Saturday, June 03, 2006

Remembering Robert Sterling of 'Topper'; Benson TV Land Weekend

Robert Sterling was best known for the 1953-1956 TV series Topper, based on the Thorne Smith novel, and the 1937 film starring Cary Grant and Constance Bennett. He appeared with his wife Anne Jeffreys in the television series. He died this past Tuesday of natural causes at his home in the Brentwood area of L.A. Sterling and Jeffreys played George and Marion Kirby, a fun-loving couple killed in an accident but returned as ghosts to haunt the new occupant of their home, a banker named Cosmo Topper. Sterling appeared as a guest star in series such as Love American Style, Nanny & the Professor, Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Murder She Wrote, Hotel, Simon & Simon, and Fantasy Island. He will be missed greatly. Topper is a rare TV series these days. I remember it aired on WABC here in the NYC market a few years back once a week like at 4 a.m. Too bad I never caught it. Mr. Sterling was 88.

I hope you are all watching Benson this weekend on TV Land. I know I am! I'm enjoying every minute of it. Finally a TV series that has not been aired much in recent years. The show is not even on DVD, so no one can complain that this is another series that is everywhere. I do hope however that Benson gets on DVD very soon. Benson is a spin-off of Soap...now only if TV Land would air that, too. I'm glad that is on DVD already, though. Watch Benson all this weekend and weeknights at 11 p.m. ET/PT starting Monday on TV Land! Well, I better get back to Benson before someone else dies or is dying!
Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 10:14 PM
SITCOMS AIRING TONIGHT (May 19)

The Cleveland Show - "Crazy Train / Wheel! of! Family!" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Season Finale)
After Freight Train (guest voice Craig Robinson) unexpectedly invites Cleveland to an upcoming lowrider convention, Dr. Fist (guest voice Bryan Cranston) reveals that Freight Train’s surprising amiability might be the result of dementia. Then, Cleveland and Donna become overwhelmed with the kids’ hectic schedules.

The Simpsons - "The Saga of Carl / Dangers on a Train" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Season Finale)
Homer, Moe, Lenny and Carl win $200,000 in the Springfield Lottery. But when Carl takes off to Iceland – his homeland – with all the winnings, the guys embark on a Nordic adventure to get the cash back. Then, Marge mistakes a swinging Ashley Madison-type website for a Dolly Madison-type cupcake site, not realizing it’s a destination for married people seeking liaisons. On the site, she meets the charming “Ben” (guest voice MacFarlane), who pursues her after they learn they share a love for a “Downton Abbey”-type TV series.

Family Guy - "Road to Vegas / No Country Club for Old Men" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Season Finale)
Stewie and Brian use Stewie’s time machine to go to Las Vegas for a Bette Midler concert, but chaos ensues when the machine malfunctions and creates alt-versions of the pair: a “lucky” version and an “unlucky” one. Then, the Griffins are invited to join the prestigious Barrington Country Club and, of course, get thrown out.

Disney Channel

Good Luck Charlie - "Go Teddy!" (Disney Channel, 7:30PM ET/PT)
After learning the big cheer competition will be held in Hawaii, Teddy decides to join Kelsey on the cheerleading squad; Teddy bombs her cheer tryout and has to beg the coach to give her another chance; Amy asks Gabe and PJ to take Toby to park.

Austin & Ally - "Spas & Spices" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Trish gets a job at a spa and invites Ally for some treatments before an upcoming photo shoot; Austin agrees to pick up Ally's necklace for her, but things go awry when he drops it in a pot of chili that Dez is entering in a chili cook-off.

Veep - "Andrew" (HBO, 10:00PM ET/PT)
An allergic reaction shuts down budget negotiations; Amy and Gary worry about Selina seeing her ex-husband; Mike fields press inquiries.

Family Tree - "Treading the Boards" (HBO, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Tom and Pete learn about Harry's life from men at a regional theater.