Thursday, October 12, 2017

Hallmark's Holly Robinson Peete Series Coming in February; Remembering Sitcom Writer Bob Schiller

Meet the Peetes

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.

Bob Schiller

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, April 24

The Conners - "Manifesting, Marriage Testing and Cheeseballs" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Conners relish national cheeseball day as a family. Meanwhile, Harris falls behind in her work duties at the Lunch Box, and Darlene and Ben must figure out how to spend time together despite their two separate schedules.

Not Dead Yet - "Not the End Yet" / "Not a Ghost Yet" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Nell finds out that Duncan is selling the SoCal Independent, so she takes matters into her own hands to save her job when Lexi seems unwilling to help. Then, Nell navigates an unexpected incident that leaves the sale of the newspaper on hold.

Animal Control - "Skunks and Swans" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank and Shred take on an aggressive swan; Shred has a meet-cute with a mysterious woman; Emily makes a mistake that results in Victoria having very little time to prepare for her big exam; Patel gets his father to help Victoria cram for the test.

Family Guy - "A Stache From the Past" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Peter loses the Griffins' home in a reverse mortgage, he and Mayor West travel to confront the man advertising the scheme, Tom Selleck; Stewie and Brian open a booth at the flea market, leading to a rivalry with Bruce.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 22)

Wednesday, April 24

  • Carol Burnett (Palm Royale/Mad About You/Mama's Family) - Watch Carol on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Nicole Richie (Great News) - Nicole is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever/Final Space) - Fred sits in with The 8G Band on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) and Michaela Watkins (Dinner with the Parents/Search Party/The Unicorn/Casual/Trophy Wife) - Lisa and Michaela are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • John Early (Search Party) - John appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
  • Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Jesse is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
  • Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - E! News has an interview with Tiffany at 11pm on E!.
  • Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny guest co-hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
  • Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew will be on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
  • Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - Jerry talks about Unfrosted on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - Mayan talks about NBC's Lopez vs Lopez on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Carrie, a fan-favorite on The Good Wife, tells Sherri about her new show Elsbeth on Sheri, so check your local listings.
  • Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - Harry has a cooking demo on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.


New on DVD/Blu-ray

Father Knows Best - The Complete Series Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series Check It Out! - The Complete Series

12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)

The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) That Girl - The Complete Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


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04/04 - Apple TV+ The Big Door Prize Returns April 24; ABC Renews Will Trent for Season 3
04/03 - Sony Pictures and Game Show Network Upfront; ABC Renews Grey's Anatomy and 9-1-1 for 2024-25
04/02 - Adult Swim's Smiling Friends Returns May 12; Stallone Drama Returning for Season 2
04/01 - Selena Gomez Gets New Food Network Series; Orphan Black Gets New Series
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03/28 - Netflix's Good Times Animated Comedy Trailer; Too Close for Comfort and Check It Out! Complete Series on DVD
03/27 - The Upshaws Part 5 This April; Max Orders Noah Wyle Medical Drama
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03/25 - Disney Channel Orders Wizards of Waverly Place Revival; Paramount+ Animated Comedy Ark: The Animated Series
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