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
Thursday, April 25
Young Sheldon - "A Fancy Article and a Scholarship for a Baby" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon’s published paper leads to a frenzy of grad school recruiting, and Georgie tries to speak more properly in front of his daughter.
Ghosts - "The Traveling Agent" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Pete discovers a power that he never knew he had – one that brings him closer to his buddy Jay (and further apart).
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 22)
Thursday, April 25
- Rob McElhenney (Mythic Quest/It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - Catch Rob on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Carol Burnett (Palm Royale/Mad About You/Mama's Family) - Carol appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Tim Robinson (Digman!/Detroiters) - Tim is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Wendell Pierce (The Odd Couple/The Michael J. Fox Show/The Weber/The Brian Benben Show/The Gregory Hines Show) - Wendell appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am 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.
- Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - E! News has an interview with Jerry at 11pm on E!. He also talks about Unfrosted on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny guest co-hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Jason Ritter (The Class) - Jason is a guest on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/The Ellen Show/Welcome to New York) - Jim talks about Unfrosted on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am. NBC's Today catches up with Jim in the 9am hour.
- Vivica A. Fox (Mr. Box Office/Getting Personal/Arsenio/Out All Night) - Vivica talks about Not Another Church Movie in the 10am hour.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie talks about her new book Indulge: Delicious and Decadent Dishes to Enjoy and Share on a repeat of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Pam Grier (Bless This Mess) - Pam talks about Prime Video's Them: The Scare on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Luenell (Lopez) - Luenell stops by before her performance at the famous Apollo Theater in New York City on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Tichina guest co-hosts The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
New on DVD/Blu-ray
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)
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