Monday, October 23, 2006
Remembering 'Father Knows Best' TV Mom Jane Wyatt; 'Doris Day Show' DVD Delayed
We have lost one of the great TV moms of all-time. Jane Wyatt, the actress who for six years on Father Knows Best (starring Robert Young) was one of TV's favorite moms, has died. Wyatt died Friday in her sleep of natural causes at her Bel-Air home, according to publicist Meg McDonald. She experienced health problems since suffering a stroke at 85, but her mind was sharp until her death, her son Christopher Ward said. She was best known for her role on the family sitcom as Robert Young's TV wife, Margaret Anderson that brought the actress her lasting fame. She appeared in 207 half-hour episodes from 1954 to 1960 and won three Emmys as best actress in a dramatic series in the years 1958 to 1960. The show began as a radio sitcom in 1949; it moved to television in 1954. After its run ended, it continued in reruns on CBS and ABC for three years in primetime, a TV rarity. The show came to an end because Young, who had also played the father in the radio version, had enough. Wyatt remarked in 1965 that she was tired, too. Besides this show, she did mostly movies, but she did have some other TV works (mainly one-hour dramas) such as Star Trek, Love American Style, Here Come the Brides, Marcus Welby, Owen Marshall, Alias Smith & Jones, The Virginian, Medical Center, Quincy, St. Elsewhere, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Hotel, and even Happy Days. She will be deeply missed and here is hoping we see Father Knows Best on DVD soon. Ms. Wyatt lived a long life and was 96.
Related Links:
Internet Movie Database entry for Jane Wyatt
Father Knows Best Message Board
Father Knows Best Photo Gallery
And staying in the '50s/'60s decade, the fourth season DVD of The Doris Day Show has been delayed, MPI Home Video tells us. The set was scheduled for release on October 31, but no retailers I believe ever put it up for sale, so we asked MPI and they told us the set has been delayed until February 27, 2007. So, fans of this classic sitcom take note of this but rest assue we will get this season in the coming months. MPI is still on schedule for the Family Affair release in November.
We shall return if we have more news to share.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, February 5
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Pregnancy Test and an Old Man’s Gallbladder" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Georgie’s jealousy rears its head when Mandy gets sent on an overnight work trip with her ex and current boss, Scott (Christopher Gorham). Meanwhile, Jim and Audrey panic when they find a pregnancy test in Connor’s trash.
Ghosts - "Viking Wedding" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sam and Jay try to impress their trendy city friends while a misplaced bookcase threatens Thor’s ability to deliver an important speech. Also, Isaac rallies the ghosts to help the couple navigate a tough customer service ordeal.
Animal Control - "French Bulldogs and White Broncos" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank scrambles to find a date for a romantic sunset horse ride; Patel hosts a "sip 'n snip" fundraising event.
Going Dutch - "None of the Good Guys" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Captain Maggie is cursed with dating bad men and Sergeant Dana convinces her to go to a single's mixer; the Colonel deals with an anonymous protestor that has infiltrated the base.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 2)
Thursday, February 5
- Odessa A'zion (I Love LA/Fam) - Catch Odessa on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Halle Berry (Living Dolls) - Halle appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Nick Jonas (Jonas) - Nick is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- John Early (The Afterparty/Search Party) - John appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory/8 Simple Rules/Ladies Man) - Andy Cohen interviews Kaley on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
- Lea Michele (The Mayor) - Lea talks about Broadway's Chess on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Craig Ferguson (The Drew Carey Show) - Comedian and host of the hit game show Scrabble Craig Ferguson is here to play a game with Tamron on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Gabby Sidibe (Difficult People/The Big C) - Gabby tells Sherri about directing Mary J. Blige Presents Be Happy on Lifetime on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Lena Waithe (Master of None) - Lena talks about her playwriting debut with Trinity at Baltimore Center Stage on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Paula Pell (The 'Burbs/Girls5eva/Mapleworth Murders/A.P. Bio) - Paula hits the news with Drew and Ross then chats with Drew about her new show The 'Burbs on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Kevin Hart (Lil Kev/Die Hart/The Big House/Undeclared) and Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kevin and Kenan are guests on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
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