SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Fox's Stewie Announces Voice Cast; Clash of the Thundermans Premiere Date and Details, with Ariel Winter Joining the Cast

Fox has announced the voices of the Family Guy spin-off series Stewie, coming in 2027-28. Kenan Thompson (Royal), Vanessa Bayer (Morgan), Mike Henry (BJ), Jessica Lowe (Caroline), Melissa O'Neil (Wanda), and Aaron Lee (Skunk) join Seth MacFarlane (who also voices Bean).

In Stewie, the world's most beloved talking baby steps into the spotlight with the latest Family Guy spinoff from creator Seth MacFarlane. After getting the boot from his old preschool, Stewie is forced to enroll in a new one that's not exactly top-of-the-line. It's attended by a handful of kids he doesn't know, and a 75-year-old class turtle with a half-cocked theory on just about every subject. Stewie's miserable, the other kids are miserable, and even the turtle is miserable... until Stewie begins rolling out his trusty array of devices to take them anywhere in space and time, turning every boring day at school into an insane and surreal adventure. MacFarlane voices Stewie and will executive-produce for Fuzzy Door.

Hold onto your capes! At San Diego for Comic-Con(R) International, Paramount+ revealed the premiere date and key art for Clash of the Thundermans. The new feature-length film from Paramount Television Studios will premiere Thursday, September 3 on Paramount+ and debut on Nickelodeon at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) that same day.

Based on the hit Nickelodeon live-action superhero comedy series The Thundermans, Clash of the Thundermans follows youngest sibling Chloe as she develops a new and unpredictable superpower, causing the Hero League to demand they send her away to a superhero boarding school to learn to control it. Faced with the prospect of sending Chloe away for years, the Thunderman family is split down the middle, with Max, Hank and Nora wanting to hand her over for her own safety, and Phoebe, Barb and Billy willing to ignore orders to keep her with her family.

Modern Family's Ariel Winter (Cognita) joins returning cast members Kira Kosarin (Phoebe), Jack Griffo (Max), Maya Le Clark (Chloe), Diego Velazquez (Billy), Addison Riecke (Nora), Chris Tallman (Hank) and Rosa Blasi (Barb). Dana Snyder (Dr. Colosso), Daniele Gaither, (President Kickbutt) and Robyn Bradley (Mee-Maw) also star.

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

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Labels: Fox, Modern Family, Paramount+, San Diego Comic Con, Stewie, The Thundermans

SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Returns to Big Ratings; New Garfield Series Coming to Paramount+

   Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about Scrubs revival ratings, a new Garfield series, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• The revival of Scrubs returned with huge ratings last week, but the question is, will it be sustainable? (Deadline)
• We haven't heard much about Garfield lately, but it looks like a new 2-D animated series featuring the feline is coming to Paramount+. (Deadline)
• A lot of people aren't happy about Paramount and Warner Bros merging, but there is a sign that it may not be a successful merger, as Paramount Skydance debt has been downgraded to junk in light of the announced merger, and it's looking increasingly likely that the combined entity may collapse soon after they're merged. (Variety)
• Despite being successful, Seth MacFarlane says it is unlikely that we'll see a third season of Ted. (TheWrap)
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson is talking about why he didn't want to do a proposed Modern Family spinoff. (Entertainment Weekly)
• He isn't a household name, but writer/producer Bob Rosenfarb, who mostly worked on Who's the Boss? and Step by Step (but also did work for All in the Family, Archie Bunker's Place, The Golden Girls, Cagney & Lacey, St. Elsewhere, and even some animated children's series), has died. (Entertainment Weekly)
• Tichina Arnold has signed a first-look deal with CBS Studios. (Deadline)
• COZI TV is giving Al Bundy his chance to see Hondo, finally. (SitcomsOnline)

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

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Labels: Facts of Life, Garfield, Modern Family, Scrubs, SitcomsOnline Digest, Step by Step, Ted, Who's the Boss?

TBS and TNT Holiday Schedule; Hulu's Back 'Four' More Reasonable Doubt; Remembering Diane Ladd of Alice

Festive films, spirited sitcoms and 24-hour movie marathons return this season as TBS's "All I Watch for Christmas" delivers nostalgic classics and TNT's "Christmas Maximus" showcases blockbuster holiday hits beginning Sunday, November 9.

As part of the networks' annual tradition, TBS and TNT will host 24-hour movie marathons of Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story. Additionally, TNT will air the broadcast premiere of Candy Cane Lane, starring Eddie Murphy, on November 16 along with the network debut of Shrek the Halls on December 2. Other seasonal favorites include Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966), The Polar Express, Four Christmases, and many more.

TBS will also air holiday-themed episodes of Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, American Dad! and Family Matters.

Hulu's Reasonable Doubt is coming back "four" more. The hit series has been renewed for season four. Season three is currently Thursdays on Hulu, with the season finale set for November 13. You'll judge Jax Stewart for her questionable ethics and wild interpretations of the law...until you're the one in trouble. Then you'll see her for what she is: the most brilliant and fearless defense attorney in Los Angeles who bucks the justice system at every chance she gets.

Season three stars Emayatzy Corinealdi, McKinley Freeman, Tim Jo, Angela Grovey and Joseph Sikora, as well as recurring guest stars including Morris Chestnut, Lori Harvey, Kyle Bary, Rumer Willis, Brandee Evans, Richard Brooks, April Parker Jones, Keith Arthur Bolden and Kash Doll.

Actress Diane Ladd, who starred as Belle Dupree in Alice, has died. She died from chronic hypoxic respiratory failure complicated by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at her home in Ojai, California, on November 3. Ms. Ladd was 89.

Ladd starred as Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry in the 1974 romantic comedy drama film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Flo is a hardened, sharp-tongued waitress at Mel and Ruby's Cafe. The film inspired the television series Alice, in which Flo was portrayed by Polly Holliday. Ladd was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for the role. She won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1976.

She joined the cast of the CBS sitcom Alice as Isabelle "Belle" Dupree in the fourth season in 1980. Belle Dupree is a hard-edged but kind-hearted woman. She had been a waitress of Mel's in the past, during which the two had a romantic relationship. Ladd won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for the role in 1980. Despite Ladd's Golden Globe-winning performance, the character was not retained for the duration of the series and was replaced early in 1981 after she had appeared in 23 episodes in the fourth and fifth seasons. Celia Weston then joined the cast as the good-natured, boisterous truck driver Jolene Hunnicutt, who came from Myrtle Point, South Carolina.

Ladd guest starred as Louise Burdette, the mother of Grace Kelly (Brett Butler), in two episodes of Grace Under Fire in 1994 and 1997. She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for the episode "Things Left Undone" in 1994. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Hazel, The Love Boat (3 episodes), and Young Sheldon.

She had a recurring role as Helen Jellicoe, Amy's (Laura Dern) quiet and rather aloof yet protective mother with her own ghosts from the past, in 18 episodes of the 2011-2013 HBO comedy drama Enlightened. In 2004, she starred as Sally Druse in the ABC horror medical drama Kingdom Hospital. She starred as Nell O'Brien in the 2016-2022 Hallmark Channel drama Chesapeake Shores.

Ladd received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her roles as Charlotte Cooper in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman in 1994 and as Carolyn Sellers in a 1997 episode of Touched by an Angel. Some of her other television guest appearances included Naked City (2 episodes), Perry Mason (1963), The Fugitive (1964), Gunsmoke (3 episodes), The Big Valley, Ironside, Father Dowling Mysteries, In the Heat of the Night, L.A. Law, Sisters, Strong Medicine (2 episodes), Cold Case, ER, and Ray Donovan.

She received Academy Award nominations for her roles in Wild at Heart (1990) and Rambling Rose (1991), in both of which she starred alongside her daughter Laura Dern. They were also nominated for dual Golden Globe Awards in the same year. Some of her other film credits included Chinatown (1974), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), Primary Colors (1998), 28 Days (2000), and Joy (2015).

Ms. Ladd was a talented and versatile actress. She appeared in over 200 television shows and films in her career spanning over 70 years. We thank her for her work on television and in films. She will be deeply missed.

We also remember television director Ralph Senensky. He died in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, on November 1. Mr. Senensky was 102.

Senensky's sitcom directing credits included The Courtship of Eddie's Father (9 episodes), The Bill Cosby Show (4 episodes), Nanny and the Professor (6 episodes), The Partridge Family (7 episodes), and Getting Together (3 episodes).

He directed 16 episodes of The F.B.I. from 1966 to 1972, 6 episodes of Star Trek from 1967 to 1969, and 12 episodes of The Waltons from 1973 to 1978. Some of his other directing credits included The Twilight Zone, Route 66 (2 episodes), Naked City (3 episodes), Arrest and Trial (2 episodes), The Doctors and the Nurses (2 episodes), Breaking Point (3 episodes), Dr. Kildare (5 episodes), 12 O'Clock High (4 episodes), The Fugitive (4 episodes), The Wild Wild West (2 episodes), Mission: Impossible, Ironside (2 episodes), Dan August (5 episodes), Banyon (3 episodes), Barnaby Jones (3 episodes), Eight Is Enough, Dynasty (4 episodes in 1981), Hart to Hart (7 episodes), Paper Dolls (3 episodes), and The Paper Chase (7 episodes).

He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television in 2011.

Mr. Senensky was the last surviving person to have directed an episode of Star Trek (1966-1969). He chronicled and discussed his adventures in film and television on his official website Ralph's Cinema Trek. We thank him for his work on television. He will be greatly missed.

Actor Lee Weaver had a recurring role as Brian Kincaid in The Bill Cosby Show and starred as Ricardo Williams in Easy Street. He died at his home in Los Angeles on September 22. Mr. Weaver was 95.

Weaver had a recurring role as Brian Kincaid in seven episodes of the 1969-1971 NBC sitcom The Bill Cosby Show. Bill Cosby played the role of Chet Kincaid, a physical education teacher at a Los Angeles high school, a bachelor, and an "average cool guy" trying to earn a living and help people out along the way. Brian Kincaid is Chet's brother. The cast included Lillian Randolph (1969-1970), Beah Richards (1970-1971), Olga James, Sid McCoy, Joyce Bulifant, and Joseph Perry.

He starred as Ricardo Williams in the 1986-1987 NBC sitcom Easy Street. The series stars Loni Anderson as L.K. McGuire, a onetime showgirl who manages to nab a young wealthy husband, Ned McGuire, only to have him die and leave her fending for herself against his embittered sister, who's out to get L.K. out of the picture and away from her inherited money. Meanwhile, L.K. reconnects with a down-on-his-luck uncle, Bully Stevenson (Jack Elam) who has been on and off the streets of Los Angeles. L.K. invites him and his pal, Ricardo Williams, to move into her vast mansion, to the horror and consternation of her snobbish in-laws, Eleanor and Quentin Standard (Dana Ivey and James Cromwell).

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Good Morning World, Julia, Love, American Style (1969), Nanny and the Professor, That's My Mama, Sanford and Son, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Soap, Mork & Mindy, AfterMASH, Diff'rent Strokes, What's Happening Now!!, 227 (2 episodes), Webster (3 episodes), Amen, Dear John, A Different World, The Cosby Show (2 episodes), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Nurses, Night Court (1992), Step by Step, Living Single, Roc, Sister, Sister (1994), Martin (2 episodes), Sparks (2 episodes), The Jamie Foxx Show, Good News (2 episodes), Suddenly Susan, For Your Love, Men, Women & Dogs, My Wife and Kids, The Parkers, The Bernie Mac Show, That's So Raven, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, My Name Is Earl (2 episodes), Community, Family Tools (4 episodes), and Grace and Frankie (2 episodes).

Some of his other television credits included Sheena: Queen of the Jungle (6 episodes), I Spy (2 episodes), The Blue Knight (4 episodes), Flamingo Road (6 episodes), Hill Street Blues (6 episodes), Reasonable Doubts (2 episodes), and NYPD Blue (3 episodes). He was the voice of Alpine in the animated television series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero from 1985 to 1986.

Mr. Weaver was a familiar face who wore stylish hats in many sitcoms. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment that he brought us during his 70 year career. He will be sorely missed.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:15 PM

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Labels: Alice, American Dad!, Bill Cosby Show, Family Matters, Friends, Hulu, Modern Family, Obits, TBS, The Big Bang Theory, TNT

SitcomsOnline Digest: Only Murders in the Building Renewed for Fifth Season; Plex Adds Knots Landing and More

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Depending upon where you are, you may be seeing a blast of fall weather this weekend, and it's just in time for the beginnings of the new TV fall season! We have news of a renewal of a Hulu series, some changes with The Tonight Show, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Only Murders in the Building has been renewed for a fifth season. (Deadline)
• You can now stream the entire series of Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, and more on Plex. (TVLine)
• The reboot of One Day at a Time ended with unproduced scripts, but a table read of those scripts will be part of an upcoming charity event. (Deadline)
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was the last late night talk show to run new episodes five day a week, but that's about to change in the new season, as new episodes will no longer air on Friday. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Just as was the case in 2020 (though for somewhat different COVID related reasons then), South Park will not have new episodes for the presidential election season as had been tradition in the past, and will not return until 2025. (Variety)
• Modern Family is coming to Nick at Nite on September 19, though it appears that some of the rumors that it was being pulled from broadcast syndication this month (which is been happening with an unusually high number of long-running broadcast network stalwarts this season) may not be true. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (SEPTEMBER 7 - SEPTEMBER 13)

• We previously mentioned that Plex has added Growing Pains and The Drew Carey Show to their free offerings, but as we stated today, they seem to be adding even more content from the Warner library, including the complete series of Perfect Strangers, Knots Landing, Sisters, and Falcon Crest... and we hope that more is on the way!
• Catchy Comedy has a binge of Night Court this weekend.
• A new season of Wheel of Fortune arrives on Monday, and it'll have something that it hasn't had in four decades: a new host, Ryan Seacrest.

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

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Labels: Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, Modern Family, One Day at a Time, Only Murders in the Building, SitcomsOnline Digest, South Park, Tonight Show

Nick at Nite Acquires Modern Family; SNL Stars Go Live on Peacock Next Thursday

Nickelodeon announced the addition of Modern Family, the 22-time Emmy(R) Award-winning acclaimed comedy series, to its Nick at Nite programming lineup beginning Monday, September 9. All 11 seasons of Modern Family will debut in Nickelodeon's nighttime programming block and air daily from 2-4 a.m. (ET/PT). The series joins a stellar roster of popular family comedies, including Emmy(R) Award-winning shows Friends, Mike & Molly and Mom, as well as beloved sitcoms Young Sheldon and The Neighborhood, and marks the first time the sitcom will air within Paramount's family of brands. The series is leaving NBCUniversal cable networks (currently on E! and prior to that on USA Network). The series will continue to air on TBS, though.

The family at the center of Modern Family is headed by Jay Pritchett (Ed O'Neill), who is now married to his second wife, the young, gorgeous Gloria (Sofía Vergara), assumed by some to be his daughter. In their loving care is Gloria's daydreaming son, Manny (Rico Rodriguez). Jay's driven daughter, Claire (Julie Bowen), and her real estate agent husband, Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell), want an open, healthy relationship with their three kids, which isn't always easy. Their oldest daughter, Haley (Sarah Hyland), grows up a little too fast. Middle child, Alex (Ariel Winter), is a too-smart-for-her-own-good daughter, and the youngest, Luke (Nolan Gould), is a rambunctious son. Where Phil wants to be the "cool dad," Claire is determined to keep her kids from walking in the wayward footsteps of her younger days. Jay's very serious son, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), and his gregarious husband, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet), become doting parents to Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons), the sweet Vietnamese girl they adopt. Though life isn't always tidy, politically correct, or predictable, it's always loving, heartwarming, and hilarious for this blended, extended - and truly modern - family.

Peacock has announced Colin Jost & Michael Che Present: New York After Dark, the first-ever live comedy special for the streamer. The comedy event will be hosted by the Saturday Night Live Weekend Update duo, and will stream live with an in-person audience from The Bell House in Brooklyn. Tune in on September 12 at 9 PM ET for a night of "drop-ins only," featuring Colin and Michael's favorite NYC club comics, fresh faces, and maybe even some names you already know and love. Watch live to see who hits the stage! Special guest appearances will feature both up-and-coming and established comics in New York. Grammy-nominated musical ensemble 1500 or Nothin' will be the house band accompanying performances throughout the special.

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

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Labels: E!, Modern Family, Nick at Nite, Peacock, Saturday Night Live

Audible Announces Two Scripted Comedy Podcasts; Modern Family's Julie Bowen's Peacock Series

Audible Inc., the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, and Broadway Video Enterprises, the global entertainment and media company, announced two new original comedy podcasts featuring A-list casts set to premiere this fall: The Best Man's Ghostwriter, starring Glen Powell and Nicholas Braun, and Stranded, starring Taraji P. Henson and Tracee Ellis Ross. Debuting on September 12, The Best Man's Ghostwriter follows the story of Nate (Glen Powell), a speechwriter-for-hire who helps people write incredible best man speeches. To keep the best man from embarrassing himself, Nate uses his list of Don’ts: don’t mention the exes, don’t be rated R, and don't bum everyone out, the list goes on. Nate's system never fails. That is until he meets Dan (Nicholas Braun), the hopelessly awkward best man for a mega social influencer. Featuring an all-star cast including Ashley Park, D'Arcy Carden, Lance Bass, Zach Braff, Lukas Gage, Alex Wolff, Debra Messing, George Takei, Jack McBrayer, Nicole Byer, Zach Cherry, Lennon Parham, Neil Flynn, Jason Mantzoukas, Ben Marshall, John Higgins, Martin Herlihy, Jonathan Van Ness, Sherri Shepherd, and more, The Best Man's Ghostwriter is a laugh-out-loud, heartfelt audio show written and directed by comedian and former real-life best man's ghostwriter, Matthew Starr.

Stranded, created and directed by Chris Bruno and David Howard Lee, and written with Shukri R. Abdi, is set to premiere on November 7. Joining Henson and Ellis Ross is a renowned ensemble cast including Lamorne Morris, Jay Ellis, Tim Robinson, Taye Diggs, Whoopi Goldberg, Larry Wilmore, Keith David, Ashley Nicole Black, Mikey Day, Zazie Beetz, Nicole Byer, Phylicia Rashad, Phil LaMarr, and more. The series is Executive Produced by Britta von Schoeler and produced by Gabriella Mezzacappa and Eddie Michaels. In Stranded, separated by twenty years, three thousand miles, and the unrelenting stresses of adulthood, best friends Janet (Tracee Ellis Ross) and Serena (Taraji P. Henson) plan a girls trip to reconnect. But after their party boat crashes, they’re the lone survivors to wash ashore on an uncharted Caribbean cay. Armed with zero survival skills, they must overcome rough seas, deadly wildlife, and, most terrifyingly, decades of accrued resentment to find their way home. As long as they don't kill each other first.

Peacock releases October 18 premiere date and first look teaser for Hysteria! starring Modern Family's Julie Bowen, Pitch Perfect's Anna Camp & Ash vs. Evil Dead's Bruce Campbell premiering on Peacock October 18 with all eight episodes. USA Network and SYFY will simulcast the first episode on October 18, with USA Network airing episodes each Friday. Heaven is a place on Earth - and Hell has come to this town. When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the "Satanic Panic" of the late 1980s, a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town's sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band, until a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and reported "supernatural activity" triggers a leather-studded witch hunt that leads directly back to them.

Series Regulars: Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, Kezii Curtis and Nikki Hahn. Recurring Guest Stars: Bruce Campbell, Garret Dillahunt, Nolan North, Elijah Richardson, Milly Shapiro, Allison Scagliotti and Jessica Treska.

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

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Labels: Audible, Modern Family, Peacock

TBS and TNT Winter Break Programming; Kelly Clarkson to Host NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center

TBS and TNT kick off Winter Break with festive films and holiday-themed episodes throughout November and December. The programming begins on November 4 with spirited movies Jack Frost, Fred Claus, The Polar Express, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Elf, which is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its theatrical release. As part of annual tradition, TBS and TNT will host 24-hour marathons of A Christmas Story, Elf and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Other classics airing throughout the season include Four Christmases, Deck the Halls, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966), and many more. In addition, the broadcast premieres of A Christmas Story Christmas and 8-Bit Christmas will debut in November.

TBS will continue spreading the holiday cheer with the premiere of an American Dad! Christmas episode on December 18. Holiday-themed episodes of Friends, The Big Bang Theory and for the first time ever Modern Family, will air throughout the winter season. To celebrate the launch of Winter Break, TBS and TNT have partnered with Auntie Anne's to create the Winter Break Bundle available in locations nationwide and through online delivery that includes 2 pretzels, 2 cups of pretzel nuggets, and 4 dips. It is the perfect snack to pair with this season's merry movies and holiday favorites. View the promo here and please visit www.wbd.com/winterbreak for more information.

A tradition spanning over nine decades, NBC celebrates the annual lighting of one of the world's most famous trees with its beloved Christmas in Rockefeller Center special. This year, for the first time, Emmy and Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson will pull double duty at the annual two-hour holiday affair live on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and simulcast on Peacock. Clarkson will not only host NBC's iconic Christmas special, but also deliver festive performances - all from the historic NYC spot that is now also home to her eponymous talk show The Kelly Clarkson Show. This year marks the 20th anniversary of her first Christmas in Rockefeller Center performance, and she has performed a handful of times since. NBC's TODAY anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin will once again join the tree lighting for a special appearance. No stranger to spreading seasonal cheer, the two-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has released multiple holiday albums, including When Christmas Comes Around ... in 2021 and Wrapped in Red in 2013.

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

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Labels: American Dad!, Friends, Modern Family, NBC, TBS, The Big Bang Theory, TNT

SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Cancels Wonder Years Reboot; Byron Allen Makes $10 Billion Offer to Buy ABC

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This would typically be a busy and exciting week where we tell you about all of the brand new fall series that debut this week, and we're so excited about that... but no. There are still two entertainment industry strikes, and we have almost nothing to offer in this respect. But, it's still a busy new week anyway, with a lot of questions about the future of ABC as well as their cable networks. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• The Wonder Years reboot on ABC got a lot of attention when it started, but after a very disappointing second season in the ratings (ABC's worst show of the year), it has been canceled. (Variety)
• We've got our first look at the Frasier reboot. (Deadline)
• Bill Maher has decided he is returning to the air next week despite the strike, but will other late night talk show hosts look for a loophole to return too? (Deadline)
• If you have Spectrum, the second largest pay TV provider in the nation, you now no longer have cable channels such as Freeform (and never will), as the provider worked out a deal with Disney that brought back ESPN, Disney Channel, and FX, but includes the permanent removal of many other channels, leaving many to wonder if Disney is going to shut them down in the near future. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Meanwhile, Nexstar has been having exploratory talks with Disney about buying ABC, and entertainment mogul Byron Allen has went a step further to make a $10 billion offer to purchase ABC and several of their cable networks (including FX and National Geographic). (Reuters)
• While Byron Allen is trying to buy ABC, his syndicated late night series Comics Unleashed is coming to CBS on Tuesday, as they need strike material to replace the already ended Late Late Show with James Corden. (Hollywood Reporter)
• TBS has acquired Modern Family. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (SEPTEMBER 16 - SEPTEMBER 22)

• Catchy Comedy is going very old this week with a binge of Our Miss Brooks.
• American Horror Story returns to FX on Wednesday.

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

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Labels: ABC, ESPN, Frasier, Freeform, FXX, Modern Family, SitcomsOnline Digest, Wonder Years (2021)

TBS Acquires Modern Family; The Frasier Awards on COZI TV

TBS has expanded its comedy line up by licensing the popular, award-winning series Modern Family which follows the diverse and complex Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan as they navigate daily life. Beginning Monday, September 25, Modern Family will air on weekdays in the network’s 12:30-3:30 p.m. ET/PT time slot. And, starting this week, to further bolster its position as the home of comedy, TBS also will air longer daily marathons of The Big Bang Theory -- a series that currently ranks as the #1 acquired series in cable in 2023. Modern Family has aired on NBCUniversal cable networks the last 10 years (mainly on USA Network and recently on E!). E! will stop airing the sitcom after next week it seems but Peacock will continue to stream (along with Disney's Hulu).

Next week, fans of Frasier can tune in starting Monday, September 18 through Friday, September 22 for the "Frasier Awards" special themed week. COZI TV has curated a week-long Frasier lineup highlighting 20 award-winning episodes of the famed sitcom starting at their regular weekly timeslot, 8:00 PM EST (check local listings). Fans can expect to see episodes featuring Outstanding Guest Actors, Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing, Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing and more. COZI TV will also air special episode intros prior to each award-winning episode. During its original run, Frasier was awarded with over 37 Emmy® Awards and accumulated 108 total nominations, holding the record of most wins of any scripted series until Game of Thrones.

COZI TV viewers can regularly watch Frasier weeknights from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM EST (check local listings) on HuluLive, YouTube TV, fubotv, DIRECTV STREAM (channel 80) and DISH Network (channel 253).

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

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Labels: Cozi TV, E!, Frasier, Hulu, Modern Family, Peacock, TBS, USA Network

BUZZR's Classic TV Moms Week; Fox's Stars on Mars Celebs Announced

BUZZR celebrates Mother's Day with "TV Moms Week!" BUZZR observes Mother's Day all week long with game shows featuring classic television moms. A mother's love is unconditional... just like BUZZR's love for game shows! So, we have put those two loves together to create an entire week of programming featuring beloved television mothers playing on some of the classic shows! Actresses such as Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy), Florence Henderson (The Brady Bunch), Isabel Sanford (The Jeffersons), Marion Ross (Happy Days), and Vicki Lawrence & Carol Burnett (Mama's Family) guest star on vintage episodes of Family Feud, Password Plus, Tattletales, and more! BUZZR's "TV Moms Week" airs Monday, 5/8 through Saturday, 5/13 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm ET with a marathon on Sunday, 5/14 from 11:00am – 11:00pm ET.

Fox announces the 12 fearless celebrities who will pack their bags and prepare for launch to the red planet as crew members on Stars on Mars, an out-of-this-world new unscripted series, premiering Monday, June 5 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on Fox. This summer, professional athletes, reality world megastars, triumphant entrepreneurs, renowned television and film actors, uproarious comedians and trailblazing entertainers will colonize, compete and conquer "Mars" until there is one victorious space invader, who will claim the title of "the brightest star in the galaxy." Celebrities will ditch their jerseys, business suits and red carpet gowns for the ultimate attire - an astronaut suit. Once on "Mars," this group of stars will receive interstellar assignments from legendary actor and Star Trek icon William Shatner, who serves as Mission Control. Colonizing Mars could be our future... let's send them first! Meet the 12 crewmates joining Stars on Mars:

· Former Professional Road-Racing Cyclist and Investor Lance Armstrong
· Comedian, Actress and Writer Natasha Leggero (Another Period)
· Former Super Bowl Champion, Community Advocate and Entrepreneur Marshawn Lynch
· Widely known Comedic Actor Christopher Mintz-Plasse
· Olympic Figure Skater and TV Personality Adam Rippon
· Professional Wrestler and UFC champion, Olympic Medalist and Actress Ronda Rousey
· Television Personality and Restaurateur Tom Schwartz
· Sports Analyst and Professional Football Player Richard Sherman
· Multi-Platinum-Certified POP & R&B Disruptor, Singer, Songwriter and Dancer Tinashe
· Television Personality, Actress and Author Porsha Williams Guobadia
· Entrepreneur and Artist Tallulah Willis
· SAG Award-Winning Actress and Producer Ariel Winter (Modern Family)

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

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Labels: Another Period, Brady Bunch, BUZZR, Family Feud, Fox, Happy Days, I Love Lucy, Mama's Family, Modern Family, Password, Stars on Mars, Tattletales, The Jeffersons

Netflix Orders Mulligan from 30 Rock Minds; Julie Bowen Heading to Peacock

Netflix announces the cast of adult animation comedy series Mulligan from the minds behind 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Nat Faxon, Chrissy Teigen, Tina Fey, Sam Richardson, Dana Carvey and Phil LaMarr star in the animated comedy from co-creators Robert Carlock and Sam Means. Recurring Guest Stars include Daniel Radcliffe, Ayo Edebiri, Ronny Chieng and Kevin Michael Richardson. Mulligan Premieres Friday, May 12 Globally on Netflix. After Earth is destroyed by an alien attack, a rag-tag band of survivors has to start society over from scratch. It's an opportunity to learn from humanity's past mistakes and get things right this time. Or make the same mistakes all over again. Probably the second one.

From the minds behind 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Mulligan is co-created by executive producers Robert Carlock and Sam Means, who serve as co-showrunners. Executive producers also include Tina Fey, David Miner, Eric Gurian, Scott Greenberg and Joel Kuwahara. Mulligan is produced by Universal Television (a division of NBCUniversal Content Studios) in association with Little Stranger, Inc., Bevel Gears, 3 Arts Entertainment and Bento Box Entertainment.

Two-time Emmy Award winning actress Julie Bowen (Modern Family, Happy Gilmore) will star in Peacock's coming-of-age thriller Hysteria!, a drama series that explores American's dark history of mass hysteria through the shocking story of the teenage Satanic Panic, in the role of Linda Campbell. The series will be produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group. Matthew Scott Kane serves as writer and executive producer. John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, Chris Bender and Jake Weiner will also executive produce. Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer, Kong: Skull Island) is set to direct the first episode. When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the "Satanic Panic" of the late 1980s, a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town's sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band, until a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and reported "supernatural activity" triggers a leather-studded witch hunt that leads directly back to them.

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Labels: Modern Family, Mulligan, Netflix, Peacock

Modern Family Star Heads to Season 2 of The Santa Clauses; 29th Annual SAG Awards Winners

Disney+ announced that Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) will join the cast of the Disney+ Original series The Santa Clauses as Mad Santa. The Disney Branded Television series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios, and is now in production on its second season. Season one of The Santa Clauses, which debuted Nov. 16, 2022, was a Top 5 most-watched original series on Disney+ by hour streamed during its Season's Streaming campaign (Nov. 3-Dec. 31). In the second season, the Calvin family is back in the North Pole as Scott Calvin continues his role as Santa Claus after retirement plans were thwarted when failing to find a worthy successor in season one. Now that Scott and his family have successfully saved Christmas, Scott turns his focus towards training his son Calvin to eventually take over the “family business” as Santa Claus. Eric Stonestreet stars as Magnus Antas (aka the Mad Santa), who reigned during the 14th century and is now returning to try and take down Scott Calvin and reclaim the North Pole.

Disney Legend Tim Allen will executive produce and continue to reprise the beloved role of Santa/Scott Calvin. Also returning as series regulars in season two are Elizabeth Mitchell as Mrs. Claus/Carol, Elizabeth Allen-Dick as Sandra Calvin Claus, Austin Kane as Cal Calvin Claus, and Devin Bright as Santa’s elf bestie Noel. Matilda Lawler will reprise her role of Santa's chief of staff, Betty, as a recurring guest star. Additional guest stars include newcomer Marta Kessler as Olga, a surly, take-no-prisoners gnome who doesn’t understand “feelings” and “empathy” and sidekick to Magnus Antas, aka The Mad Santa, along with returning guest stars Liam Kyle as Gary, Isabella Bennett as Edie, Sasha Knight as Crouton, Ruby Jay as Riley, Mia Lynn Bangunan as Pontoon, and Laura San Giacomo as La Befana, the Christmas Witch.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards® presented its coveted Actor® statuettes for the outstanding motion picture and television performances of 2022* at the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, held Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The ceremony was broadcast live on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook with several media partners including Netflix. As previously announced, the multi-year deal between Netflix and the SAG Awards officially begins with the 2024 ceremony, which will stream live on the Netflix service globally. Honored with individual awards were Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis for performances in motion pictures, and Sam Elliott, Jessica Chastain, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Coolidge, Jeremy Allen White, and Jean Smart for performances in television. The Actor® for television drama and comedy ensemble performances went to The White Lotus and Abbott Elementary. The Screen Actors Guild Awards originated awards for motion picture cast and by television drama and comedy ensembles. View the complete list of winners.

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, Disney+, Modern Family, SAG, The Santa Clauses

Abbott Elementary Season 2 Premiere Soars in Viewership; Sarah Hyland Heads to Freevee to Host Series

Network TV shows that are not live events or sports are mostly watched on DVR, onDemand or on streaming services (Hulu, Peacock, etc) these days. Megahit comedy Abbott Elementary does a respectable live+same day linear TV number in terms of today's numbers but that's no where near its total viewership audience per episode. After 7 days of multiplatform (MP7) viewing, the second season premiere jumped over +300% in Adults 18-49. And that will be even higher after 35 days. It's the present and future of how we watch television and the broadcast networks know this. Here is what ABC released: After just seven days of multiplatform viewing, the second season premiere of Abbott Elementary skyrocketed to a 2.38 rating among Adults 18-49, soaring more than 4 times over its initial Live+Same Day rating (+318% - 0.57 rating). Abbott Elementary also picked up an additional +4.1 million Total Viewers over its Live+Same Day average (2.9 million) to hit 7.0 million viewers after seven days of multiplatform viewing. Abbott Elementary delivered its largest-ever delayed-viewing lift with Total Viewers (+4.1 million) and its 2nd-biggest-ever increase among Adults 18-49 (+318%).

The season 2 premiere of Abbott Elementary nearly doubled its December series debut (on 12/7/21) among Adults 18-49 (+92% - 2.38 rating MP7 vs. 1.24 rating Mp7), while soaring by 52% in Total Viewers (7.0 million vs. 4.6 million). In fact, the ABC sitcom launched its second season with series highs in both Adults 18-49 (2.38 rating) and Total Viewers (7.0 million). Based on linear Live+7 Day program ratings, the second season premiere of Abbott Elementary matched the series' highest-rated telecast among Adults 18-49 (0.9/8) and drew its 2nd-largest audience ever in Total Viewers (4.3 million). Abbott Elementary improved over its December series debut (on 12/7/21) by 16% in Total Viewers (4.3 million vs. 3.7 million) and by 13% with Adults 18-49 (0.9/8 vs. 0.8/6). In addition, the sophomore ABC sitcom built over its April first season finale (3.8 million and 0.8/6, respectively, on 4/12/22) in both Total Viewers (+13%) and Adults 18-49 (+13%).

So it's time to stop looking/reporting at a small piece of a pie (linear live+same day) and start looking at a full piece of pie (MP7/MP35) when looking at broadcast enterainment series. Viewing habits have changed, so reporting should reflect that.

Amazon Freevee revealed the official trailer and premiere date for the Freevee Original series Play-Doh Squished. The lively competition show is hosted by Sarah Hyland (Modern Family, Pitch Perfect Bumper in Berlin). Based on the hit holiday special released last year, and featuring updates reflecting the shift from special to series, the first episode premieres exclusively on Freevee November 11 in the U.S. and UK, with new episodes available on the service every Friday thereafter until February 24, 2023. Sarah Hyland will be joined each week by resident Play-Doh expert Jason Loik as well as two standing judges, painter Alexandra Nechita and sculptor Gil Grimmett. An all-star lineup of celebrity guest judges adds to the fun, including Sarah's hudband Wells Adams, Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Modern Famly mom Julie Bowen, D'Arcy Carden, "Young Dylan" Gilmer, Tony Hale, Chloe Kim, Marshawn Lynch, Alyssa Milano, Madison Pettis, Jay Pharoah, Jaime Pressly, Francia Raisa, Rob Riggle, and Kristen Schaal. Each episode will feature a new theme to inspire teams as they build their Play-Doh creations. From creating monsters, to designing out-of-this-world terrains, teams will be challenged to use Play-Doh tools and compound in a variety of new ways.

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, ABC, Freevee, Hulu, Modern Family

HBO Max and Hulu to Share Streaming Rights to Abbott Elementary; Reboot Gets Premiere Date

HBO Max and Hulu will share the co-exclusive streaming rights to complete seasons of the Emmy® Award–nominated comedy series Abbott Elementary. Created by and starring Quinta Brunson from Warner Bros. Television and 20th Television, the full 13-episode first season will debut August 20 on HBO Max. New audiences can experience the acclaimed series for the first time or viewers can catch up on HBO Max and Hulu before it returns for season two Wednesday, September 21, at 9:00 pm ET/PT on ABC. As part of an existing agreement with ABC, Hulu will continue to make current season episodes available the day after each broadcast premiere. These new episodes plus prior seasons will remain on Hulu and complete future seasons will be available to stream on HBO Max before the next season premieres on ABC.

The breakout hit of the 2021–22 broadcast television season, Abbott Elementary was recently nominated for seven Emmy® Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, lead acting and writing nominations for Quinta Brunson, supporting acting nominations for Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, and for casting. is a workplace comedy about a group of dedicated, passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — who are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible public servants may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do — even if they don’t love the school district's less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children. Quinta Brunson created and stars as Janine Teagues and she serves as executive producer of the series. In addition to Brunson, the cast includes Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, Janelle James as Ava Coleman, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti, Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, and Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard.

We have a date for the premiere of Reboot! Hulu released first look images from their upcoming eight-episode original comedy series Reboot from the Emmy-winning co-creator of Modern Family Steven Levitan. The series will premiere on Hulu on Tuesday, September 20 with two episodes. New episodes stream weekly. The series reboots an early 2000's family sitcom, forcing its dysfunctional cast back together. Now they must deal with their unresolved issues in today’s fast-changing world. The series stars Keegan-Michael Key, Judy Greer, Johnny Knoxville, Paul Reiser, Rachel Bloom, Calum Worthy and Krista Marie Yu.

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, ABC, HBO Max, Hulu, Modern Family, Reboot

Modern Family's Sarah Hyland Hosting Peacock Revival; Apple TV+ Announces Family Comedy Series

Peacock announced actress Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) as the Host of the streamer's highly anticipated adaptation of the global hit phenomenon, Love Island USA. Peacock's new season premieres July 19th with 6 episode drops per week. The first three seasons aired on CBS. Sarah Hyland, best known for her starring role as Haley Dunphy on Golden Globe and 5-consecutive Emmy-award winning hit ABC comedy series Modern Family, is a true triple threat. A Native New Yorker, Hyland has been working in film and television since she was four years old. She made her debut in Howard Stern's Private Parts, and at the age of eight landed the role of Molly in ABC's Annie. Other credits include: The Audrey Hepburn Story, Falcone, Geek Charming, Struck by Lightning, Scary Movie 5, Bonnie and Clyde: Dead and Alive and "XOXO." Additional guest appearances include: Touched by an Angel, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU and Lipstick Jungle. Hyland will also be starring in Peacock's highly-anticipated upcoming comedy series, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin this Fall (11/23). Hyland is represented by WME, Richard Konigsberg, The Lede Company and JSSK.

Apple TV+ released the trailer for the new family comedy Best Foot Forward, premiering Friday, July 22. Based on the book Just Don't Fall by real-life paralympic athlete, author, motivational speaker and comedian Josh Sundquist, the live-action series follows 12-year-old Josh Dubin as he goes from homeschool to public school, eager to experience everything middle school has to offer! But along the way, Josh also faces a brand-new set of challenges, including how to get an entire school of kids to see past his prosthetic leg, and get to know him for who he is. With the support of his parents and the help of his best friends Kyle and Gabriella, Josh learns, laughs and grows, eager to come back every day for more.

The series was developed for television by Matt Fleckenstein (iCarly, Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn), with the first four episodes directed and executive produced by Victor Nelli Jr. (The Wonder Years). From Apple Studios in association with Muse Entertainment, Best Foot Forward stars Logan Marmino, Stephen Schneider (Players), Joy Suprano (Fleishman Is In Trouble, Hightown), Peyton Jackson (American Refugee) and Trinity Jo-Li Bliss (Avatar: The Way of Water). Sundquist serves as an executive producer alongside Muse Entertainment's Joel S. Rice (Single All the Way) and Meghan Mathes Jacobs.

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Labels: Apple TV+, Best Foot Forward, Modern Family, Peacock

Fri-Yay: Abbott Elementary Renewal - Does This Spell a Bright Future for ABC Sitcoms?; The Flight Attendant Returns April 21

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

This week, it was announced that ABC renewed Abbott Elementary for a second season. Abbott Elementary has been a commercial success, averaging a 2.9 rating in MP35 ratings (which tracks ratings over the course of 35 days of all linear/digital usage). Its streaming numbers are quite impressive. There is a lot of hope that this could be ABC's new flagship sitcom, which it was in need of after the end of Modern Family and the popularity decline of The Conners (which is in its fourth season).

So once again, it seems ABC is the place to be for high quality and popular sitcoms. This has been nearly a decade of dominance in comedy for ABC, and it shows no signs of stopping soon. CBS may be coming close if it develops more shows like Ghosts, the other big bright shining star of this season. But for now, ABC is leading the way (with more unique comedies potentially on their way like the pilot Josep).

Season two of the critically acclaimed Max Original dark comedy series The Flight Attendant debuts Thursday, April 21 with two episodes on HBO Max. The eight-episode season continues with two new episodes on Thursday, April 28, followed by one episode weekly concluding Thursday, May 26. In the new season, Cassie Bowden (Kaley Cuoco) is living her best sober life in Los Angeles while moonlighting as a CIA asset in her spare time. But when an overseas assignment leads her to inadvertently witness a murder, she becomes entangled in another international intrigue. The season filmed in Los Angeles, Berlin and Reykjavik. Returning series regulars Kaley Cuoco, Zosia Mamet, Griffin Matthews, Deniz Akdeniz and Rosie Perez. Returning recurring guest stars T.R. Knight, Yasha Jackson and Audrey Grace Marshall. The season also stars new series regulars Mo McRae, Callie Hernandez and JJ Soria, as well as new recurring guest stars Alanna Ubach, Cheryl Hines, Jessie Ennis, Mae Martin, Margaret Cho, Santiago Cabrera, Sharon Stone and Shohreh Aghdashloo.

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, ABC, Fri-Yay, HBO Max, Modern Family, The Conners, The Flight Attendant

Netflix Renews Never Have I Ever for Season 4, Before Season 3 Premieres; Peacock's Pitch Perfect Comedy Series Adds More Stars

Netflix comedy Never Have I Ever has received an early renewal for Season 4 ahead of its Season 3 premiere. And the fourth season will be the final season. Season 3 has wrapped production and will return this Summer 2022. Season 4 will be the final season and premiere in 2023. Never Have I Ever is a coming-of-age comedy about the complicated life of a modern-day first-generation Indian American teenage girl. The series stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi, an overachieving high school sophomore who has a short fuse that gets her into difficult situations. Never Have I Ever is created by executive producer Mindy Kaling, with Lang Fisher serving as co-creator, executive producer, showrunner and writer. Never Have I Ever is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and executive produced by 3 Arts Entertainment's Howard Klein and David Miner. Full list of stars are Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, Jaren Lewison, Darren Barnet, Lee Rodriguez, Ramona Young with narration from John McEnroe.

Peacock's comedy series Pitch Perfect (wt), from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, has cast Sarah Hyland (Modern Family, The Wedding Year), Lera Abova (Anna) and Jameela Jamil (The Good Place, She Hulk), rounding out the series regulars. Peacock also announced that production is set to begin soon in Berlin, Germany. They join previously announced series regulars including Adam Devine who will reprise his role of Bumper Allen and Flula Borg who will reprise his role of Piëter Krämer. In the new series for Peacock, several years after we last saw him in Pitch Perfect, Adam Devine's Bumper Allen moves to Germany to revive his music career when one of his songs becomes big in Berlin. Hyland will play Heidi, Piëter and Bumper's cheery and slightly odd American assistant. Abova will play Piëter's sister and a prominent Berlin DJ and music producer. And Jamil will play Gisela, a bombastic and flashy up-and-coming German pop star, Gisela is Piëter's ex-girlfriend and Bumper's main rival the German Unity Day concert.

Over three films, the Pitch Perfect franchise, which was inspired by the Mickey Rapkin book of the same name, collectively grossed nearly $600 million at the worldwide box office and inspired a generation with its celebration of unapologetic women, irresistible music and outrageous humor. The comedy series will be executive produced by Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman (Brownstone Productions), Paul Brooks and Scott Neimeyer (Gold Circle Films), as well as Adam Devine and Megan Amram.  Brownstone and Gold Circle produced all three films in the Pitch Perfect franchise and Banks directed Pitch Perfect 2 which was the highest opening weekend for a musical in history, the biggest opener for a first-time feature film director, and the second-largest opening for a female director.

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Labels: Modern Family, Netflix, Never Have I Ever, Peacock, Pitch Perfect, The Good Place

Fri-Yay: How Do You Define a Hit in 2022?; Full Cast Announced for Blockbuster Video Comedy Series; Remembering Farrah Forke of Wings

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

This season, with a handful of unexpectedly popular shows on network television, I've been seeing a lot of articles touting ratings for new shows. For example, it often gets shared that Abbott Elementary is ABC's highest rated sitcom in years, outrating even the last few seasons of Modern Family after all platform data is in. The ratings that typically get shared include multiplatform delivery a month out (L+35/MP35 ratings) and seem to be the most common audience delivery used in network "fluff" pieces touting their shows' ratings. There are also a lot of articles quoting Hulu audience delivery. However, how relevant are these numbers? At one time, digital/streaming and DVR ratings were considered inferior to live broadcast ratings due to the fact that viewers could skip or watch less ads, making those views less profitable to advertisers.

However, linear live+same day broadcast ratings have gotten so low that it seems like perhaps the days of that being true are over. So what do networks use to determine what shows to renew and cancel? At one time, you could predict pretty easily what shows would be making the cut next year based on their ratings, which occasional "in between" shows (once called "bubble shows"). Now, though, it isn't as simple. There are so many factors to ratings, from digital/streaming numbers to live+SD numbers to DVR numbers to licensing agreements to critical acclaim to what company owns each show, that it's a bit of a mystery sometimes what shows make it and what shows don't. Ratings certainly aren't irrelevant, and they still make probably the bulk of the decisions. But much like with streaming series, predicting what shows will be renewed and what shows are cancelled is much less if an exact science than before. And networks are looking at broadcast series as streaming series as well.

Netflix's upcoming new comedy Blockbuster has started production and has added new cast members! Tyler Alvarez, Madeleine Arthur, and Olga Merediz join as series regulars, while JB Smoove and Kamaia Fairburn are recurring. They all join series stars Randall Park and Melissa Fumero in the new comedy series. Ten episodes have been ordered. An ensemble comedy that takes place in the last Blockbuster Video in America, that explores what it takes - and more specifically who it takes - for a small business to succeed against all odds.

Actress Farrah Forke, who starred as Alex Lambert on Wings, has died. She died of cancer at her home in Houston, Texas, on February 25. Ms. Forke was 54.

Forke starred as Alex Lambert on 35 episodes of the NBC sitcom Wings from 1992 to 1995. Alex Lambert is a helicopter pilot who moves to Nantucket to start her own helicopter tour business. She has a relationship with Brian Hackett (Steven Weber). Forke joined the series as a recurring cast member in the fourth season (1992-1993) before becoming a regular in the fifth season (1993-1994). She made a final guest appearance in the sixth season. The cast also included Tim Daly, Crystal Bernard, David Schramm, Rebecca Schull, Thomas Haden Church (1990-1995), Tony Shalhoub (1991-1997) and Amy Yasbeck (1994-1997).

She starred as Carey on the short-lived 1995 CBS sitcom Dweebs. Carey is an office manager for a Seattle computer software company called Cyberbyte. The series also starred Peter Scolari, Corey Feldman, David Kaufman, Stephen Tobolowsky and Adam Biesk.

Forke starred as Nikki Harkin on the short-lived 1996-1997 NBC sitcom Mr. Rhodes. Nikki Harkin is Tom Rhodes (Tom Rhodes) high school fantasy girl who is a guidance counselor at Harkin Academy, a small-town prep school. The series also starred Stephen Tobolowsky, Ron Glass, Jessica Stone, Shaun Weiss, Lindsay Sloane, Travis Wester and Alexandra Holden.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included A Whole New Ballgame, Ned and Stacey and Jenny.

She had a recurring role as Mayson Drake, an attorney who considers Superman (Dean Cain) a vigilante, but holds a candle for Clark Kent (Dean Cain), on four episodes of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman from 1994 to 1995. Her other drama guest appearances included Fantasy Island (1998) and three episodes of Party of Five as Tracy in 1999.

Forke provided the voice of Big Barda / Barda Free on two episodes of Batman Beyond in 2000 and one episode of Justice League Unlimited in 2005. She provided a voice for a 1997 episode of Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man. She was the voice woman of several companies, including Cadillac and Arby's.

Her film credits included Disclosure (1994), Heat (1995), Ground Control (1998) and Hitman's Run (1999).

She is survived by her two sons, Chuck and Wit Forke; her mother and stepfather, Beverly and Chuck Talmage; her three sisters, Paige Inglis, Jennifer Sailor and Maggie Talmage; and her best friend, Mike Peterson.

Ms. Forke was funny and memorable as Alex Lambert on Wings. She later took a break from the acting community to raise her twin sons in Houston. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us on television. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Wings message board. View photos in our galleries.

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, Blockbuster, Fri-Yay, Hulu, Modern Family, Netflix, Obits, Wings

Hulu Orders Reboot, Sitcom About a Sitcom Being Rebooted; Emily in Paris Renewed for Season 3...and Season 4!

Hulu has ordered the Original comedy Reboot, from creator and executive producer Steve Levitan and 20th Television to series. Judy Greer will star opposite previously announced Keegan-Michael Key and Johnny Knoxville, replacing Leslie Bibb in the role of Bree. Steeped in the irony of the television industry's continuing inclination to "reboot" hit shows from the past, the series begins when Hulu reboots an early 2000's family sitcom, forcing its dysfunctional cast back together. Now they must deal with their unresolved issues in today's fast-changing world.

The series will feature an all-star lineup of comedic talent including Keegan-Michael Key as Reed Sterling, a fussy actor on the fictitious family multi-cam sitcom, Step Right Up, who graduated from the Yale school of drama and resents the show for ruining his career; Johnny Knoxville as Clay Barber, a dark and filthy standup comedian who's only real acting job was on the same bright and sunny sitcom; Judy Greer as Bree Marie Larson, a small-town pageant girl who always dreamed of being an actress and a princess and both somehow came true; Rachel Bloom as sitcom writer with a "fresh take," Hannah; Calum Worthy as Zack, the hyphenate movie star/hip-hop artist; and Krista Marie Yu as a tech exec turned television creative exec, Elaine. Series creator Steve Levitan (Modern Family) will serve as writer, executive producer and showrunner. John Enbom, Danielle Stokdyk and Jeff Morton also serve as executive producers. Reboot is produced by 20th Television for Hulu.

Bonne Année, Emily! Emily in Paris has been renewed for season 3... ans also season 4! Season 2 was released on December 22 debuting on the Global Netflix Top 10 and topping the list across 94 countries with 107.6M hours viewed (Dec 22 - 26). Season 1 also made the Global Top 10 reemerging on the list across 53 countries. From Creator/Executive Producer/Writer Darren Star is this comedy that has Emily, an ambitious marketing executive from Chicago, unexpectedly landing her dream job in Paris when her company acquires a French luxury marketing company - and she is tasked with revamping their social media strategy. Emily's new life in Paris is filled with intoxicating adventures and surprising challenges as she juggles winning over her work colleagues, making friends, and navigating new romances.

In Season 2, now more entrenched in her life in Paris, Emily's getting better at navigating the city but still struggling with the idiosyncrasies of French life. After stumbling into a love triangle with her neighbor and her first real French friend, Emily is determined to focus on her work - which is getting more complicated by the day. In French class, she meets a fellow expat who both infuriates and intrigues her.Award-winning creator and showrunner Darren Star returns to helm the second season of the Emmy-nominated series Emily in Paris, which became Netflix's most viewed comedy series of 2020.

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Labels: Emily in Paris, Hulu, Modern Family, Netflix, Reboot

Fri-Yay: Modern Family is a Perfect Holiday Weekend Binge; Spike Lee to Open NBA Finals

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

I'm a few months late on this, but with Modern Family finally making its streaming debut this year (on Hulu and also Peacock), I've been giving the show a watch recently. It's a show that I really enjoyed early in its run, but fell off with about halfway through its lengthy 11 season run. I felt the show had a really strong first handful of seasons, but that as the years went on it got less and less interesting, relying on similar gags over and over again.

Watching it again, in binge format, though, I'm able to appreciate how funny Modern Family could be. Yes, its first season is probably its best and it never felt quite as revolutionary again. But it's still a well made sitcom with a great cast, and it's easy, enjoyable vibe mixed with some really smart humor shows exactly why the show was such a big and monumental hit. It's perfect holiday weekend binge material - just sit back and unwind with the show, you won't regret it.

ESPN announced that Academy Award-Winning Director, Spike Lee, will direct and appear in the broadcast opens for the 2021 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV. The first open debuts next week, airing at tip off to Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Each game will air one of the four episodes inspired by the NBA legends of both yesterday and today. In family rooms and kitchens around the world, NBA Fandom and the love of the game are passed on through generations. With a nod to Lee's classic movies, the 2021 NBA Finals broadcast opens take advantage of a mixed media approach while incorporating both historical highlights and the style of the players who have impacted the Finals. This is an ode to the origins, voice and heartbeat of the modern game.

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Labels: ABC, Fri-Yay, Hulu, Modern Family, Peacock