Showing posts with label MADtv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MADtv. Show all posts

Friday, August 02, 2024

Johnson Returns to Bounce; According to Jim Star Starring in Lifetime Film; Remembering Erica Ash of Survivor's Remorse

Johnson

Johnson, Bounce TV's popular dramedy focusing on four life-long best friends with the same last name, returns for an all-new season Saturday nights at 8pm ET / 7pm CT starting August 3 with two new back-to-back episodes. Johnson is a journey of love, self-discovery, and brotherhood, touching on hot-button topics including race, mental health, classism and the ever-evolving relationship dynamics between men and women -- themes that continue to be prominent in the new season ahead.

Johnson is produced in partnership with Eric C. Rhone and Cedric The Entertainer's A Bird & A Bear Entertainment, as well as Deji LaRay (the show's creator) and Thomas Q. Jones' Midnight Train Productions. The ensemble cast is led by Jones (P. Valley, Luke Cage), LaRay (Bosch, Greenleaf), Philip Smithey (Murderville, The Rookie), Derrex Brady (NCIS, First) with D.L. Hughley (The Original Kings of Comedy, The Hughleys). LaRay and Jones serve as show-runners and executive producers; Rhone, Cedric The Entertainer and Reesha L. Archibald serve as executive producers.




Courtney Thorne-Smith and Stella Gregg

Lifetime announces the new original movie, He Slid Into Her DMs. Inspired by a true story, Courtney Thorne-Smith (Melrose Place, Ally McBeal, According to Jim) and Stella Gregg (daughter of Clark Gregg, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Trust Me) star in the movie about a teenage social media influencer whose stalker shows up on her doorstep after blocking him online. The movie explores the tragic consequences of how online and social media fame can fuel real-world violence. Alicia Coppola (Writer and director of the award-winning short film And You Are...?, Jericho, Why Women Kill) directs her first feature film with He Slid Into Her DMs, which premieres Saturday, September 28 at 8/7c as part of Lifetime's fall Ripped from the Headlines movie slate.


Erica Ash

Actress and comedian Erica Ash, who starred in the final season of Mad TV and played M-Chuck Calloway in Survivor's Remorse, has died. She died from breast cancer in Los Angeles on July 28. Ms. Ash was only 46.

Ash was a cast member in the first two seasons (2006-2008) of the Logo sketch comedy program The Big Gay Sketch Show. One of her characters included LaTanya, an uncouth, loudmouthed fitness instructor who teaches classes with a "Chicago-style" twist (i.e. Chicago-style yoga, Chicago-style pilates).

Mad TV - Season 14

She joined the cast of the Fox sketch comedy series Mad TV (stylized as MADtv) in 2008 as a feature performer for the 14th and final season, along with Matt Braunger, Eric Price, and Lauren Pritchard. Her impressions included Naomi Campbell, Whoopi Goldberg, Mo'Nique, Lisa Leslie, Raven-Symoné, and Michelle Obama.

Ash had a recurring role as Bridgette Hart, Kevin Hart's ex-wife, in the 2013-2016 BET reality television parody series Real Husbands of Hollywood. The series was co-created by comedian Kevin Hart, and follows the daily lives of him and other married celebrities, each playing a fictionalized version of themselves, as they venture through their surreal life in Hollywood.

Survivor's Remorse

She starred as Mary Charles "M-Chuck" Calloway in the 2014-2017 Starz comedy-drama Survivor's Remorse, which was created by Mike O'Malley and produced by LeBron James. The plot centers around the lives of Cam Calloway (Jessie T. Usher) and his family after he signs a pro-basketball contract and moves his family to Atlanta. M-Chuck is Cam's half-sister. The series also starred RonReaco Lee, Teyonah Parris, Tichina Arnold, and Mike Epps (Seasons 1-2).

Erica Ash - Family Reunion

Ash appeared as Grace, Moz and Daniel's younger sister, in three episodes of the Netflix sitcom Family Reunion from 2019 to 2021. She guest starred as Lydia in a 2024 episode of the NBC sitcom Extended Family. She provided the voice of Julie Vous Coucher for a 2020 episode of the Fox animated sitcom Bless the Harts.

In 2018, she starred as Gwendolyn "Gwen" Sullivan, a public defender, in the BET legal drama In Contempt. Some of her other television guest appearances included Cold Case, Shades of Blue (3 episodes), Legacies (4 episodes), and Sacrifice.

Ash starred as Kendra Brooks in Scary Movie 5 (2013). Some of her other film credits included Jean of the Joneses (2016), Uncle Drew (2018), We Have a Ghost (2023), and Outlaw Johnny Black (2023).

Ms. Ash was a talented and funny actress. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us on television and in films. She will be deeply missed.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

SitcomsOnline Digest: Which Bubble Shows Will Return?; New Tales from the Crypt Series Ordered at TNT

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's been a busy week of renewals, new series acquisitions by networks, and above all else, speculation about the lack of renewals of some series. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • As we all know, not every series that is currently airing on the major broadcast networks will return next season, and Deadline has a look at the prospects for some of the bubble shows, which includes the last remaining piece of the CSI franchise. (Deadline)  
  • The CW aired a MADtv reunion special earlier this year, and now they're going all in by bringing back the series in primetime. (SitcomsOnline)
  • It's official: Tales from the Crypt is returning as a TNT series. (Variety)
  • TV One has acquired rights to the series Empire.  (Variety)
  • While even the most successful sitcom to air would never be renewed for 16 more seasons by any network, CBS and Turner networks have come to such a renewal this week when it comes to the NCAA men's basketball tournaments. (ESPN)
  • LAFF is adding five Carsey-Werner sitcoms to their lineup, which will mean that between LAFF and sister network Bounce, every long-running Carsey-Werner sitcom that doesn't include Bill Cosby in the cast will be airing on one of the networks. (SitcomsOnline)

TUESDAY (APRIL 19) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

  • Silicon Valley - The Complete Second Season (DVD, $26.95; Blu-ray, $34.98): The HBO series returns to DVD in this release.
  • Veep - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD, $26.95; Blu-ray, $34.95): Another hit HBO series, this one starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, returns in this release.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Ilene Graff (Facebook, Twitter)
Claim to Fame: As we often do, we are continuing sort of a theme this week with TV moms of the 80s, and this week we have Ilene Graff. She began her television career with appearances on series such as Barnaby Jones, Laverne & Shirley, and Three's Company. Her big television claim to success claim came from playing the matriarch on the series Mr. Belvedere. However, what many people don't realize is that she started as a stage actress before coming to television, and appeared in Broadway productions. She continues to make such appearances to these days, and to many of her biggest fans, her stage career is what she is best known for. She doesn't post a whole lot or very often, but we hope to hear more from her in the future.
Pick of the Tweets: "Proud of this Mr Belvedere episode." (in response to fan discussing the episode "Wesley's Friend") (April 13, 2015)

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

TV Land Icon Awards Adds More Honorees; The CW Revives MADtv in Primetime

TV Land Icon Awards

Television's most entertaining night of the year brought the house down as the TV Land Icon Awards in Celebration with Entertainment Weekly taped Sunday night at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Premiering Sunday, April 17 at 9pm ET/PT on TV Land, the awards show kicked off with host George Lopez saying that his first pitch to the network, Comedians in Cars Getting Churros, was passed on. The ceremony honored John Stamos with the Timeless Icon Award, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele with the Comedy Duo Icon Award, Debbie Allen with the Trailblazer Icon Award and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, with the Instant Icon Award. The night also featured a tribute to the late comedic legend, Garry Shandling presented by longtime friend, Bob Odenkirk.

John Stamos received the Timeless Icon Award, which is presented to an entertainer whose extraordinary work spans generations. His Full House and Fuller House co-stars Lori Loughlin and Dave Coulier, Grandfathered co-stars Paget Brewster and Josh Peck, and legendary television creator and film producer Garry Marshall presented him with his award after Candace Cameron Bure, Jimmy Kimmel, Don Rickles and Bob Saget toasted Stamos in a pre-recorded tribute. The GRAMMY-winning band The Beach Boys performed a mash-up of their mega-hits, including "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Good Vibrations," and "Fun, Fun, Fun," before Stamos himself jumped on stage and joined them on the drums for a special performance of "Barbara Ann." Accepting his award, an emotional Stamos graciously thanked his fans for letting him in their living rooms all these years. Rob Huebel presented Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, of the award-winning hit Comedy Central series Key & Peele, with the Comedy Duo Icon Award, celebrating their hilarious sketches that instantly turn viral. Huebel spiced things up with a one-man improv jam as part of his introduction. Upon receiving their award, the duo humorously thanked everyone for knowing they have a show. They also thanked teenage sons for introducing their parents to their show over the holidays, and paid homage to fellow honoree Norman Lear by thanking him for groundbreaking shows such as All in the Family and Good Times.

Innovative choreographer, director, actress and three-time Emmy® winner Debbie Allen (Fame, A Different World, Grey's Anatomy) received the Trailblazer Icon Award and actress Ellen Pompeo, whom Allen co-stars with and directs on the hit drama Grey's Anatomy, presented her with the award. Before introducing a montage featuring Kerry Washington, Jada Pinkett Smith and Taraji P. Henson, Pompeo said that Allen is "always finding ways to help others while doing all of her other work." In the pre-recorded video, Washington said Allen was her "shero" and Smith said, "She's changed the game for many people and that's what makes her a true icon." Lastly, Henson remarked about Allen that she "never forgets to keep raising creative artists." Dancers then rushed the stage for an electrifying performance to the iconic song "Fame," as part of Allen's tribute. Sutton Foster introduced the IHOP Fan Favorite Character Icon Award, which fans were able to vote on for weeks leading up to the taping. Jim Parsons, who plays the forever-nerdy Sheldon Cooper on the long-running hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory won the award. The ceremony also included a heartfelt tribute to a comedic legend and inspiration, Emmy® Award-winning Garry Shandling (The Larry Sanders Show, It's Garry Shandling's Show), presented by his longtime friend, Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk, who said that "when Garry asked you how you're doing he actually wanted you to answer."

FX's hit series, the much-talked about drama The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, was honored with the Instant Icon Award, with Oscar® winner Cuba Gooding Jr. accepting on behalf of the series' stars, creators and producers. Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier presented Gooding with the award. Upon receiving the award, Gooding said, "It is so humbling...we are incredibly grateful to you, the fans. There isn't a day that goes by that someone doesn't say how affected they are. The show succeeded on so many levels and we're thrilled it connected so deeply with viewers." The show-stopping finale of the TV Land Icon Awards was a tribute to three-time Emmy® Award winner, the renowned television creator Norman Lear, who received the Impact Icon Award, praising individuals that have made a significant impression on American entertainment and culture. Seth McFarlane, who presented Lear with the award, remarked, "[Lear] is 50 years older than me and better than me all around," and comedian and sitcom star Jerrod Carmichael said in a pre-taped message that Lear "has created art that has genuinely touched people's lives." Oscar®, Emmy®, Tony® and GRAMMY® winner Rita Moreno and Good Times star Jimmie Walker appeared in Lear's tribute, and Hollywood Game Night host Jane Lynch toasted and paid homage to Lear, saying that his work in television made the world more welcoming for everyone. Glee star and recording artist Amber Riley and The Voice winner Javier Colon performed a special medley of theme songs from Lear's shows, bringing the crowd to its feet and ending the night with standing ovation! Tune in this coming Sunday (April 17) to see ALL of this!


MADtv

The Emmy Award-winning sketch comedy series MADtv is returning to television, making the jump to primetime with eight all-new one-hour episodes on The CW Network; a premiere date and time for the series, from Telepictures, will be announced at a later date. Back with its signature pop-culture parodies and politically incorrect humor, the new MADtv will star up-and-coming new comedy voices and will feature special appearances from returning cast members of the original late-night series as hosts of each episode. Classic episodes from the 14 seasons of the show's original Fox late-night run are currently available to stream on The CW Seed, The CW's digital network. The CW also recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of MADtv with a reunion special of highlights from the original series and new material featuring 19 returning series alumni. Stay tuned for more info!

Thursday, December 10, 2015

73rd Golden Globes Nominations; MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion on The CW

The 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards nominees have been announced! Netflix leads with 8 (up from its 6 from last year) nominations. HBO (7), Starz (6), Amazon Video (5) and Netflix (5) followed. ABC and Fox lead the broadcast nominees with 4 each this year followed by CBS with 1. The most nominated television series with 3 this year were American Crime, Fargo, Mr. Robot, Outlander, Transparent and Wolf Hall. The telecast airs LIVE on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016 from 8-11pm ET/5-8pm PT on NBC hosted by Ricky Gervais. Here are the major nominees:

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Casual (Hulu)
Mozart in the Jungle (Amazon Video)
Orange is the New Black (Netflix)
Silicon Valley (HBO)
Transparent (Amazon Video)
Veep (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW)
Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens (Fox)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO)
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin (The CW)
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie (Netflix)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Aziz Ansari, Master of None (Netflix)
Gael García Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle (Amazon Video)
Rob Lowe, The Grinder (Fox)
Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk (Starz)
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent (Amazon Video)

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Empire (Fox)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Mr. Robot (USA Network)
Narcos (Netflix
Outlander (Starz)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander (Starz)
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)
Eva Green, Penny Dreadful (Showtime)
Taraji P. Henson, Empire (Fox)
Robin Wright, House of Cards (Netflix)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC)
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot (USA Network)
Wagner Moura, Narcos (Netflix)
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (AMC)
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan (Showtime)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black (Netflix)
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Regina King, American Crime (ABC)
Judith Light, Transparent (Amazon Video)
Maura Tierney, The Affair (Showtime)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife (CBS)
Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall (PBS)
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline (Netflix)
Tobias Menzies, Outlander (Starz)
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot (USA Network)

View the FULL list of television nominees.


MADtv

Marking 20 years since the debut of the Emmy Award-winning sketch comedy series MADtv, The CW Network will broadcast the MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion on Tuesday, January 12 from 8:00-9:00 pm ET/PT. This one-hour retrospective of classic MADtv clips showcases the series signature pop-culture parodies and politically incorrect humor from the show's 14 seasons, interwoven with new comedy material featuring 19 series alumni. Returning cast members for the MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion include Ike Barinholtz, Alex Borstein, Mo Collins, Crista Flanagan, Anjelah Johnson, Nicole Randall Johnson, Keegan-Michael Key, Phil LaMarr, Artie Lange, Bobby Lee, Michael McDonald, Arden Myrin, Nicole Parker, Eric Price, Will Sasso, Aries Spears, Nicole Sullivan, Stephnie Weir and Debra Wilson. In the special, the cast reunites to attend a glamorous award ceremony to honor the series, but in classic MADtv fashion, nothing goes as planned.

The MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion will also feature appearances from some of the show's signature characters, many of which have amassed tens of millions of views on YouTube, including Anjelah Johnson's Bon Qui Qui. Also included are star-studded highlights from throughout the show's 14-season run on Fox, with guests such as Jessica Alba, Tyra Banks, Drew Barrymore, Halle Berry, Adam Carolla, David Carradine, John Cena, Bryan Cranston, Anna Faris, Neil Patrick Harris, Dr. Ken Jeong, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the Kardashian family, Jamie Kennedy, Jimmy Kimmel, Christopher Meloni, Ryan Reynolds, Snoop Dogg and Xzibit, among others. In addition to the primetime special, 75 of the maddest and funniest episodes will be available to stream exclusively on CW Seed, The CW's digital network, beginning January 5, 2016.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Digital Digest: Jack Benny Update; New Crackle Content; MADtv - The Complete Second Season DVD Review


Welcome to this (really not so special) St. Patrick's Day weekend edition of Digital Digest! This weekend, along with all of your regular features, we've got a review of MADtv - The Complete Second Season. Let's get rolling!


DIGITAL NEWS

We reported on a release of The Jack Benny Program from Shout! Factory last year, and not much has materialized... but now, there seems to be a bit more, courtesy of The International Jack Benny Fan Club website. According to the fan site, the release will be coming to stores on July 23... but if you can't wait that long, it'll be available to own on June 18 from the Shout! Factory website.

Crackle, the free online streaming service from Sony, announced plans to add the series The Shield to the service. The series will be rolled out in seasonal installments through 2014. Unlike many other comparable services, Crackle allows free ad-supported streaming on any device, including mobile devices. While this addition isn't huge news for sitcom fans, it does provide hope that they could do this with more sitcoms in the future. Right now, the service provides mostly sporadic episodes of series, so we can hope for more!


UPCOMING WEEK PREVIEW

Tuesday (March 19) brings us another great Warner Archive release, as they bring us Alice - The Complete Third Season. Also, for fans of Carsey-Werner sitcoms, Mill Creek completes one (and comes close to completing another) with their releases of Roseanne - The Complete Seventh Season, Roseanne - The Complete Eighth Season, That '70s Show - Season Seven, and That '70s Show - Season Eight. Finally, Shout! Factory has Quincy, M.E. - Season Five.


BLOG FEATURE REVIEW


Blog DVD Review: MADtv - The Complete Second Season (Shout!, $29.93)
by skees53

In the '90s, one of Fox's most successful series was the sketch comedy series In Living Color. Unfortunately, a fallout with the Wayans family caused the show to be slowly dismantled, ultimately to the point of cancellation in 1994. But Fox wasn't going to give up on sketch comedy. In 1995, MADtv debuted on the network. It wasn't quite the same as In Living Color, but it did bring a return of the old format, and even some of the original writers from that series. Airing on Saturday nights, the series ended up lasting for fourteen seasons with 321 episodes. Several years ago, Warner Home Video released the first season, but sales weren't as good as hoped. Now, Shout! Factory has picked up the rights to release seasons 2-5.

It is hard to summarize all of the episodes of a sketch comedy series, so I'll just go through some of my favorite sketches of the season. One of the recurring themes, particularly early in the season, is the 1996 presidential election. David Herman plays the role of Bob Dole, and Bryan Callen plays the role of Bill Clinton as they go head-to-head in the election. The Vancome Lady (Nicole Sullivan) has jobs at both the Betty Ford Clinic and a casino in this season, neither of which goes very well. Nicole Sullivan and Debra Wilson both play Samantha in a hilarious spoof of the classic series Bewitched. Another one of my favorites is Young Alanis, where Debra Wilson plays the role of Alanis Morissette in elementary school, complete with a parody of her well-known song (which still receives considerable radio airplay today) "Ought to Know." With NBC's Thursday night lineup being a huge deal in this era, the series creates a parody of an ideal show to air between Seinfeld and ER, called Test Pattern. An episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show that was "banned" gets a special airing on Nick at Nite in the episode that Adam Arkin hosts. Of course, there are a lot of other memorable recurring segments throughout the season, such as the UBS guy, the losers of the Lowered Expectations dating service, and one of my favorites X-News (which fit the whole "eXtreme" everything era of the 90s).

While the second season is very similar to the first in many regards, one key change in this season was to add a host to each episode of the series. The first of these hosts is Christina Applegate. Other hosts of interest to TV fans are Neve Campbell, Joe Rogan, French Stewart, Andrea Martin, Tommy Davidson, Mark Curry, Adam Arkin, and David Faustino.

The episodes on the set seem to be uncut, but I'm not sure what the source is for the episodes. At the beginning of each episode, there is a brief promo for the episode (like a syndication promo), and once the episode begins, there is a TV rating logo (i.e. TV-14) in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. In any event, I don't think there is anything wrong with these episodes. Runtimes of the episodes, listed by the name of the guest host, are as follows:

Disc 1:
1. Christina Applegate (42:54)
2. Ice-T (42:54)
3. Kim Coles (42:54)
4. Jack Wagner (42:54)
5. Neve Campbell (42:56)
6. Kevin McDonald (42:55)

Disc 2:
7. Joe Rogan (42:55)
8. French Stewart (42:54)
9. Harry Connick, Jr. (42:55)
10. Andrea Martin (42:58)
11. Superbowl Special (42:56)

Disc 3:
12. Rodney Dangerfield (42:55)
13. Queen Latifah (42:54)
14. Tommy Davidson (42:55)
15. Bobcat Goldthwait (42:56)
16. Pauly Shore (42:55)
17. Thomas Calabro (42:55)

Disc 4:
18. Mark Curry (42:55)
19. Adam Arkin (42:56)
20. Ryan Stiles (42:54)
21. David Faustino (42:53)
22. LL Cool J (42:55)

The set comes packaged in a Viva case, with some of the more memorable characters featured inside of "bubbles" on the cover and even more characters featured inside of "bubbles" on the back. There is also a description of the season on the back. Inside, you'll find the four discs, which contain 5-6 episodes per disc (more on the problems from that will come a bit later). Inside the case, a listing of hosts and airdates for the episodes is included.

The menus on the set are very basic... in fact, there is only one menu screen on each disc. On the menu, there is a Play All option, a listing of episodes, and a series of rapidly changing snapshots of Alfred E. Neuman. The theme song continuously loops in the background.

I'm not really overly impressed with the video and audio quality of this set, and I think that it likely has to do with the fact that so many episodes were crammed on each disc. Six episodes of a series that originally aired in a one hour time slot is overkill to some extent, and compression--something that hasn't been an issue on many DVDs recently--does seem to be a problem here. There are no subtitles or closed-captioning.

The set has one special feature... sort of. At the beginning of each episode, a promo plays for the episode, which I'm guessing was used for syndication. Other than that, we have nothing else. This set seems like a great set to include interviews. What else are the actors really doing now?

I'm glad that Shout! decided to pick up this series and continue it on DVD, but I certainly hope that they go beyond the fifth season. I enjoyed this series on Fox (up until the last season or two), and in watching this season, I've come to realize that the series really had not quite warmed up just yet. Some of the best actors and actresses of the series have yet to come, including Alex Borstein (now better known for her Family Guy voice work), Will Sasso, Mo Collins, Aries Spears, Stephnie Wier, and of course Michael McDonald. The only people truly memorable from this season are Nicole Sullivan and Debra Wilson. That doesn't mean the rest were bad, it is just that they didn't have the opportunity to play the characters that many fans truly loved on the series. In any event, I'm glad that we've at least got a chance to see this series on DVD, and can't wait to see more.

(4/5 stars)

To purchase this DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Amazon.com

Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews Page
MADtv on TV.com


FOLLOW ME 


Who to Follow: Rob Lowe (Twitter), "Love: family, dogs, espresso from an IV, politics, story telling, sobriety, acting, music, glassy overhead conditions. Hate: decaf"
Claim to Fame: We'll admit: we're taking a slightly different approach to our Follow Me for this week. Of course, we all know that Lowe's claim to fame primarily comes from movies, such as St. Elmo's Fire. But in recent years, Lowe has become more of a TV actor, appearing in regular roles in The West Wing and Brothers & Sisters. Despite all of that success, many critics have proclaimed that one of his greatest roles has actually been his current sitcom role, where he plays Chris Traeger on the NBC series Parks & Recreation.
Why You Should Follow Him: I'll be the first to admit that I never would have imagined Lowe being such a great sitcom actor, but I actually have come to enjoy him and his role in Parks & Recreation. In a sense, it helped me discover (and want to know) more about him. While he doesn't Tweet every detail of his life, nor does he interact directly with fans all that much (we know some celebs who are very actively interacting with fans), he does seem to be a very interesting and dynamical person, and many of his Tweets are fun to read.
Pick of the Tweets: "Hmmm, I wonder why Netflix just posted a surprise profit report? #WestWing ???" (January 24, 2013)

That's all for this week. Until next time, keep it digital!


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, October 5

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Frank's Team: A Dark Day for Baseball" (FX and FXX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
In an effort to clean up their image, Paddy's sponsors a local Little League team; but when The Gang spots softness in their franchise, they impose a radical new culture: win no matter what and do whatever it takes to get ahead.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 5)

Monday, October 5

  • Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Watch Anna on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Chris Rock (Everybody Hates Chris) - Chris appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Misty Green on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Doug Benson (You're the Worst) - Doug is a guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Caroline Rhea (Sydney to the Max/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch/Pride & Joy) and Tommy Davidson (The Varnell Hill Show/The Proud Family/Malcolm & Eddie/Between Brothers) - Caroline and Tommy will be on a repeat of Funny You Should Ask at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method) - ABC's Good Morning America has part one of Diane Sawyer's interview with Michael discussing his new memoir One Helluva Ride sometime between 7-9am.
  • Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Jamie discusses new comedy special Take Care of Yourself on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Sarah Chalke (Scrubs/Roseanne/Mad Love/How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)) - Sarah talks about Scrubs on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - CBS Mornings has a new installment of Beg-Knows America featuring Howie sometime between 7-9am.
  • D.L. Hughley (The Hughleys) - NBC's Today catches up wit D.L. in the 9am hour.
  • Teyonah Parris (No Good Deed/Survivor's Remorse) - Teyonah talks about Matchbox the Movie on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Sharon Horgan (Youth/Bad Sisters/HouseBroken/Catastrophe) - Sharon tells Drew about her new show Youth on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Tim Bagley (The Great North/Teachers/Grace and Frankie/Web Therapy/Strip Mall) - Tim appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York.
  • Ming-Na Wen (The Single Guy) - Ming-Na is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray) The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray) Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/20/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

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10/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 5, 2026)
10/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: A Different World Renewed for Second Season; A First Look at Ted: The Animated Series
10/02 - Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head Season 4 Launch; Anthony Anderson Returns to Soul Train Awards
10/01 - Ted: The Animated Series Premieres December 17 on Peacock; Trailer for Apple TV's Small Prophets
09/30 - AMC Orders Charlie Sheen and Martin Sheen Sitcom; Netflix's The One About Matthew Perry Documentary Series
09/29 - Michael Che's Third Netflix Special; Remembering Dennis Haskins of Saved by the Bell
09/28 - Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special; AMC Announces New York Comic Con Panels for 2026
09/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 28, 2026)
09/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Seth Meyers Developing The Game Room for NBC; Glee Reboot Script Written
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09/24 - Netflix Announces Final Season for A Man on the Inside; Jamie Foxx Hulu Comedy Special Trailer
09/23 - Disney+ Orders New Darkwing Duck Series; Great American Christmas 2026 with 18 New Holiday Movies
09/22 - Who Is Martin Mull? Netflix Documentary; Dancing with the Stars 2-Night Premiere Scores Big
09/21 - JoAnna Garcia Swisher to Join New Netflix Series; AMC Announces New Family Drama for 2027
09/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 21, 2026)
09/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: David Hyde Pierce Set to Star in Untitled NBC Sitcom; American Idol Moves to Atlanta
09/18 - South "America" Season 29 After 16th Emmy Win; HBO Max Orders Drama Series with Ray Romano and Kaley Cuoco
09/17 - They're Back on Call! Scrubs Season 2 Trailer; HBO's Kate Berlant Comedy Special
09/16 - AMC+ Half-Hour Drama Series Yaga Premieres October 23; Roku's Comedy Film with Kristin Cavallari
09/15 - 78th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Netflix Announces Additional Cast for This Summer Will Be Different
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09/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: South Park (or South America?) Returns September 16; City of Los Angeles Prepared for Second Season of Baywatch Reboot
09/11 - Nobody Wants This Season 3 Returns October 22; Sam Morrill Is Incorrect for Netflix
09/10 - NBC's 78th Emmy Awards Presenters Include Charlie's Angels Reunion; Apple TV's The Sisters Grimm Returns October 2
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