Thursday, April 19, 2012

Hallmark Channel Schedule Changes; Remembering Dick Clark and Director Paul Bogart


As we reported last week, The Bob Newhart Show and The Mary Tyler Moore were pulled from The Hallmark Channel weekend schedule block. Today we have some further bad news to tell you about. Starting Monday, April 23, both shows will be completely leaving the lineup. Cheers replaces The Bob Newhart Show weekdays between 2-3am. Frasier replaces the two-hour block of The Bob Newhart Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show between 3-5am. Finally, I Love Lucy replaces The Mary Tyler Moore Show between 5-6am. It's sad to see these shows move from bad timeslots to completely off the schedule. Low ratings is usually the culprit for the many Hallmark Channel schedule changes. It's difficult for these shows to garner an audience when they are placed at these early hours. The Bob Newhart Show has been airing since January. The Mary Tyler Moore Show had just premiered on the network on April 1 with a marathon. In some Hallmark Movie Channel news, Mister Ed is leaving the weekday schedule. The two-hour block that has been airing weekdays between 6-8am is being replaced by a double dose of Matlock. It will still air weekends from 6-8am. Mister Ed has been airing on The Hallmark Channel's spin-off network since March 26. Digital simulcast network This TV also airs the series weekday mornings at 3:30am (following The Patty Duke Show at 3am).

Dick Clark

We have some sad news to report. Legendary television and music pioneer Dick Clark, best known for hosting American Bandstand, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and the Pyramid game show, has died. Clark died on April 18 after suffering a heart attack following a medical procedure at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. He had suffered a stroke in December 2004. Mr. Clark, known as "The World's Oldest Teenager" for his youthful appearance, was 82.

Clark's television career began at WKTV in Utica, NY. He first hosted a country music program called Cactus Dick and the Santa Fe Riders. In 1952, he relocated to Philadelphia and worked as a disc jockey at the WFIL radio station. WFIL also had a television station where he would work as a substitute host on Bob Horn's Bandstand. In July 1956, he took over the full time hosting duties. ABC picked up the show nationally and renamed it American Bandstand. The show premiered on ABC on August 5, 1957, with an interview with Elvis Presley. American Bandstand was a a huge hit for its over 30-year run. The show introduced national audiences to numerous artists such as Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, and many more.

In 1972, he produced and hosted Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. He presided over the dropping of the Times Square ball in New York City every year since 1972 except in 1999 when ABC preempted it for ABC 2000 Today and in 2004 after he had suffered a stroke. Clark hosted and appeared in a variety of other television series. In 1958-1960, he hosted a 30-minute Saturday night program called The Dick Clark Show. He began hosting the The $10,000 Pyramid on March 26, 1973. The show continued in various formats until 1988. Clark won three Emmy Awards for best game show host and the daytime versions of Pyramid won nine Emmy Awards for best game show.

In 1984, Clark produced and co-hosted with his friend and former neighbor Ed McMahon the NBC series TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes. The show aired in various formats and specials on NBC and ABC until 2004. In 1990 and 1991, he hosted the syndicated television game show The Challengers and in 1993 he hosted Scattegories on NBC. In 2001-2003, he co-hosted the NBC daytime talk show The Other Half. Clark worked as a producer for many television series and specials, including the American Music Awards, The Golden Globe Awards, Greed and American Dreams. His sitcom guest appearances included The Joey Bishop Show, The Partridge Family, The Odd Couple, Police Squad!, Blossom, Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Drew Carey Show, Murphy Brown, Dharma & Greg, Just Shoot Me and Baby Bob.

Clark is survived by his wife, Kari Wigton, and his three children, Richard, Duane and Cindy. We thank him for bringing us many quality hours of entertainment over the years. Mr. Clark was a true legend both in TV and music. New Year's Eve will never be the same. He will be deeply missed. For now Dick Clark... so long.

American Idol is planning a tribute for him tonight on Fox. GSN (Game Show Network) will air an original 15-second remembrance of Clark during the network's broadcasts of $25,000 Pyramid over the next several days, and will add an additional hour of the show to its schedule this Saturday, April 21.

GSN's special, original remembrance of Dick Clark will air during each of the following episodes of $25,000 Pyramid (all times Eastern):
· Thursday, April 19 at 3:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m.
· Friday, April 20 at 3:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and during all 10 episodes of GSN's 7:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. five-hour $25,000 Pyramid block
· Saturday, April 21 at 3:00a.m.,12:00 p.m., and 12:30 p.m.

What are your favorite Dick Clark memories? Discuss them here.

Paul Bogart

Emmy-Award winning television and film director Paul Bogart has died. Bogart died of age-related causes on April 15 at his home in Chapel Hill, NC. Mr. Bogart was 92.

He was a prolific director of episodes of television series from 1955-1991. Bogart directed 20 episodes of the acclaimed 1960s dramatic series The Defenders. In 1965, he won his first Emmy Award for his work on the show. He would later win two Emmys for his directing of CBS Playhouse in 1968 and 1970. His sitcom directing credits included Get Smart, All in the Family (97 episodes), Archie Bunker's Place, Mama Malone, The Golden Girls and Bagdad Cafe. In 1978, he won an Emmy Award for his work on All in the Family for the episode Edith's 50th Birthday, an one-hour episode in which a man tries to sexually assault Edith. He shared an Emmy Award in 1986 as a supervising producer when The Golden Girls won for Outstanding Comedy Series. His film directing credits included Marlowe, Skin Game, Class of '44, Oh, God! You Devil, and Torch Song Trilogy.

You can view an extensive inteview with him from 2001 at the Archive of American Television. Bogart is survived by his children, Peter, Tracy and Jennifer; his sister, Jeanette Gavaris; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. We loved his work on the iconic All in the Family. He will be missed.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Sunday, September 24

Krapopolis - "All Hail the Goddess of Likeability" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Asskill threatens to attack Krapopolis, Tyrannis tries to use diplomacy to stop him; Deliria decides to build a temple to herself.

Krapopolis - "The Stuperbowl" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Stupendous and Hippocampus give a trojan horse to the Asskillians.

The Villains of Valley View - "The Promposal" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When teenage supervillain Havoc stands up to the head of the League of Villains, her family members are forced to change their identities and relocate to a sleepy Texas suburb.

Bunk'd: Learning the Ropes - "Me, Myself, and A.I." (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Lou, Parker, Noah and Destiny head to Dusty Tush, Wyo., to open up a new camp at a dude ranch that they purchased from The Marshall.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 18)

Friday, September 22

  • Kathryn Newton (Gary Unmarried) - Watch Kathryn on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Ralph Harris (On Our Own) and Jimmie "JJ" Walker (Good Times/At Ease/Bustin' Loose) - Ralph and Jimmie are guests on repeats of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
  • Alfonso Ribeiro (In the House/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso is a guest on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
  • Sam Jay (Bust Down) - Sam appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 8:50am.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (June-October)

Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series Family Matters - The Complete Series Step by Step - The Complete Series ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition)

06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
07/18 - South Park - Seasons 21-25 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
07/25 - The Neighborhood - Season Five
07/25 - Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin - Season One
07/25 - Superstore - The Complete Series
08/22 - Back to Life - Season 1 / Season 2
08/29 - Smiling Friends - Season 1 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/05 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Sixth Season
09/12 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Second Season
09/12 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/26 - Family Matters - The Complete Series
09/26 - Step by Step - The Complete Series
10/10 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Thirteen / The Complete Season Fourteen
10/17 - ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) (Shout! Factory Special Offers)
10/17 - Night Court (2023) - The Complete First Season
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

09/23 - SitcomsOnline Digest: An End on the Horizon for WGA Strike?; Hallmark Ready for Christmas
09/22 - The Santa Clauses Season 2 Launches November 8; CBS Alters Fall Schedule
09/21 - Penn & Teller: Fool Us Gets New Return Date; Netflix's Unicorn Academy Premieres November 2
09/20 - Paramount+ Announces Colin from Accounts; The Really Loud House Gets Halloween Movie
09/19 - The Simpsons Season 34 Streams October 11 on Disney+; Good Burger 2 Set for Holiday Season
09/18 - Hulu's Huluween and Disney+'s Hallowstream Line-Up; Shining Vale Returns October 13 on STARZ
09/17 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 18, 2023)
09/16 - SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Cancels Wonder Years Reboot; Byron Allen Makes $10 Billion Offer to Buy ABC
09/15 - Antenna TV's Bewitched Halloween Marathon; Rewind TV's Sabrina the Teenage Witch-O-Ween Marathon
09/14 - Dancing with the Stars Season 32 Cast; BUZZR Celebrates 40 Years of Press Your Luck
09/13 - TBS Acquires Modern Family; The Frasier Awards on COZI TV
09/12 - Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen Gets CBS Late Night Run; Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy Special
09/11 - Matt Rife Gets Netflix Special; Star Trek Day and Kid Cudi Join Forces
09/10 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 11, 2023)
09/09 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner Bros. Television Suspends Deals with Top Creators; Fran Drescher Re-Elected President of SAG-AFTRA
09/08 - CBS Announces Hosts of Game Show; New Goosebumps Premieres Friday the 13th This October on Disney+ and Hulu
09/07 - MeTV Presents Svengoolie's Halloween BOOnanza!; The CW Moving Fall Comedies to Thursdays
09/06 - CBS to Air NCIS: Sydney This Fall; Fox Makes Fall Change
09/05 - TBS and TNT September Stunts Include Big Bang Theory Batman Day Marathon; Netflix UK Produced Series Updates
09/04 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2023 Include Three's Company
09/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 4, 2023)
09/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: No Third Season for How I Met Your Father; Spectrum Dispute with Disney Could Spell End of Cable
09/01 - September Is Anniversary Month on Hulu; Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween Returns for Its 25th Anniversary
08/31 - Max's Original Comedy Series Starstruck Season 3 and Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Premiere Dates; AXS TV Announces Fall Programming Lineup
08/30 - The Partridge Family Coming to AXS TV Starting Oct. 2; CBS to Air A Tribute to Bob Barker Special Aug. 31, Marathon of Match Game Episodes to Air Sept. 2 on Game Show Network
08/29 - Once Upon a Time Coming to Hulu; Young Love Launches on Max in September
08/28 - Remembering TV Legend Bob Barker; Wolf Like Me Returns in October on Peacock
08/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 28, 2023)
08/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Frasier Reboot Date Set, With CBS Also Airing First Two Episodes; Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. Cancelled
08/25 - Rick and Morty Returns October 15; Switch New Season Begins September 18 on Game Show Network
08/24 - Hulu Fall 2023 Slate; Apple TV+ Series Still Up Debuts Trailer
08/23 - Frasier Returns October 12 on Paramount+; And Just Like That... Renewed for Season 3