Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Sabrina Returns April 5 on Netflix; Remembering Character Actor Richard Erdman of Community

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Double double boys and trouble. The trailer has arrived for (season one) Part 2 of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, launching globally April 5, Only on Netflix. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina re-imagines the origin and adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch as a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult and, of course, witchcraft. Part 2 finds Sabrina exploring her darker side, curious to learn more about her heritage, while struggling to maintain her friendships in the mortal world. Romantically, Sabrina is caught in an unholy love triangle with between sexy warlock Nicholas Scratch and salt-of-the-Earth mortal Harvey Kinkle. Meanwhile, The Dark Lord, Madame Satan, and Father Blackwood continue to conjure chaos in the Spellman household and the town of Greendale. And they aren't the only ones trying to raise hell. Everything is in question... relationships, identity, true intentions... when the devil's work is at hand.

The series stars Kiernan Shipka, Miranda Otto, Lucy Davis, Ross Lynch, Michelle Gomez, Chance Perdomo, Jaz Sinclair, Richard Coyle, Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph, Abigail Cowen, Lachlan Watson and Gavin Leatherwood. The series has been renewed for a second season already (parts 3 and 4). Newcomers for parts 3 & 4 include Jedidiah Goodacre as Dorian Gray and Alexis Denisof as Mary Wardwell's boyfriend, Adam Masters.


Richard Erdman

Character actor Richard Erdman, who had a recurring role as the old student Leonard Rodriguez in Community, has died. He died on March 16 in an assisted-living facility in Los Angeles, California. He had been suffering from age-related dementia and recently had a fall. Mr. Erdman was 93.

Erdman's first sitcom starring role was as Pete Morrisey in the 1953-1954 ABC sitcom Where's Raymond?. The series was renamed The Ray Bolger Show for the second season in 1954-1955. Pete was Raymond Wallace's (Ray Bolger) landlord and press agent. It also starred Allyn Joslyn (1953-1954), Betty Lynn (1953-1954), Marjie Millar (1954-1955), Christine Nelson (1954-1955), Charlie Cantor (1954-1955) and Sylvia Lewis.

The Tab Hunter Show - Jerome Cowan, Tab Hunter and Richard Erdman

His next starring role was as Peter Fairfield III in the 1960-1961 NBC sitcom The Tab Hunter Show. Peter was the rich playboy and best friend of cartoonist Paul Morgan (Tab Hunter). The series also starred Jerome Cowan as John Larsen, Paul's Boss and the owner of Comics, Inc. and Reta Shaw as Thelma, Paul's housekeeper.

Richard Erdman as Leonard Rodriguez in Community

Erdman had a recurring role as the old student Leonard Rodriguez in 53 episodes of Community from 2009 to 2015. The series aired for five seasons on NBC before moving to Yahoo! Screen for the sixth and final season. Leonard was an elderly man who studied business at Greendale Community College. The series starred Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Ken Jeong, Chevy Chase and Jim Rash.

Some of his 1950s and 1960s sitcom guest appearances included The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (3 episodes), December Bride (2 episodes), Make Room for Daddy, Mister Ed, The Bill Dana Show, Petticoat Junction, The Dick Van Dyke Show (he also directed 2 episodes), Green Acres, Mr. Terrific, Hogan's Heroes, Mayberry R.F.D., I Dream of Jeannie and The Beverly Hillbillies.

His 1970s and later sitcom guest appearances included Here's Lucy, That Girl, Love American Style, Alice, One Day at a Time, Too Close for Comfort, Small Wonder, Cheers, She's the Sheriff, It's a Living, Wings, Out of This World, Hudson Street, The Bernie Mac Show and Weird Loners. He made his final guest appearance in a 2017 episode of Dr. Ken.

Erdman starred as Klugie, the staff photographer and office philosopher, in the 1962-1963 newspaper drama Saints and Sinners. Some of his drama guest appearances included Perry Mason (6 episodes), The Twilight Zone, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Police Story, The Six Million Dollar Man (2 episodes), The Bionic Woman, Lou Grant, Quincy M.E., Murder, She Wrote, Beverly Hills 902010, Judging Amy and Joan of Arcadia.

He also did work as a voice over artist. Some of his voice credits included Space Stars, The Dukes, Galtar and the Golden Lance, The Smurfs, DuckTales, Popeye and Son, The Flintstone Kids, The New Yogi Bear Show, Snorks, The Further Adventures of SuperTed, Fantastic Max and The Pirates of Dark Water.

Erdman appeared in more than 60 films. Some of his best-known supporting roles were in The Men, Cry Danger, Stalag 17 and Tora! Tora! Tora!.

Mr. Erdman appeared in more than 160 films, television and theater productions during his career which spanned seven decades. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment he brought us. He will be greatly missed.

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


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Saturday, September 7

Johnson - "Bahama Breeze" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Naomi is impressed with Omar's growth; Antionette makes Jarvis a proposal at a much-needed time; Greg reconnects with Jada; Omar, Keith and Jarvis hit the club.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 2)

Friday, September 6

  • Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) - Watch Kumail on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Michael Keaton (Report to Murphy/Working Stiffs/All's Fair) - Michael appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Conner O'Malley (Shrill) - Conner is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Edie Falco (Bupkis/Nurse Jackie) - Edie talks about her film I'll Be Right There on NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Josh Gad (Wolf Like Me/Avenue 5/The Comedians/1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh is joining Drew and telling her about getting denied from his college's musical theater program and making his return to Broadway after eleven years with bestie Andrew Rannells on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Diane Farr (Splitting Together/Like Family/The Job) - Diane discusses the CBS drama series Fire Country on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series Check It Out! - The Complete Series Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD) Young Sheldon - The Complete Series

04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/21 - Frasier (2023) - Season One
06/11 - The Jeffersons - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
06/11 - Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
07/05 - Letterkenny - Season 12 (Final Season)
07/30 - Ted Lasso - The Richmond Way (The Complete Series) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - 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

09/07 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Only Murders in the Building Renewed for Fifth Season; Plex Adds Knots Landing and More
09/06 - Hulu's Child Stars Documentary; Keke Palmer Heads to The 'Burbs for Peacock
09/05 - Dancing with the Stars Season 33 Cast; Tia Mowry We TV Docuseries
09/04 - Nick at Nite Acquires Modern Family; SNL Stars Go Live on Peacock Next Thursday
09/03 - The CW Swaps Two Nights for Fall 2024 Schedule; Retta Returns to HGTV
09/02 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2024 Include Barney Miller
09/01 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 2, 2024)
08/31 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at New Netflix Comedy; One Tree Hill Sequel in the Works
08/30 - Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween 2024; Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Premieres October 29
08/29 - Based on a True Story Returns in November on Peacock; Nikki Glaser to Host Golden Globes
08/28 - Acapulco Renewed for Season 4; Kiernan Shipka Max Movie
08/27 - Everybody Still Hates Chris Premieres September 25 on Comedy Central; Final Season of Somebody Somewhere Returns in October
08/26 - Frasier Returns September 19 on Paramount+ for Season 2; Ted Danson's Netflix Comedy Premieres in November
08/25 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 26, 2024)
08/24 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at New Netflix Comedy; TNT Picks Up The Librarians: The Next Chapter
08/23 - FETV's Sunday Mystery Matinee Block; Glen Powell Is Chad Powers for Hulu Comedy
08/22 - Pee-wee Forever on August 27 on Shout! TV; The Lincoln Lawyer Is Back This October
08/21 - NBC Moves Premiere Due to VP Debate; Seth Meyers Gets Live Primetime Special
08/20 - The Rockford Files 50th Anniversary Marathons on Great Entertainment Television (get.); Bad Sisters Returning for Season 2
08/19 - Schitt's Creek Stars to Host Emmys on ABC; Madison Iseman Joins USA Network Series
08/18 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 19, 2024)
08/17 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Drew Carey Show Now Streaming for Free; Hulu Picks Up Mid-Century Modern Comedy
08/16 - NBC to Air Mr. Throwback Premiere; Ariel Winter Returns for New Sofia the First Series
08/15 - Comedy Central Acquires Family Guy; Hallmark to Launch Hallmark+ Streaming Service
08/14 - Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Trailer; Grotesquerie Gets Premiere Date on FX
08/13 - Audible Announces Two Scripted Comedy Podcasts; Modern Family's Julie Bowen's Peacock Series
08/12 - Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Assisted Living Return; First Look at Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
08/11 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 12, 2024)
08/10 - SitcomsOnline Digest: A Sequel to A Different World and Reboot for Scrubs?; Cartoon Network Shuts Down Website
08/09 - Rewind TV's Welcome Back, (to School) Kotter Marathon; Gary Coleman Peacock Documentary
08/08 - Antenna TV Closing Out Summer with Back to School and Labor Day Marathons; Colin from Accounts Returns Sept. 26
08/07 - Hulu Fall 2024 Programming Slate; Onyx Collective's How to Die Alone Trailer Released