SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting's multicast network, has expanded to clearances on 135 stations across the country bringing the network's reach to 86% of US TV households. In the new affiliate agreements, Antenna TV will air in Charleston, SC, Reno, NV and Chattanooga, TN. New Antenna TV affiliates include:

WGWG 34.3-Charleston, SC- Owned by Howard Stirk Holdings LLC,
KRXI 44.3-Reno, NV Owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
WDGA 43.2 –Chattanooga, TN Owned by North Georgia Television News, Inc.

Antenna TV's classic lineup includes retro favorites such as: Johnny Carson, 227, Alice, Archie Bunker's Place, Barney Miller, Becker, Benson, Bewitched, The Burns and Allen Show, Coach, Dear John, Dennis the Menace, Family Ties, Father Knows Best, Gimme A Break!, Good Morning World, Growing Pains, Hazel, Head of the Class, The Hogan Family, I Dream Of Jeannie, The Jack Benny Program, The Joey Bishop Show, Maude, McHale's Navy, Mork & Mindy, Murphy Brown, My Two Dads, The Partridge Family, The Paul Lynde Show, The Ropers, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Silver Spoons, Small Wonder, Soap, Three's a Crowd, Three's Company, Webster, Welcome Back Kotter, What's Happening!!, What's Happening Now!! and Wings. Since its launch in 2011 on Tribune stations, Antenna TV has partnered with broadcast groups including Cox, Nexstar, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Scripps Media, Hubbard, Gray, Raycom, Bahakel Communications, Ltd, Tegna Inc., Red River Broadcasting, Woods Communications Corp, American Spirit, Paxton Media Group and Howard Stirk Holdings.

Need to catch up on Heathers? The five night binge-a-thon begins on Thursday, October 25th at 10 PM ET/PT on Paramount Network. A reimagining of the 1988 cult-classic film, Paramount Network will air two episodes a night, from October 25 to October 29. The binge begins on Thursday, October 25 with two episodes per night at 10 & 11 PM ET/PT through Sunday, October 29. There is a supersized finale on Monday, October 30 at 10 PM, ET/PT, followed by the premiere of a new Heathers themed episode of Lip Sync Battle with Melanie Field (Heather Chandler) and Brendan Scannell (Heather Duke).

Heathers centers around "good girl" Veronica Sawyer (Grace Victoria Cox), who deals with a very different but equally vicious group of "Heathers." Heather Chandler (Melanie Field) is the unconventional leader of this popular high school clique and rules Westerburg High through fear, intimidation and amazing fashion sense. Heather Duke (Brendan Scannell) is Heather C's #1 sidekick and harnesses the Heather's power to destroy whoever he views as a total discount hobgoblin. Heather McNamara (Jasmine Mathews) is considered the nicest Heather in the group who lives in the shadow of the others. She's hiding a dark secret that she doesn't want to be exposed. JD Dean (James Scully) is the new boy in town with a dark side and sets out on a reckless path of destruction proving that no one, even his girlfriend Veronica is safe. Original Heathers cast member Shannen Doherty guest stars as a pivotal character in several episodes along with Selma Blair and Casey Wilson.

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Now that the fall season has sort of set in (aside from The CW, which is just getting started this week), we're into a pattern of normalcy before the new shows start getting cancelled and midseason replacements pop up. But just because it's a new season doesn't mean networks aren't already looking toward next season, and CBS is doing just that. Plus, we have some news about the TV adaptation of Heathers, which will finally see the light of day following countless delays. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Well, it's been a fascinating week of sitcom news this week (normally the week of Memorial Day is the kick off to our slow season, but not this time!), to say the least. This week, Roseanne made history by dethroning Bridget Loves Bernie as the highest rated series to ever be canceled. We're also hearing about potential replacements for Roseanne, including a spinoff of the series as well as the spinoff of a completely uncontroversial ABC sitcom about a midwestern family. We promise, nothing that we're reporting this week is being reported under the influence of any sort of prescription sleep medication, so let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

It's time for more around the horn from the TCA 2018 Winter Press Tour. Crackle, Sony Pictures Television Networks' free, ad-supported streaming network, released the trailer and key art for the network's new scripted original drama series The Oath, at the bi-annual gathering of television critics in Pasadena. The show, which premieres with all 10-episodes on Thursday, March 8, stars Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), Cory Hardrict (American Sniper, Gran Torino), Katrina Law (Training Day), Arlen Escarpeta (The Magicians), J.J. Soria (Animal Kingdom, The Fosters) and Game of Thrones alum, Sean Bean. The series explores a world of gangs made up of those sworn to protect and defend and sheds light on corrupt and secret societies that are nearly impossible to join - only a select few make the cut - but once inside, members will do what they must to protect each other from enemies on the outside and from within their own ranks.

Crackle also announced Rob Riggle's Jet Ski Academy, a new original comedy series in development. The eight-episode, 22-minute series follows a constantly misbehaving and only slightly fictionalized Rob Riggle, where he makes his most ill-conceived investment to date - a jet ski academy. Under public scrutiny, Riggle finds himself defending the venture and explaining the insane accidents and adventures that occur at camp all summer long. Riggle will also serve as a series writer and executive producer, in addition to starring. And production is underway in Puerto Rico for season three of the 10-episode original drama series StartUp. In addition, Academy Award-winning actor Mira Sorvino joins the cast as Rebecca Stroud, a NSA special agent who has come to investigate ArakNet, and will do whatever it takes to have ArakNet partner with the government. Finally, SuperMansion will be returning with six all-new 22-minute episodes of the Emmy-nominated stop-motion animated series beginning Thursday, April 12th.

Heathers, a pitch-black comedy anthology series based on the 80s cult classic film of the same name, will premiere on Paramount Network on Wednesday, March 7 at 10 pm, ET/PT. Set in the present day, "good girl" Veronica Sawyer (Grace Victoria Cox) deals with a very different but equally vicious group of 'Heathers.' Heather Chandler (Melanie Field) is the unconventional leader of this popular high school clique and rules Westerburg High through fear, intimidation and amazing fashion sense. Heather Duke (Brendan Scannell) is Heather C's #1 sidekick and harnesses the Heather's power to destroy whoever he views as a total discount hobgoblin. Heather McNamara (Jasmine Mathews) is considered the nicest Heather in the group who lives in the shadow of the others. She's hiding a dark secret that she doesn't want to be exposed. JD Dean (James Scully) is the new boy in town with a dark side and sets out on a reckless path of destruction proving that no one, even his girlfriend Veronica is safe. Original Heathers cast member Shannen Doherty guest stars as a pivotal character in several episodes along with Selma Blair and Casey Wilson.

American Woman, a new half-hour scripted dramedy set amid the sexual revolution and rise of feminism in the 1970s will premiere on Paramount Network on Thursday, June 7 at 10:00pm ET/PT. The 12- episode series from John Wells Productions in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television stars Alicia Silverstone (Clueless, Suburgatory), Mena Suvari (American Beauty, Chicago Fire) and Jennifer Bartels (Broken). Yellowstone, Paramount Network's new epic scripted dramatic series, will premiere on the network, Wednesday, June 20 at 9:00 pm, ET/PT. Starring world-renowned actor and Oscar(R)-winner Kevin Costner, who serves in the lead role. The impressive cast list for Yellowstone includes Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Dave Annable, Danny Huston, Gil Birmingham, Josh Lucas, Jefferson White, Gretchen Mol, Jill Hennessey, Patrick St. Esprit, Ian Bohen, Heather Hemmons, and Denim Richards.

COZI TV announced that it will be the exclusive digital broadcast network of the first eight seasons of the Emmy® award-winning series Will & Grace. Leading up to the premiere of the new season of Will & Grace on NBC on Thursday, September 28 at 9 PM, COZI TV will offer viewers the opportunity to recall every hilarious moment of the iconic series with a special showing of the first four episodes of season one on September 28 at 7 PM. The network will also kick-off a special weekend marathon presentation of all 22 episodes from season one on Saturday, September 30 at 9 AM. In addition, the original series will run on COZI TV Monday through Friday at 10 PM, beginning Monday, October 2 (check local listings). The hit comedy series Will & Grace features actors Debra Messing as Grace Adler, Megan Mullally as Karen Walker, Eric McCormack as Will Truman and Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland. The series follows best friends Will and Grace as they navigate living together, while they deal with their eccentric friends Karen and Jack. The show originally aired on NBC starting in 1998, with the season eight finale coming in 2006. Will & Grace rejoins the NBC lineup with all new episodes Thursday, September 28 at 9 PM.

The following episodes from Will & Grace season one will air on COZI TV on Thursday, September 28 at 7 PM. Audiences can watch an encore presentation at 10 PM (check local listings):
S1: Love & Marriage (7:00 PM)
S1: A New Lease on Life (7:30 PM)
S1: Head Case (8:00 PM)
S1: Between A Rock And A Harlin's Place (8:30 PM)

Season one episodes that will air in COZI TV's special Will & Grace Saturday, September 30 marathon are:
Love & Marriage (9 AM)
A New Lease on Life (9:30 AM)
Head Case (10:00 AM)
Between a Rock and Harlin's Place (10:30 AM)
Boo! Humbug (11:00 AM)
William, Tell (11:30 AM)
Where There's a Will, There's No Way (12:00 PM)
The Buying Game (12:30 AM)
The Truth About Will and Dogs (1:00 PM)
The Big Vent (1:30 PM)
Will on Ice (2:00 PM)
My Fair Maid-y (2:30 PM)
The Unsinkable Mommy Adler (3:00 PM)
Big Brother Is Coming Pt I (3:30 PM)
Big Brother Is Coming Pt II (4:00 PM)
Yours, Mine or Ours (4:30 PM)
Secrets & Lays (5:00 PM)
Grace, Replaced (5:30 PM)
Will Works Out (6:00 PM)
Saving Grace (6:30 PM)
Alley Cats (7:00PM)
Object of My Rejection (7:30 PM)

Paramount Network has set a date for its debut. The network will officially debut on Thursday, January 18 at 9:00pm ET/PT with a LIVE one-hour episode of Lip Sync Battle emanating from the Paramount lot in Hollywood. Details on this star-studded event will be announced in the coming weeks. Spike TV is being rebranded as Paramount Network, a premium entertainment destination that pushes the limits of story-telling with bold original scripted and non-scripted series. Inspired by over a century of cinema, Paramount Network is where today's brightest stars bring the experience of the big screen to every screen with stories that are immersive, inclusive, and deeply personal.

Later in January, Paramount Network will premiere the landmark six-part event series, WACO, with an award-winning cast including Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, John Leguizamo, and Melissa Benoist. On the heels of the 25th anniversary, the eye-opening and captivating series is based on the controversial and harrowing true story of the 1993 FBI siege of a religious sect that resulted in the deadly shoot out and fire. The new original scripted series coming to Paramount Network in the first part of 2018 includes Yellowstone, starring world-renowned actor and Oscar(R)-winner Kevin Costner and written and directed by critically-acclaimed, Oscar(R)-nominated screenwriter Taylor Sheridan; American Woman from award-winning producer John Wells, a single-camera comedy set in the 1970s amid the sexual revolution and the rise of feminism starring Alicia Silverstone and Mena Suvari; and Heathers an hour-long pitch-black comedy anthology set in the present day, based on the 1988 cult classic film of the same name.