Monday, October 21, 2019
Fox Picks Up 2nd Season of Bless the Harts; Remembering Bill Macy of Maude

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.
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.
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).
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.
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
Friday, December 8
none scheduled
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 4)
Friday, December 8
- Eddie Murphy (The PJs) - Watch Eddie on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building/High Fidelity/People of Earth/Selfie) - Da'Vine appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- John Caponera (The Good Life) - John is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
- Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Triumph the Insult Comic Dog aka Robert Smigel chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Noah Galvin (The Real O'Neals) and Molly Gordon (Ramy) - Noah and Molly talk about Theater Camp on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Eric Stonestreet (The Santa Clauses/Modern Family) - Eric talks about The Santa Clauses on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan sits down with Sherri to talk about his new book, When I Was Your Age, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Sebastian Maniscalco (Bookie) - Sebastian appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (September-December)
09/05 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Sixth Season
09/12 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Second Season
09/12 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/26 - Family Matters - The Complete Series
09/26 - Step by Step - The Complete Series
10/10 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Thirteen / The Complete Season Fourteen
10/17 - ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) (Shout! Factory Special Offers)
10/17 - Night Court (2023) - The Complete First Season
11/07 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/14 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (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
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
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