Monday, July 11, 2022

Disney's Hamster & Gretel Premieres Aug. 12; Remembering Larry Storch of F Troop, James Caan and Gregory Itzin

Hamster & Gretel

Disney Channel announced the Friday, Aug. 12 (9:35 p.m.* EDT/PDT), premiere date and debuted the official trailer for their upcoming animated superhero comedy, Hamster & Gretel, from Disney Branded Television. Joining the cast as recurring characters are Priah Ferguson (Stranger Things) as Gretel's best friend, Bailey; Liza Koshy (Liza on Demand) as news reporter Veronica Hill; Alyson Stoner (Phineas and Ferb) and Brock Powell (Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe) as the evil sibling duo Lauren and Lyle a.k.a The Destructress and FistPuncher, respectively; and viral rap sensation Akintoye as Kevin's confident buddy, Anthony. Guest stars are Jenny Lorenzo (Victor and Valentino) as Carolina's mother, Abuelita; legendary Latin pop star Karina La Voz as the tear-jerking La Cebolla; YouTube star Thomas Sanders (Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe) as frat guy horse-man Neighslayer; TikTok star Casey Hamilton (@MrHamilton) as Gretel's mild-mannered substitute teacher, Mr. Chabner; and Adam Rose (Merry Happy Whatever) as evil jingle writer The Earworm.

Hamster & Gretel introduces Kevin and his younger sister, Gretel, who are about to be bestowed superpowers by space aliens. But something goes awry, and it's Gretel and her pet hamster (named Hamster) who suddenly have new abilities. Now, protective older brother Kevin must figure out how to work with both Gretel and her pet, Hamster, to protect their city from mysterious dangers. Starring in the series is newcomer Meli Povenmire as Gretel; Michael Cimino (Love, Victor) as Gretel's older brother, Kevin; Beck Bennett (SNL) as Gretel's pet hamster, Hamster; Joey King (Kissing Booth) as her tech-savvy cousin, Fred; Matt Jones (Bob Hearts Abishola) as the siblings' easygoing father, Dave; and Carolina Ravassa (Maya and the Three) as their charismatic mother, Carolina.




Larry Storch

Actor and comedian Larry Storch, who was best known for his role Corporal Randolph Agarn on F Troop, has died. He died in his sleep at his home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on July 8. Mr. Storch was 99.

Storch's early sitcom guest appearances included The Phil Silvers Show (2 episodes), Hennesey, Car 54, Where Are You? (4 episodes), The Baileys of Balboa and Gilligan's Island. He starred on the 1953 CBS comedy-variety series The Larry Storch Show.

F Troop

He starred as bumbling and scheming Corporal Randolph Agarn on the 1965-1967 ABC sitcom F Troop. Corporal Randolph Agarn is Sergeant Morgan O'Rourke's (Forrest Tucker) somewhat dimwitted sidekick and business partner in the shady O'Rourke Enterprises. Storch was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series in 1967. The cast included Ken Berry, Melody Patterson, Frank de Kova, Don Diamond, James Hampton, Bob Steele and Joe Brooks.

The Queen and I

Storch starred as Charles Duffy on the short-lived 1969 CBS sitcom The Queen and I. Charles Duffy is a junior officer serving a once popular but now aging and run-down cruise ship, the Amsterdam Queen. The series also starred Billy De Wolfe, Carl Ballantine, Pat Morita, Barbara Stuart, Dave Morick, Liam Dunn and Dave Willock.

The Ghostbusters

He starred as Eddie Spencer on the short-lived but popular 1975 CBS Saturday morning children's show The Ghost Busters. The live-action children's sitcom is about a team of bumbling detectives who investigate ghostly occurrences. The series also starred Forrest Tucker and Bob Burns.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included I Dream of Jeannie, The Mothers-in-Law, Get Smart, He & She (2 episodes), That Girl, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (2 episodes), The Flying Nun, My World and Welcome to It, The Debbie Reynolds Show, The Doris Day Show (4 episodes), All in the Family, The New Temperatures Rising Show (2 episodes), Love, American Style (5 episodes), Phyllis, C.P.O. Sharkey, The Love Boat (3 episodes), Phyl & Mikhy, Harper Valley PTA, Small & Frye, Out of This World and Married with Children.

Storch was also known for his voiceover work for cartoon shows. He was the voice of Phineas J. Whoopee on Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales. Some of his other voice credits included Out of the Inkwell, Groovie Goolies, Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1969-1972) and The Brady Kids. He was the voice of Cool Cat in the 1967 short film Cool Cat. He provided the voice of Merlin the Magic Mouse from 1968 to 1969.

He appeared in more than 25 films. Some of his credits included Gun Fever (1958), Who Was That Lady? (1960), 40 Pounds of Trouble, (1962), Captain Newman, M.D. (1963), Wild and Wonderful (1964), Sex and the Single Girl (1964) and The Great Race (1965).

Mr. Storch had a prolific career with around 250 credits. He was very funny and memorable as Corporal Randolph Agarn on F Troop. He was the last surviving cast member. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment he brought us on television. He will be greatly missed.

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

James Caan

Actor James Caan was known for his roles in films such as The Godfather, Thief and Misery. He starred on the 2013 ABC sitcom Back in the Game. He died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles from a heart attack caused by coronary artery disease on July 6. Mr. Caan was 82.

James Caan in Get Smart

Caan played Rupert of Rathskeller in the Get Smart episodes "To Sire, with Love: Parts 1 and 2" in 1969. Some of his other early television guest appearances included Naked City, Route 66, The Untouchables, The Doctors and the Nurses, Dr. Kildare, Ben Casey, Death Valley Days (2 episodes), Combat!, Channing, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Wagon Train and The F.B.I. (1969).

Las Vegas

Caan's first television starring role was as Ed Deline on the 2003-2008 NBC comedy-drama Las Vegas. The series originally centered on Ed Deline, a strict ex-CIA officer who serves as the president of operations for the Montecito, a fictional hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Caan and his character depart the series in season five, when Ed becomes a wanted man for killing Mary Connell's (Nikki Cox) father. He was replaced by Tom Selleck as A.J. Cooper.

Back in the Game

He starred as Terry "The Cannon" Gannon on the 2013 ABC sitcom Back in the Game. The series is about a newly divorced single mother (Maggie Lawson) who has to move back home to live with her ex-minor league baseball manager father (Caan). The cast included Griffin Gluck, Ben Koldyke, Lenora Crichlow, Cooper Roth, Josie Totah (credited as J. J. Totah), Kennedy Waite, Brandon Selgado-Telis and Matthew Zhang.

James Caan and Phil Hartman in NewsRadio

Caan appeared as himself in a 1996 episode of NewsRadio. He voiced himself in a 2004 episode of The Simpsons and a 2010 episode of Family Guy.

He portrayed Chicago mob kingpin Sy Berman in five episodes of the Starz TV drama Magic City in 2013. He guest starred in a 2012 episode of Hawaii Five-0.

Caan received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie nomination for his portrayal of Brian Piccolo in the 1971 ABC television movie Brian's Song.

He received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972). He reprised his role in The Godfather Part II (1974). Some of his other film credits included Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Gambler (1974), Funny Lady (1975), Rollerball (1975), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Comes a Horseman (1978), Chapter Two (1979), Thief (1981), Gardens of Stone (1987), Misery (1990), Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Bottle Rocket (1996), Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), The Yards (2000), City of Ghosts (2002), Elf (2003) and Get Smart (2008).

Mr. Caan was a gifted actor. He had so many memorable film roles. It was good to see his comedic side on Back in the Game. We thank him for his work in films and on television. He will be sorely missed.

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

Gregory Itzin

Character actor Gregory Itzin was perhaps best known for his role as U.S. President Charles Logan in the action thriller series 24. He starred on the short-lived sitcoms The Nutt House and Something Wilder. He died on July 8 due to complications during an emergency surgery. Mr. Itzin was 74.

Itzin starred as Dennis on the short-lived 1989 NBC sitcom The Nutt House. The Nutt House was was a broad farce about a once-prestigious New York City hotel, which had of late fallen on hard times. The cast included Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Mark Blankfield, Brian McNamara and Molly Hagan.

Something Wilder

He starred as Jack Travis on the short-lived 1994-1995 NBC sitcom Something Wilder. The series is about a fifty-something husband, Gene Bergman (Gene Wilder), and his wife, Annie (Hillary Bailey Smith), who is in her thirties, are learning to cope with raising 4-year-old fraternal twin sons, Sam and Gabe (Carl Michael Lindner and Ian Bottiglieri). Gene ran an advertising agency with his partner, crabby best friend Jack Travis, whose offices were located adjacent to both their homes.

Itzin starred as Sergei Zokolov on the 2001-2001 Comedy Central sitcom Strip Mall. Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Mork & Mindy, Frank's Place, Murphy Brown, Anything But Love, Head of the Class, Coach, Night Court (2 episodes), Empty Nest (3 episodes), Major Dad, Shaky Ground, Dave's World, Arli$$, Suddenly Susan, Brother's Keeper, It's Like, You Know..., Friends (2 episodes as Theodore Hannigan) and Hannah Montana.

He starred as D.A. Roger Garfield on the ABC legal drama Murder One from 1995 to 1996. He appeared as U.S. President Charles Logan in 44 episodes of the Fox action drama 24 from 2005 to 2010. He received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2006 and Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2010 for the role.

Some of his film credits included Airplane! (1980), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), Law Abiding Citizen (2009) and Lincoln (2012).

Mr. Itzin was a talented character actor. He had nearly 200 film and television credits. We thank him for the entertainment that he brought us. He will be missed.

Share your memories on our 24 message board. View photos in our galleries.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, April 24

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "TV Money" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy tries to prove she’s financially responsible after Jim and Georgie call out her poor spending habits, and Connor’s new girlfriend needs a place to stay.

Ghosts - "I Know What You Did Thirty-Seven Summers Ago" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Sam and Jay host a fundraiser for the mayor to earn a favor for Jay’s restaurant, they learn of his bizarre connection to one of Woodstone’s ghosts. Odessa Adlon returns as Stephanie, the ghost who died on her prom night.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 21)

Thursday, April 24

  • Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building/High Fidelity/People of Earth/Selfie) - Catch Da'Vine on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) - Michael appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Walton Goggins (The Righteous Gemstones/The Unicorn/Vice Principals) - Walton appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Sasheer Zamata (Home Economics/Woke/Robbie) and Greta Titelman (Fantasmas/Search Party/Los Espookys) - Sasheer and Greta are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Will Forte (The Four Seasons/HouseBroken/MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - E! News has an interview with Will at 11pm on E!.
  • Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/Final Space/The Game) - Tika sits down with the Tam Fam to talk about her new children's book I Got It From My Mama on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Michael swings by the studio on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones/Vice Principals/Partners) - Edi chats about The Righteous Gemstones on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Ernest Lee Thomas (Everybody Hates Chris/What's Happening!!/What's Happening Now!!) and Haywood Nelson (What's Happening!!/What's Happening Now!!) - Ernest and Haywood talk about the 49th Anniversary of What's Happening!! on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Cheech Marin (Rob/The Golden Palace) and Tommy Chong (That '90s Show/That '70s Show) - Cheech and Tommy talk about Cheech & Chong's Last Movie on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Casey Wilson (The Righteous Gemstones/Black Monday/The Hotwives/Marry Me/Happy Endings) - Casey talks about The Great American Baking Show on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle is telling Drew about her show Survival of the Thickest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Dating expert Damona Hoffman is joining Drew and Valerie for a Q & A about first dates on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris tells Sherri about the new season of Watson on CBS, 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

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