Friday, January 17, 2014

Remembering Russell Johnson and Dave Madden; Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 20, 2014)

Russell Johnson

The castaways have lost another beloved member of their crew. Actor Russell Johnson, who became known to generations of TV fans as "The Professor," the fix-it man who kept his fellow Gilligan's Island castaways supplied with gadgets, has died. Johnson died Thursday morning (Jan. 16, 2014) at his home in Washington State of natural causes, said his agent, Mike Eisenstadt. Before Gilligan's Island, Johnson had appeared in dozens of films and television shows. His TV credits included 77 Sunset Strip, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Wagon Train, The Lone Ranger, The Twilight Zone, Ben Casey, Hawaiian Eye and Death Valley Days. Although he didn't work as often after Gilligan's Island, Johnson remained active into the late 1990s, appearing on such shows as ALF, The Jeffersons, My Two Dads, Dynasty and Newhart.

During its three-season run on CBS, critics repeatedly lambasted Gilligan's Island as insipid. But after its cancellation in 1967, it found generations of new fans in reruns and reunion movies in the '70s and '80s (Rescue from Gilligan's Island, The Castaways on Gilligan's Island, The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island, and animated series Gilligan's Planet). One of the most recent of the reunion films was 2001's Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three-Hour Tour in History, in which other actors portrayed the original seven-member cast while Johnson and two other surviving cast members narrated and reminisced.

As far as TV marathon tributes, The MeTV Network will pay tribute to Russell Johnson by featuring four episodes prominently featuring the character Professor Roy Hinkley. Part one aired last night from 8:00- 9:00pm ET/PT (episodes: "Pass the Vegetables, Please" and "Forget Me Not") and part two will air Sunday morning from 11:00am-12:00pm ET/PT (episodes: "Ship Ahoax" and "V For Vitamins"). We will let you know if anything else comes up, as TV Land coincidentally just started airing the series again after a decade. Mr. Johnson will be deeply missed and now we are down to two Gilligan's Island cast members: Dawn Wells and Tina Louise. Mr. Johnson was 89.

Share your memories on our Gilligan's Island message board. View photos in our galleries.



Dave Madden

Canadian-born American actor, who was best known for his role as the group's manager Reuben Kincaid in The Partridge Family, has died. He died on January 16 in Jacksonville, Florida of complications of myelodysplastic syndrome. Mr. Madden was 82.

Madden's career in Hollywood began with appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. His first starring role was as Counselor Pruett in the 1965-1966 NBC sitcom Camp Runamuck. He had a regular role as a milk-drinking, confetti-throwing sad sack on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968–1969 on NBC. His other early guest appearances included Accidental Family, Bewitched and Love, American Style.

Madden played the fast-talking, child-hating agent/manager Reuben Kincaid in The Partridge Family. The popular sitcom ran for 4 seasons and 96 episodes on ABC from 1970-1974. He appeared in a 2003 Biography special on the series. The C'mon Get Happy fan site conducted an extensive interview with him in 2009.

He later had a recurring role as Mel's Diner customer and Tommy's basketball coach Earl Hicks in Alice from 1978-1985. His other sitcom guest appearances included Happy Days, Barney Miller, The Love Boat, The New Leave it to Beaver, Life with Lucy, Herman's Head (as the opening narrator), Married with Children, Boy Meets World and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. He released his memoirs, Reuben on Wry: The Memoirs of Dave Madden, in 2007.

Our friends at Just My Show interviewed him in 2007. Survivors include his wife, Sandra Martin; two children from his first marriage, Selena Madden and Michael Fox; a stepdaughter, Alexandra Martin; a sister; and two grandchildren. His characters on The Partridge Family and Alice were very memorable. The scenes with Reuben and Danny were always funny. He will be greatly missed.

Antenna TV will commemorate the life of Dave Madden (Reuben Kincaid) this Saturday, January 18th with a 7-hour Partridge Family marathon beginning at 1pm ET and running through 8pm ET. The following episodes will air: "What and Get Out of Show Business", "They Shoot Managers, Don't They", "Dora Dora Dora", "Home is Where the Heart Was", "Fellini, Bergman & Partridge", "Helllp", "Each Dawn I Diet", "Swiss Family Partridge", "Bednobs and Drumsticks", "Me and My Shadow", "Hate Thy Neighbor", "Reuben Kincaid Lives", "Al in the Family", and "Two for the Show."

Share your memories on our Partridge Family message board. View photos in our galleries.





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 Jan. 20-24, 2014, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, January 20, 2014

  • Denis Leary (The Job) - Watch Denis on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Melissa Joan Hart (Baby Daddy/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Joey Lawrence (Baby Daddy/Brotherly Love/Gimme a Break!) - The stars of Baby Daddy will be guests on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Diane Farr (Like Family/The Job) - Diane surprises viewers with a "Mom's Weekend Challenge" on Katie, so check your local listings.
  • Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Reed Between the Lines/The Cosby Show/Malcolm & Eddie) - Malcolm-Jamal visits The Arsenio Hall Show, so check your local listings.
  • Tasha Smith (Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse/The Tom Show/Boston Common) - Tasha is guest co-host and teams with Michael Symon to cook his own favorite hearty main dish—brown butter mash and burgundy beef stew on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
  • Kim Richards (Hello, Larry) - Kim appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
  • Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Catch Andy on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS. He will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
  • Justin Long (Ed) - Justin appears on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Valerie Azlynn (Sullivan & Son/Welcome to the Captain) - Valerie drops by The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
  • David Spade (Rules of Engagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me) - David is part of the guest panel on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
  • Busy Philipps (Cougar Town) - Busy is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
  • Kathy Griffin (Suddenly Susan) - Kathy visits The Arsenio Hall Show, so check your local listings.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
  • Charlie Sheen (Anger Management/Two and a Half Men) - Watch Charlie on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Allison Williams (Girls) - Allison is a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Jake Johnson (New Girl) - Jake stops by Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Kevin Nealon (Weeds/Hiller and Diller/Champs) - Kevin appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
  • Gabourey Sidibe (The Big C) - Gabourey is part of the guest panel on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
  • Matt LeBlanc (Episodes/Friends) - Matt visits Conan at 11pm on TBS.
  • Seth Green (Dads/Greg the Bunny) - Seth stops by The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Kirstie Alley (Kirstie/Veronica's Closet/Cheers) - Kirstie chats on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
  • Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs) - Wendi appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
  • Nick Kroll (The League/Caveman) - Nick is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
  • Tia and Tamera Mowry (Sister, Sister) - Tia and Tamera will be guests on Larry King Now at 2/5pm PT/ET on Ora.tv and Hulu.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
  • Matt LeBlanc (Episodes/Friends) - Catch Matt on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope) - Martha appears on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun) - Joseph is a guest on Tavis Smiley on PBS, so check your local listings.
  • Joel McHale (Community) - Joel visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
  • Ellie Kemper (The Office) - Ellie stops by The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
  • Kevin Nealon (Weeds/Hiller and Diller/Champs) - Kevin talks about his comedy tour on The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations. He will also be on New York Live on WNBC at 12:30pm ET.
  • NeNe Leakes (The New Normal) - NeNe opens up about the moment she was rushed to the hospital, and could have died on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
  • Gabourey Sidibe (The Big C) - Gabourey appears on The Arsenio Hall Show, so check your local listings.
  • Kym Whitley (Let's Stay Together/Animal Practice/Sparks) - Kym is a guest on The Better Show, so check your local listings.
Friday, January 24, 2014
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun) - Watch Joseph on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Doogie Howser, M.D.) - Neil visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
  • Connie Britton (Spin City/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Lost at Home) - Connie appears on a repeat of The Better Show, so check your local listings.
  • Bella Thorne (Shake It Up) - Bella is a guest on Pop Sugar on TV Guide Network at 6pm and on the next day on their website at noon.
  • Margaret Cho (All-American Girl) - Margaret will be featured on Oprah: Where Are They Now? at 9pm ET/PT on OWN.
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

Friday, June 9

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 5)

Friday, June 9

  • Marc Maron (GLOW/Maron) - Watch Marc on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Martin Short (Mulaney/The Martin Short Show) - Martin is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Demi is a musical guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Sandra Bullock (Working Girl) - Sandra appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Zach Braff (Scrubs/Alex, Inc.) - Zach is a guest on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris guest co-hosts a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Jay Ellis (Insecure/The Game) - Jay discusses the motivation behind their new true-crime podcast Freeway Phantom on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig is telling Drew about working with Reese Witherspoon on their new film and the latest season of The Morning Show on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Alfonso Ribeiro (In the House/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso will be on a repeat of The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
  • Daniel Wu (American Born Chinese) - Daniel talks about his role on the Disney+ series American Born Chinese on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
  • Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) and Jason Alexander (Listen Up!/Bob Patterson/Seinfeld/Everything's Relative/ E/R) - Eric and Jason talk about The Cottage on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Reba McEntire (Reba/Malibu Country) - Reba will be on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Geena Davis (The Geena Davis Show/Sara/Buffalo Bill) - NBC's Today catches up with Geena in the 9am hour.


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

Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI) Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series

01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


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06/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 5, 2023)
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06/02 - HBO Renews Somebody Somewhere for a Third Season; Remembering Marlene Clark of Sanford and Son and Other Sitcom Stars We Recently Lost
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05/23 - CBS Summer 2023 Reality Schedule; Apple TV+ Announces Peanuts Programming
05/22 - More Details on Zoey 102; New Lifetime Movie Series Coming July 8
05/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 22, 2023)
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05/19 - Futurama Triumphantly Returns July 24; Final Season of Physical Drops August 2; Primo Premieres May 19 on Amazon Freevee
05/18 - The CW Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Netflix Upfront 2023
05/17 - Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2023; Sarah Silverman HBO Special Premieres May 27
05/16 - ABC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; FX's Summer 2023 Slate
05/15 - FOX Announces 2023-24 Programming Slate; iCarly Season 3 Premieres June 1
05/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 15, 2023)
05/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Season Finale Brings Back a Familiar Face; Comedy Central Renews Digman! for Second Season
05/12 - NBC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Hulu Orders Deli Boys from Onyx Collective
05/11 - CBS Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; The CW Summer Lineup Has Comedies
05/10 - Minx Returns in July on STARZ; Never Have I Ever Final Episodes Premieres June 8, Trailer Drops
05/09 - The CW Acquires Son of a Critch; FX's The Bear Returns June 22