SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we have news of The Jim Gaffigan Show not returning for a third season, an update on the new season of Nashville, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

TUESDAY (AUGUST 30) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

• Mom - The Third Season (DVD, $39.98): The third season of the CBS sitcom arrives on DVD in this release from Warner Archive.

Who to Follow: Katy Mixon (Twitter), "i get to play make believe for a livin'! blessed."

Claim to Fame: We've reached that time of the year where it is time to start thinking about the new fall season, and all of the series that may become the biggest new hit that we'll be watching for the next decade and reruns for decades beyond that, as well as the series that will quietly be shelved by November, burned off online, then completely forgotten. Of course, we don't quite know which ones will go which way, but this week we begin our theme of stars of the new series with Katy Mixon, who'll star in the upcoming ABC comedy American Housewife. This is far from her first sitcom experience, as she just came off of a regular role playing Victoria Flynn, Molly's sister, on the CBS comedy Mike & Molly. Other than that, she has appeared in a few movies and also had a few pilots in her past that weren't picked up, but she is hoping to find success in this latest entry on ABC.

The Hallmark Channel has brought back The Brady Bunch and Home Improvement to its weekday schedule. 4 episodes each of the sitcoms are airing from 2-6pm, with The Brady Bunch from 2-4pm and Home Improvement from 4-6pm, leading into the newer Tim Allen sitcom Last Man Standing from 6-9pm. The Brady Bunch and Home Improvement both replaced Little House on the Prairie, as that drama is off the schedule again. Besides original talk show Home & Family (weekdays 10am-12pm and encore 12-2pm), Hallmark is now all sitcoms on each weekday: I Love Lucy from 5-8am, The Golden Girls from 8-10am, The Brady Bunch 2-4pm, Home Improvement 4-6pm, Last Man Standing 6-9pm, The Middle 9-11pm, The Golden Girls 11pm-1am, Frasier 1-4am and Cheers 4-5am.


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 Aug. 29-Sep. 2, 2016, 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!


Saturday, August 27, 2016

Kathy Garver (Family Affair) - Kathy reunites with her former co-star Johnny Whitaker on Oprah: Where Are They Now? at 10pm ET/PT on OWN.

Monday, August 29, 2016

• Tika Sumpter (The Game) - Watch Tika on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also talks about Southside with You on NBC's Today in the 9am hour and on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 12:30pm ET.
• Jerrod Carmichael (The Carmichael Show) - Jerrod is a guest on Tavis Smiley on PBS, so check your local listings.
• Walton Goggins (Vice Principals) - Walton appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Fred Savage (The Grinder/Working/The Wonder Years) - Fred guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Carpoolers/My Secret Identiy) - Jerry is a guest on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show at 12:05am on BET or on your local stations.
• Chris D'Elia, Ron Funches, Rick Glassman and Brent Morin - The cast of Undateable are guests on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
• Sally Field (Gidget/The Flying Nun) - Sally whips up a delicious Pea Pesto & Potatoes with Mario Batali on a repeat of ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - Valerie bakes up her Sicilian Love Cake for dessert on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Tyler Labine (Deadbeat/Animal Practice/Mad Love/Sons of Tucson) - Tyler talks about Zoom on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Emeril Lagasse (Emeril) - Emeril explains the surprising origins of his catchphrase “Bam!” on People Now at 8:30am.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

• Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) - Catch Zooey on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• John Krasinski (The Office) - John is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Justin Bartha (Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life/The New Normal) - Justin stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• David Cross (Arrested Development/Running Wilde) - David drops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Kirstie Alley (Flaked/Kirstie/Veronica's Closet/Cheers) - Kirstie talks about Flaked on a repeat of The Meredith Vieira Show, so check your local listings.
• Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Melissa is a guest on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Rami Malek (The War at Home) - Rami appears on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Fred Savage (The Grinder/Working/The Wonder Years) - Fred chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. He also guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Mario Cantone (Sex and the City) - Mario chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Norman Lear (Producer of All in the Family/Sanford and Son/One Day at a Time/The Jeffersons/Good Times/Maude) - Norman is a guest on a repeat of Tavis Smiley on PBS, so check your local listings.
• Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Andy appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• George Clooney (The Facts of Life/Roseanne) - George is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Alfonso Ribeiro (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/In the House/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso appears on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show at 12:03am on BET or on your local stations.
• Jeremy Miller (Growing Pains) and Danny Bonaduce (The Partridge Family) - You grew up watching your favorite sitcom kids, but what happened behind the scenes when the cameras stopped rolling? The stars of Growing Pains, Everybody Loves Raymond and Danny Bonaduce from The Partridge Family break their silence. They reveal how they got hooked on drugs and alcohol and eventually overcame their battles with addiction on a repeat of The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
• Emeril Lagasse (Emeril) - Emeril will be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Henry Winkler (Happy Days/Out of Practice) - Henry is a guest on a repeat of Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

• David Spade (Rules of Engagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me!) - Watch David on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Christian Slater (Breaking In) - Christian is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) - Sarah stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Debi Mazar (Younger/Entourage/Working) - Debi talks about Younger on a repeat of The Meredith Vieira Show, so check your local listings.
• Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle) - Bryan appears on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Constance Zimmer (Good Morning, Miami) - Constance is a guest on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Marilu Henner (Taxi/Evening Shade) - Marilu visits Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Carly Chaikin (Suburgatory) - Carly is a guest on Chelsea on Netflix.
• Cedric the Entertainer (The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - Cedric chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Freddie Prinze Jr. (Freddie) - Freddie appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Retta (Parks and Recreation) - Retta guest co-hosts a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• John O'Hurley (Seinfeld/The Mullets) - John is a guest on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
• Tahj Mowry (Baby Daddy/Smart Guy/Full House) - Tahj guest co-hosts a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
• Chris Geere (You're the Worst) - Chris discusses the upcoming season of You're the Worst on the AOL Build Show at 12pm.
• Derek Theler and Jean-Luc Bilodeau (Baby Daddy) - Derek and Jean-Luc discuss Baby Daddy on the AOL Build Show at 4pm.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

• Casey Wilson (Marry Me/Happy Endings) - Catch Casey on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Danny McBride (Vice Principals/Eastbound & Down) - Danny visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• David Duchovny (Californication) - David stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Roseanne Barr (Roseanne) - Roseanne is a guest on a repeat of Tavis Smiley on PBS, so check your local listings.
• William Shatner ($#*! My Dad Says) - William appears on a repeat of The Meredith Vieira Show, so check your local listings.
• Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke is a guest on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Alfonso Ribeiro (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/In the House/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso makes tasty Lemon Carrot Summer Rolls on a repeat of ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Michael Strahan (Brothers) - Michael is a guest on a repeat of The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
• Adam Goldberg (The Jim Gaffigan Show/Joey) - Adam appears on a repeat of Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• David Spade (Rules of Engagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me!) - David talks about Fameless on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• Max Greenfield (New Girl/Modern Men) - Max is a guest on Chelsea on Netflix.
• Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Eva Longoria (Telenovela) - Eva is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Vanessa Lachey, Tone Bell and Bresha Webb - The cast of Truth Be Told are guests on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.

Friday, September 2, 2016

• Meg Ryan (One of the Boys) - Watch Meg on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Nick Kroll (The League/Cavemen) - Nick appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• John Mulaney (Mulaney) - John is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Anna Gunn (Down the Shore) - Anna visits The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Dave Franco (Scrubs/Do Not Disturb) - Dave appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) - Eric is a guest on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Bradley Cooper (Kitchen Confidential) - Bradley drops by Mario’s Del Posto restaurant to learn how to make a signature dish on a repeat of ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Busy Philipps (Vice Principals/Cougar Town) - Busy appears on a repeat of Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Jill Kargman (Odd Mom Out) - Jill is a guest on a repeat of Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Ashley Williams (The Jim Gaffigan Show/How I Met Your Mother/Good Morning, Miami) - Ashley looks back on her favorite memory on the set of How I Met Your Mother on People Now at 8:30am.
• David Cross (Arrested Development/Running Wilde) - David is a guest on Chelsea on Netflix.
• John Cho (Kitchen Confidential) - John appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Jenny McCarthy (Two and a Half Men/Jenny) - Jenny is a guest on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show at 12:07am on BET or on your local stations.
• Heather Dubrow (Stark Raving Mad) - Heather appears on a repeat of The Doctors, so check your local listings.

All listings are subject to change. Visit our blog and main site for daily updated 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!

CMT revealed the premiere dates for its 2017 scripted series including Nashville, Million Dollar Quartet (working title) and sitcom Still The King, marking the biggest scripted slate in the network's history. Additionally, CMT has ordered a new scripted sitcom pilot, His Wives & Daughters. The three series join an impressive roster of CMT originals that fueled +11% ratings growth year over year among Adults 18-49. Nashville makes its triumphant season five debut on CMT with Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz (the creators of Thirtysomething) at the helm, returning with a special two-hour premiere on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT. Still The King starring Billy Ray Cyrus and Joey Lauren Adams will return for a 13 episode second season in spring (exact date and time TBD). The premiere on June 8 marked CMT's highest-rated original series premiere to date, grossing 3.6 million total viewers (L+3) and a stellar 1.03 rating A18-49 rating across a 3 network simulcast (CMT, TV Land, Nick@Nite). Additionally, CMT has ordered a pilot for His Wives & Daughters. The soapy, comedic series centers on the eclectic and cunning wives and daughters of larger-than-life country music legend (and infamous womanizer) Eddie Ray Banks. After his estranged family is brought together unexpectedly, tempers flare and old rivalries resurface setting the stage for startling secrets to emerge as an unforgettable mystery begins to unfold. Casting is underway now with production slated to begin in the fall.

Starz announced that it has ordered a fourth season of the critically-acclaimed comedy series Survivor's Remorse from executive producers Mike O'Malley, Tom Werner, LeBron James and Maverick Carter for SpringHill Entertainment, Paul Wachter, Victor Levin and Hilton Smith. Season Three of Survivor's Remorse has seen record increases in its audience, averaging 2.9M viewers per episode among all reportable platforms, an increase of more than 20 percent above Season Two and 60 percent above Season One. Episode 306, which aired Sunday, August 21, showed a 20 percent gain over the previous week, making it the second highest premiere viewing ever for the series. Survivor's Remorse is a top-4 scripted program on cable among African-American viewers and a top-6 weekend program on cable among African-American viewers.

Survivor's Remorse follows the life of Cam Calloway (played by Jessie T. Usher), a hard-working, young basketball star who is thrust into the limelight after signing a huge contract with a pro basketball team in Atlanta. In Season Three, fame and fortune can't shield pro-basketballer Cam Calloway against tragedy. Each member of the Calloway family copes with the fallout of Uncle Julius' accident in their own way. Family bonds are tested, as a new season of Survivor's Remorse explores themes of love and loss, the comforts and doubts found in religion, the danger of seeking out ancestral roots, the power of bad parenting, the pitfalls of public utterances, and the pain of dredging up the past. The cast also includes RonReaco Lee, Tichina Arnold, Teyonah Parris and Erica Ash.

COZI TV announced Dr. Frasier Crane's return to America's airwaves this fall, with the iconic television sitcom Frasier officially debuting on the popular, multicast network starting Monday, September 12, airing weekdays from 7-9 PM ET (check local listings). There will also be a marathon on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10am-11pm ET. Starring Kelsey Grammer and the winner of 37 primetime Emmy® Awards, Frasier has been ranked by TV Guide among the top 50 television shows of all-time. Frasier follows the journey of noted psychiatrist Frasier Crane as he returns home to launch a new phase in his personal and professional lives. Frasier originally aired on NBC starting in 1993, with the series concluding in 2004. Originally launched as an extension of NBC's Cheers, Frasier quickly emerged as one of the most successful spin-off series in television history. Joined by a memorable cast including John Mahoney, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce and Peri Gilpin, fans enjoyed the latest storylines involving the newly-divorced Dr. Crane (Grammer) as he returned to Seattle and embarked on a new career as a radio talk show host.

Frasier joins Little House on the Prairie and Quincy, M.E. as new additions to COZI TV's fall line-up. Originally announced earlier this year, Little House on the Prairie will debut on COZI TV starting Monday, September 19, airing weekdays from 10 AM to noon and again at 5 PM ET. Quincy, M.E. will also debut the same day, airing weekdays at 2 PM ET. (check local listings).

On the heels of a sold-out national tour, comedy great Martin Lawrence hits the stage in this long-awaited stand-up special, Martin Lawrence Doin' Time: Uncut premiering Friday, September 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime on-air, on demand and over the internet. Filmed live at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, Martin Lawrence Doin' Time: Uncut showcases Lawrence's impeccable comedic skills, physicality and engaging wit. Delivering an unforgettable night of impressions and insights, he touches on everything from sex and relationships to President Obama, Bill Cosby, Hollywood and more. Lawrence is back in a big way and will leave viewers in hysterics, from start to finish.

Lawrence, a renowned stand-up comedian, actor, director, producer and writer, came to fame during the 1990s. He quickly established himself as a leading actor, most notably in the hit television sitcom Martin, for which he created such beloved characters as "Sheneneh Jenkins," "Edna (Mama) Payne," "Otis," and "Jerome." For his dynamic performance, he earned two NAACP Image Awards(R) for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series two years in a row - 1995 and 1996. Lawrence's box office-topping credits include Bad Boys and its sequel Bad Boys II opposite Will Smith, and the three-film Big Momma's House franchise. Additional film credits include House Party, Boomerang, A Thin Line Between Love & Hate, Nothing to Lose, Blue Streak, Life, Wild Hogs, and Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins.

Well, it's premiering tonight and we're better later than never, but NBC is launching its new comedy event series Better Late Than Never tonight at 10|9c. Based on a popular Korean format, Better Late Than Never is a fish-out-of-water show that follows cultural icons Henry Winkler (Happy Days), William Shatner (Star Trek), Terry Bradshaw (NFL legend) and George Foreman (boxing legend) on their greatest adventure yet. Deciding it's better late than never, these four national treasures embark on the journey of a lifetime, traveling across Asia on their own with no schedule and no itinerary. The only help will come from Jeff Dye, a young tech-savvy comedian with an agenda of his own and who isn't above leading the men off track. Each stop is packed with hilarious cultural experiences, heartwarming spectacles and unexpected twists as our legends take on this unforgettable adventure. The 4 week comedy event starts tonight and will air for the next four Tuesdays at 10|9c through Sept. 13.

Actor and comedian Jack Riley, who played Elliot Carlin in The Bob Newhart Show, has died. He died on August 19 in Los Angeles due to pneumonia. Mr. Riley was 80.

Riley's television career began with a semi-regular role in the short-lived 1966-1967 NBC sitcom Occasional Wife. He appeared as Wally Frick in seven episodes of the series, which starred Michael Callan and Patricia Harty.

Some of his television guest appearances in the 1960s and 1970s included Gomer Pyle, USMC, The Flying Nun, I Dream of Jeannie, Love, American Style, The Partridge Family, Hogan's Heroes, The Good Life, Getting Together, M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore, The Girl with Something Extra, Happy Days, Alice and Barney Miller.

Riley was best known for his role as Elliot Carlin, the neurotic, sour and selfish patient in The Bob Newhart Show. He appeared in 49 episodes of the series from 1972-1978. Carlin was ranked 49th in TV Guide's List of the 50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time. He reprised the role in a 1985 episode of St. Elsewhere, a 1987 episode of ALF and a 1988 episode of Newhart. In 1991, the cast reunited for The Bob Newhart Show 19th Anniversary.

His later sitcom guest appearances included Too Close for Comfort, Family Ties, One Day at a Time, The Love Boat, Diff'rent Strokes (4 episodes), Silver Spoons, Gimme a Break, Punky Brewster, Charles in Charge, My Two Dads, Night Court (7 episodes), Family Matters, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Married with Children, The Drew Carey Show, Seinfeld, That '70s Show and Yes, Dear. He played Leon Buachanan in the short-lived 1987 CBS sitcom Roxie. He had a recurring role as Chappy in the 2000-2002 FX comedy Son of the Beach.

He was also known for his voice work in animated series and commercials. He voiced Stu Pickles, the father of the main protagonist Tommy, in Rugrats and the spin-off All Grown Up!. He did commercial spots for Country Crock margarine and CompUSA.

Survivors include his wife, Ginger Lawrence, and two children.

Mr. Riley was a fine character actor. His Elliot Carlin character was very funny and memorable. He played him to perfection. We thank him for all the laughs and entertainment he brought us over the years. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on Bob Newhart Show message board. View photos in our galleries.

As we mentioned earlier this summer, Old Christine is now airing on CMT. Now they have added two more sitcoms. It's more of the spread of Viacom love, as it is more Viacom sharing. Sister network TV Land staples Everybody Loves Raymond and Roseanne have both joined the CMT lineup (and still on TV Land, too). Roseanne is airing from 12-2pm, while Everybody Love Raymond airs from 5-6pm. Old Christine has moved to 11am-12pm now, as looks like the 4pm hour didn't work out. Reba was airing from 12-4pm, and will now be 2-5pm. Yep, both Reba and Old Christine air on TV Land, too. Last Man Standing looks like is doing well as it will continue to air in early evening and prime, now from 6-9pm instead of 5-8pm (movies air Fridays beginning at 8pm, since new episodes of the sitcom air on ABC Fridays at 8). In late night, usually it is more Last Man Standing or Roseanne from 1:30-3am. Raising Hope will continue to air 4-5am after Paid Programming. And finally, on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 12-6pm, CMT will air a marathon of Last Man Standing.

Peyton List (Disney Channel's Bunk'd) and Jacob Bertrand (Disney XD's Kirby Buckets) star in the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie The Swap, premiering Friday, October 7 at 8:00 pm EDT across Disney Channel's multiple platforms including Disney Channel, the Disney Channel app and VOD. Part of Disney Channel's Halloween-themed "Monstober" programming event, The Swap is a comedy adventure that follows two teens on a quest to reverse a mysterious event that caused them to swap lives. Ellie O'Brien (List) is trying to juggle rhythmic gymnastics and troubles with her best friend. Meanwhile, classmate Jack Malloy (Bertrand) is struggling to live up to his brothers' hockey-star legacies and his dad's high expectations and tough-love approach. When a text argument about whose life is easier gets out of hand, Ellie and Jack trigger an unexplainable real-life swap. As each tries to navigate the other's life, hilarity ensues when Ellie (as Jack) learns about brotherly bonding and hockey lingo, while Jack (as Ellie) has to decipher girl code and experiences a spa day. With a rhythmic gymnastics championship and a spot on the varsity hockey team on the line, they must figure out how to get back in their own bodies before the swap becomes permanent. As they are forced to literally walk in each other's shoes, they gain empathy for one another and learn valuable lessons about their own lives.

The Disney Channel Original Movie also stars Claire Rankin as Ellie's mom Summer; Darrin Rose as Jack's dad, "Coach" Malloy; Callan Potter and Jesse Bostick as Jack's brothers, Gunner and Stryker, respectively; Kiana Madeira as Sassy Gaines; Eliana Jones as Aspen Bishop; Devyn Nekoda as Mackenzie Wick; Kolton Stewart as Owen; and James Godfrey as Porter Gibbs.

We're in Summer mode. 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! Here are our summer ratings: