Thursday, October 12, 2017
Hallmark's Holly Robinson Peete Series Coming in February; Remembering Sitcom Writer Bob Schiller
Having achieved great success with original primetime series, Hallmark Channel expands its original programming slate by commencing production on its first primetime reality series, Meet the Peetes. The series follows the lives of actress and activist Holly Robinson Peete (Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, 21 Jump Street) and her husband Rodney Peete, a star in the NFL for 16 years. Each episode chronicles their lives as they navigate the waters of raising kids and dealing with the same trials and tribulations facing many American families. The show will premiere February 2018 on Hallmark Channel. In Meet the Peetes, audiences will see Holly and Rodney's hectic lives as they attempt to balance raising four kids, including one with autism, running their HollyRod charity and spending time with Holly's 81-year-old mother Dolores, who moved in with them after retiring from her career as a talent manager. With daughter Ryan in college at New York University, their son with autism RJ working for the Los Angeles Dodgers he decides he's ready to leave the family nest. On top of that, Holly's mother Dolores announces she's ready to move out too - the Peetes are in a period of change that will continue to unfold in "Meet the Peetes" only on Hallmark Channel.
Writer Bob Schiller, who worked on I Love Lucy and All in the Family, has died. He died on October 10 in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California. Mr. Schiller was 98.
Schiller's television writing career began in 1950 with The Garry Show Show. Some of his early sitcom writing credits included That's My Boy, The Jimmy Durante Show, December Bride, Professional Father and It's Always Jan.
He worked extensively with fellow writer and producer Bob Weiskopf on many television series beginning in 1953. Their credits in the 1950s included The Bob Cummings Show, I Love Lucy, The Ann Sothern Show (which they also created), The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour and Pete and Gladys. They were writers for 53 episodes of I Love Lucy for the fifth and sixth seasons from 1955-1957. In 1956, they received an Emmy nomination for the episode L.A. at Last.
Their credits in the 1960s and 1970s included The Lucy Show, The Good Guys, Love, American Style, All's Fair (which they also created) and All in the Family. They worked on variety series such as The Red Skelton Show, The Carol Burnett Show and The Flip Wilson Show. In 1970, they won an Emmy Award for their work on The Flip Wilson Show.
They worked together on 17 episodes of All in the Family from 1977-1979. They won an Emmy Award in 1978 for their work on the episode Cousin Liz, which dealt with Edith Bunker's inheritance of a valuable tea service from her deceased cousin Liz and her decision, upon learning that Liz's "roommate" Veronica is really Liz's surviving longtime companion, to give Veronica the service.
Schiller and Weiskopf later worked on the All in the Family spin-off series Archie Bunker's Place from 1979-1980. They also worked on Checking In, Sanford and He's the Mayor. Their producing credits included The Good Guys, All's Fair and Maude.
The Archive of American Television conducted an extensive interview with them on April 4, 2000.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Sabrina Scharf; his children Tom (who works as a director), Jim, Abbie and Sadie; and his grandchildren Ona, Charlie, Lucy, Archie and Amelie.
Mr. Schiller won two Emmy Awards, a pair of Peabody Awards, a Golden Globe, and the Writers’ Guild of America's Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Achievement. We thank him for the many of hours of entertainment he brought us over the years. He will be missed.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, February 26
Shifting Gears - "The Picnic" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The feud between Parker Customs and Premiere Dance Lab heats up when Matt confronts the owner over a picnic table placed in the shared alleyway. Meanwhile, Carter’s need for “me time” sparks a man-to-(almost)-man conversation with Matt.
Abbott Elementary - "100th Day of School" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
During Abbott’s 100th day of school celebrations, Barbara receives a surprise from her daughter. Melissa, Jacob and Mr. Johnson join forces to conduct a search party.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 24)
Wednesday, February 26
- Mindy Kaling (Running Point/The Mindy Project/The Office) - Watch Mindy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Natasha Rothwell (How to Die Alone) - Natasha is a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Simu Liu (Kim's Convenience) - Simu appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Sterling K. Brown (Starved) - Sterling is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Rosebud Baker (Life & Beth) - Rosebud is a guest on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea talks about I'll Have What She's Having on NBC's Today in the 10am hour. She chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Kate Hudson (Running Point) - Kate discusses the new series Running Point on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Sheryl and her husband, Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes, sit down for an EXCLUSIVE conversation about their choice to live in separate cities, which set off the internet on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is joining Drew and Ross to discuss the hottest news stories on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. Then, it's Drew & A and Drew is joined by Ross and Valerie to answer audience member's burning questions.
- Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) - Sarah is telling Drew about starring as Daisy in The Great Gatsby on Broadway on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local lisitngs. Plus, she's answering questions from Modern Family co-star Jesse Tyler Ferguson in a round of Fast Five.
- Tori Spelling (Mystery Girls/So Notorious) - Tori talks about Lifetime's Abducted in the Everglades on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive
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