SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

In deference to recent cultural and societal events Variety and Lifetime have postponed the one-hour special, Lifetime Presents Variety's Power of Women: Frontline Heroes, which celebrates the brave women serving on the frontlines of the pandemic, to now air Thursday, June 25 at 10:00PM ET/PT on Lifetime and Facebook. Virtually hosted by Good Morning America's Robin Roberts, the special will be simultaneously broadcast from Variety's Facebook page, and cross-posted on Lifetime's at 10PM ET/7PM PT. As part of this event, viewers on Facebook will be able to contribute directly to the Equal Justice Initiative using the Facebook donate button in the livestream. The special will also repeat on Monday, June 29 at 10pm ET/PT on Lifetime's sister network, LMN.

Lifetime Presents Variety's Power of Women: Frontline Heroes will celebrate the courageous women on the frontlines of the pandemic - including doctors, nurses, teachers, researchers, among others - who are putting themselves at risk to make a difference and working towards finding a solution in this crisis. The special will take a look at ways women are confronting domestic violence, changes to the way we educate our children, mental health, homelessness and other areas that affect our daily lives. Current and past Power of Women honorees will come together to celebrate these remarkable women, their extraordinary work, and their dedication to their communities during this incredibly challenging time.

The program will also highlight the 2020 Power of Women honorees for their professional achievements and humanitarian efforts to various causes including two-time Academy(R) Award-winning star and executive producer of the miniseries Mrs. America Cate Blanchett (UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency); Tony(R) and Grammy(R) Award-winning star and actor in the new miniseries Hollywood Patti LuPone (Broadway Cares); and eight-time Grammy(R) nominated singer and actress starring in the series Homecoming, Janelle Monáe (Local Initiative Support Corp).

Previous honorees Laverne Cox, Jennifer Garner, Tiffany Haddish, Gigi Hadid, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Nicole Kidman, Blake Lively, Eva Longoria, Helen Mirren and Natalie Portman will also pay tribute to these women through self-shot material. Additionally, the program will include a special performance by Grammy(R) Award-nominated powerhouse vocalist Andra Day.

Character actress Mary Pat Gleason, who had a recurring role in Mom and made many sitcom guest appearances, has died. She died from cancer on June 2. Ms. Gleason was 70.

Gleason's sitcom guest appearances in the 1980s and 1990s included What a Country!, Full House, Mama's Family, Frank's Place, Murphy Brown, Day by Day, Dear John, Who's the Boss?, Empty Nest, Night Court, Saved by the Bell, Perfect Strangers, Davis Rules, Nurses, The Golden Palace, Coach, Blossom, Friends, Step by Step, Dave's World, Suddenly Susan and Family Matters.

She had a recurring role as Patty, a presidential assistant, in four episodes of the 2012-2013 NBC sitcom 1600 Penn. She played Mrs. Gosnold in four episodes of the Nick at Nite/TV land sitcom Instant Mom from 2013 to 2014. Some of her later sitcom guest appearances included Sex and the City, Malcolm in the Middle, Good Luck Charlie, The Middle, 2 Broke Girls, Up All Night, Baby Daddy, Dog with a Blog, Will & Grace, American Housewife and Life in Pieces.

Gleason had a recurring role as Mary, a fellow AA member who was frequently interrupted by Bonnie (Allison Janney) when she shared her problems with the group, in the CBS sitcom Mom. She appeared in eight episodes from 2014 to 2019.

She starred as Ida in the 2008 ABC Family sci-fi drama The Middleman. Ida was soulless a android from outer space masquerading as a cranky librarian. The series also starred Matt Keeslar, Natalie Morales, Brit Morgan and Jake Smollett.

Gleason won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1986 for her work on the writing team of The Guiding Light. She also appeared in the series as Jane Hogan from 1983 to 1985.

Ms. Gleason may not have been a household name, but she was a familiar face with more than 170 TV and film credits. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us. She will be deeply missed.

We also remember actress Peggy Pope. She starred in several short-lived sitcoms and made many sitcom guest appearances. She died on May 27 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Ms. Pope was 91.

Pope starred as Elaine Fusco in the short-lived 1973 CBS sitcom Calucci's Department. The series focused on Joe Calucci (James Coco), the supervisor of a New York City unemployment office. It also starred Candy Azzara, Jose Perez, Jack Fletcher, Bill Lazarus, Bernard Wexler and Rosette LeNoire.

She played Alice Fisher, the mother of 19-year-old Billy Fisher (Steve Guttenberg), in the short-lived 1979 sitcom Billy. The series also starred James Gallery, Paula Trueman, Michael Alaimo and Bruce Talkington.

Pope had a recurring role as Mrs. David in Soap from 1979 to 1981. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Bewitched, Rhoda, Mork & Mindy, Barney Miller (six episodes), The Golden Girls, Too Close for Comfort, Night Court, Kate & Allie, Have Faith, Anything But Love, Empty Nest, Nurses, Room for Two and Hope & Faith.

She was perhaps best known for her role as "the office lush", and later, recovering alcoholic, Margaret Foster, in the 1980 movie 9 to 5. Her character was known for the "atta girl" line. Pope later appeared in the 9 to 5 TV series in 1982. Her other film credits included The Last Starfighter and Once Bitten.

Ms. Pope was a talented and versatile actress. We thank her for the entertainment she brought us from her TV and film roles. She will be greatly missed.