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ABC Holiday 2026 Programming; Remembering Susan Saint James of Kate & Allie

'Tis the season for ABC, with holiday specials, must-see films and seasonal episodes of favorite shows. Highlights include joyful episodes of Abbott Elementary, America's Funniest Home Videos, Celebrity Family Feud, Press Your Luck, Scrubs and What Would You Do?: Holiday Edition.

Dancing with the Holidays on Tuesday, December 1 will dazzle viewers again as part of ABC's annual holiday specials. Other specials include CMA Country Christmas from Nashville, The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular and iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2026, alongside annual events including the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, The Year: 2026 and ratings juggernaut Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

The Wonderful World of Disney presents holiday classics, including The Santa Clause, Home Alone, beloved favorites Die Hard and Father of the Bride, and the broadcast premieres of The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Mufasa: The Lion King. View the full schedule here.

Emmy-winning actress Susan Saint James, who starred as Kate McArdle in Kate & Allie, has died. She died from pancreatic cancer at a hospital in Los Angeles on October 26. Ms. Saint James was 80.

Saint James's first screen role was as Peggy Chan in the 1966 NBC TV movie Fame Is the Name of the Game with Tony Franciosa, launching her career when it became a series two years later. She starred as Peggy Maxwell in the 1968-1971 NBC series The Name of the Game. The series rotated among three characters working at Howard Publications, a large magazine publishing company—Jeffrey "Jeff" Dillon (Tony Franciosa), a crusading reporter with People magazine (not to be confused with the real-life periodical that debuted in 1974); Glenn Howard (Gene Barry), the sophisticated, well-connected publisher; and Daniel "Dan" Farrell (Robert Stack), the editor of Crime magazine. Peggy Maxwell served as research assistant to each of the lead characters for nearly half the episodes, providing for some continuity. Saint James won an Emmy Award in 1969 for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series.

She starred as Sally McMillan in the NBC police drama McMillan & Wife from 1971 to 1976. The series revolved around Stuart "Mac" McMillan (Rock Hudson), a former criminal defense attorney who becomes San Francisco police commissioner, and his wife Sally. Saint James received two Emmy nominations in 1973 and 1975 and three Golden Globe Award nominations for Best TV Actress - Drama in 1972, 1973, and 1974. She left the series at the end of the fifth season after being unable to come to terms on a new contract. With these developments, the show became known as McMillan and Sally was killed off in a plane crash along with the couple's never-seen son.

Saint James starred as Kate McArdle in the 1984-1989 CBS sitcom Kate & Allie. The series stars Susan Saint James as the free-spirited Kate McArdle and Jane Curtin as her more conservative childhood friend, Allie Lowell. After both women divorce, they decide to share a brownstone in New York City's Greenwich Village and raise their families together. Kate McArdle is the mother of Emma McArdle (Ari Meyers). Saint James received two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series 1984 and 1985. The cast included Allison Smith, Frederick Koehler, Sam Freed (1987-1989), and Peter Onorati (1988-1989). Recurring cast members included Paul Hecht (1984-1986) and Gregory Salata (1984-1985, 1987-1988).

She apppeared as Aggie O'Shea, a civilian war correspondent, in a 1980 episode of M*A*S*H. In 1996, she played Kate's (Christa Miller) mother in The Drew Carey Show episode "Drew and Kate and Kate's Mother." Saint James was Christa Miller's real-life aunt. Her final credits were as an Old Woman in three episodes of the Amazon Prime Video science fiction comedy drama Uploaded in 2020 and 2002.

Saint James guest starred in five episodes of It Takes a Thief from 1968 to 1970. She played Charlene "Charlie" Brown, Alexander Mundy's (Robert Wagner) fellow thief and casual love interest, in three episodes. Some of her other television guest appearances included Ironside (2 episodes), McCloud, Alias Smith and Jones, Tattingers, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Suits.

She hosted Saturday Night Live in 1981 and 1983. She met the show's executive producer Dick Ebersol in 1981. They married within the year. They had three sons together, Charlie, Willie, and Teddy, who died in a plane crash in 2004. Saint James had two children, Sunshine Lucas and Harmony Lucas, from a previous marriage.

Saint James starred as Cindy Sondheim in the 1979 comedy film Love at First Bite. She was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Actress for her role in 1980. She first worked together with Jane Curtin in the 1980 comedy heist film How to Beat the High Cost of Living.

Ms. Saint James was a talented and versatile actress who received eight Emmy nominations, winning once in 1969, throughout her career. She was part of a great comedic duo with Jane Curtin in Kate & Allie for six seasons. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Kate & Allie message board.

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

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, ABC, Dancing with the Stars, Family Feud, Kate and Allie, Obits, Press Your Luck, Scrubs