The working-class comedy will be back two decades after it ended, with the rest of the cast intact.
“Roseanne, ” one of TV’s rare working-class comedies, will return to ABC two decades after it wrapped its hit run and with star Roseanne Barr and the rest of the cast intact, the network said Tuesday in announcing its 2017-18 season plans.
“The Conners’ joys and struggles are as relevant — and hilarious — today as they were then, and there’s really no one better to comment on our modern America than Roseanne, ” ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey said in a statement. The original series wrapped its nine-season run in 1997.
Besides Barr as the Conner family matriarch, the eight-episode reboot airing in 2018 will feature John Goodman as her husband, Dan, along with former co-stars Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, Michael Fishman and Lecy Goranson. Sarah Chalke, who played Goranson’s character, Becky, in later seasons, will appear in another role, ABC said.
ABC’s lineup next season will be heavy on high-concept dramas and include one familiar reality series, “American Idol, ” which the network called a “perfect fit” despite the lagging ratings and high costs that brought it to an end at Fox. Dungey announced during the network’s presentation to advertisers that Katy Perry will join as one of the show’s judges.
ABC is bringing eight new shows to its schedule next fall and moving several returning series around, including hit comedy “black-ish.” The series that had been paired with “Modern Family” on Wednesday is strong enough to shift to 9 p.m. Tuesday to help launch a new comedy, “The Mayor, ” Dungey said. The freshman show stars Brandon Micheal Hall as a young rapper who unexpectedly wins a mayoral election in his California hometown.
Another new comedy, “Alex Inc., ” is set for the 2017-18 season but with a still-unannounced debut date. Zach Braff stars as a radio journalist and family man who decides to become an entrepreneur.
Less lucky is “Last Man Standing, ” the Tim Allen comedy that won’ t return next season.
Letterman to get humor prize
David Letterman, the late-night host with an irascible streak who inspired fierce loyalty from fans and critics and who made Americans laugh but didn’ t mind making them uncomfortable, will be rewarded this year with America’s top prize for humor.
The Kennedy Center announced Tuesday that Letterman, 70, is this year’s recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. He will be the 20th humorist to receive the prize, which began in 1998.
Last fall, Letterman delivered a warm tribute on stage at the Kennedy Center as Bill Murray, a frequent guest on his show, accepted the award.
Letterman hosted more than 6,000 episodes of late-night television, starting in 1982 with NBC’s “Late Night with David Letterman.”
Long considered the heir apparent to Johnny Carson, he ended up losing the “Tonight Show” job to rival Jay Leno. Instead, he signed with CBS, where he hosted “The Late Show” from 1993 until his retirement in 2015.
Kimmel to host Oscars again
Jimmy Kimmel will return to host the Oscars in 2018.
The late night talk-show host will host the 90th edition of the awards on March 4.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tweeted the news Tuesday.
Kimmel’s hosting job in February was overshadowed by the biggest awards flub in Oscars history at the end of the show: Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were given the wrong envelope for the best picture category, causing the incorrect winner to be announced.
More live musicals coming to TV
Fans of musicals are going to get a wave of new productions in the new TV season.
ABC is joining NBC and Fox — each planning two live musicals in 2017-18 — with its own offering in the genre: “The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live!”
The announcement was made Tuesday at the network’s annual pitch to advertisers.
The two-hour special is set to premiere Oct. 3 and is based on the 1989 animated Disney film, blended with live musical performances. (ABC is owned by Disney) .
Cast announcements are pending, but the network said in a statement that it would include some of the musical’s fans’ “favorite celebrity artists.”
ABC’s announcement comes on the heels of NBC’s plans for “Bye Bye Birdie” with Jennifer Lopez in December and a production of “Jesus Christ Superstar ” next Easter. (It’s also planning the musical drama “ Rise”) .
Fox is planning two productions: a live musical version of 1983 feature film “ A Christmas Story, ” later a Broadway musical, and “Rent, ” based on the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, for which Fox has been trying to secure rights for two years.
ABC also has a taped adaptation of “Dirty Dancing” set to air May 24.
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