Tuesday, February 06, 2018
Remembering John Mahoney of Frasier; The Rock Gets NBC Series
English-American actor John Mahoney, who was best known for his role as Martin Crane in Frasier, has died. He died on February 4 in Chicago of complications from throat cancer. Mr. Mahoney was 77.
Mahoney's television career began with his role as Lt. Roselli in the 1982 NBC drama Chicago Story. The series followed the work and personal lives of several Chicago doctors, lawyers and police officers. It starred Maud Adams, Vincent Baggetta, Molly Cheek, Dennis Franz, Connie Foster, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Richard Lawson, Craig T. Nelson, Kristoffer Tabori and Jill Shellabrger.
He played Chief Patrick Meacham in the short-lived 1990 ABC adventure series H.E.L.P.. Battalion Chief Meacham led the Harlem Eastside Life-saving Program (H.E.L.P.) in New York City that co-located the resources of the Fire Department, Police Department and Emergency Medical Services. The series starred Wesley Snipes, Joe Urla, Lance Edwards, Kim Flowers, Tom Bresnahan, Marjorie Monaghan, Fionnula Flanagan and David Caruso.
Mahoney appeared as Dr. Alec McMurtry in the short-lived 1992 CBS medical drama The Human Factor. The series was about a physician at U.C.I., an inner-city teaching hospital. It starred Jan Lucas, Kurt Deutsch, Eriq La Salle, Melinda McGraw, Matthew Ryan, Robert McNeill and Allan Miller.
He starred as the blue-collar patriarch Martin Crane in the NBC sitcom Frasier, which aired for 11 seasons from 1993 through 2004. Martin Crane was an Army veteran and a retired Seattle Police Department detective. He was the father of Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) and Dr. Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce). It also starred Jane Leeves, Peri Gilpin and Dan Butler. The series won a total of 37 Primetime Emmy Awards during its 11-year run. Mahoney received two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for the role in 1999 and 2003 and two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 1993 and 2000.
Mahoney had a recurring role as Roy, a waiter and a love interest for Elka (Betty White), in six episodes of Hot in Cleveland in 2011 and 2014. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Cheers, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Becker and $#*! My Dad Says. His drama guest appearances included ER, In Treatment and Burn Notice.
He was also known for his voice work. His television voice credits included Teacher's Pet, Gary the Rat and The Simpsons. Some of his film voice credits included Antz, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Atlantis: Milo's Return, The Iron Giant and Kronk's New Groove.
Some of his film credits included Tin Men, Moonstruck, Eight Men Out, Say Anything..., Barton Fink, In the Line of Fire, Reality Bites, The Hudsucker Proxy and The American President.
Mahoney was passionate about his stage work on Broadway and in Chicago theatre. He won Broadway's Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play in 1986 for his performance in John Guare's The House of Blue Leaves.
Mr. Mahoney was wonderful as Martin Crane. His character was grumpy and cranky, but he made him likable. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment he brought us during his career. He will be greatly missed.
Share your memories on our Frasier message board. View photos in our galleries.
NBC has partnered with Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia to produce a new large-scale physical competition series The Titan Games, which will feature Johnson. The 10-episode series from Universal Television Alternative Studio (World of Dance), A. Smith & Co. Productions (American Ninja Warrior) and Seven Bucks Productions (Rock the Troops) will offer everyday people the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in epic head-to-head challenges designed to test mind, body and heart.
Inspired by Johnson's desire to motivate global audiences to reach their potential for greatness, the competition welcomes men and women who are strong enough to believe in themselves and simultaneously confident enough to test their own abilities by taking on physical challenges of epic proportions. The Titan Games will not only test the competitors' physical strength, but also their mental and emotional endurance. Taking place in a thrilling arena, determination will be rewarded as a new breed of heroes will emerge.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, July 9
Shifting Gears - "Gummies" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Riley is horrified when she finds weed gummies in Carter’s pocket, prompting surprising advice from Matt. Meanwhile, Eve inadvertently lands Gabriel and Stitch in hot water after asking them to donate to a charity auction.
Shifting Gears - "Kiss" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Jimmy returns with a new job and a proposition for Riley and the kids to move into his house, Riley is torn between her past and her future. Meanwhile, Matt's feud with Eve flares up once again after she damages his car.
Abbott Elementary - "Volunteers" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ava announces the school district is sending a group of volunteers to help out at Abbott; however, when they arrive, things don’t go as planned.
Abbott Elementary - "100th Day of School" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
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.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang F***s Up Abbott Elementary" (FXX and FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Months after the Gang visited, Abbott's Principal Ava walks viewers through some of the unseen footage of the Gang's volunteerism and reveals their true intentions.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Frank Is in a Coma" (FXX and FX, 9:33PM ET/PT)
The five stages of grief set in for Dee as Frank lies on his deathbed; the Guys plot their new path forward by pitching their business ventures to Philadelphia's elite.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 7)
Wednesday, July 9
- Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Watch Salma on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Jean Smart (Hacks/Samantha Who?/Center of the Universe/In-Laws/Style & Substance/Designing Women) - Jean is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Cole Escola (Human Resources/Search Party/Mozart in the Jungle/Difficult People) - Cole appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Richie Moriarty (Ghosts), Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts/Duncanville/Disjointed/Animal Practice) and Punam Patel (Ghosts/Return of the Mac/Kevin from Work) - Richie, Betsy and Punam are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/Final Space/The Game) - Tika sits down with the Tam Fam to talk about her new children's book I Got It From My Mama a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Isabela Merced (100 Things to Do Before High School/Growing Up Fisher) - Isabela chats about her film Superman on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Anna Camp (Perfect Harmony/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Mindy Project) and Justin Bartha (The New Normal/Teachers) - Anna and Justin discuss their film Nuked on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) - Simon talks about Peacock's Poker Face on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
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)
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