Monday, November 10, 2014
Anger Management to End After 100 Episodes; Remembering Sitcom Vet Richard Schaal
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.
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.
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
Saturday, May 17
none scheduled
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 12)
Friday, May 16
- Lunell (Lopez) - Watch Luenell on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She will also be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:39am.
- Benito Skinner (Overcompensating) - Benito appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) and Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Do Not Disturb/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Mayan and Jerry are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Luke Kirby (Étoile) and Gideon Glick (Étoile/The Other Two) - Luke and Gideon talk about Étoile on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley talks about his new series Tucci in Italy with GMA co-anchor Michael Strahan on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm. He will also be on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - Howie talks about America's Got Talent on Live with Kelly and Mark (check your local listings) and on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your lcoal listings.
- Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows/Retired at 35/Stacked) - Marissa talks about her latest project Mama I'm a Big Girl Now on Sherri, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and 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)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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