Thursday, July 07, 2011

Seven Questions with Richard Kline of Three's Company; NBC Fall 2011 Premiere Dates

We have a very exciting interview for you today. We have an interview with classic TV star Richard Kline (Larry from Three's Company) about his brilliant career and his role many sitcoms, including Three's Company. We get answers to various questions that you will all want to know about, including his take on today's sitcoms, what game show he would love to do, if he would do a Three's Company movie/reunion and if he would do Dancing with the Stars! As always with all of our interviews, it is in Seven Questions form. So let's first tell you a little bit about Richard Kline (as if you didn't know!).

Richard Kline

Richard Kline grew up New York City, attended Queens College and has a Masters in Theatre from Northwestern University. He is known to millions of TV watchers as 'Larry' on the classic sitcom Three's Company. He recently toured the country as The Wizard of Oz in the National Company of Wicked. Previous to that he appeared on Broadway in David Mamet's November directed by Joe Mantello. He is a veteran of stage. After serving as a lieutenant in Vietnam, Richard made his professional debut at the prestigious Lincoln Center Repertory Company in 1971. His many television credits include Gilmore Girls, Judging Amy, That '70s Show, NYPD Blue, Dream On, L.A. Law, Mary Tyler Moore, and Maude.
As a director, Richard won the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for his direction of Noel Coward's Present Laughter. He has also directed Bruce Davison, Burt Reynolds and Billy Connolly in their television series. Currently Richard, his wife Beverley and their two cats, live in West Orange, NJ. His daughter Colby is an actress/singer living in Los Angeles.

Richard Kline

"Seven Questions with Richard Kline"

SitcomsOnline: It is an honor interviewing you! Three's Company is my favorite TV series of all-time, so this is extra special to me! TV audiences have been watching you on TV since the '70s and I think just about everyone who watches TV, film or theater have seen you in something. But it is Three's Company of course that has been etched into everyone's brain when they think of Richard Kline. What was it about the character of Larry Dallas that people just love and how did the character become a regular on the show in late season two after that memorable guest appearance in season one (on the episode "No Children, No Pets")?
Richard Kline: In cast introductions at our live tapings, Larry was introduced as the "used car salesman with a heart of gold." There's an oxymoron if there ever was one except that it was true. Larry was never overtly mean or criminally conniving, he just had a fixation on women and money which pretty much explains the driving force behind most heterosexual males in the '70s and '80s...OK in the history of the world. I think there was some glee in how Larry got Jack in or out of trouble, but bottom line I think you knew he would do anything for Jack, the girls and Mr. Furley if they asked.

SitcomsOnline: Your career in television is very impressive. Besides Three's Company, you were a series regular on sitcoms like It's a Living, Inside Schwartz, His & Hers, and you have also made many guest appearances on many TV sitcoms and dramas over the years like The Ropers, Three's a Crowd, Maude, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Silver Spoons, One Day at a Time, Love Boat, Family Matters, Step by Step, Hunter, Matlock, Columbo, That '70s Show, Sabrina and many many more. I have seen many of these and you are always spot on! What were your favorite ones and some memorable experiences from these guest appearances?
Richard Kline: I had great in-house training watching Bea Arthur and the rest of the Maude cast, which I did three times. My most memorable guest role was in the show St. Elsewhere...highly dramatic with the background being I was a Vietnam vet, which of course, I was in real life.

SitcomsOnline: What people may not know about you is that you also direct sitcoms. You've directed sitcoms like Harry and the Hendersons, Evening Shade and more (I also remember you were supposed to direct the pilot of John Ritter's 1992-95 series Hearts Afire when it was called Capitol Hill). What is it about directing that is appealing to you? It seems many sitcom actors like to direct, as we saw with Scott Baio, Jim Belushi, Larry Joe Campbell, among others. You also teach in your acting workshop, so I think it is great that you are sharing your skills and wisdom with aspiring actors!
Richard Kline: Directing is appealing because you are in control and responsible for more than yourself (as an actor). Your creativity expands beyond that and with professional actors to direct you collaborate with them on finding the ultimate piece of business or line readings that bring the comedy home. I love working with non-pros as well to see the progress they make class after class (in my acting workshop).

Richard Kline

SitcomsOnline: I have to mention game shows as well. You were a fixture on game shows in the '80s doing just about every game show like Password, $100,000 Pyramid, and Hollywood Squares. What drew you to these and is there one game show you always wanted to do? You are very smart so I can see why you wanted to showcase your knowledge and skills!
Richard Kline: I was a contestant on the then $10,000 Pyramid in 1974 when it filmed in New York. It was always my wish to appear on it once I became a "celebrity" and I did the show seven or eight times. I would REALLY like to do Jeopardy! but I'm afraid I would take all their money!

SitcomsOnline: It is unlikely a Three's Company reunion would ever take place on TV now since John Ritter is no longer with us and of course Suzanne still not speaking with Joyce. But would you do a retrospective with Joyce DeWitt, Priscilla Barnes and Jenilee Harrison reuniting and talking about the series and John Ritter as we near the 35th anniversary of the series next spring? Or perhaps make a cameo in a Three's Company feature film which is supposedly in the works starring James Franco, after his "concept art" short film at Sundance this year (which you screened)? You could certainly still play Larry, I think! But who would be your second choice?
Richard Kline: I would work with James Franco anytime. I think without John, the Ropers, Don Knotts, and a no show Suzanne, any kind of reunion would be ill-advised.

SitcomsOnline: What do you think of the current sitcoms and what are your favorites? Do they compare to the sitcoms like Three's Company and others from that era? It seems more of the comedies these days are going to single-camera, instead of the traditional studio audience multi-camera sitcoms. As a sitcom teacher and veteran of comedy, what do you think?
Richard Kline: Like most, if not all of the dramatic shows in recent years, single camera shows just look better--the digital technology, the lighting and the expertise of the directors. Four camera, video-taped shows of the '70s and '80s had a certain "look" that now can only be described as "nostalgic." My favorite current sitcoms are Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, early episodes of 30 Rock, and How I Met Your Mother.

Richard Kline

SitcomsOnline: What is next for Richard Kline? We love your cameos in the Adam Sandler films and can't wait for the next one in Jack & Jill this fall! I know you were in a Fox drama pilot this past development season, you also do a lot theater (like Wicked, City of Angels and November), and teach in your sitcom acting workshop, but any chance of a return to sitcoms as a regular or perhaps doing Dancing with the Stars? Larry Dallas had moves, so I'm sure you would be great at it! You could put on the Larry Dallas fro and yell "Jack-o" while doing a cha-cha-cha!
Richard Kline: *Interview drops pretense and gets carried away (LOL).* Inquiries are in to Dancing with the Stars. I am doing a musical this fall (October) directed by David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) and starring Tyne Daly!

Our thanks to Richard Kline. We are very grateful he gave some of his time just for us! We wish him continued success in his top-notch career. For more information on Richard Kline, continue to stay with us for info and don't forget to view his official website. And if you're interested in getting into the acting business, you will want to take Richard Kline's Acting Workshop. You'll learn a lot from a veteran of comedy! Anyway, stay tuned right here on the blog for continued news and updates for Richard and everything Three's Company!

We will soon have a special Seven Questions interview with Richard's Three's Company co-star Joyce DeWitt (Janet)! I will be seeing Joyce's off-Broadway play on Saturday and we will chat then. And don't forget to enter our contest to win two free tickets to see this play! One of you lucky readers out there will get to meet Joyce DeWitt (Janet from Three's Company) very soon! Joyce is now starring in the off-Broadway play Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating & Marriage and one lucky fan will win two tickets to go and see the play and meet Joyce after the show! So if you're in the NY-NJ-CT area and can easily get to New York City, please enter our contest on Facebook and let us know why you want to come and see the play and tell us one thing you love about Joyce DeWitt! Entries end Friday, July 22 at 11:59pm ET! So enter today!
Joyce DeWitt in Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating & Marriage


Moving on to some news, NBC has announced its Fall 2011 premiere dates, as they were the only ones who haven't yet. The premiere begin Tuesday, September 13 with new episodes of Parenthood at 10:00pm -- following the final performance episode of America's Got Talent. On Wednesday, September 14, the new comedies Up All Night and Free Agents will debut following the season finale of America's Got Talent at a special time in the 10:00pm hour. Both series will then premiere in their regular time periods with their second original episodes on Wednesday, September 21 in the 8:00pm hour. The rest of the premieres are mostly during premiere week (Sept. 19-25), with The Sing-Off launching its new season on Monday, Sept. 19 from 8-10pm leading into new drama The Playboy Club at 10:00pm. We mentioned Parenthood launches its new season on Sept. 13, but Tuesday reality series The Biggest Loser will launch a week later on Tuesday, Sept. 20 from 8-10pm. On Wednesday, Sept. 21, the two new comedies open the night on its normal night and time leading into the season premieres of Harry's Law at 9pm and Law & Order: SVU at 10pm.
Thursday, Sept. 23 has the comedy block returning with season premieres of Community, Parks & Recreation and The Office leading into new comedy Whitney at 9:30pm and new drama Prime Suspect at 10pm. All of the Friday series will not launch until Friday, October 21 with the season premiere of Chuck leading into new series Grimm at 9pm. Dateline will air at 10pm, but it will be two-hours to start the season from 9-11pm, with something undetermined airing at 8pm. More to come at a later date, I'm sure. Saturdays will feature encore of dramas starting Sept. 24 with encores of Harry's Law, Prime Suspect and Law & Order: SVU. And Sundays in the fall of course will have Sunday Night NFL Football beginning Sunday, Sept. 11.
We will have our day-by-day schedule soon, but for now view the press release.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, October 9

Abbott Elementary - "Back to School" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
The neighboring construction site of a new golf course is causing issues at Abbott, forcing the teachers to find creative solutions. An HR representative visits the school. Following their kiss, Janine and Gregory’s relationship status is revealed.

Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Cheat Codes" (Comedy Central, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Chris debates using a cheat code to win a free Nintendo.

Everybody Still Hates Chris - "Everybody Still Hates Halloween" (Comedy Central, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Chris spends Halloween at a church event, hoping to hook up with Tasha.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 7)

Wednesday, October 9

  • Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Watch Quinta on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She also talks about the new season of Abbott Elementary on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Rachel Sennott (Call Your Mother) - Rachel is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Eric Idle (Suddenly Susan/Nearly Departed) - Eric stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Michael Keaton (Report to Murphy/Working Stiffs/All's Fair) - E! News has an interview with Michael at 11pm on E!.
  • Ali Wong (Big Mouth/American Housewife/Are You There, Chelsea?) - NBC's Today catches up with Ali in the 10am hour.
  • Rita Wilson (Girls) - Rita stops by to talk about her new album on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
  • Goldie Hawn (Good Morning World) - Goldie appears on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Sheryl Lee talks about Abbott Elementary on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm. She chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Josh Gad (Wolf Like Me/Avenue 5/The Comedians/1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh talks about his new children's book PictureFace Lizzy and fatherhood on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Jessica St. Clair (Avenue 5/Playing House/Best Friends Forever/In the Motherhood) - Jessica is sharing her breast cancer experience with Drew and Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz is talking about breast cancer diagnoses on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Abigail Spencer (Extended Family/Burning Love) - Abigail discusses her television series Shatter Belt on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Kim Matula (LA to Vegas) - Kim is a guest on PIX 11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:39am.
  • Lea Thompson (Caroline in the City) - Lea appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Ropers - The Complete Series Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD) Young Sheldon - The Complete Series Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - The Ropers - The Complete Series (VEI)
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - Video Scrapbook
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

10/09 - HBO's Seth Meyers Special Debuts October 26; New Late Night Comedy Series Focuses on Crazy Florida
10/08 - Somebody Somewhere Returns for Final Season; Virgin River Season 6 Drops for Holiday Season
10/07 - Vice TV Announces Black Comedy in America Series; Netflix Stars Team Up for Netflix Movie
10/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 7, 2024)
10/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Cancels That '90s Show; Who's the Boss? Reboot Not Moving Forward at Freevee
10/04 - Family Guy Halloween Special: Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Cheater; What We Do in the Shadows Returns for Final Season
10/03 - Jack Whitehall Holiday Comedy Special; Leighton Meester Joins Apple TV+ Series
10/02 - The Franchise Launches Sunday on HBO; Remembering John Amos of Good Times
10/01 - No Good Deed Premieres in December on Netflix; SNL Season 50 Opens Strong
09/30 - TV One Acquires black-ish; Whitney Cummings to Host Friends Game Show Event
09/29 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 30, 2024)
09/28 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Kathy Bates Matlock Premiere Brings Solid Ratings; Whitney Cummings to Host Friends-themed Game Show
09/27 - Apple TV+ Shrinking Season 2; FETV Highway Patrol 10-4 Day Marathon
09/26 - Max's Velma Halloween Special; Apple TV+ Peanuts Holiday Specials This Holiday Season
09/25 - AXS TV Acquires Nashville; MGM+ Rebooting Robin Hood
09/24 - Trailer and Guest Voices for Everybody Still Hates Chris; The Lincoln Lawyer Returns October 17 on Netflix
09/23 - Laff Fall 2024 Schedule with The Conners and Bob ♥ Abishola; CBS' Comfy Blue Sofa Tour
09/22 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 23, 2024)
09/21 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Abbott Elementary Cast Gets Major Pay Raise; Saturday Night Live Season 50 Hosts Announced
09/20 - Sabrina Carpenter Gets Netflix Holiday Special; Starz Announces Dark Comedy Series
09/19 - The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh Drops October 17 on Prime Video; Ellen's Final Comedy Special
09/18 - Australian The Office Coming to Prime Video; You're Laughing at CBS
09/17 - 76th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Emmys Draw Largest Audience in 3 Years
09/16 - George Lopez Gets Prime Video Special; Netflix Orders His & Hers
09/15 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 16, 2024)
09/14 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Tim Meadows to Star in New Sitcom DMV; Casting for The Office Followup Series
09/13 - ALF Anniversary Marathon on Shout! TV; HBO Orders Tim Robinson Comedy
09/12 - MeTV Halloween 2024 Events; CBS' Nate Bargatze Holiday Special
09/11 - HBO Orders Rachel Sennott Comedy to Series; Jaleel White Hosts New Game Show Flip Side
09/10 - CBS Fall 2024 Preview Special; The Franchise Premieres October 6 on HBO
09/09 - Lifetime Orders Christmas in the Spotlight; Hulu Sets Murdaugh Murders Series