Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Remembering Alan Thicke; IFC Picks Up Stan Against Evil for 2nd Season
Canadian actor, composer, and game and talk show host Alan Thicke, who was best known for his role as Jason Seaver in Growing Pains, has died. He collapsed while playing hockey with his son Carter on December 13, 2016. He subsequently died of type-A aortic dissection at the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California. Mr. Thicke was 69.
Thicke played Dr. Jason Seaver, a psychiatrist and father, in the ABC sitcom Growing Pains. The popular series ran for seven seasons and 166 episodes from 1985 to 1992. It starred Joanna Kerns, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, Jeremy Miller, Ashley Johnson (1990-1992) and Leonardo DiCaprio (1991-1992). Thicke received a Golden Globe Award nomination in 1988 for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series – Comedy/Musical. The cast reunited for The Growing Pains Movie in 2000, followed by Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers in 2004.
He starred as Dennis Dupree in the 1995-1996 NBC sitcom Hope & Gloria. He played the vain, egocentric host of the local Pittsburgh The Dennis Dupree Show. The series starred Cynthia Stevenson, Jessica Lundy, Robert Garrova, Enrico Colantoni and Taylor Negron.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, Married with Children, Arli$$, My Wife and Kids, Yes, Dear, Half & Half, Joey, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, About a Girl, 'Til Death, I'm in the Band, How I Met Your Mother, Grandfathered and Fuller House.
He also worked as a TV theme composer. Thicke collaborated with his first wife Gloria Loring on the themes to Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life. He also wrote many game show themes, including The Wizard of Odds, The Joker's Wild, Celebrity Sweepstakes, The Diamond Head Game, Animal Crack-Ups (which he also hosted), Blank Check, Stumpers!, Whew! and the original theme to Wheel of Fortune.
Thicke worked early in his career as a talk show host. He hosted the Canadian daytime talk show The Alan Thicke Show from 1980-1982. He later hosted the American syndicated late night talk show Thicke of the Night, which aired for one season from 1983-1984.
He hosted the Canadian game show First Impressions in the 1970s. He hosted Animal Crack-Ups on ABC for three seasons from 1987-1990. In 1997, he hosted the syndicated Pictionary. He hosted the All New 3's a Crowd on the Game Show Network in the early 2000s. Thicke hosted two other series focusing on animals with Animals Are People, Too in 1999 and Miracle Pets from 2000-2005 on PAX
Thicke had recently been starring in the Pop mockumentary/reality-sitcom hybrid series Unusually Thicke. It presented a fictionalized portrayal of his family life. The cast included his wife Tanya Callau and son Carter, with some appearances by his sons Brennan and Robin.
Survivors include his wife Tanya Callau and sons Brennan, Carter and singer Robin.
Mr. Thicke was a man of many talents. Jason Seaver was one of the best TV dads of the 1980s. He was perfect in the role. We thank him for the entertainment and laughter he brought us. Thanks to him for showing us his smile. He will be greatly missed.
Share your memories on our Growing Pains message board. View photos in our galleries.
IFC announced that horror-comedy series Stan Against Evil has been picked up for a second season slated to air in 2017. Created by Dana Gould (The Simpsons, Parks and Recreation) and starring John C. McGinley (Scrubs) and Janet Varney (You're The Worst), Stan Against Evil debuted Halloween week to strong numbers and critical acclaim. Season 1 concluded in November with Sheriff Evie Barret (Varney) stranded in the past and about to be burned at the stake, accused of being a witch. Stan Against Evil is one of IFC's most successful original series launches to date. The show demonstrated steady weekly audience growth across its first season and also saw significant time-shifted viewing, with total viewers and adults 18-49 more than doubling within seven days of each new episode premiere, notable for a new series.
Stan Against Evil follows Stan Miller (McGinley), a perpetually disgruntled former sheriff of a small New England town who was forced into retirement. Stan has trouble relinquishing his authority to Evie Barret (Varney), the tough and beautiful new sheriff in town, but they form an unlikely alliance when both begin to realize things are not quite right in their quaint New England town. Together, they valiantly fight a plague of unleashed demons that have been haunting the town, which just happens to be built on the site of a massive 17th century witch burning.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Monday, May 29
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to What Used to be the Neighborhood" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Calvin’s favorite restaurant closes and is replaced by a flashy pet spa, he worries the community is losing too many small businesses and starts a campaign to only buy local. Also, Tina helps Necie prepare a special surprise for Marty.
Bob Hearts Abishola - "Your Father's Kingdom" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Abishola turns to Gloria and Kemi when Bob mortgages their home to pay for a new factory space. Also, Kemi worries that she and Chukwuemeka are losing their spark.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 29)
Monday, May 29
- Seth Rogen (Platonic/Undeclared) - Watch Seth on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Nicole Byer (Grand Crew/Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks) - Keanu appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Melanie Lynskey (Two and a Half Men/Togetherness) - Melanie is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- James Spader (The Office) - James appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Ms. Pat (The Ms. Pat Show) - Ms. Pat is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Brett Gelman (Fleabag/Married/Go On) - Brett is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Tichina appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Kristin Chenoweth (Schmigadoon!/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on a repeat of The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
- John Leguizamo (The Brothers Garcia) - John talks about MSNBC's Leguizamo Does America on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) - Eric talks about Shudder and AMC+'s Slasher: Ripper on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Method Man (Method & Red) - Method Man tells Sherri about his role in Sanaa Lathan’s directorial debut, On the Come Up, on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June)
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
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