Wednesday, June 24, 2020
REELZ Announces New Specials on John Ritter, Bernie Mac, David Cassidy, Larry Hagman & More; Netflix Releases Unsolved Mysteries Trailer

REELZ announced new programming for summer 2020 led by new series In My Own Words chronicling the lives of Valerie Bertinelli, Fran Drescher, Bo Derek and the late Bernie Mac with each sharing intimate stories about their life-changing experiences on their journey to stardom. The network will also premiere its 100th episode of original series Autopsy: The Last Hours of... with a look at showbusiness luminary Walt Disney with additional new episodes celebrating the lives and examining the untimely deaths of John Ritter, Gilda Radner, David Cassidy, Larry Hagman, Dick Clark, Billy Mays, Burt Reynolds, Marlon Brando and Debbie Reynolds. Summer 2020 premieres on REELZ also include four new original specials starting with Aaron Hernandez: Jailhouse Lover Tells All with the NFL star's former prison cellmate Kyle Kennedy sharing his story of befriending and ultimately having an intimate relationship with Hernandez. Rounding out summer 2020 premieres are three new original Behind Closed Doors specials with host Natalie Morales giving viewers a look at the real lives of beloved stars Olivia Newton-John, John Candy and Valerie Harper.
Some key highlights include: On Sunday, July 19 at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT it's Autopsy: The Last Hours of...John Ritter examining the life and tragic passing of the beloved TV and movie star whose relative youth and reputation as a fit physical performer is seemingly at odds with such a sudden death at just 54 years old. Sunday, July 19 also marks the series premiere of In My Own Words with Valerie Bertinelli: In My Own Words at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT featuring the multiple Emmy Award® winning actress in a candid and revealing interview about her stellar career and family life.
August premieres begin with two new episodes of Autopsy: The Last Hours of... on Sunday, August 2 exploring the lives and untimely deaths of two massively popular TV stars in David Cassidy and Larry Hagman. Autopsy: The Last Hours of...David Cassidy premieres at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT with the real story of The Partridge Family star whose acting and music for the show catapulted him from obscurity to popularity rivaling The Beatles but Cassidy's death would leave more questions than answers for his fans. Then at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT it's Autopsy: The Last Hours of...Larry Hagman about the biggest primetime soap star in the world on the hit show Dallas whose life of excess brought illness. Hagman battled back only to ultimately succumb to Leukemia shortly after diagnosis. August premieres wrap on Sunday, August 30 at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT with Valerie Harper: Behind Closed Doors about the star who TV audiences first fell in love with on The Mary Tyler Moore Show as her pitch perfect wisecracking sidekick character Rhoda became the high bar for supporting roles. Harper would parlay her strong performance into a successful spin off show and a long career in TV until a terminal cancer diagnosis rocked her world and led her to a new calling in life.
Finally, in Bernie Mac: In My Own Words premiering September 2020 (time TBD) see the powerful story of the late king of comedy with never-before-heard personal recordings from Mac himself discussing his childhood, family, marriage and his relentless drive to make it big in comedy. Enriched by interviews with Mac's wife Rhonda McCullough, daughter Je'Niece McCullough and friend Cedric the Entertainer among others the story of Bernie Mac comes to life with rare footage of his open-mic performances as well as his triumphs headlining comedy shows and writing and starring in the hit sitcom The Bernie Mac Show.
The original creators of Unsolved Mysteries and the Producers of Stranger Things invite you to solve new mysteries. Follow the clues. Solve the cases. Only on Netflix July 1. Fusing signature elements from the original series with contemporary immersive, character-driven storytelling, the six new episodes are rooted in the experiences of ordinary people who have lived the unthinkable - from the trauma of a loved one's unexplained disappearance or horrific death, to the shock of a bizarre paranormal encounter. Alongside detectives and journalists, family members offer clues, present theories, and identify suspects, hoping one viewer holds the key to solving the mystery.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Thursday, February 2
Young Sheldon - "Ruthless, Toothless and a Week of Bed Rest" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sam and Jay’s assistant, Freddie (Mike Lane), purchases ghost-hunting equipment when suspicious activity leads him to theorize the B&B is haunted. Also, Sasappis risks losing his relationship with Jessica (Nichole Sakura) when Freddie sells his car.
Ghosts - "Ghost Hunter" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam and Jay’s assistant, Freddie (Mike Lane), purchases ghost-hunting equipment when suspicious activity leads him to theorize the B&B is haunted. Also, Sasappis risks losing his relationship with Jessica (Nichole Sakura) when Freddie sells his car.
Welcome to Flatch - "Flatch: Churn Here" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Kelly and Barb fight to prove why Flatch should be the permanent home of the Butter Bust Museum; Shrub has big news to deliver to Lloyd; Mandy is in charge of blessing the town's animals.
Call Me Kat - "Call Me Fatty Patty" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
In celebration of Max's birthday, Kat, Randi and Carter jointly gift him a recreational vehicle rental so they can go on a road trip together; Gideon decides to join in on the trip; Randi and Carter bicker over where they should live together.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 30)
Thursday, February 2
- Kathryn Newton (Gary Unmarried) - Catch Kathryn on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Connie Britton (SMILF/Lost at Home/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Spin City) - Connie appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 10pm on Bravo.
- D. L. Hughley (The Hughleys/Double Rush) - D. L. guest hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Skylar Astin (Ground Floor) - Skylar breaks down the TV series So Help Me Todd on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Ali Wentworth (Nightcap) - Ali talks about The Parent Test on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Salma Hayek Pinault (30 Rock/The Sinbad Show) - Salma discusses the new film Magic Mike's Last Dance on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Pamela Anderson (Stacked/Home Improvement) - NBC's Today has a one-on-one with Pamela some time between 7-9am.
- Kal Penn (The Santa Clauses/Sunnyside/We Are Men) - NBC's Today catches up with Kal in the 9am hour.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (October-January)
10/04 - Mr. Mayor - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/04 - The Munsters - Marineland Carnival with The Munsters TV Cast
10/18 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete First Season
11/08 - Frasier - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/08 - Young Rock - Season Two (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/15 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Seven / The Complete Season Eight
11/22 - That '70s Show - The Complete Series (Mill Creek)
11/29 - Ghosts - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/06 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - 70th Anniversary Ultimate Christmas Collection
12/13 - And Just Like That... - The Complete First Season
12/13 - Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest
Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts