SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

SitcomsOnline Digest: Bob Hearts Abishola to Return with Smaller Regular Cast; CBS Developing Comedy Set in 1700s

  Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about a major cost cutting measure at a CBS comedy, a new comedy being developed that set over two centuries ago, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Bob ♥ Abishola has been renewed by CBS, but a big change is coming next season as almost the entire cast has been downgraded to recurring cast as a cost savings measure. (Deadline)
• John Stamos wasn't having it with the Olsen twins crying in the 80s, and had them (briefly) fired from Full House because of it. (Variety)
• CBS is developing a new workplace comedy set in 1773. (Deadline)
• NBC's 90th birthday celebration for Carol Burnett was a ratings success. (Deadline)
• Jerry Springer, just barely into his retirement, has died at age 79. (CNN)
• Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon were both fired this week, within minutes of each other. (Politico)
• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is still going strong, and a season 17 premiere date has been set. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (APRIL 29 - MAY 5)

• Catchy Comedy has a binge of Happy Days this weekend.
• Pete Davidson's new series, Bupkis, debuts on Peacock on Thursday.

SitcomsOnline Digest: Saved by the Bell Reboot Canceled; Quantum Leap Reboot Picked Up at NBC

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we are learning about the cancelation of one reboot (but the pickup of another), learning that trashy daytime TV talk shows will live on forever, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• It's not alright: Peacock has canceled the Saved by the Bell reboot, but at least it lasted more than one season unlike so many other sitcom reboots that we spend years talking about. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Quantum Leap has earned a series pickup at NBC. (AV Club)
• Fred Savage has been fired from his roles of executive producer and director on The Wonder Years, following misconduct allegations. (Hollywood Reporter)
• It seems that the end has almost come for the trashy daytime TV talk shows, but never fear, The Steve Wilkos Show actually managed to get a renewal, and there are now deals in place to ensure that The Jerry Springer Show and Maury, both of which seem to have chosen their daily topic decades ago and stuck with it everyday since then, stay on in reruns for years to come. (Deadline)
• We have our first look at the Netflix comedy series that exploits the death of competitor Blockbuster. (Deadline)
• Actor David Birney, who was once married to Meredith Baxter and was her co-star on Bridget Loves Bernie, has died. (Variety)
• It may have been way outside of their demographics, but The Waltons Homecoming was a hit for The CW, so they're trying it again with another reboot featuring the characters. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (MAY 7 - MAY 13)

• This weekend, Decades is having a binge with a family show that features no mothers (at least not until later seasons), Full House.
• Antenna TV is celebrating Mother's Day this weekend with a special marathon featuring the moms of Antenna TV.

AMC Gets Rankin/Bass Specials for Christmas; Jerry Springer Heads to Court in Fall 2019 Syndication

SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Gives Series Order to Amy Poehler Animated Comedy; Popular Character Being Written Out of The Simpsons

• Duncanville, an animated sitcom from Amy Poehler, has landed a series order at Fox. (Hollywood Reporter)
• The character of Apu on The Simpsons is one that has become controversial in the past year, and now, it looks as if the character will be written out of the series, with no explanation at all. (Mashable)
• The Jerry Springer Show has quietly been canceled, although it continues to air in reruns this season both in syndication as well as on The CW (which is airing some unaired episodes as well), but the host is hoping to make his return to air as a courtroom judge next year. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Megyn Kelly's will not be returning to Today following her comments during what otherwise would have been an unremarkable Halloween discussion earlier this week. (NPR)
• It's not even Halloween, but The CW is ready for Christmas. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2)

• Decades has Thriller all this weekend.
• Decades will be making a slight change to their daily lineup on Monday, as they add Dark Shadows and The Fugitive every weeknight at midnight ET.
• Heathers continues on Paramount Network through Monday night.
• Cozi has a marathon of The Munsters for Sunday.
• Antenna TV celebrates Halloween with a (short) marathon of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch on Tuesday, followed by an entire day of Bewitched on Wednesday.
• ABC has some new Halloween themed episodes of sitcoms on Tuesday, including The Conners, which continues a tradition that Roseanne held for years.
• FXX is airing a daylong marathon of "Treehouse of Horror" episodes of The Simpsons on Tuesday.
• Continuing with the theme of "The Simpsons Did It!," Comedy Central is airing the scariest episodes of South Park on Tuesday as well.
• Netflix has the final season of House of Cards on Friday.

ABC Pulls 'Emergency's' Last Airing; Other Updates; NBC Summer Update

ABC has pulled the last airing of In Case of Emergency for April 18. ABC has aired 12 episodes so far and a 13th will not air. The last episode they aired on April 11 was the actual season finale, so we did see how it ends, they just decided not to air one episode. Repeats of Lost will air in the 9pm hour a week earlier than planned now. The repeats of Lost will lead-in to all-new episode of Lost 10. If you missed this week's Lost, you must watch it this Wednesday at 9...it was GREAT! According to Jim will settle into its new timeslot of Wednesdays at 8pm starting this Wednesday followed by Notes from the Underbelly which premiered to decent numbers last night on a special premiere night and time. George Lopez will move to Tuesdays from 8 to 9 p.m. It was scheduled to move on Tuesday, April 17, but ABC has decided to air another Dancing with the Stars Recap Show leading into the Live Results Show of Dancing with the Stars. So, George will move on April 24 for three weeks (April 24, May 1 and May 8) of new episodes airing back-to-back. Look for guest stars galore with Mario Lopez, Oscar de la Hoya, and Jerry Springer returns.

Meanwhile, Disney-ABC Television Group announced that it will add the remaining unaired episodes of new drama Six Degrees to ABC.com's broadband player.
The first unaired episode of Six Degrees will be added to ABC.com on Friday, April 27, with a new episode added every Friday for four consecutive weeks (five episodes total). Look for sitcom star Bronson Pinchot (Perfect Strangers) to appear in an episode.

NBC announced the premieres for its original alternative programs in Summer 2007 that feature the return of last summer's hit America's Got Talent (with new host Jerry Springer) on May 29 (9-11pm, regular airings Tuesdays 8-9pm) as well as an updated edition of the hit series Last Comic Standing (with new host Bill Bellamy) on June 13 (9-11pm, regular airings 9-10pm) and the launch of Age of Love reality dating series (with host Mark Consuelos) on June 18 (10-11pm). In addition, NBC will reprise the popular weight-loss series The Biggest Loser (with new host Alison Sweeney from NBC's Days of our Lives) in late summer.

Jeannie and Springer on 'George Lopez' This Week; CBS Announces Season Finale Dates; NBC Pull 'Donnellys' Early

ABC will now air two new episodes of George Lopez this Wednesday rather than repeats. Both episodes will feature a special guest star. The first episode has Barbara Eden from I Dream of Jeannie at 8:00 followed by Jerry Springer at 8:30. These two episodes were scheduled for April 25 but ABC has decided to air them this week instead leading into a baseball themed episode of According to Jim and a new In Case of Emergency.
Eden's episode plot line: Much to Benny's dismay, George and Angie hire a maid (guest starring Barbara Eden as Ruth) who quickly cooks and cleans her way into George's heart.
Springer's episode plot line: When the love of Benny's life (guest starring Jerry Springer as Wayne Hill) returns to town, George builds a web of lies to keep them from reuniting.

CBS has announced season finale dates for most of its series. CBS in May will feature the unpredictable finales of the network's hit series along with a royal farewell to long-running sitcom The King of Queens when the comedy ends its nine-year, 200-plus episode run with a special one-hour finale.
Also in May, the winner of Survivor: Fiji will be crowned in a special two-hour broadcast on a special night (Sunday), and the final three teams dash to the finish line and the $1 million prize in The Amazing Race: All Stars.
Also of note, hit drama Without a Trace will air its season finale in its old home Thursday at 10 on May 10!
For the CBS season finale dates, click HERE.

NBC has announced it has scheduled new reality series The Real Wedding Crashers, from Ashton Kutcher and inspired by the movie Wedding Crashers, Monday nights at 10 p.m. starting April 23 for 6 weeks. The show will air following the return of Heroes on April 23.
In the six outrageous, one-hour episodes, wedding couples team up with five "crashers" to create the most memorable wedding weekend their guests will never forget! The crash team consists of five quick-thinking, hilarious improv performers who've made it their mission to infiltrate a wedding, going undercover as wedding staff and guests to save them from run-of-the-mill boredom. The bride and groom are in on the fun as they assist the "crashers" to take on outrageous characters and personalities to pull off some fun and outlandish pranks.
Because of this move The Black Donnellys will be either homeless or moved to another night and time. Personally, I think it will be homeless. So far only five have aired and 3 more expected to air including tonight. I think about 5 will be left unaired unless NBC reschedules.