Friday, January 27, 2023

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

Carol Burnett

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.


The Simpsons - Family Guy - Bob's Burgers

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.

Yoshio Yoda

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.

McHale's Navy - Yoshio Yoda, Joe Flynn and Tim Conway

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.

McHale's Navy

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.

Carole Cook

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.

The Lucy Show - Mary Jane Croft and Carole Cook

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.

Here's Lucy - Carole Cook

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.

Sixteen Candles - Carole Cook and Max Showalter

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.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Sunday, March 26

The Simpsons - "When Nelson Met Lisa" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A future tale of Springfield's most unlikely couple.

The Great North - "Woodfellas Adventure" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The entire town of Lone Moose is determined to win the annual Cavalcade of Ships parade; Wolf uncovers a parade secret that could change everything.

Bob's Burgers - "Show Mama From the Grave" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob takes Linda and the kids to visit his mother's grave, but finding the headstone is harder than he expected; Teddy makes a grave mistake while doing repairs in the Belcher's house.

HouseBroken - "Who's Obsessed? (A Lifetime Original)" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Chief joins a walking group, a beautiful dog named Ruby tries to get close to him, but her intentions are not what they seem; Elsa's quest to make female friends gets derailed when she becomes suspicious of Ruby.

Bunk'd: Learning the Ropes - "Camp Fails and Beaver Tales" (Disney Channel, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Lou, Parker, Noah and Destiny head to Dusty Tush, Wyo., to open up a new camp at a dude ranch that they purchased from The Marshall.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 20)

Saturday, March 25

  • Halle Bailey (grown-ish) - Halle appears on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Mae Whitman (Up Here/Arrested Development) and Carlos Valdes (Up Here) - Mae and Carlos talk about Hulu's Up Here on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (November-March)

Frasier - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Ghosts - Season One Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Ten Growing Pains - The Complete Series

11/08 - Frasier - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/08 - Young Rock - Season Two (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/15 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Seven / The Complete Season Eight
11/22 - That '70s Show - The Complete Series (Mill Creek)
11/29 - Ghosts - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/06 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - 70th Anniversary Ultimate Christmas Collection
12/13 - And Just Like That... - The Complete First Season
12/13 - Hogan's Heroes - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

03/25 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Arrested Development Staying on Netflix (and Leaving Hulu); Grey's Anatomy Gets Season 20 Renewal
03/24 - Rewind TV Celebrates Mork & Mindy's 45th Anniversary on Earth Day; Disney's 6th Season of Raven's Home on April 9
03/23 - Antenna TV's Earth Day My Favorite Martian Marathon; Neil Patrick Harris Returns on How I Met Your Father
03/22 - Game Show Network Orders Tom Cavanagh Hosted Game Show; A Black Lady Sketch Show Returns for Season 4
03/21 - All That Stars to Reunite for Good Burger 2; Jim Belushi Returns For Another Season of Growing Belushi
03/20 - 2023 90s Con Recap in Hartford; Bel-Air Gets Season 3 on Peacock
03/19 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 20, 2023)
03/18 - SitcomsOnline Digest: New Sitcoms for Terry Crews and Wendi McLendon-Covey; Zachary Levi Holding Out Hope for Chuck Movie
03/17 - AXS TV Acquires The Monkees for Retro Night Block; HBO Max's The Other Two Returns in May
03/16 - Monk Returns with One Final Case on Peacock; John Mulaney Gets 3rd Netflix Comedy Special
03/15 - Apple TV+ Orders Comedy with Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey; CBS 2023 Season Finale Dates
03/14 - Disney+ Comedy American Born Chinese Premieres May 24; Tim Robinson Comedy to Return May 30 on Netflix
03/13 - New Girl Coming to Hulu and Peacock; Apple TV+ Renews Shrinking for Season 2
03/12 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 13, 2023)
03/11 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Beavis and Butt-Head Gets Second Season Renewal; Roles Cast in Bedrock Series
03/10 - Act Your Age Opens as Biggest Launch in Bounce History; Starz Comedy Blindspotting Returns April 14
03/09 - Mary Tyler Moore Film Premieres This May on HBO; Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head Returns for Season 2
03/08 - HBO's Barry Returns April 16; Schmigadoon! Trailer for Season 2
03/07 - American Dad! Season 18 Premieres March 27; Hulu's Tiny Beautiful Things Launches April 7
03/06 - Antenna TV Spring 2023 Schedule; Rewind TV Spring 2023 Schedule
03/05 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 6, 2023)
03/04 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Rachael Ray to End After 17 Seasons; Fox Renews Krapopolis for Third Season
03/03 - The Thundermans Return; TMZ's New Game Show
03/02 - Fox Renews Krapopolis for Season 3; Disney Channel's New Comedy Saturdays
03/01 - HBO Max Chuck Lorre Comedy Sets Production; New Shonda Rhimes White House Series
02/28 - Apple TV+ Releases Trailer for Ted Lasso S3; More on Chris Rock's Netflix Special
02/27 - Modern Family Star Heads to Season 2 of The Santa Clauses; 29th Annual SAG Awards Winners
02/26 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 27, 2023)
02/25 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Goldbergs to End After 10 Seasons; Decades to Rebrand as Catchy Comedy