Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Emmy Awards Slated for Sep. 19, CBS Fall Premiere Dates; Remembering Charlie Robinson - Mac from Night Court
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.
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.
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.
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".
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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, October 30
Abbott Elementary - "Costume Contest" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
It’s Halloween at Abbott Elementary! Janine and Gregory proudly show off their couple’s costume, but it fails to translate. Meanwhile, Barbara faces pushback from parents concerned about hygiene and her beloved apple-bobbing tradition.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Saved by the Spell" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
On her first day of school, Billie uses magic to impress Roman's best friend; when a jealous Roman steals Billie's wand, he falls into the grasp of a wizard-hunting phantomus.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Something Wizard This Way Comes" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
On Halloween, Billie tells Roman about Pumpkin Belly, a ghoul who eats anyone whose house isn't spookily decorated; Justin, Milo and Giada defend the home from pranksters.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 28)
Wednesday, October 30
- Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Watch Sheryl on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Salma appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Kieran Culkin (Solar Opposites/Go Fish) - Kieran is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Emily Osment (Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage/Young Sheldon/Young & Hungry/Hannah Montana), Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) and Vinny Thomas (Platonic) - Emily, Tien and Vinny are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
- Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Keri talks about The Diplomat on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty talks about improvising scenes on the hit show The Bear and how he started his career in restaurants on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna is chatting with Drew about directing her first film Woman of the Hour, the crazy serial killer case the movie is based on, finding boundaries in her life, turning 40 and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - Mayan discusses her sitcom Lopez vs Lopez on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Blair Underwood (Fatherhood/The New Adventures of Old Christine) - Blair is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
- Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows/Retired at 35/Stacked) - Marissa appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
- Melissa Peterman (Happy's Place/Young Sheldon/Baby Daddy/Working Class/Reba) - Melissa talks about NBC's Happy's Place on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - The Ropers - The Complete Series (VEI)
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - Video Scrapbook
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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