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Bob's Burgers - Sundays 8:30PM ET/PT on Fox
Premieres Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 8:30PM ET/PT

By skees53

What do you get one risk-taking entrepreneur wants to make it to the top of the small business world? Bob's Burgers, the newest animated series to join the Sunday night lineup on Fox. Bob lives out his dream by running his own burger business, appropriately called Bob's Burgers, where he uses (or perhaps abuses) his wife Linda (John Roberts) and three children, Louise (Kristen Schaal), Gene (Eugene Mirman) and Tina (Dan Mintz) as the employees of the joint. It isn't the most smoothly run joint around, and disasters are abound everywhere in the place... but Bob is determined to prove that he has what it takes and come out on top in the end.


Cast Details:

* H. Jon Benjamin as Bob Belcher
* John Roberts as Linda Belcher
* Kristen Schaal as Louise Belcher
* Eugene Mirman as Gene Belcher
* Dan Mintz as Tina Belcher

H. Jon Benjamin (Bob Belcher) plays the patriarch of the family. He is known for many voiceover roles in other adult animated series, including his roles as Jason and Coach McGuirk in the series Home Movies, Benjamin (Dr. Katz's son) in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, and Sterling Archer in Archer. Additionally, he has played other guest roles on animated series including Family Guy, The Venture Brothers, Assy McGee, and Space Ghost Coast to Coast. He also had a regular role on the Comedy Central series Important Things with Demetri Martin and is working on a new sketch comedy show for the series called Jon Benjamin Has a Van.

John Roberts (Linda Belcher) is most certainly a male, but he plays the mother on this series. It isn't a role that he is necessarily new to, however. He has also played the role of Jimmy's mother on Late Night with Jimmy Falon. Much of Roberts' fame comes from his YouTube viral videos, including "The Christmas Tree" and "Jackie and Debra."

Kirsten Schaal (Louise Belcher) plays the youngest daughter of the family. Schaal is a comedian who does a lot of stand-up comedy, but is probably best known from her hilarious role of Mel, Bret and Jermaine's stalker/only fan on the HBO series Flight of the Conchords. She has also appeared on the Comedy Central series The Daily Show as a special commentator, and her movie credits include Dinner for Schmucks, Kate and Leopold, and Norbit, among many others. Additionally, she has appeared in guest roles on TV series including Modern Family, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Ugly Betty, How I Met Your Mother, and Mad Men. Finally, she was credited as a consultant and writer in the eleventh season of South Park.

Eugene Mirman (Gene Belcher) plays the son of the family, and also has a bit of fame from some of the same series as the other cast members. He played the landlord on HBO's Flight of the Conchords and also made appearances in Home Movies, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Third Watch, and more. He has also toured as an opener for the Flight of the Conchords and other stand-up comedy acts.

Dan Mintz (Tina Belcher) is another male in a female role, playing the eldest daughter of the Belcher family. Mintz is known as a stand-up comedian, but he is more known as a writer for comedy series, including Crank Yankers, Last Call with Carson Daly, The Andy Milonakis Show, and Important Things with Demetri Martin.


Pilot Plot:

#1 "Human Flesh"
Bob's Burgers is ready to open... then there is a series of disasters that stop it... but eventually, the business is up and running and Bob and the rest of the Belchers are ready to go. Or so they hope, at least. The first day starts out with Bob leaving the kids in charge of the restaurant while he and Linda go to the basement to grind the meat (meaning the hamburger, by the way). Tina has a rash in an unmentionable place, Louise wants to use the opportunity to run the restaurant as she sees fit, and Gene, well, he wants to be just plain obnoxious.

With the parents out of sight, the city health inspector comes in after hearing a report that the joint was serving human remains in their meat, mostly because little Louise decided that it would be awesome to tell her classmates that they served human remains in the burgers. The timing is even worse when Louise changes the special of the day to the "Child Molester Burger" and Tina is seen at the grill scratching herself uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, Bob and Linda are down in the basement and Linda gets a bit upset because Bob didn't remember that it was September 3rd--the date of their anniversary. Bob says that a special surprise is on the way, but when Linda goes upstairs, she finds a surprise that she didn't quite expect, the health inspector (also the man she was engaged to at one point in time) who actually DOES remember her anniversary (who could forget 9/3, because nine is divisible by three?). The health inspector is kind enough to not shut down the restaurant, but does put a warning label in the window that the restaurant "may serve" human flesh, and he puts a damper on the opening weekend by saying that he won't be able to test the meet to disprove the rumor until Monday.

Bob and Linda are determined to make it through this mess no matter what, including Bob intimidating the health inspector, Linda pretending to rekindle her old flame with him, and even offering $50 burgers to "adventure eaters" interested in actually eating human flesh. In the end, all turns out well for the burger joint, at least this time.


Analysis:

The pilot, "Human Flesh," is not exactly a well-done burger. The series isn't quite as bad as I thought that it would be, but a weekly series about running the burger joint just doesn't feel like it will work. It might be more interesting if they'd put in more of what goes on in the family home life, or added in other employees to create a more dynamic cast (the pilot focused almost exclusively on JUST the family, with the exception of the health inspection team).

The humor of the series isn't bad, but could use some improvement. Much of the humor comes from the youngest daughter, Louise, with her invention of the child molester burger, the fabrication of the rumor of the "human flesh," and other smaller moments such as trying to determine if older sister Tina is autistic by having her count toothpicks that fall on the floor (there are three in total). Still, there are no laugh-out-loud moments in the pilot, and it could definitely use some of those moments.

Not all is negative about the pilot, though. The family on the series is well-cast and they all work together very well. Even the males playing the female roles fit in to their roles very well. The series has a great family dynamic, but putting the family in a different environment besides just the family restaurant would be nice to see in some of the future episodes.


Conclusion:

The series COULD (and I stress, COULD) have potential to make it as a decent series, but the ins and outs of a burger joint are hardly enough to make an entire series. An episode of a series about running a burger joint could make a good episode, but I don't know where the humor and fresh "raw" material will come from in creating a weekly series that doesn't turn rotten. In the meantime, I'm going to take a cautious wait and see approach on the series.


Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

Watchability: 3.5/5
Funniness: 2.5/5
Overall: 3/5

Discuss the show after you watch it on Sunday, January 9 on our message board.

Related Links:

Fox.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Bob's Burgers Photo Gallery

It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars (but we won't cover movie stars like Tom Hanks or John Travolta, since they won't be talking about their past sitcoms likely), so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of Jan. 10-14, 2010, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, January 10, 2011

• Roseanne Barr (Roseanne) - Watch Roseanne continue to promote her book, this time on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Regina King (227) - Catch Regina on an all-new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC at 12:37am.
• Suzanne Somers (Three's Company/Step by Step/She's the Sheriff) - Catch Suzanne on NBC's Today Show and on a new LIVE! with Regis & Kelly so check your listings for time and station.
• The Cast of The Game - Watch the cast on a repeat of The Mo'nique Show at 11pm on BET but on a new episodes of The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET and your local stations! The series stars Tia Mowry.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

• Jerry O'Connell (Carpoolers) - Catch Jerry on an all-new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
• Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation/The Office) - Watch Rashida on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Roseanne Barr (Roseanne) - Roseanne will be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm PT-CT.
• The Cast of Let's Stay Together - After the sitcom premieres, catch the cast on The Mo'nique Show immediately following the premiere at 11:30pm on BET!
• Regina King (227) - Watch Regina on The Wendy Williams Show on BET at 12am or your local station.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

• Kevin James (The King of Queens) - Watch the now movie star on NBC's Today Show then on the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS at 11:35pm.
• Rico Rodriguez, Nolan Gould and Ariel Winter (Modern Family) - Watch the kids of the sitcom on an all-new Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC at 12:06am.
• David Duchovny (Californication) - Watch David on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS at 12:37am.
• Jerry O'Connell (Carpoolers) - Watch Jerry co-host with Kelly Ripa on LIVE! with Regis & Kelly, so check your listings.
• William Shatner ($#*! My Dad Says) - The legend will be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm PT-CT
• Courtney Thorne-Smith (Two and a Half Men/According to Jim) - Catch Courtney also on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm PT-CT.
• Suzanne Somers (Three's Company/Step by Step/She's the Sheriff) - Watch Suzanne this time on The Joy Behar Show at 9pm on HLN and then on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your listings or watch nationally on BET at 12am.
• Brad Garrett ('Til Death/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Watch big Brad on The Joy Behar Show on HLN at 9pm.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

• Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) - Watch the Emmy winner on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC at 11:35pm.
• Roseanne Barr (Roseanne) - Watch Roseanne this time on Tavis Smiley Show on PBS, so check listings for time.
• Ron Howard (Happy Days/The Andy Griffith Show) - Catch Ron on NBC's Today Show then in late night on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central at 11pm.
• David Duchovny (Californication) - Watch David this time on Lopez Tonight on TBS at 12am.
• Kevin James (King of Queens) - Watch Kevin on LIVE! with Regis & Kelly, check listings.
• Terry Crews (Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Watch Mr. Crews on The Wendy Williams Show on BET at 12am or your local affiliate as well.

Friday, January 14, 2011

• Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown) - Watch Candice on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC at 12:37am.
• David Duchovny (Californication) - Watch David on The Tavis Smiley Show on PBS so check when it airs in your market.
• Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Doogie Howser MD) - Watch Neil on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
• Tatyana Ali (Love That Girl!/Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) - Watch Tatyana on The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET or your local station.

Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Friday feature! We do listen!

The TCA (Television Critics Association) Winter 2011 press tour is on day two of their three day tour for cable networks. Up today at the TCA press tour will be Turner Broadcasting, BET, Playboy, Discovery Networks, and OWN Network.
Before we get into today's sessions, we want to let you know of the few late breaking items from day one. Yesterday we told you about Hot in Cleveland's cross-ver event with All My Children, now we have some more guest star updates for Hot in Clevelend! Celebrities Peri Gilpin, (Frasier), Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!), Jon Lovitz (The Simpsons), Isaiah Mustafa ("The Old Spice Guy"), Darnell Williams (All My Children) and John Ducey (Jonas) have been tapped as guests stars for the first 10 episodes of the second season of TV Land's original sitcom Hot in Cleveland, which returns Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. They join previously announced guest stars Mary Tyler Moore, Bonnie Franklin, Melanie Griffith, Carl Reiner, Wayne Knight, John Schneider, Sherri Shepherd, Susan Lucci, Michael E. Knight and Jack Wagner. It was also announced that Hot in Cleveland will return for another 10 new episodes on June 15, 2011 to complete its 20-episode second season order. The mid-season finale will air on March 23 before returning on June 15.
Also, TV Land celebrates Betty White's 89th birthday by giving stars and fans the opportunity to honor everyone's golden girl with birthday wishes and personal video messages via a birthday card that is on the Hot in Cleveland Facebook page. Join superstars Tina Fey, Joel McHale, Taylor Swift, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, Kristin Chenoweth, Jessica Walter and more along with fans around the world in wishing the incomparable Betty White a happy birthday. Visitors are invited to "Like" the page and post their messages and video birthday well wishes alongside their favorite celebrities including Betty's Hot co-stars Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves. The birthday card will be presented to Ms. White at her TV Land birthday bash happening in New York City on Tuesday, January 18, and a compilation of messages will be available for all to see on TVLand.com.
Finally fro TV Land, The 9th Annual TV Land Awards is moving to New York City! The star-studded celebration will honor Bill Cosby and the entire cast of The Cosby Show, Michael J. Fox and the cast of Family Ties and more talent to be announced soon. The show will tape and air in April 2011. The Cosby Show will receive The Impact Award at this year's show. This award is presented to a show that offered both entertainment and enlightenment, with comedy that reflected reality. Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Sabrina Le Beauf, Tempestt Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Raven Symone and even Lisa Bonet will all be in attendance. The Fan Favorite Award is being presented to the cast of Family Ties. The series, which won viewers' hearts, starred Michael J. Fox, Meredith Baxter, Michael Gross, Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers, who will all be on hand to accept the award.

Moving on to today's sessions, we will start with TNT. They were promoting two dramas launching in June. The first one, Franklin & Bash, stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Raising the Bar) and Breckin Meyer (Heroes) as two young, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants street lawyers who cause a seismic culture clash when they join a legendary, button-down law firm. Meyer plays Jared Franklin, who has a knack for connecting with jury and judge. Gosselaar is Steven Bash, who loves sticking it to authority every chance he gets. The series also stars Malcolm McDowell (Entourage) as the patriarch of the law firm. The second original series is Falling Skies starring Noah Wyle (ER) and is produced by DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg. In the wake of an all-out invasion of the planet by an alien military force, survivors have banded together outside major cities to fight back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers protect the people in their care while fighting an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force. TNT also had a panel for current series Men of a Certain Age, which stars Ray Romano and Scott Bakula and airs on Monday nights at 10pm.
Moving on to BET, they are promoting the return of The Game and new original sitcom Lets Stay Together. Both will launch on Tuesday (Jan. 11). Everyone is back on The Game as the series moves to BET after 2 years off. The series will be in its fourth season. Let's Stay Together is an urban romantic comedy set in Atlanta, GA circled around the lives of two successful adults who take an absurd step and leap-of-faith by blending their independent modern lives into the confines of a traditional marriage. The story follows Stacy Lawrence, a pediatrician who is engaged to Charles Whitmore, the contractor she hired to remodel her kitchen. Stacy and Charles have a fun, sexy, intense dynamic. However, six months in, some of the magic of finally finding a soulmate has worn off, and they find themselves constantly renegotiating their rules of cohabitation. In contrast, Stacy's super-fabulous younger sister Tasha and her husband Jamal act like an old married couple even though they're only in their twenties. Charles' earthy younger sister Kita, a proud employee of the DMV, is celebrating her independence by taking a break from dating while she explores all that life has to offer before she settles down.
These are the only notable items for today (don't think Playboy TV updates are for us). There will be even an Oprah Winfrey appearance at TCA today. What will she giveaway to critics?


The 37th Annual People's Choice Awards were held last night. Here are the winners for the television portion:

FAVORITE TV DRAMA
The Good Wife (CBS)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
House (Fox)
Gossip Girl (The CW)
The Vampire Diaries (The CW)
WINNER: House (Fox)

FAVORITE TV COMEDY
Modern Family (ABC)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Two and a Half Men (CBS)
Glee (Fox)
WINNER: Glee (Fox)

FAVORITE TV DRAMA ACTOR
Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy, ABC)
Hugh Laurie (House, Fox)
Taye Diggs (Private Practice, ABC)
Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries, The CW)
Chase Crawford (Gossip Girl, The CW)
WINNER: Hugh Laurie, House (Fox)

FAVORITE TV COMEDY ACTOR
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock, NBC)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory, CBS)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother, CBS)
Steve Carell (The Office, NBC)
Matthew Morrison (Glee, Fox)
WINNER: Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

FAVORITE TV DRAMA ACTRESS
Lisa Edelstein (House, Fox)
Blake Lively (Gossip Girl, The CW)
Julianne Margulies (The Good Wife, CBS)
Kate Walsh (Private Practice, ABC)
Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy, ABC)
WINNER: Lisa Edelstein, House (Fox)

FAVORITE TV COMEDY ACTRESS
Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother, CBS)
Courteney Cox (Cougar Town, ABC)
Jane Lynch (Glee, Fox)
Eva Longoria Parker (Desperate Housewives, ABC)
Tina Fey (30 Rock, NBC)
WINNER: Jane Lynch, Glee (Fox)

FAVORITE TV OBSESSION

Dexter, Showtime
Pretty Little Liars, ABC Family
Burn Notice, USA Network
White Collar, USA Network
True Blood, HBO
WINNER: Dexter (Showtime)

FAVORITE COMPETITION
American Idol (Fox)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Hell's Kitchen (Fox)
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
America's Got Talent (NBC)
WINNER: American Idol (Fox)

FAVORITE SCI-FI / FANTASY SHOW
Fringe (Fox)
Smallville (The CW)
Supernatural (The CW)
The Vampire Diaries (The CW)
True Blood (HBO)
WINNER: Fringe (Fox)

FAVORITE TALK SHOW HOST
Chelsea Handler, Chelsea Lately (E!)
Conan O'Brien, Conan (TBS)
Ellen DeGeneres, The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Syndicated, Warner Bros.)
Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Winfrey Show (Syndicated, CBS Television Distribution)
George Lopez, Lopez Tonight (TBS)
WINNER: Conan O'Brien

FAVORITE TV GUEST STAR
Betty White, Community (NBC)
Britney Spears, Glee (Fox)
Carrie Underwood, How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Demi Lovato, Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Neil Patrick Harris, Glee (Fox)
WINNER: Demi Lovato, Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

FAVORITE TV FAMILY (NEW!)
The Griffins, Family Guy (Fox)
The Harpers, Two and a Half Men (CBS)
The Pritchetts/Dunphys, Modern Family (ABC)
The Scavos, Desperate Housewives (ABC)
The Simpsons, The Simpsons (ABC)
WINNER: Simpson family, The Simpsons (Fox)

FAVORITE NEW TV DRAMA
Blue Bloods, CBS
Chase, NBC
The Defenders, CBS
Detroit 1-8-7, ABC
The Event, NBC
Hawaii Five-0, CBS
Hellcats, The CW
Law & Order: Los Angeles, NBC
Nikita, The CW
WINNER: Hawaii Five-0 (CBS)

FAVORITE NEW TV COMEDY
$#*! My Dad Says CBS
Better With You, ABC
Mike & Molly, CBS
No Ordinary Family, ABC
Outsourced, NBC
Raising Hope, Fox
Running Wilde, Fox
WINNER: $#*! My Dad Says (CBS)

The TCA (Television Critics Association) Winter 2011 press tour begins today with the first of three days for cable networks from Jan. 5-7. The broadcast networks will start on Monday (Jan. 10) with ABC, then Fox on Jan. 11, NBC on Jan. 13 and CBS and The CW on Jan. 14. PBS is in between on Jan. 8-9, but we will not cover them here. FX ends the press tour on Jan. 15.
Up today at the TCA press tour will be MTV Networks, TV Guide Network, National Geographic Networks, TV One, Weather Channel, ESPN and Comcast Entertainment Group.
For MTV Networks, we had TV Land, CMT among the networks. Yesterday we announced the TV Land February 2011 schedule and among the highlights were a two-part Hot in Cleveland episode airing Feb. 16 and 23. It's a cross-promotion! ABC Daytime and TV Land have joined forces to create an unprecedented network event where characters from ABC Daytime's All My Children and TV Land's Hot in Cleveland cross over to continue a storyline established on last season's Hot in Cleveland. The story revolves around Wendie Malick's character, Victoria Chase, and her industry-nemesis, Susan Lucci. The two-part Hot in Cleveland episodes will air on TV Land with guest stars Susan Lucci, Michael E. Knight and Darnell Williams on February 16 and 23 at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT, and the All My Children episode will air on ABC at 1:00 p.m., ET/12:00 p.m., PT on February 24 with guest star Wendie Malick. Meanwhile, CMT promoted their upcoming original sitcom Working Class (premieres Friday, Jan. 28) starring Melissa Peterman and Ed Asner. The show will also feature multiple guest stars throughout the season, including recently-announced Reba, whose on-screen reunion with Melissa Peterman will air in February. Additional guest stars include David Faustino (Married with Children), Kathy Kinney (The Drew Carey Show), Martin Mull (Roseanne), John Schneider (The Dukes of Hazzard), Ryan Stiles (Whose Line Is It Anyway) and Lesley Ann Warren (Desperate Housewives), as well as CMT's own Evan Farmer from CMT Top 20 Countdown.
TV One reminded everyone that their original sitcom Love That Girl premieres Monday (Jan. 10). Love That Girl! stars Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel Air) as Tyana, a young divorcee who returns home to Southern California for a second chance in life and a career in her father's real estate business. When her unemployed brother Latrell, an aspiring stand-up comedian, unexpectedly moves in with her, the world that she was trying to create is suddenly turned upside down, and life will never be the same. Meanwhile, TV One also announced a three-week event titled "Way Black When." Way Black When is TV One's Black History Month initiative. Over the course of three weeks, five nights per week, this high-energy one-hour talk show will showcase Black pop culture icons – actors, comedians, athletes, musicians, and many more --- from Black Power through Hip Hop. Guiding a live studio audience and television viewers on their trip back through 'blackness' will be three hosts who embody each decade's essence. Sinbad will conduct a fantastic voyage through the 70's; Niecy Nash keeps it moving and groovin' through the 80's; and Chris 'Kid' Reid picks up with 90's hip hop. Each night, guests who characterize the specific week's decade will be showcased along with a musical act and a comedian who provide the tunes and the tone of the time. We will have more info on this on our monthly TV One schedule highlights when February 2011 is announced.

Character actor Bill Erwin, whose nearly seven-decade Hollywood career included his memorable role as the grumpy old man on television's Seinfeld, has died. He actually died the morning of Dec. 29, 2010 at his home in suburban Los Angeles' Studio City, according to his son Mike Erwin in Jacksonville, OR. He died of age-related causes.
Erwin's Hollywood career dates back to 1941, when he appeared in the movie You're in the Army Now. His scores of credits include guest roles on The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, The Danny Thomas Show, Leave it to Beaver, Bachelor Father, The Andy Griffith Show, Mister Ed, Maverick, The Fugitive, Mannix, Perry Mason, My Three Sons, The Jeffersons, Dallas, The Waltons, Eight is Enough, Here Come the Brides, Mayberry R.F.D., Get Smart, The Golden Girls, Highway to Heaven, Moonlighting, Growing Pains, Just the Ten of Us, Punky Brewster, Married with Children, Full House, E/R, The Dukes of Hazzard, Wagon Train, The Rifleman, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Who's the Boss?, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Mad About You, Michael Richards Show, The Drew Carey Show, Grace Under Fire, Suddenly Susan, Cybill, Living Single, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The John Larroquette Show, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, Quantum Leap, So Little Time, Just Shoot Me!, The West Wing, Monk, The King of Queens, Everwood and his last TV appearance in 2006 on My Name is Earl. But his old man character Sid Fields on Seinfeld, which got him an Emmy nomination in 1993, is perhaps his most memorable role.
The only series he was a regular in was the short-lived CBS 1979 sitcom Struck by Lightning with Richard Stahl. The series lasted just 3 episodes. Mr. Erwin lived a long life and will be deeply missed. Nearly everyone must have seen him in at least one role. He just turned 96 last month.

We have also lost Ann Francis. Ms. Francis died on Sunday (Jan. 2, 2011) in Santa Barbara, CA. The cause was complications of pancreatic cancer, according to her daughter Jane Uemura. Ms. Francis had surgery and chemotherapy after she learned she had lung cancer in 2007. She was recurring on ABC's My Three Sons in 1971, but it was her title role on the ABC crime drama Honey West in 1965 that made her a name. She was nominated for an Emmy and won a Golden Globe for the role. She was a movie star in the '50s and '60s but when her movie career declined, Ms. Francis became active in television. She appeared in dozens of series, including Mission: Impossible, Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Route 66, Rawhide, The Untouchables, Cannon, Columbo, Charlie's Angels, Riptide, Simon & Simon, Fantasy Island, Dallas, CHiPs, Quince ME, Hawaii Five-0, The Love Boat, Crazy Like a Fox, Hardcastle and McCormick, Matlock, Jake and the Fatman, The Golden Girls, Murder She Wrote, Burke's Law, Wings, Home Improvement, The Drew Carey Show, Nash Bridges, Fantasy Island 99, and her last role in 2004 on Without a Trace.
She wasn't know for sitcoms, but she was quite a popular TV actor, mainly in dramas. Her TV series Honey West airs nationally on the Me-TV Network. As a tribute this Saturday (Jan. 8) at 8 PM ET/7PM CT (through 2am ET/1am CT), Me-TV Network will honor award-winning actress Anne Francis with a special tribute. Francis, whose career spanned more than 50 years, was known for her prolific work in both film and television. This tribute carries on the Me-TV tradition of paying homage to the lives and careers of classic TV stars. The Me-TV tribute begins and ends with the crime-drama Honey West, featuring Francis in the starring role as a sultry and resourceful private eye who uses James Bond-like methods to solve her cases. The show, produced by Aaron Spelling, won Francis a Golden Globe. Francis was also a frequently featured guest-star on many of Me-TV's western and crime dramas. Saturday's tribute includes several of these classic TV appearances sandwiched in between four episodes of Honey West, these classic TV appearances are from Cannon, Rawhide, Gunsmoke and The Untouchables.
Ms. Francis will be deeply missed. She was a gifted actress. Ms. Francis was 80.

TV Land has announced the February 2011 schedule and highlights. TV Land will only make one schedule change in February 2011 to its regular line-up. Returning to the schedule will be Boston Legal on Tuesday, Feb. 8, airing Tues-Fri at 8:00am replacing encores of All in the Family and Sanford & Son. Those two will still be seen weekdays in the 6pm hour and 7-9pm, respectively. Other than that, there are no schedule changes, but as usual we have plenty of stunts and marathons! TV Land's original comedy block continues on Wednesdays at 10pm with season two of Hot in Cleveland and season one of Retired at 35. Guests for the month on Hot in Cleveland include Sherri Shepherd, Carl Reiner, Jack Wagner, Melanie Griffith, Grady Sizemore, Susan Lucci, and Michael E. Knight. Guests for Retired at 35 in February include John O'Hurley and Fred Willard. As a reminder, the series both premiere on Wednesday, Jan. 19, as we previously mentioned. There will be catch-up marathons for both Hot in Cleveland (Sunday, Feb. 20 from 8pm-1am) and Retired at 35 (Saturday, Feb. 26 from 8-11pm) in February, in case you miss any episode!
Elsewhere, who needs the Super Bowl when you have the Connor Bowl! Watch 7 classic episodes of Roseanne against the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011 from 7pm-10:30pm with some encores airing until 12am! TV Land will do some cross-promotion as well with sister network CMT, by airing the pilot episode of CMT's original sitcom Working Class on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 8:30pm following an encore of Hot in Cleveland. TV Land will also air a special Black History Month special titled AfriCobra on Monday, February 7 at 8:30pm leading into the Monday movie.
TV Land movie premieres for February are Trading Places, Something's Gotta Give, and 1941. Encore airings for the month are Ghost and Ghostbusters. That's about it for February, but there are some one-time-only time adjustments such as Bewitched on a few weekends.
View and discuss the full TV Land February 2011 schedule and highlights.

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today the television and motion picture nominations for the 2011 Producers Guild Awards. The winners in each category will be announced at the Producers Guild Awards ceremony on Saturday, January 22nd at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Additionally, the Guild will pay tribute to several special individual honorees during the 22nd Annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony including Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television).

The television nominees are:

The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy:
30 Rock (NBC)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Glee (Fox)
Modern Family (ABC)
The Office (NBC)

The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama:
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Dexter (Showtime)
Lost (ABC)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)

The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television:
Murder on the Orient Express (PBS)
Pillars of the Earth (Starz)
Temple Grandin (HBO)
The Pacific (HBO)
You Don’t Know Jack (HBO)

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television:
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Travel Channel)
Deadliest Catch (Discovery Channel)
Intervention (A&E)
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo)
Undercover Boss (CBS)

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment and Competition Television:
The Amazing Race (CBS)
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
Project Runway (Lifetime)
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
Top Chef (Bravo)

TV One has made some schedule changes for January 2011 that start today! Half & Half replaces The Hughleys on the weekday schedules in the 9am hour, as that series is now totally off the schedule. NY Undercover moves to 10am replacing original series encores. Another hour of The Jeffersons is added in the 2pm hour replacing an hour of Judge Karen's Court. In the 3pm hour, Sanford & Son now doubles up in the hour as Between Brothers is removed at 3:30pm. Judge Karen's Court moves to the 4pm hour replacing NY Undercover, while another hour of Amen now airs in the 5pm hour replacing Half & Half, which now moves to 6pm replacing the evening airings of Judge Karen's Court. The evening/late night schedule remains as is with popular series Good Times, Martin, A Different World, and Living Single from 7pm until 3am.
The Saturday morning schedule will change a bit come this Saturday (Jan. 8) as well. Like Family remains in the 6am hour, but the 7am hour will now be Half & Half, replacing All Of Us. Then from 8am-10am, an hour each of The PJs and Martin will remain, but the 10am hour will have Sanford & Son instead of Good Times, which moves to the 11am hour replacing That's My Mama! which is now off the schedule.
TV One launches the second season of their original sitcom Love That Girl on Monday, Jan. 10, airing Mondays at 9pm for 26 all-new episodes. The series' first season of four episodes will re-air this week (Jan. 4-7) from Tues-Fri at 9pm. A Martin marathon from 12pm-9pm will be the lead-in to the season premiere at 9pm on Jan. 10. Tatyana Ali stars as Tyana Jones in Love That Girl! Tyana is a recent young divorcee returning to Southern California in search of new independence, a new career and a brand new chapter in her life. The series will air in a block on Mondays from 9-11pm.
Besides the Martin stunt on Jan. 10, there will be plenty of other sitcom stunts in January! On Saturday, January 8, it's a Living Single marathon from 12pm-8pm with an encore from 10am-5:30am. On Sunday, Jan. 9, it's a multiple episode marathon of two or three or even four-part episodes of Martin and Good Times from 10:30pm-5:30am in late night. On Sunday, Jan. 30, from 12pm-7pm we have another marathon of Martin that focuses on love leading into an encore block of Love That Girl.
Stay tuned for TV One's February 2011 highlights in the next week few weeks as they celebrate Black History month with classics again like The Flip Wilson Show and The Richard Pryor Show!

We previously told you that Syfy will have a marathon of The Green Hornet on Tuesday, Jan. 10 of all 26 episodes, and that is still happening, but now over-the-air digital network Me-TV has also added a marathon! Me-TV Network will air the marathon a day after the new film premieres at the box office on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011. The marathon will have all 26 episodes as well airing from 11am-12am. As of now, the national Me-TV Network is available in Chicago, Milwaukee, and South Bend. More affiliates will be on the way, but as of this writing, we are not sure if any more will be added by the time this marathon airs. We will let you know of any affiliate updates for Me-TV as soon as we get them!

Happy New Year from all of us at SitcomsOnline.com! We have an abbreviated version of our news and upcoming preview of next week's home media releases (not our fault; by no surprise, this has been our slowest news week so far since we started this feature), but we'll also have our sixth annual Sitcoms on DVD Preview, looking ahead at 2011! Let's get going!

DIGITAL NEWS

There is only one real piece of news this week, but fans of animated series are sure to appreciate it! We've met the Flintstones on DVD with all six seasons having been released, and we've met George Jetson and his family a little bit with the two releases of that series that have been released so far. But in 1987 they met each other in a movie called The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones. Made at the height of the "Jetson fever" of the mid to late 80s (which also sparked a revival of the original series), the movie shows what happens when the two families meet up with each other in Bedrock. But why are we talking about all of this here? Well, there is a good reason for that... it is on the release slate from Warner Archive! We don't know exactly when it'll be released or any details yet, but when we do know more, we'll let you know!

UPCOMING WEEK PREVIEW

Just as our news is slow, there is basically very little coming to DVD on Tuesday (January 4). But there is one release of note, and that is Mannix - The Fourth Season. The six disc set, which we will be reviewing very soon in Digital Digest, comes at a $54.99 MSRP from CBS Home Entertainment.

LOOKING AHEAD

It has been an incredibly slow week this week, and we really hope to make it up to you next week! With everybody getting back to the regular nine-to-five work schedule on Monday (including public relations employees for the media studios, of course!), we should hopefully have a flood--or at least a decent trickle--of news for you next week. Look for reviews of Mannix, Dragnet, and more in the upcoming weeks. And we'll also keep you updated on some of the online video streaming services where you can watch some of your favorite series. Until then, keep it digital!

2011 SITCOMS ON DVD PREVIEW

Welcome to our 6th Annual Sitcoms on DVD Preview and Predictions Issue! First, we will take a look at some of the releases that have been officially announced or rumored to be coming to DVD in 2011. Then we will offer some of our own predictions of some new and returning sitcoms that we feel have some chance to be released later this year.

Making their debut on DVD in 2011 will be Car 54, Where Are You?, Dennis the Menace, I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, Hot in Cleveland, Webster and Women of the House. Hopefully we will have news on many more new releases in the upcoming months.

Returning favorites that have been announced include All in the Family, California Dreams, Coach, The Donna Reed Show, Father Knows Best, Growing Pains, Hannah Montana, Here's Lucy, iCarly, Leave it to Beaver, The Lucy Show, Nurse Jackie, Rules of Engagement, Spin City, Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Weeds.

The links below go to Amazon.com where you can pre-order these titles at some nice discounts. We are an affiliate of Amazon.com and receive a commission for each sale. Please consider ordering through our links. Thanks for your support!

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January 2011:



01/04 - iCarly - Season 2, Volume 2

The iCarly madness continues with Season 2, Volume 2! Included in this set - the "iFight Shelby Marx" TV movie special, Sam's surprising confession of having shared a kiss with Freddie, Carly's bad-boy boyfriend dilemma, and so much more! The 2-disc set has a running time of 432 minutes and will include some behind-the-scenes extras.



01/11 - All in the Family - The Complete Eighth Season

Dingbats, Meatheads, Little Ghouls, and Arrrrrchie can’t be stifled anymore! The eighth season of the classic Norman Lear sitcom All in the Family is now available on DVD in a three-disc set from Shout! Factory.

In the next to last season, Archie quits his nine-to-five job to become a five-to-nine entrepreneur after Kelsey sells his bar (and struggles to succeed as an entrepreneur), Edith celebrates her 50th birthday in the worst way possible, Archie becomes a member of the KKK (not intentionally), Beverly LaSalle returns and leaves (for good), and Mike gets a new job that may break up the family dynamic. Let’s take a look at those days!

Read our review of All in the Family - The Complete Eighth Season.



01/11 - Hiccups - Season One

Though wildly successful in her career, Millie is socially unpredictable. She is prone to sudden outbursts of laughter, sadness and rage. All traits that life coach Stan tries to subdue, her publisher Joyce fails to keep under wraps and her slick but useless agent is too self-centred to notice. Meanwhile Crystal, a highly opinionated young slacker receptionist at Millie's publishing company, Haddison House, doesn't do much for the company's image. Stan finds life-support in his wide-eyed and slightly bewildered wife, Anna, who does her best to support his impractical dream of becoming a life coach.

Entertainment One releases the first season of the Canadian (CTV) sitcom. The 2-disc set has a running time of 286 minutes and includes 13 episodes.



01/11 - Hot in Cleveland - Season One

America's hottest sitcom is now on DVD! When three best friends from Los Angeles (Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick) unexpectedly find themselves in Cleveland, they are thrilled to discover – THEY’RE HOT. Loving their new home, the women find themselves living under one roof and battling feisty, quick-witted caretaker (Betty White). Join the girls on their Cleveland escapades in this complete season one set. Free Elka!

Special Features:

Original Full Length Pilot Episode
Retired at 35 Pilot
How’d They Get So Hot? Wardrobe on the Set
Victoria’s Japanese “Lady Pants” Commercial
Hot in Cleveland Set Tour
Hot in Cleveland Cast: We Love Our Age
Bloopers



01/11 - Rules of Engagement - The Complete Fourth Season

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment releases the fourth season on a 2-disc set that runs 390 minutes. No special features have been announced. The CBS sitcom Patrick Warburton, Megyn Price, Oliver Hudson, Bianca Kajlich, David Spade and Adhir Kalyan.



01/11 - Spin City - Volume One

10 Hilarious Episodes From Season One!

Spin City is a smart, sophisticated ABC sitcom about the behind-the-scenes workings of City Hall in the biggest city in America. Workaholic Mike Flaherty (Michael J. Fox) is the Deputy Mayor of New York City, serving as Mayor Randall Winstons (Barry Bostwick) key strategist and much-needed handler.

Mike runs the city with the help of his oddball staff: an anxious and insecure press secretary (Richard Kind); an impeccably groomed gay activist running minority affairs (Michael Boatman); a sharp and efficient, man-crazy assistant (Connie Britton); a sexist, boorish chief of staff (Alan Ruck); and an idealistic young speechwriter (Alexander Chaplin). Like Mike, they are all professionally capable but personally challenged

Spin City - The Complete Fourth Season will be released on February 15.



01/18 - 18 to Life - Season One

18 to Life is a comedy about two middle-class neighbors with opposing points of view who are forced to come together when their teenage kids run off and get married. True love is complex but one thing is clear: newlyweds plus oldyweds equals comedy.

eOne releases the 12 episodes from the first season on a 2-disc set that has a running time of 264 minutes. The show airs on CBC in Canada. TheCW aired the first 6 episodes in the U.S. in the summer.



01/18 - California Dreams - Season 4

Life, love, fun in the sun...midterms? It isn't all beach and burgers for the California Dreams, but whatever the obstacles, they'll take it on together. Breakups, bad luck, stolen songs, beach cleanup and high school high jinks take Jake (Jay Anthony Franke), Tiffani (Baywatch's Kelly Packard), Tony (William James Jones), Sam (Jennie Kwan), Sly (Michael Cade), Mark (Aaron Jackson) and Lorena (Diana Uribe) through another rocking season of rolling with the punches.

This release, which contains 15 episodes, is available exclusively through Shout! Factory's online store.



01/18 - My Two Dads - You Can Count on Me!

Old School Charm for the Whole Family!
Featuring 10 Feel-Good Episodes from this 80s hit show!
"...endearing and enduring entertainment." - Christel Loar, PopMatters.com

It is often said that two is better than one. And for a young girl named Nicole Bradford, the old adage would be put to the test. With the untimely death of her mother, she learned that her mom had been splitting her romantic time between two men, and upon her death, both were awarded custody of the girl. Such was the premise of the television sitcom, My Two Dads.

This feel-good family sitcom promises to put a smile on your face with each episode! When 12-year old Nicole Bradford is left orphaned by her mother's passing, Judge Margaret Wilbur places her in the custody of two quarreling former best friends, both of whom are suspected of being her biological father: conservative financial advisor Michael Taylor (Paul Reiser, Mad About You) and liberal artist Joey Harris (Greg Evigan, TekWar). The mix-ups of two single straight men raising a teen-aged daughter provided the story each week.

Mill Creek Entertainment is releasing this one disc set. Let's hope Shout! Factory will release the third and final season on DVD soon.



01/25 - Webster - Season One

Emmanuel Lewis stars as the innocent and adorable Webster Long. When newlyweds George Papadapolis (Alex Karras) and Katherine Calder-Young Papadapolis (Susan Clark) return home from their whirlwind wedding, they discover they are the legal guardians of seven-year-old Webster, the only child of the recently deceased best friend of George. George, a retired football player now sports caster, and Katherine, a socialite and philanthropist, are the perfectly hilarious odd parents learning how to raise a child, often with the help of Katherines highbrow secretary, Jerry (Henry Polic II). Both a touching portrait of an unconventional family and a joyful ride through childhood adventures, Webster is a classic of 80s television.

Created by Stu Silver and produced by real-life husband and wife Alex Karras and Susan Clark, Webster premiered September 16, 1983, and ran for six seasons (the first four on ABC and the last two in first-run syndication) from 1983-1989.

Special Features:

* Interview With Alex Karras and Susan Clark
* Webster Trivia Game

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February 2011:



02/15 - Spin City - The Complete Fourth Season

Michael J. Fox reprises his role as New York City’s Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty, who acts as the slick support system to newly announced Senatorial candidate Mayor Randall Winston (Barry Bostwick). But with a Senate seat on the line and a city to run, Mike is forced to hire a (blonde and beautiful) campaign manager to help lighten the load.

Heather Locklear joins the Spin City cast as sophisticated and sexy campaign manager Catlin Moore who partners up with Mike. Together they become a combustible pairing who for some reason can’t seem to get out of each other’s way. Meanwhile, Mike’s staff are forced to adjust to a new kink in the office hierarchy.

While it would not be the last we would see of Mike Flaherty, Season Four would be Michael J. Fox’s final season as a Spin City regular and would earn him his career fourth Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

Shout Factory's 4-disc set includes 26 original episodes! A variety of great guest stars include Heidi Klum, Nipsey Russell, Amy Irving, Regis Philbin, Christine Taylor, Meredith Vierra, Star Jones, Lisa Ling, Joy Behar, Judah Friedlander, Michael Gross and Patrick Ewing.



02/22 - Tyler Perry's House of Payne - Volume Six (Episodes 101-124)

Tyler Perry's award-winning television show, Episodes 101-124! "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" delivers uplifting good humor and keen insights into the modern family. See why "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" has earned millions of devoted fans. These Paynes definitely bring gains! Bring the series home today and extend the benefits to your family.



Car 54, Where Are You? - The Complete First Season

Many critics and comedians believe that CAR 54 Where Are You? is one of the best comedy series ever to appear on television. Leonard Maltin calls it "one of the funniest TV shows of all time." Carol Burnett, who worked with the show's creator Nat Hiken, called him a comedy genius. In Carl Reiner's words, "All comedy writers of Hiken's day agreed that he had no peer." Long out of circulation, this brilliant show can now be discovered by new generations who will have a chance to view it for the first time. In celebration of the series' 50th anniversary, Shanachie Entertainment will be releasing all 30 episodes of the first season as a 4-disc DVD package on February 22, 2011 (SRP: $39.98). This is the first time the shows have ever been on DVD, now newly remastered from the only known set of 35 mm fine grain prints.

Specifically shot as a bonus extra for this release is a brand-new free-wheeling round table conversation between Bronx-raised comedian Robert Klein and two of the regular cast members: Charlotte Rae, who played Sylvia Schnauser, and Hank Garrett, who played Officer Ed Nicholson, one of the cops of the 53rd precinct. Rae and Garrett share stories, anecdotes and memories with Klein (a fan of Hiken's work) that shed light on what went on behind the scenes. (Complete Press Release)



02/22 - Nurse Jackie - Season Two (Blu-ray)

REAL LIFE CAN BE HARD TO SWALLOW. Delve deeper into the chaotic life of Jackie Peyton, as Lionsgate releases the second season of the acclaimed series Nurse Jackie to DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Four-time Primetime Emmy Award-winner Edie Falco stars as Jackie, a quick-witted and deeply flawed emergency room nurse with more than a few secrets. For her, every day is a high wire act of juggling patients, doctors, fellow nurses and her own indiscretions.

In the second season of this Emmy Award-winning series, Jackie struggles to keep up as functioning addict, a loving wife and mother and a first-class nurse. Falco leads an accomplished supporting cast - including Eve Best (TV's Prime Suspect: The Final Act), Peter Facinelli (The Twilight Saga), Paul Schulze (TV's Law & Order) and Merritt Wever (Michael Clayton). The Nurse Jackie: Season Two DVD and Blu-ray Disc bonus materials examine all 12 episodes with creator and actor commentaries and two innovative featurettes on the characters of Dr. Cooper and Dr. O'Hara, and the actors who portray them.

The series "straddles the worlds of drama and comedy with confidence and gutsy gusto," (TV Guide), and the sophomore season further explores the delicate balance of Jackie's personal and professional lives, and what she needs to do to keep up appearances. Critics and audiences alike are addicted to Nurse Jackie, boosting viewership in the second season from an already record-breaking Season One.



02/22 - Weeds - Season Six (Blu-ray)

Let's blow this joint! Pot-selling soccer mom Nancy Botwin (Golden Globe Winner Mary-Louise Parker) takes her family on the run in the sixth season of the Showtime Original Series of Weeds. Season 6 of this critically acclaimed series is more subversive, more hilarious, and more addictive than ever. Includes the complete Season 6 with all 13 episodes on 3-discs (2-disc Blu-ray) and is loaded with special features!

Special Features:

Commentary with writer Jenji Kohan, cast, and crew
"Showdown" Featurette with Justin Kirk and Kevin Nealon
Cast and crew answer fan questions
Behind the scenes featurette
Gag Reel

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March 2011:



03/01 - Leave it to Beaver - Season Six

The Final Season! 6-Disc Set featuring 39 original episodes! An American Classic! Firmly entrenched in pop culture. Timeless, innocent entertainment suitable for all ages. Restored and re-mastered from brand-new high-definition transfers of the original film elements.

Shout! Factory's 6-disc release will run 858 minutes and includes a bonus Audio Interview with Tony Dow from the Shokus Internet Radio program Stu's Show.



03/08 - Hannah Montana - The Complete Fourth and Final Season

It's the final season of Hannah Montana, the show that redefined television and inspired a generation of young girls.

You've been part of Miley Stewart's life for four amazing years and have watched her grow up with her best friends Lilly and Oliver. Now it's senior year and Miley is at a crossroads. After all these years, does she still have the best of both worlds? Can she continue her alter ego, Hannah Montana, or will she leave it all behind to be an ordinary girl?

See the epic series finale and bring home this must own 2-disc DVD collection, including cast goodbyes and the exclusive final season alternate ending! Now join Miley, Lilly, Oliver, Robby Ray, Jackson, Rico and special guest stars Sheryl Crow, Cody Linley, Dolly Parton and more as they bring the groundbreaking and beloved series to a close.

Special Features:

28-Page Memory Book
Signed Photo of Hannah Montana
DVD-Exclusive Alternate Ending to the Series Finale
"Cast Goodbyes" Featurette
From Auditions to Wrap: The Cast Looks Back



03/15 - Coach - The Fourth Season

Go the whole nine yards with Primetime Emmy Award winner Craig T. Nelson as he returns to his beloved role as Hayden Fox in Season Four of Coach! This three-disc set includes all 21 hilarious episodes chronicling the professional and private life of the curmudgeonly coach of the Minnesota State Screaming Eagles football team. By his side are Assistant Coach Luther Van Dam and the devoted Christine Armstrong (Primetime Emmy nominees Jerry Van Dyke and Shelley Fabares).



03/29 - Dennis the Menace - Season One

Airing on CBS from '59-'63, Dennis the Menace is a TV series based on the popular and iconic Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name. The show follows the lives of the Mitchell family: Henry, Alice, and their only child, Dennis. Dennis is an energetic, well meaning, but trouble-prone boy...and sometimes a mischievous child. He often tangles with peace-and-quiet-loving neighbor, George Wilson. Available for the first time on any home entertainment format: all 32 original uncut episodes! Based on the iconic, long-running comic strip (which debuted in '51) and still runs daily in over 1,000 newspapers in 48 countries.



03/29 - Here's Lucy - Season Four

MPI Home Video releases all 24 color episodes, uncut and digitally remastered.

Special Features:

Exclusive Featurettes
Videotaped Introductions by Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr., Guest Stars and Production Personnel
Unreleased Home Movies
Behind-the-Scenes Footage
"Let's Talk to Lucy" - Long-Lost Radio Shows where Lucy Talks to Celebritites
Bloopers
Promos
Commercials
Special Footage

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April 2011:



04/26 - Growing Pains - The Complete Second Season

Congratulations...you're fired. Mike (Kirk Cameron) receives a car from his pleased parents after he's named Employee of the Month. (So how's he going to tell them he's been canned?) Mike's not the only one with secrets. Brainy Carol (Tracey Gold) wants everyone to think she has a romantic extracurricular life with a hunky football hero. And what's up with 10-year-old Ben (Jeremy Miller) and those 67 calls to a sex line? (No, it's not what you might think.) These events don't all happen at the same time, but they do all happen at the same place: the Season 2 home-sweet-ho-ho-home of the Seavers - dad Jason (Alan Thicke), mom Maggie (Joanna Kerns), and three on-the-go kids. Jason works as a psychiatrist. You think maybe it's time to add some family appointments to his calendar?

Warner Home Video's 3-disc set has a running time of 572 minutes. Show me that smile again!

04/26 - The Lucy Show - The Official Fourth Season

CBS DVD/Paramount will release the fourth season on April 26.

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Other Sitcoms Expected on DVD in 2011:

The Donna Reed Show - MPI Home Video has picked up the rights to the fourth and fifth seasons. The fourth season is expected to be released no earlier than mid-May. Congratulations to our message board member Jude The Obscure for starting the Facebook campaign to get these released.

Father Knows Best - Shout! Factory has begun the work on the sixth season. It will be a Shout! Factory Select release available only through their online store.

I'm Dickens, He's Fenster - Season 1, Volume 1 with 16 episodes is planned for a 2011 release.

Women of the House - The 1995 Designing Women spin-off starring Delta Burke, Teri Garr and Patricia Heaton is expected to come to DVD in May (although Amazon.ca has a listing for February 1st). The 3-disc set will contain all 12 episodes, including 4 which never aired on CBS.

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Special thanks to the fine folks at TVShowsOnDVD.com for the artwork and information in compiling this preview. Thanks also to our own Skees for our weekly Digital Digest. Preview compiled by Todd.

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2011 Predictions:

These are my predictions and opinions only for 2011. Some of them probably have zero chance, but I still have them on my wish list. None of these titles have been officially announced.

Some current shows that I expect to debut on DVD or have more seasons/volumes released include American Dad!, Are We There Yet?, Better with You, The Big Bang Theory, The Cleveland Show, Community, Cougar Town, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Family Guy, House of Payne, How I Met Your Mother, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Middle, Mike & Molly, Modern Family, The Office, Outsourced, Parks and Recreation, Raising Hope, Rules of Engagement, $#*! My Dad Says, The Simpsons, 30 Rock and Two and a Half Men,

Classic Shows Predictions:

According to Jim - Season 2 was finally released in May 2010. Let's hope that we don't have to wait that long for Season 3.
Alice - A Christmas episode was released on the Classic TV Christmas Collection . I think it would be an ideal on demand title.
Archie Bunker's Place - We may have to wait until All in the Family is finished, but I think we'll see the remaining seasons eventually.
Becker - I think we'll see Season 4 sometime in 2011. One season has been released every year.
Blossom - I'm surprised that it hasn't been available as a Shout! Factory Select title like Mr. Belvedere. Seasons 1-2 were released way back in January 2009. Mill Creek released a "best of" set in October 2010.
Boy Meets World - Season 4 was finally released in December 2010. Will that open the floodgates for the remaining seasons?
Brooklyn Bridge - There were rumors of a release in 2010 by the show's creator Gary David Goldberg in 2010, but it never materialized.
California Dreams - Season 4 will be released on January 18. Only one season remains to be released.
Coach - Season 4 will be released on March 15. Maybe we will get the remaining seasons a little quicker.
The Courtship of Eddie's Father - An episode was released on the Classic TV Christmas Collection . Season sets would be great to see.
Designing Women - Seasons 3-4 were released in 2010, so I would expect to see Seasons 5-6 in 2011.
Diff'rent Strokes - Shout! Factory picked up the rights to The Facts of Life and released 2 seasons in 2010. I hope they do the same with this one. RIP Gary Coleman.
8 Simple Rules - We are still waiting for the third and final season.
The Facts of Life - Seasons 4 and 5 were released in 2010. Hopefully we will have more of the same in 2011.
Family Matters - Season 1 was released in June. Let's hope that we see more Urkel and company.
Family Ties - Season 5 was released way back in March 2009. This series appears to be stalled, but let's hope they can pick up the pace in 2011.
Frank's Place - It has been mentioned as a possibility for a DVD release, although it would have music changed. It didn't happen in 2009-2010, so is this the year?
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 5 was finally released in May 2010. Only Season 6 is needed to complete the series.
George Lopez - Remains a big hit on Nick at Nite and George Lopez's Lopez Tonight is drawing viewers on TBS. It's time for more seasons Warner Brothers! Sheow!
Happy Days - Season 5 was released way back in December 2008, but it seems many CBS DVD/Paramount series have been stalled. Let's hope for more Happy Days in 2011. RIP Tom Bosley.
Hope & Faith - Season 1 was released but we are still waiting on Seasons 2-3 from Lionsgate.
It's Your Move - It would make an ideal 3-disc set from Shout! Factory. If there isn't already a Facebook campaign for it, I may start one for this Jason Bateman classic.
Laverne & Shirley - Another stalled series from CBS DVD/Paramount. Season 4 was released way back in April 2008.
Less Than Perfect - Season 1 was released in September. Hopefully this underrated series will have more seasons available in 2011.
Mad About You - Seasons 4 and 5 were released by Shout! Factory in 2010. Only Seasons 6 and 7 are needed to complete the series.
Mama's Family - A Christmas episode was released on the Classic TV Christmas Collection . Season 2 would be nice to see through WBShop.com .
Mr. Belvedere - Seasons 1-4 have been released. We're just waiting on Seasons 5-6 to complete the series.
Mister Ed - Seasons 2-4 were released in 2010, so it seems likely we'll see the remaining two seasons in 2011.
Mork & Mindy - Mork calling CBS DVD... come in CBS DVD... We only need the fourth season to complete the series.
My Favorite Martian - Season 3 was released several years ago in Australia, but it was never released in the U.S. There was supposed to be a release in 2010, but it hasn't happened yet.
My Three Sons - I think we'll see Season 3 released in 2011.
My Two Dads - Only the third season remains to be released by Shout! Factory. Mill Creek is releasing a 10 episode set on January 18.
My Wife and Kids - Season 2 was released in May 2010 after a long wait.
Night Court - Season 4 was released through the WBShop.com in September, but it was pulled due to some issues with the set.
Parker Lewis Can't Lose - Seasons 1 and 2 have been released. We're just waiting on the third season to complete the series.
Perfect Strangers - Warner Bros. now has a "best of" collection available on the On Demand service at Amazon.com . This could be a good sign that we'll eventually see the second season on DVD or maybe as part of WBShop's on demand store. We desperately need more Balki!
The Phil Silvers Show/Sgt. Bilko - Season 1 was released on July 27. Hope to see Season 2 in 2011.
Rhoda - Seasons 2-4 were released in 2010. Only Season 5 is needed to complete the series.
Silver Spoons - It would make a nice Shout! Factory Select title.
Small Wonder - Seasons 1-2 have been released. Seasons 3-4 are still needed to complete the series.
Spin City - The Michael J. Fox seasons will be complete in February, but we're still waiting on the Charlie Sheen seasons.
Welcome Back, Kotter - An episode was released on the Classic TV Christmas Collection . The remaining seasons would be great to see.
The Wonder Years - The first season had only six episodes. It could be given a trial run. Music licensing rights are a major issue, but hopefully a company like Shout! Factory could work on this set. Has been the #1 most requested unreleased show at TVShowsonDVD.com for quite awhile by a wide margin for years. While we wait for the DVD, you can watch it on The Hub.

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What are your predictions for 2011? Which new releases are you most excited about? What are your most wanted unreleased sitcoms? Post your comments on our message board.