In Memoriam: Wendie Jo Sperber and Macon McCalman; Mid-Season for FOX and NBC

Thursday, December 01, 2005

In Memoriam: Wendie Jo Sperber and Macon McCalman; Mid-Season for FOX and NBC

We have lost two sitcom stars this week. First, Wendie Jo Sperber lost her life on Tuesday after an eight year battle with breast cancer. Sperber is best remembered as playing Michael J. Fox's character's sister in the Back to the Future films, but she also co-starred in many sitcoms including with Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies, Private Benjamin, Women in Prison, Babes, and with John Ritter and Billy Bob Thornton in season one on Hearts Afire. She also has guest starred on many sitcoms such as Designing Women, Parker Lewis Can't Loose, Married...With Children, Murphy Brown, and Will & Grace. Even with breast cancer, she continued to work landing guest appearances on multiple episodes on the John Ritter sitcom 8 Simple Rules.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, the actress became an advocate for cancer care. In 2001, she founded the weSPARK Cancer Support Center, which provides free emotional support, information and social activities for individuals and families affected by cancer.
Sperber helped unveil and promote a breast cancer stamp for the U.S. Postal Service in 1998. Ms. Sperber was 46 years old.

We have also lost sitcom veteran Macon McCalman. The name might not sound familiar, but he has been around for a long time. He never starred in a sitcom as a regular but he had many guest appearances on many sitcoms. You might remember him as Janet Wood's father on Three's Company and before that he played the boss hitting on Chrissy also on Three's Company, he also played the racist club president on an episode of Diff'rent Strokes, he played a dentist on Perfect Strangers where chaos happened after Larry & Balki visited, and you might remember him as the minister who married Eunice and Dutch on Soap. He also visited shows like Lois & Clark, Maude, The Jeffersons, The Bob Newhart Show, Family Ties, Newhart, Designing Women, Fresh Prince, The Wonder Years, and Cheers. What a resume he had. He retired from the business in 1997 after having a heart attack. "The ultimate character actor" died Tuesday after having a series of strokes over the years. "Sonny" was 72 years old.

FOX has announced its mid-season schedule and American Idol results show will stay put on Wednesdays after all. Among the changes include the moving of Wednesday sitcoms That '70s Show and Stacked to a tough Thursday at 9 p.m. slot. FOX will also air a reality show with celebrities ice skating, titled Skating with Celebrities. You'll see Todd Bridges of Diff'rent Strokes on this! For the full line-up for FOX mid-season, click here.
NBC has also released their mid-season line-up and they will return to a four comedy night on Thursdays, but Joey will not be on it! NBC says Joey will return in March. The next installment of The Apprentice will too. New sitcom Four Kings will air Thursdays at 8:30 p.m., with Will & Grace moving to 8 p.m. and My Name is Earl and The Office will move from Tuesdays to Thursdays. And Scrubs returns on Tuesday nights for a full-hour! For the full line-up for NBC mid-season, click here.
Meanwhile ABC has quietly removed the repeat broadcasts for Hot Properties on December 16, 23 and 30 and replaced it with original episodes. So, this is good news as ABC will indeed air all 13 episodes of this series. The next episode will air December 9--so tune in!

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, May 4

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to Kalamazoo?" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Dave and Gemma seriously consider a major life change, it sends ripples through the family and strains relationships. Meanwhile, wedding chaos and unexpected revelations complicate plans for Malcolm and Marty, forcing everyone to confront what’s really ahead.

DMV - "Car-lette" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Colette tries to fix up her run-down car to get it re-registered, Gregg encourages her to buy a new one to save money. Meanwhile, Barb tries to teach everyone DMV robbery protocols.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 4)

Monday, May 4

Nicole Byer (Grand Crew/Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Watch Nicole on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback/No Good Deed/HouseBroken/Web Therapy/Friends/Mad About You) - Lisa appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Billy Eichner (Friends from College/Difficult People/Parks and Recreation) - Andy Cohen interviews Billy on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
Jamie Lynn Sigler (Guys with Kids) - Jamie Lynn talks about And So It Is...: A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Ryan Reynolds (Two Guys and a Girl) and Rob McElhenney (Mythic Quest/It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - Ryan and Rob talk about Welcome to Wrexham on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Damon Wayans (Poppa's House/My Wife and Kids/Damon) - Damon discusses diabetic macular edema with GMA lifestyle contributor Lori Bergamotto on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Jay Pharoah (White Famous/Champaign ILL) - Jay chats about The Quiz with Balls on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Goldie Hawn (Good Morning World) - Goldie talks about The After-School Kindness Crew: Pooch on the Loose #1 on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 10am hour and chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - The Drew Barrymore Show has a little bit extra with Sean, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - The Drew Barrymore Show has more from Valerie and and Drew in the kitchen on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Oliver Hudson (Splitting Up Together/Rules of Engagement/My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star) - The Drew Barrymore Show has a little bit extra with Oliver, so check your local listings.
Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley is a guest on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.