SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

MeTV is proudly presenting its first original TV series, Collector's Call, premiering Sunday, April 7, at 10PM|9C. Hosted by Lisa Whelchel (Blair on The Facts of Life), the 13-episode unscripted series will introduce you to some of the biggest collectors of pop culture memorabilia in the country. These fans have amassed astonishing collections, covering everything from Winnie the Pooh to The Wizard of Oz, Coca-Cola paraphernalia to comic books… and so much more! While touring these extensive collections and learning about the collector’s fascination with their chosen items, Whelchel enlists the help of professional appraisers and experts to put an estimated value on each collection's worth.

On Collector's Call, you'll find out the worth of everything from first-edition Harry Potter books with personal notes from JK Rowling to the original telephone used on The Dick Van Dyke Show -- not to mention locks of Abraham Lincoln's hair. Along the way, we discover collections featured in the Guinness Book of Records, alongside others valued in the millions of dollars. With the values established, the experts will try to tempt the collectors with a trade, offering a coveted item that would be the perfect addition to their collections. The collectors must then make an agonizing choice and decide how sentimental they are about their existing pieces…or how much they’re willing to give up for a new addition to the collection. Will they make a trade? It's the Collector's Call!

Actress Katherine Helmond, who starred as Jessica Tate in Soap and as Mona Robinson in Who's the Boss?, has died. She died on February 23 from complications of Alzheimer's disease at her home in Los Angeles. Ms. Helmond was 89.

Helmond's first television appearance was an uncredited role in a 1962 episode of Car 54, Where Are You?. Some of her early sitcom guest appearances included Adam's Rib and The Bob Newhart Show. Her early drama guest appearances included Gunsmoke, The F.B.I., The Snoop Sisters, Hec Ramsey, Mannix, Barnaby Jones, The Rookies, Harry O, The Six Million Dollar Man, Petrocelli and The Bionic Woman.

She starred as ditzy matriarch Jessica Tate in the prime time soap opera sitcom Soap, which aired on ABC from 1977 to 1981. Jessica Tate was the sister of Mary Campbell (Cathryn Damon). She was married to wealthy Chester Tate (Robert Mandan) but separates from and later divorces him in the latter seasons of the series. Helmond was one of two cast members to appear in every episode of the series, with Richard Mulligan (Burt Campbell) being the other. The series also starred Diana Canova (1977-1980), Jennifer Salt, Jimmy Baio, Robert Guillaume (1977-1979), Arthur Peterson, Billy Crystal, Ted Wass, Robert Urich, Jay Johnson, Sal Viscuso, Dinah Manoff (1978-1979), Donnelly Rhodes (1978-1981) and Roscoe Lee Browne (1980-1981).

Helmond won the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical for the role in 1981. She received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for all four seasons. The series was Emmy nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1978, 1980 and 1981. Helmond appeared as Jessica Tate in two episodes of the spin-off series Benson in 1979 and 1983. She also directed three episodes of Benson in 1983 and 1984.

She next starred as feisty mother Mona Robinson in the ABC sitcom Who's the Boss?, which aired from 1984 to 1992. Mona was the mother of divorced advertising executive Angela Bower (Judith Light). The series also starred Tony Danza, Alyssa Milano and Danny Pintauro. Helmond received the 1989 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. She received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1988 and 1989. She directed the episode Tony the Nanny in 1985.

Helmond had a recurring role as Doris Sherman in 19 episodes of the ABC sitcom Coach from 1995 to 1997. Doris Sherman was the recently widowed and eccentric owner of the Orlando Breakers, a fictional NFL expansion team. The series also starred Craig T. Nelson, Shelley Fabares, Jerry Van Dyke, Bill Fagerbakke, Clare Carey (1989-1993) and Kenneth Kimmins.

Helmond played Lois Whelan, the mother of Debra Barone (Patricia Heaton), in 14 episodes of the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Rayond from 1996 to 2004. She was married to Warren Whelan (Robert Culp). Helmond received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for the role in 2002.

She appeared in over 20 films. Some of her credits included Family Plot, Baby Blue Marine, Time Bandits, Brazil, Overboard and Lady in White. She provided the voice of Lizzie in the Cars franchise. She was nominated for Broadway's 1973 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for Eugene O'Neill's The Great God Brown.

She was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on March 6, 2008.

Ms. Helmond was wonderful as Jessica Tate and Mona Robinson. She made everything she appeared in much better. Hopefully we will get the remaining seasons of Who's the Boss? on DVD one day. We thank her for the many laughs and entertainment she brought us during her career, which spanned five decades. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Soap and Who's the Boss? message boards. View photos in our galleries.

Actor Nathaniel Taylor, who was best known for his role as Rollo Lawson in Sanford and Son, has died. He was rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after suffering from a heart attack on February 23. He died from the complications of it on February 27. Mr. Taylor was 80.

Taylor appeared in the recurring role of Rollo Lawson in 32 episodes of the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son from 1972 to 1977. Rollo was Lamont Sanford's (Demond Wilson) best friend. The series also starred and featured Redd Foxx, Don Bexley, Hal Williams (1972-1976), Gregory Sierra (1972-1975), LaWanda Page (1973-1977), Whitman Mayo (1973-1977), Lynn Hamilton and Pat Morita (1974-1975).

He appeared as Rollo in one episode of the NBC spin-off series Grady, which starred Whitman Mayo, in 1975. He reprised the role in the 1980-1981 NBC spin-off Sanford. The short-lived series starred Redd Foxx, Dennis Burkley, Marguerite Ray, Suzanne Stone, Cathy Cooper, Percy Rodriguez and Clinton Derricks-Carroll.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Bill Cosby Show, What's Happening!! (two episodes as Rerun's brother-in-law, Ike) and 227. He reunited with Redd Foxx in the short-lived 1986 ABC sitcom The Redd Foxx Show in two episodes as Jim-Jam. His drama guest appearances included The Bold Ones: The Senator, Adam-12, Harry O and Police Story.

He appeared as Leroy, one of one of Mr. Big's henchmen, in the 1972 film Trouble Man. His other film credits included: Black Girl; As Above, So Below; Willie Dynamite; Passing Through; and The Hunter.

Mr. Taylor was very funny as Rollo Lawson. It would have been great to see his lovable but questionable character appear in more episodes. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment he brought us. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Sanford and Son message board. View photos in our galleries.

Actress Mitzi Hoag, who starred in We'll Get By and made many sitcom guest appearances, has died. She died on February 26 at her home in Sherman Oaks, California. Ms. Hoag was 86.

Hoag had a recurring role as Miss Essie Gillis in the first season of 1968-1970 comedy western Here Come the Brides. She was the school teacher and eventually Big Swede's (Bo Svenson) wife. Hoag appeared in two other episodes in the second season as Iona and Sister Agnes. The series starred Robert Brown, Bobby Sherman, David Soul, Joan Blondell, Bridget Hanley, Mark Lenard, Susan Tolsky and Henry Beckman.

She starred as Liz Platt in the short-lived 1975 CBS sitcom We'll Get By. She and her husband, George Platt (Paul Sorvino), lived in the New Jersey suburbs with their three teenage children. The series, which was created by Alan Alda, also starred Jerry Houser, Willie Aames and Devon Scott.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included That Girl, Family Affair, Good Morning World, The Second Hundred Years, My Three Sons, Love American Style, The Partridge Family, Good Heavens, The Love Boat, The Jeffersons, Archie Bunker's Place, Three's a Crowd, The Facts of Life (three episodes as Natalie's mother, Evie Green) and Grace Under Fire.

Ms. Hoag starred in only one short-lived sitcom, but she was a familiar face with her many guest appearances. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us. She will be deeply missed.

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