Wednesday, December 04, 2024
STARZ Comedy Thriller Sweetpea Renewed for Season 2; Bel-Air to End After Next Season

Sky and STARZ announce that 'coming-of-rage' Sky Original comedy thriller Sweetpea will return for a second killer season. Sweetpea is produced by See-Saw Films and fanboy in association with Sky Studios. Season 2 will see Rhiannon Lewis (Ella Purnell) return with a vengeance as her killer secret continues to spiral, and she becomes more twisted than ever. Season 1 of "Sweetpea" is available to watch on Sky and streaming service NOW in the U.K. and on STARZ in the U.S. and Canada. In the series, Rhiannon Lewis doesn't make much of an impression - people walk past her in the street without a second glance. She's continually overlooked for a promotion at work, the guy she likes won't commit, and her dad is really, really sick. So far, so s***. Then everything in her life is turned upside down, and Rhiannon is pushed over the edge. She snaps. Suddenly the wallflower is gone, and in its place is a young woman capable of anything... Rhiannon's life transforms as she steps into a new, intoxicating power, but can she keep her killer secret?
Peacock's fan-favorite drama series Bel-Air has been renewed for a fourth and final season. Set in modern-day Los Angeles, Bel-Air reimagines the iconic culture-defining '90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air through a new, dramatic take on Will's complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he's ever known. Bel-Air is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group and Westbrook Studios. Carla Banks Waddles serves as showrunner, writer and executive producer.
The series has featured an array of notable guest stars across seasons, including original cast members from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Tatyana Ali, Joseph Marcell, Vernee Watson-Johnson and Daphne Maxwell Reid, along with notable guest stars Bianca Belair, Bill Bellamy, Justin Cornwell, Andra Day, Melissa De Sousa, Nicholas Duvernay, Dulé Hill, Anna Maria Horsford, April Parker Jones, Melanie Liburd, Jazlyn Martin, Vic Mensa, DK Metcalf, Saweetie, Alycia Pascual-Peña, David Ramsey, Karrueche Tran, Joivan Wade and Marlon Wayans. The series stars Jabari Banks (Will), Adrian Holmes (Phillip Banks), Cassandra Freeman (Vivian Banks), Olly Sholotan (Carlton Banks), Coco Jones (Hilary Banks), Akira Akbar (Ashley Banks), Jimmy Akingbola (Geoffrey), Jordan L. Jones (Jazz) and Simone Joy Jones (Lisa).
Saturday, November 09, 2024
SitcomsOnline Digest: Two New Sitcoms in the Works at CBS; The CW Adds Bob ♥ Abishola to Lineup
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about some new CBS sitcoms (from producers of those who've already proven to be successful with CBS sitcoms), a "new" old show coming to The CW, and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- Overstepping, a new comedy from Damon Wayans Jr., is in the works at CBS. (Deadline)
- CBS also has another comedy, Token White Friends, in the works. (Deadline)
- The CW is barely recognizable from their past of teen dramas and Warner Bros superhero series, and that continues as they're now adding reruns of Bob ♥ Abishola to their lineup. (TV Series Finale)
- Quincy Jones, who is better known for his music career but also has TV production credits for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, In the House, and Mad TV, and also the father of Rashida Jones, has died. (Variety)
- We have our first look at the final season of Stranger Things. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (NOVEMBER 9 - NOVEMBER 15)
- St. Denis Medical premieres Tuesday on NBC.
- Catchy Comedy has a binge of Mama's Family this weekend.
- The final season of Yellowstone arrives Sunday on Paramount Network.
Friday, November 08, 2024
CBS Orders Full Season for Poppa's House; The CW Acquires Bob ♥ Abishola Reruns; Remembering Alan Rachins of Dharma & Greg

CBS announced full season orders for the new comedy Poppa's House and the drama NCIS: Origins, the newest addition of the global franchise. Poppa's House, starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr., features Wayans as legendary talk radio host and happily divorced "Poppa" who has his point of view challenged at work when a new female co-host is hired, and at home where he finds himself still parenting his adult son, a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband. Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson also star. Dean Lorey, Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. executive produce for CBS Studios. Poppa's House airs on Mondays (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT).
NCIS: Origins follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS, and is narrated by Mark Harmon. In the series, Gibbs starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office, where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid). Mariel Molino, Tyla Abercrumbie, Diany Rodriguez and Caleb Foote also star. David J. North, Gina Lucita Monreal, Mark Harmon and Sean Harmon executive produce for CBS Studios. NCIS: Origins airs on Mondays (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).
The CW has acquired reruns of Bob ♥ Abishola. The series started in syndication this past Fall and now it will air on primetime as well on The CW. The sitcom will air Fridays beginning next Friday (November 15), in which it will air 8-10pm. Subsequent weeks it may be just 8-9pm. It will continue to air in local syndcation, Laff TV and COZI TV. In the series premiere, we meet Bob (Billy Gardell "Mike & Molly," "Young Sheldon,") who runs his family's successful, highly competitive sock company with his mother, Dottie (Christine Ebersole, Tony Award-winning actress in "Grey Gardens"), his sister, Christina (Maribeth Monroe "The Good Place" "Workaholics"), and his younger brother, Douglas (Matt Jones "Mom"). When the stress of the job lands him in the hospital, he meets Abishola (Folake Olowofoyeku "Transparent"), his kind, hard-working nurse to whom he's immediately drawn. Now, all Bob needs to do is convince her to give him a chance, which will take some time since they couldn't be different. After coming to America from Nigeria to find a better life for her and her son, Dele (Travis Wolfe, Jr. ("Raven's Home"), a straight-A student, Abishola lives in a small apartment with her super-protective relatives, Auntie Olu (Shola Adewusi "Babes") and Uncle Tunde (Barry Shabaka Henley "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.").
Actor Alan Rachins, who starred as Larry Finkelstein in Dharma & Greg, has died. He died from heart failure at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, on November 2. Mr. Rachins was 82.
Rachins starred as Douglas Brackman Jr. in the 1986-1994 NBC legal drama L.A. Law. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of the fictional Los Angeles–based law firm McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak (later McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney, Kuzak, and Becker). Douglas Brackman Jr. is a managing partner and interim senior partner. Rachins received Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for the role in 1988.
He starred as Myron Lawrence "Larry" Finkelstein, Dharma's (Jenna Elfman) hippie father, in the 1997-2002 ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg. Larry Finkelstein is a stereotypical 1960s radical who frequently rants about various conspiracies, a lot of which revolve around Richard Nixon. The series also starred Thomas Gibson, Mimi Kennedy, Mitchell Ryan, Susan Sullivan, Joel Murray and Shae D'lyn.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Brothers (1984), D.C. Follies, Ferris Bueller, The Golden Girls, Love Boat: The Next Wave, In-Laws, Just Shoot Me!, Surviving Suburbia, Happy Endings, Good Luck Charlie, The Crazy Ones, Mom, The Middle and Young Sheldon. He provided the voice of Norman Osborn in the 2008-2009 animated series The Spectacular Spider-Man. Some of his other voice credits included Batman: The Animated Series (2 episodes), Rugrats, Justice League Unlimited and American Dad!.
Rachins had a recurring role as Stanley in six episodes of the TNT crime drama Rizzoli & Isles from 2011 to 2013. Some of his other television credits included The White Shadow, Barnaby Jones, Dallas, Paris, J.J. Starbuck, Tales from the Crypt, Poltergeist: The Legacy, Diagnosis: Murder, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (2 episodes), Stargate SG-1, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Close to Home, Eli Stone, General Hospital (5 episodes), Grey's Anatomy and NCIS. He directed an episode of Paris in 1980. He wrote episodes of Hill Street Blues, Hart to Hart and The Fall Guy.
He starred as Tony Moss in Showgirls (1995). He played Fred Rutherford in Leave it to Beaver (1997).
Mr. Rachins was a talented and versatile actor. He was funny and memorable as Dharma's hippie father in Dharma & Greg. He will be greatly missed.
We also remember record producer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer Quincy Jones. He died from pancreatic cancer on November 3 at his home in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Jones was 91.
Jones composed "The Streetbeater", which became the theme music for the 1972-1977 NBC sitcom Sanford and Son, starring his close friend Redd Foxx. Although the piece did not reach Billboard status, it has maintained mainstream popularity, ranking 9th in a Rolling Stone Reader Poll of Television Theme Songs.
He composed the theme song for the 1966-1967 NBC sitcom Hey, Landlord. He also worked as a composer for seven episodes. He was the composer for the 1969-1971 NBC sitcom The Bill Cosby Show. He composed the theme music for the 1980-1981 NBC sitcom Sanford. Some of his other television composer credits included Ironside and Banacek. He guest starred as Les Appleton in a 1967 episode of Ironside. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for the ABC miniseries Roots (1977).
In 1990, Quincy Jones Productions joined with Time Warner to create Quincy Jones Entertainment (QJE). He was an executive producer for the 1990-1996 NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He appeared as himself in two episodes in 1990 and 1993. He was an executive producer for the 1995-1999 NBC/UPN sitcom In the House. In 1997, he produced the short-lived USA Network sitcom Lost on Earth. Jones also produced Fox's sketch comedy series Mad TV, which ran for 14 seasons.
Jones composed numerous films scores including for The Pawnbroker (1965), In the Heat of the Night (1967), In Cold Blood (1967), The Italian Job (1969), The Wiz (1978) and The Color Purple (1985).
Mr. Jones was a music legend. He received many accolades including 28 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for seven Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. We thank him for the music. He will be sorely missed.
Monday, October 07, 2024
Vice TV Announces Black Comedy in America Series; Netflix Stars Team Up for Netflix Movie

VICE TV, the Emmy(R)-winning international television network from VICE Media, announced Black Comedy in America, a new docuseries produced by SMAC Productions and She Ready Productions and hosted by comedians Tiffany Haddish, Chris Spencer and Ryan Davis, premieres Tuesday, October 15 at 10:00 PM ET/PT on VICE TV. The series explores the lore and legends of Black comedy and offers a definitive look at the history and impact of America's most prolific Black comedians. Black Comedy in America explores the comedic pioneers of film, television, and the standup scene, along with the humble beginnings and meteoric rises of the most powerful voices to ever enter Black comedy. The premiere begins with a rare sit-down reunion with The Original Kings of Comedy: Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and D.L. Hughley. The series also delves into the cultural impact of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Best Man, Def Comedy Jam, the wave of memorable Black sitcoms from the 70s, and influential household names such as Richard Pryor and Dave Chappelle. In addition, the show features a raw exploration of Jim Crow segregation with a nostalgic look at the foundations of the Chitlin' Circuit, where Black comedy got its roots.
A cultural time capsule, the 10-episode series brings together icons and respected figures for deep dives into what and who have shaped comedy and American culture over the past century, including many who have used their comedic visions to push boundaries in the face of controversies in an ever-changing society. Each episode includes in-depth interviews with a who's who of entertainers including Shaquille O'Neal, Marla Gibbs (The Jeffersons, 227), Tracy Morgan, Craig Robinson, Coco Jones, George Lopez, Luenell, Rachel Lindsay, Taye Diggs, W. Kamau Bell, B. Simone, and many more.
Netflix stars are teaming up for a new Netflix movie. Netflix stars Madison Bailey of The Outer Banks & Antonia Gentry of Ginny & Georgia will team up. To stop this killer, they'll need to rewrite history. A teenage girl travels back to the early 2000s to stop a vicious killer from murdering her sister. Starring Madison Bailey, Antonia Gentry, Michael Shanks, and Griffin Gluck. Watch Time Cut, only on Netflix October 30.
Monday, March 20, 2023
2023 90s Con Recap in Hartford; Bel-Air Gets Season 3 on Peacock

That's 4 Entertainment (the people who bring us Christmas Con every year in NJ) had its 2nd Annual 90s Con this weekend (March 17-19) at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT. We had a reporter down there to let us know what happened! We had full or partial reunions from various '90s TV shows, movies and music. Sitcom reunions included Saved by the Bell, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Full House, along with classic dramas Beverly Hills 90210, Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The casts did autograph signings, photo ops and Q&A panels. Among the other cool things fans got to see at the event: They had a slime pit to be "slimed" like Double Dare. They had a table area of a bunch of Nintendo64 machines hooked up to large screens to play nostalgic video games. They had 90s iconic photo ops like the TV, phone booth, newspaper stand, etc. There was a popular 90s cosplay contest. Another cool sighting was iconic movie vehicles including a replica Jurassic Park jeep and the Scooby Doo mystery machine (is that '90s though?). A 90s DJ booth was playing 90s music for fans. There were tons of booths selling 90s nostalgic toys, art, and items. And to close the day, there was a 90s dance party after party Saturday night.
The stars that were on hand were Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, Rose McGowan, Brian Krause, Dorian Gregory, Drew Fuller, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Dave Coulier, Andrea Barber, Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Elisa Donovan, Breckin Meyer, Kel Mitchell, Lori Beth Denberg, Danny Tamberelli, Danica McKellar, Olivia d'Abo, Melissa Joan Hart, Caroline Rhea, Beth Broderick, Jenna Leigh Green, Nate Richert, Kathy Najimy, Thora Birch, Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw, Jason Marsden, Mario Lopez, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Steve Burns, Marc Summers, Jeff Timmons, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, James Masters, Charisma Carpenter, Clare Kramer, Julie Benz, Kristine Sutherland, Marc Blucas, and Rebecca Gayheart.
Last year they had the cast of Family Matters and Boy Meets World on hand, but not this year. Will they return in 2024? How about other popular '90s shows like Step by Step and Perfect Strangers next time? While Hartford gets '90s Con next March, there will be one in Tampa in September of this year. Christmas Con will get a Kansas City version this June before returning to Edison, NJ in December. Stay tuned as we will be on hand for the NJ one once again later this year!
Peacock's record-breaking drama series Bel-Air has been renewed for a third season. Inspired by Morgan Cooper's lauded short film, Bel-Air is a modern-day reimagining of the iconic culture-defining '90s sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Following its launch on Peacock last year as the streamer's most-watched original premiere, Bel-Air is once again breaking records on the platform as Peacock's most-watched original sophomore series to date. Bel-Air is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group and Westbrook Studios. Carla Banks Waddles serves as showrunner, writer and executive producer. New episodes stream Thursdays through April 27. Season two stars Jabari Banks, Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Jordan L. Jones and Simone Joy Jones. Season two saw the return of Tatyana Ali, who played the original Ashley Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and makes a recurring guest star appearance.
Monday, January 23, 2023
OWN Acquires Insecure Starting in February; Season 2 of Bel-Air Gets Tatyana Ali to Recur

The Emmy(R)-winning HBO comedy series Insecure joins the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network schedule for a Tuesday night block of back-to-back episodes, starting in order with the season one pilot on Tuesday, February 7 at 9:00 pm ET/ PT. Starring NAACP Image Award winner and eight-time Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) Award nominee Issa Rae, Insecure explores the Black female experience through best friends Issa (Rae) and Molly (Yvonne Orji), who must deal with their own flaws as they attempt to navigate different worlds and cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences. Over the course of season one, Issa attempts to figure out what she wants out of life and how to take control of it, while fumbling her way through this journey. The series also stars Jay Ellis, Natasha Rothwell and Amanda Seales. Insecure was created by Issa Rae & Larry Wilmore; executive produced by Issa Rae, Prentice Penny, Melina Matsoukas, Michael Rotenberg, Dave Becky, Jonathan Berry, Amy Aniobi and Jim Klever-Weis.
The new season of Bel-Air is streaming February 23 on Peacock, plus catch up on Season 1 streaming now. Set in modern-day Los Angeles, Peacock's successful one-hour drama series Bel-Air imagines the beloved sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air through a new, dramatic take on Will's complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he's ever known. Inspired by Morgan Cooper's viral trailer that reimagined the iconic, culture-defining '90s sitcom, Bel-Air takes a fresh and raw approach to this world of swagger, style, and aspiration, while exploring Will's complex journey through a current lens. The series features an ensemble cast that introduces new sensation Jabari Banks as Will and a creative team that includes showrunner, executive producer and writer Carla Banks Waddles and Cooper, who serves as executive producer. Tatyana Ali Who Played Ashley Banks in the Original The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air will Make a Recurring Guest Star Appearance.
Season two of Bel-Air picks up with Will at a crossroads in his life as a new figure comes into his life who challenges what he's learned in Bel-Air and competes for control of his influence. He juggles this while navigating his home life with the Banks family and trying to rebuild the trust that was broken at the end of last season. We'll see Will and Carlton's brotherhood start to evolve as they grow closer, but still challenge each other about their differences. We'll also see Hilary evolve as she becomes more of a boss in her influencer world and how that spills over into her relationship with Jazz, and also highlight the relatable struggles around Viv and Phil balancing marriage and family while trying to forge their own career paths and reconnect to the things that are important to them.
Friday, January 21, 2022
One Tree Hill Reunion on New CBS Series; Bel-Air Announces Recurring Cast, Including Karrueche Tran & Duane Martin

Yesterday, Good Sam star Sophia Bush reunited with her One Tree Hill co-stars Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz on the Toronto set of her new CBS medical drama. Burton and Lenz are set to guest star in an upcoming episode, which began shooting today. On Good Sam, Burton and Lenz will play sisters, Gretchen and Amy Taylor, respectively, who cross paths with Dr. Sam Griffith (Bush) when Amy is admitted as a patient at Detroit's Lakeshore Sentinel Hospital. Additional details about the episode will be announced at a later date, including an air date. Currently, the trio co-host the iHeartRadio podcast Drama Queens, which revisits the experience of filming The CW's beloved coming-of-age drama that wrapped 10 years ago. Their characters - Bush's Brooke Davis, Burton's Peyton Sawyer and Lenz's Haley James - were close friends who weathered life's highs and lows, from high school into early adulthood, together.
Good Sam stars Sophia Bush and Jason Isaacs in a drama about Dr. Sam Griffith, a gifted heart surgeon who excels in her new leadership role as chief of surgery after her renowned boss falls into a coma. When her former boss wakes up months later demanding to resume his duties, Sam is tasked with supervising this egotistical expert with a scalpel who never acknowledged her stellar talent. Complicating matters, the caustic and arrogant Dr. Rob "Griff" Griffith also happens to be her father. As Griff defies Sam's authority and challenges her medical expertise, the big question becomes whether this father and daughter will ever be able to mend their own relationship as expertly as they heal the hearts of their patients. Good Sam airs Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT on the CBS Television Network, and is available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
Peacock's highly anticipated drama series Bel-Air has cast Karrueche Tran, Duane Martin, April Parker Jones, SteVonté Hart, Joe Holt, Scottie Thompson, Jon Beavers, Tyler Barnhardt and Charlie Hall as recurring guest stars. Bel-Air will premiere on Peacock on Super Bowl Sunday (February 13, 2022) with three episodes at launch and new episodes released every Thursday. Karrueche Tran (Claws, The Bay) will play Ivy, a top-tier social media influencer who offers to help Hilary with her influencer business. Duane Martin (All of Us, Real Husbands of Hollywood) will play Steven Lewis, Philip Banks' campaign manager on his run for LA District Attorney. Steven is a seasoned political strategist and has operated in Democratic Party politics for his entire career. He believes that he can help Phil win. April Parker Jones (If Loving You is Wrong, Supergirl) will play Viola 'Vy' Smith, Will's mother and Aunt Viv's older sister. Having always put her son first, Vy makes the tough decision to send Will to live with her sister, even though they haven't spoken in years. SteVonté Hart (Little Fires Everywhere, Queen Sugar) will play Tray Melbert, Will's best friend and basketball teammate from West Philly. With Will's sudden departure to Bel-Air, Tray risks falling victim to the streets of West Philly. Joe Holt (The Walking Dead: World Beyond, The Punisher) will play Fred Wilkes, the Police Chief and Lisa's father. Wilkes and the Banks' family have run in the same circles for years. Scottie Thompson (NCIS, Macguyver, 12 Monkeys) will play Angela, an interior designer, newly married to Police Chief and Lisa's father, Fred Wilkes. Angela tries to navigate her new role in the family. Jon Beavers (Licorice Pizza, Animal Kingdom) will play Kylo, a social media influencer. He provides Hilary Banks with an interview opportunity to join his influencer house. Tyler Barnhardt (13 Reasons Why, Tales From The Loop) will play Connor Satterfield, Carlton's best friend, lacrosse teammate and the most popular kid in school, second to Carlton. Connor crosses boundaries that cause tension between him and Will. Charlie Hall (Single Drunk Female, Moxie) will play Tyler Laramy, a member of the Bel-Air Academy basketball team and one of Will's good friends at school. Tyler is known for being the class-clown and pushing his teachers' buttons.
Set in modern-day America, Peacock's new one-hour drama series Bel-Air imagines the beloved sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air through a new, dramatic take on Will's complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he's ever known. Executive produced by Will Smith, and inspired by Morgan Cooper's viral trailer that reimagined the iconic, culture-defining '90s sitcom, Bel-Air takes a fresh and raw approach to this world of swagger, style, and aspiration, while exploring Will's complex journey through a current lens. The new series features an ensemble cast that introduces Jabari Banks as Will and a creative team that includes Cooper, who serves as director, co-writer, and executive producer, and co-showrunners and executive producers T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson.
Saturday, November 27, 2021
SitcomsOnline Digest: MacGruber Series Premiere Date Set; Saved by the Bell Pays Tribute to Dustin Diamond
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about the upcoming premiere of the MacGruber series, a tribute to Dustin Diamond on the reboot of Saved by the Bell, and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- A premiere date for the Peacock series version of MacGruber has been set, and there is also a preview to watch. (Deadline)
- Saved by the Bell paid tribute to Dustin Diamond in this past week's season premiere. (TV Line)
- ESPN lost another 10% of their pay TV customers in the past year, which is yet another sign that the future of cable TV is looking bleak. (Deadline)
- Anthony Anderson would officially like some more Law & Order, enough so that he is returning to the series in the reboot. (TV Insider)
- Steve Burton, who has been a cast member on General Hospital for 3 decades, is leaving the series over his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19. (CNN)
- A preview of the reboot of Bel-Air, the dramatic reboot of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, is now available. (TV Series Finale)
- Antenna TV has Christmas New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day plans in place. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3)
- Decades has a S.W.A.T. binge this weekend.
- Coach continues all weekend long on Antenna TV.
- You can catch some holiday Christmas classics in a curated section on Paramount+, and sister streaming service Pluto TV has several Christmas themed channels at the moment.
- FXX is mostly animated comedy these days, but never fear, another season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a decisively not animated series, is coming Friday.
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
First Look at Peacock's Bel-Air; Dollface Returns Feb. 11 on Hulu

The first teaser for Peacock's highly anticipated and reimagined series Bel-Air has been released. A new reign has come. Coming to Peacock in 2022. Set in modern-day America, Bel-Air is a serialized one-hour dramatic analogue of the 90's sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that leans into the original premise: Will's complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. With a reimagined vision, Bel-Air will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions and biases that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show. Starring newcomer Jabari Banks as "Will," Adrian Holmes as "Phillip Banks" (At That Age, V Wars), Cassandra Freeman as "Vivian Banks" (The Enemy Within, Atlanta), Olly Sholotan as "Carlton Banks" (Run Hide Fight, Evolution of Nate Gibson), Coco Jones as "Hilary Banks" (Let it Shine, Vampires vs. The Bronx), Akira Akbar as "Ashley Banks" (We Can Be Heroes, Captain Marvel), Jimmy Akingbola as "Geoffrey" (Most Dangerous Game, In The Long Run), Jordan L. Jones as "Jazz" (Rel, Snowfall), and Simone Joy Jones as "Lisa" (The Chair, What If).
Pop the champaigne your favorite girlfriends are back! The comedy Dollface Season 2 returns February 11, only on Hulu! Kat Dennings stars as a young woman who, after being dumped by her longtime boyfriend, must deal with her own imagination when she literally and metaphorically re-enters the world of women, in order to rekindle the female friendships she left behind. Also starring Brenda Song, Shay Mitchell, and Esther Povitsky.
Wednesday, September 01, 2021
The Game Returns Nov. 11 on Paramount+; New Bel-Air Series Announces Casting of Will Character

Paramount+, the streaming service from ViacomCBS, announced that its upcoming revival of the groundbreaking series The Game will debut on Thursday, Nov. 11. In addition, during Paramount+'s Television Critics Association virtual presentation, the service also announced two new cast members joining the team: Tim Daly (Wings, Madam Secretary), who will play Colonel Ulysses S. Thatcher, a self-made billionaire, and Toby Sandeman (Power Book III: Raising Kanan), who will play Garret Evans, the top football player in the league. Fan favorite Coby Bell (Walker) will make a special appearance reprising his role as former footballer Jason Pitts.
Relocating from San Diego to Sin City, The Game returns with a mix of new players and original cast to offer a modern-day examination of Black culture through the prism of pro football. The team will tackle racism, sexism, classism and more as they fight for fame, fortune, respect and love - all while trying to maintain their souls as they each play The Game. The comedy also stars Wendy Raquel Robinson (Insecure) as sports agent Tasha Mack; Hosea Chanchez (Black Lightning) as footballer Malik Wright; Adriyan Rae (Chicago Fire) as Brittany Pitts, the daughter of Jason and Kelly Pitts; Vaughn Hebron (Tyler Perry's The Oval) as Jamison Fields, an undrafted free agent; and Analisa Velez (Sneaky Pete) as Raquel Navarro, Brittany's best friend. Legacy players Brittany Daniel (Cheaper by the Dozen) and Pooch Hall (Ray Donovan) will make special appearances, reprising their roles as Kelly Pitts and Derwin Davis, respectively.
Peacock's highly anticipated drama series Bel-Air, a contemporary reimagining of the beloved and culture defining '90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has cast newcomer and West Philadelphia local Jabari Banks in the iconic role of "Will" originated by Will Smith. Peacock previously ordered two seasons of the series adaptation of Morgan Cooper's viral fan film Bel-Air. Cooper wrote and directed the four-minute spec trailer, debuting the video on social media in March 2019. The trailer, which currently has nearly 7 million views on YouTube, caught the attention of Smith, and in a reaction video Smith called the film and idea brilliant.
Set in modern-day America, Bel-Air is a serialized one-hour dramatic analogue of the 90's sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that leans into the original premise: Will's complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. With a reimagined vision, Bel-Air will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions and biases that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show.
Friday, November 20, 2020
Fri-Yay: Thoughts on Fresh Prince Reunion on HBO Max; Nick at Nite Renews Friends in Multi-Year Deal

by Vincent
This past week, HBO Max released a Fresh Prince reunion special. It's a really great watch for anyone who's a fan of the series, as it reunites nearly all of the cast (who could be reunited - unfortunately James Avery passed away in 2013). It revisits some of the cast's best moments and features some candid talk between the stars of the series. Still, one of the more interesting aspects of the reunion was the meeting of the show's two "Aunt Vivs," and the reconciliation of Will Smith and original Aunt Viv Janet Hubert.
For years, conventional wisdom was that Janet had been fired due to a feud with Smith. However, the reunion revealed that wasn't exactly the case. Hubert cites personal reasons as well as a pay disagreement with the producers as the reason her role was recast. Smith did admit that he also contributed to a difficult environment on set because he wasn't "perceptive" about what she was going through at home. Hubert talked very openly about the conflict and even met with her "replacement," Daphne Reid. It seems the "drama" between Smith and Hubert is firmly in the past. Still, even putting aside the feud, it was a lot of fun watching the cast talk candidly and openly about their time on Fresh Prince, and I highly recommend even casual fans of the show check it out.
Nickelodeon announced the renewal of the Emmy(R) Award-winning series Friends, from Warner Bros. Television, for its nighttime programming block Nick at Nite. The agreement was part of a multi-year, multi-series deal that included several renewals of top-rated syndicated series from Warner Bros. Television that air across ViacomCBS' portfolio of cable networks. Also included in the deal were the off-network cable premiere rights to Young Sheldon, scheduled to begin on Nick at Nite on Monday, Nov. 30. Year to date, Nick at Nite ranks as cable's top network with Women 18-49 and is also currently delivering its highest share of Adults 18-49 since 2017. The highly successful NAN programming block of family comedies where Friends and Young Sheldon will air, also includes popular Warner Bros Television series such as Mom and Full House.
Beginning Monday, Nov. 23, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), fans can celebrate Thanksgiving with their favorite friends as Nick at Nite presents "Super-Stuffed Friends-Giving," featuring a lineup of classic Friends episodes with beloved funny moments from the series airing throughout the week, and a marathon of Thanksgiving-themed episodes on Thursday. Friends, which debuted in 1994, follows the lives and loves of a close-knit group of friends while they navigate their way through their twenties living in New York City: siblings Ross (David Schwimmer) and Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), along with friends Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) and Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston).
Monday, November 16, 2020
Antenna TV Holiday 2020 Stunts and Marathons; The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion Premieres This Thursday!

This holiday season on Antenna TV, it's more festive fun! It all starts on Wednesday, November 25 at 8pm with the "All of The Partridge Family Marathon" during Thanksgiving Weekend! Binge every episode of The Partridge Family in one shot from Nov. 25 through 10pm on Friday, November 27. Jumping to Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24), catch Christmas episodes all day for 24 straight hours from 5am to 5am Christmas Day. Shows will air in their regular time periods with a few exceptions: Family Ties at 6am instead of the regularly scheduled The Partridge Family; Bewitched from 1-2pm instead of the regularly scheduled I Dream of Jeannie; and Barney Miller from 9-10pm instead of the regularly scheduled Three's Company. Then on Christmas Day on Friday, Dec. 25 for 24 hours starting at 5am, it's Antenna TV's annual Christmas Through the Years. The Yule Log will air first from 5am-10am, then sitcom episodes starting with Father Knows Best and ending with Becker. Other holiday episodes of series airing include Dennis the Menace, That Girl, Three's Company, Alice, The Facts of Life, Silver Spoons, 227, Head of the Class and The Hogan Family. On New Year's Eve on Thursday, December 31, it's the "Chrissy, Jack & Janet's New Year's Eve Party" with episodes of Three's Company from 8pm-5am. 16 classic episodes for your New Year's Eve Party. Who needs the ball drop when the trio will dance to the disco ball? And finally, as we hinted on Friday, January 1, Antenna TV is turning ten years old and they are celebrating with a fan created marathon titled "AnTENna TV's Birthday Blowout." More to come on that and also more on each event above soon!
In an exclusive announcement on his social handle, Will Smith released the trailer for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion from Westbrook Media and revealed that the special will debut on HBO Max this Thursday, November 19. In the unscripted special, Smith is joined by series regulars Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid and Alfonso Ribeiro as well as recurring co-star DJ Jazzy Jeff for a family reunion on set in the Banks' home for a look back at the groundbreaking show. Taped on the 30th anniversary of the original series premiere date, Smith also sat down with Janet Hubert, who originated the role of Aunt Viv, for the first time in 27 years for an emotional reunion and a candid conversation.
As previously announced, the special will be a funny and heartfelt night full of music, dancing, and a look at the cultural impact the series has had since its debut 30 years ago. Produced by Westbrook Media, the reunion will launch exclusively on HBO Max on November 19. HBO Max is the exclusive SVOD home of the full original series library in the US, debuting on the platform when it launched in May.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Friday, September 12
Vampirina: Teenage Vampire - "First Year to Watch" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
As Vee arrives at Wilson Hall, she learns that performing arts boarding school might have more challenges than she thought; Demi vows to protect Vee from Van Helsings.
Vampirina: Teenage Vampire - "First Day of School" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Vee's plans to have an amazing first day of school are threatened by a dire warning from the Vampire Council; Demi continues his search for Van Helsings.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 8)
Friday, September 12
- Regina King (The Boondocks/Leap of Faith/227) - Watch Regina on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Michael Chiklis (Daddio) - Michael is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) - Kumail is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Domhnall Gleeson (The Paper) - Domhnall appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Emily Osment (Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage/Young Sheldon/Young & Hungry/Hannah Montana), Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) and Vinny Thomas (Platonic) - Emily, Tien and Vinny are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken talks about 99 to Beat on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Michael talks about Broadway's Oh, Mary! and Shrinking on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Zosia Mamet (Laid/Girls) - Zosia talks about Does This Make Me Funny? on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Emeril Lagasse (Emeril) - Sunny Anderson gets a big surprise from Drew – cooking with the legendary Emeril Lagasse on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Jennifer Aniston (Friends/Muddling Through/Ferris Bueller/Molloy) - Drew is chatting with Jennifer about the new season of The Morning Show, her kids cookbook, Cook with Clydeo, and her haircare line on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Hannah Pilkes (Leanne) - Hannah is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
- Charlie Sheen (Anger Management/Two and a Half Men/Spin City) - Real Time with Bill Maher features a one-on-one interview with Charlie Sheen, actor and subject of the new two-part documentary aka Charlie Sheen on Netflix, and author of the new book The Book of Sheen: A Memoir at 10pm on HBO.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
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