Thursday, October 24, 2019
Antenna TV's Sabrina & Samantha Witch-O-Ween Marathon; Remembering TV Producer Al Burton of Diff'rent Strokes, Charles in Charge and More
Once again on Halloween, Antenna TV is brewing up a BEWITCHING day with the twitchiest of witches and the sweetest of sorceresses. On Thursday, October 31, 2020 Antenna TV will air "Sabrina & Samantha Witch-O-Ween Marathon" from 5am to 4am ET of episodes from Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Bewitched. Treat yourself to an entire day of both comedies with Sabrina from 5am-4pm and Bewitched from 4pm-4am (with a Johnny Carson break at 10pm). After all, what's scarier than high school? Or maybe Endora is scarier? Bewitched regularly airs on Antenna TV Weekdays 2pm ET/11am PT, Weeknights 3am ET /12am PT and Saturdays 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT. Sabrina, the Teenage Witch regularly airs on Antenna TV on Weekends 5pm ET / 2pm PT.
Television producer Al Burton, who worked on The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time, Diff'rent Strokes and Charles in Charge, has died. He died on October 22 at his home in San Mateo, California. Mr. Burton was 91.
Burton worked for Tandem Productions, which was created by television director Bud Yorkin and television writer/producer Norman Lear, from 1972 to 1983. During his tenure there, he worked as a creative supervisor for the satirical soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and the satirical comedy series Fernwood 2 Night. He worked as a production supervisor and consultant for The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time, Diff'rent Strokes, Hello Larry, Sanford, Silver Spoons and Square Pegs. Some of the series were produced under the Embassy Television name.
He started his own production company called Al Burton Productions. He was an executive producer for Charles in Charge, The New Lassie and Out of Blue (1995-1996). In addition to his producing duties, he wrote the story for two episodes of Charles in Charge and one episode of Out of the Blue.
Burton, Alan Thicke and Gloria Loring wrote the lyrics for the Diff'rent Strokes theme song that was titled "It Takes Diff'rent Strokes." They also wrote the theme song for The Facts of Life, which was performed by Charlotte Rae and the cast for season 1 and by Loring for seasons 2-9. Burton, Michael Jacobs and David Kurtz wrote the theme song for Charles in Charge, which was performed by Shandi Sinnamon.
He was the Emmy-winning creator with Donnie Brainard and executive producer of the Comedy Central game show Win Ben Stein's Money. The series, which was hosted by Ben Stein with co-hosts Jimmy Kimmel (1997-2000), Nancy Pimental (2001-2001) and Sal Iacono (2002-2003), ran for 6 seasons from 1997 to 2003. It helped launch the career of Jimmy Kimmel. The series won seven Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Game Show in 1999.
He was interviewed for the E! True Hollywood Story episodes for Diff'rent Strokes, Dana Plato, The Facts of Life, Sixteen Candles and Charles in Charge. He appeared in the Biography specials for Ben Stein in 2001 and for The Facts of Life in 2001.
Survivors include his wife, Sally Burton, and their daughter, Jennifer Burton Werbe.
Mr. Burton was a prolific producer who worked on many sitcoms during his six-decade career. We thank him for helping bring us The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time, Diff'rent Strokes, Charles and Charge and more. He will be greatly missed.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Saturday, April 27
none scheduled
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 22)
Friday, April 26
- Ernie Hudson (Grace and Frankie/The Last Precinct/Highcliffe Manor) - Ernie and Bill Murray are guests on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Steve Buscemi (Miracle Workers) - Steve appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Jerrod Carmichael (The Carmichael Show) - Jerrod is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever/Final Space) - Fred sits in with The 8G Band on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Retta (Parks and Recreation) - Retta talks about HGTV's Ugliest House in America on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Janet Jackson (Diff'rent Strokes/Good Times) - Drew and Ross are surprised by Janet whose telling them all about her new tour, some of her most iconic moments and fashion looks and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Jessica Capshaw (Odd Man Out) and Camilla Luddington (Californication) - Jessica and Camilla are guests on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
New on DVD/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
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)
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