Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Emmy Awards Slated for Sep. 19, CBS Fall Premiere Dates; Remembering Charlie Robinson - Mac from Night Court

CBS Fall 2021-2022 Premiere Dates

CBS and the Television Academy announced a return to a live show for the 73rd Emmy(R) Awards hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, star and executive producer of the CBS sitcom The Neighborhood, marking his first time as Master of Ceremonies for the event. CBS Presents the 73rd Emmy(R) Awards on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/5:00-8:00 PM, live PT on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Emmy Award-nominated producers Reginald Hudlin and Ian Stewart will executive produce and Hamish Hamilton will direct the telecast for production companies Done+Dusted and Hudlin Entertainment. In addition, this year's telecast will return to a live, in-person Emmy Awards Ceremony at the Microsoft Theatre with a limited audience of nominees and their guests.


CBS premiere week opens Monday, Sept. 20 with the sitcoms The Neighborhood at 8:00 PM and Bob ♥ Abishola at 8:30 PM, leading into NCIS on its new night and time at 9:00 PM, followed by new spin-off NCIS: Hawai'i at 10:00 PM. All FBI Tuesday Debuts with a three-show cross-over event on Tuesday, Sept. 21, with FBI at 8:00 PM, and special times for FBI: Most Wanted at 9:00 PM and new entry FBI: International at 10:00 PM. The latter two will move to their normal timeslots (just swapping 9 and 10pm) the following week on Sep. 28. Survivor returns with two-hour premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 8:00 PM into a new Big Brother at 10. Every other launch is post premiere week, with Friday dramas S.W.A.T., Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods to premiere on Oct. 1. New drama CSI: Vegas launches Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 10:00 PM following the season premiere of reality series Tough as Nails at 9pm. Spirited new comedy Ghosts premieres Thursday, Oct. 7 at 9:00 PM, following the season premieres of Young Sheldon and The United States of Al from 8-9pm. B Positive has its season premiere the same night at 9:30pm, while Bull Moves to its new night at 10:00 PM. Sunday's scripted lineup of The Equalizer, NCIS: Los Angeles and Seal Team Premieres Oct. 10 from 8-11pm. And finally, new Global Citizen reality series The Activist premieres Friday, Oct. 22 at 8:00 PM, replacing S.W.A.T. after three airings, but S.W.A.T. will return on Dec. 3. Specials include The Tony Aawards(R) Present: Broadway's Back on Sunday, Sept. 26 from 9-11pm.


Charlie (Charles) Robinson

Actor Charlie (Charles) Robinson, who was best known for his role as Macintosh "Mac" Robinson on Night Court, has died. He died on July 11 in Los Angeles, California, from cardiac arrest with multisystem organ failure due to septic shock and metastatic adenocarcinoma, a type of glandular cancer. Mr. Robinson was 75.

Buffalo Bill

Robinson's first starring role was as Newdell on the 1983-1984 NBC sitcom Buffalo Bill. The series featured the misadventures of an egotistical talk show host named Bill Bittinger (Dabney Coleman) and his staff. Newdell was the makeup man at WBFL-TV, a small TV station in Buffalo, New York. The series also starred Joanna Cassidy, Max Wright, John Fielder, Geena Davis, Meshach Taylor and Claude Earl Jones.

Night Court

After Buffalo Bill was canceled after two seasons, he joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Night Court for the second season in the fall of 1984 as Macintosh "Mac" Robinson. Mac was the clerk of the court and a Vietnam War veteran. He always wore a cardigan, plaid shirt, and knit tie. The successful series ran for nine seasons from 1984 to 1992. Robinson also directed three episodes of the series from 1990 to 1992. The cast included Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, Richard Moll, Selma Diamond (1984-1985), Florence Halop (1985-1986), Markie Post (1985-1992), Marsha Warfield (1986-1992), Karen Austin (1984), Paula Kelly (1984) and Ellen Foley (1984-1985). Anderson, Post and Robinson reprised their roles on the 2008 30 Rock episode, "The One with the Cast of Night Court".

Love & War

Robinson starred as Abe Johnson on the 1992-1995 CBS sitcom Love & War. He joined the cast after John Hancock, who played bartender Ike Johnson, died of a heart attack on October 12, 1992. Abe was the surly brother of Ike. He was an out-of-work auto worker from Detroit, who showed up to claim his inheritance - Ike's shared of the Blue Shamrock restaurant/bar. Robinson also directed an episodes of the series in 1994. The cast included Jay Thomas, Susan Dey (1992-1993), Joel Murray, Michael Nouri, Suzie Plakson, Joanna Gleason and Annie Potts (1993-1995).

He starred as Ernie Trainor on the short-lived 1996-1997 CBS sitcom Ink. Ernie Trainor was the no-nonsense, seen-it-all police reporter at the New York Sun. The series also starred Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Alana Austin, Christine Ebersole, Saul Rubinek, Jenica Bergere and Jonathan Katz.

Robinson had a recurring role as Bud Harper, an owner of Binford, in nine episodes of Home Improvement from 1995 to 1999. He had a recurring role as Wilfred in 11 episodes of The Guest Book from 2017 to 2018. He played Mr. Munson, the blind tenant whom Bonnie avoids helping out with apartment issues, in seven episodes of Mom from 2015 to 2019. He made his final TV appearances on Freeform's Love in the Time of Corona in 2020.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The John Larroquette Show, In the House, The Crew (1996), Malcolm & Eddie (2 episodes), Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place (2001), DAG, The Trouble with Normal, My Wife and Kids, Yes, Dear (2003), Abby, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, The Bernie Mac Show, Committed, Still Standing (2 episodes), My Name Is Earl and Hank. His guest appearances from 2010 and later included $#*! My Dad Says, The Soul Man, The Game (4 episodes), Reed Between the Lines (2 episodes), K.C. Undercover, Disjointed, Better Things and Raven's Home.

He had a recurring role as Phil in seven episodes of Flamingo Road in 1981. He played El Jefe in 13 episodes of Buddy Faro from 1998 to 2000. He appeared as Sergeant Jeffries in 16 episodes of Hart of Dixe from 2012 to 2015. Some of his other drama guest appearances included Caribe, The White Shadow, Lou Grant, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, Hotel, Touched by an Angel, Soul Food, Charmed, House, Cold Case, The Riches, Big Love, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Harry's Law, Grey's Anatomy, This Is Us and NCIS.

Mr. Robinson was a solid and dependable actor. Mac Robinson was a very funny and likable character that he played to perfection. He was always one of the good guys on television. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment he brought us during his career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Night Court message board. View photos in our galleries (link #2).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Saturday, September 30

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 25)

Friday, September 29

  • Amy Poehler (Duncanville/Parks and Recreation) - Watch Amy on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Lea Michele (The Mayor) - Lea is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Nathan Lane (Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Margaret Cho (All-American Girl) and Maria Bamford (Lady Dynamite) - Margaret and Maria are guests on repeats of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
  • Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Patton will be on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (June-October)

Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series Family Matters - The Complete Series Step by Step - The Complete Series ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition)

06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
07/18 - South Park - Seasons 21-25 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
07/25 - The Neighborhood - Season Five
07/25 - Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin - Season One
07/25 - Superstore - The Complete Series
08/22 - Back to Life - Season 1 / Season 2
08/29 - Smiling Friends - Season 1 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
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
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


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