SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

SitcomsOnline Digest: Home Improvement Cast Members to Reunite on Shifting Gears; The Paper to Have Binge Drop

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we have news about a Home Improvement reunion (sort of), an update on The Paper, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• A Home Improvement reunion (including Patricia Richardson, who called Tim Allen a liar in an interview when he claimed an actual reboot series is coming) is happening this season on Shifting Gears. (Deadline)
• The Paper, the followup series to The Office, will have a binge drop rather than a weekly drop. (Deadline)
• We're getting our first look at season 2 of A Man on the Inside. (Variety)
• Lorne Michaels is making it clear that season 51 of Saturday Night Live will include some cast departures, but we don't know exactly who just yet. (Entertainment Weekly)
• South Park, which has had very few new episodes in recent years, will only be having a new episode every other week for the foreseeable future. (Consequence)
• We're not expecting a Family Matters animated reboot, but the idea is out there nonetheless. (Deadline)
• Local broadcast television has been getting a lot less "local" lately, and it's about to go even further, as Nexstar is buying Tegna. (AP News)
• Dave Ketchum, known for his role as Agent 13 on Get Smart, has died at age 97. (Hollywood Reporter)
• George Lopez is heading to COZI. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (AUGUST 23 - AUGUST 29)

ABC Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to End in May 2026

ABC unveiled its fall 2025 premiere dates, showcasing a lineup of fan-favorite reality shows, heartwarming comedies and thrilling dramas, including the highly anticipated new series, 9-1-1: Nashville. Monday Night Football returns on most Mondays beginning September 8 (Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears). Breakout hit and last season's No. 1 new program, High Potential, returns for its second season Tuesday, September 16, following ballroom sensation Dancing with the Stars, which will celebrate its milestone 20th anniversary. The Golden Bachelor returns Wednesday, September 24, with a two-hour premiere featuring new leading man Mel Owens, followed by a new season of Shark Tank. The sophomore season of Shifting Gears and a new season of Emmy and Golden Globe(R) Award-winning comedy Abbott Elementary join Wednesday nights beginning October 1.

From executive producer Ryan Murphy, the newest iteration of the 9-1-1 universe, 9-1-1: Nashville, debuts Thursday, October 16, alongside principal series 9-1-1 and the longest-running primetime medical drama in television history, Grey's Anatomy. Ryan Seacrest hosts his inaugural season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune alongside the legendary Vanna White when the beloved game show premieres Friday, September 26, followed by new episodes of ABC News' 20/20. America's Funniest Home Videos returns Sunday, September 28, before The Wonderful World of Disney broadcast premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Additional movies to air this fall include the broadcast premieres of Elemental, Avatar: The Way of Water and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

As previously announced, new seasons of returning series American Idol, The Bachelor, Celebrity Jeopardy!, The Rookie and Will Trent will debut in 2026, as well as the recently picked up comedy series Scrubs. These premiere dates will be announced at a later date.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026 at the close of the 2025-26 broadcast season. Colbert announced the news during tonight's taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

Official statement: "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season. We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.

This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.

Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult. Stephen has taken CBS late night by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews with leaders in entertainment, politics, news and newsmakers across all areas. The show has been #1 in late night for nine straight seasons; Stephen's comedy resonates daily across digital and social media; and the broadcast is a staple of the nation's zeitgeist.

The accomplishments of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert are memorable and significant in performance, quality and stature. With much gratitude, we look forward to honoring Stephen and celebrating the show over the next 10 months alongside its millions of fans and viewers."

SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Renews Three Animated Series and Brings Back a Fourth for Four More Seasons; ABC Renews Shifting Gears

   Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing of some renewals, a long anticipated return of South Park, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• There have been worries about American Dad! being renewed, as well as questions about the future of The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Bob's Burgers on Fox, but this week Fox made it clear that all four are here to stay, as the network confirmed they renewed all four (which also means American Dad! is moving back to Fox after a decade on TBS). (Variety)
• After two whole years of not having new episodes, South Park finally returns with new episodes in July. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Although ratings have had a significant decline since the debut and it isn't exactly firing on all cylinders in streaming, ABC has went ahead and renewed Shifting Gears. (Deadline)
• Grey's Anatomy is becoming a never-ending show, as ABC has renewed it for season 22. (TV Insider)
• Kenan Thompson really isn't interested in leaving Saturday Night Live anytime soon. (Deadline)
• After 30 years, Deborah Norville is leaving Inside Edition. (Hollywood Reporter)
• A season 8 premiere date has been set for Rick and Morty. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (APRIL 5 - APRIL 11)

• Tomorrow's binge on Catchy Comedy is Cheers.
• A new season of Hacks arrives Thursday on Max.

ABC 2025-26 Season Renewals for Scripted Series; New Season of Phineas and Ferb Returns June 5

ABC has renewed most of its hit scripted line-up. 9-1-1 for Season 9 (and the third on ABC), Grey's Anatomy for Season 22, The Rookie for Season 8, Shifting Gears for Season 2 and Will Trent for Season 4 all for the 2025-26 Season. These join the previosuly picked up High Potential for Season 2 and Abbott Elementary for Season 5. ABC has also picked up new drama 9-1-1: Nashville, while The Conners is ending. Still no word on a second season for Doctor Odyssey. Stay tuned, as ABC will still announce its unscripted pick-ups (Shark Tank, AFV, The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars, and more are all expected to return).

Disney Branded Television is rolling out the teal carpet for the highly anticipated return of the five-time Emmy® Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated Phineas and Ferb. The new season will premiere on Thursday, June 5, at 8 p.m. PDT/EDT on Disney Channel and Disney XD with two episodes, and the first episode will be available the same day on Disney Channel YouTube. The first 10 episodes of the season will premiere on Disney+ in the U.S. and select international markets on Friday, June 6, with additional markets to follow later this year. The episodes will also be available to stream on Disney Channel on Demand. A special sneak peek will debut on Monday, May 26, at 11:35 a.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Channel YouTube.

Rewind TV February 2025 Schedule; Shifting Gears and Abbott Elementary Score Big for Premieres

Rewind TV will be making some minor schedule changes beginning Monday, Febrary 3 to its weekday lineup. The most notable change is Dear John now airing at 6am ET (replacing Head of the Class, which now is off of weekdays) and 4pm ET (replacing Who's the Boss?, which slides to 2pm). The John Larroquette Show will air weeknights at 5pm ET now replacing 227, which slides to 3pm. The Hogan Family is also now off of weekdays, as its 2pm slot now is Who's the Boss? The timeslot shuffling is from 12pm-11pm, with the exception of Sabrina the Teenage Witch which remains at 8pm.

After seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms, ABC's acclaimed new comedy Shifting Gears has revved up a total cross-platform audience of nearly 17 million Total Viewers, representing a 173% lift over the show's initial Live+Same Day delivery (16.95 million vs. 6.20 million). Excluding linear encores, Tim Allen's triumphant return to ABC as Matt, the stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop, garnered 12.45 million Total Viewers and 2.94 rating in Adults 18-49, growing 101% in Total Viewers over the show's Live+Same Day audience (12.45 million vs. 6.20 million) and +339% in Adults 18-49 (2.94 rating vs. 0.67 rating). Shifting Gears stood as ABC's strongest series debut in over six years - since 10/16/18 with The Conners, and marks the most-watched ABC series premiere on streaming to date, based on views in its first seven days on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

On linear, Shifting Gears earned an impressive 7.82 million Total Viewers becoming one of the most-watched broadcast series premieres of the season and growing markedly over the show's initial Live+Same Day Audience, where it topped the night in Total Viewers (+26% - 7.82 million vs. 6.20 million). Among Adults 18-49, Shifting Gears earned an 0.87 rating, standing as the strongest premiere of the season in the key Adult demographic, excluding NFL-inflated lead-ins. Meanwhile, Abbott Elementary returned for its winter premiere with a highly anticipated crossover event, featuring FXX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, reaching a series high in Total Viewers (8.05 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.57 rating) in multiplatform viewing, excluding the show's post-Oscars(R) episode (3/10/24).

On linear, the Abbott Elementary midseason return scored 4.90 million Total Viewers and a 0.90 rating in Adults 18-49, rising nicely over the show's initial Live+Same Day audience (+28% - 4.90 million vs. 3.82 million) and Adults 18-49 (+32% - 0.90 rating vs. 0.68 rating), topping the night among Adults 18-49. The midseason debut scored an all-time series high for episode views on streaming, based on the first seven days on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+. Hulu is the streaming home to both Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, making this crossover episode a must-watch for subscribers.

SitcomsOnline Digest: Frasier Reboot Canceled at Paramount+; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Coming to MeTV Toons

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! After a few slow news weeks, we have more than we can even fit in here this week, including the cancelation of a reboot, a spinoff of a popular CBS show, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• The reboot of Frasier has been canceled after two seasons, though it is possible that new episodes may land elsewhere. (Hollywood Reporter)
• The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is headed to MeTV Toons. (Cord Cutters News)
• If anything can bring an audience to broadcast TV, it's nostalgia, which makes it no surprise that Tim Allen's new show Shifting Gears is setting records for ABC that haven't been seen since the premiere of The Conners (another show with a nostalgic connection). (Deadline)
• The Neighborhood may be getting a second spinoff. (Deadline)
• St. Denis Medical has been renewed for a second season. (NBC)
• Sally Struthers has had an interesting week, and we now know that she really didn't like Norman Lear or Betty White. (New York Daily News)
• There have been a lot of television related deaths this week, including Bob Uecker and David Lynch, among others. (SitcomsOnline)
• FETV has a new lineup coming that will feature uncut episodes of their series, and My Three Sons (no word on which seasons, as it is rare for any network to air all of them) will be part of that lineup. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JANUARY 18 - JANUARY 25)

• The Jeffersons is 50 years old today, and Antenna TV will celebrate that with a 50 hour marathon starting tonight at 8:30 PM ET.
• Tomorrow's Catchy Binge on Catchy Comedy is Gilligan's Island.
• Saturday Night Live is new tonight, with host Dave Chappelle.

SitcomsOnline Digest: HBO Cancels The Franchise; Alice Actress Linda Lavin Dies

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We're still in that slow Christmas week of news, but we still have a few headlines, including the cancellation of an HBO series and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• HBO has canceled The Franchise. (Deadline)
• Remember when cable companies used to offer free preview weekends of movie channels? Apple TV+ is doing something like that this weekend. (Cord Cutters News)
• Linda Lavin died earlier this week, and she had already finished 7 of the 10 episodes of the upcoming Hulu series that she had a role in, Mid-Century Modern, making it unclear how they will proceed now. (TheWrap)
• Catchy Comedy has a new Saturday lineup, which features a recreation of the 1970s CBS lineup at night. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JANUARY 4 - JANUARY 10)

• You can catch an Alice marathon as a tribute to Linda Lavin this weekend on Antenna TV.
• Catchy Comedy debuts a new Saturday lineup this weekend, which includes a recreation of the CBS Saturday night lineup from the 70s, today, followed by a Night Court binge tomorrow.
• The crossover event that features the cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on Abbott Elementary airs Wednesday on ABC.
• Shifting Gears also debuts Wednesday night on ABC.
• CBS brings back a new version of Hollywood Squares on Thursday night.

Happy New Year; Antenna TV's New Year's Day Fresh Start Marathon; ABC's Shifting Gears Official Trailer

Happy New Year to everyone out there! Hello 2025! It's another year and we are bringing another year of news. Non-stop since 2005 (7,079 consecutive days)! Let's get to what we do best, news!

Start the new year fresh and resolve to watch a marathon of premiere episodes from your favorite shows! Refresh your memory and revisit classic television moments with the “New Year’s Day Fresh Start Marathon” on Antenna TV, January 1 starting at 5 am Eastern. View the full schedule.

Look for the Shifting Gears series premiere January 8 at 8:00/7:00c on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu.

Shifting Gears stars Tim Allen as Matt, the stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt's estranged daughter (Kat Dennings) and her kids move into his house, the real restoration begins.

Tim Allen executive produces alongside Michelle Nader, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker, Rick Messina, John Pasquin, Jim Patterson, Bob Daily and John Amodeo. Pasquin also directed the pilot episode. Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully are executive producers on the pilot episode. Kat Dennings is a producer. The ABC series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.

SitcomsOnline Digest: Malcolm in the Middle Limited Reboot Headed to Disney+; King of the Hill Reboot Episode Titles Released

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing big news about a reboot of a Fox Sunday night classic (and also less significant news about the reboot of another Fox Sunday night classic), a new role for Jenna Elfman, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• The big news of the week came last week (and really wasn't completely unexpected, as there had been hints of it happening for the past month): a limited four episode Malcolm in the Middle reboot is headed to Disney+. (Variety)
• If that isn't enough for early 00s Sunday night Fox lineup excitement, we also have the titles for the first ten episodes of the King of the Hill reboot on Hulu. (Hypebeast)
• Sesame Street appears to be moving again, as the deal for it to stream on Max is coming to an end and won't be renewed. (Deadline)
• Jenna Elfman is set to have a recurring role on the upcoming ABC Tim Allen sitcom Shifting Gears. (Deadline)
• The Friday Night Lights reboot that has been in the works is officially headed to Peacock. (Deadline)
• Michael Cole, the last surviving star of The Mod Squad, has died. (Entertainment Weekly)
• Antenna TV has set their Christmas and New Year's plans. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (DECEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 20)

• If you're in the Christmas mood, Catchy Comedy has a whole weekend of Christmas episodes of sitcoms (and other comedy TV series).
• Fast Friends, the Friends themed game show, premieres Thursday on Max.
• Thursday also has the debut of the Peacock comedy series Laid.

ABC Midseason 2025 Schedule; Jim Gaffigan Gets First Hulu Comedy Special

ABC announced its 2025 midseason premiere dates, featuring a slate of laugh-out-loud comedies, high-octane dramas and fan-favorite unscripted series. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition makes its long-awaited return to ABC with all the feels beginning Thursday, January 2. The new iteration, hosted by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, co-founders of the global lifestyle brand The Home Edit, will be followed by the exclusive broadcast premiere of season two of the Emmy® Award-nominated Hulu Original comedy Only Murders in the Building. Will Trent premieres Tuesday, January 7, followed by the midseason return of High Potential and a new season of The Rookie.

Tim Allen and Kat Dennings star in new comedy series Shifting Gears premiering Wednesday, January 8, followed by the highly anticipated Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover episode, which kicks off the Emmy Award-winning series’ midseason return. New episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy!, hosted by Ken Jennings, and What Would You Do? round out the evening. NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC returns for select Saturdays beginning January 25 (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors). On Monday, January 27, Grant Ellis begins his journey on The Bachelor, followed by the exclusive broadcast debut of season one of Hulu's most-watched unscripted season premiere this year, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. ABC News' Scamanda and Hulu's Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini will air beginning Thursday, January 30 from 9-11pm, before the fan-favorite drama series 9-1-1, Doctor Odyssey and Grey's Anatomy return to the iconic Thursday night lineup on March 6.

The search for a superstar begins when American Idol premieres Sunday, March 9, on ABC, with Carrie Underwood joining Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and host Ryan Seacrest a remarkable 20 years after she claimed the title. The $100,000 Pyramid has been renewed for season eight and will join the Sunday night lineup following Idol. The farewell season of The Conners will return in March 2025 with a night and time to be announced. And Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Press Your Luck will also return in the new year, but airdates to be announced at a later date (they both will air Holiday episodes this December, though).

It's Jim like you've never seen him before. In his new #Hularious stand-up special The Skinny, Jim Gaffigan weighs in on everything from teenagers to brunch to weight-loss medication - but he's never light on laughs. Considered one of the most prolific comedians working today, 7 time Grammy nominee Jim Gaffigan provides the skinny on everything from appetite suppressants to raising teenagers in Hulu's very first comedy special. Stream Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny November 22 on #Hulu and with #HuluOnDisneyPlus.

SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Gives Series Order to Tim Allen Sitcom; Two Saturday Night Live Cast Members Leave Ahead of 50th Season

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're learning more about Tim Allen's new upcoming sitcom on ABC, some Saturday Night Live casting news, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Here we go again: ABC is "gearing up" for their third attempt at a sitcom starring Tim Allen, with Shifting Gears. (Hollywood Reporter)
• As always, Saturday Night Live is getting casting together for the upcoming season (the 50th, by the way), and while two will be leaving the cast, it looks like we'll (not surprisingly) be seeing a lot of Maya Rudolph. (The Daily Beast)
• The next batch of new episodes of That '90s Show will be arriving earlier than expected. (Deadline)
• Up until about 20 years ago, being an anchor on the nightly news on one of the broadcast networks was one of the most stable jobs you could get, but since Dan Rather left in 2005, no anchor on CBS has lasted longer than five years, and now Norah O'Donnell is being moved to a new role to make room for another reformatting of the program. (Variety)
• While it is still being shopped around and thus is not dead yet, the Battlestar Galactica reboot at Peacock will not be happening. (Variety)
• FX has picked up a new comedy, Snowflakes. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (AUGUST 3 - AUGUST 9)

• Catchy Comedy has a binge of Full House this weekend.
• Cozi TV is airing Married... with Children starting with a marathon today, then weekdays starting Monday.
• Mr. Throwback debuts Thursday on Peacock.