Good News If Your Name Is Earl; Dick Van Dyke Returns To The Small Screen; I Love Lucy's Final Season Coming To DVD

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Good News If Your Name Is Earl; Dick Van Dyke Returns To The Small Screen; I Love Lucy's Final Season Coming To DVD

Some good news if your name happens to be Earl. Universal Studios Hollywood is offering free admission, starting January 5th and running through the end of January, to anyone named Earl. All Earls will also receive free t-shirts. My Name Is Earl is being shifted from Tuesdays to Thursdays on NBC at 9PM ET/PT starting January 5th. Read their press release here. Discuss this freshman sitcom on our message board.

Dunkin' Donuts commercial star Michael Vale has died. He passed away on Saturday, December 24 in New York City at age 83 due to complications from diabetes. He did the ads from 1982 until he retired in 1997. He said "Time to make the donuts." His sitcom roles included 3 appearances on Car 54, Where Are You? and a 1987 episode of The Cosby Show.

Television icon Dick Van Dyke returns to the small screen in “Murder 101” premiering on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, January 7 (9/8c). Van Dyke is joined by his real life son, Barry Van Dyke, and grandson, Wes Van Dyke, in the new murder mystery that also reunites the Van Dykes with Dean Hargrove, the Emmy® Award-winning executive producer of “Murder 101,” “Diagnosis Murder,” and “Columbo.”

Dick Van Dyke stars as Dr. Jonathan Maxwell, a bumbling professor of criminology who happens to be one of the sharpest crime-solving minds in the world. Although sometimes forgetful in his ordinary life, when it comes to solving a whodunit, Dr. Maxwell is talented in using psychology and evidence to uncover the truth with a little help from his protégé private investigator Mike Palmer played by real life son, Barry Van Dyke. Grandson Wes Van Dyke makes a cameo appearance as one of Dr. Maxwell’s criminology students.

I Love Lucy's sixth and final season will be released on May 2nd. Click here to read the info and see the artwork at TVShowsonDVD.com . Will we see the start of The Lucy Show season sets after I Love Lucy wraps up? Or maybe The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour? Click here to read one rumor thread that was posted on our Lucy Show message board. There is still lots of Lucy material that could be released in the future.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, June 8

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to Babies and Bathwater" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dave’s ambitious home improvement plans take a turn, prompting Calvin to step in, while Malcolm seeks Gemma’s help to overcome writer’s block. Meanwhile, Tina’s suggestion for Daphne sparks a parenting dilemma for Courtney.

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to Secrets and Santa" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Butlers’ anniversary plans take an unexpected turn when a blast from the past, Calvin’s ex-girlfriend, resurfaces. Meanwhile, Malcolm’s meeting gets hijacked, Marty makes a big move toward commitment and Gemma finds herself caught in a holiday misunderstanding.

St. Denis Medical - "Mama Bear Activated" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Bruce is attacked at the hospital, Matt helps him deal with the aftermath; Alex motivates Joyce to amp up security, while Ron and Serena debate who is more qualified to defend themselves.

St. Denis Medical - "Get Me in the Pod, Brother" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Alex and Ron spar over the wisdom of open communication; Joyce brings in a body scanner that proves overly distracting.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 8)

Monday, June 8

Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Watch Tom on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Eric André (Man Seeking Woman/2 Broke Girls/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Eric is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Eve Hewson (Bad Sisters) - Eve appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also talks about Disclosure Day on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Josh Gad (Wolf Like Me/Avenue 5/The Comedians/1600 Penn/Back to You) and Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Josh and Andrew are guests on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jennifer Lopez (South Central) and Betty Gilpin (GLOW/Nurse Jackie) - Andy Cohen interviews Jennifer and Betty on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:15pm on Bravo.
Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Jane appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
John Reynolds (Four Weddings and a Funeral/Search Party) - John talks about Never Change! on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Laverne Cox (Clean Slate) - Laverne talks about Transcendent: A Memoir on Live with Kelly and Mark (check your local listings) and with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - All Access with Linsey Davis sits down with Wanda Sykes for an in-depth conversation on her 40-year career in comedy and what's next on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Meagan Good (Cousin Skeeter/Raising Dad) - Meagan and Jonathan Majors talk about their much-talked-about romance, wedding, and the story behind their new fitness brand on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Mariska Hargitay (Can't Hurry Love) - NBC's Today catches up with Mariska in the 10am hour.
Jaleel White (Family Matters/Grown Ups) and Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - Jaleel tells Valerie and Ross Mathews about being a child actor and his game show Flip Side on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.