Remembering Robert Hegyes from Welcome Back, Kotter; Sitcom Stars On Talk Shows (Week of January 30, 2012)

Friday, January 27, 2012

Remembering Robert Hegyes from Welcome Back, Kotter; Sitcom Stars On Talk Shows (Week of January 30, 2012)

We have some sad news to report. Actor Robert Hegyes, best known as high school student Juan Epstein on Welcome Back, Kotter, has died. Hegyes suffered from chest pains at his Metuchen, New Jersey home Thursday morning (January 26) and later died from an apparent heart attack at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. He had health problems in recent years, including a hip replacement and a heart attack. Mr. Hegyes was 60.

His career began with stage work in New York both on and off Broadway. In 1975, he landed the role of Juan Luis Pedro Felipo de Huevos Epstein on Welcome Back, Kotter. The show ran for 95 episodes over 4 seasons on ABC from 1975-79. He would later play undercover detective Manny Esposito on Cagney & Lacey. His other television guest appearances included The Streets of San Francisco, The Love Boat, Chico and the Man, CHiPs, Mr. Rhodes, NewsRadio, Diagnosis Murder and The Drew Carey Show. In his later years, he taught acting and screenplay writing classes at his alma mater, Rowan University. In 2011, he reunited with most of the cast members (except for Ron Palillo who was unable to attend due to recent surgery) of Welcome, Back Kotter for the show's 35th anniversary at the TV Land Awards.

Hegyes is survived by three siblings, Mark, Stephanie and Elizabeth, two children, Cassie and Mack, and two stepchildren, Sophia and Alex. Unfortunately, there are no stations currently airing Welcome Back, Kotter. Only a single volume and the complete first season have been released on DVD. This is a show that would be great for original and new generations of fans to see more episodes available. We thank him for playing such a memorable character and bringing us many laughs. He will be deeply missed.

Our friends at Just My Show interviewed him in 2007. What are your favorite Juan Epstein moments? Discuss them on our Welcome Back, Kotter message board.

It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of January 30 - February 3, 2012, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Rob Schneider (Rob/Men Behaving Badly) - Watch Rob on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Doogie Howser, M.D.) - Neil appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Maya Rudolph (Up All Night) - Maya stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda is a guest on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
John Krasinksi (The Office) - John visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings. Big Miracle opens in theaters February 3.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

John Stamos (Full House/Jake in Progress) - John chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) - Kunal and Simon visit The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT. Simon will also be on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Jenny McCarthy (Jenny) - Jenny is a guest on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
Sherri Shepherd (Less Than Perfect) - Sherri appears on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

John Krasinksi (The Office) - Watch John on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12am on ABC.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Woody Harrelson (Cheers) - Catch Woody on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
Lisa Kudrow (Friends - Lisa chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
John Stamos (Full House/Jake in Progress) - John continues to make the rounds on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Joyce DeWitt (Three's Company) and Suzanne Somers (Three's Company/Step by Step/She's the Sheriff) - Watch the duo reunite after over 30 years on Suzanne's web series Breaking Through! http://www.cafemom.com/SuzanneSomers

Friday, February 3, 2012

Debra Messing (Will & Grace) - Watch Debra on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
Woody Harrelson (Cheers) - Woody chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
John Krasinski (The Office) - John wraps up his appearances this week on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly) - Melissa appears on ABC's Good Morning America between 7-9am.

Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Friday feature! We do listen!

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, April 17

The Conners - "Toilet Hacks and the Management Track" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
After feeling the cafeteria staff could use some organization, Darlene seeks to be manager of food services at Mark’s college. Elsewhere, Dan teaches housewives the basics of DIY home projects to make some extra money toward paying off the house.

Not Dead Yet - "Not You Yet" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Nell, Lexi and Cricket take Sam out on a "divorce day" to celebrate her singlehood, while Nell makes plans for her future.

Abbott Elementary - "2 Ava 2 Fest" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Ava Fest is back, and with the help of the teachers, Ava’s set on outdoing last year by any means necessary. After Janine accepts the offer for a full-time position at the district, she just has to check off one last thing to make it official.

Animal Control - "Bunnies and Veggies" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When Frank gets frustrated trying to meet women on dating apps, he asks Emily to set him up on an old-fashioned meet-in-person date; Shred and Patel decide to start renovations on their investment property themselves.

Family Guy - "Faith No More" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Brian becomes romantically interested in someone and it inspires him to use Stewie's time machine, strange consequences result from their journey.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 15)

Wednesday, April 17

Rob McElhenney (Mythic Quest/It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - Watch Rob on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
John Lithgow (Trial & Error/Twenty Good Years/3rd Rock from the Sun) - John appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts/Duncanville/Disjointed) and Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts/White Famous) - Betsy and Utkarsh are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood/New Girl) - Max appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
Pam Grier (Bless This Mess) - Pam is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
Dulcé Sloan (The Great North) - Dulcé hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Zendaya (K.C. Undercover/Shake It Up) and Idris Elba (Turn Up Charlie) - Zendaya and Idris are guests on E! News at 11pm on E!.
Nicole Richie (Great News) - Nicole is chatting with Drew about her new nephew, being a mom to a teenage girl and being a huge fan of the original film she's now starring in on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace discusses her new film Unsung Hero on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
George Takei (Supah Ninjas) - George talks about My Lost Freedom on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
The Cast of A Different World - ABC's The View has the 35th-anniversary reunion with the cast of A Different World, including Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Cree Summer, Darryl Bell and Debbie Allen at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.