MeTV Network Loses Columbo, Adds Andy Griffith and M*A*S*H Sundays; Remembering Gavan O'Herlihy, the Original Chuck Cunningham on Happy Days

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

MeTV Network Loses Columbo, Adds Andy Griffith and MAS*H Sundays; Remembering Gavan O'Herlihy, the Original Chuck Cunningham on Happy Days

Columbo will no longer be available on MeTV after Sunday, November 21, as the rights to the series have expired. Mayberry and M*A*S*H, two mainstays of MeTV will come to the rescue on Sundays, too. These brilliant television shows continue to pull our heartstrings and take us to a different place and time. As different as they might be, one thing they do have in common is that they are timeless classics. The Andy Griffith Show and M*A*S*H already delight viewers of all ages on weeknight and now the two series are coming to Sunday evenings as well, beginning Sunday, November 28. Settle down for supper with your loved ones and step back into Mayberry and the 4077th. Catch one full hour of The Andy Griffith Show at 6PM | 5C, followed by a full hour of M*A*S*H at 7PM | 6C. After our visits to Mayberry and the M*A*S*H unit, Monk is stilkl on the case! The neurotic Sherlock solves crimes in San Francisco for two full hours beginning at 8PM | 7C. Afterward, stay tuned for vivacious variety courtesy of The Ed Sullivan Show at 10PM | 9C and Carol Burnett at 11PM | 10C. It's an evening of warmth, whodunnits and wisecracks — only on MeTV starting November 28!

Gavan O'Herlihy

Actor Gavan O'Herlihy, who played Chuck Cunningham in the first season of Happy Days, has died. He died in Bath, England, on September 15 of undisclosed causes. Mr. O'Herlihy was 70.

Happy Days Season 1 Cast

O'Herlihy appeared as Chuck Cunningham in seven episodes of the first season of the ABC sitcom Happy Days in 1974. Chuck Cunningham was the oldest son of Howard (Tom Bosley) and Marion Cunningham (Marion Ross) and older brother of Richie (Ron Howard) and Joanie (Erin Moran). He was a college student and basketball player. After O'Herlihy asked to leave the series, he was replaced by Randolph Roberts for two episodes in the second season. Chuck Cunningham was never mentioned again after the second season. O'Herlihy appeared on the Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion special in 2005.

His first TV credit was as Josh McBride in the 1973 episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show titled "Son of 'But Seriously, Folks." Some of his drama guest appearances included Sierra, Lucas Tanner, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Six Million Dollar Man, Police Woman, The Bionic Woman, The Amazing Spider-Man, Matt Houston, Cover Up, Tales from the Crypt, China Beach, Twin Peaks, The Good Guys (1992), Tarzan (1991-1992), Sharpe, Star Trek: Voyager, Jonathan Creek, 18 Wheels of Justice and Midsomer Murders.

O'Herlihy starred as Phil McGee in the 1976 ABC miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man in the episode "Part VIII: Chapters 11 and 12." Some of his other miniseries credits included A Rumor of War (1980), We'll Meet Again (1992), Partners in Crime (1983), A Killing on the Exchange, Lonesome Dove (1989) and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994).

Gavan O'Herlihy in Willow

He starred as Airk Thaughbaer, the military commander of the destroyed kingdom of Galladoorn who shares a mixed friendship with Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), in the 1988 fantasy film Willow. It was directed by his TV brother, Ron Howard. Some of his other film credits included Superman III (1983), Never Say Never Again (1983), Death Wish 3 (1985), Hidden Assassin (aka The Shooter) (1995), Prince Valiant (1997), Top of the World (1997), Seven Days of Grace (2006) and The Descent Part 2 (2009).

Survivors include his wife, Juliette; his children Rogan, Lonan, David and Daniel; and his siblings Cormac, Patricia, Lorcan and Olwen.

Gavan O'Herlihy

Mr. O'Herlihy was a good character actor. He had over thirty screen credits to his name, most of them in villainous or antagonistic roles. Willow was one of his few heroic roles. It was nice to see him work with Ron Howard again. We thank him for the entertainment he brought us during his career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Happy Days message board. View photos in our galleries.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, April 1

St. Denis Medical - "Anything to Push Zaluva" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Ron's teasing makes Joyce question whether her friendship with a pharmaceutical rep is genuine; Alex has trouble letting Serena take on a new task; Matt finds a mentor in Bruce.

Night Court - "Hot to Trot" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abby's friendship with her ex-boyfriend's mother leads to romantic complications; when Julianne's wealthy aunt passes away, the gang vies for a piece of her inheritance.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Love At First Swipe" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
C.J. and Janine receive marital advice from an unlikely source; Peanut seeks help with his newfound online lover.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Failure 2 Launch" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Assisted Living is the new situation comedy by Tyler Perry about three generations who must make a new start in the rural backwoods of Georgia.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 31)

Tuesday, April 1

Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down) - Catch Adam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) - Kevin is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ike Barinholtz (The Studio/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project/Eastbound & Down) - Ike appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Vinny Thomas (Platonic), Paul F. Tompkins (The Great North/BoJack Horseman/DAG) and Aparna Nancherla (The Great North/Lopez vs Lopez/Corporate) - Vinny, Paul and Aparna are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio/Bupkis) and Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Chase and Kathryn are guests on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Will Ferrell (The Office) and Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls/Joey) - E! News has interviews with Will and Jennifer at 11pm on E!.
Román Zaragoza (Ghosts) - Román talks about Ghosts on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny talks about Dying for Sex on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Michael Angarano (Laid/I'm Dying Up Here/Will & Grace) and Michael Cera (Life & Beth/Arrested Development/I Was a Sixth Grade Alien) - Michael and Michael talk about Sacramento with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Hannah talks about Hacks on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Tasha Smith (Survival of the Thickest/Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse/The Tom Show/Boston Common) and Tone Bell (Survival of the Thickest/Fam/Disjointed/Truth Be Told/Bad Judge/Whitney) - Tasha and Tone talk about the new season of Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathryn is dishing on her new comedy series The Studio on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer and Freddy Rodriguez chat about their podcast Dos Amigos on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Brenda Song (Running Point/Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Brenda talks about Netflix's Running Point on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Paul Walter Hauser (The Afterparty) - Paul is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.