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

Sunday, October 1

The Simpsons - "Homer's Crossing" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
eeling worthless at work, Homer volunteers to be a school crossing guard; when Homer's safety squad receives too much funding, the crossing guards become a force to be feared.

Krapopolis - "Wife Swamp" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Tyrannis returns from a quest with a girlfriend; Hippocampus, Stupendous, and Schlub fight and then befriend a species of wolves.

Bob's Burgers - "Fight at the Not Okay Chore-ral" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When Linda and Bob suggest the kids do chores, the family ends up in a showdown.

Family Guy - "Fertilized Megg" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Meg agrees to be Bruce and Jeffery's surrogate, causing a pregnant Meg to annoy her family; when the couple fails to pick up the baby, the Griffins must take care of their new family member.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 25)

Friday, September 29

  • Amy Poehler (Duncanville/Parks and Recreation) - Watch Amy on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Lea Michele (The Mayor) - Lea is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Nathan Lane (Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Margaret Cho (All-American Girl) and Maria Bamford (Lady Dynamite) - Margaret and Maria are guests on repeats of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
  • Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Patton will be on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (June-October)

Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series Family Matters - The Complete Series Step by Step - The Complete Series ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition)

06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
07/18 - South Park - Seasons 21-25 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
07/25 - The Neighborhood - Season Five
07/25 - Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin - Season One
07/25 - Superstore - The Complete Series
08/22 - Back to Life - Season 1 / Season 2
08/29 - Smiling Friends - Season 1 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/05 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Sixth Season
09/12 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Second Season
09/12 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/26 - Family Matters - The Complete Series
09/26 - Step by Step - The Complete Series
10/10 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Thirteen / The Complete Season Fourteen
10/17 - ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) (Shout! Factory Special Offers)
10/17 - Night Court (2023) - The Complete First Season
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

09/30 - SitcomsOnline Digest: WGA Strike Officially Over; ABC Cancels Home Economics
09/29 - Lifetime Announces New Thrillers; Big Mouth Season 7 Trailer
09/28 - New Season of Wolf Like Me on Peacock; Max Original Animated Series Debuts October 19
09/27 - Moonlighting Coming to Hulu; Showtime Announces Date for The Curse
09/26 - Rick and Morty Season 7 Trailer; Fox's Krapopolis Debuts Well
09/25 - Laff Fall 2023 Schedule with Last Man Standing and Man with a Plan; Upload Returns October 20
09/24 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 25, 2023)
09/23 - SitcomsOnline Digest: An End on the Horizon for WGA Strike?; Hallmark Ready for Christmas
09/22 - The Santa Clauses Season 2 Launches November 8; CBS Alters Fall Schedule
09/21 - Penn & Teller: Fool Us Gets New Return Date; Netflix's Unicorn Academy Premieres November 2
09/20 - Paramount+ Announces Colin from Accounts; The Really Loud House Gets Halloween Movie
09/19 - The Simpsons Season 34 Streams October 11 on Disney+; Good Burger 2 Set for Holiday Season
09/18 - Hulu's Huluween and Disney+'s Hallowstream Line-Up; Shining Vale Returns October 13 on STARZ
09/17 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 18, 2023)
09/16 - SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Cancels Wonder Years Reboot; Byron Allen Makes $10 Billion Offer to Buy ABC
09/15 - Antenna TV's Bewitched Halloween Marathon; Rewind TV's Sabrina the Teenage Witch-O-Ween Marathon
09/14 - Dancing with the Stars Season 32 Cast; BUZZR Celebrates 40 Years of Press Your Luck
09/13 - TBS Acquires Modern Family; The Frasier Awards on COZI TV
09/12 - Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen Gets CBS Late Night Run; Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy Special
09/11 - Matt Rife Gets Netflix Special; Star Trek Day and Kid Cudi Join Forces
09/10 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 11, 2023)
09/09 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner Bros. Television Suspends Deals with Top Creators; Fran Drescher Re-Elected President of SAG-AFTRA
09/08 - CBS Announces Hosts of Game Show; New Goosebumps Premieres Friday the 13th This October on Disney+ and Hulu
09/07 - MeTV Presents Svengoolie's Halloween BOOnanza!; The CW Moving Fall Comedies to Thursdays
09/06 - CBS to Air NCIS: Sydney This Fall; Fox Makes Fall Change
09/05 - TBS and TNT September Stunts Include Big Bang Theory Batman Day Marathon; Netflix UK Produced Series Updates
09/04 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2023 Include Three's Company
09/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 4, 2023)
09/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: No Third Season for How I Met Your Father; Spectrum Dispute with Disney Could Spell End of Cable
09/01 - September Is Anniversary Month on Hulu; Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween Returns for Its 25th Anniversary
08/31 - Max's Original Comedy Series Starstruck Season 3 and Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Premiere Dates; AXS TV Announces Fall Programming Lineup
08/30 - The Partridge Family Coming to AXS TV Starting Oct. 2; CBS to Air A Tribute to Bob Barker Special Aug. 31, Marathon of Match Game Episodes to Air Sept. 2 on Game Show Network