Tuesday, April 06, 2021
HBO Max Announces Minx, Set in the 1970s; Remembering Gloria Henry of Dennis the Menace
HBO Max has ordered ten episodes of the half-hour comedy Minx from Ellen Rapoport, Feigco Entertainment and Lionsgate Television. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, the series centers around an earnest young feminist who joins forces with a low-rent publisher to create the first erotic magazine for women. Minx stars Ophelia Lovibond (W1A, Elementary) and Jake Johnson (New Girl, Stumptown), who was previously announced as a guest star. Other series regulars include Idara Victor (Shameless, Turn), Jessica Lowe (Wrecked, Tacoma PD, Blended), Lennon Parham (Bless this Mess," Playing House, Veep), Michael Angarano (Emmy®-nominated for This Is Us, I'm Dying Up Here, The Knick) and Oscar Montoya (Reno 911, Bless the Harts, host of Spanish Aquí Presents podcast). Showrunner Ellen Rapoport executive produces the series alongside Paul Feig and Dan Magnante for Feigco Entertainment. Rachel Lee Goldenberg directed and executive produced the pilot. Lionsgate Television is the studio. Feigco and Lionsgate Television previously partnered with HBO Max on Love Life, which was renewed for a second season. Lionsgate is also producing Santa Inc. and Julia for HBO Max.
Actress Gloria Henry, who starred as Alice Mitchell on Dennis the Menace, has died. She died on April 3, the day after her 98th birthday, at her home in Los Angeles, California.
Henry starred as Michele "Mike" Malone on the 1954-1955 syndicated crime drama The Files of Jeffrey Jones. Jeffrey Jones (Don Haggerty) was a New York City private investigator working his way through law school. Michele "Mike" Malone was an impulsive newspaper reporter who often had to be rescued by Jones while she was trying to help with his investigations.
She starred as Alice Mitchell on the 1959-1963 CBS sitcom Dennis the Menace. Alice Mitchell was the mother of Dennis (Jay North) and the wife of Henry Mitchell (Herbert Anderson). The series ran for four seasons and 146 episodes. The cast included Joseph Kearns (1959-1962), Sylvia Field (1959-1962), Jeannie Russell, Gil Smith (1959-1960), Irene Tedrow, Billy Booth, Gale Gordon (1962-1963), Sara Seegar (1962-1963), Willard Waterman, Mary Wickes (1959-1962), Kathleen Mulqueen (1961), George Cisar (1960-1963) and Robert John Pittman (1961-1963).
Some of her sitcom guest appearances included My Little Margie, The Abbott and Costello Show, Father Knows Best, The Life of Riley, Hazel, The Farmer's Daughter, The Brady Brides, Newhart, Silver Spoons, Easy Street, Mr. Belvedere and Doogie Howser, M.D.. Her final television credit was as Mary-Elizabeth Clinch on the 2012 Parks and Recreation episode "Campaign Shake-Up."
Her drama guest appearances included Fireside Theatre, The Ford Television Theatre, TV Reader's Digest, Navy Log, Perry Mason, The Walter Winchell File, Tales of Wells Fargo, Broken Arrow, Rescue 8, Alcoa Theatre, The Thin Man, Bare Essence, Simon & Simon, Our House, Dragnet (1989), Dallas and Sisters. Some of her film credits included Sport of the Kings (1947), Keeper of the Bees (1947), The Strawberry Roan (1948), Triple Threat (1948), Racing Luck (1948), Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949), Riders in the Sky (1949), Kill the Umpire (1950) and Rancho Notorious (1952). Her final film credit was as Mrs. Porter in Her Minor Thing (2005).
Ms. Henry was wonderful on Dennis the Menace. Alice Mitchell was an iconic and beloved TV mother. It's unfortunate Henry's career slowed down after Dennis the Menace and she became typecast in mother roles. She will be deeply missed.
Share your memories on our Dennis the Menace message board. View photos in our galleries.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, April 17
The Conners - "Toilet Hacks and the Management Track" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
After feeling the cafeteria staff could use some organization, Darlene seeks to be manager of food services at Mark’s college. Elsewhere, Dan teaches housewives the basics of DIY home projects to make some extra money toward paying off the house.
Not Dead Yet - "Not You Yet" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Nell, Lexi and Cricket take Sam out on a "divorce day" to celebrate her singlehood, while Nell makes plans for her future.
Abbott Elementary - "2 Ava 2 Fest" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Ava Fest is back, and with the help of the teachers, Ava’s set on outdoing last year by any means necessary. After Janine accepts the offer for a full-time position at the district, she just has to check off one last thing to make it official.
Animal Control - "Bunnies and Veggies" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When Frank gets frustrated trying to meet women on dating apps, he asks Emily to set him up on an old-fashioned meet-in-person date; Shred and Patel decide to start renovations on their investment property themselves.
Family Guy - "Faith No More" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Brian becomes romantically interested in someone and it inspires him to use Stewie's time machine, strange consequences result from their journey.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 15)
Wednesday, April 17
- Rob McElhenney (Mythic Quest/It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - Watch Rob on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- John Lithgow (Trial & Error/Twenty Good Years/3rd Rock from the Sun) - John appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts/Duncanville/Disjointed) and Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts/White Famous) - Betsy and Utkarsh are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood/New Girl) - Max appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
- Pam Grier (Bless This Mess) - Pam is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
- Dulcé Sloan (The Great North) - Dulcé hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Zendaya (K.C. Undercover/Shake It Up) and Idris Elba (Turn Up Charlie) - Zendaya and Idris are guests on E! News at 11pm on E!.
- Nicole Richie (Great News) - Nicole is chatting with Drew about her new nephew, being a mom to a teenage girl and being a huge fan of the original film she's now starring in on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace discusses her new film Unsung Hero on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- George Takei (Supah Ninjas) - George talks about My Lost Freedom on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- The Cast of A Different World - ABC's The View has the 35th-anniversary reunion with the cast of A Different World, including Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Cree Summer, Darryl Bell and Debbie Allen at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
New on DVD/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
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
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)
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