Friday, March 11, 2022

Adult Swim's Live-Action Comedy Returns for Season 3; Amazon Orders Ramy Youssef Animated Comedy; Remembering Conrad Janis of Mork & Mindy

Three Busy Debras

It's time for brunch, and the second season of Three Busy Debras is on the menu! The Debras are back and more Debra than ever, taking Lemoncurd by storm in a season that is so busy, it could only be Debra. Return to the offbeat world of the Debras when the live-action comedy created by and starring Sandy Honig, Mitra Jouhari, and Alyssa Stonoha returns to Adult Swim at midnight the evening of April 24. Fans can also catch up on season one and enjoy new episodes of Three Busy Debras on HBO Max. Three Busy Debras is created by and stars Honig, Jouhari, and Stonoha, who serve as executive producers alongside Amy Poehler and Kim Lessing of Paper Kite Productions. Produced by Alive and Kicking, Inc.


Ramy Youssef

Amazon Studios announced a two-season order of an animated comedy series from Emmy-nominated actor, director, and comedian Ramy Youssef and A24. Additionally, Amazon Studios inked a first-look deal with Youssef's production imprint Cairo Cowboy, co-led by Andy Campagna, who was previously senior vice president of television for Esmail Corp. Youssef, through his Cairo Cowboy banner, will create and produce content that, along with the animated series, will exclusively stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. The animated comedy series will explore the experiences of a Muslim-American family that must learn how to code-switch as they navigate the early 2000s: A time of fear, war, and the rapid expansion of the boy-band industrial complex.

Conrad Janis

Actor and jazz trombonist Conrad Janis, who starred as Fred McConnell on Mork & Mindy, has died. He died of organ failure on March 1 in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Janis was 94.

Bonino

Janis' first sitcom starring role was as Edward on the 1953 live NBC sitcom Bonino. The series is about an Italian-American opera singer named Bonino (Ezio Pinza) trying to rear his eight children after the death of their mother. Edward is the eldest son. The cast included Lenka Peterson, Chet Allen, Donald Harris, Oliver Andes, Gaye Huston, Van Dyke Parks, Mary Wickes, Mike Kellin, David Opatoshu and Fred (Anthony) Eisley.

Quark

He starred as Otto Bob Palindrome on the short-lived 1977-1978 NBC science fiction sitcom Quark. Otto Bob Palindrome is in charge of Perma One, and gives Commander Adam Quark (Richard Benjamin) his assignments. His first name, "Otto", is a palindrome, as is his middle name, "Bob." The series also starred Tim Thomerson, Richard Kelton, Tricia Barnstable, Cyb Barnstable, Bobby Porter and Alan Caillou.

Mork & Mindy

Janis starred as Fred McConnell, Mindy McConnell's (Pam Dawber) father, on the 1978-1982 ABC sitcom Mork & Mindy. Fred McConnell is a widower with conservative values. He owned a music shop with Cora Hudson (Elizabeth Kerr) in the first season. In the third season, Fred became the conductor of the Boulder Symphony Orchestra. Janis appeared in a total of 53 episodes. He also voiced the character on the 1982-1983 ABC animated series Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour. The cast of Mork & Mindy included Robin Williams, Jeffrey Jacquet (1978-1979), Ralph James (voice only), Tom Poston, Jay Thomas (1979-1981), Gina Hecht (1979-1981), Jim Staahl (1979-1981), Robert Donner, Crissy Wilzak (1980-1981), Foster Brooks (1981) and Jonathan Winters (1981-1982).

Conrad Janis

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Get Smart, My Favorite Martian, Maude, Happy Days, The Jeffersons, Husbands, Wives & Lovers (1978), The Love Boat, House Calls, Laverne & Shirley, Mama's Family, The Golden Girls and Frasier (3 episodes as Albert).

He starred as Officer Jimmy Hughes on the short-lived 1953 police drama Jimmy Hughes, Rookie Cop. Some of his televison guest appearances from the 1950s and 1960s included Actor's Studio (2 episodes), Starlight Theatre (2 episodes), The Philco Television Playhouse (2 episodes), The Big Story (2 episodes), Suspense (8 episodes), The Doctor, Danger (2 episodes), Kraft Theatre (3 episodes), The Untouchables and The United States Steel Hour (3 episodes).

Some of his 1970s and later guest apperances included Banacek, Cannon, Baretta, The Waltons, The Streets of San Francisco, Police Story, Kojak, Barnaby Jones, Here's Boomer, Trapper John, M.D. (1983), St. Elsewhere (2 episodes), Remington Steele (2 episodes), V: The Series, Highway to Heaven, Murder, She Wrote (3 episodes), Baywatch, Diagnosis Murder, L.A. Heat and Family Law.

His film credits included Margie (1946), That Hagen Girl (1947), The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox (1976), The Buddy Holly Story (1978), Oh, God! Book II (1978), Brewster's Millions (1978), Mr. Saturday Night (1992), The Feminine Touch (1995) (also director) and The Cable Guy (1996).

Conrad Janis and Jonathan Winters

He was a skilled trombonist and a longtime advocate of traditional jazz. He formed the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band in the 1970s which performed multiple times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and gave eight sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall. Conrad Janis and the Unlisted Jazz Band appeared in the 1986 film Nothing in Common.

Survivors include his brother; two children from his first marriage to Vicki Quarles, Christopher and Carin Janis; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His third wife, Maria Grimm, died in September 2021.

Mr. Janis was a dependable character actor and a talented musician. He had more than 100 television and film credits. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment he brought us on Mork & Mindy and his many other roles. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on Mork & Mindy message board. View photos in our galleries.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, March 31

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Signature Service Loyalty Rewards Program" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Malcom receives an unexpected call from USC’s athletic director about a baseball head coach vacancy. Meanwhile, Calvin and Marty start a new signature loyalty rewards program at The Fuse Box.

Poppa's House - "Say Wha?!" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Junior’s fundraising effort for his film takes a dramatic turn when he discovers Poppa’s flea market purchase is worth a fortune. Vivica A. Fox guest stars as “Judge SayWha.”

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 31)

Monday, March 31

  • Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls/Joey) - Watch Jennifer on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Britt Lower (Ghosted/Man Seeking Woman/Big Lake) - Britt appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Maria Bamford (Lady Dynamite/Benched) - Maria is a guest on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Jay Ellis (Running Point/Insecure/The Game) - Jay talks about Running Point and Freaky Tales on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
  • Sara Gilbert (The Conners/Bad Teacher/The Big Bang Theory/The Class/Roseanne) - Sara chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. She also talks about The Conners on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle talks about Survival of the Thickest on NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Michael Angarano (Laid/I'm Dying Up Here/Will & Grace) - Michael talks about Sacramento on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Eva Longoria (Only Murders in the Building/Telenovela) - Eva talks about Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is joining Drew and Ross to hit the headlines in an all-new Drew's News on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two

11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season

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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

03/31 - Prime Video's Dance-World Comedy Étoile; Netflix's Tom Segura Dark Comedy Bad Thoughts
03/30 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 31, 2025)
03/29 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Gives Pilot Order to A Different World Sequel; Malcolm in the Middle Reboot Recasts Role of Dewey
03/28 - Pat Sajak's Final Spin on Wheel and Return of Jeopardy! Masters; Remembering George Foreman and Wings Hauser
03/27 - IFC Renews SisterS for Season 2; Netflix Orders Live-Action Scooby-Doo Series
03/26 - Hulu Spring 2025 Slate; The Making of The Americas Special Narrated by Tom Hanks on NBC
03/25 - Deli Boys Now Streaming All Episodes on Hulu; Heartland Season 18 on UP Faith & Family
03/24 - Peacock April Highlights Include Three's Company; Antenna TV's 50 Years on the Beat Barney Miller Anniversary Marathon
03/23 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 24, 2025)
03/22 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* Coming to DVD; American Dad! Moving Back to Fox
03/21 - Big Mouth Final Season; The Four Seasons Premieres in May on Netflix
03/20 - HBO's Brett Goldstein Comedy Special; Disney+ Adds The Simpsons 24/7 Stream
03/19 - Solar Opposites Final Season This Fall; NBC to Move Grosse Pointe Garden Society to Fridays
03/18 - Game Show Network New Shows Launch April 14; NBC Picks Up 3rd Comedy Pilot, While Bobby Moynihan Joins Tracy Morgan Pilot
03/17 - It's True! Ted Lasso Renewed for Season 4; Jane Goodall Returns for Jane Season 3
03/16 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 17, 2025)
03/15 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Neighborhood Renewed for Eighth and Final Season; NBC Picks Up New Cheerleading Comedy
03/14 - NBC Comedy Pilots Wheeling & Dealing; Hulu's Got to Get Out
03/13 - Prime Video Comedy Series Overcompensating Premiere Date; Eric Stonestreet Joins Dexter: Resurrection
03/12 - Hacks Season 4 Premieres April 10; Nickelodeon Orders Wylde Pak
03/11 - The Neighborhood Renewed for Final Season; Max's The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast
03/10 - Netflix Renews Running Point for Season 2; Apple TV+ Trailer for The Studio
03/09 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 10, 2025)
03/08 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Tracy Morgan to Star in NBC Pilot from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock; Nobody Wants This Returning for Second Season
03/07 - Trailer for Apple TV+ Comedy Government Cheese; Remembering Saved by the Bell and TV Producer Peter Engel
03/06 - The CW Spring Premiere Dates; Henry Winkler Heads to HISTORY Channel
03/05 - Hacks Brings Out the Stars in Season 4; NBC Orders Pilot with Tracy Morgan
03/04 - Apple TV+ Side Quest Launches March 26; Krysten Ritter Joins Dexter: Resurrection
03/03 - HBO's The Rehearsal Returns April 20; Sharon Horgan Signs Deal for HBO Comedy Series
03/02 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 3, 2025)
03/01 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Premiere Date for Mid-Century Modern Set; Roseanne Remastered in High Definition