Tuesday, December 06, 2022

Remembering Kirstie Alley of Cheers and More; Final Season of The Flash in February on The CW

Kirstie Alley

Emmy-winning actress Kirstie Alley, who starred as Rebecca Howe on Cheers and as Veronica "Ronnie" Chase on Veronica's Closet, has died. She died from colon cancer at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, on December 5. Ms. Alley was 71.

Alley's first appearance was an uncredited role as Princess Carna's (Barbara Rhoades) second handmaiden in a 1978 episode of the science fiction sitcom Quark. She appeared as a contestant in three episodes of Match Game in 1979 and one episode of Password Plus in 1980. In 1983, she guest starred as Marion Stevens in an episode The Love Boat. She starred as Casey Collins 1983-1984 ABC espionage series Masquerade. In 1985, she starred as Virgilia Hazard in the ABC miniseries North and South.

Cheers

She starred as Rebecca Howe on the NBC sitcom Cheers from 1987 to 1993. She joined the series in the sixth season (1987-1988) after Shelley Long (Diane Chambers) left after the fifth season (1986-1987). Rebecca Howe is the manager of the bar for the corporation that bought Cheers from Sam after his on-off relationship with Diane ended. After receiving two Emmy nominations for her work in 1988 and 1990, she won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1991. She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical in 1991. She guest starred as Rebecca Howe in a 1993 episode of Wings. The Cheers cast from seasons 6-11 included Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson and Bebe Neuwirth.

Veronica's Closet

Alley starred as Veronica "Ronnie" Chase on the 1997-2000 NBC sitcom Veronica's Closet. She also served as an executive producer for the series, which was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman. Veronica "Ronnie" Chase is the owner of Veronica's Closet, a company that sells lingerie and other bedroom accessories. Alley received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1998. The series, which aired for three seasons and 66 episodes, also starred Kathy Najimy, Wallace Langham, Dan Cortese, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, Cynthia Mann (season 1), Robert Prosky (season 1), Ron Silver (season 2) and Lorri Bagley (season 3).

Fat Actress

She played a fictionalized version of herself in the short-lived 2005 Showtime comedy Fat Actress. The series was created by Alley and Brenda Hampton. Alley also worked as an executive producer and writer. The cast included Rachael Harris, Bryan Callen, Michael McDonald (recurring) and Kelly Preston (recurring).

Kirstie

Alley starred as Madison "Maddie" Banks on the 2013-2014 TV Land sitcom Kirstie. Kirstie tells the story of Tony Award-winning actress Madison "Maddie" Banks as she navigates through life after Arlo (Eric Petersen), the son whom she gave up at birth, reappears. Alley served as one of the executive producers. She appeared as Maddie Banks in two crossover episodes with Hot in Cleveland in 2013 and 2014. Kirstie's cast included her Cheers co-star Rhea Perlman as Thelma Katz, Maddie's personal secretary, and Seinfeld's Michael Richards as Frank Baxter, Maddie's driver.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included Flesh 'n' Blood, Ink, Dharma & Greg (uncredited), The King of Queens, The Middle, Flaked and The Goldbergs. She received an Emmy nomination in 1997 for her role as Rose Marie Clericuzio in the crime drama series The Last Don. She starred as Nurse Ingrid Hoffel in the second season of the Fox horror comedy Scream Queens.

Alley appeared on and executive produced the 2010 A&E reality series Kirstie's Big Life. The series chronicles her life as she works to lose weight, launch a weight loss program and be a single mother. She was a contestant on the 12th season of Dancing with the Stars (2011–2012), finishing in second place. In 2018, she was a contestant on the 22nd series of the British reality show Celebrity Big Brother, in which she finished as runner-up. In 2022, she appeared as "Baby Mammoth" of Team Cuddly on The Masked Singer.

She won her second Emmy Award in 1994 for her role as Sally Goodson in the the 1994 CBS television film David's Mother. Some of her other television film credits included A Bunny's Tale (1985), Prince of Bel Air (1986), Infidelity (1987), Suddenly (1996), Toothless (1997), Salem Witch Trials (2003), While I Was Gone (2004), Write & Wrong (2007) and Baby Sellers (2013).

Kirstie Alley and John Travolta in Look Who'sTalking

Alley made her film debut in 1982 in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, playing the Vulcan Starfleet officer Lieutenant Saavik. She starred as Mollie Jensen with John Travolta in Look Who's Talking (1989), Look Who's Talking Too (1990) and Look Who's Talking Now (1993). Some of her other film credits included One More Chance (1983), Blind Date (1984), Runaway (1984), Summer School (1987), Loverboy (1989), Madhouse (1990), Sibling Rivalry (1990), Village of the Damned (1995), It Takes Two (1995), Deconstructing Harry (1997), For Richer or Poorer (1997) and Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999).

Survivors include her two children, William True Stevenson and Lillie Price Stevenson, and three grandchildren.

Kirstie Alley

Ms. Alley was a funny and talented actress. She was a great addition to the Cheers cast. She made everything she appeared in much better. We thank her for the many laughs and the entertainment that she brough us during her career. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Cheers or Veronica's Closet message board. View photos in our galleries.


The Flash

The CW Network announced the ninth and final season of The Flash will premiere on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT), followed by the midseason premiere of Kung Fu (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT). The season will consist of 13 episodes. After defeating the Reverse Flash once and for all, the ninth season of The Flash picks up one week later following their epic battle, and Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and Iris West-Allen (Candice Patton) are reconnecting and growing closer than ever before. But when a deadly group of Rogues descend on Central City led by a powerful new threat, The Flash and his team - Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker), Meta-Empath Cecile Horton (Danielle Nicolet), the light-powered meta Allegra Garcia (Kayla Compton), brilliant tech-nerd Chester P. Runk (Brandon McKnight), and reformed cryogenics thief Mark Blaine (Jon Cor) - must once again defy impossible odds to save the day. But as The Rogues are defeated, a deadly new adversary rises to challenge Barry Allen's heroic legacy. And in their greatest battle yet, Barry and Team Flash will be pushed to their limits, in order to save Central City one last time.

Like a bolt of lightning, The Flash arrived on The CW on October 7, 2014. The premiere raced to become The CW's most-watched telecast of any series in the history of the network with over 6.8 million Total Viewers (in final Live + 7 Day Nielsen ratings). A recipient of critical acclaim and awards recognition throughout its run, The Flash won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in 2015.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, July 23

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - " Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation" (FXX and FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Desperate to stave off a public relations nightmare, the Gang embraces their newfound corporate professionalism to strategically scapegoat one Paddy's employee to fall on the proverbial sword.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 21)

Wednesday, July 23

  • Fortune Feimster (FUBAR/Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Fortune guest hosts on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger (FUBAR) - Watch Arnold on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Freddie Prinze Jr. (Freddie) - Freddie appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Anthony Mackie (Twisted Metal) - Anthony is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Twisted Metal on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Steve Buscemi (Miracle Workers) - Steve stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Molly Gordon (The Bear/Ramy) - Molly appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Keyla Monterroso Mejia (Abbott Elementary/Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Brandon Kyle Goodman (Human Resources) - Keyla and Brandon are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Christopher McDonald (Hacks/Mr. Iglesias/Good Advice/Walter & Emily) - Christopher talks about Happy Gilmore 2 on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Sterling K. Brown (Starved) - Sterling talks about Washington Black on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Stephanie Beatriz (Twisted Metal/Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Stephanie talks about Twisted Metal on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) - Kevin is playing a round of Behind-the-Scenes and dishing on some of his biggest projects on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Tichina is telling Drew about being single and using dating apps, her daughter turning 21, and filming the last season of The Neighborhood on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood/New Girl) - Max and Tess Sanchez are telling Drew all about how they make their marriage work in an all new Drew Love on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

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07/21 - Hallmark Channel Acquires Gilmore Girls; Freida Pinto to Star in Netflix Series
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07/17 - Netflix's Geek Girl Season 2 Starts Production; The CW Picks Up Sullivan's Crossing for Season 4
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07/14 - CBS Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; HBO and Larry David Team Up Again
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07/09 - New Girl Summer on Hulu; Vir Das Gets Brand New Netflix Special
07/08 - Tubi Comedy Series Demascus Premieres in August; LEGO Masters Jr. Lines Up Celebs for 4-Week Event
07/07 - Digman! Season Premiere Moved to July 23; Hulu's Reasonable Doubt Returns September 18
07/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 7, 2025)
07/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Comedy Central Delays South Park and Digman! Season Premieres; Jackée to Appear in Guest Role in Netflix Series
07/04 - Happy 4th of July; Antenna TV's McHale's Navy Red, White and Navy Independence Day Marathon
07/03 - The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 3 Premieres August 6; South Park New Season Moves by Two Weeks
07/02 - FETV Acquires The Rookies; Hulu Renews The Bear for Season 5
07/01 - Bert Kreischer Gets Netflix Sitcom; NBC Gets Into Survival Mode This Summer
06/30 - The Comeback Makes Another...Comeback; First Look at Black Rabbit at Netflix
06/29 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 30, 2025)
06/28 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Comeback Returning for a Third and Final Season; South Park to Remain on HBO Max
06/27 - The White Lotus Star Teams Up with Netflix; Remembering Bobby Sherman, Lynn Hamilton, and Rick Hurst
06/26 - The CW's Fall Movie of the Week; First Look at New York Comic Con 2025
06/25 - Netflix Renews Ransom Canyon for Season 2; My Life with the Walter Boys First Look for Season 2
06/24 - Marc Maron Gets Second HBO Comedy Special; Outlander Prequel Renewed for Season 2 Ahead of Series Premiere
06/23 - MeTV Summer Changes, Adds Adventures of Superman; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Summer Guest Hosts
06/22 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 23, 2025)