Showing posts with label The Good Place. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Good Place. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 09, 2022

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

Never Have I Ever

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.


Sarah Hyland, Lera Abova and Jameela Jamil

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.

Saturday, August 01, 2020

SitcomsOnline Digest: Damon Wayans Jr. Set to Star in Comedy for Peacock; Production to Restart for S.W.A.T.

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're learning of a new Peacock comedy with Damon Wayans Jr., hearing of some conflicts on the set of Ellen DeGeneres' talk show that could bring the show to an end, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • Damon Wayans Jr. is set to star in a bounty hunter comedy for Peacock. (TVLine)
  • Production appears to be getting ready to restart for S.W.A.T., which could make it one of the few rare scripted series to have new episodes ready to go in the fall. (Deadline) 
  • Ellen DeGeneres is under fire for the way her production staff has been treated on her talk show, and some tabloid rumors are swirling that she may be about to just walk away from the series once and for all, even with it being on top. (Buzzfeed News) 
  • Schitt's Creek and The Good Place are both ending on top, with Emmy nominations. (Deadline)
  • It looks like Family Feud is getting ready to go back into production as well. (Deadline)
  • Netflix has acquired a number of sitcoms from the 90s and 00s featuring African American casts. (SitcomsOnline) 

WEEKLY PLANNER (AUGUST 1 - AUGUST 7)

  • Can two divorced men share a marathon this weekend without driving each other crazy? Find out as Decades has a binge of The Odd Couple this weekend.
  • In case the idea of being quarantined inside of a house seems like a novel idea to you, CBS is bringing back on a new season of the original quarantine reality show on Wednesday with Big Brother: All Stars.

Friday, February 07, 2020

Fri-Yay: Two Comedies Have Series Finales; House of Payne Returning and New Tyler Perry Sitcom Both Coming to BET

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!

BoJack Horseman

by Vincent

This past week, two truly great sitcoms came to an end - The Good Place and BoJack Horseman. Interestingly enough, both shows have a lot in common despite seeming very different. Both shows are comedies that deal with bigger moral questions than most other comedies. Both shows have a likable cast of characters that we root for despite the fact that they aren't always their best selves. And both shows ended in a way that was very satisfying while also totally making sense for their characters.

I'm not going to spoil the finale for either show, but I will say that it was interesting that in the span of just a few days, there were two finales of shows I loved that dealt with how to be a good person even if you have to work for it. Both shows were stories of redemption, of being a better person and working to be a better person. I'll miss both of them, but I'm so happy that they existed and ended so, so well.


Tyler Perry's House of Payne

BET Networks and Tyler Perry Studios announce the return of the hit series, Tyler Perry's House of Payne which has begun production on its seventh season. The hilarious comedy about retired fire chief Curtis Payne (LaVan Davis) and his lovely wife Ella (Cassi Davis Patton) picks up five years later as they continue to navigate the problems of life with their quirky modern-day family. Production is also underway for the new multi-camera sitcom, Tyler Perry's Assisted Living. After losing his job, Jeremy (Na'im Lynn), a patriarch of a young family with teenage children, decides to move to the backwoods of Georgia to help his crazy grandfather. Grandpa Vinny (J. Anthony Brown) has foolishly purchased a terribly run-down home for the elderly and he is in way over his head, but comedy ensues as Mr. Brown (David Mann) and Cora (Tamela Mann) show up at the right time as needy investors. Both series are set to premiere on BET in summer 2020.

Friday, January 31, 2020

Fri-Yay: The Good Place Officially Ends; Starz Picks Up Comedy with Amber Stevens West

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!

The Good Place

by Vincent

Yesterday, The Good Place ended its four year run on NBC. While I haven't seen the finale yet at the time of writing this blog post, I have a lot to say about the season up to this point and particularly about last week's amazing penultimate episode.

The Good Place has always been a very philosophical series, but it honestly really surprised me with how deep it got last week in its discussion of the afterlife and "Heaven" (or the good place.) The show essentially argued that human life is shaped by the knowledge that we're going to die, so the "good" place is really not so good after all - without that strive to do great, it becomes a big pile of mush. Frankly, part of me wishes this concept had been explored a little longer. I could've done a whole season watching the good place crew fix...well, the good place. But nevertheless, I'm happy the show appears to be going out high and on its own terms. The show has always remained an absolute mind-bending delight, stretching the sitcom form as wide as it could possibly go. Now I'm interested to see if any series steps up in its place. I certainly hope so - the show is leaving behind a big gap in its absence. There's really no series with the level of humor and insight that The Good Place has right now. Still, I'm beyond overjoyed that the series was able to make it this long at all, so cheers to The Good Place and the end of one of TV's very best sitcoms.


Amber Stevens West

Starz announced it has given an eight-episode series order for Run the World. The half-hour comedy is created and written by Leigh Davenport (The Perfect Find, untitled Wendy Williams biopic) who will executive produce with showrunner Yvette Lee Bowser (Lionsgate's Dear White People, Living Single) and Lionsgate Television, where Bowser's SisterLee Productions is under an overall deal. Millicent Shelton (black-ish, P-Valley) directed the pilot. Run the World is the story of a group of Black, vibrant, fiercely loyal best friends who work, live and play in Harlem as they strive for world domination. At its core, it's an unapologetically female show about enviable friendship and not only surviving - but thriving together.

The previously announced cast include Amber Stevens West (The Carmichael Show, Happy Together) as "Whitney," Andrea Bordeaux (NCIS: Los Angeles) as "Ella," Bresha Webb (A Fall from Grace, Marlon) as "Renee," Corbin Reid (Valor) as "Sondi" and Stephen Bishop (Moneyball, Imposters) as "Matthew."

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

The Good Place Finale Post Show Special; Guy Fieri Is Up for a Food Network Face-Off

The Good Place

The Good Place will go out with a forkin' good time this Thursday (Jan. 30) at 8:30 p.m., as we already know, but don't forget there is something special as well. The series finale gives fans an extra-long 90-minute block dedicated to the award-winning show, which includes an extended episode as well as a post-show special featuring the full cast and hosted by Seth Meyers of Late Night with Seth Meyers. The post-show special will be filmed live in front of a studio audience in Studio 6A of 30 Rockfeller Center in New York City. Joining the fun in this special is series creator Michael Schur and stars Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, D'Arcy Carden, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto and William Jackson Harper. The entire block airs from 8:30pm-10pm ET/PT this Thursday night on NBC.


Tournament of Champions

It's madness on Food Network this March as Guy Fieri hosts and executive produces an all new culinary competition where 16 of the nation's most celebrated chefs face-off on Tournament of Champions, premiering on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 10pm with a supersized 90-minute episode stuffed with edge-of-your-seat action. During the five-part tournament, the chefs' skills will be pushed to the limit, as they go head-to-head in a single elimination bracket-style competition, where a randomizer machine determines the protein, produce, equipment, cooking style, and time for each of the cook-offs. The pressure is on and emotions are high throughout this unpredictable tournament, as the elite chefs enter this blind competition not knowing who their opponents will be, or what cooking challenges they will face. The intensity increases in each sudden-death each round of the tournament as the coveted spots decrease from 16 to eight in the second round, then to four, until there are only two chefs in the final round.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Fri-Yay: Top Sitcoms of the Decade, Part 2; PIX11 Celebrates 45th Anniversaries of The Jeffersons and Barney Miller

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!

Community

by Vincent

Last week, I went through my top sitcoms of the 2010s from #12 to #6. This week, I'll be doing the same thing, going through my top 5. So here are my top 5 sitcoms of the 2010s!

5. The Good Place (NBC, 2016 - present): Of all of the sitcoms this decade, I don't think any of them can claim to be quite as inventive as The Good Place, which somehow manages to be an excellent sitcom and sci-fi/fantasy series all in one. Without spoiling too much, this show asks some of the biggest questions I've ever seen asked about humanity on TV - all while managing to be a delightful and funny sitcom all the same with a lovable cast of characters.

4. Parks and Recreation (NBC, 2009 - 2015): Parks and Recreation will forever go down as one of the most lovable shows to ever be on TV. With an incredibly likable cast of characters and a beating heart and love for all of them, watching this show is like a dose of happiness. Pawnee and the Parks department is truly a place you want to keep coming back to, which is why Parks was one of the most lovable sitcoms of the 2010s.

3 Bob's Burgers (Fox, 2011 - present): Bob's Burgers has become such a staple of TV that it's hard to believe it only started less than 10 years ago. The Belchers practically feel like my family at this point, I know them and their antics so well, and after 10 seasons I still feel like everything they do is as funny and fresh as ever. Bob's Burgers is the very definition of a landmark TV show.

2. BoJack Horseman (Netflix, 2014 - present): BoJack Horseman is both a great comedy and a seriously depressing drama. It's one of the realest shows on TV, and it's also an animated sitcom about a talking horse in a world where animals and humans are on equal footing. It's a show of contradictions, but what makes BoJack shine is its upsettingly amazing ability to crush your heart in pieces, and then make you laugh a few minutes later. Few shows can accomplish what BoJack can.

1. Community (NBC and Yahoo!, 2009 - 2015): Community was perhaps one of the first true genre-bending sitcoms, fitting into a different genre (mystery, D&D, paintball action movie) whenever it felt like it. It became known for its ability to "break the fourth wall" and break the entire structure of the sitcom down whenever it pleased. But what kept the show running was its rock solid core of characters, a makeshift family of weirdos at a community college. What made Community truly special was how it was able to balance its weirdness with its heart, and that's what makes it not just my favorite sitcom of the decade, but one of my favorite sitcoms of all-time.


The Jeffersons and Barney Miller

This January, PIX11 will celebrate the 45th anniversaries of The Jeffersons and Barney Miller with marathons on the 18th and 25th during the station's "New York's Very Own" Sitcom Block which consists of NY specific retro sitcoms. On Saturdays, PIX11's "New York's Very Own" sitcom block features Good Times, Sanford and Son, All in the Family, Barney Miller, The Jeffersons and The Honeymooners. To celebrate the 45th anniversaries of The Jeffersons (Jan 18, 1975) and Barney Miller (Jan 23, 1975), PIX11 will air a mini-marathon of each show during the block. On Saturday, January 18, PIX11 will air a marathon of The Jeffersons from 7pm-10pm. On Saturday, January 25, the station will air a marathon of Barney Miller from 6pm-10pm.


Friday, December 06, 2019

Fri-Yay: The Good Place Nearing the End; TBS Orders More Misery Index

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!

The Good Place

by Vincent

This week, I'd like to give a special shout out to the 4th and final season of The Good Place. I was able to catch up with the excellent series this past weekend, and I was reminded of just how inventive, funny and lovable it is. I'm really going to miss it when it's gone after Jan. 30, but I'm also glad it gets to go out on its own terms on a high note. And so far, this season has been a really high note.

To be fair, the season got off to somewhat of a rough start, at least in terms of Good Place standards. It wasn't a bad stretch of episodes by any means, but it was a little repetitive and "just okay." It felt like the show was repeating some of the same beats from Season 1, and although the characters were still funny, the new characters left something to be desired. And yet, I should've known there was a plan all along. Around the 5th episode, things really started to pick up, and now, the entire world of the show has yet again been busted open. It's incredible just how often the show successfully pulls the rug out from under us at this point. I won't spoil the plot details here, but the show is going to some really exciting and intense places. As we enter the last few episodes of the series, I'm comfortable calling The Good Place one of the shows of the decade. If it sticks the landing, it'll cement its place as that. So far, it really looks like it's going to.


Misery Index

TBS is ordering another dose of misery with a second season of the outrageously entertaining comedy game show The Misery Index hosted by Jameela Jamil (The Good Place). Currently in its first season, the original series is a top-five new cable comedy and has reached nearly 28 million viewers across linear, VOD, and digital platforms. Inspired by the card game Sh*t Happens, The Misery Index is the only game show where contestants can make a fortune out of other people's mis-fortune. Teams compete against each other by attempting to rate hilarious and miserable real-life events based on the "misery index," a ranking system created by a team of therapists. Jameela Jamil will return as host along with stars of truTV's Impractical Jokers, comedy troupe The Tenderloins – Brian "Q" Quinn, James "Murr Murray, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano – as panelists.


Tuesday, November 26, 2019

New Ted Danson NBC Comedy Gets Holly Hunter; Mel Brooks Gets New HBO Comedy Special

Ted Danson and Holly Hunter

Holly Hunter, an Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress who recently had a critically applauded recurring role in HBO's drama Succession, will star alongside Ted Danson (The Good Place, Cheers) in NBC's new untitled comedy written and executive produced by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. The series is about a wealthy businessman (Danson) who runs for mayor of Los Angeles for all the wrong reasons. Once he wins he has to figure out what he stands for, gain the respect of his staff and connect with his teenage daughter, all while humanely controlling the coyote population. Hunter will play Arpi, a longtime liberal councilwoman. Having dedicated her life to the betterment of Los Angeles, she makes no secret of her disdain for the newly elected Mayor Bremer, whom she considers unqualified, sexist, and too tall to be trusted. In addition to Danson and Hunter, Saturday Night Live vet Bobby Moynihan was previously announced in the cast as Jayden, the interim director of communications in the newly elected mayor's office.


Mel Brooks Unwrapped - Mel Brooks and Alan Yentob

From the groundbreaking TV series Your Show of Shows to landmark films like Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, Mel Brooks has been one of the most influential voices in comedy. Now, this entertainment legend looks back on his remarkable career in Mel Brooks Unwrapped, debuting Friday, Dec. 13 from 9:00-10:10 p.m. ET/PT, exclusively on HBO. The special will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms.

The HBO comedy special features award-winning actor, writer, producer and director Mel Brooks in interviews past and present with Alan Yentob, former creative director for the BBC. Since 1981, Yentob has filmed the inimitable Brooks for a number of candid conversations and mock interviews, many of which showcase a more reserved Alan as "straight man" to Mel's high-energy, quick-witted, unsparingly sarcastic persona. Combining Yentob's archival material with present-day interviews and verité footage of the now 93-year-old Brooks, the special is filled with the venerated comedian's hilarious anecdotes about his life and illustrious career.

Mel Brooks Unwrapped also shows Yentob following Brooks in his day-to-day life, including a visit with long-time friend and collaborator Carl Reiner - who dubs Mel "the funniest human being in the world" - to share some spaghetti and meatballs and watch some iconic clips from Brooks' 60-plus years in showbiz. The special marks Mel Brooks' fourth appearance on HBO in recent years, following 2011's Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again, 2012's Mel Brooks Strikes Back! and 2014's Mel Brooks Live at the Geffen, all of which have been nominated for Emmy(R) awards. To celebrate the new special, Mel Brooks Live at the Geffen and Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again will return on HBO GO and HBO NOW for viewers.

Monday, November 11, 2019

NBC Midseason 2020 Schedule; The CW Announces Midseason 2020 Lineup

Indebted

With more new shows launching in 2020 than the fall, NBC's winter and spring slate fuels a long-term strategy and features a completely reimagined Little Big Shots as well as three new dramas and one new multi-camera comedy. January kicks off with the return of last season's breakout hit Manifest. Its midseason launch enables fans of the serialized drama to enjoy an interrupted run of Season 2's 13-episodes. Midseason will see the debut of a trio of dramas, beginning on Friday nights in January with crime thriller Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector at 8 p.m., based on the best-selling novel The Bone Collector. The series follows former NYPD detective and forensic genius Lincoln Rhyme (Grimm's Russell Hornsby) and his new partner, Amelia Sachs (Arielle Kebbel, Midnight Texas) in a cat-and-mouse game as they join forces to bring down a notorious serial killer.

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

Also in January, after tuning in Tuesday, Jan. 7 for a special two-hour Season 3 premiere of Ellen's Game of Games at 8 p.m., audiences will get a sneak peek at the premiere episode of new high-concept drama Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. The series premiere will be available to stream on the NBC App and Hulu following its on-air premiere preview. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist stars Jane Levy (Suburgatory) as a whip-smart computer coder who, following an unusual event, starts to hear the innermost thoughts of the people around her through songs, including her boss played by Lauren Graham (Parenthood) and her mom, played by Mary Steenburgen (The Last Man on Earth). On Sunday, Feb. 16 at 9 p.m., Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist makes its regular timeslot debut (with a re-airing of the pilot at 8 p.m.). Beginning in March, it will air between the all-new Little Big Shots with Melissa McCarthy and fan-favorite Good Girls, starring Christina Hendricks, Mae Whitman and Retta, making Sundays nights appointment television with a lineup of true leading ladies.

Council of Dads

Rounding out the new midseason dramas is Council of Dads, centered on three men who step in to guide their best friend's family through all of life's triumphs and challenges. The new series will follow This Is Us on Tuesdays for two weeks before taking over its 9 p.m. timeslot when the show concludes its fourth season in March. On the comedy front, January marks the conclusion of hit series The Good Place, which will go out with a forkin' good time on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 8:30 p.m. The series finale gives fans an extra-long 90-minute block dedicated to the award-winning show, which includes an extended episode as well as a post-show special featuring the full cast and hosted by Seth Meyers. The series finale makes way for NBC's new Thursday night comedy line-up, including the debut of new family comedy Indebted on Feb. 6 at 9:30 p.m. The multi-camera comedy, which will have the iconic final season of Will & Grace as its lead in, stars Adam Pally (Happy Endings) and Abby Elliot (SNL) as a young couple whose lives get turned upside down by their boomerang parents, played by Fran Drescher (The Nanny) and Steven Weber (Wings).

Feb. 6 also brings the celebratory return of Brooklyn Nine-Nine with a one-hour season premiere at 8 p.m., pre-empting Superstore before airing in its regularly scheduled 8:30 p.m. time slot beginning Feb. 13. NBC's unmatched lineup of alternative hits continue to help power midseason, led by last season's #1 most-watched alternative series, America's Got Talent: The Champions, as well the breakout competition series Ellen's Game of Games, both returning to their winning timeslots on Monday Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 8 p.m., respectively. Families can also add a new favorite to their lineup: Melissa McCarthy joins as the host of Little Big Shots with a totally reimagined season from executive producer Ellen DeGeneres. The teaming of two of the funniest minds in Hollywood will celebrate the unique kids who inspire us all. The Voice returns to Mondays on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. for Cycle 18, adding multi-platinum and award-winning recording artist, actor and songwriter Nick Jonas to the coaching lineup along with fan favorites Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Blake Shelton. The Voice lands on the schedule once a week in midseason, making way for hit show Ellen's Game of Games to keep its prime spot on the schedule for a few extra months before The Voice moves back to twice weekly for the always-anticipated live shows over the cycle's final three weeks in May.


Katy Keene

The CW Network announced dates for the debut of its new series Katy Keene, plus the returns of DC's Legends of Tomorrow and Roswell, New Mexico. A spinoff of the hit Riverdale, The CW's new midseason series Katy Keene, starring Lucy Hale, Ashleigh Murray, Jonny Beauchamp and Julia Chan, debuts Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 8:00pm ET/PT, followed by an original episode of Legacies at 9:00pm ET/PT. DC's Legends of Tomorrow officially kicks-off its fifth season on Tuesday, January 21 at 9:00pm ET/PT, following an original episode of Arrow at 8:00pm ET/PT. Arrow will conclude its eighth season with a two-hour event on Tuesday, January 28, beginning with a finale preview at 8:00-9:00pm ET/PT followed by the Arrow series finale at 9:00pm ET/PT.

Supernatural will move to Monday nights, making its new time period premiere on March 16 at 8:00pm ET/PT, paired with the second season return of Roswell, New Mexico at 9:00pm ET/PT. The week before, on Monday March 9, All American (8:00pm ET/PT) and Black Lightning (9:00pm ET/PT) will have their back-to-back season finales. Supernatural will wrap its historic 15-season journey on Monday, May 18. The premieres of the second season of In the Dark and the final season of The 100 will be announced at a later date.

Saturday, November 09, 2019

SitcomsOnline Digest: Fresh Off the Boat Coming to an End; Weeds Sequel in the Works

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we are hearing about the end of an ABC sitcom, a sequel to Weeds, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • Fresh Off the Boat will be coming to an end after six seasons. (Deadline) 
  • A sequel to the series Weeds is in the works, this time for Starz. (Hollywood Reporter)
  • The Good Place will go off to it's good place with a 90 minute series finale, to air in January. (TVLine)
  • Vanna White has gotten a temporary promotion from turning letters on Wheel of Fortune, as she is filling in for Pat Sajak as host while he covers from emergency surgery (the episodes will air in December). (CNN)
  • ABC is planning another Live in Front of a Studio Audience event. (SitcomsOnline) 

WEEKLY PLANNER (NOVEMBER 9 - NOVEMBER 15)

  • Decades is airing The Adventures of Superman all this weekend.
  • The fourth season of Rick and Morty debuts Sunday night on Adult Swim.
  • Meanwhile, Showtime has the tenth season of Shameless on Sunday night.
  • MeTV will spend Veteran's Day with M*A*S*H on Monday night, starting at 7:00 PM ET/PT.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Fri-Yay: Primetime Emmy Predictions for Comedy; Paramount Heads to Paris for New Comedy

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!

Ted Danson - The Good Place

by Vincent

As you may or may not know, this Sunday is the Emmys. The Emmys may not always be the best barometer of quality TV, but they nonetheless hold a lot of prestige and can bring attention to shows that may be in need of it. So in this column, I'll share with you my predictions for this year's Emmys in the comedy categories!

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson as Andre "Dre" Johnson, Sr. on black-ish (Episode: "Purple Rain") (ABC)
Don Cheadle as Mo Monroe on Black Monday (Episode: "365") (Showtime)
Ted Danson as Michael on The Good Place (Episode: "The Worst Possible Use of Free Will") (NBC)
Michael Douglas as Sandy Kominsky on The Kominsky Method (Episode: "Chapter One: An Actor Avoids") (Netflix)
Bill Hader as Barry Berkman / Barry Block on Barry (Episode: "The Truth Has a Ring to It") (HBO)
Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose on Schitt's Creek (Episode: "Rock On!") (Pop TV)
My Prediction: Personally, I don't think anyone can top Ted Danson in terms of pure sitcom acting. The man is still at the top of his game in a totally unique role, and if it were up to me, he'd be getting the nod. I do think he has a decent shot, since he's the most established comedy name on the list. It's also possible voters become enamored by Bill Hader since they tend to love HBO. Still, I think my prediction is Ted Danson for this one.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate as Jen Harding on Dead to Me (Episode: "I've Gotta Get Away") (Netflix)
Rachel Brosnahan as Miriam "Midge" Maisel on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Episode: "Midnight at the Concord") (Prime Video)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer on Veep (Episode: "Veep") (HBO)
Natasha Lyonne as Nadia Vulvokov on Russian Doll (Episode: "Nothing in This World Is Easy") (Netflix)
Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek (Episode: "The Crowening") (Pop TV)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Fleabag on Fleabag (Episode: "Episode 1") (Prime Video)
My Prediction: As much as I would love Catherine O'Hara to take this one for her great work on Schitt's Creek, it's very hard for me to see voters resisting giving Julia Louis-Dreyfus one final title as Selina Meyer.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Alan Arkin as Norman Newlander on The Kominsky Method (Episode: "Chapter Two: An Agent Grieves") (Netflix)
Anthony Carrigan as NoHo Hank on Barry (Episode: "Past = Present x Future Over Yesterday") (HBO)
Tony Hale as Gary Walsh on Veep (Episode: "Veep") (HBO)
Stephen Root as Monroe Fuches on Barry (Episode: "berkman > block") (HBO)
Tony Shalhoub as Abe Weissman on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Episode: "We're Going to the Catskills!") (Prime Video)
Henry Winkler as Gene Cousineau on Barry (Episode: "What?!") (HBO)
My Prediction: There's less of a clear winner for me on this one, but I think Tony Shaloub will take it, due to both his prestige and the fact that voters seem to love The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Alex Borstein as Susie Myerson on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Episode: "Vote for Kennedy, Vote for Kennedy") (Prime Video)
Anna Chlumsky as Amy Brookheimer on Veep (Episode: "Pledge") (HBO)
Sian Clifford as Claire on Fleabag (Episode: "Episode 3") (Prime Video)
Olivia Colman as Godmother on Fleabag (Episode: "Episode 4") (Prime Video)
Betty Gilpin as Debbie Eagan on GLOW (Episode: "Mother of All Matches") (Netflix)
Sarah Goldberg as Sally Reed on Barry (Episode: "The Audition") (HBO)
Marin Hinkle as Rose Weissman on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Episode: "Simone") (Prime Video)
Kate McKinnon as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Liev Schreiber") (NBC)
My Prediction: This is the hardest category for me to predict, as I see no clear frontrunners. I'm going to go a bit left field and pick Olivia Colman. The Emmys often have one left-field choice, and I think Fleabag has earned enough hype and this category is wide open enough that Colman could be it this year.

Outstanding Comedy Series
Barry (HBO)
Fleabag (Prime Video)
The Good Place (NBC)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Russian Doll (Netflix)
Schitt's Creek (Pop TV)
Veep (HBO)
My Prediction: Ah, yes...the big prize, and to me it's probably a choice between Veep and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. (If it were up to me, it'd be between The Good Place and Schitt's Creek...but, well, it's not.) Both of these shows have won before, but Maisel won last year when Veep was ineligible due to its extended hiatus while Julia Louis-Dreyfus was battling breast cancer. So the question is, will the Emmys jump back on Veep one last time or have they fulled moved onto Maisel? Or perhaps a dark horse like HBO's Barry could sneak into the top spot? Personally, I'm betting on a victory lap run for Veep.

Next week, I'll check in and see how I did, but you can check for yourself this Sunday - the winners will be announced during the ceremony, which starts at 8pm!


Emily in Paris

French actors Philippine Leroy Beaulieu, Lucas Bravo, Samuel Arnold, Camille Razat and Bruno Gouery have been cast as series regulars in Darren Star's newest scripted series, Emily in Paris, starring Golden Globe-nominated Lily Collins. Kate Walsh (The Umbrella Academy, 13 Reasons Whyand Grey's Anatomy), in a recurring role, will play Emily's (Collins) co-worker and mentor who still lives in Chicago. William Abadie and Arnaud Viard also join the cast in recurring roles. Previously announced Tony Award-nominated actress, Ashley Park, rounds out the list of series regulars in the 10-episode half-hour dramedy. The Paramount Network series is currently in production in Paris, France. Emily in Paris, the newest series from perennial hit-maker Darren Star (Younger, Sex and The City, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place), follows Emily (Collins), a driven twenty-something from the Midwest who moves to Paris for an unexpected job opportunity. Tasked with bringing an American point of view to a venerable French marketing firm, cultures clash as she adjusts to the challenges of life in a foreign city, while juggling her career, new friendships and love life.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Fri-Yay: Fall Sitcom Slate Check-In: NBC; Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween 2019 Schedule

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!

Sunnyside

by Vincent

NBC is next up in our check-in of returning sitcom slates. Currently, NBC has once again found itself to the home of a well-loved, critically adored group of sitcoms in Superstore, The Good Place and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. However, just as was the case in the first half of the decade with 30 Rock, Community, The Office and Parks and Recreation, those shows haven't always translated to the best ratings. So we'll see what NBC has on the burner for the upcoming season.

Returning sitcoms: In my opinion, NBC probably has the strongest block of comedies quality-wise if only because Superstore and The Good Place call the network home, and I'd call those two shows the best sitcoms on TV right now. Both shows have pulled in a solid amount of viewers, but neither are necessarily huge, network-defining hits, and The Good Place is ending this season as creator Mike Schur has felt the show is reaching its natural endpoint. Therefore, NBC is definitely in the hunt for a new show that it can rest its comedy laurels on. The network probably thought that could've been the revival Will & Grace, but after a strong start, the series has faltered enough in the ratings that it wasn't even given a fall timeslot - instead, its on the back-burner with Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which similarly returned after its Fox cancellation to big numbers that gradually faded over the course of the season. NBC isn't in a dire spot comedy-wise, but it could definitely use some new blood.

New sitcoms: NBC is keeping with the experimental theme that worked for it with The Good Place with its two new comedies Perfect Harmony and Sunnyside. Perfect Harmony is a musical comedy and Sunnyside is a high-concept series from Kal Penn and Mike Schur about a NYC councilman who dedicates his life to helping immigrants. Even if Superstore and The Good Place aren't huge hits, NBC seems to be banking on their viewers sticking around for all of Thursday night - these are definitely right from those show's playbook, with the issues-based comedy of Superstore and the high-concept fun of The Good Place. Maybe after years of trying to attract "broad" audiences, NBC has finally realized it's better off cultivating a small but dedicated audience for its comedies.

The bottom line: NBC is certainly not ABC or even CBS in terms of its abilities to develop high-rated, huge hit comedy shows. However, after spending several seasons desperately trying and failing to emulate those networks with laughable attempts at recreating their biggest hits (remember Go On? Sean Saves the World? The Michael J. Fox Show? Yeah, not many other people do, either...), it seems like NBC may be finally accepting that the not huge, but solid and dedicated audiences that follow smart, well-crafted comedies like Superstore and The Good Place might be their best way forward in the comedy department. It seems as if NBC is planning to develop that audience with their new comedies, and I think it's a strong strategy for the network going forward.


Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween

Unruly ghosts, a terrifying masked murderer and everyone's favorite sister witches are heading your way for Freeform's annual "31 Nights of Halloween" programming event. From Oct. 1-31, fans of the most spooktacular time of year can enjoy all of the haunts with fan-favorite feature films, a new original special, marathons of The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror (premieres Oct. 2) and more all month long. After last year's highly successful "Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash," Freeform will continue the party this year with a new original special, 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest. Taping on Sept. 12th at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, the celebration of Halloween's biggest pop culture moments will honor the icons of the season as we celebrate the most beloved movies, television shows and musical artists who have become synonymous with Halloween. More details about the special will be announced at a later date.

The network has also added more chills and thrills with new movies to the line-up. Marking its 35th anniversary, the classic hit Ghostbusters and its sequel Ghostbusters 2, as well as the first three Scream films, will be airing throughout the stunt, joining other "31 Nights of Halloween" staples including Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Addams Family. And not to be forgotten, Freeform is THE home for the iconic Halloween feature film Hocus Pocus, airing throughout the stunt and a back-to-back-to-back marathon on Oct. 31. For the second year, Freeform opens its ghoulish gates to Freeform's Halloween House, an interactive experience in the heart of Hollywood and the ultimate destination for Halloween lovers. View the full 2019 schedule here.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Lifetime Announces Full Holiday Slate; The Paley Center Salutes The Good Place on NBC

It's a Wonderful Lifetime

Get ready to "Lifetime and Lounge" this holiday season! Lifetime announces its largest holiday movie slate ever for the network's annual It's a Wonderful Lifetime programming event, kicking off October 25 and continuing through December 25. The Christmas lights switch on early with all-day holiday programming on Lifetime, with 28 premiere movies and a new holiday special - that's more than 1000 hours of yuletide-themed programming airing over two months! This year's slate will also include a new special, Battle of The Christmas Movie Stars, premiering on December 21, pitting some of season's biggest stars against one another to see who is crowned the king or queen of Lifetime Christmas as they battle it out with holiday themed challenges. With 60 plus days of holiday movies featuring some of television and music’s most beloved stars, it's time to kick up your feet, get cozy and comfortable to enjoy It's A Wonderful Lifetime.

We announced the reunions but now the full list of stars is in! The stars joining in this year are Megan Hilty, Marcus Rosner, Marla Sokoloff, Rob Mayes, Marie Osmond, Kyla Pratt, Ed Ruttle, Rachel McLaren, Jim O'Heir, Melissa Joan Hart, Ricardo Chavira, Ted McGinley, Michael Gross, Markie Post, Lexi Lawson, Mark Ghanimé, Beth Broderick, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Michael Xavier, Tim Reid, Belinda Montgomery Adelaide Kane, Greyston Holt, Loretta Devine, Katie Leclerc, Ryan Cooper, Jennifer Ellis, Caroline Keeler, Kathy Harum, Jana Kramer, Percy Daggs III, Moira Kelly, Brian McNamara, Dee Wallace, Barry Bostwick, Erin Cahill, Kevin McGarry, Patrick Duffy, Jaclyn Smith, Erin Karpluk, Damon Runyan, Sarah Drew, Ryan McPartlin, Lesley Ann Warren, Tiya Sircar, George Wendt, Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Jesse Hutch, Patricia Richardson, Hilarie Burton, Tyler Hilton, Megan Park, Cristian de la Fuent, Pam Grier, Soleil Moon Frye, George Stults, Jaleel White, Kelly Rowland, Ali Liebert, Jake Epstein, Habree Larratt, Corey Sevier, Emily Rose, Vanessa Lachey, Christopher Russell, Julianna Guill, Corey Sevier, Erica Durance, J.T. Hodges, Kim Fields, Adrian Holmes and Tatyana Ali.


The Good Place

In anticipation and celebration of the fourth and final season of NBC's critically applauded and Emmy Award-nominated comedy, the network and The Paley Center for Media are collaborating on the hourlong special The Paley Center Salutes The Good Place, scheduled to air Thursday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Comprised of the best moments, hilarity and wit from the show's first three seasons, The Paley Center Salutes The Good Place will feature interviews with the show's stars - Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto and D'Arcy Carden - as well as with creator Michael Schur. In addition, the show will offer rarely seen behind-the-scenes footage.

The new season of The Good Place will premiere Thursday, Sept. 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT as part of NBC's comedy lineup. The evening begins with the return of Superstore at 8 p.m. followed by the new series Perfect Harmony, starring Bradley Whitford. Immediately after The Good Place comes the new series Sunnyside, starring Kal Penn and executive produced by Schur. The Good Place is currently Emmy nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series as well as receiving nods for Ted Danson for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Josh Siegal and Dylan Morgan for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, and Maya Rudolph for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.

Monday, July 22, 2019

FXX Comedy Archer Gets 11th Season; TBS Sets Date for Comedy Game Show with The Good Place Star

Archer

FXX has renewed the Emmy(R) Award-winning animated comedy series Archer for an 11th season. Season 11 will debut on FXX in 2020. News of the Archer renewal was shared with fans at San Diego Comic-Con during a sneak peek screening and Q&A with its cast and producers in support of the series' current 10th season, Archer: 1999. Archer: 1999 returns Wednesday, July 24, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FXX with the season's penultimate episode, "Cubert." In it, Archer is convinced a mysterious object is causing the crew to act strangely. Is it magnetic? Is it supernatural? Does it need to be cleaned with some sterile wipes? The episode was written by Adam Reed.

Archer is an animated, half-hour comedy that follows Sterling Archer, Lana Kane, and their crew of acid-tongued misfits onboard the M/V Seamus salvage ship. An important question arises as they explore deep space and try to outsmart giant aliens, intergalactic pirates, and vicious bounty hunters: how do they survive each other? Welcome to the space-tastic world of Archer: 1999.


The Misery Index

TBS' new comedy game show The Misery Index will premiere on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 10pm ET / PT. Inspired by the card game Sh*t Happens, The Misery Index is the only game show where contestants can make a fortune out of other people's mis-fortune. Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) stars as the show's host with The Tenderloins comedy troupe and stars of truTV's Impractical Jokers – Brian "Q" Quinn, James "Murr" Murray, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano – starring as recurring panelists. The Misery Index trailer debuted to a room full of fans at the first-ever Impractical Jokers San Diego Comic-Con® International panel. The game will feature two teams, each consisting of one contestant and two Tenderloins. Teams will compete in a game of stakes ranking hysterically miserable real-life experiences — from getting stuck overnight in an elevator to walking in on your grandparents having sex — on a scale of 1-100 based on our Misery Index, a ranking system created by a team of therapists.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

NBC Fall 2019 Premiere Dates; The CW Fall 2019 Premiere Dates

Perfect Harmony

CBS unveiled fall premiere dates last Friday, now we have some other networks as well. NBC has unveiled premiere dates for the 2019-20 season that features two innovative new Thursday comedies (Perfect Harmony and Sunnyside on Sept. 26) and an inspiring new Monday legal family drama starring TV icon Jimmy Smits (Bluff City Law on Sept. 23). The three freshman shows are novel additions to an incredibly stable lineup that includes the four-time Emmy Award-winning music competition series The Voice (Sept. 23 8-10pm and Sept. 24 8-9pm), cultural phenomenon This Is Us (Sept. 24 at 9pm), first-year sensation New Amsterdam (Sept. 24 at 10pm), a power-packed Wednesday lineup of Chicago dramas (Sept. 25 8-11pm) that each just delivered their most-watched seasons ever, and beloved Thursday comedy favorites Superstore and The Good Place (Sept. 26), the latter of which is set to begin its victory lap in this, its final season. Staple Law & Order: SVU launches another season on Sept. 26 at 10pm. All premieres will be week of Monday, September 23 during "Premiere Week" except The Blacklist season premiere will be in week two on Friday, October 4 at 8pm. An encore of the premiere of Bluff City Law will air on Friday, Sept. 27 at 8pm.

Premiere dates for NBC's new midseason series - dramas Council of Dads, Lincoln and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and comedies Indebted and The Kenan Show - will be announced later. The #1 show in primetime, Sunday Night Football, kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 8:20 p.m. ET/PT when the Green Bay Packers head to Chicago to face the Bears before the Sunday debut on Sunday, Sept. 8. On Saturday Oct. 5, one change is The Voice encores have been added to the line-up at 8:00pm, then Dateline Saturday Night Mystery returns from 9-10pm followed by Saturday Night Live (encores) at 10:00pm


Batwoman

The CW Network has also unveiled premiere dates for its Fall 2019 primetime schedule beginning in October. Gotham's newest crime fighter Batwoman comes to The CW in her series debut on Sunday, October 6 at 8:00pm ET/PT followed by the season five premiere of Supergirl at 9:00pm ET/PT. All American returns for its sophomore season on a new night on Monday, October 7 at 8:00pm ET/PT. For the next two Mondays, original episodes of All American will lead into encore presentations of The CW's new series Batwoman on October 7 and Nancy Drew on October 14. The season three premiere of Black Lightning will air Monday, October 21 at 9:00pm ET/PT following a new episode of All American at 8.

The CW's multiplatform hit The Flash returns for its sixth season Tuesday, October 8 at 8:00pm ET/PT, followed by a second encore presentation of the series premiere of Batwoman at 9:00pm. On Tuesday, October 15 at 9:00pm ET/PT the final season of Arrow begins on a new night after an original episode of The Flash. The Riverdale phenomenon returns for its fourth season Wednesday, October 9 at 8:00pm ET/PT followed by the series premiere of The CW's suspenseful, supernatural take on the iconic detective Nancy Drew at 9:00pm ET/PT. Thursday, October 10 at 8:00pm ET/PT marks the premiere of the 15th and final season of Supernatural, followed by the season two premiere of Legacies at 9:00pm ET/PT. Charmed conjures up even more powerful magic for its second season on a new night, Friday, October 11 at 8:00pm, followed by the high drama between the Carringtons and the Colbys in the season three premiere of Dynasty at its new time of 9:00pm ET/PT.

The CW's Fall season officially as usual kicks off with the exclusive broadcast of the iHeartRadio Music Festival airing over two nights Wednesday, October 2 from 8:00-10:00pm ET/PT and Thursday, October 3 from 8:00-10:00pm ET/PT.

Friday, June 14, 2019

Fri-Yay: Reaction to The Good Place Ending; Antenna TV Brings Back Webster, What's Happening!! and What's Happening Now!!

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!

The Good Place

by Vincent

This past week, it was announced that NBC's The Good Place will be ending after its upcoming fourth season. I had two district reactions to this news. On one hand, I'm incredibly sad that we are only getting one more season of what has been the best comedy on TV for the past few years, and one of the most creative and imaginative sitcoms of the decade. I'm a bit of a traditionalist with sitcoms - if it were up to me, every good sitcom would air 22 episodes a year and run for 6 or more seasons. I just like the comfort that sitcoms offer, even if the quality of them admittedly gets spotty as they grow long in the tooth. So the selfish part of me wanted The Good Place to stick around for years and years.

And yet, I can't help but feel that this is the right move to preserve the show's legacy. The Good Place is such a unique show, but it can only reinvent the wheel so many times. While I feel the show's quality has remained consistently high in its three seasons that have aired so far, I could also sense some sense of "well, what now?" for the first time ever in the third season. Granted, the show ended on a high note, but I'd imagine it very well could get tiring re-inventing the wheel over and over again. So I do consider it a creative win that the show is going out on top and on its own terms, and the fact that NBC is allowing a solid-rated veteran comedy to do so in a time where it desperately needs comedy hits shows how much network TV has changed recently. 10 years ago, NBC would've milked the show for all they could, but now, there's more respect paid towards shows and their creators - and if you're a fan of good TV, it's a good thing to see.


Webster and What's Happening!!

Antenna TV is making some changes to the weekend afternoon schedule beginning next weekend (Saturday, June 22, 2019) and one minor change on weekdays beginning June 24. As a result of the changes, three shows are returning from hiatus. Webster, What's Happening!! and What's Happening Now!! all return back to the lineup. Webster will air weekends at 1:00pm & 1:30pm, replacing The Hogan Family, which is still on the schedule Sunday late nights at 3:00am & 3:30am. What's Happening!! is replacing Head of the Class at 2:00pm, while spin-off What's Happening Now!! will air at 2:30pm for Head of the Class. Not to worry Head of The Class fans, the sitcom will air an hour later replacing Family Ties at 3:00pm & 3:30pm, but Family Ties will still remain weeknights at 2:30am. What's Happening!! will also return to the weekday line-up, airing weekdays at 3:30pm, replacing Soap. Not to worry Soap fans, Soap will also still remain on the schedule in its Saturday at 9pm & 9:30pm slots.

Monday, June 10, 2019

Comedy Central Schedules Lights Out with David Spade; NBC's The Good Place to End After Season 4

Lights Out with David Spade

Comedy Central announced that David Spade's new late-night series, Lights Out with David Spade, premieres Monday, July 29 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT. The series, hosted by the iconic comedian David Spade (Just Shoot Me!, Rules of Engagement, 8 Simple Rules), will follow The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Monday through Thursday each week. The series will feature Spade's signature take on the pop culture news of the day. The nightly series will include a rotating group of Spade's comedian and celebrity friends, while also incorporating sketches and field segments. Lights Out with David Spade will follow The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, which ranks #1 in share growth among daily late night talk shows in 2019 among P18-34 (+13% year over year). With over 1.2 billion cross-platform video views and 44 million interactions in 2019, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah is the most engaged late-night show on television, generating more likes, comments, reactions and shares than the rest. The series averages 55 million video views across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter each week, led by the Emmy Award-winning Between the Scenes.

Lights Out with David Spade
joins a growing slate of new and returning series at Comedy Central including: docu-series Klepper; scripted comedies South Side, Awkwafina and Robbie; and sketch-comedy series Alternatino with Arturo Castro.


The Good Place

NBC's The Good Place is coming to an end after next season. Michael Schur, creator and executive producer of NBC and Universal Television's The Good Place, made the following announcement Friday night at the Television Academy in North Hollywood during a panel discussion dedicated to the critically acclaimed comedy series. NBC's The Good Place will conclude following its upcoming 2019-20 fourth season that begins in the fall. The Good Place stars Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto and D'Arcy Carden.

Saturday, June 08, 2019

SitcomsOnline Digest: A Sequel for Punky Brewster?; The Good Place Coming to an End After Fourth Season

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a busier than normal week this week, with news of a Punky Brewster sequel, the end of two series after four seasons, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
  • It seems the latest idea in reboot/sequel world is Punky Brewster, as a followup to that series is apparently in the works with Soleil Moon Frye playing an older Punky as a single mother who encounters a young girl who reminds her of herself. (Variety)
  • The Good Place has already been renewed for a fourth season, but it is already being planned as the last season as well. (Hollywood Reporter)
  • Alec Baldwin says he's "so done" with playing Trump on Saturday Night Live, but given that he has said that before, he may not be serious. (Rolling Stone) 
  • The Ranch is coming to an end at Netflix. (Variety)
  • With solid ratings for Live in Front of a Studio Audience, ABC is considering making it a sort of recurring thing. (Deadline)
  • James Holzhauer may have fallen just short of beating Ken Jennings Jeopardy record earnings, but Jennings believes it is inevitable that there will be some sort of tournament where he goes head to head with Holzhauer. (ABC News)
  • It's almost time for a little more Christmas at Hallmark, where you can enjoy all of your favorite Christmas movies (except the ones with Lori Loughlin now, presumably) for over 1/4 of the year. (SitcomsOnline) 

WEEKLY PLANNER (JUNE 8 - JUNE 14)
Barnaby Jones
  • This weekend on Decades, it's Barnaby Jones.
  • On ABC, the summer lineup of game shows has several season and series premieres throughout the week. 
  • The sixth season of Younger, the last holdout of the original series at TV Land, debuts Wednesday night.
  • The fourth season of Baskets debuts Thursday on FX.

Tuesday, April 02, 2019

Netflix Schedules Applegate & Cardellini Comedy; NBC Adds More to Summer 2019 Schedule

Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini star in the all-new Netflix Original Series, Dead to Me, an addictive dark comedy launching globally Friday, May 3, 2019 for 10 episodes. We first announced the comedy last year. Jen (Christina Applegate) is a sardonic widow determined to solve her husband's recent hit-and-run murder. Judy (Linda Cardellini) is an optimistic free spirit who's recently suffered her own tragic loss. When the two women meet at a support group, they become unlikely friends despite their polar-opposite personalities. But as they bond over bottles of wine, Entenmann's cookies and a shared affinity for The Facts of Life, Judy desperately tries to shield Jen from a shocking secret that could destroy her life as she knows it. Dead to Me, created by Liz Feldman (2 Broke Girls, One Big Happy), is an addictive dark comedy that dives into the painfully unfiltered, weirdly funny waters of grief, loss and forgiveness.

From creator and executive producer Liz Feldman, Dead to Me stars Christina Applegate (Jen), Linda Cardellini (Judy), James Marsden (Steve), Ed Asner (Abe) and Brandon Scott (Nick). Jessica Elbaum (Gloria Sanchez Prods.), Christie Smith and Christina Applegate also serve as executive producers, in addition to Adam McKay and Will Ferrell for Gloria Sanchez Productions.


The InBetween

NBC continues to lock in its summer schedule with the series premiere of new drama The InBetween as well as the return of top-rated newsmagazine Dateline NBC on its new night and popular alternatives series The Wall and Hollywood Game Night. This is all in addition to the tentpoles that were announced. New drama The InBetween premieres Wednesday, May 29 from 10-11 p.m. ET/PT. Harriet Dyer, Anne-Marie Johnson, Cindy Luna, Chad James Buchanan, Justin Cornwell and Paul Blackthorne star. Dateline NBC premieres Monday, June 10 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It will also continue to air Friday nights. The Wall returns on Thursday, June 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT (one-time episode at 9 p.m. on June 20 as well). LeBron James, Chris Hardwick, Maverick Carter and Andrew Glassman executive produce.

And finally, Hollywood Game Night premieres Thursday, July 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Hollywood Game Night, hosted by Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Jane Lynch, returns for a sixth season with a variety of actors, performers and familiar faces, including The Good Place's Jameela Jamil, D'Arcy Carden and Marc Evan Jackson; World of Dance's Derek Hough and NE-YO; This Is Us stars Chris Sullivan, Jon Huertas and Susan Kelechi Watson; Superstore's Ben Feldman, Colton Dunn, Lauren Ash and Nico Santos; American Ninja Warrior hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila; and NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt as well as Amanda Seales, Joel McHale, Kal Penn, Laverne Cox, Rob Riggle and Sasheer Zamata, among many others.

Monday, March 11, 2019

People Gets Syndicated Series for Fall 2020; Emmy Winner Michael Schur Reups with Universal Television

People Tv - Meredith

PEOPLE will launch a daily syndicated show in Fall of 2020 that will air on all 17 Meredith (www.meredith.com) local television stations across the US. The new PEOPLE half-hour weeknight program will highlight the most popular features from PEOPLE, including entertainment news, exclusive interviews, feature stories, beauty, crime and much more. The show will be produced by Four M Studios, Meredith's in-house television production company. Meredith's Local Media Group includes 17 television stations reaching 11 percent of U.S. households. Meredith's portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation's Top 25 and 13 in Top 50 markets including Atlanta, Phoenix, St. Louis, Portland (Oregon), and Nashville. The group currently airs a 30-minute weekend show from PEOPLE called PEOPLE Now Weekend. The new PEOPLE weeknight show, which will begin airing in 2020, will air in addition to PEOPLE Now Weekend.


Michael Schur

Two-time Emmy and Peabody Award winner Michael Schur, one of the most creative and respected minds in television and a writer-producer on some of the most critically acclaimed shows in history, has reupped his overall deal with Universal Television with a multi-year contract. Schur is currently executive producer on two of NBC's most popular and beloved comedies, The Good Place and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and will also serve as an executive producer on the upcoming comedy Abby's, which premieres Thursday, March 28.

Schur began as a writer on Saturday Night Live and spent seven seasons on the iconic late-night series, including three as producer of "Weekend Update" with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. He won his first Emmy at SNL in 2002 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. Soon after SNL, Schur was instrumental in launching NBC's comedy The Office as a writer-producer and won his second Emmy when the series won in 2006 for Outstanding Comedy Series. Schur was nominated twice for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the episodes "Christmas Party" and "The Negotiation." Fans of The Office also know Schur in front of the camera as Mose Schrute, who was Dwight Schrute's ghoulish, bearded, beet-farming cousin.

Following The Office, Schur co-created the beloved comedy series Parks and Recreation and was executive producer for the show's seven-season run. Parks and Recreation was Emmy nominated twice for Best Comedy Series and Schur was nominated for Outstanding Writing for Comedy Series in 2014 for the episode "Win, Lose or Draw." After Parks and Recreation, Schur co-created Brooklyn Nine-Nine and executive produced the Netflix series Master of None, which stars Golden Globe Award winner Aziz Ansari and is produced by Universal Television. He most recently created and showruns The Good Place, now in production for its fourth season.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, October 2

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 28)

Friday, October 2

  • Lauren Lapkus (Stuart Fails to Save the Universe/Crashing/Clipped/Are You There, Chelsea?) - Watch Lauren on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Jon Hamm (Grimsburg/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) - Jon appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Sabrina Impacciatore (The Paper) - Sabrina is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Caroline Rhea (Sydney to the Max/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch/Pride & Joy) and Tommy Davidson (The Varnell Hill Show/The Proud Family/Malcolm & Eddie/Between Brothers) - Caroline and Tommy will be on a repeat of Funny You Should Ask at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Danielle Brooks (Close Enough) - NBC's Today catches up with Danielle in the 10am hour.
  • Zach Braff (Scrubs/Alex, Inc.) and Donald Faison (Scrubs/Extended Family/The Exes/Clueless) - Zach and Donald talk about Scrubs with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. Donald chats about Scrubs on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray) The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray) Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/20/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

10/02 - Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head Season 4 Launch; Anthony Anderson Returns to Soul Train Awards
10/01 - Ted: The Animated Series Premieres December 17 on Peacock; Trailer for Apple TV's Small Prophets
09/30 - AMC Orders Charlie Sheen and Martin Sheen Sitcom; Netflix's The One About Matthew Perry Documentary Series
09/29 - Michael Che's Third Netflix Special; Remembering Dennis Haskins of Saved by the Bell
09/28 - Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special; AMC Announces New York Comic Con Panels for 2026
09/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 28, 2026)
09/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Seth Meyers Developing The Game Room for NBC; Glee Reboot Script Written
09/25 - Apple TV's 2026 Holiday Lineup; First Look at SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of
09/24 - Netflix Announces Final Season for A Man on the Inside; Jamie Foxx Hulu Comedy Special Trailer
09/23 - Disney+ Orders New Darkwing Duck Series; Great American Christmas 2026 with 18 New Holiday Movies
09/22 - Who Is Martin Mull? Netflix Documentary; Dancing with the Stars 2-Night Premiere Scores Big
09/21 - JoAnna Garcia Swisher to Join New Netflix Series; AMC Announces New Family Drama for 2027
09/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 21, 2026)
09/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: David Hyde Pierce Set to Star in Untitled NBC Sitcom; American Idol Moves to Atlanta
09/18 - South "America" Season 29 After 16th Emmy Win; HBO Max Orders Drama Series with Ray Romano and Kaley Cuoco
09/17 - They're Back on Call! Scrubs Season 2 Trailer; HBO's Kate Berlant Comedy Special
09/16 - AMC+ Half-Hour Drama Series Yaga Premieres October 23; Roku's Comedy Film with Kristin Cavallari
09/15 - 78th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Netflix Announces Additional Cast for This Summer Will Be Different
09/14 - Scooby-Doo: Origins Wraps Production for 2027 Release; The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris & Malcolm Gladwell Season 2
09/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 14, 2026)
09/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: South Park (or South America?) Returns September 16; City of Los Angeles Prepared for Second Season of Baywatch Reboot
09/11 - Nobody Wants This Season 3 Returns October 22; Sam Morrill Is Incorrect for Netflix
09/10 - NBC's 78th Emmy Awards Presenters Include Charlie's Angels Reunion; Apple TV's The Sisters Grimm Returns October 2
09/09 - UPtv's Most Uplifting Christmas Ever Includes The Rookie; Netflix Continues The Inbetweeners
09/08 - Abbott Elementary School House Rock Episode; NBC's Newlyweds First Look
09/07 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2026 Include Alice's 50th Anniversary
09/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 7, 2026)
09/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at Newlyweds; Fox Orders Comedy from Modern Family Co-Creator
09/04 - Fox Orders Mammoth, Comedy from Modern Family Producers; Peacock's Fan Level Midnight: Devoted to The Office Docuseries
09/03 - Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Cast; Disney Comedy Vampirina: Teenage Vampire Returns October 6
09/02 - Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween 2026 Schedule; Great Entertainment Television's Walker, Texas Ranger Labor Day Marathon
09/01 - BET's Lot Patrol Bonus Episodes; Netflix Renews Tires for Season 4