Friday, April 15, 2022

Hacks Returns May 12 on HBO Max; IMDb TV Rebrands as Freevee; Remembering Gilbert Gottfried

Hacks - Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder

HBO Max and Universal Television announced the Emmy®-winning and critically-acclaimed Max Original comedy series Hacks will debut its second season Thursday, May 12 with two episodes. The eight-episode season continues with two new episodes a week, concluding June 2. The dark mentorship between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and her young, entitled writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder) continues to evolve as the two travel across the country workshopping Deborah’s new stand-up act.

Jean Smart, an Emmy®, SAG Awards® and Critics Choice Awards winner for her performance in season one of the series, will return along with Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Jane Adams, who were all nominated for Emmys for the first season. Returning cast members Christopher McDonald, Kaitlin Olson, Paul W. Downs, Poppy Liu, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Angela E. Gibbs, Luenell, Johnny Sibilly, Joe Mande, Ally Maki and Lorenza Izzo also star. New recurring guest stars Laurie Metcalf, Martha Kelly, Ming-Na Wen and Susie Essman, and guest stars Margaret Cho and Devon Sawa join in the new season.




Freevee

Amazon's free streaming service announced a rebrand to Amazon Freevee, the new name for IMDb TV, beginning April 27. Over the last two years, the ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) service experienced rapid growth - tripling monthly active users - driven by rapid distribution across living room devices and mobile, an increasing slate of Originals, an always updating library of highly sought movies and TV shows, and over 60 FAST channels. Following a successful launch in the UK last September, Freevee will continue its international expansion with a launch in Germany later this year.

Freevee will grow its Originals slate by 70% in 2022, including the spinoff of the longest-running Original series for Prime Video, Bosch: Legacy, premiering May 6; a new home-design series, Hollywood Houselift with Jeff Lewis; Greg Garcia's comedy series Sprung; the Australian crime drama Troppo; and High School, a scripted series adapted for television by Clea DuVall, produced by Plan B, and based on the New York Times best-selling memoir by Grammy-nominated, platinum recording artists Tegan and Sara Quin. Amazon's free streaming service will announce additional greenlights at its NewFronts presentation on May 2.

Additionally, the free streaming service will add exclusive Original movies to its already robust slate, starting with a greenlight order for the workplace rom-com Love Accidentally, starring Brenda Song and Aaron O'Connell. In Love Accidentally, Alexa (Song) and Jason (O'Connell) are competing for a promotion at their advertising firm when each of their significant others breaks up with them. Thinking she has texted a friend, Alexa mistakenly sends Jason a brokenhearted message. The two spark up an anonymous relationship via text with neither aware of who the other really is. When the truth comes out, will they be able to put their rivalry aside and let true love prevail? Love Accidentally also features Denise Richards and Maxwell Caulfield, while Barry Barnholtz, Zelma Kiwi, and Jeffrey Schenck serve as executive producers.

Gilbert Gottfried

Actor and comedian Gilbert Gottfried, who guest starred on more than 20 sitcoms, has died. He died on April 12 in Manhattan from recurrent ventricular tachycardia, complicated by type II myotonic dystrophy. Mr. Gottfried was 67.

Gilbert Gottfried on Wings

Gottfried had a recurring role as Lewis Blanchard, Carlton Blanchard's (William Hickey) equally irritating nephew, on three episodes of Wings from 1994 to 1995. Some of his other 1980s and 1990s sitcom guest appearances included The Cosby Show, Night Court (3 episodes as Oscar Brown), A Different World (2 episodes), Herman's Head, Living Single, The Parent 'Hood, Married with Children, Mad About You, Hope & Gloria, In the House, Clueless, Jenny, The Tom Show and Cosby. He played Bert Banner in the 1994 TV movie Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas, which was series finale for Saved by the Bell: The College Years.

Gilbert Gottfried on Becker

Some of his later sitcom guest appearances included Son of the Beach (2 episodes as Noccus Johnstein), Becker, Greg the Bunny (2 episodes), Hannah Montana, 30 Rock (voice), 'Til Death (2 episodes), Anger Management, Deadbeat, The Jim Gaffigan Show (2 episodes), Episodes and Crashing.

In 1987, he starred as Norman on the Cinemax sitcom pilot Norman's Corner. It was co-written by Larry David prior to creating Seinfeld. It was the first sitcom pilot to be shot in HD.

Gottfried was a cast member for 12 episodes on the sixth season (1980-1981) of Saturday Night Live. He was a regular on the late night talk show Thicke of the Night in 1983. He was the Saturday night host of USA Network's USA Up All Night from 1989 to 1998.

Gilbert Gottfried on Hollywood Squares

He was a regular on the Tom Bergeron era of Hollywood Squares from 1998 to 2004. Some of his other television guest appearances included Superboy (2 episodes), Silk Stalkings, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2 episodes).

Gottfried was known for speaking in a loud and grating voice, which was not his natural speaking voice. He was the voice of parrot Iago in the Aladdin animated films and series. He was the voice of Digit LeBoid on the PBS Kids series Cyberchase. Some of his other voice credits included Problem Child, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1998), Dilbert, Fairly OddParents, House of Mouse, Justice League Action, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (as Kraang Subprime), Family Guy (2 episodes) and Smiling Friends. He provided the voice of the duck in the Aflac commercials from 2000 to 2011.

Gilbert Gottfried in Problem Child 2

He starred as accountant Sidney Bernstein in Beverly Hills Cop II (1987). He played adoption agent Igor Peabody in Problem Child (1990) and Problem Child 2 (1991). In 2014, he played Abraham Lincoln in A Million Ways to Die in the West. The documentary Gilbert (2017) explored his life and career.

Survivors include his wife, Dara Kravitz, and their two children, Lily and Max.

Mr. Gottfried was a strange and funny actor and comedian. His late night talk show appearances were always entertaining. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment that he brought us during his career. He will be greatly missed.

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


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, October 9

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Big Decisions" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tensions rise when Georgie finds out the truth about Mandy’s boss, and Georgie does all he can to buy the tire store before Jim sells it.

Ghosts - "The Devil Went Down to Woodstone" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sam and Jay host a big party for the launch of Sam and Isaac’s vampire book.

English Teacher - "Lake Trip" (FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Evan and Malcolm take a vacation while the other teachers administer standardized tests back at school.

English Teacher - "Accreditation" (FX, 9:30PM ET/PT)
The teachers get evaluated by outside observers in an effort to earn the school a better rating.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 6)

Thursday, October 9

  • Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The Mick) - Catch Kailtin on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Ryan Reynolds (Two Guys and a Girl) - Ryan is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere) and Heather Dubrow (Stark Raving Mad/Jenny/Life with Roger) - Andy Cohen interviews Bridget and Heather on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11pm on Bravo.
  • Greta Lee (HouseBroken/Russian Doll) - Greta talks about Tron: Ares on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am, on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm, and on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Kenzi Richardson (Vampirina: Teenage Vampire) - Kenzi talks about Vampirina: Teenage Vampire on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Chloe Fineman (Big Mouth/Search Party) - Chloe chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Jennifer Lopez (South Central) - Co-host Gayle King sits down with Jennifer on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Maya Rudolph (Loot/Bless the Harts/Forever/Up All Night) - Maya talks about Loot on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • John Corbett (And Just Like That.../Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/United States of Tara/Lucky/Sex and the City) - John and DeVon Franklin tell Sherri about their new film Soul In Fire on Sherri, so check your local listings.


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


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

10/09 - Rachel Sennott's I Love LA Comedy Series Trailer; Kaley Cuoco Heads to MGM+
10/08 - Prime Video's Kevin Details; Trailer for Crutch with Tracy Morgan
10/07 - The CW's TV We Love Docuseries; Happy's Place Season 2 Trailer
10/06 - Dancing with the Stars Surging in Viewership, Especially Among Younger Viewers; Remembering Kimberly Hébert Gregory of Vice Principals
10/05 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 6, 2025)
10/04 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Cancels The Great North; Everybody Loves Raymond Cast Set to Reunite for 30 Year Anniversary
10/03 - MeTV Acquires Everybody Loves Raymond; Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Trailer
10/02 - CBS Presents Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion; Apple TV+ Renews Peanuts Specials Through 2030
10/01 - The CW's Six Brand New Movies Starting November 16; Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special Details
09/30 - Sarah Sherman HBO Comedy Special in December; Huluween Programming for 2025
09/29 - Netflix Renews Haunted Hotel for Season 2; Christmas Comedy Series Sicilia Express
09/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 29, 2025)
09/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Cast Comes Together for First Table Read for Reboot; Monopoly Game Show Moving Ahead
09/26 - Netflix Adds to Cast for Running Point Season 2; Stiller & Meara Apple TV+ Documentary
09/25 - Adam Pally HBO Comedy Special; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Returns with Huge Ratings
09/24 - Weigel's Newest Diginet WEST Launches Monday, September 29; New Baywatch Coming to Fox in 2026-27
09/23 - DMV Trailer for CBS; Mo Amer Returns to Netflix
09/22 - SNL Season 51 Guests for First Episodes; Prime Video's Bat-Fam Series
09/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 22, 2025)
09/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Paper to Get Linear Run on NBC; Saturday Night Live Announces New Hosts
09/19 - NBC Schedules The Paper and Stumble in November; Remembering Patricia (Pat) Crowley of Please Don't Eat the Daisies
09/18 - UPtv Acquires The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Camp Rock 3 Coming Soon to Disney
09/17 - FETV Acquires The Munsters Effective September 29; Apple TV+ The Morning Show Renewed for Season 5
09/16 - Disney's SuperKitties Adds to Voice Cast; Netflix Renews The Hunting Wives for Season 2
09/15 - 77th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Letterman TV Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 15, 2025)
09/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount Looking to Merge with Warner Bros. Discovery; Samsung TV+ Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/12 - Emmy Awards to Create Special Moments; Ricky Gervais Netflix Animated Comedy Alley Cats Coming in 2026
09/11 - Remembering Polly Holliday of Alice and Flo; Prime Video's Overcompensating Renewed for Season 2
09/10 - Netflix Renews Leanne for Season 2; Hazbin Hotel Returns October 29
09/09 - HBO Comedy The Chair Company; Trailer for Disney's Vampirina: Teenage Vampire