Friday, November 08, 2024
CBS Orders Full Season for Poppa's House; The CW Acquires Bob ♥ Abishola Reruns; Remembering Alan Rachins of Dharma & Greg

CBS announced full season orders for the new comedy Poppa's House and the drama NCIS: Origins, the newest addition of the global franchise. Poppa's House, starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr., features Wayans as legendary talk radio host and happily divorced "Poppa" who has his point of view challenged at work when a new female co-host is hired, and at home where he finds himself still parenting his adult son, a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband. Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson also star. Dean Lorey, Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. executive produce for CBS Studios. Poppa's House airs on Mondays (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT).
NCIS: Origins follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS, and is narrated by Mark Harmon. In the series, Gibbs starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office, where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid). Mariel Molino, Tyla Abercrumbie, Diany Rodriguez and Caleb Foote also star. David J. North, Gina Lucita Monreal, Mark Harmon and Sean Harmon executive produce for CBS Studios. NCIS: Origins airs on Mondays (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).
The CW has acquired reruns of Bob ♥ Abishola. The series started in syndication this past Fall and now it will air on primetime as well on The CW. The sitcom will air Fridays beginning next Friday (November 15), in which it will air 8-10pm. Subsequent weeks it may be just 8-9pm. It will continue to air in local syndcation, Laff TV and COZI TV. In the series premiere, we meet Bob (Billy Gardell "Mike & Molly," "Young Sheldon,") who runs his family's successful, highly competitive sock company with his mother, Dottie (Christine Ebersole, Tony Award-winning actress in "Grey Gardens"), his sister, Christina (Maribeth Monroe "The Good Place" "Workaholics"), and his younger brother, Douglas (Matt Jones "Mom"). When the stress of the job lands him in the hospital, he meets Abishola (Folake Olowofoyeku "Transparent"), his kind, hard-working nurse to whom he's immediately drawn. Now, all Bob needs to do is convince her to give him a chance, which will take some time since they couldn't be different. After coming to America from Nigeria to find a better life for her and her son, Dele (Travis Wolfe, Jr. ("Raven's Home"), a straight-A student, Abishola lives in a small apartment with her super-protective relatives, Auntie Olu (Shola Adewusi "Babes") and Uncle Tunde (Barry Shabaka Henley "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.").
Actor Alan Rachins, who starred as Larry Finkelstein in Dharma & Greg, has died. He died from heart failure at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, on November 2. Mr. Rachins was 82.
Rachins starred as Douglas Brackman Jr. in the 1986-1994 NBC legal drama L.A. Law. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of the fictional Los Angeles–based law firm McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak (later McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney, Kuzak, and Becker). Douglas Brackman Jr. is a managing partner and interim senior partner. Rachins received Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for the role in 1988.
He starred as Myron Lawrence "Larry" Finkelstein, Dharma's (Jenna Elfman) hippie father, in the 1997-2002 ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg. Larry Finkelstein is a stereotypical 1960s radical who frequently rants about various conspiracies, a lot of which revolve around Richard Nixon. The series also starred Thomas Gibson, Mimi Kennedy, Mitchell Ryan, Susan Sullivan, Joel Murray and Shae D'lyn.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Brothers (1984), D.C. Follies, Ferris Bueller, The Golden Girls, Love Boat: The Next Wave, In-Laws, Just Shoot Me!, Surviving Suburbia, Happy Endings, Good Luck Charlie, The Crazy Ones, Mom, The Middle and Young Sheldon. He provided the voice of Norman Osborn in the 2008-2009 animated series The Spectacular Spider-Man. Some of his other voice credits included Batman: The Animated Series (2 episodes), Rugrats, Justice League Unlimited and American Dad!.
Rachins had a recurring role as Stanley in six episodes of the TNT crime drama Rizzoli & Isles from 2011 to 2013. Some of his other television credits included The White Shadow, Barnaby Jones, Dallas, Paris, J.J. Starbuck, Tales from the Crypt, Poltergeist: The Legacy, Diagnosis: Murder, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (2 episodes), Stargate SG-1, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Close to Home, Eli Stone, General Hospital (5 episodes), Grey's Anatomy and NCIS. He directed an episode of Paris in 1980. He wrote episodes of Hill Street Blues, Hart to Hart and The Fall Guy.
He starred as Tony Moss in Showgirls (1995). He played Fred Rutherford in Leave it to Beaver (1997).
Mr. Rachins was a talented and versatile actor. He was funny and memorable as Dharma's hippie father in Dharma & Greg. He will be greatly missed.
We also remember record producer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer Quincy Jones. He died from pancreatic cancer on November 3 at his home in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Jones was 91.
Jones composed "The Streetbeater", which became the theme music for the 1972-1977 NBC sitcom Sanford and Son, starring his close friend Redd Foxx. Although the piece did not reach Billboard status, it has maintained mainstream popularity, ranking 9th in a Rolling Stone Reader Poll of Television Theme Songs.
He composed the theme song for the 1966-1967 NBC sitcom Hey, Landlord. He also worked as a composer for seven episodes. He was the composer for the 1969-1971 NBC sitcom The Bill Cosby Show. He composed the theme music for the 1980-1981 NBC sitcom Sanford. Some of his other television composer credits included Ironside and Banacek. He guest starred as Les Appleton in a 1967 episode of Ironside. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for the ABC miniseries Roots (1977).
In 1990, Quincy Jones Productions joined with Time Warner to create Quincy Jones Entertainment (QJE). He was an executive producer for the 1990-1996 NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He appeared as himself in two episodes in 1990 and 1993. He was an executive producer for the 1995-1999 NBC/UPN sitcom In the House. In 1997, he produced the short-lived USA Network sitcom Lost on Earth. Jones also produced Fox's sketch comedy series Mad TV, which ran for 14 seasons.
Jones composed numerous films scores including for The Pawnbroker (1965), In the Heat of the Night (1967), In Cold Blood (1967), The Italian Job (1969), The Wiz (1978) and The Color Purple (1985).
Mr. Jones was a music legend. He received many accolades including 28 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for seven Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. We thank him for the music. He will be sorely missed.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, May 8
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Ladies Love Brunch" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Georgie tries to juggle his mom, his mother-in-law and Mandy on Mother’s Day. Meanwhile, Audrey wants to meet Connor’s girlfriend.
Ghosts - "The Devil Went Down to Woodstone" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam and Jay host a big party for the launch of Sam and Isaac’s vampire book. Mary Holland (Patience), Punam Patel (Bela) and Matt Walsh (Elias Woodstone) return as guest stars.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 5)
Thursday, May 8
- Paula Poundstone (Home Movies) - Paula performs stand-up comedy on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) - Natasha appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle talks about Netflix's Survival of the Thickest on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Maria Bamford (Lady Dynamite/Benched) and Doug Benson (You're the Worst) - Maria and Doug are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- John Benjamin Hickey (HouseBroken/The Big C/It's All Relative) - John stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11:15pm on Bravo.
- Patricia Clarkson (Davis Rules) - Patricia is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11:15pm on Bravo.
- Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - E! News has an interview with Kerry at 11pm on E!. Kerry and Omar Sy discuss their highly anticipated new film Shadow Force on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Rebel Wilson (Super Fun Night) - Rebel chats about Juliet & Romeo on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - In A Little Bit Extra Valerie and Ross Mathews are sharing more of their conversation with Al Roker in Charleston at the Food & Wine Classic on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) and Randall Park (Young Rock/Blockbuster/Fresh Off the Boat/Veep/Supah Ninjas) - Morris and Randall talk about Watson on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
New on DVD and 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)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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