Friday, May 06, 2022

Hulu Comedy Maggie Gets Premiere Date; Chad Returns July 11 on TBS, While HBO Max Series Get Second Runs on TBS and TNT; Remembering David Birney of Bridget Loves Bernie

Maggie

Hulu original comedy series Maggie will premiere all episodes on Wednesday, July 6! The Rebecca Rittenhouse series was originally set for ABC, but was moved to Hulu. In the series, dating is hard enough - it’s even harder when you also happen to be a psychic. Maggie's gift allows her to see into the future of her friends, parents, clients, and random people on the street. But when she begins to see glimpses of her own destiny after meeting an unexpected stranger, her romantic life suddenly gets a lot more complicated. Can you let yourself fall in love when you think you know how it ends? She probably should have seen this coming... Series regulars include Rebecca Rittenhouse, David Del Rio, Nichole Sakura, Leonardo Nam, Angelique Cabral, Ray Ford, Chloe Bridges, Kerri Kenney and Chris Elliott. Maggie is written and executive produced by Justin Adler and Maggie Mull. Evan Hayes and Jeff Morton also serve as executive producers. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.


Chad

TBS and truTV announce July premiere dates for Chad, The Big D and 101 Places to Party Before You Die. In addition, the second seasons of Max Originals Titans and Love Life will air on TBS and TNT respectively as part of Front Row, the networks' premium, limited commercial interruption content destination for select Max Original series and key TBS and TNT content. These titles join the previously announced summer premiere of TNT's Animal Kingdom on June 19 with back-to-back episodes starting at 9:00pm ET/PT.

2021's #1 new scripted cable comedy series, Chad returns on Monday, July 11 at 10:00pm ET/PT (it was previously set to return in April), starring creator, executive producer, and showrunner, Nasim Pedrad (Saturday Night Live, Aladdin). The second season of HBO Max's Love Life will launch on Sunday, July 31 at 10:00pm ET/PT on Front Row on TBS. The second season of HBO Max's Titans will launch on Tuesday, July 5 at 10:00pm ET/PT on Front Row on TNT.

David Birney

Actor David Birney, who starred as Bernie Steinberg on Bridget Loves Bernie, has died. He died from complications of Alzheimer's disease on April 27 at his home in Santa Monica, California, four days after his 83rd birthday.

Bridget Loves Bernie - David Birney and Meredith Baxter

Birney starred as Bernie Steinberg on the 1972-1973 CBS sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie. The series depicts an interfaith marriage between an Irish Catholic teacher (Bridget Fitzgerald played by Meredith Baxter) from a wealthy family and a Jewish cab driver who aspires to be a playwright (Bernie Steinberg), whom she had met at a bus stop. It was based loosely on the premise of the 1920s Broadway play and 1940s radio show Abie's Irish Rose. CBS canceled the show after only one season and 24 episodes, despite high ratings. It aired on Saturday nights between All in the Family and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. It finished #5 in the ratings among all shows for the 1972-73 television season and obtained a 24.2 rating, tying The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie. CBS executives canceled the show in response to negative reactions to the characters' marriage. Birney and Baxter married in real life in 1974. The cast included Harold J. Stone, Bibi Osterwald, Audra Lindley, David Doyle, Ned Glass, Robert Sampson, William Elliott and Ivor Barry.

St. Elsewhere

He starred as Frank Serpico, an unorthodox NYPD detective who battles corrupt members of the police force, on the 1976-1977 NBC police drama Serpico. He portrayed Dr. Ben Samuels on the first season of the NBC medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 until 1983. He played Sam Dillon, a star reporter at the fictional Glitter magazine, on the 1984-1985 ABC drama Glitter. In 1995, he starred as Harry Chandler Moore ("The Beacon of Truth"), the vain, pompous senior news anchor at KXZX, on the drama Live Shot, which aired on UPN from 1995 to 1996.

He guest starred on four episodes of The Love Boat from 1978 to 1982 and one episode of Love Boat: The Next Wave in 1998.

Some of his television drama guest appearances included The Edge of Night, A World Apart, The F.B.I., Circle of Fear, McMillan & Wife, Police Woman, Bronk, Cannon (2 episodes), Medical Center (2 episodes), The Streets of San Francisco, Police Story (2 episodes), Tales of the Unexpected, Hawaii Five-O (3 episodes), Fantasy Island, Family, The Twilight Zone (1986), Matlock, Murder, She Wrote (4 episodes), Burke's Law, Sliders, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Poltergeist: The Legacy and Without a Trace.

Birney was a classically trained theatre actor who found success on the stage, including on Broadway. He began his career at the prestigious Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, after winning the Barter Theatre Award in 1965. His New York debut was with Joe Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival as Antipholus of Syracuse in William Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors. In 1968, he played the lead in Summertree at New York's Lincoln Centre, winning the Clarence Derwent Award and the Theatre World Award.

Survivors include his life partner Michele Roberge and his children with Meredith Baxter, his daughters Kate and Mollie Birney and a son, Peter Baxter; a stepdaughter, Eva Bush, and a stepson, Ted Bush, Ms. Baxter's children from a previous marriage; two grandchildren; and his brothers, Glenn and Gregory. He was married to Meredith Baxter from 1974 until they divorced in 1989.

Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series

Mr. Birney was a talented and versatile actor. He was great on Bridget Loves Bernie. The one-year wonder is worth checking out on DVD (read our review). We thank him for the entertainment that he brought us during his career. He will be greatly missed.

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


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, April 9

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Stuffed Monkey and an Ex-Girlfriend" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When CeeCee loses her favorite toy, Mandy and Meemaw (Annie Potts) take it as an opportunity to make some money. Meanwhile, Connor contemplates revisiting an old relationship.

Ghosts - "Michael Jackson Goes to HR" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Trevor lands himself in trouble when an inappropriate gift to a co‑worker forces him into an HR meeting only Jay can handle. Meanwhile, Pete unintentionally sparks drama with Alberta after casually mentioning a surprise visit to his ex.

Animal Control - "Scaredy Cats and Card Sharks" (Fox, 9:02PM ET/PT)
When Frank and Daisy lose $5,000 in union funds, they try to win the money back by gambling; Shred and Patel cover the late-night shift at the precinct.

Going Dutch - "The Heart Locker" (Fox, 9:32PM ET/PT)
After throwing out his back, the Colonel is ordered to bed rest; the base is sent to sweep for landmines at a local farm, where Major Shah suddenly finds himself in serious danger when he steps on one.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 6)

Thursday, April 9

  • Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Catch Kerry on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Riz Ahmed (Bait) - Riz is a guest on a repeat of 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 appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Arsenio Hall (Arsenio) - Arsenio is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Jim Parsons (Young Sheldon/The Big Bang Theory) - Jim appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Judy Reyes (Scrubs) - Judy talks about Scrubs and High Potential on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Dany Levy (Big Mistakes/Schitt's Creek) - Dan talks about Big Mistakes on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Felicity Huffman (Sports Night) - Felicity dishes on Doc on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle/The Louie Show), Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle) and Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle/Help Me Help You) - Bryan, Frankie and Jane talk about Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • John C. Reilly (Moonbase 8) - NBC's Today has "Head or Tails" with John in the 9am hour.
  • Billy Magnussen (The Franchise/Made for Love) - NBC's Today catches up with Billy in the 9am hour.
  • Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Tamron Hall has a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE with Terry and Rebecca King-Crews revealing for the first time Rebecca's health battle, so check your local listings.
  • Kenya Barris (blackAF) - Kenya talks about Prime's Jerry West: The Logo on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Juliette Lewis (Camping/I Married Dora) - Juliette tells Drew about her current run in Broadway show The Rocky Horror Show on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD) St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (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)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)

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

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03/11 - Antenna TV's Hazel 65th Anniversary Marathon; Kountry Wayne Prime Video Comedy Special
03/10 - XO, Kitty Season 3 Trailer Released for April 2 Launch; The Drew Barrymore Show Talker Gets 2 Season Renewal
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