SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Apple TV's Brothers Premieres September 23; Remembering Dolly Parton and Tim Curry

Apple TV unveiled the trailer for Brothers, the new comedy series starring and executive produced by Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey and Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson, and showrun and executive produced by multi-Emmy Award nominee and Peabody Award winner Lee Eisenberg. The eight-episode comedy will premiere on Apple TV with the first two episodes on Wednesday, September 23, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through November 4, 2026.

Brothers follows McConaughey and Harrelson, who play fictionalized versions of themselves, and whose friendship is thrown into chaos when they uncover a decades-old secret: they might actually be brothers. After Woody's daughter's engagement falls apart, he loads up the family and heads to Austin for an extended stay at Matthew's ranch. But what begins as a healing getaway quickly spirals when Matthew's mother, Ma Mac (played by Holland Taylor), accidentally lets slip a long-buried secret that the two friends might actually be brothers. As Woody turns the ranch upside down in pursuit of the truth, Matthew finds himself juggling an entirely different identity crisis: a potential run for governor of Texas. The result is a heartfelt, chaotic and wildly funny story about friendship, family, fame and the messy line between myth and reality.

The ensemble cast starring alongside Harrelson and McConaughey includes Natalie Martinez, Brittany Ishibashi, Nolan Almeida, Ella Grace Helton, Noah Carganilla, Highdee Kuan, Oona Yaffe and Taylor.

Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and actress Dolly Parton, who had a recurring role as Aunt Dolly in Hannah Montana, has died. She died after a brief battle with cancer in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 25. Ms. Parton was 80.

Parton made several attempts at starring in a sitcom. She was set to star as Betsy Baxter in the sitcom Heavens to Betsy on CBS in early 1995. Betsy Baxter is a Las Vegas lounge singer who returns home to Tennessee following a near-death experience to work as a waitress at a diner called Spec's. The series also starred Connie Ray, Connie Schulman, Boyd Gaines, O'Neal Compton, Doug Sheehan and Elisabeth Harnois.

Six episodes were shot at Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, Florida, in 1994 with an intent to air at midseason in early 1995, but the show was plagued with production problems and wound up being permanently shelved. In 1996, she made a pilot called Mindin' My Own Business for CBS. The show featured Parton as a Southerner who moved to Los Angeles and opened a catering company.

She guest starred as herself, the guardian movie star of Charlene's (Jean Smart) baby, in two episodes of Designing Women in 1990. She won a 2003 TV Land Award for Most Memorable Female Guest Star in a Comedy as Herself. In 1991, she appeared as herself in a 1991 episode of the Fox sitcom Babes. She voiced herself in a 1999 episode of The Simpsons. She appeared as herself in a 2000 Halloween-themed episode of the CBS sitcom Bette. In 2005, she played Dolly Majors, a local real estate agent Reba (Reba McEntire) wants to work for, in an episode of The WB sitcom Reba. She appeared as herself in an episode of the Fox sitcom Call Me Kat in 2023.

Parton had a recurring role as Aunt Dolly in three episodes of the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana from 2006 to 2010. Aunt Dolly is a long-time friend of the Stewart family, long enough to remember when Robby (Billy Ray Cyrus) was in diapers. Although not a blood relation, the Stewarts consider her a family member as she is Miley Stewart's (Miley Cyrus) godmother.

She appeared as a regular performer in 218 episodes of the syndicated weekly variety show The Porter Wagoner Show between 1967 and 1974. She starred in the first-run syndicated variety show Dolly! from 1976 to 1977. During the 1987–1988 television season, she starred in the ABC variety show Dolly. With 39.47 million viewers, the first episode of Dolly attracted the largest audience for any television series premiere. She hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live on April 15, 1989.

Parton made her theatrical film debut as Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5 (1980). She wrote the film's theme song, which was nominated for an Academy Award and a Grammy. Some of her other film credits included The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Rhinestone (1984), Steel Magnolias (1989), Straight Talk (1992) and Joyful Noise (2012).

She released 49 studio albums and wrote more than 3,000 songs, including "I Will Always Love You" (a two-time U.S. country chart-topper and an international success for Whitney Houston that sold 24 million copies worldwide), "Jolene", "Coat of Many Colors", and "9 to 5". She earned 11 Grammy Awards (including her 2011 Lifetime Achievement Grammy) and received 55 Grammy nominations, the third-most nominations of any female artist.

Ms. Parton was a national treasure. She made over 400 appearances on television. It's too bad her sitcoms never made it to air on CBS. We thank her for the music and her work on television and in films. Dolly, we will always love you. You will be deeply missed.

CBS announced that Remembering Dolly: A Rhinestone Life, an Entertainment Tonight special, will air Sunday, Aug. 30 at (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+. Hosted by Entertainment Tonight co-hosts Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, the special celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of Dolly Parton.

Presented by Entertainment Tonight, the special takes viewers from Dolly's first ET interview in 1982 to her final conversation more than four decades later, looking back at how she rose from the Smoky Mountains to become one of the world's most beloved entertainers.

Through rare interviews and new tributes from Dionne Warwick, Melissa Etheridge, Diane Warren, Debbie Allen, Jennifer Nettles and more, viewers will discover the stories behind the songs that made her immortal, her unforgettable Hollywood career, the larger-than-life look she created and controlled and the nearly 60-year love story she shared with her husband, Carl Dean. The special also explores Dolly's bond with her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus; the philanthropy that changed millions of lives; and the wit, faith and wisdom that made her unlike anyone else.

In the end, Dolly gets the last word on how she hoped to be remembered: "I just want to be remembered as a good-hearted person."

English actor and singer Tim Curry, who starred as Simon Ferguson in Over the Top and as Mr. Giles French in the remake of Family Affair, has died. He died at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, on August 25. A cause of death was not provided, though he had experienced multiple health issues after his 2012 stroke. Mr. Curry was 80.

Curry starred as Simon Ferguson in the short-lived 1997 ABC sitcom Over the Top. After being fired from the soap opera Days to Remember, down on his luck, eccentric, self-centered actor Simon Ferguson moves into Manhattan's Metropolitan Hotel, which is run by ex-wife Hadley Martin (Annie Potts), to whom he was married for twelve days twenty years prior. Curry was also one of the producers. The cast included Marla Sokoloff, Luke Tarsitano, Steve Carell (in his first starring role in a sitcom), John O'Hurley and Liz Torres.

He starred as Mr. Giles French in the 2002-2003 The WB sitcom Family Affair. The series was created as a remake of the original 1966–1971 CBS Family Affair sitcom. This version was from Sid and Marty Krofft, and was produced by Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, Pariah Films, and Turner Television. The series also starred Gary Cole, Caitlin Wachs, Sasha Pieterse, Luke Benward (pilot) and Jimmy "Jax" Pinchak (episodes 2–15).

Curry appeared as Roger, an eccentric, sophisticated friend and love interest of Nancy Bartlett (Sandra Bernhard), in two episodes of Roseanne in 1993. Some of his other sitcom credits included Dinosaurs (7 episodes as various voices), The Naked Truth (2 episodes), Teen Angel (voice), Rude Awakening (6 episodes), 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd (voice), Bette and Will & Grace (2 episodes).

Curry had a recurring role as Winston Newquay in six episodes of Wiseguy in 1989. He earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1994 for his role as a family of Hillbillies in the HBO horror anthology series Tales from the Crypt. He provided the voice of Sorcerer in the USA Network drama The Net in 1998. Some of his other television guest appearances included Earth 2 (4 episodes), Lexx, Martial Law (3 episodes as the voice of The One), Monk, Psych and Criminal Minds (2 episodes).

He was also a prolific voice-over performer. He won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991 for voicing Captain Hook on Peter Pan & the Pirates (1990–1991). In 1992, he provided the voice of Sharkster in the CBS adult animated private eye comedy series Fish Police. Some of his other voice credits included Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Mighty Max, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Duckman, The Wild Thornberrys and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Curry was perhaps best known for his portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the musical The Rocky Horror Show (1973–1975) and its film adaptation The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). He starred as Wadsworth in Clue (1995). He portrayed Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 ABC horror miniseries It. Some of his other film credits included The Shout (1978), Annie (1982), Legend (1985), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), The Three Musketeers (1993), Muppet Treasure Island (1996), The Worst Witch (1986), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Congo (1995), Charlie's Angels (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001) and Kinsey (2004).

Mr. Curry was a talented and versatile actor with more than 240 acting and voice credits across his five-decade career. Over the Top and the remake of Family Affair were his only two lead roles in live-action television series. We thank for his work on television and in films. He will be greatly missed.

We also remember singer, actress and game show show panelist Jaye P. Morgan. She died from injuries sustained in a fall at a hospital in Longview, Washington, on August 24. Ms. Morgan was 94.

Morgan guest starred as Susan Duvall in the My Three Sons episode "Second Chorus" in 1964 and as fading singer Claudia Farrell in the episode "A Falling Star" in 1966. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included The Jack Benny Program, Hennesey, The Joey Bishop Show, The Danny Thomas Show (1963), Love, American Style (1971), The Odd Couple (1973), The Love Boat and Too Close for Comfort. She performed the theme song, "Coming into My Own", of the short-lived 1975-1976 NBC sitcom Fay, which starred Lee Grant.

She had her own short-lived music show titled The Jaye P. Morgan Show on NBC in 1956. Some of her other televison guest appearances included General Electric Theater, The Eleventh Hour (1964), Vacation Playhouse, The Outsider, Lucas Tanner, The Muppet Show and Simon & Simon.

Morgan was a regular panelist on The Gong Show from 1976 to 1978. She achieved notoriety for flashing her breasts while on live camera during a Gene, Gene, the Dancing Machine performance. NBC banned her from the program for the flashing incident. She appeared as herself in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, a 2003 semi-biographical film about the life of Chuck Barris, creator of The Gong Show, The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game.

Ms. Morgan's biggest hit as a singer was "That's All I Want from You," which reached number 3 on the U.S. Billboard record chart in 1955. We thank her for work as a singer, actress and game show panelist. She will be sorely missed.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Apple TV+, Brothers (2026), CBS, Family Affair, Hannah Montana, Obits, The Gong Show