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

Sunday, February 23

Family Guy - "Live, Laugh, Love" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Peter realizes Joe has never found him funny, he is determined to make Joe laugh; Lois chaperones Chris and Meg's school trip, where she strives to reunite the principal with his long-lost love.

Grimsburg - "Molly" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Flute forgets to buy Stan a gift for his birthday, he steals an AI doll from the evidence locker; Wynona is forced to confront her ex-boyfriend.

The Great North - "Bots on the Side Adventure" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Ham starts performing at Yet-E-Cheddar's and develops a strange relationship with an animatronic Freddie the Yeti, that puts his relationship with Crispin in jeopardy; the new Tobin boat turns out to have a cursed name.

Krapopolis - "Stavros Live and in Concert" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Tyrannis' favorite singer Stavros is in town, but he also happens to be the favorite singer of Athena and her radical followers; Deliria goes on a little getaway.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 17)

Friday, February 21

  • Anthony Mackie (Twisted Metal) - Watch Anthony on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Lizzy Caplan (Party Down/The Class/The Pitts) - Lizzy appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Tina Fey (Only Murders in the Building/30 Rock) and Amy Poehler (Duncanville/Parks and Recreation) - Tina and Amy are guests on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - NBC's Today catches up with Jane sometime between 7-9am.
  • Alan Ritchson (Blue Mountain State) - Alan talks about Reacher on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/CafĂ© Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, 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

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


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