SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we talk about all of the happenings over at ABC this week, have an update on the WKRP in Cincinnati DVDs, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

• This year seems to continue the tradition of releasing huge box sets of popular shows that never quite made it to DVD before, and one of the big ones we're all awaiting (though cautiously) is WKRP in Cincinnati - The Complete Series.  There are many unanswered questions about this release, but perhaps the biggest of those questions is regarding the original music. Series creator Hugh Wilson states in a recent interview that about 85% of the original music has been cleared for the release. That sounds promising (though we unfortunately don't expect 100% clearance), and we'll keep you updated as we learn more.
• American Dad! - Volume 9 is coming to DVD as a MOD release on Tuesday, but we don't really know much about it yet. There isn't even a pre-order link at amazon.com. But fans should look for it on Tuesday.
• Releases for special single disc releases of The Dick Van Dyke Show are on the way, including The Dick Van Dyke Show - Classic Halloween Episodes on September 2, and The Dick Van Dyke Show - Classic Christmas Episodes on October 9.
• The short-lived Nickelodeon series My Brother and Me is now available on DVD as a MOD release.

JULY 1 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

• American Dad! - Volume 9 (DVD): Although we don't quite have all of the details for this release (including a link to order or even a list price), Fox announced that this set will arrive on DVD as a MOD release.

Who to Follow: Jenna Von Öy (Twitter), "Actress/Singer/Blogger Mom, wife, lover of all things creative, avid reader, challenge seeker, novice chef, wine enthusiast, fan of coloring outside the lines."

Claim to Fame:   This week, we have a "very special" Follow Me with Jenna Von Öy, who played Six on the sitcom Blossom. She first appeared on TV in series such as Kate & Allie, Monsters, and Tales from the Darkside, but in 1990, she landed her first memorable (and to this day, most memorable) role on Blossom. After that series ended, she landed some guest starring roles on many TV series before landing in the role of Stevie on The Parkers. She has mostly stayed away from Hollywood for the past decade, but you never quite know when she'll be back.

Pick of the Tweets: "The Blossom reunion is getting so much attention this week, thought I'd send love to my Parkers family too! #tbt pic.twitter.com/KIgQn679yJ" (June 19, 2014)

One of the most beloved sitcoms in television history will light up the airwaves on Independence Day in NY on Friday, July 4, when WLNY-TV (Channels 10/55) presents the third annual I Love Lucy marathon from 9am to 5pm. The marathon will culminate with the famous 1956 "Lucy's Italian Movie" episode, when Lucy visits Italy and stomps grapes in preparation for the opportunity to star in a movie, airing at 4:00pm and the 1956 episode "Return Home from Europe," when Lucy disguises a large block of cheese as an infant in the airport, airing at 4:30pm. WLNY'S I Love Lucy marathon will also feature 1953's "The Million Dollar Idea" episode, where Lucy and Ethel attempt to put Lucy's salad dressing on the market (1:00pm), the 1955's "Lucy Learns to Drive" episode, where Lucy finds herself in car trouble (2:00pm), 1955 episode, "LA at Last," where Lucy runs into celebrity William Holden in Los Angeles (2:30 pm), and the 1952 iconic episode "Lucy Does A TV Commercial," when Lucy stars in a commercial for Vitameatavegamin (3:00pm). Tune in NY on 4th of July!


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, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of June 30-July 4, 2014, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Sunday, June 29, 2014

• Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth (Mystery Girls/What I Like About You) - The stars of ABC Family's Mystery Girls are guests on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Sheryl Lee Ralph (Instant Mom/It's a Living/Moesha) - Sheryl discusses her unconventional family on Oprah: Where Are They Now? at 9pm ET/PT on OWN.

Monday, June 30, 2014

• Louis C.K. (Louie) - Watch Louis on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly) - Melissa appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parnham (Playing House/Best Friends Forever) - Jessica and Lennon are guests on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Toni Collette (United States of Tara) - Toni is a guest on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls) - Beth and Kat square off with Rachael Ray in the ultimate waitress challenge on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Retta (Parks and Recreation) - Retta appears on a repeat of Bethenny, so check your local listings.
• Elizabeth Gillies (Victorious) - Elizabeth will be on PIX Morning News on WPIX in New York at 8:35am.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

• Christopher Meloni (Surviving Jack/The Fanelli Boys) - Catch Christopher on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Kevin Hart (Undeclared/The Big House) - Kevin is part of the guest panel on a repeat of Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
• Betty White (Hot in Cleveland/The Golden Girls/The Mary Tyler Moore Show) - Tune in to see Betty on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• George Lopez (Saint George/George Lopez) - George appears on a repeat of The Arsenio Hall Show, so check your local listings.
• Rob Reiner (All in the Family) - Rob discusses his new film And So It Goes on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Alfonso Ribeiro (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso is part of Plugged In Panel on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Arsenio Hall (Arsenio) - Arsenio hosts Rachael Ray's surprise birthday party on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

• Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program) - Watch Sarah on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Maz Jobrani (The Knights of Prosperity) - Maz appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly) - Melissa is part of the guest panel on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm. Melissa and her husband Ben Falcone will be on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
• Gillian Jacobs (Community) - Gillian appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Woody Harrelson (Cheers) - Woody is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Andrea Martin (Working the Engels) - Andrea is tentatively scheduled to appear on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 12:30pm ET.
• Suzanne Somers (Three's Company/Step by Step) - Suzanne stops by Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Jay Thomas (Love & War/Murphy Brown/Cheers) - Jay will be on The Better Show, so check your local listings.
• Judy Reyes (Scrubs) - Judy is a guest on Good Day New York on WNYW-Fox5 in New York at 9:20am.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

• Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) - Catch Jim on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Ben Falcone (Joey) - Ben visits Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Pam Dawber (Mork & Mindy/My Sister Sam) - Pam appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Tune in to see Whitney on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Ken Jeong (Community) - Ken is a guest on a repeat of The Arsenio Hall Show, so check your local listings. He also appears on a repeat of The Queen Latifah Show, so check your local listings.
• Mary Steenburgen (Ink) - Mary appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Elizabeth Berkley (Saved by the Bell) - Elizabeth is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Brent Morin (Undateable) - Brent behind-the-scenes stories from his show on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.

Friday, July 4, 2014

• Betty White (Hot in Cleveland/The Golden Girls/The Mary Tyler Moore Show) - Watch Betty on a repeat of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Jason Biggs (Mad Love/Drexell's Class) - Jason chats on a repeat of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Caroline Rhea (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch) - Caroline is a guest on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• Kevin Nealon (Weeds/Hiller and Diller/Champs) - Kevin appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Wendi McClendon-Covey (The Goldbergs/Rules of Engagement) - Wendi joins the Chew Crew on a repeat of ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/The Parkers) - Kym appears on a repeat of The Queen Latifah Show, so check your local listings.

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!

Yesterday ABC Family marked the halfway point to Christmas by adding a mix of original and acquired ABC Family holiday movies to its WATCH ABC Family App. With only 182 days left until Christmas, ABC Family invites the audience to sit back and enjoy "The Half-mas MERRY-THON," featuring ten of the network's popular holiday movies. Available on the app for only two weeks, this playlist is sure to bring tidings of good cheer and chase the bah-humbugs out of any Scrooge. WATCH ABC Family allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as on-demand access to the most current episodes of the network's popular series at home and on-the-go via a wide array of devices, including desktops, smartphones and tablets.

The ten movies featured are a mix of classic ABC Family original movies and classic Christmas TV movies. Available are: A Very Brady Christmas, Christmas Cupid, Snowglobe, Santa Baby, Santa Baby 2, 12 Dates of Christmas, The Mistle-Tones, Holidaze, Holiday in Handcuffs, and Christmas Bounty. You'll see stars like Florence Henderson, Barry Williams, Ashley Benson, Christina Milian, Jenny McCarthy, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tia Mowry, Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez. Get in to the half-way Christmas spirit and get a jump start on "Christmas in July!"

The CW Network will strategically roll-out its Fall 2014 launch this October with two highly anticipated new series, The Flash and Jane the Virgin, joining returning favorites. For the third year, The CW will kick off the new season with an exclusive telecast of the biggest concert of the year, the iHeart Radio Music Festival, airing over two nights, Monday, September 29 from 8:00-10:00pm ET and Tuesday, September 30 from 8:00-10:00pm ET. Then on Thursday, October 2, all-new seasons of bloody, sexy drama return with the season premiere of The Vampire Diaries at 8 followed by Mary, Queen of Scots continuing her Reign at 9. The Originals returns to wreak havoc on a new night, Monday, October 6 at 8, followed by a special retrospective look back at the past nine seasons of Supernatural at 9. One of the most buzzed-about new series of the season, The Flash, starring Grant Gustin as the Fastest Man Alive, premieres Tuesday, October 7 at 8 leading into the return of the Winchester brothers in the tenth season premiere of Supernatural at 9.

Oliver Queen fights to protect Starling City in the third season premiere of Arrow on Wednesday, October 8 at 8, followed by a special encore presentation of the series debut of The Flash at 9. The CW's heartwarming new one-hour comedy Jane The Virgin, starring Gina Rodriguez, premieres Monday, October 13 at 9. And finally, the critically-acclaimed adventure drama The 100 returns Wednesday, October 22 at 9.

The MeTV Network will pay tribute to the late Eli Wallach this Saturday (June 28). They will air both of his Batman episodes starting at 7:00pm ET, as a tribute. He of course played Mr. Freeze on the classic '60s series in this arc. George Sanders and Otto Preminger were also Mr. Freeze during the series run. The episodes airing with Wallach are "Ice Spy" and "The Duo Defy." MeTV will air both of those. Mr. Wallach was 98.

CBS announced a multi-phase rollout for its new season with fall premiere dates ranging from the kick-off of NFL Thursday Night Football on Sept. 11 to the launch of its top-rated Thursday entertainment lineup on Oct. 30. On Sunday, Sept 21, CBS debuts most of its Sunday lineup the night prior to the official launch of the season, beginning with 60 Minutes at 7:00PM, the premiere of the new drama Madam Secretary at 8:00PM and the award-winning, critically acclaimed The Good Wife at 9. The bulk of the premieres will still be during premiere week, including on Monday, Sept. 22 with back-to-back episodes of The Big Bang Theory from 8:00-9:00 PM leading into the debut of high-octane drama Scorpion at 9:00PM, followed by the season finale of the summer series Under the Dome at 10:00PM. On Tuesday, Sept. 23 the season premiere of NCIS at 8:00PM leads into the series premiere of its new spinoff, NCIS: New Orleans at 9:00PM and Person of Interest.

On Wednesday, Sept. 24 we have the season premiere of the 29th edition of Survivor at 8:00PM, followed by the special, two-hour season finale of summer drama Extant from 9:00-11:00PM. On Friday, Sept. 26, we have the 25th edition of The Amazing Race debuting in its new time period at 8:00PM, followed by the season premieres of Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods from 9-11. On Saturday, Sept. 27, CBS airs the 48 Hours premieres at 10:00PM. And finally for premiere week, on Sunday, Sept. 28, CSI debuts on its new night at 10:00PM. Then we have post-premiere week premieres. Monday, Sept. 29 has Mom making its time period premiere at 8:30PM and NCIS: Los Angeles debuts on its new night and time period of 10:00PM. Then on Wednesday, Oct. 1, the season premiere of Criminal Minds at 9:00PM and the series premiere of the new drama Stalker airs at 10:00PM, launching a new, two-hour suspense thriller block. And finally, following the conclusion of Thursday Night Football, 2 Broke Girls returns with its fourth season premiere on Monday, October 27 at 8:00PM, as the Thursday series will return on Thursday, Oct. 30. CBS's Thursday entertainment lineup returns with The Big Bang Theory returning to its regular night at 8:00PM), followed by The Millers at 8:30PM and Two and a Half Men at 9:00PM, leading into the new family comedy The McCarthys at 9:30PM and Elementary rounds out the night at 10:00PM.

CBS is planning on returning its canceled single-camera comedy Bad Teacher this July to burn-off its remaining episodes. As of now, two of its eight remaining episodes have been scheduled. CBS will air two episodes on Saturday, July 5 from 8-9pm. CBS will likely air the other six this summer as well, perhaps July 12, 19 and 26. CBS also still have 5 episodes left to air of its canceled sitcom Friends With Better Lives as well. As for Bad Teacher, it was based on the hit feature film, and starred Ari Graynor as an always inappropriate, fearless and unapologetic former trophy wife who masqueraded as a teacher in order to find a new man after her wealthy husband left her penniless.

Yada, yada, yada. TBS will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Seinfeld - considered by many television critics to be the funniest sitcom ever created - with an entire week featuring the 25 most popular and acclaimed episodes. The celebration will take place Monday, June 30 - Saturday, July 5, with four episodes each weeknight, beginning at 6pm (ET/PT). TBS's Seinfeld anniversary celebration will climax on July 5, the 25th anniversary of Seinfeld's first telecast, with five episodes widely considered to be the most memorable, including "The Contest," "The Outing," "The Junior Mint," "The Puffy Shirt" and "The Yada Yada." The Saturday lineup is set to begin at 5:30pm (ET/PT).

TBS's weeklong Seinfeld collection includes such episodes as "Shower Head" on Monday; "The Chinese Restaurant" and "The Serenity Now" on Tuesday; "The Bubble Boy" on Wednesday; "The Strike," "The Soup Nazi" and "The Merv Griffin Show" on Thursday; and the two-part episode "The Boyfriend" on Friday. Throughout the week, TBS encourages Seinfeld fans to chat about their favorite Seinfeld moments and episodes on social media using #Seinfeld25.

Showtime has given a pilot order to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, a half-hour comedy with musical elements co-created, executive produced and written by feature writer Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada, Annie) and writer/actress/comedian Rachel Bloom (Robot Chicken). The project centers around Rebecca (Bloom), a successful, driven, and possibly crazy young woman who impulsively gives up everything - her partnership at a prestigious law firm and her upscale apartment in Manhattan - in a desperate attempt to find love and happiness in that exotic hotbed of romance and adventure: West Covina, Calif. Produced by CBS Television Studios, the pilot will be directed and executive produced by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer, The Amazing Spider-Man films) and will be shot in California this fall. As of now, it is just a pilot order. Should Showtime move forward with this project, we will let you know. Stay with us.

Amazon Studios announced it will debut the half-hour dramatic single-camera comedy pilot Really from Jay Chandrasekhar, Main Street Films' Craig Chang and Harrison Kordestani, and Executive Producer Jamie Tarses (Happy Endings) as part of its third pilot season debuting later this year on Amazon Instant Video. Customers will once again be invited to watch and provide feedback on the shows they want to see turned into full series, which will then become available on Prime Instant Video. Written, created and directed by Chandrasekhar, Really is a funny, extremely honest behind-the-curtain look at the psychological and emotional complexities of marriage, and the charged dynamics of a tight-knit group of friends.

Really is about four hard-charging suburban Chicago couples trying to grasp on to their dwindling youth. At the center are the happily but messily married couple "Jed," played by Chandrasekhar, and "Lori," played by Sarah Chalke. When Jed is faced with the choice of keeping his pal's secret or destroying his friend group, he winds up digging himself into a very deep hole. Really explores marriage, friendship and the stifling peculiarities of suburban Chicago life. The pilot also stars Selma Blair, Travis Schuldt, Hayes MacArthur, Collette Wolfe, Luka Jones, Lindsay Sloane and Rob Delaney. Stay with us for more on this as it still has a ways to go. Your feedback will be key!

The Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) announced the winners of The 4th Annual Critics' Choice Television Awards. Seventeen of the best series in television were honored at the Beverly Hilton Hotel at a star-studded gala awards show, which was broadcast live on The CW on Thursday night (June 19). Actor/comedian Cedric the Entertainer (The Soul Man, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire) hosted. FX was the most awarded network with five wins, followed by HBO with four wins. Fargo (FX) and Orange Is the New Black (Netflix) tied as most honored series with three wins each. Allison Janney was the only actor to receive two performance awards: Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Mom, tied with Kate Mulgrew in Orange Is the New Black, as well as Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series for Masters of Sex.

Breaking Bad won for Best Drama Series, while Orange Is the New Black won as Best Comedy Series. Matthew McConaughey and Jim Parsons won Best Actor in a Drama Series for True Detective and Best Actor in a Comedy Series for The Big Bang Theory, respectively. Tatiana Maslany was honored as Best Actress in a Drama Series for Orphan Black, while Julia Louis-Dreyfus won for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Veep, both for the second year in a row. Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul was awarded Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series; Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Andre Braugher was awarded Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series; and Scandal's Bellamy Young was named Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Uzo Aduba was named Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for her role in Orange Is the New Black.

Fargo was awarded Best Mini-Series, and its stars Billy Bob Thornton and Allison Tolman were honored as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Mini-Series, respectively. Jessica Lange won Best Actress in a Movie or Mini-Series for her performance in American Horror Story: Coven, while Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey took home awards for Best Reality Series and Best Reality Host, Neil DeGrasse Tyson. The Best Reality Series-Competition category went to Shark Tank. Finally, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon won the Best Talk Show category, and Archer won for Best Animated Series.

Summer has now started. We will be back with our normal weekly ratings report with the first four nights numbers and analysis in the fall, but we still will have our regular how the sitcoms did all summer long! We have some new broadcast sitcom airings this summer, see below. Here are our summer ratings: