SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

SitcomsOnline Digest: Historical 19th Century Comedy in the Works at CBS; Bowen Yang Leaving Saturday Night Live After Tonight

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Can you believe that it is already Christmas week and that next week is the last full week of 2025? This week, we are hearing about a new CBS comedy, the renewal of an Adult Swim series, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Would you watch a historical comedy about 19th century England? CBS thinks so. (Deadline)
• Bowen Yang is leaving Saturday Night Live after seven seasons, after tonight's episode with host Arianna Grande and musical guest Cher. (Variety)
• Adult Swim has renewed Haha, You Clowns for two more seasons. (Variety)
• Just when you had enough of Judge Judy, her son is now getting his own courtroom show. (Deadline)
• We're remembering Rob Reiner, who was fatally stabbed this week. (SitcomsOnline)
• The Muppet Show is returning for one night only on ABC, just in time for the 50th anniversary. (SitcomsOnline)

• MeTV is having a special All in the Family block in honor of Rob Reiner starting at 6 PM on Sunday.
• Catchy Comedy is having a "Christmas Carol" tomorrow, with a binge of The Carol Burnett Show.
• Antenna TV has all of your Christmas sitcom favorites on Thursday and Friday.

Posted by Skees -- SitcomsOnline.com at 1:00 PM

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Labels: All in the Family, Antenna TV, Carol Burnett Show, Haha You Clowns, MeTV, Saturday Night Live, SitcomsOnline Digest, The Muppet Show

The Muppet Show 50th Anniversary Event in February on ABC & Disney+; Adult Swim Renews Haha, You Clowns for 2 More Seasons

The Muppet Show returns Wednesday, February 4 at 9PM for a triumphant special event on Disney+ and ABC. A first-look teaser was released. It's The Muppet Show! Kermit, Miss Piggy and the beloved Muppet gang are back with a brand-new special event. Music, comedy, and a whole lot of chaos are bound to ensue when The Muppets once again take the stage of the original Muppet Theatre with their very special guest, Sabrina Carpenter!

From 20th Television, Disney Branded Television, The Muppets Studio and Point Grey Pictures, the special event is directed by Alex Timbers, who also serves as executive producer. Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver and Alex McAtee are executive producers for Point Grey Pictures; David Lightbody, Leigh Slaughter and Michael Steinbach are executive producers for The Muppets Studio; Sabrina Carpenter, Albertina Rizzo, Matt Vogel and Eric Jacobson are executive producers. The original series The Muppet Show, created by Jim Henson, ran from 1976 through 1981 and aired in over 100 countries, featuring notable guest stars, including Elton John, Johnny Cash, Diana Ross, Debbie Harry, Gladys Knight, Liza Minelli, Paul Simon and many others. During its run, the series earned EmmyⓇ, GRAMMYⓇ, Peabody, BAFTA and numerous other awards. In 2026, The Muppet Show will celebrate its 50th anniversary. All five seasons of The Muppet Show are currently available to stream on Disney+.

Veteran Muppet performers Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman and Matt Vogel will perform the majority of the iconic Muppet characters in this production, supported by a talented team of additional performers. Dave Goelz, who has performed with The Muppets for over 50 years, was one of the performers on the original The Muppet Show and originated the characters Gonzo and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, among many others.

Adult Swim has announced that Haha, You Clowns will return for two more seasons. The relentlessly wholesome animated comedy from creator Joe Cappa follows the Campbell family - three doting teenagers, and their tenderhearted, recently widowed dad - as they navigate life's awkward, funny, and emotional moments together.

Currently airing its first season, Haha, You Clowns began as an Adult Swim SMALLS short series before expanding into a full-season order. The season finale airs this Sunday at 11:45 p.m. ET/PT on Adult Swim.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:00 PM

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Labels: ABC, Adult Swim, Disney+, Haha You Clowns, The Muppet Show, The Muppets

HBO's Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television; Adult Swim Slates Two Series for October

The HBO Original two-part documentary Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television, from Issa Rae's HOORAE Media and Ark Media, a film by Giselle Bailey; directed and produced by Giselle Bailey (HBO's The Legend of the Underground) and Phil Bertelsen (Who Killed Malcolm X?), debuts Tuesday, September 9 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, followed by part two airing Wednesday, September 10 at the same time. Both parts will be available to stream on HBO Max beginning Tuesday, September 9 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television takes audiences on a two-part journey through the history of Black representation on television, showcasing how Black artists and creators both shaped and revolutionized the medium while confronting the systemic challenges that have often undermined their contributions. From early stereotypical portrayals to today’s more authentic and complex narratives, the series highlights how Black television makers have not only survived but thrived, despite the industry’s early reluctance to fully recognize their power and creativity.

Through archival footage and interviews with major figures in the television industry and culture shapers, the documentary spotlights the trailblazers who paved the way, exploring complex narratives around race, identity, and cultural legacy. As each generation of Black television actors, writers, and creators built on the work of those before them, each voice became part of a lineage — responding to, reimagining, and reshaping Black storytelling on screen. Black writers and actors speak to their struggle for creative control, moving from token representation to truer, more complex portrayals and authorship. Black television has been, and continues to be, a ground-breaking force in the media, shaping culture, challenging norms, and redefining representation. The documentary also explores the business of Black television, its changing role in the media landscape, and its complex relationship to broader industry success. Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television showcases a reclamation of narrative power, a celebration of the past, and an illumination of a new generation of voices shaping the future of television.

Part One: SEEN Debut date: Tuesday, September 9 (9:00-10:14 p.m. ET/PT) Part One, SEEN, details decades of cultural shifts in television, with prominent Black voices sharing stories of their journeys, inspirations, and insights into their work and the industry. Historically, Black television was shaped by white writers and creators, from Amos 'n' Andy to wildly popular shows including The Jeffersons and Good Times. While Black characters were becoming increasingly visible on screen, their stories were not always written with authenticity or complexity. A rise in shows by Black creators brought social issues including the AIDS crisis, homosexuality, and racial protests to the forefront, and Black television went beyond merely reflecting culture – it began to create it. In Living Color and The Arsenio Hall Show gave an unprecedented national platform to hip-hop and Black comedians, driving discourse and reframing the cultural landscape. Despite a host of shows with Black creators and crews that built audiences and boosted ratings, by the end of the 1990s and into the early 2000s, many popular Black shows were cancelled and a new slate of programming featuring all white casts emerged.

Part Two: HEARD Debut date: Wednesday, September 10 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT) Part Two, HEARD, addresses ownership of the narrative, highlighting the need for opportunity at every level – including showrunners, editors, cinematographers, and writers. The responsibility and power of storytelling is demonstrated in Shonda Rhimes' color-blind casting for her powerhouse shows, Oprah betting on herself and owning her own content and vision, and other stories depicting the breath of the Black experience, such as scenes of the Tulsa massacre from HBO’s Watchmen, that underscored the importance of showing Black history authentically. HEARD also explores the rise of social media, enabling artists to own their own image, propelling creators like Issa Rae to success, and showcases how creators pay it forward. Lena Waithe’s mentorship lab reflects that mission – to open doors for the next generation and ensure that those telling Black stories reflect the full spectrum of the Black experience. With ownership of media companies, newspapers, and intellectual property, Black creators shape perception and policy while honoring the full scope of their history in all its paradoxes and complexities.

The series features a roster of media icons such as Issa Rae, Shonda Rhimes, Tyler Perry, Lena Waithe, Oprah Winfrey, Tracee Ellis Ross, Ava DuVernay, Norman Lear, Swizz Beatz, Debbie Allen, Kenya Barris, Cord Jefferson, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Mara Brock Akil, Byron Allen, Deondray Gossfield, Quincy Gossfield, Terence Nance, Syreeta Singleton, Tamera Mowry-Housley, and more.

Smiling Friends, the fan-favorite series about a company dedicated to lending a helping hand to anyone needing to smile, returns to Adult Swim for its third season on Sunday, October 5 at 11:30pm ET/PT. Also joining the lineup is a new comedy Haha, You Clowns, debuting Sunday, October 19 at 11:45pm ET/PT. New episodes of both quarter-hour adult animated series will be available to stream the following day on HBO Max.

Season Three of Smiling Friends finds Pim, Charlie, Flint and the whole gang going absolutely bonkers once again, diving headfirst into their ultimate quest to spread joy upon the land. We'll see a bunch of unexpected stuff here such as Mr. Frog running full speed at the camera, the team finally collecting all the spirit gems they need, and a totally epic showdown spectacle with an Ancient Witch of some sort. AHHHHH!!!!

Created by Joe Cappa, Haha, You Clowns is an unexpected new series from Adult Swim that celebrates wholesome family programming. Join the Campbell boys, three doting teenagers and their tenderhearted dad, as they live, laugh, love their way into your living rooms. They're big dudes with big feelings who are learning to navigate life in the wake of their mother's death, sensing her presence in everyday adventures.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:00 PM

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Labels: Adult Swim, Haha You Clowns, HBO, Smiling Friends