Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Remembering Penny Marshall, MeTV to Air Tribute on Sunday (Dec. 23); Conan's New Half-Hour Format Starts Jan. 22 on TBS

Penny Marshall

Actress, director and producer Penny Marshall, who starred as Laverne DeFazio in Laverne & Shirley, has died. She died in Los Angeles from complications of diabetes on December 17. Ms. Marshall was 75.

Marshall's early sitcom guest appearances included That Girl, Love, American Style, Barefoot in the Park, Getting Together, The Super and The Bob Newhart Show. Her early drama guest appearances included My Friend Tony, Then Came Bronson, The Magical World of Disney and Banacek.

Penny Marshall in The Odd Couple

She appeared in the recurring role of Myrna Turner, Oscar Madison's secretary, in 27 episodes of The Odd Couple on ABC from 1972 to 1974. It was developed and executive produced by her brother, Garry Marshall. The cast included Tony Randall, Jack Klugman, Al Molinaro, Garry Walberg and Larry Gelman. She reprised the role in the 1993 CBS TV movie The Odd Couple: Together Again.

Marshall starred as Janice Dreyfuss in the short lived 1974-1975 CBS sitcom Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers. Janice was Charlie's affection-starved wife who constantly mocked Robert for his romantic failures. The series also starred Paul Sand, Michael Pataki, Dick Wesson, Steve Landesberg, Craig Richard Nelson and Jack Gilford.

She first appeared as Laverne DeFazio in the November 11, 1975, episode of Happy Days titled A Date with Fonzie. Laverne and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams) were a pair of wise-cracking brewery workers, who were dates for Fonzie (Henry Winkler) and Richie (Ron Howard). After the success of their appearance, Garry Marshall decided to create a spin-off series for them.

Laverne & Shirley

Marshall starred as Laverne DeFazio for 8 seasons and 178 episodes on Laverne & Shirley on ABC from 1976 to 1983. Laverne and Shirley were two friends and roommates who worked as bottle-cappers in the fictitious Shotz Brewery in late 1950s Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Laverne was a tough-talking tomboy who grew up in Brooklyn. Her favorite drink was milk and pepsi. She was known for the script letter "L" monogrammed on her shirts and sweaters. The series also starred Eddie Mekka, Phil Foster, David L. Lander, Michael McKean, Betty Garrett (1976-1981), Carole Ita White (1976-1977), Ed Marinaro (1980-1981) and Leslie Easterbrook (1980-1983).

She received three nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy for her role. Marshall appeared as Laverne in five other episodes of Happy Days, one episode of Blansky's Beauties and the pilot episode of Mork & Mindy. She voiced the character in the animated series Laverne & Shirley in the Army and the Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour.

Marshall directed four episodes of Laverne & Shirley. Some of her other sitcom directing credits included Working Stiffs, A League of Their Own, According to Jim and United States of Tara.

Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Chico and the Man, Good Heavens, Taxi, I'm with Her, Entourage, Campus Ladies, The Game, Sam & Cat (reunited with Cindy Williams), Mulaney and The Odd Couple (2016). She had voice credits for The Simpsons, Frasier and The Life & Times of Tim.

She appeared in many TV movies including The Feminist and the Fuzz, Evil Roy Slade, The Crooked Hearts, The Couple Takes a Wife, Let's Switch!, Wives, More Than Friends (with Rob Reiner), Love Thy Neighbor (with John Ritter), Challenge of a Lifetime, Jackie's Back! and Women Without Men. Some of her film credits included The Savage Seven, How Sweet It Is!, The Grasshopper, Movers & Shakers, Hocus Pocus, The Hard Way and Alice Upside Down.

Marshall also had much success as film director. She made her directorial debut in 1986 with Jumpin' Jack Flash. In 1988, Big became the first film directed by a woman to gross more than $100 million at the U.S. box office. Her other film directing credits included Awakenings (1990, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture), A League of Their Own (1995), Renaissance Man (1994), The Preacher's Wife (1996) and Riding in Cars with Boys (2001). She worked as executive producer on Awakenings, A League of Their Own, Calendar Girl, Renaissance Man, Cinderella and Bewitched.

She was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on August 7, 2013.

Ms. Marshall was in a league of her own as an actress and director. She was very funny and memorable with her physical comedy and delivery of lines in her iconic role as Laverne. We thank her for the many laughs and hours of entertainment she brought us during her long career. It's sad that we've lost the brother and sister duo of Garry and Penny in the last two years. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Laverne & Shirley message board. View photos in our galleries.

MeTV Remembering Penny Marshall

MeTV Network pays tribute to the career and comedy of beloved actress and director Penny Marshall with a special presentation of Laverne & Shirley episodes airing on MeTV this Sunday, December 23 beginning at 2:00pm ET/PT through 6:00pm ET/PT. In a March 2015 interview with MeTV, Marshall shared her favorite Laverne & Shirley episodes. As a tribute to her enduring character Laverene DeFazio, MeTV has scheduled six of these memorable episodes, along with two special holiday-themed episodes, to create a special four-hour afternoon celebration of memorable and hilarious comedy for the whole family. Episodes airing from 2-6pm are: 2:00pm-2:30pm: "Fakeout at the Stakeout," "Bridal Shower," "Guinea Pigs," "Steppin' Out," "Airport '59," "Supermarket Sweep," "Christmas Eve at the Booby Hatch," and "Oh, Come All Ye Bums."


Conan O'Brien

Conan O'Brien debuts new 30-minute format show starting January 22 for Conan, ushering in a new era of multi-platform comedy with Team Coco. The longest-tenured host in late-night will return for his ninth season on TBS and 26th year on television, debuting a new thirty-minute format four nights a week in its regular timeslot starting on January 22, 2019 at 11pm. The revamped late-night show and expanded Team Coco fan experience will define a new era in multi-platform comedy. The show's new format will continue to feature celebrity guests and Conan's signature brand of comedy, which has made him one of the world's most popular hosts across both digital and linear platforms. Conan continues to evolve the genre by challenging conventions, taking creative risks and discovering and fostering new comedic talent.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, February 24

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Getting Lucky" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Calvin and Dave join Lamar (Kevin Pollack) on a road trip to the casino. Also, Tina and Gemma babysit Daphne while Marty desperately tries to spend time with Courtney alone. Series star Tichina Arnold directs this episode.

Poppa's House - "Slumber Party" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Poppa dodges an invitation to a family slumber party, Junior attempts to change his mind by making him jealous of everyone attending. Charo guest stars as herself. Wendy Raquel Robinson returns as Catherine. Geoffrey Owens returns as J.J.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 24)

Monday, February 24

  • Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - Watch Chris on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Drew Carey (The Drew Carey Show/The Good Life) - Drew appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Woody Harrelson (Cheers) - Woody stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Wendell Pierce (The Odd Couple/The Michael J. Fox Show/The Weber/The Brian Benben Show/The Gregory Hines Show) - Wendell appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He talks about the latest season of Raising Kanan on Starz on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Sam Waterston (Grace and Frankie) - Sam makes a special appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Christian Slater (Breaking In) - Christian is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Zosia Mamet (Laid/Girls) - Zosia appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) and Essence Atkins (Poppa's House/Marlon/Mr. Box Office/Are We There Yet?/Half & Half/Smart Guy/Under One Roof) - Tichina and Essence are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS. Tichina appers on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Jon Hamm (Grimsburg/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) - Jon appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11pm on Bravo.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
  • Kate Hudson (Running Point) - E! News has an interview with Kate at 11pm on E!.
  • Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) - NBC's Today catches up with Eric in the 9am hour.
  • Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons and Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood/The Last O.G./The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - CBS Mornings has CBS deals with Anthony and Cedric sometime between 7-9am.
  • Clifton Davis (Amen/That's My Mama) - Nancy Giles goes behind the scenes of CBS' new series Beyond the Gates with actors Clifton Davis, Tamara Tunie, Daphnée Duplaix and Karla Mosley on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Hank Azaria (The Simpsons/Brockmire/Free Agents/Herman's Head) - Hank chats with the hosts and performs with the EZ Street Band on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso) - Phil talks about the new season of Ted Lasso on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Halle Berry (Living Dolls) - Halle is hitting the headlines with Drew and Ross and opening up about finding love again on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. Then, Halle is opening up about her experience with menopause and the new platform Respin she made to help women through it.
  • Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer and Freddy Rodriguez chat about their podcast Dos Amigos on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series

10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series

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