Thursday, February 18, 2016
Original X-Files Coming to MyNetwork TV in Fall 2016; Remembering George Gaynes of Punky Brewster, Police Academy, Hearts Afire & More
The X-Files has a new chapter currently on Fox, and now original episodes of Chris Carter's 1993-2002 series will join the MyNetworkTV primetime line-up this fall. MyNetwork TV will air two episodes back-to-back from the original The X-Files on a designated weeknight on MyNetworkTV. More info on which night will come during MyNetwork TV's upfront in a few months. MyNeywork TV's line-up currently has Law & Order SVU, The Walking Dead, The Closer, The Mentalist and Bones - all back-to-back on one weeknight each. Additionally, the original series starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson is also cleared for weekend syndication on the Fox Television Stations this fall. The new chapter of The X-Files concludes its six-episode season on Monday Feb. 22 at 8pm on Fox.
Actor George Gaynes, who starred as Commandant Eric Lassard in the Police Academy series and as Henry Warnimont in Punky Brewster, has died. He died at his daughter's home in North Bend, Washington on February 15. Mr. Gaynes was 98.
His early television guest appearances included The Defenders, Hawaiian Eye, Cheyenne, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Empire, The Gallant Man, East Side/West Side, Bonzana, Mannix, Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, Columbo, Search, The Six Million Dollar Man, Cannon and McMillian & Wife. His early sitcom guest appearances included The Patty Duke Show, Hogan's Heroes, WKRP in Cincinnati and Cheers. He also directed the final episode of WKRP in Cincinnati in 1982.
Gaynes starred as the curmudgeonly but lovable foster parent Henry Warnimont in Punky Brewster. His character was a building manager and widower. The series aired on NBC from 1984-1986 before moving to first-run syndication in 1987-1988. It starred Soleil Moon Frye, Cherie Johnson, Susie Garrett, Ami Foster and Casey Ellison. He voiced the character in the animated spin-off series It's Punky Brewster, which aired on NBC from 1985-1986. Gaynes was interviewed for the E! True Hollywood Story on Punky Brewster in 2006.
He later starred as Senator Strobe Smithers in the first (1992-1993) season of Hearts Afire, which starred John Ritter and Markie Post. His other main roles included General Hospital in 1980 where he played Frank Smith, the mob boss brought down by Luke Spencer. He starred as high-powered theatrical producer Arthur Feldman in The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd from 1989-1991. His real-life wife, Allyn Ann McLerie, co-starred as his love interest in the series. Some of his later guest appearances included Hotel, Matlock, Chicago Hope and Sliders.
Gaynes starred as Commandant Eric Lassard in all seven Police Academy films. He was head of the Metropolitan Police Academy (sometimes also called the Midcity Police Academy). He reprised the role in an episode of Police Academy: The Series in 1998.
Some of his other film credits included The Way We Were, Nickelodeon, Altered States, Tootsie, To Be or Not to Be, Micki & Maude, Vanya on 42nd Street, The Crucible, Wag the Dog and Just Married.
Survivors include his wife Allyn Ann McLerie, their daughter Iya Gaynes Falcone Brown, one granddaughter and two great-granddaughters.
Mr. Gaynes was a talented and versatile actor. He was wonderful in the Police Academy franchise and in Punky Brewster. He will be deeply missed.
Share your memories on our Punky Brewster message board. View photos in our galleries.
We also remember television and film composer Ray Colcord. He died on February 5 at his Studio City, California home after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Mr. Colcord was 66.
Colcord was the composer for many sitcoms in the 1980s and 1990s. His credits included Silver Spoons, Double Trouble, Women in Prison, The Charmings, The Facts of Life, 227, My Two Dads, The Torkelsons, Where I Live, Dinosaurs, Maybe This Time, Hiller and Diller, You Wish, Boy Meets World, Family Affair and Lost at Home. Most recently, he was working on Disney Channel's Girl Meets World.
His film credits included The Devonsville Terror, The Sleeping Car, The Paper Brigade, Amityville Dollhouse, Wish Upon a Star, Heartwood and The King's Guard.
Survivors include his wife Madeleine, to whom he was married since 1983, son Alex and brother Marc.
Mr. Colcord's music enhanced the sitcoms and films he worked on. His first season theme for Boy Meets World was excellent. He will be greatly missed.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Saturday, April 1
Act Your Age - "Weekend At Bernie's" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Bernadette's childhood friends come to town, stirring up feelings of jealousy with Angela and Keisha; Olivia launches her new online platform.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 27)
Friday, March 31
- Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - Watch Chris on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about The Super Mario Bros. Movie on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 9am hour.
- Ike Barinholtz (History of the World, Part II/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project) - Ike appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Jamie Lee Curtis (Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Jamie Lee is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke appears on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Animal Practice/Better with You/Reba) and Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - JoAnna and Morris guest co-host The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Heather Graham (Californication/Emily's Reasons Why Not/Scrubs) - Heather appears on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Katie Lowes (How We Roll) - Katie guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Kyra Sedgwick (Call Your Mother) - Kyra talks about Space Oddity on NBC's Today in the 10am hour. She will also be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- John Owen Lowe (Unstable) - John is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney talks about her new OnlyFans comedy roast series Whitney Cummings Presents on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Kym Whitley (Act Your Age/Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) - Kym joins Sherri on the couch to talk about their NAACP Image Award-winning podcast Two Funny Mamas and her sitcom Act Your Age on Bounce TV on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Leslie Odom Jr. (Love in the Time of Corona/Big Dady) and Nicolette Robinson (Love in the Time of Corona/Perfect Couples) - Leslie and Nicolette talk about I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Christina Milian (Grandfathered) and Judy Reyes (Scrubs) - ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know spotlights Celia Cruz as first Afro-Latina on a U.S. quarter with family and celebrity guests Christina Milian, Amara La Negra and Judy Reyes at 1pm.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (November-March)
11/08 - Frasier - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/08 - Young Rock - Season Two (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/15 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Seven / The Complete Season Eight
11/22 - That '70s Show - The Complete Series (Mill Creek)
11/29 - Ghosts - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/06 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - 70th Anniversary Ultimate Christmas Collection
12/13 - And Just Like That... - The Complete First Season
12/13 - Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
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)
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