Friday, June 03, 2022

The CW Adds More to Summer 2022 Schedule, Including Comedy; HBO Renews Hit Show for Season 4; Remembering Charles Siebert and Seinfeld Producer George Shapiro

Bump

The CW Network announced additional summer 2022 premiere dates, including for new scripted series Bump and Leonardo, as well as a revised premiere date for the returning scripted series Devils and the return of the alternative series Killer Camp. These premieres are in addition to the previously announced premiere dates for the final seasons of The CW's original scripted series Roswell, New Mexico and In the Dark on June 6, the new season of Wellington Paranormal on June 22 and the return of the unscripted series Mysteries Decoded on Juy 6.

The Australian comedy-drama series Bump makes its U.S. debut with back-to-back original episodes on Thursday, August 11 (8:00-8:30pm & 8:30-9:00pm ET/PT). The new historical drama series Leonardo starring Aidan Turner and Freddie Highmore premieres on Tuesday, August 16 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT), followed by the season two premiere of the international financial conspiracy thriller Devils (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT). Devils was originally scheduled to return on Thursday, June 30 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT). The satirical British horror whodunit reality competition series Killer Camp returns on Friday, August 5 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT), followed by an original episode of Dynasty (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT).


A Black Lady Sketch Show

HBO announced the Emmy®-winning sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show has been renewed for a fourth season. Created, written, executive produced, and starring Robin Thede, the six-episode third season of A Black Lady Sketch Show concluded on May 13 on HBO, with all episodes available to stream on HBO Max. Season three logline: The narrative sketch comedy series features a core cast of Black women living relatable, hilarious experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations.The series stars Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, Ashley Nicole Black and Skye Townsend.

Charles Siebert

Actor and television director Charles Siebert was best known for his role as Dr. Stanley Riverside II on Trapper John, M.D., a role which he portrayed from 1979 to 1986. He died on May 1 of COVID-related pneumonia at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, California. Mr. Siebert was 84.

Husbands, Wives & Lovers

Siebert starred as Dixon Carter Fielding on the short-lived 1978 CBS sitcom Husbands, Wives & Lovers, which was created by Joan Rivers and Hal Dresner. The series focused on the relationships of five suburban couples living in the San Fernando Valley. Dixon Carter Fielding was Ron Willis' (Ron Rifkin) best friend and a stuffy divorce lawyer who was also representing Helene Willis (Jesse Welles) in the separation proceedings. The cast included Stephen Pearlman, Cynthia Harris, Eddie Barth, Lynnne Marie Stewart, Mark Lonow, Randee Heller and Claudette Nevins.

Shelley Fabares, Charles Siebert and Bonnie Franklin - One Day at a Time

He had a recurring role as Jerry Davenport on six episodes of the CBS sitcom One Day at a Time in 1978. Mr. Connors (John Hillerman) and Jerry Davenport were Ann Romano's (Bonnie Franklin) bosses at the advertising agency of Connors and Davenport.

Charles Siebert on Rhoda

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Sandy Duncan Show, The Bob Crane Show, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (as Buzz MacGregor in 1977), What's Happening!!, Maude, Rhoda (as Dr. Murray Berger), All in the Family (3 episodes), Good Times and The Love Boat (3 episodes). He played Charlie Davis, the husband of Miss Bliss (Hayley Mills), in the 1987 pilot episode of Good Morning, Miss Bliss.

Trapper John, M.D.

Siebert starred as Dr. Stanley Riverside II on the CBS medical drama Trapper John, M.D., which aired from 1979 to 1986. Dr. Stanley Riverside II is a pompous, status-seeking, but nonetheless capable doctor whose father is the head of the hospital board of directors at San Francisco Memorial Hospital. He later marries a dentist named E.J. (Marcia Rodd).

Some of his drama guest appearances included Search for Tomorrow, As the World Turns, Another World, Harry O, Delvecchio, Kojak, Police Woman, The Rockford Files (2 episodes),The Incredible Hulk, The Blue Knight (2 episodes as Sgt. Cabe in 1976), Barnaby Jones (3 episodes), Dallas, Here's Boomer, The New Mike Hammer, Hotel (2 episodes), Mancusco, FBI (3 episodes as Dr. Paul Summers in 1989 and 1990), Matlock, Murder, She Wrote (3 episodes) and Xena: Warrior Princess.

Siebert began his television directing career by directing seven episodes of Trapper John, M.D. from 1982 to 1986. Some of his other television drama directing credits included Mancuso, FBI (1990), Lifestories, Palace Guard (2 episodes), Knots Landing, Jack's Place (2 episodes), Vanishing Son (2 episodes), Renegade (3 episodes), The Pretender, Pacific Blue (5 episodes), Silk Stalkings (8 episodes), Mortal Kombat: Conquest (3 episodes), Pensacola: Wings of Gold (5 episodes), Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (7 episodes) and Xena: Warrior Princess (8 episodes).

He is survived by wife Kristine Leroux Siebert, daughter Gillian Bozanic, son Christopher, stepdaughter Kristina Harvey, stepsons Max Leroux and Jeremy Leroux, and other extended family. He was predeceased by his first wife, Catherine, and son Charlie Jr., a popular Bay Area musician who died in 2020.

Mr. Siebert was a talented and versatile actor. We thank him for his work on television as an actor and director. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Trapper John, M.D. and One Day at a Time message boards. View photos in our galleries.

George Shapiro

Talent manager and television producer George Shapiro, who represented Jerry Seinfeld and Andy Kaufman, and served as a producer for the sitcom Seinfeld, has died. He died of natural causes on May 26 at his home in Beverly Hills, California, a week after his 91st birthday.

Shapiro's career began in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency in New York where he advanced rapidly within the company and soon became an agent. He packaged programs such as The Steve Allen Show, That Girl and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. He also packaged a number of specials for Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Channing.

Shapiro was Andy Kaufman's personal manager for many years. He was the executive producer for Andy's Funhouse on ABC in 1979 and the Showtime special Andy Kaufman at Carnegie Hall in 1980. He was executive producer on the 1999 Universal biopic Man on the Moon, starring Jim Carrey in the role of Andy Kaufman and Danny DeVito as Shapiro. Shapiro had a cameo in the movie as Mr. Besserman.

Shapiro and his partner and friend Howard West launched Shapiro/West Associates in 1973. Seinfeld was produced by West-Shapiro Productions and Castle Rock Entertainment, and distributed by Columbia Pictures Television. Shapiro was Jerry Seinfeld's longtime manager. He was an executive producer for Jerry Seinfeld: Stand-Up Confidential in 1987, The Seinfeld Story in 2004 and the 2010-2011 NBC reality show and panel game The Marriage Ref.

He was interviewed by the Television Academy Foundation on February 12, 2007.

Survivors include Melody Shapiro, his lifelong friend and mother of his children — son Danny and his wife, Hester; daughter Carrie and her husband, Mark; and Stefanie — brother Don; and grandchildren Adam, Nathan, Audrey, Skylar and Alana.

Mr. Shapiro was a legendary talent manager and producer. We thank him for his work with Andy Kaufman, Jerry Seinfeld and others. He will be sorely missed.

Share your memories on our Seinfeld message board.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, January 22

Shifting Gears - "Job" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Riley, desperate for work, reluctantly takes a job at Matt’s shop. Meanwhile, Gabriel and Stitch secretly stray from Matt’s vision on a high-stakes restomod project.

Abbott Elementary - "Strike" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
City buses have stopped running due to a strike, resulting in many students being absent from school. The teachers at Abbott try to find creative solutions and adapt to hybrid learning. Meanwhile, Gregory and O’Shon strike up a friendship.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 20)

Wednesday, January 22

  • Lucy Liu (Joey/Pearl) - Watch Lucy on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
  • Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts/White Famous), Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts/Duncanville/Disjointed/Animal Practice) and Punam Patel (Ghosts/Return of the Mac/Kevin from Work) - Utkarsh, Betsy and Punam are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris talks about Watson on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am, on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour, and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) and Nick Kroll (Big Mouth/The League/Cavemen) - Andrew, Nick and Lin-Manuel Miranda are chatting with Drew about their Broadway show All In: Comedy About Love on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. They're also talking to Drew about parenting advice, how they were raised and how comedy brings people together.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Veep - The Complete Series (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

10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
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

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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