Wednesday, August 15, 2012

ABC Family September 2012 Schedule; Remembering Ron Palillo of Welcome Back, Kotter

We have the ABC Family September 2012 schedule. We are not calling it a fall schedule just yet because there might be some changes in October, but we're not sure if that is the case. Their new addition of course is the popular sitcom Reba, which joined in August and a story we broke. ABC Family launched the sitcom on Monday, August 6 with a marathon event from 11am-6pm and then it started airing regularly on ABC Family weekdays from 4-6pm. In September, the daytime line-up will remain intact. That means a block of Boy Meets World from 7-9:30am, leading into The 700 Club programming 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 still lead into That '70s Show from 2-4pm. As mentioned, Reba is from 4-6pm, followed by either movies or original encores taking over starting at 6pm. In late night, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air will remain airing in the 12 midnight hour each weeknight.

ABC Family is light on the original series in September. The final ten episodes of the first season of Switched at Birth will start airing on Monday, Sept. 3 at 8pm. The drama will finish its 32-episode first season in early November. A marathon will lead-in that day from 7am-8pm. The next night, ABC Family will have the season finale of its reality series Beverly Hills Nannies at 9pm, following a marathon of all the episodes from 1-9pm. There will also be a Reunion Special at 10pm that night (Sept. 4). The current series airing right now will have their summer finales later this month, which includes Melissa & Joey, Baby Daddy, and Pretty Little Liars. Movie wise, ABC Family has some movie premieres in September: Pocahontas, Yours, Mine and Ours (2005) and Alice in Wonderland (1951). Movies will be airing in primetime every night in September since there will be just one original series airing all month.
Will there be changes coming in October on the regular daytime schedule for ABC Family? We will let you know, so stay with us!


Actor Ron Palillo, best known for his role as high school student Arnold Dingfelder Horshack on Welcome Back, Kotter, has died. He died on August 14 after suffering a heart attack at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Mr. Palillo was 63.

Palillo's first television role was as Arnold Horshack, the class clown of the Sweathogs, on Welcome Back, Kotter. The popular sitcom ran for 4 seasons and 95 episodes on ABC from 1975-1979. It was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1976 after its first season. Palillo also appeared as Arnold Horshack on the pilot episode of the short-lived Mr. T and Tina, which starred Pat Morita, in 1976. Some of his other television guest appearances included The Love Boat, Alice, The A-Team, CHiPs, Matt Houston, Murder, She Wrote, Trapper John, M.D., and Cagney & Lacey. Palillo provided his voice in several animated series, including Laverne & Shirley in the Army in 1981, the Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour in 1982, and Rubik, the Amazing Cube in 1983. He played the role of Gary Warren on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live for one year in 1994. In 1996, he appeared as himself in three episodes of Ellen, where he was the love interest of Ellen's friend Audrey. He reprised his Horshack role in a 1997 episode of the NBC sitcom Mr. Rhodes that also featured Robert Hegyes and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs. Other Welcome Back, Kotter related appearances included Family Feud, the MTV Movie Awards, Ames Department Store commercials, the E! True Hollywood Story, ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration, and the TV Land Awards. Palillo was unable to attend the 35th Anniversary Welcome Back, Kotter reunion at the 9th Annual TV Land Awards in 2011 due to emergency surgery.

Palillo had lectured in colleges and high schools in recent years. Since 2009, he worked as a teacher at G-Star School of the Arts for Motion Pictures and Broadcasting in Palm Beach, Florida. His survivors include his partner of 41 years, Joseph Gramm, as well as two brothers, Richard and Robert, and a sister, Ann. Palillo is the second Sweathog to die this year. Robert Hegyes died on January 26 after suffering a heart attack. It's sad we have lost both of them at relatively young ages. Horshack was such a funny and iconic character. Ooh-ooh-ooooh! Mister Kotter-r-r! He will be greatly missed.

No Welcome Back, Kotter tribute marathons are planned as no TV networks has rights to the sitcom. We contacted Antenna TV and MeTV Network and they cannot air it. Hopefully Warner Bros. gives us a tribute in some way, on TV or any other platform, as the character of Arnold Horshack was memorable.

What are your favorite Arnold Horshack memories? Discuss them on our Welcome, Back Kotter message board. View photos in our Welcome Back, Kotter photo gallery.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, July 9

Shifting Gears - "Gummies" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Riley is horrified when she finds weed gummies in Carter’s pocket, prompting surprising advice from Matt. Meanwhile, Eve inadvertently lands Gabriel and Stitch in hot water after asking them to donate to a charity auction.

Shifting Gears - "Kiss" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Jimmy returns with a new job and a proposition for Riley and the kids to move into his house, Riley is torn between her past and her future. Meanwhile, Matt's feud with Eve flares up once again after she damages his car.

Abbott Elementary - "Volunteers" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ava announces the school district is sending a group of volunteers to help out at Abbott; however, when they arrive, things don’t go as planned.

Abbott Elementary - "100th Day of School" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
During Abbott’s 100th day of school celebrations, Barbara receives a surprise from her daughter. Melissa, Jacob and Mr. Johnson join forces to conduct a search party.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang F***s Up Abbott Elementary" (FXX and FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Months after the Gang visited, Abbott's Principal Ava walks viewers through some of the unseen footage of the Gang's volunteerism and reveals their true intentions.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Frank Is in a Coma" (FXX and FX, 9:33PM ET/PT)
The five stages of grief set in for Dee as Frank lies on his deathbed; the Guys plot their new path forward by pitching their business ventures to Philadelphia's elite.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 7)

Wednesday, July 9

  • Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Watch Salma on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Jean Smart (Hacks/Samantha Who?/Center of the Universe/In-Laws/Style & Substance/Designing Women) - Jean is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Cole Escola (Human Resources/Search Party/Mozart in the Jungle/Difficult People) - Cole appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Richie Moriarty (Ghosts), Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts/Duncanville/Disjointed/Animal Practice) and Punam Patel (Ghosts/Return of the Mac/Kevin from Work) - Richie, Betsy and Punam are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
  • Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/Final Space/The Game) - Tika sits down with the Tam Fam to talk about her new children's book I Got It From My Mama a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Isabela Merced (100 Things to Do Before High School/Growing Up Fisher) - Isabela chats about her film Superman on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Anna Camp (Perfect Harmony/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Mindy Project) and Justin Bartha (The New Normal/Teachers) - Anna and Justin discuss their film Nuked on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) - Simon talks about Peacock's Poker Face on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series 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)

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)

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

07/09 - New Girl Summer on Hulu; Vir Das Gets Brand New Netflix Special
07/08 - Tubi Comedy Series Demascus Premieres in August; LEGO Masters Jr. Lines Up Celebs for 4-Week Event
07/07 - Digman! Season Premiere Moved to July 23; Hulu's Reasonable Doubt Returns September 18
07/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 7, 2025)
07/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Comedy Central Delays South Park and Digman! Season Premieres; Jackée to Appear in Guest Role in Netflix Series
07/04 - Happy 4th of July; Antenna TV's McHale's Navy Red, White and Navy Independence Day Marathon
07/03 - The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 3 Premieres August 6; South Park New Season Moves by Two Weeks
07/02 - FETV Acquires The Rookies; Hulu Renews The Bear for Season 5
07/01 - Bert Kreischer Gets Netflix Sitcom; NBC Gets Into Survival Mode This Summer
06/30 - The Comeback Makes Another...Comeback; First Look at Black Rabbit at Netflix
06/29 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 30, 2025)
06/28 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Comeback Returning for a Third and Final Season; South Park to Remain on HBO Max
06/27 - The White Lotus Star Teams Up with Netflix; Remembering Bobby Sherman, Lynn Hamilton, and Rick Hurst
06/26 - The CW's Fall Movie of the Week; First Look at New York Comic Con 2025
06/25 - Netflix Renews Ransom Canyon for Season 2; My Life with the Walter Boys First Look for Season 2
06/24 - Marc Maron Gets Second HBO Comedy Special; Outlander Prequel Renewed for Season 2 Ahead of Series Premiere
06/23 - MeTV Summer Changes, Adds Adventures of Superman; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Summer Guest Hosts
06/22 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 23, 2025)
06/21 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Officially Dead After Not Finding New Home; Weigel Announces New WEST Network
06/20 - Great American Media Announces New Danica McKellar Movie; Jennifer Love Hewitt ID True Crime Series
06/19 - Bad Thoughts Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix; Zarna Garg Gets Hulu Special This July
06/18 - Weigel Broadcasting Announces WEST Network with Classic TV Westerns; Hulu's Season 2 of Such Brave Girls
06/17 - Gary Coleman's Ex-Wife on A&E Series; Digman! Returns July 9 on Comedy Central
06/16 - Hulu's Chad Powers Teaser; Prime Video's Jesse Williams Series
06/15 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 16, 2025)
06/14 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Mulls Airing The Paper on Primetime Lineup; Fox Revives Baywatch Reboot Talk
06/13 - My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman Renewed for 2 More Seasons; Hanna-Barbera Developing Adult Animated Series
06/12 - Comedy Superstar Jack Black Is the King of Comedy at Nickelodeon; Doc Adds Felicity Huffman
06/11 - Celebrities for Celebrity Family Feud Season 11; Netflix's Little House on the Prairie Starts Production
06/10 - Warner Bros. Discovery Separates Company; Peacock's Jennifer Garner Series Adds to Cast
06/09 - Comedian Ms. Pat Gets Season 3 of Courtroom Series; Disney Branded Television Animated Slate