SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Christa B. Allen in Night of January 16th Play Thru Sunday; Remembering Sitcom Writer and Producer Bernie Orenstein

Christa B. Allen has been starring in Night of January 16th in New York City's Theatre Row. The play opened with previews on October 7 and opened on October 11. The limited run ends this Sunday the 18th. Catch one of the final performances, as it is a very unique and interactive play with the audience deciding if her character is guilty or not guilty.

On the night of January 16th, financier Bjorn Faulkner falls from the penthouse of his own skyscraper and Karen Andre, his former secretary, lover, and closest confidante, is accused of murder. But the real question is not only whether Karen killed him. It is whether the depth of her love, loyalty, and understanding makes her guilty or the only person capable of telling the truth about who Bjorn really was. To Karen, Bjorn was not simply a corrupt tycoon or reckless seducer, but a man of terrifying vitality: brilliant, dangerous, wounded, and larger than the world that sought to condemn him. As witnesses attempt to reduce him to scandal, fraud, or victim, Karen’s memory of Bjorn becomes both her defence and her undoing.

Ruth Stage's production reimagines Ayn Rand’s courtroom thriller as a bold, heightened descent into a dark, purgatorial parallel reality. Karen is placed not only on legal trial, but on spiritual and psychological trial, pursued by desire, guilt, memory, and threatening forces beyond the visible world. And in the play’s most thrilling device, the audience itself becomes the jury; drawn into the trial, implicated in the verdict, and forced to decide what kind of truth they believe.

We caught up with Christa in NYC this week and she was gracious enough to answer three of our questions. See the videos below!

Canadian-American television writer and producer Bernie Orenstein, who worked on That Girl, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Sanford and Son and What's Happening!!, has died. He died on September 14. Mr. Orenstein was 95.

Orenstein's sitcom writing credits included 26 episodes of That Girl, 17 episodes of The New Dick Van Dyke Show, 23 episodes of Sanford and Son and 5 episodes of What's Happening!!. Some of his other sitcom writing credits included The Monkees (3 episodes), Hey, Landlord (1967), Accidental Family (2 episodes), Good Morning World (2 episodes), Love, American Style (2 episodes), Grady (10 episodes), Sanford Arms, 13 Queens Boulevard (2 episodes), One in a Million (2 episodes), One of the Boys (1982 - 7 episodes), Double Trouble ( (2 episodes), E/R (7 episodes), Foley Square (6 episodes), You Again? (2 episodes), Kate & Allie (4 episodes), Baby Talk (3 episodes) and Cosby (4 episodes). He developed the 1977-1979 ABC sitcom Carter Country with Bud Yorkin and Saul Turteltaub. In 1989, he co-created the ABC sitcom Chicken Soup with Turteltaub.

He was a producer for That Girl (50 episodes), The New Dick Van Dyke Show (48 episodes), Love, American Style (5 episodes), Grady (5 episodes), Sanford and Son (73 episodes), Sanford Arms (4 episodes), What's Happening!! (65 episodes), E/R (22 episodes), You Again? (12 episodes), Throb (10 episodes), Kate & Allie (22 episodes) and Baby Talk (23 episodes).

Some of his credits as an actor included That Girl (2 episodes), The New Dick Van Dyke Show (4 episodes) and Sanford and Son (3 episodes).

He was interviewed for the Archive of American Television for the Television Academy Foundation on June 2, 2016.

Mr. Orenstein had a long and productive career in television. He was a frequent collaborator with writer and producer Saul Turteltaub, who died in 2020, for more than 30 years. We thank him for his work on sitcoms. He will be greatly missed.

We also remember Hall of Fame football player and coach Mike Ditka. He appeared in two episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun and several other sitcoms. He died on October 9 in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Ditka was 86.

Ditka appeared as himself in the final episode of Cheers on May 20, 1993. He appeared as Coach Mafferty in two episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun in 1996 and 1997. Some of his other sitcom credits included Coach, Becker, According to Jim and Entourage.

He appeared twice on Saturday Night Live in 1993 and 1997. In 1990, he appeared in an episode of L.A. Law. He appeared in commercials and ads for over 50 products over the years.

Ditka had a major role in the 2005 sports comedy film Kicking & Screaming, playing himself. He was recruited by Will Ferrell's character to be an assistant little league soccer coach.

During his playing career as a tight end, he was UPI NFL Rookie of Year in 1961, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and a six-time All-Pro with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). As a head coach for the Bears from 1982 to 1992, he was twice both the AP and UPI NFL Coach of Year (1985 and 1988). The 1985 Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX. He also was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999.

Mr. Ditka was the first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. We thank Iron Mike for his work on the gridiron and on television. He will be sorely missed.

Actor and comedian Reggie McFadden starred in the final season of In Living Color and made several sitcom guest appearances. He died in October in Dodoma, Tanzania. Mr. McFadden was 57.

McFadden appeared as Ricky Thompson, an old friend of Martin Payne (Martin Lawrence), in a 1993 episode of Martin. Martin and Ricky get arrested for committing credit card fraud. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Coach, Moesha, Getting Personal (2 episodes) and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He wrote a 1996 episode of the UPN sitcom Minor Adjustments.

He appeared in three episodes of HBO's Def Comedy Jam from 1992 to 1995. He was a regular performer in 23 episodes of the fifth and final season (1993-1994) of the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color.

Mr. McFadden was a funny actor and comedian. We thank him for the laughs on television. He will be greatly missed.

Actor James Sloyan starred as Charlie Wayne in Oh Madeline. He died at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, on July 22. Mr. Sloyan was 85.

Sloyan starred as Charlie Wayne in the 1983-1984 ABC sitcom Oh Madeline. The show revolves around Madeline Wayne (Madeline Kahn), a housewife bored after 10 years of marriage to Charlie, a sweet but staid man who makes his living writing steamy romance novels under the name Crystal Love. It was based on the British sitcom Pig in the Middle that aired on ITV from 1980 until 1983. The series also starred Louis Giambalvo, Jesse Welles and Francine Tacker.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat (3 episodes), Brothers (1986), Growing Pains and Who's the Boss? (1987).

He starred as Dr. Sam Lanagan in the short-lived 1977 ABC medical drama Westside Medical. Some of his other television credits included The Doctors (10 episodes in 1972), Kojak, Hawaii Five-O (1974), The Streets of San Francisco, Delvecchio (3 episodes), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (2 episodes), Lou Grant, CHiPs, Cagney & Lacey, Moonlighting, The Fall Guy, Simon & Simon, Highway to Heaven (2 episodes), Matlock (3 episodes in 1988 and 1989), MacGyver (2 episodes in 1989 and 1990), Murder, She Wrote (7 episodes), Baywatch (2 episodes), Star Trek: The Next Generation (2 episodes), Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (3 episodes), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2 episodes), Party of Five (4 episodes from 1995 to 1997) and The Young and the Restless (4 episodes).

Mr. Sloyan was a talented and versatile actor. He was the voice of Lexus in commercials for 20 years. We thank him for his work on television. He will be sorely missed.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:30 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: 3rd Rock from the Sun, In Living Color, Martin, Obits, Revenge, Sanford and Son, That Girl, What's Happening