Monday, August 30, 2021

Remembering the Legendary Ed Asner of The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Cobra Kai Season 5 Ordered Before Season 4 Premiere

Ed Asner

Emmy-winning actor Ed Asner, who was best known for his role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off series Lou Grant, has died. He died of natural causes at his home in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles on August 29. Mr. Asner was 91.

Asner made his television debut on Studio One in 1957. Some of his early television guest appearances included Route 66, Naked City, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Untouchables, Dr. Kildare, The Outer Limits, The Defenders, Mr. Novak, Slattery's People, Profiles in Courage, Gunsmoke, The Fugitive, The Invaders, Judd for the Defense, The F.B.I., Ironside, The Name of the Game, Mod Squad, Hawaii Five-0, Police Story and Insight. His early sitcom guest appearances included The Farmer's Daughter, Please Don't Eat the Daisies and Here Come the Brides.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

He starred as Lou Grant on the 1970-1977 CBS sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran for 7 seasons and 168 episodes. Lou Grant was the tough but lovable boss of Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore). He was the producer (later executive producer) of WJM-TV's Six O'Clock News in Minneapolis. Asner won the award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy three times in 1971, 1972 and 1975. He won two Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actor – Television in 1972 and 1976. Asner appeared in the 1974 episode of Rhoda titled "Rhoda's Wedding." The Mary Tyler Moore Show also starred Gavin MacLeod, Ted Knight, Valerie Harper (1970-1974), Cloris Leachman (1970-1975), Georgia Engel (1972-1977) and Betty White (1973-1977).

Lou Grant

Asner continued to play the Lou Grant character on the 1977-1982 CBS newspaper drama Lou Grant. The spin-off series ran for 5 seasons and 114 episodes. Lou Grant works as city editor of the fictional Los Angeles Tribune daily newspaper called the Los Angeles Tribune, a job he takes after being fired from WJM-TV in Minneapolis at the end The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Asner received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1978 and 1980. He became the first person to win an Emmy Award for both Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for portraying the same character. He won two Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 1977 and 1979. Asner later appeared as Lou Grant on Roseanne in 1996.

He starred as Sam Waltman on the short-lived 1985 ABC sitcom Off the Rack. Sam Waltman was the gruff co-owner of a Los Angeles (New York in the pilot episode) garment factory. The series also starred Eileen Brennan, Pamela Brull, Claudia Wells, Cory Yothers, Dennis Haysbert and Sandy Simpson.

Asner had a recurring role as George Lahti in 12 episodes of the first season (1992-1993) of the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire. George Lahti was the cantankerous father of Georgie Anne Lahti (Markie Post). The first season cast included John Ritter, Justin Burnette, Clark Duke, Billy Bob Thornton, Wendie Jo Sperber, Doren Fein, Beth Broderick, George Gaynes, Beah Richards and Adam Carl.

Thunder Alley

He played Gil Jones on the 1994-1995 ABC sitcom Thunder Alley. Gil Jones was a retired stock car driver who operated Thunder Alley, a specialty racing garage in Detroit. The series also starred Diane Venora (Season 1), Robin Riker (Season 2), Kelly Vint, Lindsay Felton, Haley Joel Osment, Jim Beaver and Ritch Brinkley (Season 1).

Ask Harriet

Asner appeared as Marshall "Old Man" Russell on the short-lived 1998 Fox sitcom Ask Harriet. Russell was the owner of the New York Dispatch. The series also starred Anthony Tyler Quinn, Willie Garson, Patrick Y. Malone, Lisa Waltz, Julie Benz, Jamie Renée Smith and Damien Leake.

The Closer

He starred as Carl "Dobbs" Dobson on the short-lived 1998 CBS sitcom The Closer. Carl was the crusty saracastic creative director of an advertising agency. The series also starred Tom Selleck, Penelope Ann Miller, David Krumholtz, Hedy Burress and Beverly Andolini.

Center of the Universe

Asner starred as Art Barnett on the short-lived 2004-2005 CBS sitcom Center of the Universe. Art Barnett was the combative father of John Barnett (John Goodman). He was married to Marge (Olympia Dukakis). The series also starred Jean Smart, Diedrich Bader, Melinda McGraw and Spencer Breslin.

Working Class

He starred as Hank Greziak on the short-lived 2011 CMT sitcom Working Class. Hank Greziak was the father of single mom Carli Mitchell (Melissa Peterman). The series also starred Steve Kazee, Patrick Fabian, Lachlan Buchanan, Courtney Merritt and Cameron Castaneda.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included D.C. Follies, Dinosaurs (voice), Mad About You (3 episodes), Soul Man, Maggie Winters, Arli$$, Dharma & Greg, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Ellen Show, Andy Barker, P.I., The Sarah Silverman Program, The Middle, Hot in Cleveland, The Crazy Ones, Men at Work, Mom, Dead to Me (5 episodes), Modern Family and Grace and Frankie (2 episodes).

Asner starred as Principal Joe Danzig in the 1987-1988 NBC drama The Bronx Zoo. He played Walter Kovacs on the second season of the CBS legal drama The Trials of Rosie O'Neill from 1991 to 1992. He had a recurring role as Wilson White in six episodes of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Some of his other drama guest appearances included Highway to Heaven, The Practice, The X-Files, Touched by an Angel, ER, The Dead Zone, The Line, CSI: NY, Royal Pains, Hawaii Five-0 (2012), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Glades, Chasing Life, The Good Wife, Criminal Minds, Forgive Me, Bones, Cobra Kai, MacGyver (2018) and Blue Bloods.

Asner was also known for his extensive voice work. Some of his voice credits included Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Fish Police, Batman: The Animated Series, Gargoyles, Spider-Man, The Boondocks, Freakazoid, The New Adventures of Zorro, Superman: The Animated Series, The Simpsons, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show. He was the voice of Carl Fredricksen in the 2009 Pixar animated film Up.

He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series for his role as Axel Jordache in the 1976 ABC miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man. His other Emmy Award was for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series for his role as Capt. Thomas Davies in the 1977 ABC miniseries Roots.

Asner played John Wayne's adversary Bart Jason in the 1966 Western film El Dorado. He played Santa Claus in the 2003 film Elf.

He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on June 2, 2010.

Mr. Asner was a true TV legend. His seven Primetime Emmy Awards are the most of any male actor. He was wonderful as Lou Grant for 12 seasons on both series. His character was gruff but lovable. The role won him five Emmy Awards. He was a talented and versatile actor. We thank him for the many laughs and the entertainment he brought us during his legendary career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our The Mary Tyler Moore Show message board. View photos on in our galleries.


Cobra Kai

Netflix has renewed Cobra Kai, the series continuation of the iconic The Karate Kid film franchise, for a fifth season with production set to start in Atlanta this fall. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, Cobra Kai is written and executive produced by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg via their production company, Counterbalance Entertainment. Will Smith, James Lassiter and Caleeb Pinkett executive produce for Westbrook Entertainment along with Susan Ekins. Ralph Macchio and William Zabka also serve as executive producers. The first three seasons of Sony Pictures Television's Cobra Kai are now streaming with Season 4 premiering in December 2021. Cobra Kai takes place over 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament with the continuation of the inescapable conflict between Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka).

Cobra Kai - Ed Asner


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, October 8

Shifting Gears - "Date" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Matt and Eve go on their first date but have different ideas of what it should entail. Riley befriends the mom of Georgia’s new friend while Carter mediates a tiff between Gabe and Stitch. LA Dodger Mookie Betts and Lilly Singh guest star.

Abbott Elementary - "Cheating" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Melissa tries to outsmart her students; Tariq causes chaos in Janine’s class, and a new guidance counselor joins the school.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 6)

Wednesday, October 8

  • Tim Allen (Shifting Gears/Last Man Standing/Home Improvement) - Watch Tim on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • David Henrie (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place/Wizards of Waverly Place/How I Met Your Mother/The Pitts) and Janice Leann Brown (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place) - David and Janice talk about Wizards Beyond Waverly Place on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) - Aubrey talks about Luna and the Witch Throw a Halloween Party on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Ryan Reynolds (Two Guys and a Girl) - Ryan stops by for a talk with the hosts about John Candy: I Like Me on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Tom Papa (Come to Papa) - NBC's Today catches up with Tom in the 9am hour.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris talks about Watson on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - The Drew Crew team is sharing their best pro tips including newest Drew Crewer Amirah Kassem sharing how to make the perfect party dish and easy ways to level up hosting on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Tom Arnold (Roseanne/The Jackie Thomas Show/Tom/The Tom Show) - Tom is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


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