Monday, November 26, 2012

Remembering TV Legend Larry Hagman of I Dream of Jeannie, Dallas; Town Hall Event with Betty White, Hosted by Regis

Larry Hagman

Legendary actor Larry Hagman, best known for playing Major Anthony "Tony" Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie and J.R. Ewing in Dallas, has died. He died on November 23 at Medical City Dallas Hospital in Dallas from complications of throat cancer. Mr. Hagman was 81.

Hagman's television career began with guest appearances in Decoy, Goodyear Playhouse, Studio One in Hollywood, Search for Tomorrow, Kraft Theatre, Harbormaster, Sea Hunt, The Defenders and The Rogues. He appeared in the daytime soap opera The Edge of Night as Ed Gibson for two years from 1961-1963. In 1965, he landed the role of befuddled astronaut Air Force Captain (later Major) Anthony "Tony" Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie. The series was about a 2000-year-old genie named Jeannie who falls in love and later marries her master. The popular NBC sitcom, co-starring Barbara Eden, Bill Daily and Hayden Rorke, ran for five seasons and 139 episodes. Hagman didn't appear in the two television reunion movies: I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later in 1985 or I Still Dream of Jeannie in 1991. He said that five years of the series was enough for him. He did reunite with Eden several times on The Donny and Marie Show, Larry King Live and at the TV Land Awards in 2004.

His next sitcom role was in the The Good Life. The short-lived 1971-1972 NBC series, which co-starred Donna Mills, was about a middle-class American couple who decide to work as the live-in butler and cook for a wealthy family. In 1973, he starred with Diane Baker, Dick Gauthier and Leslie Graves in the ABC sitcom Here We Go Again. The series about the post-divorce life of two couples ran for 13 episodes. Some of his many other television guest appearances included Love, American Style, Rod Serling's Night Gallery, Dan August, The Name of the Game, Medical Story, Police Woman, McCloud, Police Story, Lucas Tanner, Marcus Welby, M.D., Harry O, Ellery Queen, The Streets of San Francisco, Barnaby Jones, McMillan and Wife and The Rockford Files. In 1997, he starred in the short-lived CBS drama Orleans. In 2011, he appeared in two episodes of Desperate Housewives as the husband of Lynette Scavo's mother. He also directed episodes of I Dream of Jeannie, The Good Life, Dallas and In the Heat of the Night.

Hagman's signature role came in 1977 when he was offered the role of ruthless oil baron J.R. Ewing in Dallas. The popular primetime soap opera ran for 14 seasons and 357 episodes from 1978-1991 on CBS. He was the only actor to appear in all 357 episodes of the series. In the 1980 third season cliffhanger finale, there was a big mystery of who shot J.R. two times. The November 1980 episode where the assailant was identified was watched by an estimated 80 million viewers that set a ratings record at the time. Hagman received two Emmy Awards nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1980 and 1981. He didn't win, but the show did receive four Emmy Awards. He also received four Golden Globe Awards nominations from 1981 to 1985. Hagman made five guest appearances as J.R. Ewing on the Dallas spin-off series Knots Landing in 1980-1982. He also returned for the two Dallas television reunion movies: 1996's J.R. Returns and 1998's War of the Ewings. In 2012, he starred in the TNT revival series Dallas, which continued the story of the Ewing family. Hagman had completed 6 of 15 episodes for the upcoming second season. His death will be incorporated into the storyline. The second season is scheduled to premiere on January 28, 2013.

Larry Hagman

The Archive of American Television conducted an extensive interview with him on December 7, 2004, to discuss his life and career. Survivors include his wife, Maj; daughter, Heidi; and son, Preston. Mr. Hagman was a true television icon and legend. J.R. Ewing was a character you loved to hate. He played one of the all-time greatest television villains to perfection. We thank him for all of the entertainment he brought us over the years. He will be greatly missed.

Several networks will be airing tributes this week. Me-TV is still in planning mode, but they will air the following episodes:

Monday, November 26, 11am CST - The Rockford Files "Forced Retirement" (1977)
Tuesday, November 27, 1:30am CST - Night Gallery "The Housekeeper"
Wednesday, November 28, 1:30am CST - Night Gallery "The Dead Man"

Me-Too in Chicago will have an I Dream of Jeannie marathon on Saturday, December 1 from 12pm-4pm CST. We'll post the episodes listing when it becomes available. Stay with us for news on any other tributes.

What are your favorite Larry Hagman memories? Discuss them on our I Dream of Jeannie or Dallas message boards. View photos in our I Dream of Jeannie, The Good Life, Here We Go Again and Dallas photo galleries.


Betty White

Sirius XM Radio announced that iconic comedic actress Betty White will sit down with SiriusXM listeners for a special Q&A session/broadcast event hosted by legendary entertainer Regis Philbin, who is her longtime friend and a recurring star on her hit TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland. The special SiriusXM's Town Hall with Betty White will take place at SiriusXM's New York City studios in celebration of the fourth season of Hot in Cleveland, which premieres November 28 at 10:00 pm ET/PT on TV Land. White will answer a variety of questions from an intimate studio audience of SiriusXM listeners about her life, work and the award-winning cable series.

SiriusXM's Town Hall with Betty White will air on Wednesday, November 28 at 10:00 am ET (12 hours before the premiere of Hot in Cleveland on TV Land) on SiriusXM Stars channel 107. Encore presentations will air on SiriusXM Stars on Friday, November 30 at 7:00 pm; Saturday, December 1 at 6:00 pm and Sunday, December 2 at 11:00 am (all times ET). SiriusXM's Town Hall with Betty White will also air on SiriusXM OutQ channel 108 on November 30 at 10:00 am.
SiriusXM's Town Hall with Betty White is part of SiriusXM's Town Hall series -- intimate gatherings with iconic entertainers sitting down with a studio audience of SiriusXM listeners. Previous SiriusXM "Town Hall" specials have featured Bruce Springsteen, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Carol Burnett, Tom Petty, KISS, Coldplay, Ringo Starr, Roger Waters, the surviving members of Nirvana, Renée Fleming, Gregg Allman, Usher, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and Tony Hawk. "SiriusXM's Town Hall with Betty White" will be available on SiriusXM On Demand after it airs on SiriusXM Stars for subscribers listening via the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other mobile devices or online at SiriusXM.com.
Visit www.siriusxm.com/ondemand and www.siriusxm.com/siriusxmstars for more information.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, April 16

The Conners - "Danny Boy, the Interview, the New Hire, and the Hanging Chad" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Dan sidesteps vulnerable emotions surrounding Roseanne’s death ahead of an upcoming deposition. Meanwhile, Becky prepares for a job interview, and Harris impulsively hires a new server at the Lunch Box.

Abbott Elementary - "Please Touch Museum" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abbott Elementary goes on a schoolwide field trip to the Please Touch Museum, which has some of the older kids skeptical.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 14)

Wednesday, April 16

  • Rashida Jones (Sunny/BlackAF/Duncanville/Angie Tribeca/Unhitched/The Office) - Watch Rashida on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Kate Hudson (Running Point) - Kate is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Alan Cumming (Schmigadoon!) - Alan appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Skylar Astin (Ground Floor), Jason Ritter (Another Period/The Class) and Riki Lindhome (Another Period/Enlightened) - Skylar, Jason and Riki are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Hannibal Buress (Broad City/30 Rock) - Hannibal appears on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney at 10pm on Netflix.
  • The cast of Abbott Elementary - E! News chats with the cast of Abbott Elementary at 11pm on E!.
  • Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
  • Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) - Michael talks about Sinners on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Hank Azaria (The Simpsons/Brockmire/Free Agents/Herman's Head) - NBC's Today has the Citi Concert Series: Hank Azaria & The EZ Street Band in the 9am hour.
  • Yvonne Orji (Insecure) - Yvonne talks about Pop the Balloon on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster/Sabrina the Teenage Witch) - Soleil and Angel Carter Conrad, the late Aaron Carter's twin sister, whose new documentary The Carters gives an intimate look inside the Carter family with never-before-seen footage on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Lake Bell (Bless This Mess/How to Make it in America/Childrens Hospital) - Lake talks about All About Brains: A Book About People on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is joining Drew for a brand-new Drew's News on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa talks Abbott Elementary on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two

11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season

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

04/16 - And Just Like That... Season 3 on Max This May; MGM+ Comedy Series Adds Big Stars
04/15 - HBO's Harry Potter Series; Classic TV Comes to Life in NYC
04/14 - TV Stars Lineup for Summer of 69 Hulu Film; Jessica Kirson Comedy Special
04/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 14, 2025)
04/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: FX Sets Premiere Date for Adults; Netflix Picks Up Monopoly Themed Reality Competition Series
04/11 - Bounce TV Renews Mind Your Business; AMC Networks 2025 Upfront Highlights
04/10 - David Spade's Prime Video Comedy Special; Brett Goldstein's HBO Comedy Special Filmed in New Jersey
04/09 - Paramount+ Orders Season 3 of Colin from Accounts; FX's Adults Premieres May 28
04/08 - Prime Video's New Comedy Overcompensating; Nine Perfect Strangers Returns on Hulu in May
04/07 - NBC Celebrates Joan Rivers with Special; Remembering Jay North of Dennis the Menace
04/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 7, 2025)
04/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Renews Three Animated Series and Brings Back a Fourth for Four More Seasons; ABC Renews Shifting Gears
04/04 - ABC 2025-26 Season Renewals for Scripted Series; New Season of Phineas and Ferb Returns June 5
04/03 - Fox Renews Animated Hits for 4 Additional Seasons and American Dad! Returns; South Park Season 27 Premieres July 9
04/02 - Rick and Morty Season 8 Premieres May 25; Netflix's Tires Returns June 5
04/01 - Disney Renews Wizards Beyond Waverly Place for Season 2; Prime Video Details Final Season of The Summer I Turned Pretty
03/31 - Prime Video's Dance-World Comedy Étoile; Netflix's Tom Segura Dark Comedy Bad Thoughts
03/30 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 31, 2025)
03/29 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Gives Pilot Order to A Different World Sequel; Malcolm in the Middle Reboot Recasts Role of Dewey
03/28 - Pat Sajak's Final Spin on Wheel and Return of Jeopardy! Masters; Remembering George Foreman and Wings Hauser
03/27 - IFC Renews SisterS for Season 2; Netflix Orders Live-Action Scooby-Doo Series
03/26 - Hulu Spring 2025 Slate; The Making of The Americas Special Narrated by Tom Hanks on NBC
03/25 - Deli Boys Now Streaming All Episodes on Hulu; Heartland Season 18 on UP Faith & Family
03/24 - Peacock April Highlights Include Three's Company; Antenna TV's 50 Years on the Beat Barney Miller Anniversary Marathon
03/23 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 24, 2025)
03/22 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* Coming to DVD; American Dad! Moving Back to Fox
03/21 - Big Mouth Final Season; The Four Seasons Premieres in May on Netflix
03/20 - HBO's Brett Goldstein Comedy Special; Disney+ Adds The Simpsons 24/7 Stream
03/19 - Solar Opposites Final Season This Fall; NBC to Move Grosse Pointe Garden Society to Fridays
03/18 - Game Show Network New Shows Launch April 14; NBC Picks Up 3rd Comedy Pilot, While Bobby Moynihan Joins Tracy Morgan Pilot
03/17 - It's True! Ted Lasso Renewed for Season 4; Jane Goodall Returns for Jane Season 3
03/16 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 17, 2025)