Saturday, July 06, 2024
SitcomsOnline Digest: Skydance Media Reportedly Taking Over Paramount; Internet Archive Restores MTV News Archives
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's the slow Independence Day weekend news recap, but we've got more news about Paramount (which will seem like a repeat of a story we've had two times before, because it is, as it has been on-again and off-again) and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- At this point, we'll just call it a rumor that may or may not happen since this history of Paramount reportedly being close to a deal on being sold has been a mess for the past year, but it looks like Skydance Media may actually be on the verge of closing a deal with Paramount (or maybe not). (Reuters)
- Last week, Paramount decided to remove all videos (including full episodes and clips from The Daily Show) from the websites of all of their cable networks, as well as delete decades worth of MTV News archives, but now, at least the MTV News archives have been restored by the Internet Archive. (Deadline)
- Outer Range has been cancelled by Amazon. (Hollywood Reporter)
- Will Forte has joined the cast of the upcoming Netflix comedy, The Four Seasons. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (JUNE 6 - JULY 12)
- Catchy Comedy has a binge of Get Smart this weekend.
- The Twilight Zone marathon that started on Thursday continues Heroes and Icons this weekend
- ABC has some game show season premieres throughout the week, with Celebrity Family Feud on Tuesday and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on Wednesday.
Saturday, May 04, 2024
SitcomsOnline Digest: MeTV Announces MeTV Toons; Night Court Renewed for Third Season
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's been a crazy busy week this week with the announcement of a MeTV spinoff, lots of Paramount news, renewals and cancelations, and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- We mentioned that there were rumors of this a few months ago, but MeTV Toons, a spinoff of MeTV dedicated to classic cartoons, is coming next month, and if no local channel in your area decides to pick it up, it appears it will also be available on ad-supported streaming services. (Variety)
- The Paramount cable networks have temporarily avoided being pulled by Spectrum this week as their agreement ended while negotiations continue, but it still isn't looking great as Spectrum's goal seems to be to remove anything that isn't a top rated cable network. (Deadline)
- Meanwhile, Paramount is still for sale, and a joint partnership between Sony and Apollo Management is the most recent offer, but some analysts feel that a sale may never actually occur. (Variety)
- Night Court has secured a third season at NBC, and while it may not be quite a full season, it will come close. (Hollywood Reporter)
- This is one we didn't see coming as it was widely expected that the current season would be the last, but ABC is reportedly renewing The Conners for one last (very short) season. (TVLine)
- For the first time since he was fired by the network 19 years ago, Dan Rather is set to return to CBS News as the subject of an interview about his career at CBS News. (The Hollywood Reporter)
- It's that time of the year, and we've got the CBS fall lineup, which is very light on sitcoms and includes a new version of Hollywood Squares with Drew Barrymore hosting. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (MAY 4 - MAY 10)
- Catchy Comedy has a binge of The Beverly Hillbillies this weekend, with a few "special" things included such as the extended unaired pilot and the movie Return of the Beverly Hillbillies.
- CBS has a series finale for Bob Hearts Abishola and a season finale for The Neighborhood on Monday.
- The season (and not series like we thought it would be) finale of The Conners airs on Wednesday.
- Ghosts also has a season finale Thursday on CBS, but it will be back next season.
Saturday, March 16, 2024
SitcomsOnline Digest: Ty Burrell Sitcom in the Works at ABC; CBS Renews Ghosts
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're learning of a new ABC comedy pilot, a potential new interested buyer for Paramount, and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- Ty Burrell is looking to return to ABC for another sitcom. (Variety)
- It should be no surprise that CBS has renewed Ghosts. (Hollywood Reporter)
- Lori Loughlin appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm this week in a role that mocked her college admissions scandal, and even if you aren't a regular Curb Your Enthusiasm viewer, it is amazing to see. (Daily Beast)
- Apollo Global Management is looking at buying Paramount, which given how they have cheapened every other business they've bought, this would likely be a bad thing. (Cord Cutters News)
- We mentioned last week that CBS was developing a new soap opera, which leads everybody to wonder how that will fit into the crowded daytime lineup at the network. (Deadline)
- CBS Studios is working on an animated series based upon Among Us, and it has well-known names attached to it. (Deadline)
- NBC has revealed the hosts and musical guests for the April episodes of Saturday Night Live. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (MARCH 16 - MARCH 22)
- Catchy Comedy has an interesting binge of some short-lived parody sitcoms this weekend, including When Things Were Rotten, Police Squad!, and Sledge Hammer!
- Davey and Jonesie's Locker, a new comedy series, debuts Friday on Prime Video.
Saturday, December 23, 2023
SitcomsOnline Digest: Another Major Media Merger in the Works?; Digital Network Dabl Shifts Focus to Sitcoms
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We're heading into Christmas week, but surprisingly, we have lots of news, including another possible media merger (that we imagine will face a lot of scrutiny), news about a programming format change for a digital broadcast network, and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- It seems that there are talks to merge Warner Bros and Paramount, though it is likely to face a lot of scrutiny. (Deadline)
- In related news (and probably something that would be necessary if the two media companies were to merge), it looks like BET (and related assets, including VH1) may be up for sale again, with Byron Allen interested in purchasing. (Variety)
- If you liked Run the Burbs when it aired on The CW, you won't be losing the chance to see it, as Hulu has now picked it up in an unrelated deal. (Deadline)
- The reboots never stop, and this week, there are talks of one for The X-Files. (Deadline)
- The network has remained quiet and refused to comment on it, but a major schedule change is coming to digital TV network Dabl (will it even still be called Dabl?) next week, and it includes nothing but episodes of mostly old UPN (and a tiny bit of The WB/The CW) sitcoms, including The Parkers, Half & Half, Moesha, Girlfriends, One on One, Sister, Sister, and The Game. (Cord Cutters News)
- John Stamos is remembering Bob Saget as the anniversary of his death approaches. (Deadline)
- Since the approach that The CW was taking to air international sitcoms turned out to be a huge disaster, they're now turning to airing reruns of American broadcast network sitcoms that are still airing in primetime, or at least doing it in one case with The Conners. (SitcomsOnline)
- Three's Company is back on DVD again, and this time, it includes every episode of both spinoffs. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (DECEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 29)
- Night Court begins season 2 in January, but if you can't wait for a new episode, NBC has a Christmas one tonight, along with a sneak preview of the new sitcom Extended Family.
- South Park: Not Suitable for Children is now streaming on Paramount+, and it really isn't suitable for children.
- Catchy Comedy has a "Christmas Carol" this weekend, with a binge of Carol Burnett and Friends.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, November 21
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "The 6:10 to Lubbock" (CBS, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Georgie and Mandy get fed up staying with her parents and reconsider their living situation after a fight with Mandy’s mom, Audrey.
Ghosts - "Man of Your Dreams" (CBS, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sam learns that one of the ghosts’ powers is to enter the dreams of the livings and influence their decisions. Also, two of the ghosts think they’ve learned the secret to moving on.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 18)
Thursday, November 21
- Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/The Ellen Show/Welcome to New York) - Catch Jim on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time/Happily Divorced/9 to 5) - Rita appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Justine Lupe (Nobody Wants This/Cristela), Jackie Tohn (Nobody Wants This/GLOW) and Timothy Simons (HouseBroken/Veep) - Justine, Jackie and Timothy are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Kristin Chenoweth (Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
- Maura Tierney (NewsRadio/The Van Dyke Show) - Maura is in the studio to discuss the neww season of Law and Order on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
- Paul Reiser (Mad About You/Red Oaks/Married/My Two Dads) - Paul is telling Drew about his huge return to comedy after thirty years with his standup special, Life, Death and Rice Pudding, and his new movie The Gutter on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- John O'Hurley (Seinfeld/Over the Top/The Mullets) - John will be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - The Ropers - The Complete Series (VEI)
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - Video Scrapbook
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K UHD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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