Remembering 'Father Knows Best' TV Mom Jane Wyatt; 'Doris Day Show' DVD Delayed

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

Wednesday, December 8

The Conners - "Sober Sex, Plastic Silverware, and Losing My Religion" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Part of Becky’s recovery program mandates she make amends with people she has lied to over the years, leading her to meet up again with former high school friend Mikey to apologize for lying to him about her living a successful life. Meanwhile, Darlene visits with Pastor Phil (Jason Alexander), and Louise continues planning her wedding.

Home Economics - "Bottle Service, $800 Plus Tip (25% Suggested)" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The family is in for a wild night out when they accompany Connor to a club to help him jumpstart his dating life. When Tom steps up as Connor’s wingman, things don’t exactly go as planned.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Buys a Roller Rink" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
In the past, an innocent Dennis learns the horrifying details of Frank's business; a truly sweet Dee is excited to head off for Hollywood while Charlie and Mac's jobs at the roller rink are in jeopardy.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - " The Gang Replaces Dee With a Monkey" (FXX, 10:30PM ET/PT)
When the Gang suspects Dee is menopausal, they scramble to find a new employee for Paddy's Pub; Dee decides to put her acting career on hold in order to mentor young actors.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 6)

Wednesday, December 8

Rob McElhenney (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Mythic Quest) - Watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kristin Chenoweth (Schmigadoon!/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 3:30am on Bravo. She chats about her new album Happiness is…Christmas! on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley (According to Jim) and Ashley Williams (The Jim Gaffigan Show/Good Morning, Miami) - Kimberly and Ashley talk about Hallmark's Sister Swap on NBC's Today in the 9am hour and on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Cynthia talks about And Just Like That... on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Heather Graham (Californication/Emily's Reasons Why Not/Scrubs) - Heather talks about her role in the film The Last Son on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Yvonne Orji (Insecure) - Yvonne is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Eric André (Man Seeking Woman/2 Broke Girls/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Eric will be on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Vanessa Lachey (Truth Be Told/Dads) - Vanessa talks about living the island life with her kids and husband, Nick Lachey, her new role in NCIS: Hawai‘i and her new book on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City/The Michael J. Fox Show) - Michael talks about No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
Patricia Heaton (Carol's Second Act/The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Patricia shares the moment that made her re-think her relationship with drinking on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
Zachary Levi (Less Than Perfect/Telenovela) - Zachary talks about American Underdog on ABC's Good Morning America somtime between 7-9am.
Kal Penn (Sunnyside/Deadbeat/We Are Men) - Kal talks about Hot Mess Holiday on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.