Monday, October 21, 2019

Fox Picks Up 2nd Season of Bless the Harts; Remembering Bill Macy of Maude

Bless the Harts

Fox Entertainment has ordered a second season of the new animated series Bless the Harts, to air during the 2020-2021 season. With animation serving as a cornerstone of Fox programming, the network expanded its Sunday night brand this fall with the introduction of a new original voice and concept in Bless the Harts. This news marks the second piece of good news for Fox, as new drama Prodigal Son got a full first season order. Created and executive-produced by Emmy Award winner Emily Spivey and featuring a voice cast of comedy all-stars, including Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Jillian Bell, Ike Barinholtz and Kumail Nanjiani, the half-hour animated comedy follows the Harts, a Southern family that is always broke, and forever struggling to make ends meet. They one day hope to achieve the American dream, but they're already rich - in friends, family and laughter.

In the series, Jenny Hart (Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Kristen Wiig) is a single mother supporting her family working as a waitress in the small town of Greenpoint, NC. While Jenny's the head of her family, she's often at odds with, or scheming with, her lottery scratcher-obsessed mother, Betty (Emmy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Maya Rudolph), and her witty, creative daughter, Violet (Emmy Award nominee Jillian Bell). Jenny's doting, eternal optimist boyfriend of 10 years, Wayne Edwards (Ike Barinholtz), is the love of her life and a surrogate father to Violet. He's a charming dreamer who may never hit the big time, but he's not going to give up the fight. Jenny's even got a bit of divine power in her corner, as Jesus (Academy Award nominee Kumail Nanjiani) regularly appears to her while she waits tables at neighborhood restaurant The Last Supper. In the end, the Harts may not have much, but they may just have everything they need.


Bill Macy

Actor Bill Macy, who was best known for his role as Walter Findlay in Maude, has died. He died on October 17 in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Macy was 97.

Macy's early television credits included the role of a cab driver in The Edge of Night in 1966 and an appearance in N.Y.P.D. in 1969. He played a police officer in the All in the Family episode "Archie Sees a Mugging." He first appeared as Walter Findlay in the All in the Family episode titled "Maude" on March 11, 1972.

Maude

He starred as Walter Findlay, the long-suffering husband of Maude Findlay (Bea Arthur), in the 1972-1978 CBS sitcom Maude. Walter Findlay was the fourth husband of Maude. He was the owner of Findlay's Friendly Appliances. The Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin created series ran for six seasons and 151 episodes. Maude also starred Adrienne Barbeau, Conrad Bain, Rue McClanahan, Esther Rolle (1972-1974), J. Pat O'Malley (1975-1977) and Marlene Warfield (1977-1978).

Hanging In - Bill Macy and Dennis Burkley

Macy worked again with Norman Lear in the short-lived 1979 CBS sitcom Hanging In. He played Louis "Lou" Harper, a former professional football player turned president of the fictional Braddock University. The series ran for just four episodes. It also starred Barbara Rhodes, Dennis Burkley, Nedra Volz and Darian Mathias.

Nothing in Common

He starred as Max Basner in the short-lived 1987 NBC sitcom Nothing in Common, which was based on the 1986 movie of the same name that starred Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason. Max was the unemployed father of David Basner (Todd Waring). The series also starred Wendy Kilbourne, Mona Lyden, Bill Applebaum, Elizabeth Bennett, Patrick Richwood, Billy Wirth, Allan Kent and Julie Paris.

Macy appeared as one of the residents of the Florida retirement community where Jerry's parents lived in the Seinfeld episodes "The Cadillac" and "The Shower Head." Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Oh Madeline, The Love Boat, One Big Family, The Facts of Life, The Famous Teddy Z, Dave's World, Can't Hurry Love, Ned and Stacey, The Home Court, The John Larroquette Show, Something So Right, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, Norm, My Wife and Kids, Stacked, How I Met Your Mother, My Name Is Earl, Back to You and True Jackson, VP.

Some of his television drama guest appearances included Hotel, St. Elsewhere, Tales from the Darkside, Hardcastle and McCormick, L.A. Law, Highway to Heaven, Murder, She Wrote, Father Dowling Mysteries, Matlock, Diagnosis Murder, NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope, Viper, Jack & Jill, Touched by an Angel, ER, Las Vegas and Hawthorne.

He appeared as the jury foreman in the 1967 film The Producers. He played Stan Fox, the co-inventor of the "Opti-grab", in The Jerk in 1979. He starred as the head television writer Sy Benson in 1982's My Favorite Year. Some of his other film credits included Oh! Calcutta!, The Late Show, Serial, Movers & Shakers, Bad Medicine, Me Myself & I, Surviving Christmas, The Holiday and Mr. Woodcock (as Mr. Woodcock's father).

Macy was an original cast member of the 1969-1972 Off-Broadway sensation Oh! Calcutta!, performing in the show from 1969 to 1971. He played Monte / Mute Physician in the 1972 film Oh! Calcutta!.

He is survived by his wife, Samantha Harper Macy. They were married in 1975.

Mr. Macy was very good as Walter Findlay in Maude. He was always a welcome presence in his many other television and film roles. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment he brought us during his long career. He will be greatly missed.

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

Antenna TV remembered Bill Macy with a Maude marathon on Saturday (October 19) from 1-10pm. The series airs weekdays at 6pm ET / 3pm PT.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, September 18

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 15)

Thursday, September 18

  • Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) - Jason appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about Black Rabbit on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • Anna Camp (Perfect Harmony/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Mindy Project) and Milana Vayntrub (Other Space) - Anna and Milana are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Michael appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
  • Emayatzy Corinealdi (Ballers) Emayatzy talks about Reasonable Doubt on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Eugene Levy (Schitt's Creek/Greg the Bunny/Hiller and Diller) - Eugene talks about The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy on Live with Kelly and Mark (check your local listings) and on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Michael Chiklis (Daddio) - Michael talks about The Senior on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly/Crowded/Drake & Josh) - NBC's Today catches up with Miranda in the 9am hour.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is at the news desk to talk about the hottest headlines on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Rob Reiner (All in the Family/Morton & Hayes) - Rob is chatting with Drew about his iconic career and his new movie Spinal Tap II on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Martin Starr (Silicon Valley/Party Down/Freaks and Geeks) - Martin is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original 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

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08/28 - NBC's Password Renewed for Season 3 for 2026; Pluto TV Streaming CBS Shows Ahead of Fall Season
08/27 - Hulu's Deli Boys Renewed for Season 2 with Fred Armisen; HBO's I Love LA Premieres November 2
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08/25 - Doc Season 2 Trailer for Fox; Remembering David Ketchum and Jerry Adler
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08/22 - Hulu's Futurama Season 13 Trailer; A Man on the Inside Returns November 20 on Netflix
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08/19 - Antenna TV's Archie Bunker's Place Labor Day Marathon; Larry the Cable Guy Prime Video Special
08/18 - Nobody Wants This Season 2 Premieres October 23; HGTV and Retta Continue Partnership
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