Friday, June 27, 2025

The White Lotus Star Teams Up with Netflix; Remembering Bobby Sherman, Lynn Hamilton, and Rick Hurst

Leo Woodall

Netflix announced that Leo Woodall (The White Lotus, One Day, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy) is the latest to join the cast of Vladimir, a new limited series adapted from Julia May Jonas's acclaimed novel. He will play the titular role of Vladimir and joins the previously announced Rachel Weisz, who will star in and executive produce the series. As a woman's life unravels, she becomes obsessed with her captivating new colleague. Full of sexy secrets, dark humor and complex characters, Vladimir is about what happens when a woman goes hell-bent to turn her fantasies into reality.

Based on the acclaimed book by Julia May Jonas. Star/Executive Producer: Rachel Weisz (The Favourite, Dead Ringers, The Constant Gardener, The Mummy). From 20th Television and Executive Producers Sharon Horgan, Stacy Greenberg and Kira Carstensen (Merman), Jason Winer & Jon Radler (Small Dog Picture Company), Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. 8 Episodes have been ordered.


Bobby Sherman

Singer and actor Bobby Sherman, who starred as Jeremy Bolt in Here Come the Brides and as Bobby Conway in Getting Together, has died. He died at his home in Los Angeles on June 24 after a battle with kidney cancer. Mr. Sherman was 81.

Here Come the Brides

Sherman starred as Jeremy Bolt in the 1968-1970 ABC comedy western Here Come the Brides. It 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. Jeremy Bolt is the youngest brother of the Bolt family. He is a bashful, stammering logger. The series theme song "Seattle" was performed by The New Establishment. The cast included Robert Brown, David Soul, Joan Blondell, Bridget Hanley, Mark Lenard, Henry Beckman, Mitzi Hoag, Hoke Howell, Eric Chase (1969-1970), and Patti Cohoon (1969-1970).

Getting Together

He starred as Bobby Conway in the short-lived 1971-1972 ABC sitcom Getting Together. The series starred Sherman and Wes Stern as Bobby Conway and Lionel Poindexter, a songwriting duo. The pilot for the series had aired on March 19, 1971, as the first season finale episode of The Partridge Family named "A Knight in Shining Armor", in which Lionel and Bobby were introduced to each other by the Partridges. Sherman performed the Getting Together theme song. It aired for 14 episodes. The series also starred Susan Neher, Jack Burns, and Pat Carroll.

Sanchez of Bel Air

Sherman starred as Frankie Rondell in the short-lived 1986 USA Network sitcom Sanchez of Bel Air. The show's plot featured problems and hilarities that typical nuclear families would face. Frankie Rondell is a former musician and the next door neighbor of the Sanchez family. The series also starred Reni Santoni, Marcia Del Mar, Alma Beltran, Richard Coca, and Alitzah Wiener.

Some of his sitcom guest credits included The Monkees, The Love Boat (2 episodes), and Frasier. He was the house singer and member of the cast of the 1964-1966 ABC musical variety series Shindig!, which was hosted by Jimmy O'Neill. Some of his other television guest appearances included Honey West, The F.B.I., Cade's County, Mod Squad (2 episodes), Emergency!, Ellery Queen, Flying High, Fantasy Island, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, Murder, She Wrote (1985), and Blacke's Magic.

Sherman released 107 songs, 23 singles and 10 albums between 1962 and 1976. Seven of his songs were top 40 hits. In 1969, he signed with Metromedia Records and released the single "Little Woman", which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (#2 in Canada) and spent nine weeks in the Top 20. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in October 1969.

Mr. Sherman was a talented singer and actor. He was the last surviving member of the Here Come the Brides main cast. He left show business in the 1970s for a career as a paramedic and a deputy sheriff, but performed occasionally into the 1990s. We thank him for his music and work on television. He will be greatly missed.


Lynn Hamilton

Actress Lynn Hamilton, who had a recurring role as Donna Harris in Sanford and Son, has died. She died of natural causes at her home in Chicago on June 19. Ms. Hamilton was 95.

Sanford and Son - Redd Foxx and Lynn Hamilton

Hamilton had a recurring role as Donna Harris in 21 episodes of the 1972-1977 NBC sitcom Sanford and Son. Donna Harris is Fred Sanford's (Redd Foxx) girlfriend and on again/off again fiancée. She is a licensed practical nurse and sometimes took care of Fred. Hamilton first appeared as a landlady in the seventh episode of the series, "A Pad for Lamont". The series also starred Demond Wilson. Recurring cast members included LaWanda Page (1973-1977), Whitman Mayo (1973-1977), Don Bexley, Raymond Allen, Nathaniel Taylor, Gregory Sierra (1972-1975), Pat Morita (1974-1975), Howard Platt (1972-1976), Hal Williams (1972-1976), Noam Pitlik (1972), Marlene Clark (1976-1977), and Slappy White (1972).

227 - Marla Gibbs, Lynn Hamilton, and Hal Williams

She had a recurring role as Emma Johnson in five episodes of 227 from 1986 to 1989. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Room 222, The Bill Cosby Show, Good Times, Webster, The New Leave it to Beaver, Amen, The Golden Girls, Sister, Sister (1994), Murphy Brown, Life's Work, Moesha, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Hamilton had a recurring role as Verdie Foster, a neighbor of the Walton family, in 17 episodes of the CBS historical drama The Waltons from 1973 to 1981. In 1979, she portrayed cousin Georgia Anderson in four episodes of the ABC miniseries Roots: The Next Generations. She starred as Vivian Potter in the 1989-1991 NBC soap opera Generations. She starred as Cissie Johnson in the 1991-1992 syndicated primetime soap opera Dangerous Women. She had a recurring role as Judge P. Fulton in seven episodes of The Practice from 1997 to 2002.

Some of her other television guest appearances included Then Came Bronson, Mannix, Gunsmoke (2 episodes), Hawaii Five-O (1971), Ironside (2 episodes), Circle of Fears, Barnaby Jones, Starsky and Hutch, The Rockford Files, The Powers of Matthew Star, Knight Rider, Quincy, M.E. (2 episodes), Riptide, Highway to Heaven, Days of Our Lives (2 episodes), Hunter, Sisters, Port Charles, NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, and Cold Case.

Ms. Hamilton was a talented and versatile character actress. She was funny and memorable as Donna Harris on Sanford and Son. We thank her for work on television. She will be deeply missed.


Rick Hurst

Actor Rick Hurst, who starred as Deputy Cletus Hogg in The Dukes of Hazzard, has died. He died on June 26. Mr. Hurst was 79.

On the Rocks

He starred as Cleaver in the short-lived 1975-1976 ABC sitcom On the Rocks. The series centered on the inmates of Alamesa Minimum Security prison. It also starred Jose Perez, Hal Williams, Bobby Sandler, Mel Stewart, Tom Poston, Pat Cranshaw, Jack Grimes, and Logan Ramsey.

The Dukes of Hazzard

He starred as Deputy Cletus Hogg, Boss Hogg's (Sorrell Booke) cousin, in 55 episodes of the CBS action comedy The Dukes of Hazzard from 1979 to 1982. Deputy Cletus Hogg is slightly wilier than Enos but still a somewhat reluctant player in Hogg's plots. He reprised the role in the 1997 CBS TV movie The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! and the 2000 CBS TV movie The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood.

Amanda's

Hurst starred as Earl Nash in the short-lived 1983 ABC sitcom Amanda's (also known as Amanda's by the Sea). The series starred Bea Arthur as Amanda Cartwright, who owns a seaside hotel called "Amanda's by the Sea" and was Arthur's first return to series television since her sitcom Maude ended in 1978. Earl Nash is the bumbling chef. The cast included Fred McCarren, Simone Griffeth, Tony Rosato, Keene Curtis, and Kevin McCarthy.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Sanford and Son, The Partridge Family, The New Temperatures Risng Show, The Doris Day Show (2 episodes), The Bob Newhart Show, Love, American Style (2 episodes), The Girl with Something Extra, Happy Days, Paper Moon, M*A*S*H, The Last Precinct, 227 (2 episodes), Perfect Strangers, The Wonder Years, Good Grief, Evening Shade, Family Matters, The John Larroquette Show, and The Jeff Foxworthy Show.

Some of his other television guest appearances included Gunsmoke, Kojak, Little House on the Prairie, The Six Million Dollar Man, Baretta, CHiPs, Highway to Heaven, Murder, She Wrote (1989), Melrose Place, The Client (1995), and The Guardian (2003).

He was the announcer in The Karate Kid III (1989). Some of his other film credits included Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), Steel Magnolias (1989), and In the Line of Fire (1993).

Mr. Hurst was a talented character actor. He was a familiar face in more than 70 television series and films. We thank him for his work on television and in films. He will be sorely missed.


Harris Yulin

We also remember character actor Harris Yulin. He was nominated for a 1996 Emmy Award for his portrayal of crime boss Jerome Belasco in Frasier. He died of cardiac arrest in New York City on June 10. Mr. Yulin was 87.

Frasier

Yulin was nominated for a 1996 Emmy Award for his portrayal of crime boss Jerome Belasco for the Frasier episode "A World to the Wiseguy." He appeared as studio head Arthur Gadoff in the season 3 episode of Entourage titled "Return of the King" in 2007. He played James Whitman in two episodes of Veep in 2016. He had a recurring role as Orson Snyder in five episodes of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt from 2016 to 2017. He appeared in two episodes of Murphy Brown in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, he had a recurring role as Gordon in four episodes of Divorce. In 2025, he guest starred as Pop Pop in an episode of And Just Like That...

At the time of his death, he had been cast in the MGM+ comedy series American Classic in the role of Linus. He died days before he was scheduled to begin filming his scenes.

He appeared as Deek Peasley in six episodes of How the West Was Won from 1978 to 1979. He starred as Neal Frazier in the short-lived 1990-1991 CBS drama WIOU. He played Roger Stanton, the Director of the National Security Agency, in nine episodes of 24 from 2002 to 2003. He appeared as Buddy Dieker in 12 episodes of the Netflix crime drama Ozark from 2017 to 2018.

Mr. Yulin was a talented and prolific character actor who was known for playing the bad guy. He appeared in over a hundred television and film roles. We thank him for his work on television and in films. He will be greatly missed.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, July 18

Happy's Place - "Heart of the Matter" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Emmett is late to work, Bobbie becomes paranoid at the thought of why and begins to overreact; Gabby and Takoda help Steve pick out a new barstool to prove changing his obsessive-compulsive disorder habits won't negatively impact the world.

Happy's Place - "Baby Doll" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Gabby expresses her concerns about parenting, Bobbie reassures her she'd be a great mother, which prompts Gabby to bring in an AI baby doll and turn the tavern into her own personal day care.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 14)

Friday, July 18

  • Chris Distefano (Benders) - Chris guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) - Watch Hannah on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Shane Gillis (Tires) - Shane appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Abby Elliott (The Bear/Indebted/Odd Mom Out) - Abby is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Brandy Norwood (Zoe Ever After/The Game/Moesha/Thea) - Brandy and Monica are guests on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Jason Ritter (Another Period/The Class) and Aparna Nancherla (The Great North/Lopez vs Lopez/Corporate) - Jason and Aparna are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Eugenio Derbez (Acapulco/Rob) - Eugenio chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Ariana DeBose (Schmigadoon!) - Ariana is chatting with Drew about her new movie Love Hurts on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Freddie Prinze Jr. (Freddie) - Freddie can be heard on the Morning Mash Up on SiriusXM.


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


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