Monday, June 30, 2014
Girl Meets World Premiere Does Big in Ratings; Remembering Meshach Taylor of Designing Women, Dave's World
It's back and it's off to a great start! The highly-anticipated premiere of the comedy series Girl Meets World (which reunites Cory and Topanga of Boy Meets World) delivered 5.2 million Total Viewers and ranked as the #1 series launch of 2014 among major target youth demographics: Kids 2-11 (2.3 million/5.7 rating), Kids 6-11 (1.8 million/7.7 rating) and Tweens 9-14 (1.7 million/6.9 rating). The premiere aired Friday night at a special time of 9:45pm, following the premiere of the Disney Channel Original Movie Zapped, starring Disney Channel and Disney XD favorites Zendaya and Spencer Boldman, which delivered 5.7 million Total Viewers. Girl Meets World will air regularly every Friday night at 8:30pm beginning next Friday (July 11) only on Disney Channel. Look for guest appearances from other former Boy Meets World stars throughout this first season (of 21 episodes).
Girl Meets World, from executive producer Michael Jacobs, tells the wonderfully funny, heartfelt stories that the nostalgic favorite ABC sitcom Boy Meets World is renowned for - only this time from a tween girl's perspective. It introduces Rowan Blanchard as Riley Matthews, the tween daughter of Cory and Topanga Matthews, while Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel reprise the roles of one of television's favorite couples. Sabrina Carpenter (Sofia the First and a Hollywood Records recording artist) plays Riley's best friend, Maya Hart. August Maturo plays younger brother Auggie Matthews, Peyton Meyer plays Riley's crush Lucas Friar and Corey Fogelmanis is Farkle, an intelligent and quirky classmate (and son of Minkus).
Actor Meshach Taylor, best known for his roles as Anthony Bouvier in Designing Women and as Dr. Sheldon Baylor in Dave's World, has died. He died from cancer on June 28 at his home in Altadena, California. Mr. Taylor was 67.
Taylor's early television career included guest appearances in Barnaby Jones, The Incredible Hulk, The White Shadow, M*A*S*H, Barney Miller and Cagney & Lacey. He landed his first starring role as Tony in the 1983-84 NBC sitcom Buffalo Bill. The short-lived series starred Dabney Coleman, Joanna Cassidy, John Fielder, Max Wright, Geena Davis and Charles Robinson. The critically-acclaimed series received 11 Emmy Award nominations, including two for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Taylor starred as Anthony Bouvier in the 1986-93 CBS sitcom Designing Women. The popular series ran for 7 seasons. It starred Delta Burke, Dixie Carter, Jean Smart and Annie Potts. Anthony was an ex-con who worked as the deliveryman-handyman at the interior decorating business, Sugarbakers. He later became a partner of the design firm. Taylor received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1989. He reprised his role of Anthony Bouvier in an episode of the spin-off series Women of the House in 1995. In 2003, he appeared in The Designing Women Reunion on Lifetime.
He next starred as Dr. Sheldon Baylor in the 1993-97 CBS sitcom Dave's World. The series was based on the writing of Pulitzer Prize-winning Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry. It focused on the daily trials and tribulations of Barry and his family. The series starred Harry Anderson, DeLane Matthews, Shadoe Stevens, J.C. Wendel, Zane Carney and Andrew Ducote. Sheldon (Shel) was their neighbor and Dave's best friend from high school. He was a recently divorced plastic surgeon.
Taylor had a recurring role in the 2004-07 Nickelodeon sitcom Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. He played Alastair Wright, the social studies teacher and later school principal. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Golden Girls, ALF, What's Happening Now!!, Punky Brewster, Caroline in the City, The Drew Carey Show, All of Us, Hannah Montana and Jessie. His best known film role was as Hollywood Montrose, a flamboyant window dresser in Mannequin. Some of his other film credits included Damien: Omen II, The Howling, Explorers, The Allnighter and Mannequin Two: On the Move.
Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Bianca Ferguson; his daughters Yasmine, Tamar and Esme; his son, Tariq; and four grandchildren. Mr. Taylor was a very talented actor. He added so much to Designing Women. We thank him for the laughter he brought us over the years. He will be greatly missed.
Share your memories on our Designing Women message board. View photos in our galleries.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, September 11
Abbott Elementary - "Double Date" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Two teachers head out on a double date, but when they run into familiar bar patrons, it proves to be an unfortunate distraction; at Ava's first book club meeting, the group ends up in a debate over who would be the best post-apocalyptic leader.
Abbott Elementary - "Mother's Day" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Barbara invites Gregory to her family's Mother's Day brunch; Jacob scrambles to figure out how to organize a school field trip.
Abbott Elementary - "Smith Playground" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jacob manages to pull off a school-wide field trip to the park, but when Abbott must share the playground, the fun and games turn competitive; Mr. Johnson enjoys having an empty school to himself.
Abbott Elementary - "Party" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ahead of summer vacation, Janine throws the perfect end-of-year party for her colleagues and friends, taking all their interests into consideration.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 9)
Wednesday, September 11
- James Adomian (Duncanville) - Watch James on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Kathryn Hahn (Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathryn is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Amy Ryan (Only Murders in the Building/The Office/The Naked Truth) - Amy appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Aparna Nancherla (Lopez vs Lopez/Search Party/Corporate) - Aprana is a guest on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Edie Falco (Bupkis/Nurse Jackie) - Edie stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
- Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The Mick) - Kaitlin talks about the new ABC series High Potential ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am, on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings, and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Drew is kicking off an important new series called Wellsdays, focused on all things wellness every Wednesday with Valerie Bertinelli opening up about her healthy lifestyle journey and prioritizing mental health on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Lacey Chabert (Still the King/Baby Daddy/Family Guy) - Lacey discusses her new series Celebrations with Lacey Chabert on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/21 - Frasier (2023) - Season One
06/11 - The Jeffersons - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
06/11 - Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
07/05 - Letterkenny - Season 12 (Final Season)
07/30 - Ted Lasso - The Richmond Way (The Complete Series) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
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