Thursday, October 23, 2014
Steve Coogan Tapped for Happyish Pilot for Showtime; Lifetime's Lizzie Borden Movie Turning Into Limited Series
Noted for his range of comedic and dramatic roles, Oscar(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominee Steve Coogan (Philomena, Alan Partridge) is set to star in the Showtime comedy pilot Happyish. He'll succeed the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in the project. The half-hour single-camera comedy pilot will be filmed in New York this December. Happyish is a comedic, soul-searching examination of our pursuit of happiness, a pursuit that might just be the very thing causing our unhappiness in the first place. Coogan will star in the lead role of Thom Payne, a 44 year-old man whose world is thrown into disarray when his 25 year-old "wunderkind" boss arrives, saying things like "digital," "social" and "viral." Is he in need of a "rebranding," as his mentor insists, or does he just have a "low joy ceiling," as his corporate headhunter suggests? Maybe pursuing happiness is a fool's errand? Maybe, after 44 years on this ludicrous planet, settling for happyish is the best one can expect. Should this pilot be picked up to series, we will let you know. So, stay tuned...
Lizzie Borden takes another whack... Lifetime has ordered the limited series Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles, in which Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award nominee Christina Ricci (Pan Am, Monster) will reprise her haunting role as the notorious murder suspect she portrayed in the network's hit original movie Lizzie Borden Took An Ax (#LizzieBorden). Screen Actors Guild Award® winner Clea DuVall (Argo) will also reprise her role in the series as Lizzie Borden's sister, Emma. Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles delivers an intense and fictionalized account of actual events and people surrounding Lizzie's life after her controversial acquittal of the horrific double murder of her father and stepmother in 1892, when the exonerated figure lives a life awash in newfound celebrity. But when numerous people close to Lizzie – ranging from her half-brother to Broadway luminaries and the head of the criminal underworld -- start to mysteriously die under brutal and strange circumstances, legendary Pinkerton detective Charlie Siringo (Cole Hauser, Good Will Hunting) becomes determined to prove her involvement in their ultimate demise. Emmy nominee John Heard (The Sopranos) will portray William Almy, the business partner of Lizzie's murdered father Andrew, while Lizzie's half-brother William will be played by Andrew Howard (Hatfields & McCoys). Six-one hour installments of Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles will air on Lifetime in 2015.
In its January 25, 2014, world premiere, Lizzie Borden Took An Ax averaged 4.4 million Total Viewers. Among social media, it was the evening's most-tweeted program across television, while it also drove the highest traffic to a movie premiere on mylifetime.com since November 2012. In 2014 YTD, it is ad-supported cable's second most-watched movie telecast among Women, second only to the Lifetime Original Movie Flowers in the Attic.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, August 8
Young Sheldon - "A Fancy Article and a Scholarship for a Baby" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon’s published paper leads to a frenzy of grad school recruiting, and Georgie tries to speak more properly in front of his daughter.
Ghosts - "The Heir" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When a woman named Kelsey (Jessie Ennis) shows up claiming to be the rightful heir to Woodstone Mansion, Sam and Jay enlist the help of a lawyer, Dan (P.J. Byrne). Meanwhile, Isaac tries to decide how to spend half of Sam’s advance on his autobiography. Also, a surprise event takes place that could dramatically change life at the manor.
The Conners - "A Kiss is Just a Kiss" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Darlene struggles to decide between David and Ben; Becky begins to doubt herself as a mum; Mark gets in trouble at school when a picture of him & his boyfriend kissing goes viral.
The Conners - "The Preemie Monologues" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Harris is forced to confront Darlene about her lifestyle; Jackie involves herself in other people's problems to avoid confronting her own.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 5)
Thursday, August 8
- Lamorne Morris (Woke/New Girl) - Lamorne guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Sebastian Maniscalco (Bookie) - Catch Sebastian on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Gillian Jacobs (Love/Community) - Gillian is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) - Jeremy appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Carl Tart (Grand Crew/Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy) and Mary Elizabeth Ellis (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Santa Clarita Diet/The Grinder/Perfect Couples) - Carl and Mary are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Vince Vaughn (Curb Your Enthusiasm/F Is for Family) - E! News has an interview with Vince at 11pm on E!.
- John Stamos (UnPrisoned/Fuller House/Grandfathered/Jake in Progress/Full House/You, Again?) - John talks about the new season of UnPrisoned on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
- Chelsea Peretti (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Chelsea is a guest on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
New on DVD/Blu-ray
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/21 - Frasier (2023) - Season One
06/11 - The Jeffersons - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
06/11 - Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
07/05 - Letterkenny - Season 12 (Final Season)
07/30 - Ted Lasso - The Richmond Way (The Complete Series) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season / The Complete Series
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest
Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts