Tuesday, February 06, 2018

Remembering John Mahoney of Frasier; The Rock Gets NBC Series

John Mahoney

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.

Frasier

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.

Betty White and John Mahoney - Hot in Cleveland

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.

John Mahoney as Martin Crane - Frasier

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.



The Titan Games

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

Monday, September 21

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - " Gilligan's Island: A Conspiracy Theorist's Paradise" (FX and FXX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Mac and Charlie drink the proverbial Kool-Aid while trying to uncover the mystery of why Gilligan's Island never made it to 100 episodes.

Adults - "Raccoon" (FX and FXX, 9:31PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Issa and Paul Baker host Acid Night. Written by Sanaz Toossi; Directed by Oz Rodriguez.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 21)

Monday, September 21

  • Woody Harrelson and (Brothers/Cheers) - Watch Woody on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Sam Richardson (The Afterparty/HouseBroken/Detroiters/Veep) - Sam appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Queen Latifah (Living Single) - Queen Latifah is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Dave Franco (The Afterparty/Scrubs/Do Not Disturb) - Dave stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Forgotten Island on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Natasha Leggero (Broke/Dice/Another Period/Free Agents) and Tommy Davidson (The Varnell Hill Show/The Proud Family/Malcolm & Eddie/Between Brothers) - Natasha and Tommy will be on Funny You Should Ask at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Sarah Paulson (Leap of Faith) - Sarah talks about American Horror Story on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Blair Underwood (Fatherhood/The New Adventures of Old Christine) - Blair talks about Doc on Live with Kelly and Mark (check your local listings) and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Peter Krause (Sports Night/Cybill) - Peter and Hope Davis talk about Line of Fire on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken talks about 99 to Beat on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Stavros Halkias (Tires) - Drew chats with Stavros about his Netflix comedy special Uncle Stav on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray) The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray) Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/20/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

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

09/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 21, 2026)
09/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: David Hyde Pierce Set to Star in Untitled NBC Sitcom; American Idol Moves to Atlanta
09/18 - South "America" Season 29 After 16th Emmy Win; HBO Max Orders Drama Series with Ray Romano and Kaley Cuoco
09/17 - They're Back on Call! Scrubs Season 2 Trailer; HBO's Kate Berlant Comedy Special
09/16 - AMC+ Half-Hour Drama Series Yaga Premieres October 23; Roku's Comedy Film with Kristin Cavallari
09/15 - 78th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Netflix Announces Additional Cast for This Summer Will Be Different
09/14 - Scooby-Doo: Origins Wraps Production for 2027 Release; The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris & Malcolm Gladwell Season 2
09/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 14, 2026)
09/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: South Park (or South America?) Returns September 16; City of Los Angeles Prepared for Second Season of Baywatch Reboot
09/11 - Nobody Wants This Season 3 Returns October 22; Sam Morrill Is Incorrect for Netflix
09/10 - NBC's 78th Emmy Awards Presenters Include Charlie's Angels Reunion; Apple TV's The Sisters Grimm Returns October 2
09/09 - UPtv's Most Uplifting Christmas Ever Includes The Rookie; Netflix Continues The Inbetweeners
09/08 - Abbott Elementary School House Rock Episode; NBC's Newlyweds First Look
09/07 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2026 Include Alice's 50th Anniversary
09/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 7, 2026)
09/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at Newlyweds; Fox Orders Comedy from Modern Family Co-Creator
09/04 - Fox Orders Mammoth, Comedy from Modern Family Producers; Peacock's Fan Level Midnight: Devoted to The Office Docuseries
09/03 - Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Cast; Disney Comedy Vampirina: Teenage Vampire Returns October 6
09/02 - Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween 2026 Schedule; Great Entertainment Television's Walker, Texas Ranger Labor Day Marathon
09/01 - BET's Lot Patrol Bonus Episodes; Netflix Renews Tires for Season 4
08/31 - HBO's Youth Premieres September 20; Apple TV Lands Season 1 of Small Prophets
08/30 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 31, 2026)
08/29 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Not Suitable for Work Not Renewed for Second Season; I Love Lucy to Receive Inaugural Legacy Award
08/28 - Apple TV's Brothers Premieres September 23; Remembering Dolly Parton and Tim Curry
08/27 - Antenna TV's Alice 50th Anniversary Marathon; Catchy Comedy's Family Affair 60th Anniversary Marathon
08/26 - Trailer for The Varnell Hill Show on Paramount+; Kevin Langue Heads to Netflix
08/25 - Tubi's Horror-Comedy Film Buzzkill Premieres September 25; Peacock's Wendy Williams Show Documentary Launching in 2027
08/24 - HBO Max Orders Comedy Series The People v. Gorilla Grodd; Remembering Shelley Fabares of The Donna Reed Show and Coach
08/23 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 24, 2026)
08/22 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at Trailer for A Different World; SCTV Headed to Netflix
08/21 - Season 2 of Apple TV's Stick Premieres November 4; Canadian Comedy North of North Returns to Netflix
08/20 - Apple TV's Bad Monkey Season 2 Drops December 2; Hulu's Jamie Foxx Comedy Special