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

Friday, July 26

The Conners - "Keep on Truckin'" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After a sudden turn of events, the Conners are forced to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before.

The Conners - "Tangled Up in Blue" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Darlene gets one surprise after another when David introduces his girlfriend at a parent-teacher conference and mentions that Mark & Harris will be spending the weekend with them.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 22)

Friday, July 26

  • Nick Jonas (Jonas) - Watch Nick on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method) - Michael appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Sasheer Zamata (Home Economics/Woke/Robbie), Joe Lo Truglio (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Burning Love/Reno 911!) and Aparna Nancherla (Corporate) - Sasheer, Joe and Aparna are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Jennie Garth (Mystery Girls/What I Like About You) - Jennie chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. NBC's Today catches up with Jennie in the 10am hour.
  • Marcus Scribner (grown-ish/black-ish) - Marcus talks about his coming-of-age film How I Learned to Fly on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Delroy Lindo (UnPrisoned) - Delroy talks about UnPrisoned on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Dylan Sprouse (The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody/Grace Under Fire) - Dylan talks about Lionsgate's The Duel on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD/Blu-ray

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series Check It Out! - The Complete Series The Jeffersons - The Complete Series (2024 Release) Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete Series (2024 Release)

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)
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)
09/17 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season / The Complete Series
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

07/26 - USA Network Revives Scare Tactics; Apple TV+ Orders Season 2 of Camp Snoopy
07/25 - Apple TV+ Comedy Bad Monkey Premieres August 14; Mel Brooks HBO Doc
07/24 - FX's Final Season of What We Do in the Shadows; Lifetime Acquires Taye Diggs and Meagan Good Film
07/23 - Homicide: Life on the Street Makes Streaming Debut on Peacock August 19; Trailer and Game for Emily in Paris Season 4
07/22 - FETV Acquires Dragnet; CBS Special for Bob Newhart
07/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 22, 2024)
07/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Apple TV+ Renews Loot for Third Season; CBS Developing Area 51 Comedy
07/19 - Remembering TV Legend Bob Newhart, TV Bad Girl Shannen Doherty of Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed, and Doogie Howser TV Dad James B. Sikking
07/18 - 76th Primetime Emmy Nominations; Frasier Returns September 19
07/17 - Fox Fall 2024 Premiere Dates; Apple TV+ Renews Loot for Season 3
07/16 - Survival of the Thickest Season 2 Adds to Cast; Phil Rosenthal Series Renewed by Netflix
07/15 - CBS Fall 2024 Premiere Dates; Disney Entertainment Television at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
07/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 15, 2024)
07/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Martin Prequel in the Works; Wendie Malick to Star in Season 3 of Night Court
07/12 - FX Premiere Dates; CBS Studios San Diego Comic-Con Plans
07/11 - ABC Fall 2024 Premiere Dates; Remembering Doug Sheehan of Day by Day and Clueless and Benji Gregory of ALF
07/10 - NBC Fall 2024 Premiere Dates; New Paramount+ Series with Billy Bob Thornton
07/09 - Futurama Trailer Released for Season 12; Will You Help Solve a Mystery? Unsolved Mysteries Volume 4 Drops July 31
07/08 - Hulu's How to Die Alone Premieres This September; Prime Video's Cross Launches This Fall
07/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 8, 2024)
07/06 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Skydance Media Reportedly Taking Over Paramount; Internet Archive Restores MTV News Archives
07/05 - Sitcom Stars Pair Up on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire; TV One Premieres Raising Fame
07/04 - Happy 4th of July; Antenna TV's McHale's Navy Red, White and Navy Independence Day Marathon
07/03 - Netflix Has Baby Fever Again; More Stars Join Sirens
07/02 - Cobra Kai's Final Season Begins July 18; Hell Yeah! Kite Man: Hell Yeah! Premieres July 18 on Max
07/01 - Remembering Martin Mull of Roseanne, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and More; Will Forte Joins Netflix's Upcoming Comedy The Four Seasons
06/30 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 1, 2024)
06/29 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Nancy O'Dell to Host New Daytime True Crime Series; NBC to Use AI Clips of Al Michaels' Voice for Olympics
06/28 - Hulu's Hit-Monkey Trailer Drops; Remembering Character Actor Bill Cobbs
06/27 - New Jersey's North to Shore Festival Brings Out the Stars; ABC's GMA Summer Concert Series 2024
06/26 - Fox Nation Taps Kelsey Grammer for Docudrama; Hallmark Channel's Kansas City Chiefs Christmas Movie