SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

NBC Orders Mike O'Malley Sitcom with Jon Cryer; Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin Premieres Nov. 23; Remembering Mork & Mindy and Perfect Strangers Creator Dale McRaven

NBC has ordered Mike O'Malley's comedy series to series. From Lionsgate Television and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, with Mike O'Malley writing and executive producing, along with Tom Werner, Wyc Grousbeck, Emilia Fazzalari, George Geyer. The series will star Jon Cryer, Donald Faison, Abigail Spencer, Finn Sweeney, and Sofia Capanna. In the series, after an amicable divorce, Jim and Julia decide to continue to raise their kids at the family home while taking turns on who gets to stay with them. Navigating the waters of divorce and child-sharing gets more complicated for Jim when the owner of his favorite sports team enters the picture and wins Julia's heart. The sitcom is likely airing sometime in 2023. Stay tuned!

Peacock has released new images for their new comedy Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin that will premiere on Wednesday, Nov. 23 with all 6 episodes from executive producer Elizabeth Banks. In the new series for Peacock, several years after we last saw him in Pitch Perfect, Adam Devine's Bumper Allen moves to Germany to revive his music career when one of his songs becomes big in Berlin. 

Adam Devine will play Bumper Allen, who, after his a cappella TikTok goes viral in Berlin, moves to Germany to pursue his dreams of becoming an international pop star. Flula Borg (Pitch Perfect 2, The Suicide Squad, Curb Your Enthusiasm) will play Pieter Krämer who has transitioned from German a cappella star to discredited German music manager. Sarah Hyland (Modern Family, The Wedding Year) will play Heidi, Pieter and Bumper's cheery and slightly odd American assistant. Lera Abova (Anna) will play Thea Krämer, Piëter's sister and a prominent Berlin DJ and music producer. And Jameela Jamil (The Good Place, She Hulk) will play a bombastic and flashy up-and-coming German pop star and is Pieter's ex-girlfriend and Bumper's main rival at the German Unity Day concert.

Television writer and producer Dale McRaven, who created Mork & Mindy, Angie and Perfect Strangers, has died. He died on September 5 of complications from lung cancer at his home in Porter Ranch, California. Mr. McRaven was 83.

McRaven's early writing credits included The Joey Bishop Show (14 episodes), The Dick Van Dyke Show (9 episodes), That Girl (1 episode), Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (5 episodes), Hey, Landlord (5 episodes), Accidental Family (1 episode), Good Morning World (1 episode), Get Smart (1 episode), Love, American Style (3 episodes), Room 222 (2 episodes), The Partridge Family (15 episodes), The Girl with Something Extra (1 episode), Laverne & Shirley (1 episode), The Practice (1976) (1 episode) and The Betty White Show (1 episode).

He created the short-lived 1974-1975 ABC sitcom The Texas Wheelers. The series, produced by MTM Enterprises, is about the cantankerous but lovable Zack Wheeler (Jack Elam), a long-lost father who returned to raise his children Truckie (Gary Busey), Doobie (Mark Hamill), Boo (Karen Obediear), and T.J. (Tony Becker) in rural Texas after their mother died. He wrote five of the episodes and was an executive producer for six episodes.

McRaven, Garry Marshall and Joe Glauberg created the 1978-1982 ABC sitcom Mork & Mindy. The series stars Robin Williams as Mork, an extraterrestrial who comes to Earth from the planet Ork, and Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell, his human friend, roommate, and eventual love interest. McRaven also worked as a producer and executive producer. He wrote 13 episodes. Mork & Mindy received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy series in 1979.

He co-created with Garry Marshall the 1979-1980 ABC sitcom Angie. The series stars Donna Pescow in the lead role, Robert Hays as her love interest and eventual husband, Doris Roberts as her mother and Debralee Scott as her sister. He was also the executive producer for four episodes of the series.

McRaven created the 1986-1993 ABC sitcom Perfect Strangers. The series chronicles the rocky coexistence of midwestern American Larry Appleton (Mark Linn-Baker) and his distant cousin from eastern Mediterranean Europe, Balki Bartokomous (Bronson Pinchot). He wrote three episodes of the series. He worked as an executive producer for 16 episodes and as an executive consultant for 125 episodes.

Some of his other writing credits included 9 to 5, Nearly Departed and Grand. His other producing credits included Valentine's Day, The Partridge Family, The Betty White Show, Nearly Departed and Davis Rules.

Mr. McRaven worked on more than 20 sitcoms during his career. We thank him for creating Mork & Mindy, Angie, Perfect Strangers and for his work on other sitcoms. He will be greatly missed.

We also remember stand-up comedian, sitcom writer, producer, and actor David A. Arnold. He worked on The Rickey Smiley Show, Fuller House and That Girl Lay Lay. He died on September 7 at his home in Los Angeles due to natural causes. Mr. Arnold was 54.

Arnold's sitcom writing credits included Meet the Browns (15 episodes), House of Payne (12 episodes), The Rickey Smiley Show (14 episodes), Partners (2014) (1 episode), Zoe Ever After (1 episode), Bigger (1 episode), Fuller House (3 episodes) and Side Hustle (3 episodes)

He created the Nickelodeon comedy That Girl Lay Lay in 2021 and served as showrunner for the series. The series stars That Girl Lay Lay, Gabrielle Nevaeh Green, Tiffany Daniels, Thomas Hobson, Peyton Perrine III and Caleb Brown. He wrote two episodes. He appeared as Pastor Brown in one episode.

Arnold's other sitcom acting credits included Entourage, Meet the Browns (3 episodes as Darnelle) and Side Hustle.

Some of his other sitcom producing credits included Bigger, Fuller House and Side Hustle.

Mr. Arnold was a talented and funny comedian. He had two Netflix stand-up comedy specials: David A. Arnold: Fat Ballerina (2020) and It Ain't For The Weak (July 2022). He will be sorely missed.

Epix Rebrands to MGM+ in January 2023; Jack's Back with More Kindness on Apple TV+

Premium and commercial-free linear and streaming service Epix announced that it will rebrand as MGM+ in January 2023, exemplifying the network's brand promise to provide premium cinematic television and a curated leading theatrical library, delivered by one of the world's most enduring entertainment brands. The rebranded network will continue to deliver premium content with scripted originals including the Emmy-winner Godfather of Harlem, the epic romantic adventure Billy the Kid, the contemporary sci-fi horror thriller From, and bold dramas Rogue Heroes and Belgravia. The newly unveiled brand will debut on January 15, 2023, in conjunction with the Season Three premiere of the acclaimed series Godfather of Harlem. The show's second season was Epix's best performing season of all time, breaking records for single-title streams in a single day across Epix's digital channels. The Season Two finale was Epix's best performing finale episode to date.

Apple TV+ released the trailer for the second season of beloved series Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show, premiering globally on Friday, October 7. Jack is one of Clover Grove's most thoughtful and caring residents, greeting everyone with kindness and humor. His ability to spread compassion, creativity, and imagination inspires everyone in town to do the same. A new season of kindness creates more incredible change. Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show is co-created and executive produced by Jack McBrayer (30 Rock, Phineas and Ferb, Wreck-It Ralph franchise) and Angela C. Santomero (Blue's Clues, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood). Season two brings countless renowned guest stars to Clover Grove including Tony Hale (Mysterious Benedict Society), Gillian Jacobs (Community), Joe Lo Truglio (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), D'Arcy Carden (A League of Their Own), Kristen Schaal (What We Do In The Shadows), Beth Dover (Orange Is the New Black), Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick), Emily V. Gordon (Little America) and music from American rock band, OK Go.

Mike Epps Gets HGTV Series; black-ish's Marsai Martin Headlines Paramount+ Comedy Film

Actor, comedian, producer and real estate investor Mike Epps is an Indianapolis native on a mission to revitalize his childhood street in the newly greenlighted HGTV series Buying Back the Block (wt). Mike and his wife, television producer and design enthusiast Kyra Epps, who've already transformed an abandoned firehouse on the block into their stunning new family home, will continue improving the neighborhood and restoring a sense of community with more property renovations. The duo will update each house, adding modern amenities and keeping the original charm, to create affordable and beautiful places for families to buy or rent. Driven by his passionate vision, Mike will be hands-on as he oversees the projects, including the overhaul of his grandmother's house, alongside his expert construction team. The three-episode series is slated to air in summer 2023.

Paramount+ announced that its upcoming family sports comedy, Fantasy Football, will exclusively premiere on the service beginning Friday, Nov. 25 in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia, and next year in additional international territories where Paramount+ is available. Starring and produced by Marsai Martin (black-ish, Little), joined by Omari Hardwick (Army of the Dead, Pieces of Her), Kelly Rowland (American Soul) and Rome Flynn (How to Get Away with Murder), the comedic family sports fantasy film also stars Elijah Richardson, Hanani Taylor, Abigail Killmeier, Tyla Harris and Isac Ivan.

In this hilarious and heartwarming father-daughter sports fantasy, everything changes when Callie A. Coleman (Marsai Martin) discovers she can magically control her father, Bobby's (Omari Hardwick) performance on the football field. When Callie plays as her dad, a running back for the Atlanta Falcons, in EA SPORTS(TM)' "Madden NFL 23," Bobby is transformed from a fumblitis-plagued journeyman to a star running back bound for superstardom alongside his daughter and wife Keisha (Kelly Rowland). With the NFL Playoffs looming and the pressures of Callie's new commitment to her friends on the robotics team mounting, the two must forge ahead to keep the magic a secret as they juggle the highs and lows of their newfound success, all as they rediscover what it really means to be a family.

COZI TV Fall 2022 Schedule; FX Announces New Drama Premiere Date for Hulu

A few weeks ago COZI TV announced their new additions for Fall, now we have the rest of the lineup that will start Monday (Oct. 3). Much of the weekday afternoon lineup has changed due to Monk and Bones being added, and Las Vegas being added in late fringe. Amen is completely off the lineup, while Gimme a Break! is now just weekdays 4-5am. Also, 3rd Rock from the Sun will now air only 3-4am, but 7 days a week. Weeknight & Sunday night primetime sitcoms stay, with Frasier from 8-10pm, followed by an hour each of Roseanne and The Nanny. Due to all the changes, Little House on the Prairie is now only on Sundays, but from 11am-4pm leading into a block of The Munsters from 4pm-8pm. And finally, Saturday nights got more better with everyone's favorite detective Columbo, now airing from 8pm-12am.

FX's Fleishman Is in Trouble, based on Taffy Brodesser-Akner's critically acclaimed, best-selling novel, will premiere Thursday, November 17 exclusively on Hulu. The premiere will feature the first two episodes of the eight-episode series. A new episode will be available each subsequent Thursday. The series will soon be available on Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ under the Star banner in all other territories. Fleishman Is In Trouble is the story of recently divorced 41-year-old "Toby Fleishman" (Jesse Eisenberg), who dives into the brave new world of app-based dating with the kind of success he never had dating in his youth, before he got married at the tail end of medical school. But just at the start of his first summer of sexual freedom, his ex-wife, "Rachel" (Claire Danes), disappears, leaving him with 11-year-old "Hannah" (Meara Mahoney Gross) and 9-year-old "Solly" (Maxim Swinton) and no hint of where she is or whether she plans to return. As he balances parenting, the return of old friends "Libby" (Lizzy Caplan) and "Seth" (Adam Brody), a potential promotion at the hospital that is a long time coming - and all the eligible women that Manhattan has to offer - he realizes that he'll never be able to figure out what happened to "Rachel" until he can finally face what happened to their marriage in the first place.

Tudum: A Netflix Global Fan Event Recap; The White Lotus Season 2 Premieres Oct. 30

Netflix announced a lot of news this weekend at their global fan event livestream. Some of the news includes: You introduced new characters with its new location in England as Penn Badgley led fans through the changes that await Joe in Season 4 in a brief vignette. The fourth season premieres on Feb. 10 with the first half of episodes, followed by the second half on March 10. Wednesday, the new take on The Addams Family, premieres globally November 23, only on Netflix. Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini return for the third and final season of Dead to Me on November 17. The comedy Emily in Paris starring Lily Collins returns for season three on December 21. And in casting news, Love, Victor star Michael Cimino is joining Never Have I Ever to set up a foursome for Devi's love life in the show's fourth and final season.

HBO's Emmy(R)-winning series, The White Lotus, from Mike White, returns for a second installment of seven episodes debuting on Sunday, October 30 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. The first installment, set in Hawaii, received 20 Emmy(R) nominations across 13 categories and 10 wins, the most wins of any program this year, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. In the new season, the social satire is set at an exclusive Sicilian resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week. Season 2 cast: F. Murray Abraham, Jennifer Coolidge, Adam DiMarco, Beatrice Grannò, Meghann Fahy, Jon Gries, Tom Hollander, Sabrina Impacciatore, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, Haley Lu Richardson, Will Sharpe, Simona Tabasco, and Leo Woodall.

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 26, 2022)

SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Sets Premiere Date for Addams Family Based Series Wednesday; Peacock Cancels Queer as Folk

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! There hasn't been any big news this week, but there has been a lot of little news bits, including a premiere date for Wednesday, news about Jeff Garlin's departure from The Goldbergs, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Netflix has revealed a premiere date for Wednesday (their Addams Family based series) for November 23, which is not before Halloween but is on a Wednesday. (Variety)
• Jeff Garlin's character has been killed off on The Goldbergs, and here's how that happened (don't read if you haven't watched it and hate spoilers). (Deadline)
• Peacock has canceled the Queer as Folk reboot, though we'd forgive you if you didn't realize they had a reboot of the show. (Variety)
• Constance Wu is saying more about her experience on Fresh Off the Boat, and it seems clear that this series was a horrible experience for her. (Hollywood Reporter)
• If you thought what Discovery was doing to HBO Max was bad, now it seems that they're using Turner's cable networks (TNT specifically) to air some of the reality programs from Discovery+. (CNN)
• It seems that Roseanne Barr is trying to make a comedy comeback, but don't look for it on ABC, HBO, Netflix, or anything like that, as it'll be on Fox Nation, the streaming service connected to Fox News. (Variety)
• Peacock is joining the adult animated comedy party with one from Mike Judge. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (SEPTEMBER 24 - SEPTEMBER 30)

• The fall season gets busy on Sunday night, as Fox brings back all of their Sunday night favorites and ABC brings back their celebrity versions of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
• Decades is going a little deep into the archives (though it is a series that they have aired regularly) with a binge of Our Miss Brooks this weekend.
• More CBS and Fox comedies arrive for their new season on Thursday night.
• If you're interested in old news, Pluto TV now has a dedicated channel for segments from 60 Minutes over the past decade or so.

FX Renews Reservation Dogs for Season 3; Stars of Young Sheldon Head to The Price Is Right at Night

A'ho! More good medicine is on the way! FX's Reservation Dogs, the AFI Award and Peabody Award-winning series from co-creators and executive producers Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, has been renewed for a third season. The series, available exclusively on Hulu, is currently presenting its acclaimed second season. The third season will be available in 2023 exclusively on Hulu. Season two concludes Wednesday, September 28 on Hulu with episode 10, "I Still Believe." The Rez Dogs go on a journey for Daniel. Written by Tommy Pico; Directed by Sterlin Harjo. Filmed on location in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Reservation Dogs is a breakthrough in Indigenous representation on television, both in front of and behind the camera. Every writer, director and series regular on the show is Indigenous. This first-of-its-kind creative team tells a story that resonates with them and their lived experiences.

The Price Is Right, hosted by Drew Carey, welcomes Young Sheldon actors Iain Armitage and Raegan Revord to a special primetime episode of The Price Is Right at Night, Friday, Sept. 30 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+. Armitage and Revord, who play twins on Young Sheldon, will guest model as an audience of real twins competes for double the amazing prizes, including a tech room inspired by Armitage's Sheldon character and a music room Revord's Missy would love. A trip to Texas, where Young Sheldon is set, is also up for grabs. The stakes are raised this season as The Price Is Right at Night is set to debut an additional five primetime specials, where contestants such as super fans and grocery store workers will have their pricing skills put to the test. More details to be announced. The Price Is Right, the longest-running game show in television history, is produced by Fremantle and broadcast weekdays (11:00 AM-12:00 PM, ET/10:00-11:00 AM, PT). Evelyn Warfel is the executive producer.

Bounce Dramedy Finding Happy Premieres Saturday (Sept. 24); Roku's Kevin Hart Comedy Adds More Stars for Season 2

Bounce, the popular broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, will premiere its newest original series, Finding Happy, on Saturday, September 24 with the first two episodes airing back-to-back starting at 8 p.m. EDT. Centering around the Black female experience through the eyes of protagonist Yaz Carter, Finding Happy is a dramedy about the unfulfilled life of Yaz, beginning with her unhappy thirty-sixth birthday. The 10-episode debut season features Yaz's loving-but-complicated family, her stagnant career in the evolving landscape of radio and a merry-go-round of unrequited love while dating in the love desert of Atlanta. Finding Happy reveals over time that true happiness can only be found within. B. Simone (MTV's Wild 'n Out) stars as Yaz along with Kim Coles (Living Single), Marketta Patrice (Black Jesus), Angela Gibbs (Hacks), Stevie Baggs (Ruthless) and Mike Merrill (A La Carte).

Roku announced that John Cena, Ben Schwartz, and Paula Pell have joined the cast of the highly anticipated Roku Original comedy series Die Hart 2: Die Harter. Emmy award nominee Nathalie Emmanuel will reprise her role from season 1. In addition to starring in the series, Kevin Hart also serves as executive producer. Eric Appel has returned to direct season 2 of the comedy series, with Tripper Clancy returning to write. From Hartbeat, the global, multi-platform media company creating entertainment where comedy meets culture, Hart, Jeff Clanagan, Candice Wilson Cherry, Bryan Smiley, Thai Randolph, Mike Stein, Luke Kelly-Clyne, Kevin Healey and Ty Walker will serve as executive producers.

After achieving his dream of becoming a bona fide action hero in Die Hart, Kevin Hart now wants to cement his legacy as the greatest action star of all time. He's developed a concept for a revolutionary movie where the action is so unscripted and unexpected that even Kevin won't know what's coming next. But Kevin's myopic dream comes with a blind spot, and he soon finds himself the victim of an evil revenge plot, orchestrated by someone from his past. Kevin must enlist the help of his favorite co-star Jordan King (Nathalie Emmanuel, returning for season 2), his over-eager assistant Andre (Ben Schwartz), Andre's mom Cynthia (Paula Pell), and legendary Hollywood stuntman Mr. 206 (John Cena) if he wants to survive.

The first season of the series, Die Hart, premiered on The Roku Channel in May 2021. After a successful debut with a record number of households streaming the series, Roku announced plans to order a second season of the series in June 2021. Die Hart was the first Roku Original series that the company renewed.

ABC Extends Jimmy Kimmel Live Through Season 23; Peacock Orders Animated Comedy

ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel has signed a three-year contract extension to continue as host and executive producer of ABC's Emmy(R) Award-winning late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! The extension will keep Kimmel on the network through a historic 23rd season, making him one of the longest-running talk show hosts in American television history. In addition to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel is known for hosting back-to-back Oscars(R) ceremonies in 2017 and 2018, and The Primetime Emmy(R) Awards in 2012, 2016 and 2020. Kimmel is also the host and executive producer of ABC's Emmy Award-winning Live in Front of a Studio Audience specials with Norman Lear and currently serves as creator/executive producer of the hit Kelly Ripa-hosted game show, Generation Gap. He is also a yearly highlight at the annual Disney Upfront presentation.

Peacock announced the straight-to-series order of the streamer's first adult animated comedy In the Know. Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-Head, Silicon Valley, King of the Hill), Zach Woods (Silicon Valley, The Office) and Brandon Gardner will co-create and executive produce. Judge and Woods will both star. Alongside Judge, Greg Daniels (The Office) and Dustin Davis executive produce for Bandera Entertainment. The series comes from studio Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and executive producers Bandera Entertainment. Lauren Caspian is NPR's third most popular host. He's a well-meaning, hypocritical nimrod, just like you and me. He's also a stop motion puppet. Each episode follows the making of an episode of Lauren's show In the Know, in which Lauren conducts in-depth interviews with real world human guests. Lauren collaborates with a diverse crew of NPR staff. They are also puppets and nimrods.

CBS Announces New Holiday Special; The CW Halloween Specials

Celebrate the holiday season with a new CBS Original animated special filled with joy and magic for the whole family! Reindeer in Here, a one-hour animated holiday special, will premiere Tuesday, Nov. 29 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), immediately following the beloved holiday classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Based on the award-winning Christmas book and plush set created by acclaimed author Adam Reed and written for the screen by Greg Erb & Jason Oremland, Reindeer in Here is the heartwarming story of how Blizzard (Blizz), a young reindeer living at the North Pole who has an unusual trait - one antler that is significantly smaller than the other - and his unique group of friends band together to save the future of Christmas. In doing so, they unknowingly create a magical holiday tradition like none other.

The CW Network announced its slate of Halloween-themed specials airing in October, including the brand new special presentation Mysteries Decoded Presents: Spirit Squad and encores of World's Funniest Animals: Halloween and the 13 Scariest Movies of All Time. Mysteries Decoded Presents: Spirit Squad follows paranormal investigator Sara Gray, psychic medium Steffany Strange, and paranormal researcher Brittney Crabb as they join to investigate the haunting of the historical Leonis Adobe residence in California, quickly discovering there might be larger supernatural forces at play. This all-new special presentation airs Monday, October 3 (9:00-10:00pm ET). World's Funniest Animals: Halloween gets into the spooktacular fun with host Elizabeth Stanton giving us a peak into the cutest animals in their Halloween splendor on Monday, October 31 (8:00-9:00pm ET). What makes a scary movie scary? Find out on THE 13 Scariest Movies of All Time as host Dean Cain counts down the best in horror films on Monday, October 31 (9:00-10:00pm ET).

Rewind TV's Sabrina, The Teenage Witch-O-Ween Halloween Marathon; Iliza Shlesinger Returns to Netflix

Rewind TV will air its "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch-O-Ween Marathon" on October 31. All six of the series' Halloween episodes including "A Halloween Story," "Good Will Haunting," "The Halloween Scene" and "Murder on the Halloween Express" will play in primetime from 8pm to 10:30pm ET. Melissa Joan Hart stars as the sitcom’s titular character who discovered she possessed magical powers and came from a long line of witches. The Sabrina, The Teenage Witch-O-Ween Marathon" airs on Rewind TV starting at 9am ET. The series regularly airs on Rewind TV Mon-Fri 11p ET | 8p PT & Sat 5p ET | 2p PT.

Iliza Shlesinger returns to Netflix with her sixth comedy special, Hot Forever. The special is set to premiere globally on October 11, 2022. Hot Forever marks Iliza Shlesinger's sixth Netflix comedy special. Previous specials include Unveiled (2019), Elder Millennial (2018), Confirmed Kills (2016), Freezing Hot (2015) and War Paint (2013). The special was filmed at the Connor Palace in Cleveland in July 2022. Iliza Shlesinger returns to Netflix with her sixth comedy special, Hot Forever. Iliza proves to be the hilarious and poignant voice of her generation, boldly articulating the things we all wish we could say with topics ranging from every girl's ugly bra to how all adult men need to own a box spring. Hot Forever is forever relevant.

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 19, 2022)

SitcomsOnline Digest: Saturday Night Live Adds New Cast Members for New Season; Streaming Media Mergers in the Works?

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's officially that time: the fall TV season gets into full swing on Monday! But for today we have news about casting for Saturday Night Live, some streaming mergers, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• A new season of Saturday Night Live is coming up, and there will be some new cast members. (CNN)
• A Disney+ and Hulu merger could be in the works, if Disney can get Comcast out of the way. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Not to be outdone, Paramount+ and Showtime+ could be folded into one as well. (Variety)
• Call Me Kat will have sort of a Big Bang Theory reunion in an episode that will air in October. (Deadline)
• Scott Bakula will not be part of the new Quantum Leap, and he's explaining why. (Deadline)
• CNN has a new morning show coming, and it'll move Don Lemon out of primetime. (CNN)
• Even if it is the most improbable broadcast network for it, another Waltons movie is headed to The CW. (TVLine)
• In case you missed the Emmys, here are the winners. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (SEPTEMBER 17 - SEPTEMBER 23)

• The new fall season gets into full swing next week, with season premieres of CBS comedies on Monday and ABC comedies on Wednesday.
• ABC has Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter airing on Thursday night.
• The Hulu series Reboot debuts on Tuesday.
• Decades is having a binge of The Beverly Hillbillies this weekend.

The CW's A Waltons Thanksgiving Airs Nov. 20; Rewind TV's A Week of Very Special Episodes Includes Diff'rent Strokes, Facts of Life and More; Remembering Mark Miller of Please Don't Eat the Daisies

The CW Network announced that the new, original made-for-television movie A Waltons Thanksgiving will premiere Sunday, November 20 (8:00-10:00pm ET/PT). A follow-up to the highly successful The Waltons' Homecoming, the movie reunites the Walton family as they prepare for Thanksgiving in 1934. The Depression has affected everyone, but John Walton (Teddy Sears) has found a way to provide for his family through the farm and by picking up odd jobs from the eccentric Baldwin Sisters. It’s also the time of year for the Annual Harvest Festival Fair, where carnival rides, talent shows and pie contests become the center of attention for the Waltons. As the story unfolds, John Boy (Logan Shroyer) learns the true meaning of taking responsibility, Mary Ellen (Marcelle LeBlanc) comes to understand patience and collaboration, Grandma (Rebecca Koon) finds that winning can be complicated, and Olivia (Bellamy Young) shares her healing heart with every other Walton family member — at a time when each of them need it most. And when a young boy enters the Waltons' world, everyone's life is changed in ways they could never have imagined — transformed forever through love, faith and kindness!

A Waltons Thanksgiving stars Bellamy Young as Olivia, Logan Shroyer as John Boy, Teddy Sears as John Sr., Marcelle LeBlanc as Mary Ellen, Christian Finlayson as Jason, Tatum Matthews as Erin, Samuel Goergen as Jim Bob, Calloway Corrick as Elizabeth, Alpha Trivette as Grandpa Walton, Rebecca Koon as Grandma Walton, with special guest stars Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Richard Thomas, who originally starred as John Boy Walton in the beloved television series The Waltons, as adult John Boy, who narrates the movie. The television movie is produced by Magnolia Hill Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producer Sam Haskell, writer/co-executive producer Jim Strain, co-executive producer Hudson Hickman, producer Billy Levin, and producer Bobby Kelly. Joe Lazarov is the director/co-executive producer and Grammy® winner Tena Clark is the composer. The Waltons original series was created by Earl Hamner.

Rewind TV will air "A Week of Very Special Episodes" next week (Sept. 19-23). It will be a week of special episodes featuring very tough topics. You can catch these special episodes in all your favorite Rewind TV shows timeslots from 11am-6pm. Shows featured are The Facts of Life, Diff'rent Strokes, Family Ties, The Hogan Family, Growing Pains, Who's the Boss? and Head of the Class. Episodes include Diff'rent Strokes two-part episode "The Bicycle Man," where a neighborhood merchant who is actually a child molester plans to make his move on the unsuspecting Arnold and Dudley; The Facts of Life episode "Fear Strikes Back," where Natalie is attacked while returnign from a party; Family Ties episode "Say Uncle," where Alex discovers Uncle Ned's (Tom Hanks) serious drinking problem, and Who's the Boss? episode "Boozin Buddies," where Tony gets a lesson in peer pressure after Samantha comes home drunk.

Actor Mark Miller, who starred as Jim Nash on Please Don't Eat the Daisies, has died. He died on September 9 of natural causes at his home in Santa Monica, California. Mr. Miller was 97.

Miller's first starring role was as Bill Hooten on the 1960-1961 ABC sitcom Guestward, Ho!. The premise revolves around a New York City family, the Hootens, who tire of the urban lifestyle and relocate to operate a dude ranch in New Mexico. It was based on the 1956 comic memoir of the same title by New Mexico dude ranch operator Barbara "Babs" Hooton, written in cooperation with Auntie Mame author Patrick Dennis. The series also starred Joanne Dru, J. Carrol Naish, Flip Mark, Earle Hodgins, Jolene Brand and Tony Montenaro, Jr.

He starred as English college professor Jim Nash on the 1965-1967 NBC sitcom Please Don't Eat the Daisies. Jim and Joan Nash (Patricia Crowley) are a married couple who live in an old, turreted house in Ridgemont, New York, with their four rambunctious sons (Kyle, Joel, and identical twins Trevor and Tracy), a very tolerant live-in maid, and an enormous Old English sheepdog named Ladadog. The series ran for two seasons and 58 episodes. Miller received an Emmy nomination for writing the 1966 episode "The Magnificent Muldoon," which guest starred Burgess Meredith. The series also starred Kim Tyler, Brian Nash, Joe Fithian, Jeff Fithian, Shirley Mitchell, Harry Hickox (1965-1966), King Donovan (1966-1967), Dub Taylor (1965-1966), Ellen Corby, Bill Quinn (1966-1967) and Jean VanderPyl (1966-1967).

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Stanley, The Andy Griffith Show, The Patty Duke Show, I Dream of Jeannie and That Girl.

Miller guest starred in six episodes of NBC's The Name of the Game from 1969 to 1971. Four of those appearances was as Ross Craig, Glenn Howard's (Gene Barry) other executive assistant. He appeared as Howard Jones in 13 episodes of Bright Promise in 1970. He played J.R. Barnett in 17 episodes of Days of Our Lives from 1975 to 1976.

Some of his other drama guest appearances included I Spy, Gunsmoke, The Millionaire, The Tall Man, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Stoney Burke, Hawaiian Eye, The Twilight Zone, The Invaders, The Smith Family, The F.B.I. (1972), Adam-12, Cannon, Emergency!, Barnaby Jones, Kung Fu, The Waltons, Marcus Welby, M.D. (2 episodes), Harry O and The Streets of San Francisco (2 episodes).

Miller's other writing credits included The Jeffersons, Diff'rent Strokes (3 episodes), Together We Stand (2 episodes), What a Dummy (2 episodes) and The Munsters Today (4 episodes).

He wrote, produced and starred in the 1982 family film Savannah Smiles. It was about two vagabonds named Alvie (Miller) and Boots (Dononvan Scott) who befriend six-year-old Savannah (Bridgette Andersen). He wrote, produced and appeared in the 1974 comedy-drama film Ginger in the Morning, which starred Sissy Spacek. He wrote and starred as Gabe Sweet alongside Slim Pickens in Christmas Mountain: The Story of a Cowboy Angel (1981). Some of his other film credits included Youngblood Hawke (1964), Mr. Sycamore (1975) and Dixie Dynamite (1976).

Survivors include his three daughters Savannah, Penelope Ann (actress) and Marisa and his granddaughters: Amelia, Eloisa, Gretta, Sophie, Maria and Celeste.

Mr. Miller was a talented and versatile actor. He made more than forty appearances in television series and films. Please Don't Eat the Daisies is a wonderful show that should be available on DVD, streaming or aired on a channel. It has been many years since it was last shown in syndication. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment he brought us. He will be greatly missed.

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Antenna TV Celebrates The Bewitched Witch-O-Ween Marathon; Avenue 5 Returns October 10 on HBO

Celebrate Halloween with Antenna TV and everyone's favorite TV witch Samantha, plus Darren and Endora of Bewitched. Antenna TV will air "The Bewitched Witch-O-Ween Marathon" on Monday, October 31 starting at 5am ET. Airing in primetime between 7pm and 9:30pm ET will be the series' Halloween episodes including "The Witches Are Out," "Trick Or Treat," "A Safe and Sane Halloween," "To Trick Or Treat" and "The Ghost Who Made A Spectre of Himself." The fantasy sitcom stars Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens, a witch married to a mortal man. Additional cast members include Dick York "Darrin," Agnes Moorehead "Endora," Erin Murphy "Tabitha Stephens," Marion Lorne "Aunt Clara" and later Dick Sargent "Darrin."

Created by two-time Emmy® winner Armando Iannucci (HBO's Veep), the eight-episode second season of Avenue 5 debuts Monday, October 10 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. The comedy series is set 40 years in the future when traveling the solar system is no longer the stuff of sci-fi fantasy, but a booming, multibillion-dollar business. Avenue 5 takes us to a not-so-distant future where space tourism is a booming business. While manning a luxury spacecraft owned by Herman Judd (Josh Gad), Captain Ryan Clark (Hugh Laurie) finds himself in over his head when the ship is thrown disastrously off-course – turning what was meant to be an eight-week cruise into an eight-year journey. Picking up five months after failing to reroute the vessel, season two follows the crew – including fiery engineer Billie (Lenora Crichlow), unpredictable head of customer relations Matt (Zach Woods), and faithful right-hand Iris (Suzy Nakamura) – as they struggle to lead, calm, control, and, if need be, hide from increasingly unruly passengers. On earth, they're lauded as heroes, and in space, everyone can hear them scream.

Season two series regulars include Hugh Laurie, Josh Gad, Zach Woods, Rebecca Front, Suzy Nakamura, Lenora Crichlow, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Ethan Phillips. Guest Stars include Andy Buckley, Jessica St. Clair, Kyle Bornheimer, Adam Pålsson, Daisy May Cooper, Lucy Punch, Leila Farzad, Jonathan Aris and Arsher Ali.

Rick and Morty Season 6 Premiere Is a Hit; FX Brings Comedy Specials to Hulu

As the new season of Rick and Morty unleashes around the world, fans have turned out in droves to celebrate Adult Swim's Emmy(R) award-winning animated comedy. Beginning now, fans in the U.S. and select global territories will be able to stream the season six premiere episode "Solaricks" via Adult Swim's YouTube channel until September 27. Viewership in the U.S. continues to grow since the September 4 premiere. After only three days post-premiere, the first episode of season six of Rick and Morty saw +57% growth in delivery with delayed viewing three days after its premiere, bringing its overall delivery to 1,033,000 viewers (Persons 2+).

The premiere episode saw similar gains across key adult viewers, with Adults 18-24 up +55% (90K), 18-34 +60% (335K), 18-49 up +65% (713K), and 25-54 +65% (731K). These delayed viewing gains skewed slightly higher with males, but even female audiences grew by almost +50%. Debuting in 112 countries in 38 languages, Rick and Morty also captured substantial international viewership. Rick and Morty has been the best performing animated show on HBO Max in Europe since the platform launched. The series is also in the top 10 best performing series on HBO Max in Europe in 2022. HBO Max in Latin America reported a Rick and Morty viewership growth of over 500% in the week following the debut of the season six premiere episode on the service.

FX is bringing two comedy specials exclusively to Hulu - Kate Berlant: Cinnamon in the Wind and Byron Bowers: Spiritual N***a. Both of the specials will be available Thursday, September 15 on Hulu. Kate Berlant: Cinnamon in the Wind. In her first live solo standup special, filmed in 2019, Kate Berlant (KATE, Would It Kill You to Laugh?, A League of Their Own) performs an absurdist set, in an intimate space, shared not only with the audience but the mirror reflection of herself. Directed by Bo Burnham, Kate's special distorts audience's expectations to her comedy, while also exploring her clairvoyant connection to the crowd and her inability to stop performing.

Byron Bowers: Spiritual N***a is Byron Bowers' first stand-up special. After a life-altering revelation while tripping on psychedelic mushrooms, comedian Byron Bowers (The Chi, Honey Boy, Concrete Cowboys, Kimi, Ten Year Old Tom) stumbles straight from the desert into the Decatur Boxing Club, to deliver an intimate set in his hometown Atlanta. Directed by Alma Har'el, Byron's special talks about his long journey to his first comedy special, the stigma of mental health, and how tripping on mushrooms made him understand his schizophrenic father and altered the way he feels about his Blackness.