Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Remembering Doris Roberts; UP Acquires Parenthood
Emmy-winning actress Doris Roberts, who was best known for her role as Marie Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond, has died. She died peacefully in her sleep of natural causes on April 17 in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Roberts was 90.
Roberts' early television guest appearances included Starlight Theatre, Studio One in Hollywood, Suspense, Way Out, Look Up and Live, Naked City, Ben Casey, The Defenders, Medical Center, Baretta, The Streets of San Francisco and Family. Some of her early sitcom guest appearances included Mary Tyler Moore, Fay, Joe and Sons, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, All in the Family, Viva Valdez, Rhoda, Soap and Barney Miller.
Her first starring role was as Theresa Falco, the mother of Angie Falco (Donna Pescow), in Angie. The series ran for two seasons on ABC from 1979-1980. It also starred Robert Hays, Debralee Scott, Sharon Spelman, John Randolph, Diane Robin, Tammy Lauren and Tim Thomerson. Roberts also directed an episode of the series in 1980.
She starred as Loretta Davenport, a hairdresser who owned Loretta's House of Coiffures, in the short-lived 1981-1982 ABC sitcom Maggie. She played Doris Greenblatt, the knowing wife of Bert Greeenblatt (Ned Beatty), in the short-lived 1993 CBS sitcom The Boys. Some of her other 1980s and early 1990s sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, Alice, Mr. Belvedere, Full House, Empty Nest, The John Larroquette Show, Dream On and Step by Step.
Roberts starred as Marie Barone, the beloved mother of Ray (Ray Romano) and Robert (Brad Garrett) and the wife of Frank (Peter Boyle). The popular series ran for nine seasons and 210 episodes on CBS from 1996-2005. It also starred Patricia Heaton, Madylin Sweeeten, Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten, and Monica Horan. She was nominated for seven Emmy Awards and won four times for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Roberts also appeared as Marie Barone in a 1999 episode of The King of Queens.
She previously won an Emmy Award for a 1982 guest appearance on St. Elsewhere, playing a homeless woman named Cora. She starred as Mildred Krebs in Remington Steele from 1983-1987. Roberts received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the role in 1985. Her other Emmy nominations were for a guest appearance in a 1989 episode of Perfect Strangers and a 1991 role in the PBS series American Playhouse.
Roberts continued to make television guest appearances after Everybody Loves Raymond ended its run. She reunited with Patricia Heaton in three episodes of The Middle in 2010-2011 as Ms. Rinsky, Brick Heck's teacher. Her later sitcom guest appearances included Lizzie McGuire, Hot in Cleveland and Melissa & Joey. Some of her drama guest appearances included Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives.
The Archive of American Television conducted an extensive interview with her on April 26, 2005.
Survivors include her son Michael Cannata, daughter-in-law Jane and grandchildren Kelsey, Andrew and Devon.
Ms. Roberts was wonderful and funny in Everybody Loves Raymond. She was a real pro who made everything she appeared in much better. We thank her for the laughter she brought us. She will be deeply missed.
Share your memories on our Everybody Loves Raymond message board. View photos in our photo galleries.
Another series is coming to UP TV, the network dedicated to providing engaging entertainment for and about families. They have announced that they acquired the critically acclaimed fan favorite drama series Parenthood. The 2010-15 drama will premiere this Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, with five episodes starting at 8pm EDT, before settling into UP's weekly schedule on Monday nights with three episodes from 8pm to 11pm EDT. UP licensed all six seasons and 103 episodes of the series in an agreement with NBCUniversal Television and New Media Distribution. The new series is a significant addition to UP's already robust collection of original and popular hit family series, which includes Bringing Up Bates, Gilmore Girls, Supernanny, Family Ties, Growing Pains, 7th Heaven, Sister Sister, The Parkers, and the network's recently announced off-network rights to America’s Funniest Home Videos.
Parenthood is the story of the Bravermans – Sarah (Lauren Graham, Gilmore Girls), Adam (Peter Krause, The Catch), Crosby (Dax Shepard, CHiPS) and Julia (Erika Christensen, Wicked City) – four grown siblings sharing the headaches, heartaches and unexpected joys of being a parent. From Academy Award-winning executive producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, and writer/executive producer Jason Katims, comes this contemporary re-imagining of the international hit feature film. Focusing on the everyday challenges that modern families face while raising children and starting over, “Parenthood” grounds its drama and its comedy in the celebration of the beautiful mess of life. Parenthood also stars Craig T. Nelson (Coach), Monica Potter (Boston Legal), Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), Mae Whitman (The Duff) and Miles Heizer (ER).
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Monday, June 30
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Sting" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Calvin and Marty send Courtney on a mission to find out information about Fuse Box’s impressive new rival. Meanwhile, Malcolm attends an event for his creative writing program at USC, where he scores a meeting with a book agent, Lisa (Angelique Cabral).
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Your Own Medicine" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Dave’s disastrous attempt to dunk a basketball, Calvin takes care of his injured neighbor. Also, Gemma befriends a cool mom group while babysitting Daphne.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 30)
Monday, June 30
- Don Johnson (Kenan) - Watch Don on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - George appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Christopher Sieber (It's All Relative/Two of a Kind) - Christopher is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Kel Mitchell (Game Shakers/Kenan & Kel) and Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) - Kel and Thomas are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Evan Handler (And Just Like That...) - Evan talks about And Just Like That... on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Hugh Jackman (Human Resources) - Hugh chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere/Nightcap) - Jeff talks about Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Amy Poehler (Duncanville/Parks and Recreation) - NBC's Today has Prompter Wars with Amy in the 10am hour.
- Kevin Hart (Lil Kev/Die Hart/The Big House/Undeclared) - NBC's Today catches up with Kevin in the 10am hour.
- Amy Schumer (Life & Beth), Jillian Bell (Bless the Harts/Idiotsitter/Eastbound & Down/Workaholics) and Brianne Howey (Dollface) - NBC's Today catches up with Amy, Jillian and Brianne on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - Drew is introducing the newest Drew-crew member, Valerie Bertinelli on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. Plus, Valerie is making a shrimp and veggie cups recipe from her latest cookbook, Indulge.
- Mario Cantone (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Mario talks about Max's And Just Like That... on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Edwin Lee Gibson (The Bear/Unprisoned) - Edwin is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
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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