Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Remembering Abe Vigoda, Antenna TV and Cozi TV to Pay Tribute; Love Is in the Air on Antenna TV This Valentine's Day
Character actor Abe Vigoda, who was best known for his role as Detective Phil Fish in Barney Miller and its spinoff Fish, has died. He died on January 26 in his sleep at his daughter's home in Woodland Park, New Jersey. Mr. Vigoda was 94.
Vigoda landed the role of Detective Phil Fish in Barney Miller in 1975. Fish was the senior detective on the squad of the 12th Precinct station. He was crotchety, near retirement and always suffering through some physical ailment, such as bladder problems and hemorrhoids. Fish was frequently on the phone dealing with a minor marital crisis with his wife, Bernice (Florence Stanley).
Vigoda was a regular on the show for the first three seasons. He retired from the police force in the second episode of the fourth season, though he returned for two guest appearances later in season four and season seven. Vigoda received Emmy nominations for "Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series" in 1976-1977 and "Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series" in 1978.
Fish was such a popular character that he got his own spinoff series in 1977. Fish aired on ABC for two seasons from 1977-1978. It presented the domestic side of Fish's life, as he and his wife served as foster parents for a number of troubled children who were PINS (Persons in Need of Supervision). The series starred Florence Stanley, Lenny Bari, Todd Bridges, John Cassisi, Denise Miller, Sarah Nataolio and Barry Gordon.
Some of his other television guest appearances included Dark Shadows, Mannix, The Rookies, Toma, Hawaii Five-0, Kojak, Cannon, The Bionic Woman, Vega$, The Rockford Files, Fantasy Island, B.J. and the Bear, Superboy, Santa Barbara, MacGyver, Murder, She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder and Law & Order. His sitcom guest appearances included Love, American Style, The Love Boat, Harper Valley, P.T.A., Weird Science, Wings, Mad About You and Norm.
His best-known film role was that of elder mobster Salvatore Tessio in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather in 1972. He also appeared briefly in The Godfather Part II in a flashback sequence at the end of the film. Some of his other film credits included Newman's Law, The Cheap Detective, Cannonball Run II, Keaton's Cop, Look Who's Talking, Prancer, Joe Versus the Volcano, Sugar Hill, Jury Duty, Good Burger and Witness to the Mob.
Survivors include his daughter, Carol Vigoda Fuchs, three grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
Mr. Vigoda was a fine character actor. Fish was such a funny and memorable character. He lived a long, good life. He will be deeply missed.
Share your memories on our Barney Miller and Fish message boards. View photos in our galleres.
Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting's digital multicast channel will commemorate the life of actor Abe Vigoda with "Remembering Abe Vigoda: Barney Miller Marathon" a 12-episode/6 hour Barney Miller marathon airing on Saturday, January 30 from 4-10pm ET. Antenna TV, which this year expanded to clearances on 125 stations across the country (including 49 of the top 50 markets) reaching 88% of TV households, will air the following episodes of Barney Miller:
4p The Experience
4:30p Hair
5p Discovery
5:30p Fish
6p The Kid
6:30p The Mole
7p Evacuation
7:30p Smog Alert
8p Group Home
8:30p Burial
9p Goodbye, Mr. Fish (1)
9:30p Goodbye, Mr. Fish (2)
Barney Miller regularly airs on Antenna TV weekdays from 12-1am and on Saturdays from 9-10p ET.
This week Cozi TV honors Abe Vigoda, a beloved actor and gentle man who captured the hearts of audiences on and off the stage. Starting Wednesday night and continuing into the weekend we will air special episodes Abe appeared in on The Bionic Woman, Murder, She Wrote, and Fantasy Island. Join us in bidding a true gentleman farewell.
Posted by Cozi TV on Tuesday, January 26, 2016
This week Cozi TV honors Abe Vigoda, a beloved actor and gentle man who captured the hearts of audiences on and off the stage. Starting Wednesday night and continuing into the weekend they will air special episodes Abe appeared in on The Bionic Woman, Murder, She Wrote and Fantasy Island. Join them in bidding a true gentleman farewell.
Sticking to Antenna TV, love is in the air this Valentine's Day on Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting's digital multicast channel. Antenna TV will celebrate the most romantic day of the year with 24-hours of romance themed episodes of your favorite classic TV programs beginning at 5am ET on Sunday, February 14. Antenna TV will air its schedule in regular pattern from 5am-5am ET with timeless TV episodes featuring struggles of the heart. Programming includes: The Burns and Allen Show, Doogie Howser, M.D., Evening Shade, Dear John, Family Ties, The Jack Benny Program, Gidget, My Mother the Car, Mister Ed, I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, Green Acres, The Monkees, The Partridge Family, Newhart, Three's Company, The Jeffersons, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Johnny Carson.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Tuesday, September 10
The Conners - "Jeoparde, Sobriete and Infidelite" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Darlene makes a decision about her trip to Hawaii, leading to a heated encounter with Barb; Becky gives a presentation on addiction to Mark's class.
The Conners - "Two Proposals, a Homecoming and a Bear" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Two proposals bring change to the Conner family; Jackie uses her "Jeopardy!" infamy to her advantage.
The Conners - "Trucking Live in Front of a Fully Vaccinated Studio Audience" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Conners continue to deal with the pandemic while navigating breakups and newfound sobriety, all while planning an upcoming wedding.
The Conners - "Education, Corruption and Damnation" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Ben declines Darlene's proposal, she starts to ponder why she tends to be so negative in life, prompting her to start a journey of self-discovery, which leads to Pastor Phil.
Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Love Yourz" (BET, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Calvin, worried about his son Calvin Jr.'s math struggles, recruits his eccentric friends Pookie and Peanut to help.
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "To The Left" (BET, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Vinny's nightmare causes him to want to get saved and Mr. Brown will do the baptizing, while Lindor is up to his neck in everyone's IT needs.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 9)
Tuesday, September 10
- Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Catch Jane on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building/Mulaney/I'm a Big Girl Now/The Associates) and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - Steve, Martin and Selena are guests on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Kevin Hart (Die Hart/The Big House/Undeclared) - Kevin appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Caitlin Reilly (Hacks) and Rickey Thompson (Foursome) - Caitlin and Rickey are guests on After Midnight 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!.
- The Cast of Emily in Paris) - E! News has interviews with the cast of Emily Paris at 11pm on E!.
- Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Salma will be on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Drew is introducing the newest Drew-crew member, Valerie Bertinelli! Plus, Valerie is making a shrimp and veggie cups recipe from her latest cookbook, Indulge, on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Zoë Kravitz (High Fidelity) - Zoë is joining Drew to talk about her directorial debut Blink Twice. She's spilling on what it was like working with fiancé Channing Tatum and her take on their viral NYC bike photo on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam discusses his mockumentary series Mr. Throwback 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)
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive
Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts