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Saturday, October 18, 2014

SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Introduces CBS All Access; Even More Remakes of Classic TV Series Under Consideration; New Family Guy DVDs

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we've got news about a new online streaming service from CBS, and even more stories that will make you wonder if the future of television will just be a remake of everything we've already seen. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

CBS launched their new online service CBS All Access this week, which is designed for those who've decided to get rid of cable and view CBS content online, including streaming in markets where CBS owns the local affiliate and episodes of classic TV series in the CBS library. It costs about $6 per month, but you still have to put up with commercials (though there are none on the classic TV series). (CBS News)
Will the remakes ever stop? Now, it is The Courtship of Eddie's Father that is being talked about for a potential remake by Fox.. (Deadline)
It looks like Bewitched is being eyed as a remake too, which if that happens, we can only hope it will bear no resemblance to the movie from a decade ago. (TV.com)
Nearly a decade ago, there was talk of a US version of the British comedy The IT Crowd appearing on NBC, and the talk seemed to go on forever until it was permanently shelved... or so we thought. Now, it seems that they are reconsidering this with a version to be produced by Bill Lawrence, Neil Goldman, and Garrett Donovan. (TMZ)
Saturday Night Live is hoping to get out of what some have considered a disappointing season as Chris Rock returns to host for the first time in almost two decades when the show returns on November 1, with musical guest Prince. (Time)
Netflix has picked up the rights to the series Friends, which will begin streaming on the service in January. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Just like the December tradition of Fox releasing more of The Simpsons, Family Guy isn't going to be left out, as December 9 will bring Family Guy - Volume 11.
Raising Hope has just been completed on DVD, with Fox's MOD release of Raising Hope - The Complete Fourth Season.

OCTOBER 21 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00LMBURJ0/ref=nosim/happydaysonline5-20

Married... with Children - Seasons 5 and 6 (DVD, $14.98): Mill Creek moves ahead with their re-releases of the classic series on DVD.
The Soul Man - The Complete Second Season (DVD, $19.97): Shout! Factory brings fans the second season of the TV Land series on DVD.
Square Pegs - The Complete Series (DVD, $9.98): The one (and only) season of the 80s comedy arrives on DVD as a value-priced re-release from Mill Creek.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Tony Danza (Twitter)

Claim to Fame: Tony Danza is best known as "Tony" in almost every sitcom you've ever seen him appear. He's a name that any sitcom fan knows, and that fame began in 1978 with his role as Tony Banta on the sitcom Taxi. He was actually a boxer before that series, and was first discovered a Taxi producer at a boxing gymnasium. That series ended in 1983, but he wasn't off the air for long, as he returned in 1984 with an even bigger role on the sitcom Who's the Boss? as Tony Micelli, which ran until 1992. Toward the end of that series, he even managed to work on the side playing the voice of a baby (who was actually NOT named Tony) on the series Baby Talk. After that, he had two less successful series with Hudson Street (as Tony Canetti) and The Tony Danza Show (as Tony DiMeo). He even gave drama a shot a bit later on in the series Family Law, where instead of playing a Tony, he played a Tommy. Currently, much of his work is done on stage in Broadway performances.

Pick of the Tweets: "Who's The Boss premiered 30 years ago today! Thanks to all who watched - you made all the great memories possible!" (September 20, 2014)