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Hollywood Arts Premieres October 15 on Netflix; Remembering Hayden Panettiere

Welcome (back) to Hollywood Arts! The next chapter in the Victorious universe is coming to Netflix October 15.

In this all-new series, struggling actress Trina Vega (Daniella Monet) returns to her former high school, Hollywood Arts, as an unqualified substitute teacher, quickly finding herself both clashing with and unexpectedly inspiring a new generation of ambitious and talented students as they learn to find their true path at Hollywood's most elite performing arts school. The series stars Daniella Monet, Alyssa Miles, Erika Swayze, Emily Liu-Wang, Peyton Jackson, and Martin Kamm.

Actress and singer Hayden Panettiere, who starred as Claire Bennet in Heroes and as Juliette Barnes in Nashville, has died. She died in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16. Ms. Panettiere was only 36.

Her full-time acting career began in 1994 when she played Sarah Roberts in the ABC soap opera series One Life to Live until 1997. She played Lizzie Spaulding in the CBS soap opera series Guiding Light from 1996 to 2000.

She had a recurring role as Jessica in four episodes of the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle from 2003 to 2005. Jessica is a manipulative neighbor of the family and a classmate of Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) and Reese (Justin Berfield).

Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Aliens in the Family in 1996 and Unhappily Ever After in 1997. She provided the voice of Ashley for an episode of the Fox animated sitcom American Dad! in 2010.

Panettiere starred as Claire Bennet in the 2006-2010 NBC superhero drama series Heroes. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover that they have superhuman abilities and how these abilities take effect in the characters' lives as they work together to prevent catastrophic futures. Claire Bennet is a high school cheerleader with the power of rapid cellular regeneration, allowing her to heal from virtually any physical injury. "Save the cheerleader, save the world" became one of the most iconic and recognizable television catchphrases and promotional slogans of the mid-2000s.

She starred as Juliette Barnes in the 2012-2018 ABC/CMT musical drama series Nashville. The series chronicles the lives of various fictitious country music singers in Nashville, Tennessee, starring Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes, a country music superstar, whose stardom is beginning to fade, and Hayden Panettiere as rising younger star Juliette Barnes. Panettiere recorded several songs for Nashville, which were released as singles and included on the show's soundtrack albums. She received two nominations for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for the role in 2013 and 2014.

Panettiere starred as Maddie Harrington, the long-lost biological daughter of Ally McBeal (Calista Flockhart), in 12 episodes of the fifth and final season of the Fox legal comedy-drama series Ally McBeal in 2002. Some of her other television guest appearances included Touched by an Angel, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2 episodes), and Commander in Chief.

She starred as Kirby Reed in the slasher horror films Scream 4 (2011) and Scream VI (2023). Some of her other film credits included Remember the Titans (2000), Joe Somebody (2001), Raising Helen (2004), Racing Stripes (2005), Ice Princess (2005), Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006), and I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009). She provided the voice of Dot in the Pixar film A Bug's Life (1998). For her role, she was nominated for a Young Artist Award and a Grammy Award, making her the fifth-youngest nominee for a Grammy. She voiced Kairi and Xion in the video game series Kingdom Hearts (2002–2017).

Ms. Panettiere was a talented actress and singer. She appeared in more than 70 television series and films throughout her prolific career, which began as an infant in commercials and spanned major soap operas, primetime network series, animated voiceovers, and feature films. We thank her for her work on television and in films. She will be deeply missed.

We also remember actor Vincent Pastore. He had a recurring role as Vinnie Fellachio in Son of the Beach. He was perhaps best known for his portrayal of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero in The Sopranos. He was found dead at his City Island residence on August 1. Mr. Pastore was 80.

Pastore had a recurring role as Vinnie Fellachio in three episodes of the 2000-2002 FX sitcom Son of the Beach. Vinnie Fellachio is a disgusting mobster who is Jamaica St. Croix's (Leila Arcieri) biological father.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Adventures of Pete & Pete, For Your Love, Emeril, Grounded for Life, Less Than Perfect, and Everybody Hates Chris. He had a recurring role as the voice of Yamakoshi, Lanny's (Ryan Ochoa) one-hundred-year-old pet fish and only friend, in 10 episodes of the Disney XD sitcom Pair of Kings from 2010 to 2012.

He starred as Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero, a veteran gangster who runs an automotive body shop, in the 1999-2007 HBO crime drama The Sopranos. He won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2000.

Some of his other television guest appearances included Law & Order (4 episodes), New York Undercover, Dellaventura, Bull (2 episodes in 2000), Ed, Queens Supreme (6 episodes), The Practice (3 episodes), Las Vegas, General Hospital (6 episodes), Blue Bloods, Hawaii Five-0 (2 episodes in 2018), Gravesend (6 episodes), and Yellowjackets (voice).

Pastore starred as Angelo Ruggiero in the 1996 HBO film Gotti. Some of his other film credits included Goodfellas (2000), Carlito's Way (2003), Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993), Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), Shark Tale (2004, as the voice of Luca), and Revolver (2005).

Mr. Pastore made a career of portraying Italian-American gangsters on television and in films. He had nearly 200 film and television credits spanning a career of almost four decades. We thank him for the entertainment. He will be greatly missed.

Singer and session musician Jim Gilstrap provided the male lead vocals for the Good Times theme song. He died on July 18. Mr. Gilstrap was 79.

The Good Times gospel-styled theme song was composed by Dave Grusin with lyrics written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It was sung by Jim Gilstrap and Motown singer Blinky Williams with a gospel choir providing background vocals.

He sang the theme song for the 1990-1991 first-run syndicated animated series TaleSpin.

Mr. Gilstrap was best known for his 1975 solo hit single "Swing Your Daddy". He sang the opening two lines of the Stevie Wonder song, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (with Lani Groves singing the next two lines). We thank him for the music. He will be sorely missed.

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

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Labels: Good Times, Heroes, Hollywood Arts, Malcolm in the Middle, Nashville, Netflix, Obits, Victorious