Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Lifetime Announces Halloween Programming; Remembering TV Composer Neal Hefti

Wow...two days in a row of Lifetime news! There is no shortage of blood-chillers this Halloween. That mysterious creaking emanating from the shadows. Hockey-masked killers and otherworldly marauders. The Dow. Lifetime Networks is getting in the "spirit" of the season too, rolling out a slate of tricks and treats on Lifetime Television and Lifetime Movie Network.
Lifetime hits the ground running Halloween week beginning Monday, October 27 every day at 11 AM (ET/PT), with five new episodes of Lisa Williams: Voices From the Other Side, featuring the renowned clairvoyant's eerie encounters beyond the grave. Each day's show will feature a lead-in of a quite different brand of terror with themed episodes of Wife Swap at 10 AM (ET/PT). Halloween-themed episodes of the sitcoms Frasier, Reba, Still Standing and Will & Grace will also pepper the week-long schedule.
Over on sister channel Lifetime Movie Network, it's a full weekend of supernatural movies (Saturday, October 25-Sunday, October 26) ranging from the classic scares of The Rage: Carrie 2 and The Unquiet to contemporary paranormal stories like The Watch, You Belong to Me and Nightmare at End of the Hall.

Neal Hefti, a TV composer who composed the memorable themes for the movie The Odd Couple and the campy hit TV series Batman, has passed away. Hefti died Saturday (October 11) at his home in Toluca Lake, said his son, Paul. He did not know the cause of death, but said his father had been in good health.
While known primarily as a film composer, his two TV themes are his most famous work. Among his credits as a film composer are Sex and the Single Girl, Harlow (one of his most famous tunes, "Girl Talk," came out of the score), How to Murder Your Wife, Boeing Boeing, Duel at Diablo, Barefoot in the Park, A New Leaf, Last of the Red Hot Lovers and The Odd Couple, whose theme he reprised for the 1970s ABC TV series. Hefti also gained wide notice for composing the energetic title theme for Batman, the over-the-top 1966-68 ABC superhero series that became an overnight sensation. Hefti's Batman theme became a Top 40 hit and won a 1966 Grammy Award for best instrumental theme.
Hefti retired in 1976. He will be deeply missed but his themes will live on forever. Mr. Hefti was 85.

We'll return with more news, if any...stay tuned!


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, October 22

Shifting Gears - "Danger" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When a raccoon appears in the Parkers’ yard, Matt sees a chance to teach Carter a lesson about facing his fears. Meanwhile, Riley struggles to navigate the world of dating apps and goes on her first post-divorce date.

Abbott Elementary - "Game Night" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Gregory steps in to host game night at his apartment. Mr. Johnson, Ava, Barbara and Melissa head to the DMV to renew their licenses.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 20)

Wednesday, October 22

  • Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear/Girls) - Watch Ebon on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This/Burning Love) - Adam appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Emma Stone (The Curse) - Emma is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Maya Rudolph (Loot/Bless the Harts/Forever/Up All Night) - Maya stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Allison Janney (Mom/Mr. Sunshine) and Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Andy Cohen interviews Allison and Keri on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
  • Jessica Capshaw (Odd Man Out) - Jessica talks about 9-1-1: Nashville on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Edie Falco (Bupkis/Nurse Jackie) - Edie talks about Mayor of Kingstown on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Allison Williams (Girls) - Allison talks about Regretting You on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This/Central Park/The Good Place) - Kristen talks about Nobody Wants This on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 9am hour.
  • Justine Lupe (Nobody Wants This/Cristela) - Justine talks about Nobody Wants This on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Ernie Hudson (Grace and Frankie/The Last Precinct/Highcliffe Manor) - Ernie talks about his role in the new CBS series Boston Blue on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Angela Kinsey (The Office/The Hotwives of Orlando) - Husband-and-wife cooking duo Angela Kinsey and Josh Snyder share recipes from their cookbook You Can Make This! on Sherri, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (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)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


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