SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

SitcomsOnline Digest: A Black Lady Sketch Show Cancelled at HBO; Another Entertainment Industry Strike Looming

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! News was at a slow trickle last week due to the holiday, but we have news for you, including an HBO cancellation, more on the on-going WGA strike (and another potential one from the actors), and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• A Black Lady Sketch Show is the latest series at HBO to be cancelled. (Variety)
• The WGA strike isn't ending anytime soon, but we did get some (sort of) cast reunions on the picket line. (Deadline)
• Meanwhile, a cloud of a potential SAG-AFTRA strike looms overhead, and the union is prepared to head that direction as early as next week. (Variety)
• Elizabeth Perkins says she is on board for the reboot of Weeds. (Variety)
• Did Candace Cameron Bure try to get a LGBTQ character removed from Fuller House? She denies it, but there is some uncertainty. (Variety)
• Grounded for Life has returned to the LAFF lineup. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JULY 9 - JULY 15)

• Catchy Comedy has a binge of The Love Boat this weekend.
• Antenna TV has a Benson marathon for their Sunday Special tomorrow.
• Celebrity Family Feud returns with a new season on Sunday on ABC.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: A Black Lady Sketch Show, Fuller House, Grounded for Life, SAG, SitcomsOnline Digest, Weeds, WGA

Game Show Network Orders Tom Cavanagh Hosted Game Show; A Black Lady Sketch Show Returns for Season 4

Game Show Network, the leader in game shows and competitive entertainment, and Yahoo have announced a new series, Hey Yahoo! hosted by actor and director Tom Cavanagh. The half-hour original series is scheduled to premiere early this summer. In Hey Yahoo! two teams of three players each compete to guess what millions of people are searching for on Yahoo Search. Contestants are given the first half of a search, and then have to fill-in-the-blank based on what they think America is searching for. For each correct answer, the dollar value of that answer is added to the team’s bank. At the end of three rounds of play, the team with the most money wins and will go on to the bonus round for a chance to add an extra $10,000 to their winnings.

The HBO Original Emmy®-winning sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show will return for its fourth season Friday, April 14 (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT). The six-episode season will debut on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. The narrative sketch comedy series features a core cast of Black women living relatable and hilarious experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations. Returning core cast members include Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis and Skye Townsend. Season 4 stars three new featured players: DaMya Gurley, Tamara Jade, Angel Laketa Moore, and more than 20 celebrity guest stars.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: A Black Lady Sketch Show, GSN, HBO

A Black Lady Sketch Show Season 4 Coming Soon; ABC's Beauty and the Beast Special Rounds Out Cast

Production has commenced on the fourth season of Robin Thede's Emmy®-winning HBO Original sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show, in Los Angeles. The narrative sketch comedy series features a core cast of Black women living relatable and hilarious experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations. The first three seasons of the series have garnered 13 Emmy® nominations and three wins. Season three won two Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series and Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming. Returning this season as the core cast members are Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, and Skye Townsend along with three new featured players: DaMya Gurley, Tamara Jade, and Angel Laketa Moore joining.

ABC announced six additional talented performers joining the highly anticipated animated and live-action blended special, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration. Celebrated comedian and Emmy(R) Award-winning actor Martin Short has been tapped to play Lumière; Tony(R) Award winner David Alan Grier will play Cogsworth; Rizwan Manji joins the cast as Gaston's loyal sidekick, LeFou; and Jon Jon Briones will play Belle's loving father, Maurice. Viewers are also in for a major treat as five-time GRAMMY Award(R) winner and top-selling female country pop artist Shania Twain is joined by rising star Leo Abelo Perry, playing everyone's favorite mother-son duo, Mrs. Potts and Chip. Presented by The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour reimagining of the beloved story of Beauty and the Beast will be taped in front of a live audience at Disney Studios and will air Thursday, Dec. 15 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EST), on ABC and on Disney+ the next day.

As previously announced, five-time GRAMMY and Academy Award(R)-winning singer-songwriter H.E.R. will play the role of Belle; Tony, Emmy and GRAMMY-nominated artist Josh Groban will play the Beast; Tony and GRAMMY-nominated star Joshua Henry has been tapped to play Gaston; and EGOT winner and legend Rita Moreno will serve as the night's narrator. Jon M. Chu will executive produce the special and Hamish Hamilton is set to direct, taking viewers on a memorable journey through the classic enchanted tale.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: A Black Lady Sketch Show, ABC, HBO

The CW Adds More to Summer 2022 Schedule, Including Comedy; HBO Renews Hit Show for Season 4; Remembering Charles Siebert and Seinfeld Producer George Shapiro

The CW Network announced additional summer 2022 premiere dates, including for new scripted series Bump and Leonardo, as well as a revised premiere date for the returning scripted series Devils and the return of the alternative series Killer Camp. These premieres are in addition to the previously announced premiere dates for the final seasons of The CW's original scripted series Roswell, New Mexico and In the Dark on June 6, the new season of Wellington Paranormal on June 22 and the return of the unscripted series Mysteries Decoded on Juy 6.

The Australian comedy-drama series Bump makes its U.S. debut with back-to-back original episodes on Thursday, August 11 (8:00-8:30pm & 8:30-9:00pm ET/PT). The new historical drama series Leonardo starring Aidan Turner and Freddie Highmore premieres on Tuesday, August 16 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT), followed by the season two premiere of the international financial conspiracy thriller Devils (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT). Devils was originally scheduled to return on Thursday, June 30 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT). The satirical British horror whodunit reality competition series Killer Camp returns on Friday, August 5 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT), followed by an original episode of Dynasty (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT).

HBO announced the Emmy®-winning sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show has been renewed for a fourth season. Created, written, executive produced, and starring Robin Thede, the six-episode third season of A Black Lady Sketch Show concluded on May 13 on HBO, with all episodes available to stream on HBO Max. Season three logline: The narrative sketch comedy series features a core cast of Black women living relatable, hilarious experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations.The series stars Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, Ashley Nicole Black and Skye Townsend.

Actor and television director Charles Siebert was best known for his role as Dr. Stanley Riverside II on Trapper John, M.D., a role which he portrayed from 1979 to 1986. He died on May 1 of COVID-related pneumonia at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, California. Mr. Siebert was 84.

Siebert starred as Dixon Carter Fielding on the short-lived 1978 CBS sitcom Husbands, Wives & Lovers, which was created by Joan Rivers and Hal Dresner. The series focused on the relationships of five suburban couples living in the San Fernando Valley. Dixon Carter Fielding was Ron Willis' (Ron Rifkin) best friend and a stuffy divorce lawyer who was also representing Helene Willis (Jesse Welles) in the separation proceedings. The cast included Stephen Pearlman, Cynthia Harris, Eddie Barth, Lynnne Marie Stewart, Mark Lonow, Randee Heller and Claudette Nevins.

He had a recurring role as Jerry Davenport on six episodes of the CBS sitcom One Day at a Time in 1978. Mr. Connors (John Hillerman) and Jerry Davenport were Ann Romano's (Bonnie Franklin) bosses at the advertising agency of Connors and Davenport.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Sandy Duncan Show, The Bob Crane Show, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (as Buzz MacGregor in 1977), What's Happening!!, Maude, Rhoda (as Dr. Murray Berger), All in the Family (3 episodes), Good Times and The Love Boat (3 episodes). He played Charlie Davis, the husband of Miss Bliss (Hayley Mills), in the 1987 pilot episode of Good Morning, Miss Bliss.

Siebert starred as Dr. Stanley Riverside II on the CBS medical drama Trapper John, M.D., which aired from 1979 to 1986. Dr. Stanley Riverside II is a pompous, status-seeking, but nonetheless capable doctor whose father is the head of the hospital board of directors at San Francisco Memorial Hospital. He later marries a dentist named E.J. (Marcia Rodd).

Some of his drama guest appearances included Search for Tomorrow, As the World Turns, Another World, Harry O, Delvecchio, Kojak, Police Woman, The Rockford Files (2 episodes),The Incredible Hulk, The Blue Knight (2 episodes as Sgt. Cabe in 1976), Barnaby Jones (3 episodes), Dallas, Here's Boomer, The New Mike Hammer, Hotel (2 episodes), Mancusco, FBI (3 episodes as Dr. Paul Summers in 1989 and 1990), Matlock, Murder, She Wrote (3 episodes) and Xena: Warrior Princess.

Siebert began his television directing career by directing seven episodes of Trapper John, M.D. from 1982 to 1986. Some of his other television drama directing credits included Mancuso, FBI (1990), Lifestories, Palace Guard (2 episodes), Knots Landing, Jack's Place (2 episodes), Vanishing Son (2 episodes), Renegade (3 episodes), The Pretender, Pacific Blue (5 episodes), Silk Stalkings (8 episodes), Mortal Kombat: Conquest (3 episodes), Pensacola: Wings of Gold (5 episodes), Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (7 episodes) and Xena: Warrior Princess (8 episodes).

He is survived by wife Kristine Leroux Siebert, daughter Gillian Bozanic, son Christopher, stepdaughter Kristina Harvey, stepsons Max Leroux and Jeremy Leroux, and other extended family. He was predeceased by his first wife, Catherine, and son Charlie Jr., a popular Bay Area musician who died in 2020.

Mr. Siebert was a talented and versatile actor. We thank him for his work on television as an actor and director. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Trapper John, M.D. and One Day at a Time message boards. View photos in our galleries.

Talent manager and television producer George Shapiro, who represented Jerry Seinfeld and Andy Kaufman, and served as a producer for the sitcom Seinfeld, has died. He died of natural causes on May 26 at his home in Beverly Hills, California, a week after his 91st birthday.

Shapiro's career began in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency in New York where he advanced rapidly within the company and soon became an agent. He packaged programs such as The Steve Allen Show, That Girl and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. He also packaged a number of specials for Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Channing.

Shapiro was Andy Kaufman's personal manager for many years. He was the executive producer for Andy's Funhouse on ABC in 1979 and the Showtime special Andy Kaufman at Carnegie Hall in 1980. He was executive producer on the 1999 Universal biopic Man on the Moon, starring Jim Carrey in the role of Andy Kaufman and Danny DeVito as Shapiro. Shapiro had a cameo in the movie as Mr. Besserman.

Shapiro and his partner and friend Howard West launched Shapiro/West Associates in 1973. Seinfeld was produced by West-Shapiro Productions and Castle Rock Entertainment, and distributed by Columbia Pictures Television. Shapiro was Jerry Seinfeld's longtime manager. He was an executive producer for Jerry Seinfeld: Stand-Up Confidential in 1987, The Seinfeld Story in 2004 and the 2010-2011 NBC reality show and panel game The Marriage Ref.

He was interviewed by the Television Academy Foundation on February 12, 2007.

Survivors include Melody Shapiro, his lifelong friend and mother of his children — son Danny and his wife, Hester; daughter Carrie and her husband, Mark; and Stefanie — brother Don; and grandchildren Adam, Nathan, Audrey, Skylar and Alana.

Mr. Shapiro was a legendary talent manager and producer. We thank him for his work with Andy Kaufman, Jerry Seinfeld and others. He will be sorely missed.

Share your memories on our Seinfeld message board.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:15 PM

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: A Black Lady Sketch Show, Bump, Dynasty, HBO, Obits, One Day at a Time, Roswell, The CW, Trapper John MD

ABC Announces Tuesday Summer Block; A Black Lady Sketch Show Returns April 8 on HBO

ABC announced an all-star lineup of unscripted programming, premiering Tuesday, May 3. Season four of Holey Moley kicks off the evening at 8:00pm, followed by the third season of heart-racing quiz show The Chase at 9:00pm and a brand-new true-crime series, Who Do You Believe at 10:00pm. In addition, the upcoming season 19 of The Bachelorette will premiere Monday, July 11 from 8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT on ABC. Jesse Palmer will return as the host of the juggernaut franchise when it makes the move to its new later summer slot. Additional summer premiere dates will be announced at a later date, including Summer Fun & Games blocks.

The Emmy(R)-winning sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show will return for its third season Friday, April 8 (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT). The six-episode season will air on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max. The narrative sketch comedy series features a core cast of Black women living relatable, hilarious experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations. The series stars Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, Ashley Nicole Black and Skye Townsend. The new season will feature more than 40 celebrity guest stars, including Ava DuVernay, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Raven-Symoné, Wanda Sykes, David Alan Grier, Kyla Pratt, Jemele Hill, Holly Robinson Peete, Kel Mitchell, Michael Ealy, Wayne Brady, Bob the Drag Queen, Vanessa Williams, Lance Reddick, Loni Love, Cari Champion, Shangela, Trevor Jackson, Tommy Davidson, Jay Pharoah, Jidenna, Essence Atkins and more.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: A Black Lady Sketch Show, ABC, HBO, HBO Max, The Chase

The CW Gets Nostalgic with The Waltons & Scooby-Doo; A Black Lady Sketch Show Coming Back for Season 3

The CW Network announced three original specials making their debut in fourth quarter 2021, including an original made-for-television movie The Waltons' The Homecoming, a brand new mystery in the all-new The Scooby-Doo Reunion Special and a holiday adventure as Beebo Saves Christmas. All dates and times will be announced later.

The Waltons' The Homecoming is set in the 1933 Depression Era and told through the eyes of John Boy, the 17-year-old eldest child of John and Olivia Walton. His mother expects John Boy to help her raise his sisters and brothers, and his father expects him to follow in his footsteps to help support the family, but secretly, John Boy wants to be a writer. Times are hard enough in 1933, but to make matters worse, it looked to be the Waltons' first Christmas without John Sr. When Olivia receives a letter that John Sr. is planning to make it home for Christmas after all, the family is thrilled and races to prepare for his homecoming. But when a storm threatens his arrival on Christmas Eve, and John Sr. is nowhere to be found, Olivia sends John Boy out into the night to find his daddy - a journey that will change John Boy's life forever. The Waltons' The Homecoming commemorates the 50th anniversary of "The Homecoming: A Christmas Story" television movie, which aired December 19, 1971, and launched the long-running series. The movie stars Bellamy Young (Scandal, Prodigal Son) as Olivia, Logan Shroyer (This Is Us) as John Boy and Richard Thomas, who originally starred as John Boy Walton, as "The Narrator." The television movie is produced by Magnolia Hill Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producer Sam Haskell and writer/co-executive producer Jim Strain. Lev L. Spiro is the director. The Waltons original series was created by Earl Hamner, Jr.

After 52 years of solving mysteries, The Scooby-Doo Reunion Special sees the Scooby gang reunite at Warner Bros. Studios to reminisce about their favorite cases and how they were filmed. But it turns out that the backlot may have its OWN monster problem! Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo investigate this mystery while celebrating the legacy of the franchise during this one-hour special. In the all-new animated one-hour special Beebo Saves Christmas, everyone's favorite fuzzy toy turned furry god will once again be a hero as he hopes to save Christmas. When Sprinkles, an efficiency-obsessed elf, decides that Christmas would run better without Santa Claus, Beebo and his friends travel to the North Pole to help discover what truly makes Christmas meaningful. Starring Ben Diskin as the voice of Beebo, Kimiko Glenn as the voice of Tweebo, Yvette Nicole Brown as the voice of Turbo, Keith Ferguson as the voice of Fleabo, Chris Kattan as the voice of Sprinkles, Ernie Hudson as the voice of Santa and Victor Garber as the narrator.

HBO's Emmy®-nominated narrative sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show has been renewed for a third season. Season 2 of A Black Lady Sketch Show once again featured a core cast of Black women living relatable, hilarious experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations. The Season 2 finale will air on Friday, May 28. Season 1 and 2 episodes to date are currently available to stream on HBO Max.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: A Black Lady Sketch Show, HBO, Scooby Doo, The CW, The Waltons

Comedy Central Goes Back to the South Side; HBO Orders More Black Lady Sketch Show

Comedy Central ordered a 10-episode second season of hit series South Side, the aspirational, scripted comedy set in and around the working class neighborhood of Englewood on the South Side of Chicago. Season one of South Side, currently airing Wednesday nights at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central, is garnering universal praise from critics and holds a 100% Certified Fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes. Watch a preview of this week's episode here. Through the first five episodes of season one, South Side is averaging a 1.02 L+3 rating with African American P18-49 viewers, making it Comedy Central's highest-rated new series in that demo since the Key & Peele launch in 2012. It's also the #1 new original primetime cable comedy of the year in the demo and the #1 new cable comedy of 2019 with African American M18-49 (1.23 rating). Overall, South Side is averaging a 0.35 P18-49 L+3 rating, up +13% from the same time slot average in 2018.

The show follows two friends who just graduated community college ... so now they're ready to take over the world! But until they do they're stuck at Rent-T-Own, a retail-rental crossroads where the South Side's vast ensemble of characters come together. Despite the obstacles of inner-city life, these friends and their co-workers all strive to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. Brought to life by local Chicagoans, both in front of and behind the camera, this show gives viewers an authentic portrayal of what life on the South Side is all about. It's evidence that what you see on the news is only a small piece of the city. South Side was created by Bashir Salahuddin (Glow), Diallo Riddle (Marlon) and Sultan Salahuddin. Bashir Salahuddin, Riddle, and Michael Blieden - all Late Night with Jimmy Fallon alumni - are executive producers. Kellyn Parker and Kelci Parker are executives in charge of the show for Comedy Central.

HBO has renewed the sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show for a second season. A Black Lady Sketch Show, which debuted August 2, is a narrative series set in a limitless magical reality full of dynamic, hilarious characters and celebrity guests. The show presents sketches performed by a core cast of black women, including creator Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Gabrielle Dennis and Quinta Brunson. Thede executive produces, writes and stars and Issa Rae (Emmy(R) and Golden Globe nominee for HBO's Insecure) executive produces.

Laugh-out-loud funny and not afraid to be controversial, A Black Lady Sketch Show touches on such culturally relevant themes as social norms, anxiety, religion, sex, dating and relationships. Each episode consists of five to six sketches, showcasing the comedic talents of Robin, Quinta, Ashley and Gabrielle portraying an array of dynamic and varied characters, as well as hyper versions of themselves in interstitials featuring four friends stuck in a house during an end-of-the-world event. Unprecedented in sketch comedy TV history, the show is created by, written by, directed by and starring an array of black women.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: A Black Lady Sketch Show, Comedy Central, HBO, South Side