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Master Minds Returns Jan. 9 on Game Show Network; Remembering Sons & Daughters Co-Creator Nick Holly, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Ron Masak and Others We Recently Lost

Season 3 of Master Minds hosted by Brooke Burns will premiere on Monday, January 9 at 6 p.m. ET on Game Show Network and air weekdays. In Master Minds, three contestants square off against three trivia Master Minds in multiple rounds of intense trivia competition. The lowest scoring player on each side is eliminated until the top competitor and top Master Mind are left standing and now must face off, head-to-head, in the Ultimate Trivia Challenge. If the contestant can get more questions correct than the Master Mind, they will win $10,000 and come back to challenge the Masters again. If they win two games in a row, they join the ranks of the Master Minds and will appear in future episodes.

Actress and Emmy(R)-nominated television host Brooke Burns began her career with breakout roles in Ally McBeal, Baywatch and Melrose Place. In 2002, she made her game show hosting debut on NBC's Dog Eat Dog, and went on to host ABC's You Deserve It with Chris Harrison. From 2013-2015 Burns served as host of Game Show Network's Emmy(R)-nominated and wildly popular UK-adapted trivia show, The Chase, where she was also nominated for an Emmy(R) as Outstanding Game Show Host. Burns is also known for her starring roles on the Hallmark and Lifetime Channels, currently for the original Hallmark movie franchise Gourmet Detective, and earlier films A Sister's Revenge, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year and Christmas Connection.

Television writer, producer and manager Nick Holly, who was the co-creator of Sons & Daughters, has died. He died on November 21 of lung cancer, surrounded by loved ones at his home in Santa Monica, California. Mr. Holly was 51.

Holly and Fred Goss created the short-lived 2006 ABC sitcom Sons & Daughters. It is about about an extended blended family living close together in a neighborhood. Holly, Goss, Lorne Michaels and Joann Alfano served as the executive producers. Holly wrote nine episodes and directed one episode. The cast included Fred Goss, Gillian Vigman, Jerry Lambert, Alison Quinn, Max Gail, Dee Wallace-Stone, Amanda Walsh, Desmond Harrington, Greg Pitts, Eden Sher, Randy Wayne, Trevor Einhorn, Noah Matthews, Lexi Jourden and Lois Hall.

Holly and Goss were writers for the 2011 YouTube animated web series The LeBrons. In 2005, he was the executive producer for the TV movie The Weekend. He worked as a mananager for writers of television, film and Broadway.

Survivors include his mother, Michael Holly; stepfather Keith Moxey; sister, actress Lauren Holly; and girlfriend, Amy Shapiro.

Mr. Holly helped create the funny and underrated Sons & Daughters. The series was never given a full chance by ABC. ABC tried another series with an extended blended family in 2010 with Modern Family, which became a big hit for 11 seasons. We thank him for his work bringing us Sons & Daughters, which should be available on DVD or streaming. He will be missed.

Actor Clarence Gilyard Jr., who starred as Conrad McMasters on Matlock and as James "Jimmy" Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger, has died. He died after a long illness on November 28 at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Gilyard was 66.

Gilyard starred as Roland Culp on the short-lived 1984 NBC sitcom The Duck Factory. Roland Culp is a storyboard artist at an animation studio nicknamed The Duck Factory, which produces a TV cartoon called Dippy Duck. The cast included Jim Carrey, Teresa Ganzel, Jack Gilford, Julie Payne, Nancy Lane, Jay Tarses and Don Messick.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Diff'rent Strokes (2 episodes), Making the Grade, 227 and The Facts of Life.

He starred as Conrad McMasters on the NBC/ABC legal drama Matlock from 1989 to 1993. Conrad McMasters is Ben Matlock's (Andy Griffith) second private investigator who is a former deputy sheriff and a rodeo rider.

Gilyard starred as James "Jimmy" Trivette on the 1993-2001 CBS western crime drama Walker, Texas Ranger. Jimmy Trivette is Cordell Walker's (Chuck Norris) Texas Ranger partner and the deurotagonist of the series. Gilyard directed an episode of the series in 1999.

He starred as Officer Benjamin Webster on the sixth and final season of CHiPs from 1982 to 1983. Some of his other television guest appearances included Riptide and Simon & Simon.

Gilyard starred as Lieutenant Junior Grade Marcus "Sundown" Williams, a F-14 Tomcat radar intercept officer, in Top Gun (1986). He played Theo, a criminal computer expert, in Die Hard (1988). He played Pastor Bruce Barnes in Left Behind: The Movie (2000) and its sequel, Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002).

Mr. Gilyard was a talented and versatile actor. He was also an associate professor in the College of Fine Arts – Department of Theatre at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. We thank him for the entertainment he brought us during his career. He will be greatly missed.

Character actor Ron Masak played the recurring role of Sheriff Mort Metzger on Murder, She Wrote. He starred on the 1973 sitcom Love Thy Neighbor. He died of natural causes on October 20 in Thousand Oaks, California. Mr. Masak was 86.

Masak starred as Charlie Wilson on the short-lived ABC sitcom Love Thy Neighbor, which aired for 12 episodes in the summer of 1973. Masak and Joyce Bulifant portrayed a husband and wife who discover they're not as open-minded as they thought when a black couple (Harrison Page and Janet MacLachlan) move in next door. The series was based on the British TV hit Love Thy Neighbour.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances in the 1960s included The Monkees (2 episodes as The Count), The Second Hundred Years (2 episodes), The Flying Nun, Get Smart, The Good Guys (2 episodes as Andy Gardner), I Dream of Jeannie (2 episodes), Mayberry R.F.D., Nanny and the Professor, Arnie and Bewitched (5 episodes).

Masak's sitcom guest appearances in the 1970s and 1980s included Funny Face, The Bob Newhart Show, Love, American Style (4 episodes), Good Times, Barney Miller, Good Heavens, Alice, Private Benjamin, Goodnight, Beantown (1984), Jennifer Slept Here, E/R (1984), Diff'rent Strokes, New Love, American Style (1985), Bustin' Loose, She's the Sheriff, Webster (4 episodes as Woody Feldman).

He portrayed the recurring role of Sheriff Mort Metzger of Cabot Cove on Murder, She Wrote, taking over for Tom Bosley's Sheriff Amos Tupper. He appeared in 41 episodes from 1988 to 1996. Angela Lansbury predeceased him by only nine days.

Some of his other television guest appearances included The Twilight Zone, Ironside, McMillan & Wife, Insight, Mission: Impossible, Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law, Longstreet, Medical Center, Emergency!, Land of the Lost, Police Woman, Barnaby Jones, The Rockford Files, Police Story (6 episodes), Wonder Woman, Supertrain, Magnum, P.I. (1981), Quincy M.E., Jessica Novak, Falcon Crest, Remington Steele, Starman, The Law and Harry McGraw and Cold Case.

His film credits included Ice Station Zebra (1968), Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) and Harper Valley PTA (1978).

Survivors include his wife, Kay, whom he married in September 1961; their children Kathryn, Tammy, Debbie, Christine and twins Michael and Robert; ten grandchildren; and two cousins, actors Michael and Mary Gross.

Mr. Masak was a familiar and dependable character actor with more than 100 television series and film credits. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment he brought us during his long career. He will be sorely missed.

Actor Kevin Conroy was known for his voice portrayal of the DC Comics superhero Batman in various animated media, beginning with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992. He starred on the sitcoms Rachel Gunn, R.N. in 1992 and The Office in 1995. He died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City from colorectal cancer on November 10. Mr. Conroy was 66.

Conroy starred as Dr. David Dunkle on the short-lived 1992 Fox sitcom Rachel Gunn, R.N., which aired for 10 episodes (plus 3 unaired). The series followed the staff of Little Innocence Hospital in Nebraska. It also starred Christine Ebersole, Megan Mullally, Bryan Brightcloud, Dan Tullis Jr., Kathleen Mitchell and Lois Foraker.

He starred as Steve Gilman on the short-lived 1995 CBS sitcom The Office. Steve Gilman is a sleazy salesman and the boss of Deborah (Kristin Dattilo-Hayward), a naive MBA student. The cast included Valerie Harper, Dakin Matthews, Debra Jo Rupp, Lisa Durr, Andrea Abbate and Gary Dourdan.

Conroy guest starred as Darryl Mead in two episodes of Cheers in 1989 and 1990. He played Roger Harris in a 1991 episode of Murphy Brown.

He played Chase Kendall on the daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow for 79 episodes from 1984 to 1985. He had a recurring role as gay lawyer Bart Fallmont in eight episodes of Dynasty from 1985 to 1986. He starred as Captain Lloyd Hamilton on the 1987-1988 ABC police procedural Ohara. He played company commander Captain Rusty Wallace in 12 episodes of Tour of Duty.

Some of his other television guest appearances included Matlock, Kay O'Brien, Spenser: For Hire and WIOU.

Conroy was also known for his voice work. He was best known for his starring role as Bruce Wayne / Batman in the acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995). He continued to voice Batman in various animated spin-off productions, which collectively took place in what is known as the DC Animated Universe (DCAU). These spin-offs include the TV shows The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999), Batman Beyond (1999–2001, in which he portrays an elderly Bruce Wayne retired from crimefighting), Justice League (2001–2004), and Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006), as well as the theatrical film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), and the direct-to-video films Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998), Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000), and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003). He also voiced Batman for the character's guest appearances in the DCAU's Superman: The Animated Series, Static Shock and The Zeta Project.

Mr. Conroy was a fine actor with a great voice. We thank him for work on television during his career. He will be greatly missed.

Actor Michael Callan starred as Peter Christopher on Occasional Wife. He died of pneumonia on October 10 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Mr. Callan was 86.

Callan starred as Peter Christopher on the 1966-1967 NBC sitcom Occasional Wife. Peter Christopher is a bachelor who enjoyed the single life, but was blocked from professional advancement by not having a wife. Christopher asked a young hat check girl, Greta Patterson (Patricia Harty), to pose as his wife at company functions. Vin Scully was the uncredited narrator. He commented on the increasingly complicated problems created by the arrangement between Peter and Greta.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Hazel, That Girl, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Funny Face (1971), Love, American Style (8 episodes), The Love Boat and E/R (1984).

Some of his other television guest appearances included Dr. Kildare, Breaking Point, 12 O'Clock High, The Felony Squad, Journey to the Unknown, The Name of the Game, Ironside, Marcus Welby, M.D. (1972), The F.B.I. (4 episodes), Griff, McMillan & Wife, Lucas Tanner, Police Story (4 episodes), Barnaby Jones, Medical Center, Medical Story, S.W.A.T. (1975), Ellery Queen, Switch, Delvecchio, The Bionic Woman, Vega$, Charlie's Angels (2 episodes), Simon & Simon, Automan, Fantasy Island (5 episodes), The Fall Guy (2 episodes), T.J. Hooker, Crazy Like a Fox, Hardcastle and McCormick (2 episodes), Knight Rider, Houston Knights, Dragnet (1990), Swamp Thing and Murder, She Wrote (4 episodes).

He starred as Eddie Horner in Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961). He played Dr. Alec Considine in The Interns (1962). In 1965, he played Clay Boone in Cat Ballou. He originated the role of Riff in West Side Story on Broadway.

Mr. Callan was a solid character actor with around 90 television and film credits during his career, which spanned from 1954 to 2006. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment he brought us. He will be sorely missed.

Actress Susan Tolsky starred as Biddie Cloom on Here Come the Brides. She died of natural causes at her Toluca Lake home in Los Angeles on October 9. Ms. Tolsky was 79.

Tolsky starred as Biddie Cloom on the 1968-1970 ABC comedy western Here Come the Brides. The series was loosely based on Asa Mercer's efforts in the 1860s to import marriageable women (the Mercer Girls) from the East Coast cities of the United States to Seattle, where there was a shortage. The cast included Robert Brown, Bobby Sherman, David Soul, Joan Blondell, Bridget Hanley, Mark Lenard, Bo Svensen, Henry Beckman, Mitzi Hoag, Hoke Howell, Eric Chase (1969-1970) and Patti Cohoon (1969-1970).

She starred as Bernadette Van Gilder, Madame's shy secretary, on the 1982-1983 first-run syndicated sitcom Madame's Place. The series is based on the ribald, acerbic, aging-celebrity diva Madame, a puppet character portrayed by Wayland Flowers. The cast included Judy Landers, Johnny Haymer, Corey Feldman, Ty Henderson (recurring) and Edie McClurg (recurring).

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included The Second Hundred Years, Bewitched, Here's Lucy (2 episodes), Love, American Style (2 episodes), Barney Miller (2 episodes), Alice (4 episodes), Bustin' Loose and Webster.

She was also known for her voice work. She had a recurring role as Binkie Muddlefoot on Darkwing Duck from 1992 to 1993. Some of her other voice credits included Foofur, Fantastic Max, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures, TaleSpin, Goof Troop, Aladdin, Bobby's World, Hercules, Pepper Ann and The Buzz on Maggie.

Ms. Tolsky was a talented and funny actress. Madame's Place would be nice to see again one day. We thank her for work on screen on television and for her voice credits. She will be deeply missed.

Actor Robert Brown starred as Jason Bolt on Here Come the Brides. He died on September 19 in Ojai, California. Mr. Brown was 95.

Brown starred as Jason Bolt on the 1968-1970 ABC comedy western Here Come the Brides. The series was loosely based on Asa Mercer's efforts in the 1860s to import marriageable women (the Mercer Girls) from the East Coast cities of the United States to Seattle, where there was a shortage. The cast included Bobby Sherman, David Soul, Joan Blondell, Bridget Hanley, Mark Lenard, Bo Svensen, Susan Tolsky, Henry Beckman, Mitzi Hoag, Hoke Howell, Eric Chase (1969-1970) and Patti Cohoon (1969-1970).

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Bewitched, The New Dick Van Dyke Show and Archie Bunker's Place. He was a close friend of Carroll O'Connor. He also appeared in an episode of In the Heat of the Night in 1994.

He starred as Carter Primus on the 1971-1972 syndicated adventure series Primus. The series, which was created and produced by Ivan Tors, also starred Will Kuluva and Eva Renzi.

Some of his other television guest appearances included Wagon Train, The Lawless Years (2 episodes), Bonanza, Perry Mason (3 episodes), 12 O'Clock High, Shane, Star Trek, Run for Your Life, Columbo, Police Story (2 episodes) and Fantasy Island.

His only feature film credits were the science fiction film The Flame Barrier (1958) and the horror film Tower of London (1962).

Mr. Brown was mostly active in the 1960s and 1970s. Here Come the Brides is a fun series worth checking out on DVD or on television when it is aired. Bobby Sherman and David Soul are the only surviving main cast members. We thank him for his work on television. He will be greatly missed.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:35 PM

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Labels: ABC, GSN, Here Come the Brides, Matlock, Obits, Sons & Daughters, Walker Texas Ranger