Showing posts with label All in the Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label All in the Family. Show all posts
Saturday, December 20, 2025
SitcomsOnline Digest: Historical 19th Century Comedy in the Works at CBS; Bowen Yang Leaving Saturday Night Live After Tonight
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Can you believe that it is already Christmas week and that next week is the last full week of 2025? This week, we are hearing about a new CBS comedy, the renewal of an Adult Swim series, and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- Would you watch a historical comedy about 19th century England? CBS thinks so. (Deadline)
- Bowen Yang is leaving Saturday Night Live after seven seasons, after tonight's episode with host Arianna Grande and musical guest Cher. (Variety)
- Adult Swim has renewed Haha, You Clowns for two more seasons. (Variety)
- Just when you had enough of Judge Judy, her son is now getting his own courtroom show. (Deadline)
- We're remembering Rob Reiner, who was fatally stabbed this week. (SitcomsOnline)
- The Muppet Show is returning for one night only on ABC, just in time for the 50th anniversary. (SitcomsOnline)
- MeTV is having a special All in the Family block in honor of Rob Reiner starting at 6 PM on Sunday.
- Catchy Comedy is having a "Christmas Carol" tomorrow, with a binge of The Carol Burnett Show.
- Antenna TV has all of your Christmas sitcom favorites on Thursday and Friday.
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
MeTV Remembers Rob Reiner with Tribute Marathon; MGM+ to Make New The Magnificent Seven Series
MeTV will remember Rob Reiner, who tragically passed away on December 14, with a special marathon of All in the Family episodes highlighting his character Mike "Meathead" Stivic on Sunday, December 21, starting at 6pm EST through 10pm EST. MeTV regularly airs All in the Family Sunday nights from 8pm-10pm, so this will be an expanded line-up this Sunday. The MeTV Remembers Rob Reiner tribute schedule of episodes is below.
6pm: “Mike’s Problem” (Season 2, Episode 9)
Mike’s anxiety over his upcoming college exams causes him to temporarily become sexually impotent.
6:30pm: “Mike Comes Into Money” (Season 3, Episode 8)
Mike donates his $275 inheritance to George McGovern’s presidential campaign against an apoplectic Archie’s express wishes that the money be used for room and board.
7pm: “Mike’s Appendix” (Season 3, Episode 11)
Mike needs emergency surgery to remove his appendix but is uncomfortable with the idea of a female surgeon doing the operation.
7:30pm: “The Games Bunkers Play” (Season 4, Episode 8)
Mike refuses to accept constructive criticism during a group therapy board game.
8pm: “Mike’s Graduation” (Season 4, Episode 24)
Mike graduates from college, an occasion that to Archie means Mike will soon be moving out of the house.
8:30pm: “No Smoking” (Season 5, Episode 23)
A contest between Archie and Mike, to see who can abstain from his favorite indulgence (Archie’s being smoking cigars, Mike’s eating everything in sight) becomes a battle of wills. Who will win this 48-hour contest?
9pm: “Gloria Suspects Mike” (Season 6, Episode 10)
One night when Mike goes to tutor the woman, they become mutually attracted to each other and kiss. Meanwhile, Archie gets an idea to trap Mike in a confession: Knowing that he can’t hold his wine, Archie decides to liquor him up as a truth drug. They both get drunk, and Archie passes out–and misses Mike’s confession that he simply got up and left the woman’s apartment.
9:30pm: “Two’s a Crowd” (Season 8, Episode 19)
Mike and Archie get locked together in the storage room at Archie’s Place and have a long talk.
Premium linear channel and streaming service MGM+ announced the greenlight of The Magnificent Seven, an eight-episode drama series based on the iconic MGM Western film. The series hails from acclaimed writer Tim Kring (Heroes, Touch), who will serve as writer and executive producer, alongside executive producer Donald De Line (Billy the Kid, Foster Dade). Lawrence Mirisch and Bruce Kaufman also serve as executive producers. The series is produced by MGM+ Studios and MGM Television Studios with production targeted to begin in June 2026. The series will be available on MGM+ in the U.S., UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile.
Set in the tumultuous 1880s American frontier, The Magnificent Seven is a reimagining of the classic Western tale. After a peaceful Quaker village is massacred by mercenaries working for a greedy and ruthless land baron trying to force them off the land he covets, seven gifted but flawed mercenaries are hired by the community to protect them from the land baron's hired guns. But as the team embeds itself in the community, preparing to defend them against overwhelming odds, they are all forced to grapple with an essential question: is the use of violence acceptable to defend a people whose faith is based on non-violence? The series takes a deep dive into the stories behind each of the Seven; what's at stake for them, and why they choose to take on this mission. Like the original, this updated take on the classic story explores themes of honor, sacrifice and redemption, focusing on morality, faith, and the cost of courage.
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
The Rob Reiner Story: A Hollywood Tragedy – ABC News Special; Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion Part 2 on CBS
The Rob Reiner Story: A Hollywood Tragedy – ABC News Special to air Tuesday, Dec. 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC, streaming next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Following the tragic news of the deaths of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, the one-hour special tells the story of the life of the beloved director, producer and actor and his wife, a photographer, producer and writer known for her work in documentary and political activism. The special provides a detailed look at the investigation into the killings and the impact Reiner had on television and film history, from his starring roles in All in the Family to directing hits such as This Is Spinal Tap, A Few Good Men and When Harry Met Sally.
The timely special will share the latest on the arrest of the couple's son, Nick Reiner, who was taken into custody on Sunday night after the Reiners were found dead in their Brentwood home and booked on suspicion of murder in the deaths of his parents as of Monday. At the time of this release, Nick has not yet entered a plea. Nick's long history of addiction brought father and son to work together in 2015 on the family drama Being Charlie, about the challenges their family faced. Nick co-wrote the script while Rob directed the film. The special includes interviews with actor Corey Feldman, who starred in Reiner's film Stand By Me, as well as ABC News contributor Chris Connelly and ABC News contributor and journalist Larry Hackett.
CBS is gifting viewers an extra special holiday present this season, the brand-new Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion Part 2, airing Monday, Dec. 22, (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.
This one-hour show gives viewers who loved the first special another opportunity to reminisce and revisit the laughter and joy from the original CBS series. The brand-new broadcast follows the success of Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion, which originally aired Monday, Nov. 24, with an encore presentation Friday, Nov. 28.
Hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor Ray Romano and series creator Phil Rosenthal, this fresh hour brings fans closer than ever to the original series, with exclusive stories and heartfelt memories shared by beloved cast members gathered together to honor one of TV's most iconic sitcoms. Ray Romano and Phil Rosenthal share their thoughts on the magic of being back on set and reuniting with the cast. Additionally, viewers can enjoy never-before-seen content, outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage. Plus, guest stars, writers and producers will provide unique insights into the creation and legacy of this beloved series.
Monday, December 15, 2025
Remembering the Legendary Rob Reiner of All in the Family; Trailer for Netflix's His & Hers
Emmy-winning actor and director Rob Reiner, who starred as Michael "Mike" Stivic in All in the Family, has died. On December 14, Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home. Their son, Nick, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders. Mr. Reiner was 78.
Reiner's first television credit was as Leroy Burkey in a 1961 episode of the syndicated crime drama Manhunt. He appeared as a Delivery Boy in a 1967 episode of Batman. Some of his early sitcom guest appearances included Hey, Landlord (3 episodes), The Andy Griffith Show, That Girl (3 episodes), The Mothers-in-Law (1967), Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (3 episodes), The Beverly Hillbillies, and Room 222.
He starred as Michael "Mike" Stivic in the 1971-1979 CBS sitcom All in the Family. Based on the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, All in the Family was produced by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin. The show revolves around the life of a working-class man and his family. Michael is the husband of Archie (Carroll O'Connor) and Edith Bunker's (Jean Stapleton) daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers). The character's nickname "Meathead" (given to him by his cantankerous father-in-law Archie) became closely associated with Reiner, even after he left the role and established himself as a director.
Reiner appeared in 174 of the 202 episodes of the series during the first eight seasons—from January 12, 1971, to March 19, 1978. For his performance, he won two Emmy Awards in 1974 and 1978, received three additional nominations, and earned five Golden Globe nominations. He also wrote four episodes of the series. In 1979, he reprised his role of Michael Stivic in the "Thanksgiving Reunion" episode of Archie Bunker's Place.
He starred as Joseph Bresner in the short-lived 1978 ABC sitcom Free Country. Joseph Bresner is the head of a Lithuanian family that emigrated to New York City in the early 1900s. Each episode featured the 89-year-old Bresner in the present day (i.e., in the 1970s) reminiscing about events in the early 1900s. Reiner also wrote two episodes. The series also starred Judy (Judith) Kahan, Fred McCarren, Renée Lippin, Larry Gelman, and Joe Pantoliano.
In 1991, Reiner and Phil Mishkin created the short-lived CBS sitcom Morton & Hayes. The series was centered on the "rediscovered" work of a fictitious comedy duo. Each episode presented what was purported as a newly-discovered Morton & Hayes comedy short from the late 1930s or early 1940s. The episodes were presented in the style of a documentary, in which host Rob Reiner introduced another long-lost comedy film short starring Chick Morton (Kevin Pollak) and Eddie Hayes (Bob Amaral).
He had a recurring role as Bob Day in 11 episodes of the Fox sitcom New Girl from 2012 to 2018. Bob Day is the father of Jessica "Jess" Day (Zooey Deschanel). Though he admits to having many similarities to Nick (Jake Johnson), he is very protective of Jess and disapproves of their relationship.
Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Partridge Family, The Odd Couple (1974), Good Heavens, It's Garry Shandling's Show (4 episodes), The Larry Sanders Show, Frasier (voice), Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Simpsons (voice), Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, 30 Rock, About a Boy, Happyish (2 episodes), and The Comedians. He appeared as Albert Schnur in four episodes of the FX on Hulu comedy-drama The Bear in 2025.
He began his career in television writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1968 and 1969, working alongside Steve Martin as his writing partner. Reiner, Phil Mishkin and Gerry Isenberg created the short-lived 1972 ABC sitcom The Super. Starring Richard S. Castellano, the series depicted the life of a harried Italian American superintendent of a New York City apartment building. Reiner, Phil Mishkin and Garry Marshall wrote the first episode of Happy Days titled "All the Way", which aired on January 15, 1974.
Reiner made his directorial film debut with the heavy metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984). Some of his other directing credits included The Sure Thing (1985), Stand by Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally... (1989), Misery (1990), A Few Good Men (1992), The American President (1995), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), and The Bucket List (2007). His final film, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025), was released on September 12. He earned nominations for four Golden Globe Awards for Best Director, and three Directors Guild of America Awards.
Some of his film acting credits included This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), The First Wives Club (1996), Primary Colors (1998), EDtv (1999), Everyone's Hero (2006), and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on November 29, 2004.
Mr. Reiner was a talented actor and director. He was funny and memorable as Mike "Meathead" Stivic. He won two Emmy Awards in 1974 and 1978 for the role. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment that he brought us during his legendary career. It's a very shocking and tragic loss. He will be greatly missed.
Share your memories on our All in the Family message board. View photos in our galleries.
Two sides. One truth. His & Hers premieres January 8, only on Netflix! Netflix debuted the official trailer and key art for His & Hers, a chilling new crime drama starring Tessa Thompson & Jon Bernthal. The limited series premieres Thursday, January 8, 2026 only on Netflix.
Set in the sweltering heat of Atlanta, Anna lives in haunting reclusivity, fading away from her friends and career as a news anchor. But when she overhears about a murder in Dahlonega - the sleepy town where she grew up - Anna is snapped back to life, pouncing on the case and searching for answers. Detective Jack Harper is strangely suspicious of her involvement, chasing her into the crosshairs of his own investigation. There are two sides to every story: HIS & HERS, which means someone is always lying.
Star/Executive Producer: Tessa Thompson (Hedda, Creed, Thor). Executive Producers: Kristen Campo for Campout Productions. Jessica Chastain and Kelly Carmichael for Freckle Films. Kishori Rajan for Viva Maude. Starring Thompson, Jon Bernthal, Pablo Schreiber, Crystal Fox, Sunita Mani, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Marin Ireland, Poppy Liu. The limited series will have 6 episodes.
Friday, January 03, 2025
Antenna TV Pays Tribute to Linda Lavin with Alice Marathon; Catchy Comedy Recreates Classic CBS Saturday Night Lineup from the 1970s
Antenna TV is honoring the life, laughter and love of Linda Lavin with a full day of Alice. Join them on January 4 at 10AE | 7AP as they remember Linda Lavin. Alice airs weekdays at 2A ET / 11P PT and Saturdays at 6P ET / 3P PT.
10:00 AM - "Alice Gets a Pass"
10:30 AM - "Pay the Fifty Dollars"
11:00 AM - "The Odd Couple"
11:30 AM - "Mel's Happy Burger"
12:00 PM - "The Bundle"
12:30 PM - "Alice "Alice by Moonlight"
1:00 PM - "Alice "The Second Time 'Round"
1:30 PM - "That Old Black Magic"
2:00 PM - "The Bus"
2:30 PM - "Take Him, He's Yours"
3:00 PM - "Car Wars"
3:30 PM - "Block Those Kicks"
4:00 PM - "The Happy Hoofers"
4:30 PM - "Alice's Decision"
5:00 PM - "The Principal of the Thing"
5:30 PM - "Mona Lisa Alice"
6:00 PM - "Alice in TV Land"
6:30 PM - "Alice Beats the Clock"
7:00 PM - "Alice Strikes Up the Band"
7:30 PM - "Alice Locks Belle Out"
8:00 PM - "Alice's Big Four-Oh!"
8:30 PM - "Alice Calls the Shots"
9:00 PM - "Alice and the Acorns"
9:30 PM - "Alice at the Palace"
10:00 PM - "Alice Doesn't Work Here Anymore"
10:30 PM - "Alice Doesn't Work Here Anymore"
Starting in January, Catchy Comedy is reducing the weekend Binge to just Sundays.
Here's the new Saturday schedule starting on January 4: (All times Eastern)
6A-8A: Full House
8A-9A: Family Affair
9A-11A: E/I programming
11A-1P: Full House
1P-3P: The Brady Bunch
3P-5P: My Three Sons
5P-6P: The Lucy Show
6P-7P: The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
7P-8P: I Love Lucy
From 8P-11P they're recreating the classic CBS Saturday night lineup from the 1970s:
8P: All in the Family
8:30: M*A*S*H
9P: The Mary Tyler Moore Show
9:30P: The Bob Newhart Show
10p: The Carol Burnett Show
11P-12A: Get Smart
12A-1A: Sledge Hammer!
1A: Police Squad!
1:30: When Things Were Rotten
2A-4A: Newhart
4A-5A: The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
5A-6A: Car 54, Where Are You?
Here are the first few Binges of January:
1/5: Night Court
1/12: Bosom Buddies
Discuss the Catchy Comedy changes and view more upcoming Binges.
Thursday, November 07, 2024
A Very Merry MeTV 2024 Schedule; Stranger Things Final Season in 2025
Now that the jack-o-lanterns have gone out and the weather is going from "brisk" to "chilly"... it's time for A Very Merry MeTV! Come in from the cold and curl up with over a hundred hand-picked Thanksgiving and holiday-themed programs starting Sunday, November 24 at 11A | 10C on MeTV. The two-month celebration of all things festive brings back the fan favorite Peanuts movies, A Boy Named Charlie Brown on Sunday, November 24 at 6P | 5C and Snoopy, Come Home on Sunday, December 1 at 6P | 5C. Plus, you can catch the two Peanuts movies back-to-back during a special festive airing on Sunday, December 22 at 1P | 12C! Plus, catch specially selected holiday episodes of all your favorite shows, including The Love Boat, All in the Family, M*A*S*H, Happy Days, The Brady Bunch, Gillgan's Island, Mama's Family, The Andy Griffith Show, and more! It all starts November 24 at 11A | 10C and continues through Christmas Day. View the schedule here.
In the Fall of 1987, one last adventure begins, Stranger Things Season 5 Coming to Netflix in 2025. A love letter to the '80s classic genre films that captivated a generation, Stranger Things is a thrilling drama set in the seemingly normal Midwestern town of Hawkins, Indiana. After a boy vanishes into thin air, his close-knit group of friends and family search for answers and are pulled into a high-stakes and deadly series of events. Beneath the surface of their ordinary town lurks an extraordinary supernatural mystery, along with top-secret government experiments and a dangerous gateway that connects our world to a powerful yet sinister realm. Friendships will be tested and lives will be altered as what they discover will change Hawkins and possibly the world - forever.
Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things debuted in July 2016 and quickly became one of Netflix's most popular television series ever with its fourth season alone amassing over 140.7 Million views globally. Rooted in 80's nostalgia, it has sparked a resurgence of pop culture items from the decade with every new season, including Eggo waffles and New Coke. Most recently, the series breathed new life into Kate Bush's track "Running Up That Hill" with the song soaring in streams on Spotify and entering the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time in its 38-year history. The series has also garnered over 70 awards worldwide including Emmys and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, and has been nominated for over 230 awards. Stranger Things fans everywhere celebrate November 6 - the day Will Byers went missing - as 'Stranger Things Day,' a special day to share their love for the world of Stranger Things. Season 5 was announced as the final season of Stranger Things with additional projects in the universe in the works, including: Stranger Things: The First Shadow live on stage in London's West End and coming to Broadway in 2025, along with an untitled animated spinoff series.
Wednesday, December 06, 2023
Remembering TV Legend Norman Lear; Critics Choice Awards Nominees
Emmy-winning producer and screenwriter Norman Lear, who created and produced All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons and One Day at a Time, has died. He died on December 5 at his home in Los Angeles from cardiac arrest, as a complication of heart failure. Mr. Lear was 101.
Lear developed the 1971-1979 CBS sitcom All in the Family. Based on the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, it was produced by Lear and Bud Yorkin. The series received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Series in 1971 and for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1972, 1973 and 1978. On February 16, 1991, CBS aired a 90-minute retrospective, All in the Family 20th Anniversary Special, hosted by Lear to commemorate the show's 20th anniversary.
His second big sitcom was Sanford and Son, which aired on NBC from 1972 to 1977. The series, which was based on the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, was about a Watts junk dealer and his son. It was a rating hit throughout its six-season run, finishing in the Nielsen top ten for five of those seasons.
Lear and Yorkin created the 1972-1978 CBS sitcom Maude. The show was the first spin-off of All in the Family, on which Bea Arthur had made two appearances as Maude, Edith Bunker's favorite cousin. Maude is generally considered to be based on Lear's wife Frances, something she herself confirmed, with Charlie Hauck serving as main producer and writer.
He developed and produced the 1974-1979 CBS sitcom Good Times. The spin-off of Maude was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans. It was television's first African American two-parent family sitcom. On December 18, 2019, ABC broadcast Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times, produced by Lear and Jimmy Kimmel. It won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special in 2020.
Lear developed the 1975-1985 CBS sitcom The Jeffersons. The show was launched as the second (and longest running) spin-off of All in the Family (after Maude), on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker. On May 22, 2019, ABC broadcast Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons, produced by Lear and Jimmy Kimmel. It won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special in 2019.
He developed and produced the 1975-1984 CBS sitcom One Day at a Time. It starred Bonnie Franklin as a divorced mother raising two teenage daughters, played by Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli, set in Indianapolis. He also executive produced the 2017-2020 Netflix remake of One Day at a Time, which starred Justina Machado and Rita Moreno as a Cuban-American family living in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Echo Park.
Some of Lear's other sitcom producing credits included Hot l Baltimore (1975), The Nancy Walker Show (1976), All That Glitters (1977), Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976-1977), A Year at the Top (1977), Fernwood 2 Night (or Fernwood Tonight (1977), America 2-Night (1978), In the Beginning (1978), Apple Pie (1978), Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986), The Baxters (1979-1981), Hanging In (1979), a.k.a. Pablo (1984), Sunday Dinner (1991), The Powers That Be (1992-1993) and 704 Hauser (1994). He developed The Dumplings (1976), All's Fair (1976-1977) and Sanford Arms (1977). He directed an episode of The Powers That Be in 1992 and an episode of 704 Hauser in 1994.
He directed, co-produced and co-wrote the 1971 satirical black comedy film Cold Turkey, which starred Dick Van Dyke and a long list of comedic actors. Some of his other film writing credits included Come Blow Your Horn (1963), Divorce American Style (1967) and The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968).
Mr. Lear was a TV legend and pioneer. He produced, wrote, created or developed over 100 shows. He received many awards, including six Primetime Emmys, two Peabody Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 1999, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017, and the Golden Globe Carol Burnett Award in 2021. We thank him for the many laughs and for the entertainment that he brought us during his legendary career. He will be greatly missed.
Antenna TV today announced that it will air a "Remembering Norman Lear: An Evening of Love and Laughter Marathon" on Wednesday, December 6 starting at 5pm Eastern. This special marathon celebrates Norman Lear, the legendary television producer behind popular sitcoms including All in the Family, Sanford and Son, and One Day at a Time, who died Tuesday at 101.
Antenna TV's "Remembering Norman Lear: An Evening of Love and Laughter Marathon" features curated episodes from One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Maude, and Archie Bunker's Place.
In recognition of Norman Lear's vast accomplishments and influence across television, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX and The CW will simulcast an on-air in memoriam card tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT honoring the late legendary TV writer and producer.
Catchy Comedy will remember television icon Norman Lear with a look back special hosted by Mr. Lear, The 200th Episode Celebration of All in the Family, airing Friday, December 8th at 8p ET | 5p PT.
Great Entertainment Television will honor the late Norman Lear this weekend with marathons of Good Times and Sanford and Son, starting at 10 am each day.
Saturday, December 9
10A - Sanford and Son, "Crossed Swords"
10:30A - Sanford and Son, "Sanford and Son and Sister Makes Three"
11A - Sanford and Son, "The Puerto Ricans Are Coming!"
11:30A - Sanford and Son, "A Visit From Lena Horne"
12p - Sanford and Son, "Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe"
Sunday, December 10
10A - Good Times, "Too Old Blues"
10:30A - Good Times, "Cousin Cleatus"
11A - Good Times, "A Matter of Mothers"
11:30A - Good Times, "That's Entertainment, Evans Style"
12P - Good Times, "The Dinner Party"
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced the TV category nominees for the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards. The winners will be revealed at the star-studded Critics Choice Awards gala hosted by Chelsea Handler, which will broadcast LIVE on The CW on Sunday, January 14, 2024 (7:00 - 10:00 pm ET - delayed PT, check local listings). The Morning Show (Apple TV+) leads the television contenders for the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards with six nominations. In addition to Best Drama Series, the show earned several acting nominations including Best Actress in a Drama Series for both Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Billy Crudup was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, while Nicole Beharie and Karen Pittman both earned nods for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Succession (HBO | Max) followed with an impressive five nominations overall, including Best Drama Series. Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong are both nominated in the Best Actor in a Drama Series category, while Sarah Snook garnered a nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series and Matthew MacFadyen is up for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
A Small Light (National Geographic), Abbott Elementary (ABC), Beef (Netflix), Lessons In Chemistry (Apple TV+), Loki (Disney+), Reservation Dogs (FX), and The Bear (FX) tied with four nominations each. The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards will air live on The CW from 7:00 - 10:00 pm ET (delayed PT, check local listings). The Critics Choice Awards are bestowed annually to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Historically, they are the most accurate predictor of Academy Award nominations. The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards show will be executive-produced by Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment. The Critics Choice Awards are represented by Dan Black at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Full Comedy nominees are below:
BEST COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Barry (HBO | Max)
The Bear (FX)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Poker Face (Peacock)
Reservation Dogs (FX)
Shrinking (Apple TV+)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Bill Hader - Barry (HBO | Max)
Steve Martin - Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Kayvan Novak - What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Drew Tarver - The Other Two (HBO | Max)
Jeremy Allen White - The Bear (FX)
D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai - Reservation Dogs (FX)
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Rachel Brosnahan - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Quinta Brunson - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Ayo Edebiri - The Bear (FX)
Bridget Everett - Somebody Somewhere (HBO | Max)
Devery Jacobs - Reservation Dogs (FX)
Natasha Lyonne - Poker Face (Peacock)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Phil Dunster - Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Harrison Ford - Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Harvey Guillén - What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
James Marsden - Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach - The Bear (FX)
Henry Winkler - Barry (HBO | Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Paulina Alexis - Reservation Dogs (FX)
Alex Borstein - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Janelle James - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Meryl Streep - Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Jessica Williams - Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Saturday, February 04, 2023
SitcomsOnline Digest: New Episodes of King of the Hill and Futurama in the Horizon; Night Court and That '90s Show Get Second Seasons
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This is a very busy week, and we've got about twice as much news as usual, including news about reboots of some Fox animated series (but on Hulu), second season renewals of two recent reboots (or whatever the proper title is for them), and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- It's the news everybody has been excited about this week: King of the Hill is coming back! But there are some issues that fans are wondering about how they will be addressed, such as what will happen with Luanne and Lucky (voiced by Brittany Murphy and Tom Petty, both of whom have died since the series ended), as well as how will the character of Khan (an Asian American voiced by a white man) be handled. (TVLine)
- Meanwhile, Lauren Tom (who just so happens to do voices on King of the Hill as well) has announced a timeline for the return of Futurama. (Game Rant)
- CBS has ordered a Matlock reboot pilot starring Kathy Bates. (AV Club)
- A huge shift in daytime TV is coming, as Dr. Phil will be coming to an end in just a few months. (Deadline)
- That '90s Show is getting a second season on Netflix. (Variety)
- There is a spoof of Seinfeld that can go on forever, thanks to AI. (TechCrunch)
- The Blacklist is coming to an end after 10 seasons at NBC. (Variety)
- Cindy Williams, best known as Shirley in Laverne & Shirley, has died at age 75. (Entertainment Weekly)
- Lisa Loring, who played the original Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family, has also died. (Variety)
- It isn't surprising given the initial success that it has had (we'll see if that holds), but Night Court is coming back for a second season. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (FEBRUARY 4 - FEBRUARY 10)
- Decades has a binge of Laverne & Shirley this weekend in remembrance of Cindy Williams.
- All in the Family comes to MeTV starting Sunday night.
- Not Dead Yet, a new ABC comedy, debuts on Wednesday.
- South Park returns for a new season on Comedy Central on Wednesday night, and is followed by the cable premiere of Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head.
Saturday, January 14, 2023
SitcomsOnline Digest: Pair of Popular Broadcast Sitcoms Renewed for Third Season; Malcolm in the Middle Movie in the Works?
Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a busy week this week (both with new series and news), and we're hearing news about renewals for two popular broadcast network comedies, news about a possible Malcolm in the Middle movie, and more. Let's get going!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- Ghosts has been cleared for a third season on CBS. (Variety)
- Another unsurprising renewal this week is one for a third season of Abbott Elementary. (Deadline)
- Frankie Muniz announced this week that he is now a full-time NASCAR driver (that wasn't quite big enough to have it's own story, but more on that here), but he may need to take some time off because there may be a Malcolm in the Middle movie on the way. (Entertainment Weekly)
- Uncoupled won't get a second season on Netflix. (Hollywood Reporter)
- Carole Cook, a Lucille Ball protege who had her own career that never quite ended, has died at age 98. (Deadline)
- Even though they have been actively removing content and cheapening the product, HBO Max has decided to raise the cost of a subscription effective immediately. (Variety)
- All in the Family is getting a new home at MeTV starting in February. (SitcomsOnline)
WEEKLY PLANNER (JANUARY 14 - JANUARY 20)
- The Night Court reboot, which we hope is as good as the original, debuts with two episodes on Tuesday night on NBC.
- That '90s Show debuts Thursday on Netflix.
- Wednesday brings a new season of grown-ish to Freeform.
- CBS Monday night comedies Bob ♥ Abishola and The Neighborhood return Monday night for new episodes.
- Decades has a binge of Family this weekend.
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
All in the Family Coming to MeTV; 80th Golden Globe Winners
Oh Archie! All in the Family is coming to MeTV this February! All in the Family will now air in Sunday primetime with a four-episode block from 8:00-10:00pm ET/PT effective Sunday, February 5, 2023 and weekly thereafter until further notice. The block will be replacing the Perry Mason movie block. All in the Family will follow fellow former CBS sitcom M*A*S*H (Sundays 7-8pm). All in the Family of course previously aired on Antenna TV and was recently on getTV, but with Magnum, P.I. coming, as we previously mentioned, it looks like All in the Family won't be back on getTV and will expire.
The 80th Golden Globe Awards honored the best in film and American television of 2022, as chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). The ceremony was held last night (January 10), from The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, with it being aired live on NBC and streamed on Peacock. Jerrod Carmichael hosted the ceremony. The big television winner was Abbott Elementary with three wins. Abbott Elementary won for Best Television Series - Musical/Comedy. Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson won for Best Television Actress - Musical/Comedy Series. The Bear's Jeremy Allen White won for Best Television Actor - Musical/Comedy Series. Abbott Elementary star Tyler James Williams won for Best Supporting Actor - Television Series. See the full list of winners.
Thursday, July 28, 2022
ABC to Present Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter; Remembering Tony Dow of Leave it to Beaver and Paul Sorvino
Honoring the life and legacy of the remarkable storyteller, activist and philanthropist Norman Lear, ABC will present a one-night-only celebration, Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter. The special will pay homage to the man behind some of television's greatest stories and will feature an impressive lineup of celebrity guests and musical performances to celebrate his 100th birthday, airing Thursday, September 22 from 9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT on ABC and available the next day on Hulu. Special guests and performers will be announced at a later date. Born in 1922 in New Haven, Connecticut, Lear attended Emerson College before flying 52 combat missions over Europe during World War II. Upon his return, he began a successful career writing and producing programs like The Colgate Comedy Hour and The Martha Raye Show — ultimately leading to Lear captivating 120 million viewers per week with his iconic shows of the 1970s and '80s - All in the Family, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Maude, One Day at a Time and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. He has won six Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe®.
Actor and director Tony Dow, who starred as Wally Cleaver on Leave it to Beaver, has died. He died on July 27 at his home in Topanga, California, of complications from liver cancer. Mr. Dow was 77.
Dow's career began when he went on a casting call and landed the role of Wally Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver. The classic family sitcom aired on CBS for one season from 1957 to 1958 before moving to ABC for five seasons from 1958 to 1963. A total of 234 episodes were produced over the six seasons. Wally is June (Barbara Billingsley) and Ward's (Hugh Beaumont) son and Beaver's (Jerry Mathers) older brother. His pals include Tooey Brown (Tiger Fafara), Chester Anderson (Buddy Hart), the awkward Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford (Frank Bank), and smart-aleck Eddie Haskell (Ken Osmond).
He reprised his role as Wally in the 1983 CBS reunion television movie Still the Beaver, which aired on March 19, 1983. The ratings success of the movie prompted the creation of the Disney Channel revival series Still the Beaver, which aired for one season from 1984 to 1985. The series was retitled The New Leave it to Beaver when it moved to WTBS for three additional seasons from 1986 to 1989. A total of 101 episodes (plus the movie) were produced over the four seasons. Dow wrote one episode and directed five episodes of the series. The cast included Barbara Billingsley, Jerry Mathers, Kipp Marcus, John Snee, Janice Kent, Kaleena Kiff, Ken Osmond, Eric Osmond, Christian Osmond, Ellen Maxted, Troy Davidson (1987-1989) and Frank Bank.
Dow played Ed Greene, the father of Patty Greene (Sarah Jessica Parker), in two episodes of Square Pegs in 1982. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included My Three Sons (1964), Love, American Style (1971), The Love Boat (2 episodes) and Charles in Charge.
He starred as Chet on the 1965-1966 ABC daytime soap opera Never Too Young. Some of his television drama guest appearances included Dr. Kildare, The Eleventh Hour, The Greatest Show on Earth, Mr. Novak (5 episodes), Lassie (3 episodes), Adam-12, Mod Squad, Emergency!, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Quincy, M.E. (1983), Knight Rider, The New Mike Hammer (1987), Murder, She Wrote (1987), Jesse Hawkes, Freddy's Nightmares (2 episodes) and Diagnosis Murder.
Dow parodied his Wally role in The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) with Jerry Zucker playing Beaver. He played Principal Pete Kinney in the 1983 NBC TV movie High School U.S.A., which starred Michael J. Fox, Nancy McKeon, Anthony Edwards, Crispin Glover, Todd Bridges, Dana Plato, Frank Bank, Ken Osmond and many other sitcom stars.
Some of his other sitcom directing credits included Get a Life, Harry and the Hendersons (6 episodes), Coach (13 episodes), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show (3 episodes) and Manhattan, AZ (3 episodes). His drama directing credits included The New Lassie (2 episodes), Swamp Thing (5 episodes), Babylon 5 (5 episodes), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Crusade (2 episodes) and Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family (3 episodes).
Dow served as the visual effects supervisor for Babylon 5. In 1996, he provided visual effects for the Fox television movie Doctor Who. He was a producer for The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space (1995) and It Came from Outer Space II (1996).
In addition to his wife Lauren Shulkind, survivors include a son from his first marriage, Christopher; a brother; and a granddaughter.
Mr. Dow was wonderful as Wally Cleaver. He was one of TV's best older brothers. In addition to acting, directing, producing and writing, he was also a sculptor, creating abstract bronze sculptures. We thank him for his work as an actor and director. He will be greatly missed.
Share your memories on our Leave it to Beaver message board. View photos in our galleries.
The MeTV Network will celebrate legendary actor Tony Dow with a special extended presentation of Leave it to Beaver episodes, airing Sunday, July 31 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm on MeTV. Featuring 10 episodes showcasing Tony Dow’s beloved character Wally Cleaver, MeTV's tribute will include the episodes "Wally's Job," "Wally's Car" and "Wally's Weekend Job." Leave it to Beaver currently airs on MeTV weekdays from 8:00 to 9:00am ET/PT.
Actor Paul Sorvino, who starred as NYPD Sergeant Phil Cerreta on Law & Order, has died. His first TV series starring role was on the short-lived 1975 sitcom We'll Get By. He died of natural causes at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, on July 25. Mr. Sorvino was 83.
Sorvino's first weekly television series starring role was as George Platt on the short-lived 1975 CBS sitcom We'll Get By. The series, which was created by Alan Alda, featured a typical middle-class New Jersey family, the Platts. George Platt worked as a lawyer. He and his wife, Liz (Mitzi Hoag), had three teenage children: Muff (Jerry Houser), Kenny (Willie Aames) and Andrea (Devon Scott).
He starred as Sergeant Bert D'Angelo on the short-lived 1976 ABC police drama Bert D'Angelo/Superstar. He played Detective Ike Porter on the 1987-1988 CBS police drama The Oldest Rookie. He starred as Sergeant Phil Cerreta in 31 episodes of the second and third seasons of the NBC police procedural and legal drama Law & Order from 1991 to 1992. From 2000 to 2002, he starred as Frank DeLucca on the CBS comedy-drama That's Life. He also directed two episodes of That's Life in 2001 and 2002. In 2017, he appeared as Nicolo Rizzuto Sr. on the Canadian crime drama Bad Blood. He played Frank Costello in the Epix crime drama Godfather of Harlem from 2019 to 2021.
Sorvino had a recurring role as Al Miller, the father of Bill Miller (Mark Addy), in four episodes of the CBS sitcom Still Standing from 2004 to 2006. He played Ben "Pop-Pop" Goldberg, the father of Murray Goldberg (Jeff Garlin), in a season two episode of The Goldbergs in 2014. The character was later played by Judd Hirsch. He guest starred as Jack Martino, the father of James "Jimmy" Martino (John Stamos), in a 2016 episode of Grandfathered.
He guest starred as David Addison Sr., the father of David Addison Jr. (Bruce Willis), in a 1986 episode of Moonlighting. Some of his other television drama guest appearances included The Streets of San Francisco, Murder, She Wrote (1989), Star Trek: The Next Generation, Jack & Bobby, Elementary and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
Sorvino starred as Lucchese crime family caporegime Paulie Cicero (based on real life gangster Paul Vario) in Martin Scorsese's 1990 gangster film Goodfellas. Some of his other film credits included A Touch of Class (1973), Oh, God! (1977), Bloodbrothers (1978), Reds (1981), That Championship Season (1982), The Stuff (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), The Rocketeer (1991), Nixon (1995), Romeo + Juliet (1996) and The Cooler (2003).
Survivors include his wife, Dee Dee Benkie; three children from his first marriage, Mira, Amanda and Michael Sorvino; a brother; and five grandchildren.
Mr. Sorvino was a gifted actor. He often portrayed authority figures on both the criminal and the law enforcement sides of the law. We thank him for the entertainment that he brought us during his long career. He will be sorely missed.
Share your memories on our We'll Get By message board. View photos in our galleries.
Monday, December 06, 2021
getTV Acquires The Rockford Files, Here Come the Brides; Disney's Secrets of Sulphur Springs Premieres Jan. 14
getTV has acquired The Rockford Files and Here Come the Brides to begin January 3, 2022. The Rockford Files is poised to join the regular weekday line-up at 8:00 p.m. ET, while the short-lived Here Come the Brides will probably be on weekends in the westerns block. Currently, getTV airs a mix of sitcoms and dramas on weekdays including Amen, Good Times, All in the Family, Sanford & Son, Walker Texas Ranger, Kojak, Starsky & Hutch, Charlie's Angels and Hart to Hart. On weekends some of those also air but also some westerns such as Shane, Hondo, The Outcasts, Casey Jones, Guns of Paradise, Hawkeye, Barbary Coast and Bret Maverick. As for The Rockford Files, it was last seen on TV on COZI TV after a run on MeTV, while Here Come the Brides has popped up on Antenna TV, INSP and Decades in recent years.
Disney Channel will kick off 2022 with an adventure-filled season two premiere event for Secrets of Sulphur Springs. On Friday, January 14, beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, viewers will enjoy two back-to-back episodes of the popular time-travel adventure series centered around the mysterious Tremont Hotel, with new episodes every Friday on Disney Channel. An initial batch of episodes will also be rolled out on Disney+ and the MVPD VOD platforms around the linear launch. In season two of Secrets of Sulphur Springs, Griffin and Harper unravel new mysteries about The Tremont, and Harper follows the real ghost back to the 1930s to learn more about her family's deep-seated connection to the hotel. When the power source to the time machine is unintentionally taken and the portal disappears, Harper becomes trapped in the past with her great-uncle Sam and great-great-grandfather Elijah, while her great-grandmother Daisy is left to navigate the present. With help from Savannah from her new life in 1962, the friends attempt to fix the time machine and bring back the portal before it's too late and their lives are forever changed.
Returning for season two are series regulars Preston Oliver (This Is Us) as Griffin Campbell; Kyliegh Curran (Doctor Sleep) as Harper Dunn as well as Harper's great-grandmother, Daisy Tremont; Elle Graham (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret) as Savannah; Josh Braaten (American Horror Story) as Griffin's father, Ben Campbell; Kelly Frye (Criminal Minds) as Griffin's mother, Sarah Campbell; Landon Gordon (Coop and Cami Ask the World) as Griffin's younger brother and Zoey's twin, Wyatt Campbell; Madeleine McGraw (Toy Story 4) as Zoey Campbell; and Diandra Lyle (American Woman) as Harper's mother, Jess Dunn. Recurring stars this season include newcomer Johari Washington as Topher Dunn, Harper's brother; Ethan Hutchison (Queen Sugar) as young Sam Tremont, Harper's great-uncle as seen in the 1930s; Eugene Byrd (Bones) as adult Sam Tremont, as seen in the 1960s; Kenneisha Thompson (Radiant) as Grace Tremont, Harper's great-great-grandmother; and Robert Manning Jr. (Person of Interest) as Elijah Tremont, Harper's great-great-grandfather.
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Norman Lear Classics to Stream on Amazon Prime Video and IMDb TV; Cristela Alonzo to Host Hidden Temple on The CW
Prime Video and IMDb TV, Amazon's premium free streaming service, announced a licensing deal with Sony Pictures Television which will provide both streaming services a suite of classic television series from legendary producer Norman Lear. This collection marks the largest volume of Norman Lear complete series content ever available to stream. 227 and Diff'rent Strokes will launch on Prime Video today (Thursday, July 15), and will be available to Prime members at no additional cost to their membership. Additional titles including The Jeffersons, Sanford & Son and Sanford will launch on Prime Video later in 2021. In addition, All in the Family, Good Times, Maude and the original One Day at a Time will launch today (Thursday, July 15), on IMDb TV. This will be the first time that episodes of Maude and all seasons of All in the Family are available to stream.
At nearly 99 years of age, Norman Lear's dynamic career in Hollywood has encompassed both the Golden Age and Streaming Era. Lear and his team have captivated hundreds of millions of viewers with their television shows. At one point, Lear was responsible for seven of the top 10 shows in America. Most recently, Lear executive produces and co-hosts LIVE in Front of a Studio Audience... , alongside Jimmy Kimmel. The series set record ratings for ABC and won the Emmy award for Outstanding Variety Special for two consecutive years. In addition to television, he's the executive producer of two feature films in theaters now, I Carry You With Me and Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided to Go For It.
Writer, producer, actor and comedian Cristela Alonzo (Cristela, Cars 3) is set to host The CW's new fall series Legends of the Hidden Temple, slated to debut on Sunday, October 10 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT). Alonzo made history in 2014 when she became the first Latina to create, produce and star in her own network sitcom, Cristela, for ABC. During that same year, she split her time between Los Angeles and New York City to serve as one of ABC's favorite guest hosts on their hit daytime talk show, The View. In 2017, Alonzo made history again when she became the first Latina lead in a Disney Pixar film when she voiced the part of Cruz Ramirez in Cars 3. Her first stand-up special, Lower Classy, is currently streaming on Netflix. Alonzo's memoir, Music to My Years, was released in October of 2019 by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.
Friday, May 07, 2021
Fri-Yay: Rolling Stone's 100 Best Sitcoms of All Time; Marion Cunningham Greatest Classic TV Mom in New Poll
It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!
by Vincent
This week, Rolling Stone posted an article about the best sitcoms of all time. If your Twitter feed is like mine, it's been buzzing with discussion about it. Obviously, these lists are entirely subject, just a few critics opinions, and should only be taken light heartedly. But what’s the point of the internet if not to argue and give your opinion on something that ultimately is pretty inconsequential? So, in this column, I'll share my thoughts on Rolling Stone's Best Sitcoms of All Time list.
For the most part, there isn't too much I could quibble with. The show ranked first is The Simpsons, which would also be my #1 pick, if only for the unbeatable '90s seasons. Many of my other favorites - The Office, 30 Rock, Cheers, Community - also made the cut. Still, I would say the list leaned more heavily on modern shows - more obscure and short running modern series like, say, Baskets made the cut over older and perhaps equally strong obscure older shows. But it was still a solid list and I enjoyed reading a celebration of so many different sitcoms from many different eras. Check out the list, and see for yourself what you think of their ranking.
With Mother's Day this Sunday, we leave you with a classic TV moms update. Marion Cunningham, beloved "Mrs. C" from TV's Happy Days edged out Shirley Partridge from The Partridge Family for Greatest Classic TV Mom in a nationwide tournament sponsored by BoomAgain.com . Greatest Classic TV Mom bracket paired moms from popular Boomer sitcoms including Carol Brady (The Brady Bunch), June Cleaver (Leave it to Beaver), Edith Bunker (All in the Family), Morticia Addams (The Addams Family), Florida Evans (Good Times), Jane Jetson (The Jetsons), and more. More than 6000 votes were cast during the 7-day tournament. In the finals Mrs. C handily defeated Shirley Partridge with 56% of the vote.
Fans also weighed-in on social media with ringing endorsements for their "other mothers." Shirley Partridge was revered for carrying the load as a single mom -- "Shirley Partridge didn't have a housekeeper or a husband but she made it work." Fans of Edith Bunker noted, "Edith wasn't just a doormat for Archie. She supported Gloria's feminism." But in the end Mrs. C was "...ahead of her time. She accepted her kids' friends and supported their dreams." Another crowned her as "...the Mom we all wanted." The tournament was sponsored by Boom Again, a pop-culture trivia game celebrating Baby Boomers.
Monday, January 25, 2021
New Walker, Texas Ranger Scores Big for The CW; Remembering Gregory Sierra of Sanford and Son and Barney Miller, Broadcasting Legend Larry King
Walker, Texas Ranger is back and still drawing an audience! The CW's new drama Walker scored the network's largest audience for a new series premiere (prelim 2.43 million) since the debut of DC's Legends of Tomorrow five years ago (1/21/2016). Additionally, Walker earned the largest audience for any premiere on The CW since the fourth season debut of The Flash on 10/10/17. Thursday night's Walker debut saw The CW best total viewer delivery in the Thursday 8:00-9:00pm time period since just over four years (since 12/01/2016), and the single most watched episode of any show on the network since 1/30/18 - almost 3 years ago. Walker saw its total audience remain stewdy in the 8:30pm half hour (2.444 million v. 2.417 million) and retained 100% of its viewership in key demos from 8:00pm to 8:30pm. Walker outdelivered NBC's Superstore head-to-head in total viewers and tied the series with a 0.4 Adults 18-49 rating.
Walker, a reimagining of the long-running series Walker, Texas Ranger, stars Jared Padalecki (Supernatural) as Cordell Walker, a widower and father of two with his own moral code, who returns home to Austin after being undercover for two years, only to discover there's harder work to be done at home. He'll attempt to reconnect with his creative and thoughtful son (Kale Culley, Me, Myself and I) and his headstrong, somewhat rebellious teenaged daughter (Violet Brinson, Sharp Objects) and navigate clashes with his family - an ADA brother (Keegan Allen, Pretty Little Liars) who stepped in during Walker's absence, his perceptive mother (Molly Hagen, Herman's Head) and his traditional rancher father (Mitch Pileggi, The X-Files). Walker's former colleague is now his Ranger Captain, (Coby Bell, The Game). Walker finds unexpected common ground with his new partner (one of the first women in Texas Rangers' history) played by Lindsey Morgan (The 100), while growing increasingly suspicious about the circumstances surrounding his wife's death. The show also stars Jeff Pierre as Trey Barnett.
Actor Gregory Sierra, who was known for his roles as Julio Fuentes in Sanford and Son and as Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual in Barney Miller, has died. He died after a long battle with stomach and liver cancer on January 4 in Laguna Woods, California. Mr. Sierra was 83.
Sierra guest starred as Paul Benjamin, a Jewish radical working to stop antisemitism in the neighborhood, in an unusually dramatic episode of All in the Family titled "Archie Is Branded" in 1973. His other early sitcom guest appearances included The Flying Nun (4 episodes), The Bill Cosby Show and Dusty's Trail.
Some of his early drama guest appearances included It Takes a Thief, Medical Center, The High Chapparal, Mod Squad, Alias Smith and Jones, Mission: Impossible (3 episodes), The Waltons, Ironside, Banacek, The Streets of San Francisco, Kung Fu, Hawaii Five-0, McCloud and Gunsmoke (3 episodes).
He had a recurring role as Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbor of Fred G. Sanford (Redd Foxx) who befriends Lamont (Demond Wilson), in 12 episodes of the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son from 1972 to 1975. Fred often makes insulting ethnic jokes about Julio and openly wishes he would return to Puerto Rico, despite the fact that Julio is originally from New York City.
Sierra starred as Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual in the first two seasons of the ABC sitcom Barney Miller from 1975 to 1976. Chano is a dauntless, beleaguered Puerto Rican detective, who is very emotionally attached to his job; as such, he has a habit of getting worked up when things go awry and, when this happens, he tends to explode in rapid Spanish should it happen. No explanation was given for his character's absence at the start of season three. The ensemble cast included Hal Linden, Max Gail, Ron Glass, James Gregory, Abe Vigoda, Jack Soo, Barbara Barrie, Steve Landesberg and Ron Carey.
He starred as Dr. Tony Menzies in the short-lived 1978 ABC sitcom A.E.S. Hudson Street. Dr. Menzies was the harried chief resident of the run-down Adult Emergency Service (A.E.S.) hospital on Hudson Street, on the lower west side of Manhattan. The series also starred Rosanna DeSoto, Stefan Gierasch, Susan Peretz, Ralph Manza, Ray Stewart, Bill Cort and Allan Miller.
Sierra had a recurring role as Carlos "El Puerco" Valdez in 12 episodes of the fourth and final season of the ABC sitcom Soap from 1980 to 1981. El Puerco was an anti-communist revolutionary who initially kidnaps Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond), but later falls in love with her.
He appeared as Commandante Paco Pico in the short-lived 1983 sitcom Zorro and Son. The Western sitcom also starred Henry Darrow, Paul Regina, Richard Beauchamp, Bill Dana, Barney Martin, John Moschitta, Catherine Parks and Pete Leal.
Sierra starred as Luis Alvarez, the barber father of John Alvarez (Greg Giraldo), in the short-lived 1996 ABC sitcom Common Law. The series also starred Megyn Price, David Pasquesi, Carlos Scott and Diana-Maria Riva.
Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included It's a Living, Gloria, You Again?, The Munsters Today, Growing Pains, City, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Golden Palace, Nurses, Kirk and Ellen.
He appeared as Lieutenant Lou Rodriguez, Sonny Crockett's (Don Johnson) boss, in four episodes of the NBC police drama Miami Vice in 1984. He starred as Liutenant Victor Maldonado in the short-lived 1988 NBC science fiction series Something Is Out There.
Sierra's later drama guest appearances included Hill Street Blues (4 episodes), Hart to Hart, Simon and Simon, Airwolf, Cagney & Lacey, Falcon Crest, Magnum, P.I, MacGyver, The X-Files, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (2 episodes), Murder, She Wrote (6 episodes) and Walker, Texas Ranger.
Some of his film credits included Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1972), Papillon (1973), The Towering Inferno (1974), The Prisoner of Zenda (1979), The Trouble with Spies (1987), Deep Cover (1992), Honey I Blew Up the Kid (1992), Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) and Vampires (1998).
Mr. Sierra was a talented and versatile character actor. He was very funny and memorable in his roles in Sanford and Son and Barney Miller. He will be greatly missed.
Share your memories on our Sanford and Son and Barney Miller message boards. View photos in our galleries.
Television and radio host Larry King, who hosted Larry King Live on CNN for 25 years, has died. He died on January 23 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He had had been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19. Mr. King was 87.
King was a WMBM radio interviewer in the Miami area in the 1950s and 1960s. He gained prominence beginning in 1978 as host of The Larry King Show, an all-night nationwide call-in radio program heard on the Mutual Broadcasting System.
He started hosting the CNN nightly interview television program Larry King Live on June 3, 1985. The program ran for 20 seasons and over 6,000 episodes until it ended on December 16, 2010. It became the longest-running television show hosted by the same person, on the same network and in the same time slot. He won a Peabody Award in 1992, an Emmy in 1999 and ten Cable ACE Awards for Best Interviewer and for Best Talk Show Series. He later hosted Larry King Now on Ora TV, Hulu and RT America from 2012 to 2020.
King made many television guest appearances, in which he usually played himself. Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Larry Sanders Show, Coach, Bonnie, Murphy Brown (2 episodes), Spin City, Frasier, Arli$$, Fat Actress, 30 Rock and 1600 Penn. He provided his voice in two episodes of The Simpsons and two episodes of Gravity Falls. He played himself in episodes of Law & Order: Trial by Jury in 2005, Law & Order: Criminal Intent in 2006 and The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story in 2016.
His film credits included Ghostbusters (1984) and Enemy of the State (1998). He voiced Bee Larry King in the 2007 computer-animated comedy film Bee Movie.
He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television. The three-part interview was conducted on October 29, December 2, 2009 and February 16, 2010.
Mr. King was a true broadcasting legend. He conducted over 50,000 interviews during his illustrious career. He will be deeply missed.
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Saturday, August 29
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Heartbreak and the Refuge of the Downtrodden" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Georgie, Mandy and the family do their best to lift Connor’s spirits during a rough patch while Connor tries to figure out a plan for his life.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 24)
Saturday, August 29 and Auguest 30
- Amy Poehler (Duncanville/Parks and Recreation) and Will Ferrell (The Hawk/The Office) - Amy and Will bond over their box office bomb on a repeat of The Weekend View on ABC News Live at 7:30am.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/29/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
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