Monday, July 09, 2012

ABC Family Acquires Reba; Remembering Ernest Borgnine, McHale's Navy Marathon on Antenna TV and TCM Films Tribute

Reba

Last Tuesday we mentioned that CMT has acquired Reba and Yes, Dear to both start on August 1. We mentioned at the end of the story that Reba would also be coming to another cable network and we can reveal which network that is today! Reba is also joining the ABC Family line-up this August, so this will likely mean the end of Reba on Lifetime, since it will be on ABC Family and CMT. ABC Family will launch the sitcom on Monday, August 6 with a marathon event from 11am-6pm, part of their annual Campus Crush week. Reba will regularly air on ABC Family weekdays from 4-6pm. As a reminder, CMT will air the sitcom weekdays 4-5pm and 7-9pm, so the 4pm hour will have Reba on both ABC Family and CMT. As a result of the change on ABC Family, That '70s Show will shift to 2-4pm (it was airing 3-5pm). This means Grounded for Life will be off the schedule. The rest of the ABC Family weekday line-up will remain the same, which starts off with Boy Meets World from 7-9:30am, leading into the 700 Club stuff from 9:30-11am. Gilmore Girls remains at 11am, followed by an hour of Still Standing at 12 noon and back-to-back 8 Simple Rules at 1pm. All that will lead into That '70s Show from 2-4pm and Reba from 4-6pm, before movies and original encores take over starting at 6pm. In late night, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air will remain airing in the 12 midnight hour each weeknight. Back to Reba, series star Reba McEntire will have a new sitcom premiering on ABC in November on Friday nights at 8:30pm, so airing her first sitcom on sister cable network ABC Family is good promotion for that new series.
Elsewhere on ABC Family this August, they have announced season finale dates for their original series. The season finale of drama Jane by Design will air Tuesday, July 31 at 9pm. Reality series Beverly Hills Nannies will move to the Tuesdays at 9pm slot starting August 7, as movies will take over its previous time period of Wednesdays at 9pm. Jumping to Monday, August 20, the season finale of drama Bunheads will air at 9pm, as the series waits for its fate. Will it be renewed for beyond its ten episodes? The following week, August 27, The Secret Life of the American Teenager will have its mid-season finale at 8pm. The series will return for its second half likely in spring 2013, but this is not confirmed yet. On the next night, Tuesday, August 28, ABC Family will present a marathon of Pretty Little Liars from 11am-8pm leading into its shocking mid-season finale at 8pm. The series most likely will return in January 2013 for its second half of the season like it normally does. The mid-season finale will lead right into the season finale of the reality series Beverly Hills Nannies at 9pm. And finally, the sitcoms have finales the next night! A Melissa & Joey marathon will air from 11am-8pm leading into the season finale of Melissa & Joey at 8pm. More episodes could be ordered like last season, so this could be a mid-season finale. Whatever it is, it will be leading into the season finale of Baby Daddy at 8:30pm, but the way that series is doing in the ratings, that could be a mid-season finale too, with more episodes likely to be ordered. Stay with us for any renewal news or more episode news, as we do expect some of these to be getting more episodes!
Movie wise, ABC Family has some movie premieres in August: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous, Race to Witch Mountain, Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams, and My Best Friend's Wedding.

Ernest Borgnine Ernest Borgnine

Oscar and Emmy-winning actor Ernest Borgnine, who starred as Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale in McHale's Navy and Dominic Santini in Airwolf, has died. Borgnine died of renal failure on July 8 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Borgnine was 95.

Borgnine's career in Hollywood began with roles in China Corsair, The Whistle at Eaton Falls and The Mob. His big breakthrough role came in 1953's From Here to Eternity, where he played the sadistic Sergeant "Fatso" Judson, who beats a stockade prisoner in his charge, Angelo Maggio (played by Frank Sinatra). More film roles as villains would follow in Johnny Guitar, Vera Cruz and Bad Day at Black Rock. In 1955, he played the lonely and lovelorn butcher Marty Piletti in Marty. He won the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for the role. Other film roles included The Catered Affair, Torpedo Run, The Vikings, The Flight of the Phoenix, The Dirty Dozen, Ice Station Zebra, The Wild Bunch, Willard, The Poseidon Adventure, The Black Hole, Ravagers and Escape from New York. View a complete list of his over 200 film and television roles at the Internet Movie Database.

Borgnine's television debut was in 1951's Captain Video and His Video Rangers as a character named Nargola. More roles would follow in Goodyear Playhouse, Shadow of the Cloak, Short Short Dramas, The Lone Wolf, The Ford Television Theatre, Waterfront, The Danny Thomas Show, Laramie, and Wagon Train. In 1962, he landed the role as gruff but lovable skipper Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale in McHale's Navy. The show ran for 4 seasons on ABC from 1962-1966. Borgnine was nominated for an Emmy in 1963 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. He also starred in the 1964 feature film and had a cameo in the 1997 remake, which starred Tom Arnold and Dean Stockwell. Borgnine later starred as helicopter pilot Dominic Santini in the action and adventure series Airwolf for three seasons from 1984-1986 on CBS. In 1995-1997, he co-starred with Jonathan Silverman in the NBC sitcom The Single Guy as doorman Manny Cordoba. Borgnine's many other television guest appearances included Little House on the Prairie, The Love Boat, Magnum, P.I., Highway to Heaven, Murder, She Wrote, Home Improvement, The Commish, JAG, Early Edition, Walker, Texas Ranger, Touched by an Angel, 7th Heaven, Family Law, and The District. In 2009, he received an Emmy nomination for his role as Paul Manning in the final two episodes of ER. He also provided the voice of Mermaid Man for Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants.

The Archive of American Television conducted an extensive interview with him on October 10, 2008. Borgnine is survived by his fifth wife, Tova Traesnaes — whom he married in 1973 — his children Christofer, Nancee and Sharon Borgnine; a stepson, David Johnson; six grandchildren; and his sister, Evelyn Verlardi. We loved his work as the feisty skipper on McHale's Navy. He was an excellent actor and amazing talent over his 60 year career. We've lost two legends in the last week. He will be greatly missed.

McHale's Navy currently airs on Antenna TV weekdays at 1:00pm & 1:30pm, late Friday nights at 1:00am & 1:30am, and Sunday mornings at 10:00am & 10:30am. Antenna TV will commemorate the life of Ernest Borgnine this Sunday, July 15 with "21 Hour Salute to Ernest Borgnine: McHale's Navy Marathon." The 21-hour marathon will begin at 7a ET and run through 4a ET and will feature 42 episodes from the 1962–1966 ABC series starring Ernest Borgnine as Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale. We'll post the episode details when they become available.

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will remember the life and career of Academy Award(R)-winning actor Ernest Borgnine with a 24-hour marathon of his films on Thursday, July 26. Borgnine, who passed away Sunday at the age of 95, was a dear friend to the TCM community through his appearances at the TCM Classic Film Festival, on the TCM Classic Cruise and during TCM's annual Road to Hollywood tour.
TCM's 10-film memorial tribute is set to begin at 6 a.m. (ET) with The Catered Affair (1956). The daytime lineup will include such films as Torpedo Run (1958), Ice Station Zebra (1968) and The Dirty Dozen (1967). Primetime will kick off with an encore presentation of TCM's 2009 special Private Screenings: Ernest Borgnine, an hour-long, in-depth interview with the actor and TCM host Robert Osborne. It will be followed by Borgnine's Oscar(R)-winning performance in Marty (1955), as well as memorable roles in films like From Here to Eternity (1953), The Wild Bunch (1969) and Bad Day at Black Rock (1955).

MeTV Network will air the 1964 theatrical film McHale's Navy on Saturday, July 14 at 5pm ET. The film aired during the series' run. Meanwhile, MeToo in Chicago will also air a tribute stunt! They'll air a "Tribute to Ernest Borgnine," Tuesday (tomorrow), July 10, 2012 from 7pm-11pm CT. His Magnum P.I. episode "Mr. White Death" will air at 7pm CT leading into a block of McHale's Navy from 8-11pm CT. McHale's Navy normally broadcasts on MeToo Sundays at 4:30 am and Magnum P.I. Sundays at 4:00 pm. See the episode info on their website.

What are your favorite Ernest Borgnine memories? Discuss them on our McHale's Navy message board. View photos in our photo galleries.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, October 6

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "The Protector" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
After losing his job, Jeremy decides to move to the backwoods of Georgia to help his grandfather, who has purchased a rundown home for the elderly.

The Ms. Pat Show - "Chili, Chili, Bang, Bang" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Dark secrets are revealed when Terry's old Army buddy visits and asks for a troubling favor; Janelle gets a little too close to her professor.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 5)

Tuesday, October 6

  • Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Catch Kerry on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Kyle MacLachlan (Carol's Second Act/Sex and the City) - Kyle appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Caroline Rhea (Sydney to the Max/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch/Pride & Joy) and Tommy Davidson (The Varnell Hill Show/The Proud Family/Malcolm & Eddie/Between Brothers) - Caroline and Tommy will be on a repeat of Funny You Should Ask at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method) - ABC's Good Morning America has part two of Diane Sawyer's interview with Michael discussing his new memoir One Helluva Ride sometime between 7-9am. He chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. He will also be on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) and McKinley Freeman (Samantha Who?) - Morris and McKinley talk about Reasonable Doubt on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Jodie Sweetin (Vampirina: Teenage Vampire/Fuller House/Hollywood Darlings/Full House) and Kenzi Richardson (Vampirina: Teenage Vampire) - Jodie and Kenzi talk about Vampirina: Teenage Vampire on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • John Goodman (The Conners/The Righteous Gemstones/Roseanne/Center of the Universe/Normal, Ohio) - John talks about Digger on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Bill Burr (F Is for Family/Townies) - Bill stops by for a chat about The Social Reckoning on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Scott Caan (Entourage) - Scott and LL Cool J talk about NCIS: New York on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Mikey Madison (Better Things) - Mikey talks about The Social Reckoning on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • Sam Richardson (The Afterparty/HouseBroken/Detroiters/Veep) - Sam talks about Matchbox the Movie on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray) The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray) Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/20/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete Series (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

10/06 - NBC's Happy Place Season 3 Trailer; Apple TV's Imperfect Women Renewed for Season 2
10/05 - A Different World to Return for Season 2 on Netflix; Prime Video's Barbershop Comedy Series Premieres February 10
10/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 5, 2026)
10/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: A Different World Renewed for Second Season; A First Look at Ted: The Animated Series
10/02 - Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head Season 4 Launch; Anthony Anderson Returns to Soul Train Awards
10/01 - Ted: The Animated Series Premieres December 17 on Peacock; Trailer for Apple TV's Small Prophets
09/30 - AMC Orders Charlie Sheen and Martin Sheen Sitcom; Netflix's The One About Matthew Perry Documentary Series
09/29 - Michael Che's Third Netflix Special; Remembering Dennis Haskins of Saved by the Bell
09/28 - Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special; AMC Announces New York Comic Con Panels for 2026
09/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 28, 2026)
09/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Seth Meyers Developing The Game Room for NBC; Glee Reboot Script Written
09/25 - Apple TV's 2026 Holiday Lineup; First Look at SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of
09/24 - Netflix Announces Final Season for A Man on the Inside; Jamie Foxx Hulu Comedy Special Trailer
09/23 - Disney+ Orders New Darkwing Duck Series; Great American Christmas 2026 with 18 New Holiday Movies
09/22 - Who Is Martin Mull? Netflix Documentary; Dancing with the Stars 2-Night Premiere Scores Big
09/21 - JoAnna Garcia Swisher to Join New Netflix Series; AMC Announces New Family Drama for 2027
09/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 21, 2026)
09/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: David Hyde Pierce Set to Star in Untitled NBC Sitcom; American Idol Moves to Atlanta
09/18 - South "America" Season 29 After 16th Emmy Win; HBO Max Orders Drama Series with Ray Romano and Kaley Cuoco
09/17 - They're Back on Call! Scrubs Season 2 Trailer; HBO's Kate Berlant Comedy Special
09/16 - AMC+ Half-Hour Drama Series Yaga Premieres October 23; Roku's Comedy Film with Kristin Cavallari
09/15 - 78th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Netflix Announces Additional Cast for This Summer Will Be Different
09/14 - Scooby-Doo: Origins Wraps Production for 2027 Release; The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris & Malcolm Gladwell Season 2
09/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 14, 2026)
09/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: South Park (or South America?) Returns September 16; City of Los Angeles Prepared for Second Season of Baywatch Reboot
09/11 - Nobody Wants This Season 3 Returns October 22; Sam Morrill Is Incorrect for Netflix
09/10 - NBC's 78th Emmy Awards Presenters Include Charlie's Angels Reunion; Apple TV's The Sisters Grimm Returns October 2
09/09 - UPtv's Most Uplifting Christmas Ever Includes The Rookie; Netflix Continues The Inbetweeners
09/08 - Abbott Elementary School House Rock Episode; NBC's Newlyweds First Look
09/07 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2026 Include Alice's 50th Anniversary
09/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 7, 2026)