Monday, April 27, 2015

BET Upfront 2015 Has Brandy Sitcom News; Remembering Everybody Loves Raymond's Sawyer Sweeten

Brandy Norwoodd - Zoe Moon

BET Networks announced its upcoming programming schedule for BET and Centric at its annual Upfront presentation. BET Networks' 2015 slate features more original programming hours than ever before in the history of the network, anchored by high quality scripted and reality shows, star studded tentpoles and original movies that reflect and celebrate the lives of African American adults. Among the big news was a sitcom starring Brandy (Moesha, The Game). The sitcom is Zoe Moon, a romantic sitcom featuring Zoe Moon (Brandy Norwood), a live-out-loud newly single mom embarking on a new life and career as a fledgling cosmetics mogul - but it won't be easy. Gemini, a famous boxer and Zoe's soon to be ex-husband, is not ready to take a back seat in her life, nor is her precocious 8 year-old son, Xavier, ready for Zoe's new dating life. Surrounded by a cast of colorful characters, Zoe puts a new spin on the old song "You're Gonna Make It After All!"

Other projects coming soon include a reboot of Punk'd, the popular hidden camera series tailored for the BET audience. For the first time, audiences will be taken behind the scenes as the pranks are conceptualized and carried through. Stakes are high as our viewers follow the ticking clock on the journey of pranking their favorite celebrities. Also reality project, Chasing Destiny takes us behind the scenes as Grammy-award singer Kelly Rowland, and member of one of the biggest female groups of all time Destiny's Child, goes on a quest to find the next big female superstar group to make their mark in a dog-eat-dog music industry. And sister network Centric has a project coming soon produced by Whoopi Goldberg! In According to Alex, Alex Martin Dean (Whoopi's daughter) is NOT your typical mom, and she doesn't have a typical family. Sure, they get loud and have their own drama, but in the end, there's nothing but love! Now that the kids are getting old enough to step out of the house and make their own plans, Alex and her best friend, Leisa, are talking about what they want to do with the rest of their lives, both professionally and personally-- that is, until a new grandchild, Alex's daughter Amara and her fiancé, Chris, move home, turning to Alex and the rest of the family to help raise their new baby girl. Can they balance family, fun and future plans without losing their cool, or their minds?


Sawyer Sweeten

Actor Sawyer Sweeten, who starred as Geoffrey Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond, has died. He died on April 23 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his relative's home in Austin, Texas. He was only 19.

Everybody Loves Raymond

Sawyer and his real-life twin brother Sullivan played Geoffrey and Michael Barone, the twin sons of Raymond (Ray Romano) and Debra (Patricia Heaton), in Everybody Loves Raymond. The popular CBS sitcom ran for nine seasons on CBS from 1996-2005. The Sawyer twins were just 16 months old when they landed the roles. They appeared in approximately 139 episodes of the series. Their real-life sister Madylin Sweeten played Alexandra "Ally" Barone, the oldest of the Barone children. They appeared together at the 8th Annual TV Land Awards in 2010 when Everybody Loves Raymond won the Impact Award. The Sullivan twins other credits included a 2000 episode of Even Stevens and the 2002 film Frank McKlusky, C.I.

Ray Romano had this to say about him: "He was a wonderful and sweet kid to be around. Just a great energy whenever he was there. My heart breaks for him, his family, and his friends during this very difficult time."

Our thoughts are with his family. He will be greatly missed. Share your memories on our Everybody Loves Raymond message board.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, June 1

Young Sheldon - "College Dropouts and the Medford Miracle" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon considers dropping out of college to focus on building his database. Also, George Sr. is frustrated when someone else gets credit for his football wins.

Ghosts - "A Date to Remember" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sam and Jay help Thorfinn create a perfect first date with Flower. Also, Hetty feels slighted by the ghosts’ new housemate, Nigel.

Animal Control - "Peacocks and Pumas" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Frank and Victoria stake out a squawking peacock; Emily and Patel attend to Shred.

Animal Control - "Hellhounds and Sturgeons" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Victoria and Patel encounter fish and game officers while on a call; dispatch radios with a report of an aggressive attack dog on the loose.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 29)

Thursday, June 1

  • Fortune Feimster (Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Catch Fortune on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Kathryn Newton (Gary Unmarried) - Kathryn appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Kieran Culkin (Go Fish) - Kieran is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Keri Russell (Running Wilde) - Keri appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever/Final Space) - Fred is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Josh Gad (Central Park/Avenue 5/The Comedians/1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Kelly Ripa (Hope & Faith) and Mark Consuelos (Alpha House/Hope & Faith) - E! News has interviews with Kelly and Mark at 11pm on E!.
  • Kyle Richards (Down to Earth) - Kyle is live in studio on E! News at 11pm on E!.
  • Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke is a guest on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
  • Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso) - Nick chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Constance Wu (Fresh Off the Boat) - Constance gets candid with Drew about her radical honesty in her new collection of personal essays Making a Scene, discussing everything from her mental health battle, sexual harassment and so much more on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Jon Heder (Napoloeon Dynamite) - Jon discusses his new animation series Space Junk on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Joel McHale (Animal Control/The Great Indoors/Community) - Joel co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Wendell Pierce (The Odd Couple/The Michael J. Fox Show/The Weber/The Brian Benben Show/The Gregory Hines Show) - Wendell talks about Death of a Salesman on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.


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

Growing Pains - The Complete Series Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Twelve Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)

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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

06/01 - MeTV's Marry Me Block on June 4; TBS Sets Miracle Workers: End Times Premiere Date for July 10
05/31 - Amazon Freevee's Jury Duty Gets Special Release; Stars on Mars Fan Experience
05/30 - 75th Emmy Awards Nominations on July 12; Final Season of HBO's How to with John Wilson
05/29 - Memorial Day 2023 TV Sitcom Marathons
05/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 29, 2023)
05/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Wins 2022-2023 Ratings Game; Netflix Ends Sharing of Passwords
05/26 - Prime Video Renews Priyanka Chopra Series; Sex and the City 25th Anniversary Event in NYC
05/25 - Brady Bunch House on the Market; The Family Stallone Gets 2nd Season
05/24 - Antenna TV's Father Knows Best Father's Day Fest Marathon; Netflix Gets Glamorous This June
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)
05/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Showtime Looking to Bring Back Two Old Favorites; Disney+ Removing Content
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
05/08 - NBC's Hot Wheels Gets Celeb Judges; Zooey Deschanel's Max Series Premieres May 23
05/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 8, 2023)
05/06 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Week of Writers' Strike Already Sees Early Casualties; Fox Cancels Call Me Kat
05/05 - BUZZR's Classic TV Moms Week; Fox's Stars on Mars Celebs Announced
05/04 - Dancing with the Stars Returning to ABC in Fall; Conan O'Brien Producing New Podcast Miniseries
05/03 - Roku 2023 NewFront; Peacock Schedules Kaley Cuoco Series
05/02 - COZI TV's Little House Mother's Day "Ma-A-Thon"; Human Resources Returns June 9 on Netflix
05/01 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Drops in July; IFC Dark Comedy SisterS Launching May 17