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Mayim Bialik is probably best known for two roles: Blossom on "Blossom" and Amy Farrah Fowler on "The Big Bang Theory." According to an oral history of Chuck Lorre's popular CBS sitcom, Bialik had some serious competition for the role of Amy ... and the actress who almost booked the gig ended up playing a recurring role anyway. So why did Bialik edge out "Garfunkel & Oates" actor Kate Micucci?

In Jessica Radloff's book "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series," Lorre and his writer-producer Steve Molaro said that Bialik's real-life education helped her land the role; in 2007, Bialik earned a PhD in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles (she also graduated from there in 2000 with a Bachelor's degree in the same field). As Lorre and Molaro told Radloff, that put Bialik over the edge.

"Chuck loved that she actually had a PhD in neuroscience,...

In all the hubbub around Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming updates this week, nobody bothered to note that we’ve been here before. This isn’t first time a version of the company — or at least a version of it — killed off a finished project for the sake of a write-off with no regard for its creators.

Of course, it’s hard to look at the past when much there is to ponder in the present: “Batgirl” won’t come out but the scandal-ridden “Flash” somehow will; older HBO Max titles have been quietly booted from the service; executives on the earnings call proclaimed confidence in plans to jam together two vastly different streaming services into an amorphous new entity that still has no name.

But let’s step back for a moment and recall some recent history: Remember HBO Go?

Launched in the primordial streaming-war era of 2010, HBO Go...

The out-of-this-world animated movie “Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe,” from Disney Television Animation, will premiere exclusively on Disney+ Friday, August 28. The soundtrack, from Walt Disney Records, will be available the same day.

Executive-produced by the creators/executive producers of the Emmy Award-winning “Phineas and Ferb” series, Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, “Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe” is an adventure story that tracks stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb as they set out across the galaxy to rescue their older sister Candace, who after being abducted by aliens, finds utopia in a far-off planet, free of pesky little brothers.

Voice talent reprising their roles from the original series and movie include: Ashley Tisdale as Candace Flynn; Vincent Martella as Phineas Flynn; Caroline Rhea as their mom, Linda; Dee Bradley Baker as Perry the Platypus; Alyson Stoner as Isabella; Maulik Pancholy as Baljeet; Bobby Gaylor...

“Phineas and Ferb” know what they’re going to do this summer: The animated Disney series’ next film, “Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe,” will premiere August 28 on Disney Plus.

Executive-produced by “Phineas and Ferb” creators/executive producers Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, “Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe” centers on Phineas and Ferb’s older sister Candace (voiced by Ashley Tisdale), who feels underappreciated by her family and then is abducted by aliens — who seem to worship her. But they’re obviously not what they seem.

Besides Tisdale, returning voice talent include Vincent Martella as Phineas Flynn; Caroline Rhea as their mom, Linda; Dee

Bradley Baker as Perry the Platypus; Alyson Stoner as Isabella; Maulik Pancholy as Baljeet; Bobby Gaylor as Buford; Olivia Olson as Vanessa Doofenshmirtz; Tyler Mann as Carl; and Povenmire and Marsh as Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz and Major Monogram,...

Fox is developing a single-camera comedy that hails from Riki Lindhome and Monica Padrick.

“Tails” will follow Erika (Lindhome), a woman in her late 30s, who despite the pressure she feels from the world around her, refuses to settle in any area of her life. Lindhome will serve as writer and executive producer on the project alongside Padrick in addition to starring. Fox has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached.

Amy Poehler will also executive produce via her Paper Kite Productions banner, with Paper Kite’s Kim Lessing producing. Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment will also executive produce. Universal Television will produce in association with Paper Kite, which is set up under an overall deal at the studio.

Padrick previously served as a staff writer on “Community,” and has written for recent shows like “The Mayor” and “Son of Zorn.” She is also writing for...

Kate Micucci is probably best known for being one half of Garfunkel And Oates, the musical comedy duo she started with Riki Lindhome. In the video above, Micucci traces their influences, revealing which comedic duos in history she holds most dear.

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For years, an improve group called The Commune have been the stars of their small New York improv theater. The members of the group, Mile (Mike Birbiglia), Samantha (Gillian Jacobs), Jack (Keegan-Michael Key), Allison (Kate Micucci), Bill (Chris Gethard), and Lindsay (Tami Sagher) entertain audiences night after night by performing as a finely-tuned troop. But, by day, they have to support themselves by working soul-crushing menial jobs.

Then, after they learn that their beloved theater is closing down and a hit comedy television show, ala Saturday Night Live, is looking for talent, the group dynamic begins to fracture and it may be time for the group to stop dreaming and get on with their lives.

Such is the premise of writer/director/star Mike Birbiglia’s new film Don’t Think Twice. While Birbiglia’s first film, Sleepwalk with Me (2012), was based on his work as a stand-up comedian, his...

Through comedy special Bianca Del Rio’s Rolodex of Hate, short film Darby Forever, and upcoming web series The Outs (which will premiere on March 30th), Vimeo has cobbled together its first full slate of original programming. Now, at South By Southwest, the online video platform has added to its library. It has announced a second round of original programming, including contributions from Jake and Amir, Garfunkel and Oates, and other notable content creators.

Jake and Amir, a comedy duo consisting of Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfield, are best known for their work with CollegeHumor, and while much of that work has been distributed on YouTube, some of it has showed up on Vimeo as well. The duo’s upcoming series will be titled Lonely and Horny, and it will star Blumenfeld as a thirty-something with sex on his mind. Lonely and Horny will serve as Jake and Amir’s...

In a network fall that’s once again loaded with indifferent, focus-grouped comedies that seem to have been conceived and made in an entirely different dimension from the likes of Broad City, Louie, and Veep, the first installment of The Grinder isn’t a groundbreaking entry, but it at least shows some signs of life. It snapped up Parks and Recreation’s freshly liberated Rob Lowe, who brings back some of the jazz-hands-concealing-clawing-pain act he deployed so avidly in his portrayal of Chris Traeger. But it’s also brought Fred Savage back to the other side of the camera, after more than a decade as the go-to director for the likes of Party Down, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Garfunkel and Oates, among other entries with a bit more edge than those who’ve tuned him out since The Wonder Years cut bait more than two decades ago might be used to.

You might not immediately recognize Jonathan Stern's name, but if you've watched anything funny over the last 10 years, you've more than likely seen his work. The incredibly prolific producer has collaborated with David Wain, Paul Scheer, Rob Corddry and more to help produce shows including Hulu's "Hotwives" series, "Burning Love," "Children's Hospital," "Garfunkel and Oates" and "Wet Hot American Summer." Read More: What Brings Comedians Together? According to 'Hotwives of Orlando' Creators, 'We Want to Feel Like We're Still in That Old Porn Theater' Working behind the scenes, Stern took the experience he gained working in the New York independent film scene and applied it to producing comedy on a platform-agnostic level. This means that in an industry where tons of potential films and TV shows die unseen, he actually gets projects made. Which, as he explains below, is why comedians keep coming back to work with him. ...

PBS Kids is purr-loining some talent from “Saturday Night Live” for its upcoming series “Nature Cat.” “SNL” veterans Taran Killam, Kate McKinnon, Bobby Moynihan and Kenan Thompson have been tapped for the voice cast of the series, which is scheduled for a November 25 premiere. Kate Micucci, of “Garfunkel and Oates” renown, has also been cat on “Nature Cat,” which is created by “Sesame Street” duo David and Adam Rudman. See video: 'SNL' Doc 'Live From New York!' Trailer Chronicles 'Strange Canadian' Lorne Michaels' 'Weird Idea' The series will follow Fred, a house cat who dreams of exploring the great outdoors.

At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's streaming on Netflix, we've got you covered.

New on DVD and Blu-ray

"Interstellar"

The Blu-ray edition of Christopher Nolan's sprawling space pic is packed with featurettes about the making of "Interstellar," including a 50-minute special narrated by Matthew McConaughey about the scientific research behind the story.

"The Imitation Game"

Benedict Cumberbatch's star turn as Alan Turing doesn't quite elevate this pic above Oscar bait, but it's big and glossy and worth a look.

"Wild"

Reese Witherspoon stars in the big-screen adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's best-selling memoir about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Witherspoon was nominated for an Oscar for her performance, as was Laura Dern, who has an extra-special role as Cheryl's late mom.

TV Worth Watching

"The Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber" (Monday on Comedy Central at 10 p.m.

Here’s an animated video for “My Apartment’s Very Clean Without You,” a two-minute ditty from the Kate Micucci / Riki Lindhome musical duo Garfunkel And Oates. The video involves a bunch of cartoon cats in various increasingly distressing roles, thus confirming the video’s admittance to Internet University, and the song itself is catchy, adorable, and very, very deceptively touching. More touching than “Go Kart Racing (Accidentally Masturbating)”? That’ll be for rock historians to decide: (via Nerdist)...