SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we have yet another Wonder Years music update, news of some CBS DVD complete series releases, and more. Let's get started!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

• Last week, we told you about The Wonder Years - The Complete Series, and the list of original music that will be included in the set. We also gave you an unofficial list of what music may be missing, but as it turns out, StarVista has also provided an official list of missing music, and what those songs have been replaced with. You can see that list here.
• The Real McCoys has been a disaster when it has come to DVD releases, with one studio releasing the first four seasons (before going bankrupt), followed by another studio that promised even better results and even planned a complete series release, but only got so far as to re-release TWO of the first four seasons that had already been released. Now, SFM is taking matters into their own hands by releasing each season as a MOD release on amazon.com.
• Warner Home Video has been talking about releasing the series Spenser: For Hire on DVD for years, but never took action. But now, it seems that Warner Archive is taking action, and will be releasing the first season at some point in the near future.
• CBS has two complete series sets on the way for November 11 with Family Ties - The Complete Series and Taxi - The Complete Series. While Family Ties has already been released as a complete series set, this version will come at a much lower price (but without the extra bonus features included in the previous release).

AUGUST 26 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

• Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete Series (DVD, $129.98): The Sweathogs, along with Mr. Kotter, Mrs. Kotter, and Mr. Woodface... err Woodman... all come together with every episode of the series on DVD from Shout! Factory, along with the special features that were presented on Warner Home Video's release of the first season.

Who to Follow: Every.Simpsons.Ever (Twitter), "Marathon HAPPENING NOW on FXX. Coming to FXNow This Fall."

Claim to Fame: Our Follow Me is not a person once again, and this time, you'll only have a few days to follow this one. Every.Simpsons.Ever is a special Twitter feed that has been set up by FXX to provide somewhat of a running commentary for The Simpsons while they continue airing their Every Simpsons Ever marathon, which began on Thursday morning and will continue through the end of the day on Labor Day. While it isn't something as deep as commentaries (which you can find on the DVDs), it is a fun way to follow highlights as the marathon moves along on FXX. Every now and then, you'll find some fun trivia retweets from the people behind the scenes on the show. And they're also encouraging fans to participate in the Twitter fun, using the hashtags #simpsonsmarathon and #EverySimpsonsEver

Pick of the Tweets: "NOSTALGIA MAKE MY HEAD ESPLODE Wonder Years AND Simpsons?! #EverySimpsonsEver #simpsonsmarathon" (August 23, 2014)

Starting Monday, February 24, COZI TV is giving you more of what COZI TV superfans love most, plus other shows you've been asking to see! Say hello to The Avengers, Maverick, The Real McCoys, Make Room For Daddy, and more. Tune in weekdays for a special midday mystery wheel from 3-4:30P, with COZI TV favorites McMillan & Wife, Banacek, McCloud and Name of the Game. And you wanted it, you got it -- MORE Magnum P.I., daytime and primetime, with daytime being added weekdays at 2pm (in addition to its Thursday prime block). Plus more shows are coming as we mentioned that Starsky & Hutch, Knight Rider and Hart to Hart begins this summer. It has been a great first year for COZI TV and they thank their superfans. The new weekday daytime schedule will have the following changes: 9:30AM The Adventures of Jim Bowie, 11AM Maverick, 1PM The Avengers, 2PM Magnum P.I., 3PM Midday Mystery Wheel, 4:30 Make Room For Daddy and 6PM The Real McCoys. We will have more on their summer slate in the coming months, but expect marathons in May and June for Mother's Day and Father's Day and launch marathons for the three new series we mentioned for summer.

Character actress Mary Grace Canfield, who was best known for her recurring role as Ralph Monroe in Green Acres, has died. She died from lung cancer on February 15 in Santa Barbara, California. Ms. Canfield was 89.

Canfield appeared as Ralph Monroe in more than forty episodes of Green Acres, which ran on CBS for six seasons from 1965-1971. Ralph and her brother, Alf (Sid Melton), were quarrelsome carpenters hired to rebuild the Douglas' house and barn. Her signature greeting to fellow Hootervillians was "Howdie Doodie!" In 1990, she reprised her role in the TV movie Return to Green Acres.

Her first television appearance was in March 1954 on Goodyear Playhouse. She had a recurring role as a housekeeper, Amanda Allison, in the 1961-1962 ABC sitcom The Hathaways. She appeared as Mrs. Hanley in two episodes of Family in 1976. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Hazel, The Joey Bishop Show, The Andy Griffith Show, The Farmer's Daughter, Bewitched (four episodes as Abner Kravitz's sister, Harriet), Love, American Style, The Love Boat, Tabitha, Alice and The Jackie Thomas Show. Her other television credits included Thriller, The Eleventh Hour, Adam-12 and General Hospital.

Survivors include John Bischof, her husband of 25 years; daughters Phoebe Alexiades and Alison Carey; and three grandsons. It's sad that we've lost another member of the Hooterville family. The Monroe Brothers were a very funny duo. We thank her for the laughs she brought us. She will be deeply missed.

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

COZI TV, the 24/7 national network designed to deliver an easy-to-watch, comfortable and familiar viewing experience to audiences nationwide, is celebrating its first anniversary throughout January. COZI TV, which offers many of America's most beloved and iconic television series and hit movies, has proven to be a formula that works. In its inaugural year, COZI TV has grown steadily and is available in over 55 million homes nationally. Most recently, COZI TV has brought some great TV favorites back including Fantasy Island, Maverick, The Real McCoys and Make Room for Daddy starring Danny Thomas. The Real McCoys started earlier this month and airs weekdays 6-7pm, while Make Room for Daddy will be added to the line-up very soon...stay tuned. But wait, that's not all! Viewers have more to look forward to in the coming months, including the original version of the series, The Avengers, starring Diana Rigg (who has a major role in the current HBO hit Game of Thrones), starting Wednesday, February 26. More info to come. COZI TV viewers will also soon be able to tune in to favorites such as Knight Rider, Starsky & Hutch and Hart to Hart in the coming year with even more classics coming beyond 2014. We'll let you know exact start dates and timeslots soon. Stay with us!

The MeTV Network is pleased to announce new affiliation agreements in New York and Philadelphia with the PMCM TV, LLC Broadcast Group. PMCM TV is the owner/operator of KVNV, Channel 3, serving the New York City television market (but the station is based in Middletown, New Jersey, so technically not a New York City station), and KJWP Channel 2, serving the Philadelphia television market. Both KVNV and KJWP are full power television stations, entitled to must carry status making MeTV available to all viewers in New York and Philadelphia markets whether they receive television signals via over the air, on cable or satellite. KJWP-DT Channel 2, licensed to Wilmington, Delaware is located on the same tower as Philadelphia NBC owned and operated station WCAU along with several other Philadelphia market TV stations. KJWP began broadcasting over the air on channel 2.1 on November 19, 2013 and is expected to have full satellite and cable distribution by March 1, 2014. KVNV-DT, channel 3, Middletown, New Jersey will be broadcasting from 4 Times Square in Manhattan. KVNV is scheduled to commence operation in the second quarter of 2014. In addition to airing MeTV programming, both KVNV and KJWP plan to air locally produced news, public affairs and other community oriented programming complementing the family friendly content of MeTV.