Monday, November 10, 2014

Anger Management to End After 100 Episodes; Remembering Sitcom Vet Richard Schaal

Anger Management - Shawnee Smith and Charlie Sheen

FX is ending Anger Management after 100 episodes. The series is airing Mondays at 10:00pm & 10:30pm et/pt on FX and will conclude with its two-episode series finale on Monday, December 22. The Charlie Sheen sitcom was part of the 10/90 format, where if it met a designated ratings threshold for its test of 10 episodes in its first season, a back 90 would be ordered. Now that back 90 will be concluding this December after 2 years. FX and Debmar-Mercury will not order another season. The series entered broadcast syndication this past fall and is airing five days a week on broadcast stations in repeats. The series was inspired by the film, in which a mild-mannered, non-confrontational man is ordered to attend group anger management sessions led by a therapist who could probably use some anger management himself. Besides Sheen, the series stars and an ensemble that includes Shawnee Smith, Laura Bell Bundy, Noureen DeWulf, Michael Arden, Derek Richardson, Barry Corbin, Brett Butler and Daniela Bobadilla. Stay with us for any other updates, as FX still to make a decision on the 10/90 series Partners, starring Martin Lawrence and Kelsey Grammer. They already didn't pick up the George Lopez sitcom Saint George after it underwhelmed in ratings for its 10 episode test.


Richard Schaal in 1975

Character actor Richard Schaal, who had roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Rhoda and Phyllis, has died. He died on November 4 at the Motion Picture and Television Fund retirement home in Woodland Hills, California. No cause of death has been announced. Mr. Schaal was 86.

Schaal appeared in five episodes as four different characters in The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970-1974. He played Howard Arnell, his brother Paul, Chuckles the Clown (the first on-camera appearance of Chuckles in "The Show Must Go On") and Dino. Schaal also appeared as three different characters in three episodes of The Bob Newhart Show from 1972-1974. He guest starred as Charlie Burke, an annoying friend of Rhoda's husband, in three episodes of Rhoda from 1974-1976.

Richard Schaal and Cloris Leachman - Phyllis

He starred in the first season of the 1975-1977 CBS sitcom Phyllis. He appeared as Leo Heatherton, a well-meaning but bumbling photographer who worked with Phyllis (Cloris Leachman) and Julie (Liz Torres) at the studio. Schaal also directed one episode of the series in 1976.

In 1983, he had a recurring role as Chuck, Keith Burrow's (Richard Gilliand) neighbor, in the short-lived ABC sitcom Just Our Luck. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Dream of Jeannie, That Girl, The Doris Day Show, Love, American Style, The Partridge Family, Here We Go Again, It's a Living, The Two of Us, Harper Valley P.T.A. and Sydney.

His drama credits included a recurring role as Dr. David Sandler in eight episodes of Trapper John, M.D. from 1981-1985. He appeared as Dick Long in the 1988-1989 CBS series Almost Grown, which starred Tim Daly and Eve Gordon. Some of his other drama guest appearances included East Side/West Side, The F.B.I., Banacek, Shaft, The Rockford Files, Harry O, Police Woman and The Dukes of Hazzard. His film credits included The Russians Are Coming, the Russians are Coming, Slaughterhouse-Five, Americathon, The Hollywood Knights and Once Bitten.

Survivors include his daughter, actress Wendy Schaal. He was married to actress Valerie Harper from 1964 to 1978.

Mr. Schaal was a fine character actor. He was a familiar face in many sitcoms of the 1970s. He will be greatly missed.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, April 22

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Baby Shower" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Courtney and Marty deal with some baby shower drama with Tina, while Lamar adjusts to a new job at the Fuse Box.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "These Giants Are Flexible" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Bob and Abishola go to New York City with Dele for his Juilliard audition, Abishola reconnects with her brother Ade.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 22)

Monday, April 22

  • Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Watch Wilmer on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Rory Scovel (Physical/Ground Floor) - Rory appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Gillian Jacobs (Love/Community) and Pete Holmes (How We Roll/Crashing) - Gillian and Pete are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Jennifer appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
  • Zendaya (K.C. Undercover/Shake It Up), John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter) and Jodie Foster (Paper Moon/Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice/The Courtship of Eddie's Father) - E! News has interviews with Zendaya, John and Jodie at 11pm on E!.
  • Jerrod Carmichael (The Carmichael Show) - Jerrod will be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.


New on DVD/Blu-ray

Father Knows Best - The Complete Series Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series Check It Out! - The Complete Series

12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)

The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) That Girl - The Complete Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

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