Nicollette Sheridan (Desperate Housewives, Knots Landing) has been cast as Alexis Carrington in Dynasty on The CW. Alexis Carrington is the first wife of Blake Carrington and mother to Fallon and Steven. She will return unexpectedly to their world, challenging Blake's marriage to Cristal, seeking to reunite with her children, and fighting to claim what is hers.

Dynasty airs Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm ET/PT on The CW. Wealth, power, deception, and double-dealing... what does it take to build a dynasty? A modern re-imagining of the iconic primetime soap, centering on the powerful Carrington family as they defend their throne against the Colbys, new rivals and threats, and even each other. Dynasty stars Elizabeth Gillies (Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll), Nathalie Kelley (UnReal, The Vampire Diaries), James Mackay (The Leftovers), Sam Adegoke (Murder in the First), Robert Christopher Riley (Hit the Floor) and Rafael de la Fuente (Empire), with Alan Dale (Lost, Ugly Betty, The O.C.), and Grant Show (Devious Maids, Melrose Place).

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about yet another popular series that is getting the boot after sexual harassment allegations against the star, some newly colorized episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Who to Follow: Fred Willard (Twitter)

Claim to Fame: Fred Willard has been appearing on TV for over five decades, appearing in countless sitcoms. The list is too long to even mention. But his first starring role came in the syndicated series Fernwood 2 Night, as well as the continuation series America 2 Night. After that, he went on to D.C. Follies, which arrives on DVD on Tuesday. He has done numerous other things since then, including Roseanne and Modern Family, but with 301 acting credits (and counting), it's hard to talk about each individual one.
Pick of the Tweets: "Thanks for all the laughs, Jerry. (pic)" (August 20, 2017)

On the heels of Sunday's eighth season premiere, which delivered 50 percent year-over-year growth, SHOWTIME has given a ninth season order to Shameless. One of the network's longest-running and most successful series ever, Shameless ranks as the network's No. 1 comedy and attracts the youngest-skewing audience of any SHOWTIME series. Shameless had its biggest season yet last fall with 6.5 million viewers tuning in each week. The series returned this past Sunday with its highest-rated premiere since its third season and up 50 percent versus the season seven premiere. Production on season nine of Shameless will begin in 2018. Shameless stars Oscar(R) nominee and Emmy(R) and SAG Award(R) winner William H. Macy and Golden Globe(R) nominee Emmy Rossum.

Season eight finds the Gallaghers on an upswing - Frank (Macy) comes out of a drug-induced haze and decides it's finally time to be a contributing member of society. Fiona (Rossum) faces hard decisions when she discovers her success as a landlord might mean someone else's misfortune. Lip (Jeremy Allen White) struggles with unexpected sacrifices he must make to stay sober, while Ian (Cameron Monaghan) takes up a cause in hopes of getting back with Trevor (Elliot Fletcher). Debbie (Emma Kenney) builds her future at welding school while juggling life as a single working mom, as Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) gets creative finding tuition money after he loses his scholarship. Meanwhile, Liam (Christian Isaiah) discovers just how different the Gallaghers are from the families of his rich classmates as Frank schools him on "sticking it to the man." Kev (Steve Howey) and V (Shanola Hampton) have to find a way to deal with Svetlana (Isidora Goreshter) after she steals their bar, The Alibi.

The CW Network has given a full season order to its seductive new primetime drama Dynasty. Wealth, power, deception, and double-dealing... what does it take to build a dynasty? A modern re-imagining of the iconic primetime soap, centering on the powerful Carrington family as they defend their throne against the Colbys, new rivals and threats, and even each other. Dynasty (Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm ET/PT) stars Elizabeth Gillies (Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll), Nathalie Kelley (UnReal, The Vampire Diaries), James Mackay (The Leftovers), Sam Adegoke (Murder in the First), Robert Christopher Riley (Hit the Floor) and Rafael de la Fuente (Empire), with Alan Dale (Ugly Betty, Lost, The O.C.), and Grant Show (Devious Maids, Melrose Place).

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We're fully into the fall TV season, and we're already hearing about what is in development for next season. Additionally, we have news of an animated series that will soon be airing on Syfy. Let's get going!

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Who to Follow: Grant Show (Twitter), "Actor. Producer. Father. Grandfather. Animal lover."

Claim to Fame: We're continuing our "stars of the new shows" theme this week, and this week, we're looking at the star of Dynasty. No, not John Forsythe, who played Blake Carrington on the original ABC series (he is no longer alive even), but Grant Show, who'll play that role on the new one that begins on The CW this week. He isn't at all new to the soap genre, as he previously had a regular role on the ABC daytime soap opera Ryan's Hope and also starred in primetime soap operas including Melrose Place, Point Pleasant, and Devious Maids. He even briefly had a sitcom role, on Accidentally on Purpose, but that series didn't go over so well. Early reviews for this series have been mixed, but we're somewhat hopeful that this could be a successful reboot worth watching given some time, especially when it is able to begin carving it's own path and storylines that deviate from the original and are more fitting in the modern era.
Pick of the Tweets: "Hey guys! So sorry about the demise of Devious Maids. It was a lot of fun and I loved reading you comments." (October 8, 2016)

CW Seed, The CW Network's digital network, will add the full series runs of the original Dynasty and Everwood this summer, and a new installment of Machinima's Chasing the Cup later this fall. Coming to CW Seed on August 1, the iconic primetime soap Dynasty, and on June 1, the beloved drama Everwood. First premiering in 1981, Dynasty, about the lives and loves of the fabulously wealthy Carrington family and their rivals, the Colbys, starred John Forsythe, Linda Evans and Joan Collins. From Aaron Spelling Productions, the executive producers of Dynasty were Aaron Spelling, Esther & Richard Shapiro and Douglas S. Cramer.

Set in a breathtaking small town in the Rocky Mountains, Everwood has at its emotional center the visceral and often heartbreaking relationship between a father and son. Dr. Andrew Brown's life changed forever the day his loving wife died. Up until then, he had been a world-renowned neurosurgeon whose career always overshadowed his obligations as a parent. When he was faced with the daunting task of raising his two kids, Delia and Ephram, by himself, Dr. Brown traded in the New York skyline for the vistas of the Rockies to settle in Everwood, Colorado, a charming and picturesque little town tucked among majestic snowy peaks. Starring Treat Williams, Gregory Smith, Emily van Camp and Chris Pratt, Everwood was produced by Everwood Utah, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti, Mickey Liddell and Rina Mimoun.


It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of May 22-26, 2017, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!


Monday, May 22, 2017

• Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Watch Chelsea on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC. She chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Kyle Chandler (What About Joan?) - Kyle appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about Bloodline on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
• Michaela Watkins (Casual/Trophy Wife) - Michaela is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Seaton Smith (Mulaney) - Seaton stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Nicole Richie (Great News) - Nicole visits Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Nico Tortorella (Younger) - Nico appears on Harry, so check your local listings.
• Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/The Parkers) - Kym guest co-hosts The Real, so check your local listings.
• Tichina Arnold (Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Tichina appears on Harry, so check your local listings.
• Brenda Strong (The Help/Scorch) - Brenda talks about Supergirl on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) - Tituss joins Clinton Kelly to whip up a delicious delight on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Patti LaBelle (Out All Night) - Patti performs a jazz song from her new album on Steve Harvey, so check your local listings.
• Loretta Devine and Lil Rel Howery (The Carmichael Show) - Loretta and Lil are guests on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
• Zoe Lister-Jones (Life in Pieces/Friends with Better Lives/Whitney) - Zoe talks about her new comedy Band Aid on the AOL Build Show 1pm.
• Ellie Reed (Girlboss) - Ellie talks about Girlboss on the AOL Build Show at 5pm.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

• Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Catch Terry on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Rob Huebel (Trasparent/Burning Love) - Rob appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Al Madrigal (About a Boy/Welcome to The Captain/Gary Unmarried), Andrew Santino (I'm Dying Up Here/Sin City Saints) and Erik Griffin (I'm Dying Up Here) - Al, Andrew and Erik are guests on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Ari Graynor (I'm Dying Up Here/Bad Teacher) - Ari stops by Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Nick Kroll (The League/Cavemen) - Nick visits Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Ben Falcone (Nobodies/A to Z/Joey) - Ben drops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Abigail Breslin (Scream Queens) - Abigail appears on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim talks about her new book Girling Up: How to Be Strong, Smart and Spectacular and The Big Bang Theory on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• William Shatner ($#*! My Dad Says) - William is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Kyle Chandler (What About Joan?) - Kyle teams up with Clinton Kelly to grill up a great entrée on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Nicole Byer ( Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole is a guest on Steve Harvey, so check your local listings.
• The Love Boat Cast - The cast of The Love Boat reunites on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
• Debra Messing (Will & Grace) - Debra chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Zoe Lister-Jones (Life in Pieces/Friends with Better Lives/Whitney) - Zoe talks about her new comedy Band Aid on the AOL Build Show 1pm.
• Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Jamie talks about Beat Shazam on AOL Build Show 4pm.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

• Zoe Lister-Jones (Life in Pieces/Friends with Better Lives/Whitney) - Watch Zoe on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Hannibal Buress (Broad City) - Hannibal appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Office) - Ellie is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Ed Helms (The Office) - Ed visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Topher Grace (That '70s Show) - Topher stops by Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Gabourey Sidibe (The Big C) - Gabourey is a guest on a repeat of Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
• Andree Vermeulen (Angie Tribeca) - Andree appears on a repeat of @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• Steve Agee (The Sarah Silverman Program) - Steve is a guest on a repeat of @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• T. J. Miller (Silicon Valley/The Goodwin Games/Carpoolers) - T. J. appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Lennon Parham (Playing House/Best Friends Forever/Accidentally on Purpose) - Lennon appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Eric Stonesteet (Modern Family) - Eric drops by Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) - Sarah is a guest on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Michael Keaton (Working Stiffs/All's Fair) - Michael appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Abigail Breslin (Scream Queens) - Abigail is a guest on Harry, so check your local listings.
• Jake Smollett (On Our Own) - Jake throws down spicy honey chicken on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle) - Bryan talks about Wakefield on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
• Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris and trainer Obi Obadike have tips to lose ten pounds in ten days on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Hank Azaria (Brockmire/The Simpsons/Free Agents) - Hank talks about his new hit, Brockmire, with Clinton Kelly on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Jamie talks about Beat Shazam on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

• Jada Pinkett-Smith (A Different World) - Catch Jada on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Jamie is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC. He will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Laurie Metcalf (The Big Bang Theory/The McCartyhs/Roseanne) - Laurie stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle) - Bryan appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Zach Woods (Silicon Valley/The Office) - Zach visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda Large) - Wanda appears on a repeat of Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
• Whitney Cummings (whitney) - Whitney is a guest on a repeat of @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• The Cast of Veep - Julia Louis Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Reid Scott, Matt Walsh, Timothy Simons, Kevin Dunn, Gary Cole and Sam Richardson are guests on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea stops by Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Sherri Shepherd (Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri appears on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Tiffani Thiessen (Saved by the Bell/Saved by the Bell: The College Years) - Tiffani kicks off summer with recipes that are included in People's Summer Grilling special issue on People Now at 8:30am.

Friday, May 26, 2017

• Pete Holmes (Crashing) - Watch Pete on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS. He also appears on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Horatio Sanz (Great News) - Horatio appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Halston Sage (How to Rock) - Halston is a guest on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Patricia Heaton (The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond), Peter Krause (Sports Night/Cybill), John Lithgow (Trial & Error/Twenty Good Years/3rd Rock from the Sun) - Harry has his biggest celebrity reveals, so check your local listings.
• Christina Milian (Grandfathered) - Christina visits The Real, so check your local listings.
• Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) - Miley performs on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
• Alan Alda (M*A*S*H) - Alan is a guest on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) and Sofia Vergara (Modern Family/The Knights of Prosperity/Hot Properties) - NFL star Jon Dorenbos presents The Ellen DeGeneres Show's funniest moments from Season 14, featuring Jamie and Sofia, so check your local listings.

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