SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Remembering Sitcom Legend Cindy Williams of Laverne & Shirley; HBO's The Last of Us Renewed for Season 2

Actress Cindy Williams, who starred as Shirley Feeney on Laverne & Shirley, has died. She died following a brief illness in Los Angeles on January 25. Ms. Williams was 75.

Williams' early sitcom guest appearances included My World and Welcome to It, Barefoot in the Park, Nanny and the Professor, Getting Together and Love, American Style (2 episodes). She starred as the teenage wife with Michael Lembeck in the short-lived 1971 NBC sketch comedy series The Funny Side. Some of her other early television guest appearances included Room 222 (3 episodes), Hawaii Five-O, Cannon, Insight, Police Story and Petrocelli.

She first appeared as Shirley Feeney in the November 11, 1975, episode of Happy Days titled "A Date with Fonzie." Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney were a pair of wise-cracking brewery workers, who were "sure-thing" dates for Fonzie (Henry Winkler) and Richie (Ron Howard). After the success of their appearance, Garry Marshall decided to create a spin-off series for them.

Williams starred as Shirley Feeney on the 1976-1983 ABC sitcom Laverne & Shirley. Laverne and Shirley were two friends and roommates who worked as bottle-cappers in the fictitious Shotz Brewery in late 1950s Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Shirley is the perky, positive one. She also tends to be meek, while Laverne is more outspoken. She has a special relationship with her stuffed cat Boo Boo Kitty, a name Williams gave the toy after forgetting a line in rehearsal, and was the name of her mother's cat. Williams appeared in 158 episodes of the series. She left the series after the second episode of the show's eighth and what would become its final season, after she became pregnant with her first child. The series also starred Michael McKean, David L. Lander, Eddie Mekka, Phil Foster, Betty Garrett (1976-1981), Carole Ita White (1976-1977), Ed Marinaro (1980-1981) and Leslie Easterbrook (1980-1983).

She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1978. In 1981, she directed the episode "Sing, Sing, Sing." She guest starred as Shirley in four other episodes of Happy Days. She voiced the character in 13 episodes the 1981-1982 ABC animated series Laverne & Shirley in the Army and one episode of the Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour in 1982. She appeared in the specials "The Laverne & Shirley Reunion" in 1995 and "Laverne & Shirley: Together Again" in 2005.

Williams starred as Lisa Burke on the short-lived 1989 Disney Channel sitcom Just Like Family. Her then real-life husband Bill Hudson co-starred as her husband, Tom Burke. The series was based on the 1986 Disney TV movie Help Wanted: Kids. It was about a couple who have to hire a couple of children to impress the man’s boss. It also starred Gabriel Damon and Grace Johnston.

She starred as Anne Harlow on the short-lived 1990 CBS sitcom Normal Life. The series was based on the real unconventional home life of the Zappa children. Anne Harlow works for the school board and is married to Max Harlow (Max Gail), a succsseful freelance writer. It also starred Dweezil Zappa, Moon Unit Zappa, Josh Williams, Bess Meyer and Jim Staahl.

Williams reunited with former Laverne & Shirley producers Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett to star in their 1993-1994 ABC family sitcom Getting By. The show was about two best friends and single mothers, one white and one black, who decide to split the mortgage on a new home in suburban Oak Park, Illinois and live there with their respective families. It also starred Telma Hopkins, Nicki Vannice, Ashleigh Blair Sterling, Merlin Santana and Deon Richmond.

She played herself in six episodes of the 2001-2001 Comedy Central sitcom Strip Mall. She had a recurring role as Ronnie in four episodes of For Your Love from 2000 to 2002. She guest starred as Mary Ellen Doyle in two episodes of 8 Simple Rules in 2002. She played Lisa James in two episodes of Girlfriends in 2004 and 2005. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Hope & Gloria, Son of the Beach, The Brothers Garcia, Less Than Perfect, Are We There Yet? and The Odd Couple (2016). She reunited with Penny Marshall in a 2013 episode of Sam & Cat.

Some of her other televison guest appearances included Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Touched by an Angel, 7th Heaven, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Drive (3 episodes).

Williams starred as Laurie Henderson, Steve Bolander's (Ron Howard) high school sweetheart in George Lucas' American Graffiti (1973) for which she earned a BAFTA nomination as Best Supporting Actress. She starred as Ann in Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation (1974). Some of her other film credits included Travels with My Aunt (1972), The Killing Kind (1973), The First Nudie Musical (1976), More American Graffiti (1979), The Creature Wasn't Nice (1983), UFOria (1985), Big Man on Campus (1989), Rude Awakening (1989), Bingo (1991) and Meet Wally Sparks (1997).

Williams performed onstage in the national tours of Grease, Deathtrap, and Moon Over Buffalo, and a regional production of Nunsense. She reunited with her Laverne & Shirley co-star Eddie Mekka in a November 2008 regional production of the Renée Taylor-Joseph Bologna comedy play It Had to Be You. She made her Broadway debut as daffy Mrs. Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone at the Marquis Theatre on December 11, 2007, succeeding Jo Anne Worley in the role originated by Georgia Engel.

She was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on August 7, 2013. In 2015, her memoir Shirley, I Jest! (co-written with Dave Smitherman) was published.

Survivors include her two children, Emily and Zak Hudson. She was married to Bill Hudson of the musical trio The Hudson Brothers in 1982. The marriage ended in divorce in 2000.

Ms. Williams was a sitcom legend. She was perfect in the role of Shirley Feeney. The cast had great chemistry. We thank her for the many laughs and entertainment that she brought us in her career. She will be deeply missed.

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

HBO drama The Last of Us has been renewed for a second season. The series from co-creators Craig Mazin (Emmy(R) Award-winning creator of HBO's Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmann marks HBO's second largest debut, behind only House of the Dragon. Episode 1 has now surpassed 22 million viewers domestically, up nearly 5x from its premiere night audience. Season one stars Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, Storm Reid as Riley, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, Lamar Johnson as Henry, Keivonn Woodard as Sam, Graham Greene as Marlon, and Elaine Miles as Florence. Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker also star.

New episodes of the series debut Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and are available to stream on HBO Max, leading up to the finale on March 12. The first episode of The Last of Us is available for free on HBOMax.com. Fans can also tune in to The Last of Us Podcast, the series' official companion podcast where host Troy Baker, who plays Joel in the video game, sits down with series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for a scene-by-scene deep dive of each episode.

Posted by Todd -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:00 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: ABC, HBO, HBO Max, Laverne and Shirley, Obits

Paramount+ Series Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Launches Feb. 16; Remembering Lisa Loring of The Addams Family

Paramount+ debuted the official trailer for the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard during the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals AFC Championship Game. The official season three key art is also now available. The final season of Star Trek: Picard premieres on Thursday, Feb. 16 exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., with new episodes of the 10-episode-long season available to stream weekly on Thursdays. Additionally, the trailer revealed two new season three cast members. Ed Speleers (Outlander, You) will appear as a series regular who aids Beverly Crusher's medical efforts on worlds Starfleet has forgotten, and Todd Stashwick (12 Monkeys, The Last Thing He Told Me) will also appear in a recurring role as captain of the U.S.S. Titan.

Star Trek: Picard features Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role as Jean-Luc Picard, which he played for seven seasons on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and follows this iconic character into the next chapter of his life. LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Jeri Ryan and Michelle Hurd star alongside Patrick Stewart in the third and final season of the hit Paramount+ original series. In the epic, thrilling conclusion of Star Trek: Picard, a desperate message from a long-lost friend draws Starfleet legend Admiral Jean-Luc Picard into the most daring mission of his life, forcing him to recruit allies spanning generations old and new. This final adventure sets him on a collision course with the legacy of his past and explosive, new revelations that will alter the fate of the Federation forever.

Actress Lisa Loring, who was best known for her role as Wednesday Addams on The Addams Family, has died. She had a stroke, possibly caused by smoking and hypertension, and died at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, on January 28. Ms. Loring was 64.

Loring starred as Wednesday Addams at six years old on the 1964-1966 ABC sitcom The Addams Family. The macabre/black comedy sitcom was based on Charles Addams' The New Yorker cartoons. Wednesday is Gomez (John Astin) and Morticia's (Carolyn Jones) daughter and the youngest member of the family. Wednesday is a strange yet sweet-natured little girl who enjoys keeping bizarre pets such as a black widow spider named Homer and a lizard named Lucifer, in addition to playing with a headless doll named Marie Antoinette. The series also starred Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy, Blossom Rock, Ken Weatherwax and Felix Silla.

She played Wednesday Sr. in the 1977 NBC TV reunion film Halloween with the New Addams Family.

Loring joined the cast of the 1966-1967 ABC sitcom The Pruitts of Southampton (also known as The Phyllis Diller Show) as Susan "Suzy" Pruitt. Her Addams Family co-star John Astin played Rudy Pruitt, the brother-in-law of Phyllis Pruitt (Phyllis Diller).

She played Cricket Montgomery, a half-sister of the regular character Margo Montgomery Hughes, in seven episodes of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns from 1980 to 1983. Some of her other television guest appearances included Dr. Kildare, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., Fantasy Island and Barnaby Jones (2 episodes).

Loring starred in three B-rate slasher films Blood Frenzy (1987), Iced (1988) and Savage Harbor (1987).

Survivors include her daughters, Vanessa and Marianne, and her grandchildren, Emiliana and Charles.

Ms. Loring did a wonderful job originating the role of Wednesday Addams on The Addams Family. The classic series and character have experienced a resurgence in popularity due the success of the Netflix series Wednesday, which stars Jenna Ortega as the titular character. John Astin is the last surviving cast member of the original series. We thank her for her work on television and in films. She will be deeply missed.

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

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:00 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Addams Family, Obits, Paramount+, Star Trek

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 30, 2023)

Posted by Todd -- SitcomsOnline.com at 2:15 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Talk Shows, This Week in Sitcoms

SitcomsOnline Digest: Neil Patrick Harris Reprises Character on How I Met Your Father; Rick and Morty Co-Creator Fired From Series

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're learning of some (unexpected) changes for Rick and Morty, hearing about what could have been for the Night Court revival, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Neil Patrick Harris is back as Barney in How I Met Your Father, and there is more of him to come. (Consequence)
• The co-creator of Rick and Morty has been fired from the series following domestic abuse allegations, leading fans to wonder what is next. (CNBC)
• John Larroquette and Melissa Rauch are talking about the Night Court reboot, and what could have been if Markie Post had not died so soon. (Deadline)
• Fox carefully planned the debut of their new series Accused with an airing after Sunday night football, hoping for ratings, but they apparently didn't plan on affiliates cutting off the ending of it in what they're calling a "technical glitch". (Deadline)
• Lance Kerwin, known for his role on James at 15, has died. (Deadline)
• Despite constant rumors that The Simpsons might be reaching the end of the series, Fox has renewed all three of their major animated comedies for two more seasons. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3)

• Decades is having a Honey West binge this weekend.
• Freeridge is a new series that debuts on Netflix on Thursday.
• Children Ruin Everything returns for a new season on Roku TV on Friday.

Posted by Skees -- SitcomsOnline.com at 1:00 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: How I Met Your Father, Night Court, Rick & Morty, SitcomsOnline Digest, The Simpsons

NBC Celebrates Carol Burnett's 90th Birthday in April; Fox Renews The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob's Burgers for 2 Seasons Each; Remembering Yoshio Yoda of McHale's Navy and Carole Cook of The Lucy Show

Paying tribute to a beloved national icon for her birthday, NBC will celebrate Carol Burnett's illustrious career with Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love. The two-hour special will air Wednesday, April 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will also stream next day on Peacock. The special will be filmed at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles. The star-studded event will feature an A-list lineup of musical performances and special guests who will come together to share their love for one of the most cherished comediennes in television history.

The evening will include musical performances from Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Jane Lynch, Katy Perry, Kristin Chenoweth and more. The musical tributes will pay homage to Carol's renowned career performances, including: "Old Friends," dedicated to Carol's 60-year friendship with Julie Andrews; "Only an Octave Apart," which Carol sang alongside Beverly Sills in the 1976 television special "Sills and Burnett at the Met"; Carol's memorable songs from the hit film "Annie"; and a tribute to her classic theme song, "I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together" from The Carol Burnett Show. Special guests attending this once-in-a-lifetime party include Aileen Quinn, Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Bob Mackie, Cher, Ellen DeGeneres, Julie Andrews, Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, Lily Tomlin, Marisa Tomei, Sofia Vergara, Steve Carell, Susan Lucci, Tracee Ellis Ross, Vicki Lawrence, and many more. The special will share some of the funniest and most memorable moments of Burnett's legendary career. From her Broadway debut in Once Upon a Mattress, her early appearances on The Garry Moore Show, her hit films The Four Seasons, A Wedding, Pete 'n' Tillie, her iconic role as Miss Hannigan in Annie, to her acclaimed sketch comedy series The Carol Burnett Show, which ran for 11 seasons on CBS and played an instrumental role in the evolution of comedy. Burnett's variety show co-star Vicki Lawrence will be in attendance, along with costume designer Bob Mackie. The Carol Burnett Show continues to make people laugh more than 40 years later with its incredibly funny sketches, including, most notably, the hysterical Gone with the Wind satire.

Fox Entertainment has ordered early renewals for hit 20th Television Animation series The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob's Burgers. The three FOX Animation Domination fan-favorite series -- all produced by Disney Television Studios' 20th Television Animation -- have each received two additional seasons, continuing their long-time runs on Fox through the 2024-25 broadcast cycle. The renewals guarantee Seasons 14 and 15 for Bob's Burgers, the 22nd and 23rd Seasons of Family Guy and the record-setting 35th and 36th Seasons for The Simpsons, extending its standing as the longest-running scripted series in television history.

Japanese-born American actor and businessman Yoshio Yoda, who starred as Fuji Kobiaji on McHale's Navy, has died. He died in Fullerton, California, on January 13. Mr. Yoda was 88.

Yoda starred as Fuji Kobiaji on the 1962-1966 ABC sitcom McHale's Navy. Seaman 3rd Class Fujiwara "Fuji" Takeo Kobiaji is the lovable, boyish, Japanese prisoner of war and deserter from the Imperial Japanese Navy whom the PT-73 crew takes on as a de facto comrade and keeps hidden from Capt. Wallace (Wally) B. Binghamton (Joe Flynn) and almost everyone outside of McHale's gang.

The cast included Ernest Borgnine, Joe Flynn, Tim Conway, Bob Hastings, Carl Ballantine, Gary Vinson, Billy Sands, Edson Stroll, Jane Dulo (1962-1964), Gavin MacLeod (1962-1964), John Wright (1964-1966), Henry Beckman (1965-1966), Simon Scott (1965-1966), Dick Wilson (1965-1966), Jay Novello (1965-1966) and Peggy Mondo (1965-1966).

He starred as Sgt. Roy Tada in the 1962 film The Horizontal Liutenant. He played Fuji Kobiaji in the 1964 film McHale's Navy. He starred as Takeo "Fuji" Fugiwara in the 1965 film McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force.

His final acting credit was as Mr. Tenaka in the 1969 segment of Love, American Style titled "Love and the Letter." He was an associate producer for the 1970 film The Walking Major, which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1971.

He was the assistant vice president of inventory and senior division manager for Toyota in Hawaii. From 2012 until his death, he lived in Fullerton, California.

Mr. Yoda was a fine comic performer on McHale's Navy. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment that he brought us on the series. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our McHale's Navy message board. View photos in our galleries.

Actress Carole Cook, who guest starred on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy, has died. She died from heart failure in Beverly Hills, California, on January 11. Ms. Cook was 98.

Cook guest starred as Thelma Green in five episodes of The Lucy Show from 1963 to 1964. She played various characters in 13 other episodes from 1963 to 1968.

She played various characters in five episodes of Here's Lucy from 1969 to 1974. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The New Phil Silvers Show (2 episodes), My World and Welcome to It, That Girl, Maude, Chico and the Man, Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, A Family for Joe and Strip Mall.

Some of her other television guest appearances included U.S. Marshal (2 episodes), Kentucky Jones, Daniel Boone, Sarge, McMillan & Wife (4 episodes), Baretta, Ellery Queen, Emergency!, Bronk, Starsky & Hutch, Charlie's Angels (2 episodes), Kojak, Darkroom, Strike Force, Trapper John, M.D. (1982), Knight Rider, Hart to Hart, Quincy, M.E. (2 episodes), The A-Team, Magnum, P.I. (1986), Dynasty (4 episodes), Cagney & Lacey (5 episodes), Murder, She Wrote (2 episodes) and Grey's Anatomy.

She played Grandma Helen in Sixteen Candles (1984). Some of her other film credits included Palm Springs Weekend (1963), The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964), American Gigolo (1980), Summer Lovers (1982) and Grandview, U.S.A. (1984).

Ms. Cook was a talented and funny actress. She was a long-time friend and protégée of Lucille Ball. We thank her for her work on television and in films. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy message boards. View photos in our galleries.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:00 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Bob's Burgers, Carol Burnett, Family Guy, Fox, Here's Lucy, Lucy Show, McHale's Navy, NBC, Obits, The Carol Burnett Show, The Simpsons

CBS Renews Bob Hearts Abishola for Season 5; Marc Maron HBO Special Premieres February 11

CBS announced that it has renewed the popular Monday night comedy Bob Hearts Abishola for the 2023-2024 broadcast season. The CBS Original series joins CBS comedies Young Sheldon, Ghosts and The Neighborhood previously renewed for next season. In its fourth season, Bob Hearts Abishola is averaging 5.99 million viewers in its Monday 8:30 PM time period. With live+35-day multiplatform viewing, Bob Hearts Abishola increases to over 6.9 million viewers. The series is produced by Chuck Lorre Productions in association with Warner Bros Television. Bob Hearts Abishola airs Mondays (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and is available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Additional renewals will be announced in the coming months.

The HBO Original stand-up comedy special Marc Maron: From Bleak to Dark debuts Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. Legendary comedian and podcaster Marc Maron stars in his first-ever HBO comedy special filmed in front of a live audience at New York City's Town Hall. Over the course of a hilarious and deeply personal hour, Maron explores such universal topics as getting older, antisemitism and faith, and the superiority of having cats over children - especially during the pandemic. The comedian also opens up about the loss of his partner in 2020 and reestablishing his complicated relationship with his father. Funny and fearless, Marc Maron: From Bleak to Dark showcases the comedian's expertly layered cynicism as he deftly weaves humor and pathos into his signature style of storytelling.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:00 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Bob ♥ Abishola, CBS, Ghosts, HBO, The Neighborhood, Young Sheldon

BUZZR Wigs Out for Laughs on Friday; The CW's Comedic Launches

It's time to wig out! BUZZR is dedicating an afternoon of hair-raising hijinks on National Big Wig Day! Some say that blondes have more fun...but on National Big Wig Day, EVERYONE has a great time! So, comb your coiffure, fluff your fringe, and manage your mane because BUZZR is celebrating with vintage episodes from Family Feud, Match Game, Super Password, and more! BUZZR celebrates its crowning achievement in game shows. Join BUZZR for 8 hair-raising episodes in honor of National Big Wig Day. They have chosen classic episodes featuring contestants and stars wearing crazy fun wigs! Join the fun! BUZZR's "Big Wig Day" airs Friday, January 27, 2023 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm ET / 9:00am to 1:00pm PT.

The CW Network announced premiere dates for the new alternative comedy series The Great American Joke Off, debuting Friday, March 31 (9:30-10:00pm ET/PT), and Totally Weird and Funny, premiering Saturday, April 8 (9:00-9:30pm & 9:30-10:00pm ET/PT). The network has also set return dates for the hit improv comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway?, which begins its twelfth cycle on Friday, March 31 (9:00-9:30pm ET/PT), and the third season of the investigative documentary series Mysteries Decoded, premiering Sunday, April 2 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT).

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:00 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: BUZZR, Family Feud, Match Game, Super Password, The CW, Whose Line Is It Anyway

CBS Renews The Neighborhood for Season 6; Lifetime's New February Ripped from the Headlines Movies Starring Chrishell Stause and Samantha Mathis

CBS announced that it has renewed the hit comedy The Neighborhood for the 2023-2024 broadcast season. In its fifth season, The Neighborhood is averaging 6.13 million viewers in its Monday at 8:00 PM time period and grows to over 7.3 million viewers with live+35 day viewing across linear and streaming platforms. The comedy us about what happens when the friendliest guy in the Midwest moves his family to a neighborhood in Los Angeles where not everyone looks like him or appreciates his extreme neighborliness. Dave Johnson is a good-natured, professional conflict negotiator. When his wife, Gemma, gets a job as a school principal in L.A., they move from Michigan with their young son, Grover, unfazed that their new dream home is located in a community quite different from their small town. Their opinionated next-door neighbor, Calvin Butler, is wary of the newcomers, certain that the Johnsons will disrupt the culture on the block. However, Calvin's gracious wife, Tina, rolls out the welcome wagon; their chipper younger son, Marty, thinks the Johnsons could be good for the community; and their older son, Malcolm, finds Dave may finally be someone who understands him. Dave realizes that fitting into their new community is more complex than he expected, but if he can find a way to connect with Calvin, they have an excellent chance of making their new neighborhood their home.

The Neighborhood stars Cedric the Entertainer, Max Greenfield, Beth Behrs, Tichina Arnold, Sheaun McKinney, Marcel Spears and Hank Greenspan. Executive producers are Bill Martin, Mike Schiff, Aaron Kaplan, Wendi Trilling, Cedric the Entertainer and Eric Rhone. The series is produced by CBS Studios.

Lifetime releases airdates for previously announced A Rose For Her Grave: The Randy Roth Story (FKA A Rose for Her Grave) and 12 Desperate Hours (FKA Desperate Hours). Building off its Ripped from the Headlines movies and Life & Crime unscripted series, Lifetime continues to dive deep into true crime content with these two films. Premiering in February, the movies are inspired by books from New York Times best-selling true crime author, Ann Rule. A Rose For Her Grave: The Randy Roth Story (Sat Feb 18 @ 8|7c) is headlined by Chrishell Stause (Selling Sunset, Dancing with the Stars, Days of Our Lives), Colin Egglesfield (Something Borrowed, The Client List) and Laura Ramsey (She's the Man) and follows the crimes of notorious serial wife-killer Randy Roth and the fearless woman who finally brings him to justice.

12 Desperate Hours (Sat Feb 25 @ 8|7c) marks Gina Gershon's long-form directorial debut. Gershon directs Samantha Mathis (Billions), Harrison Thomas (Better Call Saul) and David Conrad (Ghost Whisperer) in the film.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:00 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: CBS, Lifetime, The Neighborhood

OWN Acquires Insecure Starting in February; Season 2 of Bel-Air Gets Tatyana Ali to Recur

The Emmy(R)-winning HBO comedy series Insecure joins the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network schedule for a Tuesday night block of back-to-back episodes, starting in order with the season one pilot on Tuesday, February 7 at 9:00 pm ET/ PT. Starring NAACP Image Award winner and eight-time Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) Award nominee Issa Rae, Insecure explores the Black female experience through best friends Issa (Rae) and Molly (Yvonne Orji), who must deal with their own flaws as they attempt to navigate different worlds and cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences. Over the course of season one, Issa attempts to figure out what she wants out of life and how to take control of it, while fumbling her way through this journey. The series also stars Jay Ellis, Natasha Rothwell and Amanda Seales. Insecure was created by Issa Rae & Larry Wilmore; executive produced by Issa Rae, Prentice Penny, Melina Matsoukas, Michael Rotenberg, Dave Becky, Jonathan Berry, Amy Aniobi and Jim Klever-Weis.

The new season of Bel-Air is streaming February 23 on Peacock, plus catch up on Season 1 streaming now. Set in modern-day Los Angeles, Peacock's successful one-hour drama series Bel-Air imagines the beloved sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air through a new, dramatic take on Will's complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he's ever known. Inspired by Morgan Cooper's viral trailer that reimagined the iconic, culture-defining '90s sitcom, Bel-Air takes a fresh and raw approach to this world of swagger, style, and aspiration, while exploring Will's complex journey through a current lens. The series features an ensemble cast that introduces new sensation Jabari Banks as Will and a creative team that includes showrunner, executive producer and writer Carla Banks Waddles and Cooper, who serves as executive producer. Tatyana Ali Who Played Ashley Banks in the Original The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air will Make a Recurring Guest Star Appearance.

Season two of Bel-Air picks up with Will at a crossroads in his life as a new figure comes into his life who challenges what he's learned in Bel-Air and competes for control of his influence. He juggles this while navigating his home life with the Banks family and trying to rebuild the trust that was broken at the end of last season. We'll see Will and Carlton's brotherhood start to evolve as they grow closer, but still challenge each other about their differences. We'll also see Hilary evolve as she becomes more of a boss in her influencer world and how that spills over into her relationship with Jazz, and also highlight the relatable struggles around Viv and Phil balancing marriage and family while trying to forge their own career paths and reconnect to the things that are important to them.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:00 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Bel-Air, Insecure, OWN Network, Peacock, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of January 23, 2023)

Posted by Todd -- SitcomsOnline.com at 3:15 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Talk Shows, This Week in Sitcoms

SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court a Success for NBC; South Park Season 26 Premiere Date Set

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about a ratings success for NBC, a premiere date for an adult animated favorite, and a new syndicated talk show for a previous network late night talk show host. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• It remains to be seen if it will hold, but the debut of Night Court on NBC was a solid performer in ratings. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Peacock has not yet found a big signature hit, as two more series are being cancelled. (Deadline)
• However, one (sort of) bright spot for Peacock is Bel-Air, and Tatyana Ali (from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) will have a recurring role in season 2. (Deadline)
• South Park has a premiere date for season 26, and it'll be here in less than three weeks. (IGN)
• Boy meets Congress? That's what Ben Savage has in mind, as he is considering running for a US House seat in California. (ABC News)
• Craig Ferguson is looking to return to late night talk, with a new syndicated series. (Deadline)
• Magnum P.I. arrives on getTV next month, and we have more details now. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JANUARY 21 - JANUARY 27)

• Decades has a binge of a forgotten 80s series this week, Crazy Like a Fox (and all 35 episodes will air).
• American Auto returns Tuesday on NBC.
• Hulu has a new season of How I Met Your Father on Tuesday as well.
• Saturday Night Live returns tonight after a month off, with Aubrey Plaza as host.

Posted by Skees -- SitcomsOnline.com at 1:00 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Bel-Air, Magnum, Night Court, SitcomsOnline Digest, South Park

Amazon Freevee Orders The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh; ABC's 20th Anniversary of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Amazon Freevee announced a greenlight for The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, an Original comedy series starring Emmy nominee and SAG Award winner Naveen Andrews (The Dropout, Lost), comedian Sindhu Vee (Starstruck), and Tony nominee Megan Hilty (Smash, Patsy & Loretta). Inspired by the personal experiences of Emmy-nominated Vijal Patel (black-ish, The Middle), the series follows the Pradeep family and the humorous events of their first few months after moving to America from India. As told through hilarious (and often conflicting) flashbacks from an interrogation room, the Pradeeps quickly find themselves embroiled - romantically, personally, and professionally - with a polar-opposite neighborhood family, leading to a predicament with many surprising twists. The eight, half-hour episode series is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios. Writer Vijal Patel will also serve as showrunner and executive producer. Emmy winner Sara Gilbert, Mandy Summers, and Emmy winner Tom Werner are executive producers. Michael Showalter of Semi-Formal Productions is also an executive producer and will direct the pilot.

ABC's Emmy(R) Award-winning late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! will celebrate 20 years on Thursday, Jan. 26, and will air a special primetime anniversary episode that evening at 10 p.m. The episode will re-air in the show's regular 11:35 p.m. timeslot later that night. Jimmy Kimmel Live! premiered on Jan. 26, 2003, with debut guests George Clooney, Snoop Dogg and Coldplay. Clooney, Snoop Dogg and Chris Martin of Coldplay will return as guests for the 20th anniversary special. Kimmel's recent contract extension will keep him on ABC through a historic 23rd season, making Jimmy Kimmel Live! one of the longest-running talk shows in American television history. The show broadcasts from the iconic El Capitan Entertainment Centre on Hollywood Boulevard. Jimmy Kimmel, Erin Irwin, Molly McNearney, Jennifer Sharron and David Craig serve as executive producers; Douglas DeLuca serves as co-executive producer. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is produced by 12:05 AM Productions, LLC, in association with KIMMELOT and ABC Signature. Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. PT/ET.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:00 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: ABC, Freevee, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh

TCA Winter 2023 Press Tour: Apple TV+; HBO's Rain Dogs Premieres March 6

Yesterday at the 2023 Winter Television Critics Association press tour, Apple TV+ showcased a first look at the highly anticipated, second season of Schmigadoon!, the Emmy and AFI Award winning, hit musical comedy series from co-creator Cinco Paul. Schmigadoon! will return for season two with all new original songs and guest stars on Friday, April 7, with the first two episodes of its six episode second season, followed by new episodes every Friday through May 5, 2023. Having found true love in the town of Schmigadoon, season two of Schmigadoon! will find Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) and Melissa (Cecily Strong) in Schmicago, the reimagined world of '60s and '70s musicals. The second season of Apple's broadly acclaimed comedy will include new original musical numbers from co-creator and executive producer Cinco Paul, as well as returning stars Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, Ariana DeBose, Martin Short, Dove Cameron, Jaime Camil, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ann Harada, Jane Krakowski, and Aaron Tveit are set to return, with Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page joining the cast for season two.

Apple TV+ announced that its comedy sensation Ted Lasso will return for its highly anticipated third season this spring 2023 and unveiled a first-look at the new season providing a taste of what's in-store for AFC Richmond. The comedy stars Jason Sudeikis as 'Ted Lasso,' an American football coach hired to manage a British soccer team - despite having no experience. But what he lacks in knowledge, he makes up for with optimism, underdog determination...and biscuits. The award-winning Apple Original comedy also stars Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster, Nick Mohammed and Sarah Niles.

Apple's global hit comedy The Afterparty returns for season two with a new murder mystery set to unravel Friday, April 28, 2023 on Apple TV+. Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson and Zoë Chao lead the season two ensemble cast alongside new additions Elizabeth Perkins, Zach Woods, Paul Walter Hauser, Poppy Liu, Anna Konkle, Jack Whitehall, Vivian Wu, John Cho and Ken Jeong. Apple TV+ and the cast and creators behind acclaimed, hit, murder mystery comedy series The Afterparty took the stage at the 2023 Winter Television Critics Association press tour to debut a first look and announce the premiere date for the highly anticipated second season. From Academy Award winners Chris Miller and Phil Lord, the 10-episode second season of The Afterparty will make its global debut with the first two episodes on Friday, April 28, followed by one new episode premiering weekly every Friday, culminating in the season finale set for June 23, 2023.

The eight-episode HBO original comedy series Rain Dogs, from BBC One and Sid Gentle Films Ltd, debuts Monday, March 6 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. From the brilliant new voice of Cash Carraway, Rain Dogs is an unconventional love story between a working class single mum, her 10-year-old daughter, and a privileged gay man. The dark comedy stars Daisy May Cooper, Jack Farthing, Ronke Adekoluejo, Adrian Edmondson and Fleur Tashjian in her debut role, as a dysfunctional family on the fringes of society attempting to go straight in a crooked world.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:00 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Apple TV+, HBO Max, Rain Dogs, Schmigadoon!, TCA Winter Tour, Ted Lasso, The Afterparty