Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Antenna TV's Massive All in the Family Thanksgiving Marathon; Remembering Robert Guillaume of Soap and Benson

All in the Family

Boy the way Glenn Miller played! Antenna TV makes television history when it broadcasts all episodes of the legendary sitcom All in the Family in one holiday weekend marathon. Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting's multicast network, will run all 9 seasons (207 episodes) of All in the Family on Thanksgiving weekend. The "All of All in The Family" Thanksgiving weekend marathon begins with season 1, episode 1 at 5am ET on Wednesday, November 22 and runs through Sunday, November 26, 2017. All in the Family, produced by Norman Lear and starring Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker, originally aired from 1971-79 and won more than 20 prime time Emmy awards. It was also ranked the 4th Best TV Show of all time by TV Guide.

Antenna TV, which currently airs in 133 TV markets across the U.S. reaching 88% of TV households, regularly, airs All in the Family Weeknights at 9:30p ET/6:30p PT, Weekdays at 4:30a ET/1:30a PT and Fri - Sat at 12:30a ET/9:30p PT.


Robert Guillaume

Emmy Award-winning actor Robert Guillaume, who was best known for his role as Benson DuBois in Soap and the spin-off Benson, has died. He died on October 24 at his home in Los Angeles, California, from prostate cancer. Mr. Guillaume was 89.

Guillaume's early sitcom guest appearances included Julia, Sanford and Son, All in the Family, The Jeffersons and Good Times. In 1970, he appeared in an episode of Marcus Welby, M.D..

Soap

His first starring role was as Benson in the ABC sitcom Soap. Benson was the wisecracking cook/butler for the wealthy Tate family. He appeared in 50 episodes of the series from 1977-1980. The series also starred Robert Mandan, Katherine Helmond, Diana Canova, Jennifer Salt, Jimmy Baio, Arthur Peterson, Cathryn Damon, Richard Mulligan, Billy Crystal, Ted Waas, Robert Urich and Jay Johnson. Guillaume won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1979.

Benson

The Benson character was very popular, so he he got his own spin-off series in 1979. Benson worked for Jessica's (Katherine Helmond) cousin, Governor James Gatling (James Noble), as the head of household affairs. Although his last name wasn't mentioned on Soap, it was revealed to be DuBois in the spin-off. Benson aired for 7 seasons and 158 episodes on ABC from 1979-1986. The series also starred Missy Gold, Inga Swenson, René Auberjonois (1980-1986), Ethan Phillips (1980-1985), Caroline McWilliams (1979-1981), Lewis J. Stadlen (1979-1980), Didi Conn (1981-1983) and Billie Bird (1984-1986). Guillaume won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the role in 1985.

Guillaume starred as marriage counselor Edward Sawyer in the short-lived 1989 ABC sitcom The Robert Guillaume Show. The series was about a single father with two children who begins an interracial relationship with Ann (Wendy Phillips), a white woman who has a daughter of her own. The series also starred Hank Rolike, Kelsey Scott and Marc Joseph.

He starred as Detective Bob Ballard in the 1991-1992 NBC sitcom Pacific Station. Detective Bob Ballard was a wisecracking veteran cop who had been assigned to Pacific Station in Venice, California. The series also starred Richard Libertini, Joel Murray, Ron Leibman, Megan Gallagher and John Hancock.

Sports Night

Guillaume played Isaac Jaffe in the 1998-2000 ABC comedy/drama Sports Night. Isaac Jaffe was the managing editor of the late-night Sports Night program for the fictional Continental Sports Channel (CSC). Guillaume suffered a mild stroke midway through the first season on January 14, 1999. This event was worked into his character and the season's story arc. The short-lived but critically acclaimed series also starred Peter Krause, Josh Charles, Felicity Huffman, Joshua Malina, Sabrina Lloyd, Greg Baker, Kayla Blake, Timothy Davis Reed, Jeff Mooring and Ron Ostrow.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, A Different World, Saved by the Bell: The College Years, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Goode Behavior, Moesha and 8 Simple Rules.

He was also known for his voice work. He provided the voice of Detective Catfish in the short-lived 1992 CBS animated sitcom Fish Police. His other television voice credits included The Addams Family, Captain Planet and the Planeteers and The Proud Family. He was the narrator for the HBO series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child. He was the voice of Rafiki in the movie The Lion King and its sequels and spin-offs.

The Archive of American Television conducted an extensive interview with him on March 24, 1999.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Brown-Guillaume; three daughters, Patricia Carpenter and Melissa and Rachel Guillaume; one son, Kevin; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

Mr. Guillaume won two Emmy Awards in 1979 and 1985 and a Grammy Award in 1995 for his spoken word performance of a audiobook version of The Lion King during his career that spanned more than 50 years. He was wonderful as Benson DuBois in Soap and Benson, which was of the most underrated sitcoms of the 1980s. We thank him for the many hours of laughter and entertainment he brought us over the years. He will be greatly missed.

Soap and Benson will both return to Antenna TV in January according to their Facebook page. Stay with us for any updates.

Share your memories on our Soap and Benson message boards. View photos in our galleries.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, November 28

Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor Ray Romano and series creator Phil Rosenthal and featuring cast members Brad Garrett, Patricia Heaton, Monica Horan, Madylin Sweeten and Sullivan Sweeten, this new entertainment special celebrates the legacy of the hit comedy with one of television's most beloved families.

Ghosts - "Ghostfellas" (CBS, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Jay angers a local restaurateur when he uses a recipe at his restaurant that was given to him by Pete. Series star Rose McIver directed the episode.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 24)

Friday, November 28

  • Adam Sandler (The Cosby Show) - Watch Adam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Josh Hutcherson (Future Man) - Josh is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Gary Cole (mixed-ish/Fam/Veep/Family Affair) - Gary is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Jeff Goldblum (Search Party) - Jeff appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Jane Krakowski (Schmigadoon!/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/30 Rock) - Jane is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Marlo Thomas (That Girl) - NBC's Today has Thanks and Giving: Marlo Thomas with St. Jude’s Children's Research Hospital Kids in the 10am hour.
  • Rainn Wilson (The Office) - Rainn talks about his new book Soul Boom Workbook: Spiritual Tools for Modern Living on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

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)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

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

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11/24 - Antenna TV's All-You-Can Eat Wings for Thanksgiving Marathon; Rewind TV's Serving Up the Seavers with a Thanksgiving Day Growing Pains Marathon
11/23 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 24, 2025)
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11/19 - Tubi's Comedy Mo' Waffles Premieres December 19; 78th Emmy® Awards Set for September 14, 2026
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11/12 - Fox Midseason 2026 Schedule; Hulu's Tell Me Lies Season 3 Premiere Date
11/11 - Cast Announced for Netflix's A Different World Sequel; Hulu's Sebastian Maniscalco Special Trailer
11/10 - ABC's New Game Show The Greatest Average American; Prime Video Christmas Movie
11/09 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 10, 2025)
11/08 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox and Sony Developing Reimagined Bewitched; Samsung TV Plus Launching AFV Channel
11/07 - TBS and TNT Holiday Schedule; Hulu's Back 'Four' More Reasonable Doubt; Remembering Diane Ladd of Alice
11/06 - Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas 2025 Schedule; Single Drunk Female Star Gets Hulu Film
11/05 - ABC 2025 Holiday Specials; Netflix Renews Nobody Wants This for Season 3
11/04 - Fox's Best Medicine Premieres January 2026; Final Season of Bel-Air Trailer
11/03 - Apple TV Holiday Schedule; Another Week and Dancing with the Stars Rises Again
11/02 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 3, 2025)
11/01 - SitcomsOnline Digest: King of the Hill Renewed for Two More Seasons on Hulu; MTV Cancels Ridiculousness
10/31 - Hulu Renews King of the Hill for Seasons 16 and 17; FX Renews Adults for Season 2; Remembering June Lockhart
10/30 - ABC's The Golden Girls 40th Anniversary Special on November 11; NBC 2025 Holiday Specials
10/29 - ABC Midseason 2026 Schedule; Hulu Renews Only Murders in the Building for Season 6, Now in London
10/28 - Hulu Debuts Trailer for Original Holiday Film; Sidelined Returns for Sequel on Tubi
10/27 - Netflix Grabs Victorious Spinoff Hollywood Arts; Dancing with the Stars Up for 5th Straight Week