SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Even though the 2014-2015 TV season hasn't quite started yet, it's already that time of the year once again that producers begin to assemble new pilot ideas for the next TV season (2015-2016), and we have plenty of news about those, as well as news of some new VEI DVD releases that you won't find online. Let's get started!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

• TVShowsOnDVD.com came across several new releases from Canadian studio VEI this week from pre-order listings on amazon.com, but as it turns out, many of them will be in-store exclusives and not actually sold on amazon.com. Of particular interest, the studio announced the complete series of Nash Bridges, as well as new lower-priced complete series releases of McMillan and Wife, In Search Of..., and Cagney & Lacey. We'll let you know when we have more details.
• Even if Growing Up Fisher didn't last long on NBC, it is available now on DVD as a MOD release of Growing Up Fisher - Season One was released earlier this week.

SEPTEMBER 16 HOME MEDIA RELEASES 

• About a Boy - Season One (DVD, $29.98): The NBC series debuts on DVD for the very first time.
• The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD, $44.98; Blu-ray/DVD Combo, $54.97): The hit series that has been the star of the CBS lineup for the past few years returns to DVD with the 2013-2014 season.
• South Park - The Complete Seventeenth Season (DVD, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.98): Comedy Central's long-running animated series about foul-mouthed fourth-graders returns to DVD, just in time for the debut of the new season.

Who to Follow: Cristela Alonzo (Twitter), "Comic, hoodie aficionado, political junkie, hoping to break glass ceiling. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. Good. Now I know who to avoid."

Claim to Fame: If you haven't heard of her name, you're not alone. Cristela Alonzo is relatively unknown to most TV viewers, as her career up until now has been as a stand-up comedian. But if her new sitcom Cristela, loosely based upon her own life, becomes a success on ABC, then she'll be known to viewers everywhere. Cristela debuts October 10 on ABC.

Pick of the Tweets: "They should make Apple announcements a TV show. Everybody watches them." (September 9, 2014)

Emmy-winning actress Ann B. Davis, who played beloved housekeeper Alice Nelson in The Brady Bunch, has died. She died on June 1 at University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. She suffered a head injury from a fall at her home on May 31 and never recovered. Ms. Davis was 88.

Davis first appeared on television as a musical judge in the 1953-54 season on ABC's Jukebox Jury. Her early television appearances included Matinee Theater and Lux Video Theatre. Davis's first starring role was as Charmaine "Schultzy" Schultz in the sitcom The Bob Cummings Show (also known as Love That Bob). The series ran for five seasons on NBC and CBS from 1955-1959. It also starred Bob Cummings, Rosemary DeCamp and Dwayne Hickman. Davis played the razor-tongued secretary, who had a crush on her boss. She was nominated four times for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the role. She won Emmys in 1958 and 1959. On February 9, 1960, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Her second starring role was in the NBC sitcom The John Forsythe Show in 1965-66. She played Miss Wilson, a physical education teacher at a private girls' academy. Her television guest appearances in the 1960s included Wagon Train, The New Breed, McKeever and Colonel, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, The Pruitts of Southampton and Insight. She also appeared in commercials for the Ford Motor Company. Her other commercials over the years included Minute Rice, Shake 'n Bake and Swiffer.

Davis's best known role was as the devoted housekeeper Alice Nelson in The Brady Bunch, which aired on ABC from 1969-1974. Alice was known for her blue and white maid's uniform. She did it all for the Brady family. She was always there to clean the house, tell jokes and give advice to anybody who needed it. Davis reprised the role of Alice Nelson many times over the years. She appeared in The Brady Bunch Hour in 1976-1977. In 1981, she appeared in the TV movie The Brady Girls Get Married and the spin-off series The Brady Brides. She returned in the 1988 CBS TV movie A Very Brady Christmas. In 1989, she guest starred in a very funny episode of the NBC sitcom Day by Day, titled A Very Brady Episode. She appeared in four episodes of the 1990 CBS dramedy The Bradys. In 1991, she guest starred as Alice Nelson in an episode of Hi Honey, I'm Home. Her final appearance as Alice was in the 1994 film Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult. She appeared as a trucker named Schultzy in the 1995 film A Very Brady Movie. One of her final television appearances via tape was a Brady Bunch reunion on The Talk in February to celebrate Florence Henderson's 80th birthday.

The Archive of American Television conducted an interview with her on March 13, 2004. She is survived by her identical twin sister Harriet Norton. Ms. Davis was one of the best ever. She was a very talented and funny woman. Alice was very much the glue that held the Brady family together. There was no better housekeeper on television. Ann B. Davis seemed like an even nicer person with all her church and charity work. We thank her for the many laughs and memories she brought us over the years. Ms. Davis will be deeply missed.

Share your favorite memories on our Brady Bunch message board. View photos in our photo galleries.

INSP will air The Brady Bunch: A Tribute to Ann B. Davis on Thursday, June 5. They will show six Alice-themed episodes ("Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "The Big Sprain," "Alice's September Song," "Sergeant Emma," "Goodbye, Alice, Hello," and "The Elopement") beginning at 5pm ET.

MeTV Adds Ann B. Davis Tribute for Sunday, June 8

NBC's canceled comedy Growing Up Fisher still has two episodes left to air and now NBC has announced when they will air. Originally the final episodes were scheduled for May 28, but that never happened. Instead, NBC opted to re-air the Last Comic Standing season premiere. Now Growing Up Fisher will air its final two episodes on Wednesday, June 11 from 8-9pm. On the first episode, when Joyce's (Jenna Elfman) free-spirited sister, Madi (guest star Erinn Hayes) comes to visit, Mel (J.K. Simmons) couldn't be happier since his separation from Joyce means Madi is no longer his problem. And on the series finale at 8:30pm, when the divorce papers arrive in the mail, Mel (J.K. Simmons) is determined to preserve for Henry (Eli Baker) and Katie (Ava Deluca-Verley) a sense of normalcy, and keeps their annual family trip on the books. NBC will follow the two episodes with an NBC News Special from 9-11pm titled The People Vs. O.J. Simpson: What The Jury Never Heard. Back to Growing Up Fisher, the series was not picked-up for a second season, so it is 13 episodes and done for Jenna Elfman.

Growing Up Fisher - Tuesdays at 9:30PM ET/PT on NBC
Special Premiere Sunday, February 23, 2014 following the Olympics at 10:30PM ET/PT

by Todd

It's not every family that's brought closer together by divorce, but then again, the Fishers are anything but typical. Take Mel Fisher (J.K. Simmons, The Closer, Law & Order), for example. He's chopping down trees, showing his daughter how to drive, and playing football with his son … except that Mel's blind. Then there's Joyce (Jenna Elfman, Dharma & Greg, 1600 Penn), who is your typical teenager — really into fashion, busy with school — but the problem is she's Mom. That makes it difficult for her actual teenage daughter, Katie (Ava Deluca-Verley, Southland), whose advice (and clothes) Joyce is always seeking. At the center of all this is Henry (Eli Baker), the Fisher's 11-year-old son. Having always been his dad's eyes and wingman, Henry is less than thrilled when his job is outsourced to Mel's new guide dog, Elvis. While he is at first reluctant to accept the changes that Elvis brings, adult Henry realizes upon reflection (voiceover by Jason Bateman, Arrested Development, Identity Thief) that his parent's split finally allows the Fishers to become one happy (divorced) family.

J.K. Simmons as Mel Fisher
Jenna Elfman as Joyce Fisher
Eli Baker as Henry Fisher
Ava Deluca-Verley as Katie Fisher
Lance Lim as Runyen
Jason Bateman as Narrator
Peyton as Elvis

J.K. Simmons (Mel Fisher) had a recurring role as Dr. Emil Skoda in NBC's Law & Order.. He also played neo-Nazi Vern Schillinger in HBO's acclaimed prison drama Oz. He played LAPD Assistant Chief Will Pope in TNT's hit series The Closer. In 2013, he starred in ABC's Family Tools. He has a recurring role as P.J. Jordan in Men at Work on TBS. His other sitcom guest appearances include Arrested Development, Raising Hope and Parks and Recreation.

Jenna Elfman (Joyce Fisher) is best known for her role as Dharma in the hit series Dharma and Greg, which garnered her a Golden Globe Award, three Emmy Award nominations and two TV Guide Awards. In 2012-13, she starred in NBC's 1600 Penn. She starred in Accidentally on Purpose and Courting Alex on CBS. Her sitcom guest appearances include The Mindy Project, Two and a Half Men, My Name Is Earl, The Single Guy and Almost Perfect.

Eli Baker (Henry Fisher) appeared in the short film Tiny Actions. He began his professional career in musical theater.

Ava Deluca-Verley (Katie Fisher) recently appeared in Oscar-winning screenwriters Jim Rash and Nat Faxon's directorial debut, The Way Way Back, starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette and Sam Rockwell. She also guest starred on TNT's Southland and played a supporting role in the Australian feature film Blinder.

Lance Lim (Runyen) prior credits include a co-starring role on the Disney XD pilot Kirby Buckets in 2012 and a substantial supporting role in the 2013 feature film Innocent Blood.

Jason Bateman (Narrator) is best known for his irreverent portrayal of Michael Bluth in the Mitch Hurwitz-created Emmy Award-winning comedy series Arrested Development.". For his performance, Bateman won a Golden Globe Award in 2005 as best actor in a comedy series and earned Emmy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations as both a leading actor and as part of the cast ensemble the same year. His sitcom roles include Valerie/Valerie's Family/The Hogan Family, Silver Spoons and It's Your Move.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (airs Sunday, February 23 at 10:30PM ET/PT)

It's not every family that's brought closer together by divorce, but the Fisher family is anything but typical. 11-year-old Henry (Eli Baker) met the most amazing person he'll ever meet in his life when he was four-and-a-half minutes old, his dad, Mel Fisher (J.K. Simmons). Mel's an incredible father and successful lawyer...who happens to be blind. Ever since he can remember, Henry has always been his dad's eyes and wingman, so when his parents decide to separate, he's less than thrilled that his job has been outsourced to Mel's new guide dog, Elvis. Meanwhile, his mother, Joyce (Jenna Elfman), begins a quest to find herself, essentially becoming a teenager in her forties. This is an unfortunate turn for the family's actual teenage daughter, Katie (Ave Deluca-Verley), who finds herself reluctantly taking on the maternal role in the family. Lance Lim also stars as Henry's best friend, Runyen. Voiceover by Jason Bateman.
Guest stars: Harold Perrineau, Matthew Glave, Bill Fagerbakke, Isabela Moner, Carla Jimenez and Sam Pancake
Directed by David Schwimmer
Written by DJ Nash

Analysis:

Growing Up Fisher is single-camera comedy inspired by the the life of DJ Nash (Up All Night, Bent), who grew up with a blind father. Jason Bateman, Jim Garavente and Tucker Cawley also serve as executive producers. The series is a production of Universal Television and Aggregate Films. In addition to producing the series, Jason Bateman provides the narration as an adult Henry.

In the Pilot episode, we meet Mel and his 11-year-old son, Henry. Henry guides him to cut down a tree to clear room for a pool. The adult Henry provides the backstory of how Mel became blind at age twelve. Mel helps Katie with her driving lesson. Joyce asks Henry if she should get a water bra and later smokes an e-cigaratte. Mel tells Katie that he went to law school blind before he shows her how to parallel park. Henry's best friend, Runyen, has an exchange with Mel in the kitchen. Some flashback scenes are shown of Mel trying to hide his blindness. Henry later arrives home to see a guide dog named Elvis. Henry learns that his parents are divorcing and Mel is moving out. Mel attempts to check into a hotel. After Henry is kicked out of the hotel, Joyce vacuums him after he arrives home in a cab. When Henry and Runyen are on a field trip, Henry spots a potential apartment for his father. Henry receives a tour of the apartment by Fred. Mel receives a call from the principal while taking a deposition. Mel and Henry talk to the principal, Mr. Sloan. Later, Joyce tries on new pants at the mall. Mel calls Henry to tell him that Elvis got out. The family goes out to search for him. After Elvis is discovered back the apartment, Joyce learns that Mel planned the whole thing to show Henry that he was needed. Mel gives Henry a key to the apartment. Henry meets Jenny in the hallway.

The Pilot episode is directed by Friends star David Schwimmer. There are quite a few scenes and locations used. It provides the necessary introduction to the characters and backstory. The funniest moments are when Mel tries cutting down a tree and the driving scenes. The montage of flashbacks of Mel trying to hide his blindness are also a highlight. The episode closes with some heartwarming scenes of the family coming together.

The device of using a narrator isn't really unique in sitcoms these days, but I thought Jason Bateman did a good job. They didn't really overuse it. It was also nice to see Lost's Harold Perrineau as a guest star, but this was likely a one-episode deal for him. Another familiar face is Coach's Bill Fagerbakke as Mel's brother. His role looks to be recurring in multiple episodes.

They have put together a solid cast. I have always been a fan of J.K. Simmons from his extensive film and television roles. You may not know his name, but he seems to be in everything. He's just an underrated character actor. He really hasn't been given much opportunity to do comedy on television, so it's welcome to see him in another role. Jenna Elfman was a late addition to the cast when Parker Posey dropped out after the pilot was picked up. She has played similar clueless characters in the past, so she should be fine once the character is more fully developed. Eli Baker is the standout among the child actors. The father and son scenes are funny and heartwarming. Ave Deluca-Verley (Katie) does a good job with the strained relationship with her mother. Henry's best friend, Runyen (Lance Lim), also provides some comic relief in a few scenes. The dog, Elvis, is also a scene stealer.

Conclusion:


Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

Watchability: 3/5
Funniness: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

Discuss the show after you watch it on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 10:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

NBC.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Growing Up Fisher Photo Gallery

Preview:

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 Feb. 24-28, 2014, 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, February 24, 2014

• Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory/8 Simple Rules) - Watch Kaley on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) - Zooey appears on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) - Amy is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• David Walton (About a Boy/Bent/Perfect Couples) - David stops by Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls) - Beth and Kat will be on CBS This Morning between 7-9am. Beth will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your local listings.
• Tim Allen (Last Man Standing/Home Improvement) - Tim visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Minnie Driver (About a Boy/Will & Grace) - Minnie talks about About a Boy on NBC's Today between 7-9am and in the 10am hour.
• Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim talks about her new book, Mayim's Vegan Table, on NBC's Today between 7-9am.
• Anna Faris (Mom) - Anna appears on The Queen Latifah Show, so check your local listings.
• Tim Conway (McHale's Navy/Rango) - Tim is a guest on The Queen Latifah Show, so check your local listings.
• The Cast of Workaholics) - Blake Anderson, Adam DeVine and Anders Holm are guests on Larry King Now at 2/5pm PT/ET on Ora.tv and Hulu.
• Ted Lange (The Love Boat) - Ted will be on The Couch on WLNY 10/55 in New York between 7-9am.
• Jenna Elfman (Growing Up Fisher/1600 Penn/Dharma & Greg) - Jenna is a guest on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 12:30pm ET.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

• Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls) - Catch Kat on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Joel McHale (Community) - Joel stops by Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Ashton Kutcher (Two and a Half Men/That '70s Show) - Ashton visits The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory/8 Simple Rules) - Kaley chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. She will also be on CBS This Morning between 7-9am.
• Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) - Jim will be on NBC's Today between 7-9am.
• Minnie Driver (About a boy/Will & Grace) - Minnie is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• T.J. Miller (The Goodwin Games/Carpoolers) - T.J. drops by The Pete Holmes Show at midnight on TBS.
• Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim talks about her new book, Mayim's Vegan Table, on The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Donald Faison (The Exes/Scrubs) - Donald joins Daphne Oz and Carla Hall in the kitchen to help make grilled shrimp with pineapple on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Jenna Elfman (Growing Up Fisher/1600 Penn/Dharma & Greg) - Jenna talks about Growing Up Fisher on NBC's Today between 7-9am and in the 10am hour.
• Michael Urie (Partners) - Michael appears on The Better Show, so check your local listings.
• Betty White (Hot in Cleveland/The Golden Girls/The Mary Tyler Moore Show) - Betty is a guest on Steve Harvey, so check your local listings.
• Jane Krakowski (30 Rock) - Jane chats on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

• Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen) - Watch Ellen on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Kelly Ripa (Hope & Faith) - Kelly appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney is part of the guest panel on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
• Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah visits Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Nick Kroll (The League/Caveman) - Nick stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Allison Williams (Girls) - Allison is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Blake Lee, Andrew Santino, Vanessa Lengies - The stars of Mixology are guests on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. Blake and Vanessa will also be on ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am. Mixology premieres on ABC on February 26 at 9:30pm ET/PT.
• Angelique Cabral (Enlisted) - Angelique will be on Pop Sugar on TV Guide Network at 6pm and on the next day on their website at noon.
• Benjamin Stockham (About a Boy/1600 Penn/Sons of Tucson) - Benjamin appears on The Better Show, so check your local listings.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

• Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) - Catch Simon on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Michael Strahan (Brothers) - Michael drops by Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Lena Dunham (Girls) - Lena is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Paul Scheer (The League) - Paul appears on The Pete Holmes Show at midnight on TBS.
• Peter Krause (Sports Night/Cybill) - Peter visits The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls) - Kat stops by LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim chats about her new book, Mayim's Vegan Table, on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Whoopi Goldberg (Whoopi/Bagdad Cafe) - Whoopi appears on a repeat of The Queen Latifah Show, so check your local listings.
• Tim Conway (McHale's Navy/Rango) - Tim is a guest on a repeat of The Queen Latifah Show, so check your local listings.
• Jason Hervey (The Wonder Years) - Jason visits The Better Show, so check your local listings.

Friday, February 28, 2014

• Sarah Chalke (How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)/Scrubs/Roseanne) - Watch Sarah on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Billy Connolly (Head of the Class/Billy) - Billy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Billy Gardell (Mike & Molly) - Billy is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Rob Reiner (all in the Family) - Rob appears on a repeat of The Queen Latifah Show, so check your local listings.
• Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen) - Robin Roberts interviews Ellen live from Hollywood on ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am.
• Annie Potts (Designing Women) - Annie will be on New York Live on WNBC at 12:30pm ET.

Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Friday feature! We do listen!

Jenna Elfman is staying at NBC. She has been cast in the upcoming NBC comedy Growing Up Fisher (formerly titled as The Family Guide). Elfman will play the role of Joyce Fisher (replacing the previously cast Parker Posey), the wife of Mel Fisher (J.K. Simmons) - the proud family patriarch who does not let his blindness affect him as a father, husband and breadwinner. Elfman recently appeared on NBC's 1600 Penn this past season as the First Lady and is best known for her role on Dharma and Greg, for which she garnered a Golden Globe Award, three Emmy Award nominations. Elfman also starred on two short-lived CBS sitcoms: Courting Alex and Accidentally on Purpose. Growing Up Fisher is from Universal Television and Aggregate Films. It is executive produced by DJ Nash, Jim Garavente and Jason Bateman, who also serves as narrator. The series will premiere in midseason 2014 for NBC.

On Monday, July 29th, ABC Family launches "Summer Crush," the network's fifth annual 10-day long summer programming event filled with all-day marathons, movies and all-new episodes of its original series Switched At Birth, The Fosters, Pretty Little Liars, Twisted, The Vineyard, Melissa & Joey, Baby Daddy and upcoming series Spell-Mageddon. Plus, the network television premieres of films Prom and So Undercover and the ABC Family premiere of 17 Again. Among the storylines we will see are a new crush fo Mel on Melissa & Joey: When his apartment needs to undergo emergency renovations, Mel invites her new boyfriend Noah (guest star Justin Hartley) to temporarily move in with her, accelerating their relationship. While on Baby Daddy, Ben is doing whatever his girlfriend says: Ben dog-sits for his girlfriend, and the dog is stolen on his watch. Both of those episodes will air on the final day of the ABC Family event on Aug. 7.