SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Remembering TV Talk Show Legend Mike Douglas; Boomerang Fall; 'My Name is Earl' MySpace

Today we lost another TV legend. This time legendary TV talk show Mike Douglas. He died today on his birthday of all days in Palm Beach, Florida. He of course hosted the popular talk show The Mike Douglas Show from 1961-1982. It was probably the most popular daytime talk show in the '70s. Thousands and thousands of celebrities and guests appeared on the show, like Barbra Streisand, and sitcom greats such as Lucille Ball, John Ritter, Richard Mulligan, Danny Thomas and so many more. He even appeared as himself on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Greatest American Hero, and Ringo. Douglas started his career as a teen singer at supper clubs and on radio programs, joined the Navy during World War II, had two hit singles during the 1950s, then ultimately hosted The Mike Douglas Show, which he always maintained was more about music than talk.
He will be missed and I'm sure current talk show hosts such as David Letterman and Regis Philbin will honor him. Mr. Douglas turned 81 today.

Boomerang, the classic Cartoon Network animation spin-off channel, will be adding Garfield & Friends this September! Starting September 18, Sun-Fri at 8 p.m. They also will return Heathcliff & Marmaduke on Sept. 4 and air it weekdays at 11:30 a.m. No real other changes to their line-up besides these two additions. Boomerang airs classic series such as The Jetsons, The Flintstones, The Smurfs, Yogi Bear, Pink Panther and Tom & Jerry. They also air newer stuff like Pokemon and Duck Dodgers, but mainly it is classic stuff.

In a first-of-its-kind promotion, NBC and 20th Century Fox Television will partner with MySpace.com -- the leading online social community --to offer users an opportunity to submit a photo and have a chance to see their mug featured as a "Friend of Earl" in one of the first three episodes of My Name Is Earl (Thursdays, 8-8:30 p.m. ET). At the end of each episode, the series' production credits normally conclude with the "Amigos de Garcia" ("Friends of Garcia") logo the executive producer Greg Garcia's production company slate that normally features friends of the show's creator. Winners will now have a chance to be featured as one of the "Amigos." The first "Friend of Earl" winner will appear in the season premiere of My Name Is Earl on Thursday, September 21 (8-8:30 p.m. ET) and two other winners in two subsequent episodes. In addition, the MySpace community will offer user-generated content, sneak previews of Earl's first season DVD and soundtrack, "Earl" content for cell phones and other 'Earl'-Licensed merchandise.
For more details click here.