Monday, September 10, 2018

COZI TV Adds The Office in January 2019; Remembering Burt Reynolds and Bill Daily

The Office

COZI TV is bringing back The Office to broadcast TV. The network has announced that the iconic workplace sitcom will have a new home when the critically acclaimed hit begins airing on COZI TV on January 1, 2019. The show will join Will & Grace and Frasier as part of the network's prime time comedy line-up.

The Office premiered in 2005 on NBC and ran for nine seasons with 201 episodes. Based on the British series of the same name, The Office won numerous awards during its run including five Emmy® awards out of 42 nominations. The series also launched the careers of Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling, B. J. Novak and others. The success of its trademark deadpan style, produced without a laugh track or musical scoring, helped popularized the mockumentary genre in American television.

The show was set in the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company of Scranton, Pennsylvania, the apparent subject of a documentary film. Carell played Michael Scott, the always inappropriate and desperate for approval Regional Manager. Krasinski played salesman Jim Halpert, Fischer played Pam the receptionist and Wilson was Dwight Schrute, the Assistant Regional Sales Manager.

Over the course of the series, fans followed the romance of Jim and Pam, the endless prank-fueled rivalry between Dwight and Jim, Michael's own inter-office romances and the comings and goings of a variety of corporate supervisors, HR advisors, and other instigators. Memorable moments include the "Office Olympics," a Survivor-style competition to determine the branch's next manager, the "Dundies" award shows, and, of course, Jim and Pam's wedding.

Burt Reynolds

Actor, director and producer Burt Reynolds, who starred as Wood Newton in Evening Shade, has died. He died on September 6 at the Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, Florida. He had suffered heart problems for a number of years. Mr. Reynolds was 82.

Reynolds' early television guest appearances included Flight, M Squad, Schlitz Playhouse, The Lawless Years and Pony Express. His first starring role was with Darren McGavin in the NBC adventure series Riverboat from 1959 to 1960. He appeared in 20 episodes as Ben Frazier, the colead and boat pilot for The Enterprise.

Some of his other early 1960s television guest appearances included Playhouse 90, Johnny Ringo, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Lock Up, The Blue Angels, Michael Shayne, Zane Grey Theater, The Aquanauts, The Brothers Brannagan, Naked City, Ripcord, Everglades, Route 66, Perry Mason and The Twilight Zone.

His next starring role was in the CBS western Gunsmoke from 1962 to 1965. He appeared as Quint Asper, the town blacksmith, in 50 episodes of the series. He continued to make guest appearances on series such as Branded, Flipper and 12 O'Clock High.

He starred as Native American Detective Lt. John Hawk in the short-lived 1966 ABC police drama Hawk. The series also starred Wayne Grice, Bruce Glover and Leon Janney. Reynolds directed one episode of the series. Some of his other 1960s and 1970s guest appearances included The F.B.I., Premiere, Fade In and Love, American Style.

Reynolds starred as Detective Lt. Dan August in the 1970-1971 ABC police drama Dan August. Dan August investigated homicide cases in the fictional town of Santa Luisa, California. The series also starred Norman Fell, Ned Romero, Richard Anderson and Ena Hartmann.

He provided the voice of Troy Garland, Evie Garland's (Maureen Flanigan) father, in the 1987-1991 syndicated sitcom Out of This World. The series also starred Donna Pescow, Doug McClure, Joe Alaskey (1987-1990), Buzz Belmondo, Christina Nigra and Steve Burton.

Reynolds starred in the short-lived 1989-1990 ABC detective series B.L. Stryker. Buddy Lee Stryker, aka B.L., was a Vietnam war vet and retired New Orleans police officer who moved back home to the other side of the tracks in Palm Beach, Florida to work as a private investigator. The series starred Ossie Davis, Dana Kaminski, Michael O. Smith, Alfie Wise and Rita Moreno. Reynolds also served as an executive producer and directed three episodes of the series.

Evening Shade

His longest running television role was in the 1990-1994 CBS sitcom Evening Shade. Reynolds starred as Wood Newton, an ex-professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who returns to rural Evening Shade, Arkansas, to coach a high-school football team with a long losing streak. The series also starred Marilu Henner, Hal Holbrook, Ossie Davis, Charles Durning, Elizabeth Ashley, Michael Jeter, Jay R. Ferguson, Ann Wedgeworth, Charlie Dell, Candace Hutson and Jacob Parker. Reynolds won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical for the role in 1992. He also directed 35 episodes and wrote 3 episodes of the series. He was one of the executive producers.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Golden Girls, The Larry Sanders Show, Hope & Gloria, Cybill, Emeril, The King of Queens, Freddie and My Name Is Earl. His voice credits included King of the Hill, Duckman, Robot Chicken, Duck Dodgers, American Dad! and Archer.

Burt Reynolds - Smokey and the Bandit

Reynolds was best known for his many film roles. His box office hits included Deliverance, The Longest Yard, Smokey and the Bandit, Semi-Tough, Hooper (also a producer), Smokey and the Bandit II, The Cannonball Run and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. He directed and starred in Gator (the sequel to White Lightning), The End, Sharky's Machine, Stick and The Last Producer. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Jack Horner in Boogie Nights.

Mr. Reynolds was wonderful in his many television and film roles. Hopefully the complete series of Evening Shade will be released on DVD one day. We thank him for the many laughs and hours of entertainment he brought us during his 50-year career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Evening Shade message board. View photos in our galleries.

Bill Daily

Actor and comedian Bill Daily, who was best known for his roles as Roger Healey in I Dream of Jeannie and as Howard Borden in The Bob Newhart Show, has died. He died on September 4 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mr. Daily was 91.

Daily's early work was as a stand-up comedian performing around the country. He made sitcom guest appearances in Bewitched, My Mother the Car and The Farmer's Daughter. Sitcom writer Sidney Sheldon liked his work and gave him a supporting role in I Dream of Jeannie.

I Dream of Jeannie

He starred as Captain/Major Roger Healey in the 1965-1970 NBC sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. Roger Healey was Tony Nelson's (Larry Hagman) girl-crazy buddy and fellow astronaut. The series also starred Barbara Eden and Hayden Rorke. Daily wrote one episode of the series. He reprised his role in TV reunion movies I Dream of Jeannie... Fifteen Years Later in 1985 and I Still Dream of Jeannie in 1991.

The Bob Newhart Show

Daily next starred as Howard Borden in the 1972-1978 CBS sitcom The Bob Newhart Show. Howard Borden was a divorced commercial airline navigator and later a co-captain. He was the next-door neighbor of Bob Hartley (Bob Newhart) and his wife, Emily (Suzanne Pleshette). The series also starred Peter Bonerz and Marcia Wallace. Daily returned for The Bob Newhart Show: The 19th Anniversary Special in 1991.

He co-starred with Debbie Reynolds in the short-lived 1981 ABC sitcom Aloha Paradise. The series followed the lives of the staff and guests at The Paradise Village resort, located on the coast of Kona, Hawaii. Daily played Curtis Shea, the resort's assistant manager. It also starred Pat Klous, Mokihana and Stephen Shortridge.

Daily appeared as Dr. Hanratty in the short-lived 1983 CBS sitcom Small & Frye. Dr. Hanratty was the eccentric head of the Police Criminal Lab. The series also starred Darren McGavin, Jack Blessing, Debbie Zipp, Warren Berlinger, Victoria Carroll and Dick Wilson.

He starred as veterinarian Dr. James Shepherd in the 1988-1989 syndicated sitcom Starting from Scratch. The series also starred Connie Stevens, Heidi Helmer, Jason Marin and Nita Talbot.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Love, American Style, Getting Together, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Love Boat, ALF, The Munsters Today, The Naked Truth and Caroline in the City. He reunited with Bob Newhart in Newhart, Bob and George and Leo. His other television guest appearances included Flying High, CHiPs, The Powers of Matthew Star and Trapper John, M.D..

He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television in 2003.

Mr. Daily was very funny and memorable in his roles as the sidekick in I Dream of Jeannie and The Bob Newhart Show. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment he brought us in his series and guest appearances. He will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our I Dream of Jeannie and The Bob Newhart Show message boards. View photos in our galleries.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Friday, December 8

Norman Lear: A Life on Television

CBS announced the new entertainment special Norman Lear: A Life on Television, to air tonight - Friday, Dec. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs). Presented by Entertainment Tonight, this one-hour special features new interviews with stars of the long-running comedies Lear created, including Jimmie Walker from Good Times and Mackenzie Phillips from One Day at a Time, in addition to never-before-seen interviews from the ET vault. Also included with this new footage and interviews is an in-depth sit-down interview with Lear that ET host Kevin Frazier conducted when Lear celebrated his 100th birthday, in which he reflected on his lengthy, groundbreaking career.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 4)

Friday, December 8

  • Eddie Murphy (The PJs) - Watch Eddie on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building/High Fidelity/People of Earth/Selfie) - Da'Vine appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • John Caponera (The Good Life) - John is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
  • Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Triumph the Insult Comic Dog aka Robert Smigel chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Noah Galvin (The Real O'Neals) and Molly Gordon (Ramy) - Noah and Molly talk about Theater Camp on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • Eric Stonestreet (The Santa Clauses/Modern Family) - Eric talks about The Santa Clauses on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan sits down with Sherri to talk about his new book, When I Was Your Age, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Sebastian Maniscalco (Bookie) - Sebastian appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (September-December)

Family Matters - The Complete Series Step by Step - The Complete Series ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

09/05 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Sixth Season
09/12 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Second Season
09/12 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/26 - Family Matters - The Complete Series
09/26 - Step by Step - The Complete Series
10/10 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Thirteen / The Complete Season Fourteen
10/17 - ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) (Shout! Factory Special Offers)
10/17 - Night Court (2023) - The Complete First Season
11/07 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/14 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (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
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

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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