SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

This past week, the '90s family sitcom Sister, Sister joined the Netflix line-up. A lot of people began talking about the show on social media, prompting me to go back and watch the show over the holiday weekend. It had been a while since I'd seen a TGIF sitcom (granted Sister, Sister moved to The WB for most of its run, but it has the feel and makings of a TGIF sitcom) and I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I really enjoyed jumping back into the world of Sister, Sister. No, it isn't the most clever or acclaimed sitcom of all time, but it's really a great show to put on and relax and turn off your brain a bit. It's also the type of show that can easily be watched and understood by families and kids alike.

It feels in a lot of ways like a show such as Sister, Sister is just not made anymore - a show that can be enjoyed equally by kids and adults. Granted, there are family-friendly sitcoms on TV, but shows don't feel made for kids and adults the way a show like Sister, Sister did. The performances by the adults (particularly by Jackee Harry) are just as good as more "mature" sitcoms. It's easy to see why the series rocketed into the Netflix Top 10 this week. People have fond memories of the show, and for good reason. It may not be the best '90s sitcom, but it's certainly a fun show and hopefully Netflix can introduce it to a new generation.

Delivering on the network’s commitment to being the broadcast destination for family comedy, ABC announced premiere dates for its Wednesday primetime comedy block. The Goldbergs, The Conners and black-ish will return Oct. 21, and American Housewife will join the comedy lineup on Oct. 28. Previously announced standalone black-ish Election event composed of two back-to-back episodes will air Sunday, Oct. 4 from 10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT. For the first time, ABC will air a fully animated black-ish episode as part of the event. Dates for network scripted dramas (such as Grey's Anatomy, The Good Doctor, Station 19) will be announced soon. Dates for unscripted series were previously announced, such as Dancing with the Stars, The Bachelorette, Shark Tank and ABC Fun & Games series. Most recently, ABC claimed 3 of the Top 4 comedies last season in Adults 18-49, Modern Family (1.6/8) – No. 1 (tie), The Conners (1.5/8) – No. 3 and The Goldbergs (1.3/6) – No. 4 (tie), as well as securing the No. 1 (tie) scripted summer broadcast show this year with United We Fall.

ABC's Wednesday scripted comedy series premiere dates are as follows (all times listed are Eastern/Pacific).

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21
8:00-9:00 p.m. The Goldbergs (premiering with two back-to-back episodes)
9:00-9:30 p.m. The Conners
9:30-10:00 p.m. black-ish

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28
8:30-9:00 p.m. American Housewife

The 300th episode of American Dad! will air Monday, Sept. 14, at 10:00pm ET/PT on TBS. Leading up to the milestone episode, fans voted on their favorite Roger personas for The Many Faces of Roger Marathon. Watch the five most-voted episodes starting at 7:30pm ET/PT before the 300th episode airs. The linear schedule is below.

7:30pm ET/PT - "Joint Custody"
8:00pm ET/PT - "Jenny Fromdabloc"
8:30pm ET/PT - "Wife Insurance"
9:00pm ET/PT - "Shallow Vows"
9:30pm ET/PT - "Ricky Spanish"
10:00pm ET/PT - "300"

Fans can also celebrate 300 episodes with the ultimate online trivia experience, American Dad: Head to Head. Fans will compete with each other to prove they're American Dad's top fan. Winners will receive shareable character collector cards based on their score. The game is available now at https://www.tbs.com/americandadtrivia/.

NBC is making some changes to its September/October slate. The Weakest Link will now premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 8-9 p.m. and stay in that timeslot for three weeks until it moves to Mondays beginning Oct. 19 where it will air at 10 p.m. following The Voice. In addition to airing Fridays beginning Sept. 25 as previously announced, Dateline NBC will continue to air Mondays at 10 p.m. from Sept. 21 through Oct. 12 following American Ninja Warrior (and Dateline will also air Thursdays 9-11pm in early October and then at 10pm in November when SVU returns). This change for Weakest Link/Dateline on Mon/Tues is due to the potential NHL Stanley Cup Finals altering the schedule. Stanley Cup Finals could start Sep. 21. One other note, the season premiere of Ellen's Game of Games will air from 9-10 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6, instead of back-to-back episode premieres, as previously announced. And finally, the season finale of America's Got Talent will air from 9-11 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23 following an AGT Recap at 8pm. 

COZI TV has announced it will be airing a two-hour, The Lone Ranger special, "The Masked Man Marathon," on Saturday, September 12 starting at 8:00 a.m. EST (check local listings). The four-episode block special will feature custom animations on social media and on-air promotions featuring The Lone Ranger and his companion Tonto with a contemporary nose-and-mouth mask to remind and encourage viewers to wear masks and keep socially distant.

The Lone Ranger began as a radio show in the '30s before becoming a hit American Western drama television series from 1949 to 1957, for five seasons with a total of 221 episodes. The series stars Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger, except during the third season when John Hart wore the hero’s mask, and Jay Silverheels who played his Native American companion Tonto. The following episodes of The Lone Ranger will air on COZI TV on Saturday, September 12 starting at 8:00 a.m. EST:

8:00 a.m.: Season 1/Episode 1 - Enter the Lone Ranger
8:30 a.m.: Season 1/Episode 2 - The Long Rangers Fights On
9:00 a.m.: Season 1/Episode 3 - The Long Ranger's Triumph
9:30 a.m.: Season 1/Episode 4 - Legion of Old Timers

In West Philadelphia born and raised...Will Smith announced that the beloved comedy series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air will come to streaming service Peacock reimagined as the highly anticipated dramatic adaptation of Morgan Cooper's lauded fan film, Bel-Air. Peacock has ordered two seasons. Much more info is still yet to come, such as casting and of course eventually the premiere date. 

Supernatural fans rejoice! Starting Monday, September 14, 2020, TNT will host a week long marathon of Supernatural to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the show all week from 10am-3pm. Fans will have the opportunity to select their favorite episodes that they want to see by voting on TNT social platforms. In addition to fan favorite episodes, TNT will air cast favorite episodes like "Crossroad Blues" and "Monster Movie." But that's not all! Fans will get to see exclusive BTS footage from Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins. You won't want to miss it! And as a reminder, Supernatural returns with its final 7 episodes on The CW on Thursday, October 8 at 9pm, with its series finale set for Thursday, November 19 from 8-10pm.

Actress and activist Alyssa Milano (Who's the Boss?, Charmed) is partnering with Free Speech For People, Let America Vote Action Fund, Stand Up America, and When We All Vote to produce an upcoming webinar series focused on election security and voter activation leading into the November election. The six-episode series brings together experts in the election security field with celebrities, activists, and other notables and will be moderated by Milano.

When We All Vote, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization on a mission to increase participation in every election, will provide opportunities for participants to register to vote and volunteer. “When We All Vote is committed to making our democracy more accessible and protecting everyone’s right to the ballot box. Our vote is our voice, and together, we can ensure everyone is registered, has a plan to vote early and can mobilize their communities around voter registration and turnout,” said Crystal Carson, Vice President of Culture, Communications and Media Partnerships at When We All Vote.

Own the Vote 2020 will feature six topical episodes and will broadcast on alternating Mondays as of yesterday (September 7). Participation is free and registration is required. More information is available at OwnTheVote2020.com and watch the first episode. 

Happy Labor Day! It's a holiday, so of course you turn to SitcomsOnline to see what marathons are on TV! Most of you are probably outdoors (please social distance and wear a mask!) this last "unofficial" weekend of summer with your family & friends, but for those of you who are in need of some TV marathons...as usual, you've come to the right place!

First, Antenna TV will have a Labor Day 40th anniversary marathon of It's a Living from 6am-3am. This Labor Day, Antenna TV is celebrating the 40th anniversary of It's a Living with a marathon of 40 classic episodes. As we mentioned, LAFF will launch How I Met Your Mother with a Labor Day marathon from 8am-12am. VH1 will have a marathon of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, followed by a Living Single marathon, all from 8am-3pm. WGN America will have a M*A*S*H primetime marathon. Comedy Central will have a The Office marathon again from 9am-12am. TBS has a Labor Day marathon of Friends from 8am-3pm with "labor" episodes of Phoebe and Rachel. FXX will air a marathon of The Simpsons on Labor Day once again from 9am-12am. TV Land gives us an Andy Griffith Show marathon from 9am-8pm, followed by a Two and a Half Men marathon from 9pm-4am, just like last year. Hogan's Heroes marathon is on Sundance TV from 6am-3pm. Logo has a Three's Company marathon from 12pm-9pm, while MTV has a My Wife & Kids marathon from 7pm-1am.

ASPIRE will have a marathon of The Bernie Mac Show from 12pm-1am. BBC America will have a Star Trek: The Next Generation marathon from 6am-6pm, followed by Law & Order marathon from 6pm-12am. INSP will air a Gunsmoke marathon beginning at 7am that runs all day. WEtv has marathon of Criminal Minds and CSI: Miami starting at 10am. ION will entertain us by airing a CSI: Miami Labor Day marathon from 7am-3am. USA Network has a Labor Day marathon for Chicago PD starting at 9am. Heroes & Icons has a Nash Bridges marathon once again from 11am-8pm.

There are plenty of movie and reality TV options as well, of course. The Pacific, Harry Potter, Rocky and DC Universe films on TNT movie wise, and Below Deck, Botched, 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days and Impractical Jokers marathons reality wise.

It's Sunday, 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 September 7-11, 2020, 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!


Monday, September 7

• David Spade (Rules of Engagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me!) - David guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Lauren Lapkus (Crashing/Clipped/Are You There, Chelsea?) - Lauren is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle) - Bryan appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Kenan Thompson (Kenan & Kel) - Kenan is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Busy Philipps (Vice Principals/Cougar Town) - Busy will be on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun) - Joseph appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Nick Kroll (Big Mouth/The League/Cavemen) - Nick is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Maya Rudolph (Bless the Harts/Forever/Up All Night) - Maya appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood/New Girl/Modern Men), Sheaun McKinney (The Neighborhood) and Marcel Spears (The Neighborhood) - Max, Sheaun and Marcel are guests on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
• Tisha Campbell (Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) - Tisha guest co-hosts a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
• Lamorne Morris (Woke/New Girl) - Lamorne talks about Hulu's Woke on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• John Cleese (Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)) - John talks about Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Brandy Norwood (Moesha/The Game/Zoe Ever After) - Brandy talks about her new album B7 on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
• Guillermo Diaz (United We Fall) - Guillermo talks about United We Fall on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.

Tuesday, September 8

• Josh Gad (1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Michael Strahan (Brothers) - Michael appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Jane will be on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also talks about What Can I Do? on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• Erinn Hayes (Medical Police/Kevin Can Wait/Guys with Kids/Worst Week) - Erinn is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Method Man (Method & Red) - Method appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• John Leguizamo (The Brothers Garcia) - John chats about the film Critical Thinking on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan and Access Daily, so check your listings.
• Ali Wong (Tuca & Bertie/American Housewife/Are You There, Chelsea?) - Ali is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Jeff Foxworthy (The Jeff Foxworthy Show) - Jeff appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.

Wednesday, September 9

• Rainn Wilson (The Office) - Watch Rainn on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Kevin appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Josh Charles (Sports Night) - Josh is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• John Cleese (Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)) - John will be on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Glenn Howerton (A.P. Bio/It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The Mindy Project/That '80s Show) - Glenn appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Will Smith (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) and Martin Lawrence (Martin/What's Happening Now!!/Partners) - Will and Martin are guests on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Marlo Thomas (That Girl) - Marlo and her husband Phil Donahue are guests on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
• Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City/The Michael J. Fox Show), Denis Leary (The Job/Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) and Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Carpoolers/My Secret Idenity) - A repeat of Rachael Ray's Retro Week includes Michael, Denis and Jerry.
• James Van Der Beek (Friends with Better Lives/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - James appears on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
• Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - NBC's Today catches up with Jane sometime between 7-9am.

Thursday, September 10

• Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) - Catch Miley on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Kevin Nealon (Man with a Plan/Weeds/Hiller and Diller/Champs) - Kevin appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Jane chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) and Will Smith (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) - A repeat of season 17 highlights of The Ellen DeGeneres includes Jamie and Will.
• Paula Pell (Mapleworth Murders) - Paula appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Patton talks about A.P. Bio on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
• Wendie Malick (The Ranch/Hot in Cleveland/Big Day/Just Shoot Me!) - Wendie talks about Lifetime's Deranged Granny on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
• Laurence Fishburne (black-ish) - Laurence talks about Audible's The Autobiography of Malcolm X on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.

Friday, September 11

• John David Washington (Ballers) - Watch John on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso/Son of Zorn/The Cleveland Show) - Jason appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Kevin Nealon (Man with a Plan/Weeds/Hiller and Diller/Champs) - Kevin is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Eva Longoria (Telenovela) - Eva chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Steve Carell (Space Force/The Office) - Steve is featured in a repeat of the season 17 highlights of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Marques Houston (Sister, Sister/One on One/Cuts) - Marques appears on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
• Danny DeVito (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Taxi) - Danny is a guest on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Meredith Hagner (Search Party) - Meredith appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Alfonso Ribeiro (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/In the House/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso is a guest on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
• Emeril Lagasse (Emeril) - Emeril cooks on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Tia Mowry (Family Reunion/Instant Mom/The Game/Sister, Sister) - Tia shares the secret to her dramatic weight loss after giving birth on a repeat of The Dr. Oz Show, 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 Sunday feature! We do listen!

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Sitcoms Airing This Week

Sunday, September 6

none scheduled

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Monday, September 7

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Bad Review" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dave puts his professional conflict mediator skills to the test when he offers to help Calvin find out why his employees are quitting. Also, Marty devises an elaborate plan to help him earn a date with his new upstairs neighbor.

Young Sheldon - "A Baby Tooth and the Egyptian God of Knowledge" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon has a scientific breakthrough at the dentist’s office. Also, Dale (Craig T. Nelson) and Meemaw go to the casino, and Georgie makes a big mistake when Dale leaves him in charge of the store.

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Tuesday, September 8

Modern Family - "Dead on a Rival" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mitchell learns a valuable life lesson when Murray (Paul Dooley), a former resident of the house, shows up unexpectedly. Meanwhile, the Dunphy’s old neighbor-turned-tech-titan, Kenneth (Josh Gad), comes to visit with a big surprise for Phil. Then, Manny’s dad, Javier (Benjamin Bratt), shows up with a big opportunity for his son.

Modern Family - "Spuds" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Phil and Claire take Haley and Dylan to dinner to reassure them they are not bad parents. While out to dinner, they run into Mitch and Cam who are chaperoning Lily’s first date, as well as Jay and Gloria after attending Joe’s school play.

Dead Pixels - "Big Nose" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Megan starts live streaming from Kingdom Scrolls, but her flatmate Alison is concerned she won't be able to make a living from it.

Dead Pixels - "Betrothal" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Megan and Nicholas decide to get married in the Kingdom Scrolls game, but things quickly get complicated.

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Wednesday, September 9

The Goldbergs - "Island Time" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Erica, Barry, Geoff and the JTP go on a spring break trip and things are not what they expect. Meanwhile, Adam questions if college is for him when his test scores are not as good as he was hoping for.

black-ish - "Love, Boat" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dre can’t come to terms with his new reality when he discovers something shocking about Pops and Ruby. Junior feels the pressure to find love and tries to rekindle a past romance with a grand gesture.

The Conners - "CPAPs, Hickeys and Biscuits" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dan and Louise take their relationship to the next level and come to appreciate the complexities of aging. Meanwhile, Darlene spends the night in jail and hands off parenting duties to Ben. Mark and a friend work on a class experiment that leaves them both with hickeys, and Becky contemplates marrying Emilio.

American Housewife - "In My Room" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Katie finds an old piece of furniture in the basement and sets out to recreate her and Greg’s first apartment, reminiscent of a time when life was simpler. Meanwhile, Greg enjoys an unexpected benefit of being the victim of Lonnie’s (Matt Shively) relentless practical jokes.

The Goldbergs - "The Fake-Up" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Adam and Brea’s relationship is going well until Beverly’s over-involvement causes them to fake a breakup. Meanwhile, Lainey is back in Jenkintown which throws Barry for a loop regarding his blossoming relationship with Ren.

The Conners - "The Preemie Monologues" (ABC, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Harris is forced to confront Darlene about her lifestyle, while Jackie involves herself in other people’s problems to avoid confronting her own. Meanwhile, Becky is overwhelmed by the costs of raising a baby, so her family steps in to help.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "By Your Side" (BET, 8:00PM ET/PT)
C.J and Janine decide to stand by Malik's side.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "The Old People Game" (BET, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Jazmine learns that Malik is having a baby.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Captain Crunch" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Philip stumbles upon information about Jeremy that sheds light on their move.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Assaulted" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Jeremy thinks he may have been a little too heavy-handed with Vinny.

In The Cut - "Not in Kansas Anymore" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
An old friend of Jay's resurfaces while, Percy struggles in revealing a secret he has kept from his parents.

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Thursday, September 10

Last Man Standing - "A Bedtime Story" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mike tries to avoid hurting Vanessa's feelings due to her snoring.

Last Man Standing - "Romancing the Stone" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Vanessa learns a secret that she thinks will ruin Ed and Bonnie's wedding day.

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Friday, September 11

none scheduled

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Saturday, September 12

none scheduled

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Sunday, September 13

Family Guy - "Rich Old Stewie" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Peter's nonstop sweating becomes a liability at his company, so his boss tells him to work from home; Stewie and Chris cause thousands of dollars in damage to an electronics store.

Complete TV Listings

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

Last week ABC, CBS and NBC announced their fall schedules and return dates, which differed significantly from the fall schedules they announced in the spring. As scripted television has only now begun to slowly ramp up production, there will be few scripted shows returning this month, with most scripted premieres held for October or November - or later. As of now, the only sitcoms scheduled to premiere on network TV this fall are: Superstore (which will return in October and will be the first returning broadcast sitcom to resume airing new episodes post-COVID shutdown), Connecting... (a new "socially distanced" sitcom airing on NBC and taking the spot of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which has yet to resume production and is now being held for 2021), One Day at a Time (which will make its broadcast TV debut airing episodes previously aired on Pop TV this past spring - it has not yet resumed production of new episodes) and Fox's Sunday animation block (which was unaffected by COVID shutdowns.) All other sitcoms on broadcast TV are being held until further notice - that includes Brooklyn Nine-Nine as well as ABC and CBS's entire sitcom slates, although some have resumed production and may be able to return before the end of 2020 (including The Goldbergs and black-ish, the latter will air two Election themed episodes on Oct. 4).

It is certainly going to be a bare fall for sitcoms on network TV. However, it also provides a unique opportunity for those shows that will be returning. TV ratings have overall been higher since the pandemic hit (given there's simply less to do now, although the return of sports is likely to dent those ratings a bit), so perhaps more eyeballs will get to see a show like One Day at a Time, which has had a long journey from its Netflix cancellation to ultimately airing on broadcast TV. Perhaps the future of the show, if enough broadcast viewers flock to it, could be on CBS, where it sort of feels like it was meant to be anyway with the way the show uses traditional sitcom storytelling to tell fresh and original stories. If you haven't checked it (or Superstore) out, now's your chance to catch up on one of the best sitcoms currently on TV.

As we already announced, Laff, the country's first-ever, over-the-air broadcast television network devoted to comedy around-the-clock, has announced the addition of the one of the most-popular sitcoms of all time, licensing the television rights to all nine seasons and 208 episodes of How I Met Your Mother. Now we know the timeslots! Laff will premiere the multiple Emmy Award winning series with a two-day marathon Sunday, Sept. 6 and Monday, Sept. 7 running from 8:00 a.m. – 12 Midnight (ET) both days. How I Met Your Mother will then be seen on Laff every night from 9:00 p.m. to Midnight (ET) starting Tuesday, Sept. 8.

How I Met Your Mother follows Ted Mosby, played by Josh Radnor, as he looks back and tells his children the story of how he met their mom, as told through memories of his friends Marshall (Jason Segel), Lily (Alyson Hannigan) Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris), narrated by Bob Saget as the older Ted. How I Met Your Mother was a staple of the CBS lineup 2005-2014, earning multiple EMMY, Golden Globe and People's Choice nominations and wins across its nine-year run. How I Met Your Mother joins Laff's sitcom hall-of-fame line-up that includes Home Improvement, That '70s Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, According To Jim, Night Court and more. Laff airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage and features a programming mix of contemporary off-network sitcoms and popular movies geared toward an audience of adults 18-49. Laff is part of The E.W. Scripps Company.

Grab your popcorn and your (CDC approved) Halloween masks because Freeform is brewing up another year of spine-chilling October programming. The highly anticipated "31 Nights of Halloween" is back all month long with a lineup of memorable Halloween films. From Oct. 1-31, viewers can celebrate All Hallow's Eve at home with haunting movies, including The Addams Family (1991), Tim Burton's Corpse Bride and Hotel Transylvania. Films new to the lineup this year include Hotel Transylvania 2, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation and Ghostbusters (2016), among others. The network also released a trailer for the programming event, check it out HERE.

The network is kicking things off with "Freeform's Halloween Road," a drive-thru experience filled with tricks and treats for Halloween lovers in the Los Angeles area. For the third year in a row, Freeform is creating an immersive event that will take fans on a thrilling journey through some of the most nostalgic Halloween movies, including Hocus Pocus, Ghostbusters and Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Freeform will fright and delight guests with themed surprises, interactive experiences, live entertainment, and exciting photo moments—all from the safety of their own vehicles. Guests can also look forward to additional themed environments from other "31 Nights of Halloween" films.

Treehouse of Horror episodes of The Simpsons will also be airing. Check out the full "31 Nights of Halloween" schedule.

ABC announced the Dancing with the Stars Season 29 celebrity cast, live on ABC's Good Morning America. The series, hosted by supermodel and businesswoman Tyra Banks, returns to the ballroom with a lineup of celebrities including a GRAMMY® winner, a Bachelorette, a big-cat lover-turned-reality TV star, sitcom stars and a pro-football legend, to name a few. The new celebrity cast will add some glitzy bling to their wardrobe and break in their dancing shoes as the show kicks off live on Monday, Sept. 14 from 8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT on ABC.

As announced on ABC's Good Morning America, the celebrities heading to the ballroom this season (in alphabetical order) are as follows:

head coach Monica Aldama (Netflix's CHEER)
animal activist Carole Baskin (Netflix's Tiger King)
Kaitlyn Bristowe (The Bachelor, The Bachelorette)
Super Bowl Champion Vernon Davis
TV and film actress Anne Heche (Six Days, Seven Nights)
Disney Channel actress Skai Jackson (Jessie, Bunk'd)
actress Justina Machado (One Day at a Time)
Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean
Emmy® Award-winning host of The Real and sideline correspondent on Holey Moley, Jeannie Mai
TV and film actor Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives)
GRAMMY®-winning rapper Nelly
TV host Nev Schulman (Catfish)
NBA superstar Charles Oakley (The Last Dance)
actress Chrishell Stause (Selling Sunset)
Olympic figure skater and on-air commentator Johnny Weir 

The Johnsons and black-ish return to ABC with a special one-hour television special on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT on ABC. The two back-to-back episodes, which will air ahead of the official season seven premiere, will follow the Johnsons as they navigate the upcoming election, with Junior (Marcus Scribner) embarking on his journey as a first-time voter and Dre (Anthony Anderson) launching an exploration into local politics. The special will be presented in part as an animated episode. Oscar® winner Matthew A. Cherry (Hair Love) is set to direct. An official premiere date for the highly anticipated seventh season will be announced shortly (airdate and timing are subject to the change due to the NBA Finals schedule).

In "Election Special Pt. 1," (10:00-10:30 p.m. EDT), Junior is excited for his first time voting but discovers he has been purged from the voter polls so he does a deep dive into why – trying to understand the systems in place for voter registration. “Election Special Pt. 1" is directed by Matthew A. Cherry and written by Eric Horsted. Then, in a special animated episode, "Election Special Pt. 2," (10:30-11:00 p.m. EDT), Dre's colleague Stevens (Peter Mackenzie) makes an ill-advised decision to run for Congress, so Dre enlists his family's help and campaigns against him but gets caught up with fundraising and private interest groups. "Election Special Pt. 2" is directed by Matthew A. Cherry and written by Graham Towers & Ben Deeb. In its upcoming seventh season, black-ish will continue to tell stories that shine a light on current events through the lens of the Johnson family, addressing the global pandemic, systemic racism and the movement for social justice and equality.

One of the most acclaimed and influential TV series of all time heads to linear streaming with Shout! Factory TV's launch of The Carol Burnett Show channel available now on Pluto TV, the leading free streaming television service in the U.S. Available to Pluto TV's 26+ million monthly active users, the 24/7 linear channel presents episodes from all 11 seasons of the 25-time Emmy® Award-winning series.

The Carol Burnett Show channel launched yesterday on Channel 516, in the newly-launched Classic TV section of Pluto TV, available on all leading digital streaming devices and services, including Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Google Chromecast and more, as well as major smart TVs and game consoles. As a 24/7 linear channel, fans can tune in to watch curated programming anytime. Additionally, for fans looking to stream content on demand, episodes of The Carol Burnett Show will be available on Pluto TV as well as Shout! Factory TV. Shout! Factory TV has been an indispensable content partner for Pluto TV since its inception. In addition to the The Carol Burnett Show Channel, Pluto TV also carries Shout! Factory TV and the Mystery Science Theater 3000 channel, both of which launched in 2015; TokuSHOUTsu, which launched in February 2020; and Johnny Carson TV, which launched last month.

Many of the episodes included in the linear streaming release have been rarely seen since the show's original broadcast, more than 40 years ago. The comedy legend worked with Shout! Factory to find the long-lost masters of these episodes for their on-demand streaming debut on Shout! Factory TV and now, fans will be able to watch all of the show's episodes and see the evolution of key characters and sketches. 

Now this is a story all about how... the cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunites for a one-time special! Coming around Thanksgiving only on HBO Max! September 10 will mark the 30th anniversary of the sitcom's debut on NBC and that date this year is when they will tape this reunion special! Reuniting will be Will Smith (Will), Tatyana Ali (Ashley), Karyn Parsons (Hilary), Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey), Daphne Maxwell Reid (Aunt Viv), DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jazz) and Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton). HBO Max is touting plus special guests, so we will some other guests and recurring stars it seems. Please note, this will be a reunion retrospective special and not an actual episode. HBO Max is also working on reunion retrospectives for Friends and The West Wing. Stay tuned for more info!

Ayo Edebiri has been cast as Missy on Netflix's Emmy Nominated animated series Big Mouth, replacing Jenny Slate who has voiced the character since season one. Fans should expect to first hear Ayo voice Missy in the penultimate episode of season four. She will continue to voice Missy in the final episode and for future seasons. Ayo joined the Big Mouth writer's room for season five. Season four of Big Mouth will premiere in Fall 2020. The series was previously renewed by Netflix through season six. 

HISTORY announces a 10-episode order of the nonfiction series Assembly Required (working title) starring and executive produced by Golden Globe(R) winner Tim Allen (Last Man Standing, Home Improvement). Allen is set to reunite with Richard Karn (Pen15, Home Improvement) who will serve as host and executive producer. In this new competition series, Tim and Richard are sounding the call for those with a can-do attitude to take back their sense of purpose and awaken their inner builder.

Assembly Required (working title) will spotlight the best and brightest builders from across the country, at their home workshops, as they compete to breathe new life into everyday household items in desperate need of fixing. This new series will push each contestant to their limits while testing their ability and ingenuity to not only rebuild it but to build it better. In each episode, Allen and Karn will also dive into the unique history around these items to celebrate the men and women who crafted them, and the techniques used. Assembly Required (working title) is slated to premiere in 2021 on HISTORY. Produced by Wheelhouse Entertainment's Spoke Studios, ITV America and Boxing Cat Entertainment, this unique series also engineers a new model of partnership among the network, production and brands. In a one-of-a-kind collaboration for Assembly Required, (working title) powered by Wheelhouse's marketing arm, Wheelhouse Labs, production will work closely with HISTORY's advertising sales team in a joint effort to invite and secure brands that want to ally with the new Allen-starring series.

Multitalented actor Trevor Tordjman will join the cast of the hugely popular sitcom Bunk'd for its fifth season, set to begin production at a date yet to be determined. Since its 2015 premiere, the series has been a top performer on linear TV, SVOD and streaming platforms. Tordjman, a Kitchener, Ontario native, has amused and enthralled young viewers as the acrobatic cheer squad leader and erstwhile tyrant Bucky in Zombies, 2018's #1 rated telecast among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14. He did it again with Zombies 2, the #1 cable movie of 2020 to-date. He's also the co-host, with Ariel Martin (Zombies 2), of Disney Fam Jam, a dance competition series on Disney Channel, and the pair are hosting Disney Channel interstitials to provide "espirit de corps" during the summer while observing safer at home guidelines. Tordjman, a member of a sketch comedy group, is an accomplished dancer. His credits also include The Next Step, Lost & Found Music Studios and Full Out.

In Bunk'd, Parker Preston (Tordjman) is a witty charmer with an inherent likeability, despite the cocky demeanor he's picked up as a member of an ultra-wealthy family. It turns out he's the only Preston who cares about a deed giving descendants of great-great-grandfather Preston a 15 percent stake in Camp Kikiwaka. Now, Parker shows up at Kikiwaka determined to implement over the top ideas to make the camp overwhelmingly successful, but it quickly becomes clear that he'll butt heads with Lou over what success looks like. Bunk'd stars Miranda May as Lou, Raphael Alejandro as Matteo, Will Buie Jr. as Finn, Mallory James Mahoney as Destiny, Shelby Simmons as Ava, and Israel Johnson as Noah. 

It's Sunday, 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 August 31-September 4, 2020, 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!


Monday, August 31

• Adam DeVine (The Righteous Gemstones/Modern Family/Workaholics) - Watch Adam on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Seth Rogen (Undeclared) - Seth appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Gillian Jacobs (Love/Community) - Gillian is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Jamie Lee Curtis (Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Jamie Lee appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Taran Killam (Single Parents) - Taran is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso/Son of Zorn/The Cleveland Show) - Jason will be on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Kristin Chenoweth (Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin talks about the album For the Girls on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Kermit the Frog (The Muppets) - Kermit is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• John David Washington (Ballers) - John talks about Tenet on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Patricia Heaton (Carol's Second Act/The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Patricia talks about her new book Your Second Act on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.

Tuesday, September 1

• Zendaya (K.C. Undercover/Shake It Up) - Watch Zendaya on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun) - Joseph is a guest on a repeat of on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Paula Pell (Mapleworth Murders) - Paula appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso/Son of Zorn/The Cleveland Show) - Jason is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• J. B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm/The Millers/Bent/'Til Death) - J. B. will be on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Keegan-Michael Key (Friends from College/Playing House/Gary Unmarried) - Keegan-Michael appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who? - Melissa is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) - Kym appears on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
• Brian Austin Green (Anger Management/Wedding Band) - Brian chats on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Jerry talks about The Secret: Dare to Dream on a repeat on Access Daily, so check your local listings.

Wednesday, September 2

• Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Yara Shahidi (grown-ish/black-ish) - Yara is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Paula Pell (Mapleworth Murders) and John Lutz (Mapleworth Murders/30 Rock) - Paula and John are guests on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Lauren Ash (Superstore/Super Fun Night) - Lauren appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Ben Feldman (Superstore/A to Z/Silicon Valley/Living with Fran) - Ben is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Tracee appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
• Rory Scovel (Robbie/Ground Floor) - Rory will be on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Steve Buscemi (Miracle Workers) - Steve appears on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Brie Larson (United States of Tara/Raising Dad) - Brie is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Julie Andrews (Julie) - Julie appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Finesse Mitchell (Outmatched/A.N.T. Farm) - Finesse is a guest on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
• Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks), Jayma Mays (Trial & Error/The Millers), Erinn Hayes (Medical Police/Kevin Can Wait/Guys with Kids/Worst Week) and Brigette Lundy-Paine (Atypical) - The cast of Bill & Ted Face the Music are guests on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Christopher Meloni (Surviving Jack/The Fanelli Boys) - Christopher talks about Hulu's Maxxx on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.

Thursday, September 3

• David Schwimmer (Intelligence/Friends) - Catch David on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Alison Brie (GLOW/Community) - Alison is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Patton appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Danny Devito (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Taxi) - Danny is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Ramy Youssef (Ramy) - Ramy will be on a repeat of Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
• Method Man (Method & Red) - Method Man is a guest on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Nia Long (Uncle Buck/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) - Nia appears on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Tisha Campbell (Outmatched/Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) - Tisha guest co-hosts a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.

Friday, September 4

• Leslie Odom Jr. (Central Park/Big Day) - Watch Leslie on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Yvette Nicole Brown (The Mayor/The Odd Couple/Community) - Yvette chats with the ladies of a repeat of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Jerry and his wife Rebecca Romijn are guests on a repeat of LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Demi appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• David Schwimmer (Intelligence/Friends) and Nick Mohammed (Intelligence) - David and Nick are guests on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/The Game) - Tika gives a sneak peek at the season finale of mixed-ish and talks about her latest project helping new moms on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
• Peter Gallagher (Grace and Frankie/Togetherness/The Secret Lives of Men) - Peter will be on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
• Seth Rogen (Undeclared) - Seth is a guest on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
• Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke shares what it was like growing up with the public fixated on her looks and reveals 3 secret weapons to defy her age in her 50s on a repeat of The Dr. Oz Show, 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 Sunday feature! We do listen!

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Sitcoms Airing This Week

Sunday, August 30

Last Man Standing - "Mysterious Ways" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Vanessa is secretly obsessed with Jen's new video game.

Duncanville - "Jack's Pipe Dream" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When all of Jack's customers are stolen by a sexy new plumber, he quits his day job to follow his dream and write a rock opera; he casts his family and books the town theater for a live performance.

The Simpsons - "The Way of the Dog" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After the Simpsons' dog bites Marge, the family explores the tragic past of Santa's Little Helper.

Bless the Harts - "Tying the Not" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
In order to prove that she's not afraid of marriage, Jenny decides to take things to the next level with Wayne; Betty attempts to expose Crystalynn as a liar after seeing her claim to have encountered a strangler on a popular crime show.

Bob's Burgers - "Yurty Rotten Scoundrels" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Gayle decides to host an artist workshop in a yurt, Linda feels compelled to support her sister; Louise and Gene lead a covert operation to find a lost cat for a cash reward.

Family Guy - "Rich Old Stewie" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Stewie's lush retirement is interrupted by Brian, who brings news that Peter is dying.

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Monday, August 31

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Trivia Night" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Calvin and Dave get shown up by Gemma and Marty at a local bar’s trivia night, the pair hatch a plan for a do-over to redeem themselves. Also, a frustrated Tina decides to take matters into her own hands in order to finally meet Malcolm’s girlfriend, Sofia (Edy Ganem).

Young Sheldon - "A House for Sale and Serious Woman Stuff" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Sheldon learns the house next door is for sale, he takes it upon himself to find the perfect neighbors. Also, Missy is torn when she’s forced to pitch against her boyfriend at the baseball game.

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Tuesday, September 1

Dead Pixels - "Bethrotal" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Megan and Nicholas decide to get married in the Kingdom Scrolls game, but things quickly get complicated.

Dead Pixels - "Tandaal" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A movie version of Kingdom Scrolls is announced, but passionate gamers Megan and Nicholas are not happy with the casting.

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Wednesday, September 2

The Goldbergs - "Vacation" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Before Erica and Barry go off to college, Beverly insists the family take a road trip to go on vacation to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. But like the film, things do not go as planned as they travel across the country. Meanwhile, Erica worries more and more about her relationship with Geoff when he teases “we need to talk” and won’t tell her anything until the family returns from their adventure.

black-ish - "A Game of Chicken" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dre knows when to choose his battles with Bow, but they disagree on where to send Devante for preschool. Meanwhile, Junior helps Jack and Diane pull an epic eighth-grade prank.

The Conners - "Pilot Lights & Sister Fights" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dan is finally ready to share his feelings with Louise, but it could be too late. Darlene balances the stress of wooing potential advertisers and doctor’s appointments as she realizes how badly she wants a baby. Ben gets caught up playing handyman and babysitter for Becky, which has him miss an important meeting and causes Darlene to pick a nasty fight with the both of them.

American Housewife - "The Battle for Second Breakfast" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Katie begins to feel like the third wheel when the topic at second breakfast starts revolving solely around Angela and Doris’ new relationships. Meanwhile, Greg struggles with Anna-Kat’s newfound independence.

The Goldbergs - "A Fish Story" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Despite Beverly’s insistence, Adam and Murray don’t want to go on a camping trip, so father and son create a film faking it, but their wilderness experience backfires when the Kremps come over for dinner. Meanwhile, Erica joins an all-girl a cappella group and learns an important lesson after taking over the group.

The Conners - "Nightmare on Lunch Box Street" (ABC, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jackie learns that the Chinese restaurant is going out of business and sees an opportunity to reopen the Lunch Box, but she’s caught by surprise when she uncovers a secret. Meanwhile, Mary gets upset when a woman assumes she is adopted, and Darlene continues to deal with her complicated love life.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "A Wise Man's Opinion" (BET, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Malik is hesitant to give the news to his family about Lisa's pregnancy.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Delicious" (BET, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Malik confesses to Curtis that he thinks Lisa is pregnant.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "The Pilot 101" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Jeremy and his family arrive at an assisted living facility in Atlanta to visit his Grandpa Vinny; the Wilson family is shocked by who and what they find at the facility.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "A Talk with Pa" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Jeremy and Leah attempt to get Sandra and Phillip adjusted to their new living situation.

In The Cut - "Tooth Treason" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Jay undergoes dental surgery and milks his recovery for longer than necessary; meanwhile, Mable's Tables new manager Trish Devoe has a new plan to grow business for the restaurant.

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Thursday, September 3

none scheduled

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Friday, September 4

none scheduled

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Saturday, September 5

none scheduled

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Sunday, September 6

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

Since it's a slow time for new sitcoms (both because of the summer and because of the pandemic causing a shortage of new sitcom content), I thought I'd look back at another sitcom of the past that I'm rewatching and finding holds up extremely well. That sitcom is Cheers, one of the biggest sitcoms of the 20th century and also one of the most acclaimed. Cheers is a show I haven't watched in some time, so rewatching the series has really reminded me just how nearly every sitcom made after it can trace its lineage back to the bar where everyone knows your name. Not necessarily in terms of joke structure (Cheers is a very funny show, but it's more rooted in the humor of the '80s and '90s and not the more modern sitcom type humor that was developed in the '00s) but in terms of its character development. Cheers has some of the best and most subtle character development I've ever seen in a sitcom. Character development in sitcoms is trickier than dramas, because the comfort of a sitcom means everything has to (seemingly) remain the same. The humor comes from the familiar situation of the show's situation. And yet, for a sitcom to remain fresh, the best ones do try to push their characters forward, but have to do so gradually.

I think any fan of Cheers would agree the characters in Season 11 were not quite the same people as the characters at the start - they had grown and changed, but they were still recognizably their archetypes. That's because Cheers very slowly evolved its characters over the course of its run. There weren't any real shocking plot twists or huge events happening, but the day-to-day doldrums of life and evolution of their relationships gradually pushed their characters to new places. And I would argue nearly every great sitcom after it - be it Friends or The Office or Parks and Recreation or Community - evolved their characters in similar ways. Prior to Cheers, there were far less sitcoms that had their eye on the gradual character development, but it's become an important part of sitcoms going forward. And as I'm watching Cheers, I'm reminded of just how character development in a sitcom can be done right.

Yesterday we had some changes for CBS and Fox, now we have some changes for Fall 2020 for ABC and NBC. ABC unveiled its fall unscripted premiere dates. Details for the network's scripted series premiere dates will be shared at a later time and will likely have October/November premieres for many of its series. ABC has slotted five nights of programming for September/October, joining the previously announced Dancing with the Stars, which will launch Monday, Sept. 14 from 8-10pm. Game show favorites Celebrity Family Feud, Press Your Luck and Match Game return with the back half of their seasons, with the first half having aired on Sundays earlier this summer. They will move to Thursdays and resume on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 8-11pm until TGIT dramas are ready later this fall. A dramatic new season of The Bachelorette debuts Tuesday, October 13 from 8-10pm. An all-new season of Shark Tank kicks off on Friday, October 16 at 8pm. And finally, Sundays will be more Fun & Games with new series Supermarket Sweep hosted by Leslie Jones joining the Sunday lineup at 8pm, right after an all-new season of AFV. At 9pm, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire with Jimmy Kimmel returns for a second season followed by the second season of Card Sharks with Joel McHale at 10pm - all premiering Sunday, October 18 from 7-11pm. No date yet for $100,000 Pyramid with Michael Strahan, which also started production this week. Stay tuned for the scripted premiere dates.

NBC is celebrating a November to remember as America's most-loved dramas make their highly anticipated season debuts the week of Nov. 9-13, including a two-hour premiere of This Is Us (Nov. 10, 9-11pm) and all three Chicago series (Nov. 11, 8-11pm). In addition, Law & Order: SVU (Nov. 12, 9pm) will return for its record-extending 22nd season that same week, along with the eighth season of The Blacklist (Nov. 13, 8pm), starring James Spader and Megan Boone. But comedy will launch first! For scripted comedy, executive producer Martin Gero will debut his new scripted comedy Connecting ... on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 8:30pm. The series is about a group of friends trying to stay close (and sane) through video chats as they share the highs and lows of these extraordinary times. Superstore, where Cloud 9's unique family of employees work together and share nearly everything about their personal lives as well, returns for its sixth season on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 8pm. On to reality, the four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series The Voice, with coaches Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, as well as host Carson Daly, will be back in its swiveling red chairs on Monday, Oct. 19 8-10pm and return for the second night of its season debut on Tuesday, Oct. 20 (8-10pm premiere, then 8-9pm). Host Jane Lynch will kick off the first episode of the worldwide global phenom Weakest Link when the show debuts Monday, Sept. 28 at 10pm. Ellen's Game of Games, one of the most fun shows on all of television, returns Tuesday, Oct. 6 for a two-hour premiere from 8-10 p.m. before shifting the following week on Oct. 13 to its normal 9-10 p.m. timeslot for a few weeks.

The Wall and American Ninja Warrior will air for three weeks starting Wednesday, Oct. 21, before the Chicago series return. Ninja will start off on Mondays, as previously announced, before moving to Wednesdays when The Voice returns. Returning series set to debut after Jan. 1 include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Good Girls, Making It, Manifest, New Amsterdam and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. New series set to launch in 2021 include Kenan, Law & Order: Organized Crime, Mr. Mayor, That's My Jam, Small Fortune, True Story, Who Do You Think You Are? and Young Rock.

Nickelodeon announced it is adding TV's number-one comedy series, Young Sheldon, to its Nick at Nite programming lineup this fall. Joining popular hit family comedies, including the Emmy(R)-winning series Friends, as well as George Lopez and Mom, Young Sheldon will premiere on Nickelodeon's nighttime programming block in November, starting with the first three seasons (65 episodes), with latter seasons coming to Nick at Nite beginning fall 2021. Year to date, Nick at Nite ranks as cable's top network with Women 18-49 and is also currently delivering its highest share of Adults 18-49 since 2016.

In the single camera, half-hour comedy Young Sheldon, viewers get the chance to meet the iconic, eccentric and extraordinary Sheldon Cooper in childhood in East Texas, as the young once-in-a-generation mind (series star Iain Armitage) embarks on his innocent, awkward and hopeful journey toward the man he will become in The Big Bang Theory. In addition to Armitage, Young Sheldon stars Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Montana Jordan, and Raegan Revord, with Annie Potts and Jim Parsons, who narrates as the voice of Sheldon. Created by Chuck Lorre & Steven Molaro, the series is produced by Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., in association with Warner Bros. Television. Created by Chuck Lorre (The Big Bang Theory, Mom, Mike & Molly) and Steven Molaro (The Big Bang Theory, The Class), Young Sheldon is executive produced by Lorre, Molaro, Steve Holland, Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak. Produced by Chuck Lorre Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, the hit comedy series is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. International Television Distribution.

CBS announced a slate of upcoming program premieres for September and October. The series include a mix of original news and alternative programming, and two scripted dramas and one comedy series making their broadcast network debuts. Based on current production timelines, new and returning primetime series could begin airing in November. The upcoming broadcasts from CBS News include: 60 Minutes, premiering Sunday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 PM ET/7:00 PM PT; a special edition of 48 Hours: Suspicion on Wednesdays beginning Sept. 9 at 10:00PM ET/PT; the return of 48 Hours' Saturday edition on Sept. 12 at 10:00 PM ET/PT); and the launch of the new six-part series The FBI Declassified on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 10:00 PM ET/PT). The FBI Declassified, narrated by Alana De La Garza, from the CBS drama FBI, gives viewers unprecedented access to some of the biggest cases handled by real-life FBI agents and analysts.

The premieres of the three returning reality favorites include: The Greatest #AtHome Videos, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, on Friday, Sept. 25 at 8:00 PM ET/PT; an all-new season of Undercover Boss on Friday, Oct. 2 at 9:00 PM ET/PT; and the next edition of the multiple Emmy Award-winning reality series The Amazing Race, hosted by Phil Keoghan, on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 9:00PM ET/PT. The first full season of CBS All Access' Star Trek: Discovery makes its broadcast debut Thursday, Sept. 24 at 10:00 PM ET/PT as a special limited promotional run prior to its third season return on CBS All Access. The third season of the hit series, starring Sonequa Martin-Green, is scheduled to launch Thursday, Oct. 15 exclusively on CBS All Access, ViacomCBS' subscription video on-demand and live streaming service. The broadcast premiere of the drama Manhunt: Deadly Games from Lionsgate and Spectrum Originals will debut Monday, Sept. 21 at 10:00 PM ET/PT. The scripted true crime anthology series, starring Cameron Britton, Jack Huston and Carla Gugino, chronicles one of the largest and most complex manhunts on U.S. soil following the deadly terrorist attack at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

The critically acclaimed sitcom One Day at a Time from Pop and Sony Pictures Television debuts on network television with all episodes from its fourth season beginning with back-to-back episodes on Monday, Oct 12 from 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT. The award-winning series inspired by Emmy winner Norman Lear's 1975 show of the same name, starring Screen Actors Guild Award winner Justina Machado, tells the story of the Cuban American Alvarez family. The scheduled season finales for the summer reality shows, which launched later this year and will extend further into fall, are Love Island on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8:00 PM ET/PT and Big Brother on Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT, when The Amazing Race moves to its new time period of 8:00 PM ET/PT. Additional programming for September and October will be announced at a later date.  

Fox has fast-tracked the all-new music guessing game unscripted series I Can See Your Voice, hosted and executive-produced by comedian, actor and The Masked Singer panelist Ken Jeong. For a night of event television, the series will debut Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9:00 PM ET/PT, following the Season Four premiere of television's #1 show, The Masked Singer at 8:00 PM ET/PT, on Fox. Offering viewers a first look at the hit's all-new season, a special Sneak Peek episode of The Masked Singer will air Sunday, Sept. 13 from 8:00-9:00 PM ET/5:00-6:00 PM PT live to all time zones, following the first NFL double-header of the season. Originally scheduled to air this fall in the Wednesday 9:00 PM time slot, MasterChef Junior will air later in the season. 

The MeTV Network announced their fall schedule that will begin on Labor Day - Monday, Sept. 7, 2020. Not many changes are occurring though. Returning to the lineup after a short hiatus is Gilligan's Island! Gilligan and the castaways will air weekdays at 7am, replacing The Beverly Hillbillies, which will now only air Saturday mornings. The rest of the weekday schedule is exactly the same. On Saturday late nights, there will be two changes: Kolchak: The Night Stalker at 12am (replacing The Invaders) and The Invaders at 5am (replacing Planet of the Apes, which is off the lineup). On Sunday nights, The Twilight Zone half-hour episodes will air at 12am and 12:30am instead of the hour-long ones. View the full lineup here.

REELZ announced its September 2020 lineup with six new original specials and a returning original series highlighted by new stories celebrating the remarkable lives and enduring legacies of Bernie Mac and Lucille Ball. With never before heard audio recordings from Mac himself Bernie Mac: In My Own Words chronicles his rise to superstardom from early family tragedies he endured to his open mic roots and the genius that made him the king of comedy. In Lucille Ball: We Love Lucy see how the legend of laughter cemented her legacy breaking barriers in TV and building an entertainment empire that would transform Hollywood.

From the haunting stories of true crime to the radiant light of comedic brilliance September premieres continue with the previously announced Bernie Mac: In My Own Words on Sunday, September 6 at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT about the life of the late legend from childhood, family and marriage to his relentless drive to make it big in comedy. The pantheon of laughter is not complete without Lucille Ball. Her raw talent, indomitable spirit and trailblazing work in Hollywood are on full display in the new original special Lucille Ball: We Love Lucy premiering Saturday, September 12 at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT with Carol Burnett, Debra Messing and Lily Tomlin among others reflecting on her towering achievements and potent influence on entertainment. 

Some of Hollywood's most creative minds are joining together for a slate of virtual programming designed for high ratings in order to raise funds in support of Field Team 6, a voter registration organization looking to register new Democrats across 12 key battleground states. Among the programming is "Has America Jumped the Shark?" which takes place Thursday, August 27, 6 p.m. PST / 9 p.m. EST on Zoom. "Has America Jumped the Shark?" has assembled a panel of renowned TV writers to completely rewrite the unrealistic script that is the Trump administration and draft its final act. Participating guest writers are Al Jean, Emmy winning writer, producer, and showrunner for The Simpsons, It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Tonight Show; David Mandel, Emmy-winning writer, producer, and showrunner for Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld and Saturday Night Live; and Nell Scovell, writer, director, and author whose shows include Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Murphy Brown, Coach, Monk, Charmed, Newhart and NCIS. You can tune in here!

Season 2 of the daytime syndicated talk show The Kelly Clarkson Show, hosted by Grammy and Emmy Award-winning talk show host Kelly Clarkson, will premiere on Monday, Sept. 21 and plans to return to its home at Universal Studios Hollywood. For the first time ever, fans will have the chance to get a front row seat as part of the show's virtual audience from the comfort of their own home. Season 2 will feature a combination of live and virtual interviews with some of the biggest names in film, television, music and everyday people who are agents of change in their community. The program will comply with NBCUniversal's safety guidelines, CDC guidance and state and local orders. In addition, the show will air five additional original episodes the week of Sept. 14 as a countdown for the season two launch on Sept. 21. The Kelly Clarkson Show airs weekdays in 100% of the country on more than 200 stations. 

Showtime has picked up Moonbase 8, a new half-hour comedy series from A24 set to debut this fall. Starring Emmy(R) nominee Fred Armisen (Portlandia), Tim Heidecker (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!) and Golden Globe(R) and Academy Award(R) nominee John C. Reilly (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story), the six-episode series is a workplace comedy that follows three subpar astronauts living at NASA's Moon Base Simulator with high hopes of being chosen to travel to the moon. Created, written and executive produced by Armisen, Heidecker, Reilly and Emmy nominee Jonathan Krisel (Baskets), who also serves as series director, Moonbase 8 is produced by A24 and Abso Lutely Productions.

Set in the isolated desert of Winslow, Arizona at NASA's Moon Base Simulator, Moonbase 8 follows eager astronauts Skip (Armisen), Rook (Heidecker) and their leader Cap (Reilly) as they attempt to qualify for their first lunar mission. While working vigorously to complete their training, a series of unexpected circumstances forces the astronauts to question their own mental sanity, trust in each other and whether or not they're cut out for space travel.

HBO Max is adding to its ever expanding stand-up slate with three more stars getting specials. First up is the greenlight of a solo stand-up special from comedian, actress, producer Aida Rodriguez. In the special, Aida Rodriguez takes to the stage to confront today's audiences about cancel-culture and the social issues of the day, not just because they're ripped from the headlines, but because they are in the pages torn out of her personal life. Trigger warning: her comedy might offend those who are too uptight to listen anyway. HBO Max also has greenlighted a solo stand-up special from actress, New York Times best selling author, and comedian Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens, Black Frasier), marking her first for television. Robinson brings her singular brand of confessional humor to an hour where she dives into quarantining with her boyfriend, moderating on Michelle Obama's book tour, and failing at being a social justice warrior, among many other topics. And HBO Max announced the greenlight of Colin Quinn's multi-act, socially distant, stand-up special, Summer of 2020: A Drive-In Comedy Special (working title). Directed by Quinn, who will also perform, the special is part documentary and part standup showcase. The comedians will tape at a repurposed drive-in movie theatre in Brooklyn to allow audience members to enjoy the show while social distancing.

All three join HBO Max's exciting slate of stand-up offerings, with previously announced specials from Chelsea Handler, Tracy Morgan, Marlon Wayans, John Early, and Ahir Shah, along with a slate of five specials from Conan O'Brien's Team Coco, which includes which includes solo specials from Moses Storm, and Chris Redd.