SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

FX's Adults Gets Prequel Episode; Remembering Anne Schedeen of ALF and Ronnie Schell of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

Ahead of its second season, FX's Adults surprised a sold-out crowd at Tribeca Festival with the screening of a special prequel episode that introduces the lovable friend group and reveals Paul Baker's origin story. Written by series creators Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw and directed by Jonathan Krisel, the special episode entitled "Marathon Day" will be available for fans everywhere on Friday, July 31 on FXX and Hulu at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. The full prequel episode will also be available beginning July 31 for a limited sneak peek on Hulu's YouTube channel and FX's TikTok and Instagram channels.

FX's Adults returns for its highly-anticipated second season on Thursday, August 27 on FXX and Hulu beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. The full eight-episode second season of the ensemble comedy will be available on FXX on-demand and Hulu at premiere, while two episodes will premiere each week on FXX. The series will also be available on Disney+ internationally.

FX's Adults is an ensemble comedy series about a group of twenty-somethings in New York leaning on each other to navigate love, work, friendship and family. Samir (Malik Elassal), Billie (Lucy Freyer), Paul Baker (Jack Innanen), Issa (Amita Rao) and Anton (Owen Thiele) are five friends crashing together in Samir's childhood home. Created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw, the show puts a generational lens on the wins, losses and humiliations of being in your twenties.

Actress Anne Schedeen, who starred as Kate Tanner in ALF, has died. Her family announced the news with a heartfelt tribute on her Facebook page. The date and cause of death haven't been released. Ms. Schedeen was 77.

Schedeen had a recurring role as Linda, Jack Tripper's (John Ritter) girlfriend, in three episodes of the ABC sitcom Three's Company from 1978 to 1979. She appeared as Lisa Page, Jack's date, in a 1981 episode and as bank manager Louise Prescott in a 1982 episode. Some of her other early sitcom guest appearances included Semi-Tough, Cheers, and E/R (1984).

She starred as Kate Tanner in the 1986-1990 NBC sitcom ALF. The titular character, ALF, an acronym for "Alien Life Form", but whose real name is Gordon Shumway, crash-lands in the garage of the suburban California middle-class Tanner family. Kate Tanner is the mother of the Tanner family. ALF was performed by puppeteer Paul Fusco, who co-created the show with Tom Patchett. The series also starred Max Wright, Andrea Elson, and Benji Gregory. Supporting cast members included Liz Sheridan, John LaMotta, Anne Meara (1987), Bill Daily (1987-1989), Josh Blake (1988-1989), and JM (Jim) J. Bullock (1989-1990).

Scheeden had a recurring role as Sandy Porter, Dr. Marcus Welby's (Robert Young) daughter, in 12 episodes of the ABC medical drama Marcus Welby, M.D. from 1974 to 1976. She starred as Sara Frank in the short-lived 1984 ABC primetime soap opera Paper Dolls. Sara Frank is Blair's (Mimi Rogers) friend. She is a sensible lawyer, who is involved with Mark Bailey (Roscoe Born in a recurring role), a reporter doing a story on the fashion industry. In 2001, she had a recurring role as Det. Peggy Fraser in three episodes of the the CBS legal drama Judging Amy.

Some of her other television guest appearances included The Six Million Dollar Man, Get Christie Love!, Ironside, Lucas Tanner, McCloud, Three for the Road, The Bionic Woman, Emergency! (6 episodes), Lanigan's Rabbi, Kingston: Confidential, Family (2 episodes), Switch (2 episodes), Baretta, Project U.F.O., Friends (2 episodes of the 1979 comedy-drama), The Incredible Hulk, Simon & Simon (2 episodes), Magnum, P.I. (1986), and Murder, She Wrote.

Ms. Schedeen was a talented and versatile actress. She was funny and memorable as Kate Tanner in ALF. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment. She will be deeply missed.

Actor and stand-up comedian Ronnie Schell, who starred as Duke Slater in Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., has died. He died at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, on June 12. Mr. Schell was 94.

Schell starred as Duke Slater in the CBS sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., which aired from 1964 to 1970. Pvt. Gilbert "Duke" Slater is Gomer Pyle's (Jim Nabors) friend and platoon-mate. Schell left the show in the fourth season to star in the short-lived sitcom Good Morning World but returned in the final season as the corporal of Gomer's platoon. The cast included Frank Sutton, Roy Stuart (1965-1968), Ted Bessell (1965-1966), Barbara Stuart, William Christopher (1965-1968), Forrest Compton, Allan Melvin (1965-1969), Tommy Leonetti (1964-1965), Larry Hobis (1964-1965), and Elizabeth MacRae (1967-1969).

He starred as Larry Clarke in the 1967-1968 CBS sitcom Good Morning World. The series starred Joby Baker and Schell as Dave Lewis and Larry Clarke, morning drive time disc jockeys and hosts of the eponymous Lewis and Clarke Show on a small AM radio station in Los Angeles. The cast included Billy De Wolfe, Julie Parrish, and Goldie Hawn in her first professional role.

Schell starred as Lester Luster in the second and third seasons (1984-1985) of the WTBS sitcom Down to Earth. Lester Luster is the very concerned but comical heavenly boss and overseer of Ethel MacDoogan (Carol Mansell), a 1925 flapper who dies and spends sixty years in limbo before returning to 1980s Atlanta as an angel to help the Preston family.

He appeared as Harvey Peck, one of Ann's (Marlo Thomas) agents at the Gilliam and Norris Theatrical Agency, in two episodes of the first season of That Girl in 1966. He played Bob Howard in a season five episode. Some of his other 1960s and 1970s sitcom guest appearances included Valentine's Day, The Patty Duke Show (3 episodes), The Andy Griffith Show (2 episodes), Love, American Style (2 episodes), Arnie, The New Dick Van Dyke Show (2 episodes), Here We Go Again, Temperatures Rising, The Girl with Something Extra, Diana, Lotsa Luck!, Happy Days (2 episodes), Karen (1975), Sanford and Son, The Practice (1977), One Day at a Time, Mork & Mindy (2 episodes), and Alice (2 episodes).

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, Too Close for Comfort, Madame's Place (1982), New Love, American Style (1986), Sledge Hammer!, 1st & Ten (2 episodes), She's the Sheriff, Mr. Belvedere, The New Gidget, Saved by the Bell, Empty Nest, 227, The Golden Girls, Out of This World, Good & Evil, Coach (2 episodes), Step by Step, The Wayans Bros., Yes, Dear, Phil of the Future, Jessie, and Retired at 35.

Schell played various roles in four episodes of Adam-12 and four episodes of Emergency! from 1973 to 1976. Some of his other television guest appearances included The Little People (2 episodes), Charlie's Angels, Strike Force, Trapper John, M.D. (2 episodes), and Santa Barbara (19 episodes).

He was also known for his voice work. Some of his voice credits included Goober and the Ghost Chasers, Peter Puck, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (3 episodes), Fred Flintstone and Friends, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, Battle of the Planets, and Shirt Tales. He was the voice of robotic plant engineer Rudy-2 in Jetsons: The Movie (1990).

Mr. Schell was the last surviving main cast member of the popular Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. sitcom. He did a great job portraying the amiable Duke Slater. We thank him for his work on television. He will be greatly missed.

We also remember actress Margaret Kerry. She starred as Sharon Ruggles in The Ruggles. She died from lung cancer in Wilmington, North Carolina, on June 11. Ms. Kerry was 97.

Kerry starred as Sharon Ruggles in the 1949-1952 ABC sitcom The Ruggles. The star of the series is comedian Charlie Ruggles, playing a character with the same name. His wife, Margaret Ruggles, was played in the first season by Irene Tedrow, thereafter by Erin O'Brien-Moore. The television family also had four children: college student Sharon Ruggles (Margaret Kerry), high school student Chuck Ruggles (Tom Bernard), and the young twins, Donna and Donald, played by Judy Nugent and Jimmy Hawkins. The show's farewell episode at the end of its three-year run featured Sharon's wedding and honeymoon.

She appeared as Bess Muggins in The Andy Griffith Show episode "Christmas Story" in 1960. She played Helen Scobey in the episode "Andy Forecloses" in 1961.

Kerry provided numerous voices and live-action lead-ins for The New Three Stooges (1965) and Space Angel (1962-1964) animated series for Cambria Productions.

Her first role was as a fairy in the 1935 film A Midsummer Night's Dream. She starred as Marjorie Parker in If You Knew Susie (1948).

Ms. Kerry was best known for her work as a model for Walt Disney Pictures, where she served as the inspiration for the Peter Pan character of Tinker Bell, which she also pantomimed. We thank her for her work on television and in films. She will be sorely missed.

English actor Anthony Head played Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso. He died on June 1 from complications of pneumonia. Mr. Head was 72.

Head appeared as Rupert Mannion in 18 episodes of the Apple TV sports comedy-drama Ted Lasso from 2020 to 2023. Rupert Mannion is Rebecca Welton's (Hannah Waddingham) vindictive, philandering ex-husband. He is the former owner of AFC Richmond, and later the owner of West Ham United. For his role in the third season, he was nominated alongside the rest of the cast for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

He was best known for his role as Rupert Giles in The WB (1997-2001) and UPN (2001-2003) supernatural horror drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Giles, rarely referred to by his first name, is a Watcher and a member of the Watchers' Council, whose job is to train Slayers.

Head guest starred as Dr. Staretski, Ashley Walker's (Suzanne Cryer) professor, in a 1999 episode of Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place. He starred as Uther Pendragon, the father of Prince Arthur, in the BBC fantasy-adventure drama series Merlin from 2008 to 2012.

Mr. Head was a talented and versatile actor with a distinctive baritone voice. We thank him for work on Ted Lasso and his other television roles. He will be greatly missed.

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

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Labels: Adults, ALF, Andy Griffith Show, FX, Gomer Pyle USMC, Good Morning World, Obits, Ted Lasso

SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at Stuart Fails to Save the Universe; A Different World Reboot Set for Fall Premiere

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a busy week, and we only have some of the highlights for you (go back and read previous postings from earlier in the week), but we do have new news about some streaming series debuts and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• We have our first look at The Big Bang Theory spinoff, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. (Hollywood Reporter)
• The reboot of A Different World will debut in the fall on Netflix, but we don't know much more than that. (Deadline)
• The new season of Futurama is coming to Hulu in August, but don't expect to be able to binge the entire season the day it comes out this time. (Gizmodo)
• David Letterman stopped by to help Stephen Colbert say goodbye to The Late Show this week, and created some memorable moments. (Deadline)
• Dennis Rush, who played Howie, one of Opie's friends on The Andy Griffith Show, has died. (Hollywood Reporter)
• HBO's Rooster has turned out to be one of their most-watched comedies in over 15 years. (Deadline)
• Remember Wordle, the game everybody was playing and talking about a few years ago but now most of us have forgotten? Well, it's getting an NBC game show hosted by Savannah Guthrie. (Variety)
• Great Entertainment Television has acquired Happy Endings. (SitcomsOnline)

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

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Labels: A Different World, Andy Griffith Show, Futurama, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, Happy Endings, Late Show, Rooster, SitcomsOnline Digest, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe

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.

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

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Labels: All in the Family, Andy Griffith Show, Happy Days, M*A*S*H, ME-TV, Netflix, Peanuts

Peacock's Based on a True Story Returns November 21; CBS to Honor Jerry Mathers at Awards Show

Nobody likes a copycat 🔪 Based on a True Story Season 2 drops November 21 on Peacock. Season two finds new parents Ava and Nathan Bartlett three months into parenthood. Focused on taking care of her family, Ava is determined to resist her true crime obsession and return to work as a real estate agent while Nathan trains private tennis clients. But a series of new murders pulls her back in - is Matt behind the slayings? Is Tory, now entangled in a relationship with Matt, in danger? For a while, life is good -- Ava's TikTok habit and her new friend Drew provide a welcome distraction, and Nathan's all in on reigniting his tennis career as well as his friendship with Matt -- until danger comes knocking, literally. 8 episodes will drop and the comedy stars Kaley Cuoco, Chris Messina, Tom Bateman, and Liana Liberato.

CBS announced the hosts and nominees for the 27th annual Family Film and TV Awards, celebrating excellence in family-oriented film and television. Kevin Frazier (Entertainment Tonight host) and Amanda Kloots (The Talk host) will lead the awards show airing Saturday, Nov. 9 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), exclusively on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+*. Jerry Mathers, renowned for his beloved role as Beaver Cleaver on the classic television series Leave It to Beaver, will be honored with the Icon Award. Some TV nominees include:

Outstanding Actors in a TV Series
· Amandla Stenberg (The Acolyte)
· Gordon Cormier (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
· Iain Armitage (Young Sheldon)
· Louisa Harland (Renegade Nell)
· Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

Best Iconic Classic Television Series
· Happy Days
· Home Improvement
· Saved by the Bell
· The Andy Griffith Show
· The Wonder Years

Best Competition Series Television
· America's Got Talent
· American Ninja Warrior
· Big Brother
· Survivor
· The Amazing Race

Best Game Show
· Family Feud
· Let's Make a Deal
· Lingo
· The Price Is Right
· Wheel of Fortune

Outstanding Reality Show
· LEGO Masters
· Little People, Big World
· Masters of Illusion
· Military Makeover with Montel

Best Ensemble Television Series
· Abbott Elementary
· Avatar: The Last Airbender
· Percy Jackson and the Olympians
· The Spiderwick Chronicles
· Young Sheldon

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

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, Andy Griffith Show, Based on a True Story, CBS, Happy Days, Home Improvement, Leave it to Beaver, Peacock, Saved by the Bell, Wonder Years, Young Sheldon

Fox M*A*S*H Special on January 1; MeTV Lasts on the Last Marathon

In the all-new two-hour special, M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television, premiering Monday, January 1 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on Fox, join the men and women who made M*A*S*H as they celebrate one of the most beloved, enduringly popular, often quoted and influential comedies ever created. As the definitive look at the 14-time Emmy-winning television classic, the special centers around new interviews with original cast members Alan Alda (Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce), Gary Burghoff (Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly), William Christopher (Father Francis Mulcahy), Jamie Farr (Cpl./Sgt. Maxwell Q. "Max" Klinger), Mike Farrell (Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt), Wayne Rogers (Capt. "Trapper" John McIntyre) and Loretta Swit (Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan) and series executive producers Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe. In these intimate, highly personal remembrances, the creation and evolution of the show's iconic characters are revealed, alongside rare and never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage, photos and stories.

Writer/producer Larry Gelbart, as well as additional series stars Larry Linville (Maj. Frank Burns), Harry Morgan (Col. Sherman T. Potter), McLean Stevenson (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) and David Ogden Stiers (Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III) are remembered through a vibrant collection of clips from the series as well as in rarely-seen archival interviews. With unique experiences, observations and memories from 11 seasons of M*A*S*H, this special will make audiences laugh, touch their heartstrings, and leave them on a nostalgic high while celebrating the sustained brilliance of the iconic sitcom.

The M*A*S*H two-and-a-half-hour series finale that first aired on CBS in 1983 remains the highest rated telecast in television history, delivering an incredible 77 audience share and 60.2 rating. To-date, the show has never left the air, continuously running in syndication, on basic cable and now streaming on Hulu. The series was produced by 20th Television. M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television is directed by John Scheinfeld (Reinventing Elvis: The '68 Comeback, The U.S. vs. John Lennon and What The Hell Happened To Blood, Sweat & Tears?) with Scheinfeld and Andy Kaplan as Executive Producers. Viewers can watch M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television next day on Hulu, Fox.com, On Demand and FOX Entertainment's streaming platform, Tubi. On Demand is available for customers of Cox Contour TV, DIRECTV, DISH, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Optimum, Spectrum, Verizon FiOS, XFINITY, YouTube TV and many more.

MeTV bids a fond farewell to 2023 with The Lasts on the Last, an afternoon celebration of finale and final season episodes from memorable classic TV shows including The Andy Griffith Show, The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, Mama's Family, The Love Boat, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Leave it to Beaver! See how these beloved stories concluded on Sunday, December 31 starting at 12P | 11C on MeTV and running through 6:30P.

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

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Labels: Andy Griffith Show, Brady Bunch, Fox, Gilligan's Island, Leave it to Beaver, M*A*S*H, Mama's Family, MeTV, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Love Boat

MeTV's Back to School with Me Stunt; Remembering Johnny Hardwick and Shelley Smith

Go "Back to School with Me" with special academic episodes Sunday, August 27! Bid goodbye to carefree summer days with a full day of shows featuring classrooms, sports, tests and teachers! Grab your pencils and pack your lunch for this full day event reliving all the fun of the going back to school, from first class to graduation. And don’t forget your homework! Make the end of summer a little easier with a full day of episodes about learning, teachers, sports and all things back-to-school on MeTV. It all starts Sunday, August 27 at 9A | 8C!

9A | 8C: Saved By The Bell: "The Last Weekend" — It's the last day at the beach resort and Zack and Stacy are hoping to spend it together. Carosi, however, doesn't approve of their romance. Meanwhile, a secret admirer is sending Slater love letters.
9:30A | 8:30C: Saved By The Bell: "The Fight" — Zach and Slater might turn back into rivals when they fall for a new girl from Idaho. Who'll be the one to have a date with her?
10A | 9C: The Flintstones: "Flintstone of Prinstone" — Fred attends night classes and is drafted to be a quarterback on the school football team.
10:30A | 9:30C: The Flintstones: "The Bowling Ballet" —Fred secretly becomes a ballet pupil in order to regain his form for a big bowling match
11A | 10C:The Flintstones: "High School Fred" — Wilma thinks Fred is about to be promoted when Mr. Slate sends Fred to school for two weeks.
11:30A | 10:30C: The Jetsons: "Elroy's Mob" — Elroy brings home the wrong report card by mistake, angering his father, which causes Elroy to run away with Astro.
12P | 11C: The Brady Bunch: "Today, I am a Freshman" —It's the beginning of another school year, and Marcia panics about becoming a freshman, going as far as pretending to be sick. However, after Mike and Carol see through her act, they insist she'd enjoy school if she were involved in extracurricular activities. Marcia then proceeds to join every group or club available. Meanwhile, Peter tries to build a model volcano on the patio.
12:30P | 11:30C: The Brady Bunch: "Getting Greg's Goat" — After he and his teammates swipe a rival school's mascot in retaliation for theirs being stolen first, Greg is tasked with watching Raquel, a goat. Things get out of control when Raquel proves to be hard to handle, easy to feed and not easy to catch.
1P | 12C: Leave It to Beaver: "Wally's Test" — An upcoming test in history, Wally's weakest subject, has Wally studying all weekend and has Larry and Eddie coming up with a plan that will give them good grades on the test.
1:30P | 12:30C: Leave It to Beaver: "Beaver's I.Q." — After learning that he's going to be taking an I.Q. test, Beaver hits the books, scared after his friends tell him that if he doesn't pass he will be sent to "dumb school."
2P | 1C: The Beverly Hillbillies: "Jethro Goes to School" — Jethro announces that Pearl has sent the family a letter. In this letter, Pearl says how she hopes her son is doing well in school. Jed realizes that Jethro should be in the fifth grade and tells him they have to find a school that day. While driving around Beverly Hills, they stop at the first school they see, Mrs. Potts’ exclusive private school.
2:30P | 1:30C: The Beverly Hillbillies: "Jethro's Graduation" — Jethro is very excited about graduating from the sixth grade. But in order to prevent embarrassment, Mrs. Potts gets help from Drysdale and Diana to get Jethro to miss his sixth grade graduation. She schemes to turn Jed and Jethro’s watches back 45 minutes.
3P | 2C: Gilligan's Island: "The Friendly Physician" — A mad scientist lands on the island and takes the castaways to his castle to perform strange experiments on them. Soon they are locked in a dungeon and trapped in the wrong bodies.
3:30P | 2:30C: Gilligan's Island: "A Man With a Net" — Lord Beasley Waterford, a famous butterfly collector, lands on the island searching for the world's rarest butterfly, the pussycat swallowtail. 4P | 3C: Mama's Family: "Mama Learns to Drive" — Fed up with having to chauffeur Mama all over town, the family decides to teach her to drive. But when Mama finally gets her license, the family is too afraid to let her use their cars!
4:30P | 3:30C: Mama's Family: "Educating Mama" — When Bubba enrolls in night school, the family convinces Mama to join him and earn her high school equivalency diploma.
5P | 4C: The Love Boat: "Isaac's Teacher" — Isaac hides from his high-school teacher; a man tries to please his seal; a wife who thinks she's dying wants to choose her successor.
6P | 5C: The Andy Griffith Show: "The Education of Ernest T. Bass" — Ernest T. is back in Mayberry to get his diploma. He is so determined that Andy convinces Helen to allow him to attend class, but Ernest T. isn't exactly classroom material.

Voice actor, comedian, writer and producer Johnny Hardwick, who was best known as the voice of Dale Gribble on King of the Hill, has died. He was found dead at his home Austin, Texas, on August 8. Mr. Hardwick was 64.

Hardwick provided the voice of Dale Gribble on the Fox animated sitcom King of the Hill. The 1997-2010 series centers on the Hills, an American family in the fictional city of Arlen, Texas, as well as their neighbors, co-workers, relatives, classmates, friends, and acquaintances. Dale Gribble is the Hills' chain-smoking, balding, conspiracy-theorist next-door neighbor and Hank's (Mike Judge) best friend. As a result of his paranoia, Dale does not trust the government or "the system". He owns his own pest control business, Dale's Dead Bug, and is also a licensed bounty hunter and President of the Arlen Gun Club. Dale is married to Nancy Hicks-Gribble (Ashley Gardner), a weather reporter and later an anchorwoman for the Channel 84 news. The cast also included Kathy Najimy, Pamela Adlon, Brittany Murphy (1997-2009), Stephen Root, Toby Huss, Jonathan Joss, Lauren Tom, Breckin Meyer, and Tom Petty.

At the time of his death, he was set to reprise the role again in the upcoming revival. It was later revealed that he had recorded "a couple" of new episodes for the revival prior to his death.

He was also its staff writer, story editor and producer from 1997 to 2002. He had three Prime Time Emmy Award nominations, and in 1999 he won an Emmy for producing King of the Hill.

Mr. Hardwick did a great job performing the memorable role of Dale Gribble. We thank him for his work on King of the Hill. He will be greatly missed.

Fashion model and actress Shelley Smith, who starred as Sara James on The Associates, has died. She suffered a cardiac arrest on August 5. She died at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles, California, on August 8. Ms. Smith was 70.

Smith starred as Sara James on the 1979-1980 ABC sitcom The Associates. The series, which was based on the novel of the same name by John Jay Osborn Jr., was the first bonafide starring vehicle for Martin Short and centered on a small group of young novice lawyers who worked at a Wall Street law firm. It was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards. The cast included Wilfrid Hyde-White, Joe Regalbuto, Alley Mills, and Tim Thomerson.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included The Stockard Channing Show, Angie, The Love Boat (2 episodes), Diff'rent Strokes, and Webster.

She starred as Capt. Carolyn Engel on the 1983-1984 NBC military drama For Love and Honor. Some of her other television guest appearances included Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, The Phoenix, Hart to Hart (2 episodes), Fantasy Island, Hotel, Lady Blue, The New Mike Hammer, Hunter, Magnum, P.I. (2 episodes), Simon & Simon (4 episodes), Dragnet (1989), and Murder, She Wrote (2 episodes).

Ms. Smith was a talented and lovely actress. The Associates had a great cast and was critically acclaimed, but it never found a big audience airing against One Day at a Time. It's too bad ABC didn't give it more of a chance in another time slot. We thank her for work on television. She will be deeply missed.

We also remember actor Nicolas Coster. He had a recurring role as David Warner, the father of Blair Warner, on The Facts of Life. He died on June 26 at a hospital in Florida. Mr. Coster was 89.

Coster had a recurring role as David Warner, Blair Warner's (Lisa Whelchel) father, in five episodes of The Facts of Life from 1982 to 1988. His ex-wife, Monica Warner, was played by Marj Dusay in eight episodes from 1981 to 1987.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included No Time for Sergeants, Wendy and Me, Occasional Wife, On Our Own (1978), Husbands, Wives & Lovers (1978), Grandpa Goes to Washington, One Day at a Time, When the Whistle Blows, Police Squad!, Teachers Only (2 episodes), 9 to 5 (3 episodes), Hooperman, Who's the Boss?, Nurses, Coach, 3rd Rock from the Sun (2 episodes), and Crumbs.

Coster starred as Robert Delaney on Another World from 1970 to 1980. He played Anthony Makana in five episodes of One Life to Live. He starred as Lionel Lockridge on Santa Barbara from 1984 to 1993. The role earned him four Daytime Emmy nominations. He starred as Mayor Jack Madison on the digital soap The Bay from 2010 to 2019. The role won him his first Daytime Emmy in 2017. He also worked as a producer from 2010 to 2014.

He played John Eldridge in the 1965 CBS primetime serialized drama Our Private World. He starred as Chief J.E. Carson on The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (also known as Lobo). In 1983, he starred as Dr. Morris Whitford on the short-lived ABC medical drama Ryan's Four.

Some of his other television guest appearances included The Defenders, The Green Hornet, Charlie's Angels, Little House on the Prairie, Baretta, Family, The Rockford Files, Wonder Woman, The Incredible Hulk, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Dallas (3 episodes), Hart to Hart, Quincy, M.E. (1982), Simon & Simon (3 episodes), Magnum, P.I. (1983), Hardcastle and McCormick, T.J. Hooker, Knight Rider (1983), L.A. Law, thirtysomething (1989), Murder, She Wrote (1989), Life Goes On, Star Trek: The Next Generation, MacGyver, Matlock, Law & Order (2 episodes), and Cold Case.

Mr. Coster was a fine character actor. He was a familiar face on many television shows during his long career. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment that he brought us on television. He will be sorely missed.

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

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Labels: Andy Griffith Show, Gilligan's Island, King of the Hill, Leave it to Beaver, Mama's Family, ME-TV, Obits, Saved by the Bell, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Brady Bunch, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, The Love Boat

HBO Renews Barry for Season 4; Apple TV+ Comedy Trying Returns in July; Remembering Maggie Peterson of The Andy Griffith Show

HBO announced that the critically acclaimed dark comedy series Barry has been renewed for a fourth season. Season four will begin production in Los Angeles in June, with Bill Hader directing all eight episodes. Hader and Alec Berg are the series co-creators and executive producers. The Emmy®-winning dark comedy series Barry, starring Emmy®-winner Bill Hader, returned for its eight-episode third season on April 24 with episodes airing weekly on HBO and HBO Max. The season three finale airs on June 12.

Season 3 logline: Desperate to leave his violent past behind in favor of his newfound passion, Barry (Bill Hader) is attempting to untangle himself from the world of contract killing and fully immerse himself in acting. But getting out is messy. While Barry has eliminated many of the external factors that pushed him towards violence, he soon discovers they weren't the only forces at play. What is it about his own psyche that led him to become a killer in the first place? Season three finds Barry and the other characters trying to make the right choice. Season 3 cast: Season three Emmy®-nominated and winning cast regulars include: Stephen Root, Sarah Goldberg, Anthony Carrigan, Emmy®-winner Henry Winkler and Sarah Burns. Returning recurring cast includes D'Arcy Carden and Michael Irby.

Apple TV+ unveiled a first-look and the premiere date for the third season of the beloved comedy series Trying, which will make its global debut exclusively with the first episode on Friday, July 22, 2022 with new episodes every Friday through September 9, 2022. After a dramatic end to season two, the eight episode third season picks up with Nikki (BAFTA nominee Esther Smith) and Jason (SAG Award-nominee Rafe Spall) waking up as new parents to two children they are still getting to know. Now they just have to keep hold of them, which proves to be trickier than they initially thought. Thrown straight into the parental deep-end, Nikki and Jason's relationships with each other and with their nearest and dearest are tested as they desperately try to navigate the ups and downs of parenting - while hanging onto their kids, and their sanity. In addition to Smith and Spall, the season three cast includes Eden Togwell (as 'Princess'), Mickey McAnulty (as 'Tyler'), Oliver Chris (as 'Freddy'), Sian Brooke (as 'Karen'), Darren Boyd (as 'Scott') and Robyn Cara (as 'Jen').

Actress and singer Maggie Peterson (sometimes credited as Maggie Mancuso), who was best known for playing Charlene Darling on The Andy Griffith Show, has died. She died in her sleep, surrounded by family and friends, on May 15 in Colorado. She had been in declining health following the death of her husband Gus. Ms. Peterson was 81.

Peterson guest starred as Charlene Darling on five episodes of the CBS sitcom The Andy Griffith Show from 1963 to 1966. The Darlings are a fictional family of musically inclined hillbillies. Charlene Darling is the only daughter of Briscoe Darling (Denver Pyle). She is an attractive but naïve young, blonde woman who often caused trouble for Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) and his family with her flirtatious behavior and her belief in mountain lore. The Darling Boys were played by The Dillards, an American bluegrass band. She performed on the songs "Salty Dog Blues," "Shady Grove," and "There Is a Time." Peterson reprised her role of Charlene Darling in the 1986 NBC TV movie Return to Mayberry.

She returned in the final season of The Andy Griffith Show in 1968 to play the character of Doris, the dating interest to Sam Jones (Ken Berry), in the episode "A Girl for Goober."

Peterson starred as Susie, a waitress in the coffee shop at the Park Central Hotel, on eight episodes of the second season (1964) of the 1963-1965 NBC sitcom The Bill Dana Show. The plot follows the daily lifestyle of Latin American José Jiménez (Bill Dana), as a bellhop in a New York City hotel. The series was a spin-off from Make Room for Daddy, which showed the character of José as an elevator operator before he became a bellhop. The cast included Jonathan Harris, Gary Crosby (1963-1964) and Don Adams.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (as Eileen Carson in "The Blind Date"), The Queen and I (1969), Love, American Style (1970), Green Acres (2 episodes), Mayberry R.F.D. (as Edna, a cafe waitress) and The Odd Couple (2 episodes).

She starred as the innocent Rose Ellen Wilkerson in the 1969 film The Love God?, starring next to Don Knotts. She played Mrs. Toback in the 1969 film Angel in My Pocket, which starred Andy Griffith.

She lived in Las Vegas where she worked for the Nevada Film Commission as a location scout for film and television. She was married to her husband Gus Mancuso, a jazz musician, for more than 40 years until his death on December 9, 2021.

Ms. Peterson was delightful as Charlene Darling on The Andy Griffith Show. She was a frequent guest at the Mayberry Days Festival in Mount Airy, North Carolina. She appeared as a guest of honor at the Mayberry In The Midwest Festival in Danville, Indiana, in May 2016 and May 2019. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment that she brought us on television. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Andy Griffith Show message board. View photos in our galleries.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:10 PM

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Labels: Andy Griffith Show, Apple TV+, Barry, HBO, Obits, Trying

MeTV Network Loses Columbo, Adds Andy Griffith and M*A*S*H Sundays; Remembering Gavan O'Herlihy, the Original Chuck Cunningham on Happy Days

Columbo will no longer be available on MeTV after Sunday, November 21, as the rights to the series have expired. Mayberry and M*A*S*H, two mainstays of MeTV will come to the rescue on Sundays, too. These brilliant television shows continue to pull our heartstrings and take us to a different place and time. As different as they might be, one thing they do have in common is that they are timeless classics. The Andy Griffith Show and M*A*S*H already delight viewers of all ages on weeknight and now the two series are coming to Sunday evenings as well, beginning Sunday, November 28. Settle down for supper with your loved ones and step back into Mayberry and the 4077th. Catch one full hour of The Andy Griffith Show at 6PM | 5C, followed by a full hour of M*A*S*H at 7PM | 6C. After our visits to Mayberry and the M*A*S*H unit, Monk is stilkl on the case! The neurotic Sherlock solves crimes in San Francisco for two full hours beginning at 8PM | 7C. Afterward, stay tuned for vivacious variety courtesy of The Ed Sullivan Show at 10PM | 9C and Carol Burnett at 11PM | 10C. It's an evening of warmth, whodunnits and wisecracks — only on MeTV starting November 28!

Actor Gavan O'Herlihy, who played Chuck Cunningham in the first season of Happy Days, has died. He died in Bath, England, on September 15 of undisclosed causes. Mr. O'Herlihy was 70.

O'Herlihy appeared as Chuck Cunningham in seven episodes of the first season of the ABC sitcom Happy Days in 1974. Chuck Cunningham was the oldest son of Howard (Tom Bosley) and Marion Cunningham (Marion Ross) and older brother of Richie (Ron Howard) and Joanie (Erin Moran). He was a college student and basketball player. After O'Herlihy asked to leave the series, he was replaced by Randolph Roberts for two episodes in the second season. Chuck Cunningham was never mentioned again after the second season. O'Herlihy appeared on the Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion special in 2005.

His first TV credit was as Josh McBride in the 1973 episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show titled "Son of 'But Seriously, Folks." Some of his drama guest appearances included Sierra, Lucas Tanner, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Six Million Dollar Man, Police Woman, The Bionic Woman, The Amazing Spider-Man, Matt Houston, Cover Up, Tales from the Crypt, China Beach, Twin Peaks, The Good Guys (1992), Tarzan (1991-1992), Sharpe, Star Trek: Voyager, Jonathan Creek, 18 Wheels of Justice and Midsomer Murders.

O'Herlihy starred as Phil McGee in the 1976 ABC miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man in the episode "Part VIII: Chapters 11 and 12." Some of his other miniseries credits included A Rumor of War (1980), We'll Meet Again (1992), Partners in Crime (1983), A Killing on the Exchange, Lonesome Dove (1989) and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994).

He starred as Airk Thaughbaer, the military commander of the destroyed kingdom of Galladoorn who shares a mixed friendship with Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), in the 1988 fantasy film Willow. It was directed by his TV brother, Ron Howard. Some of his other film credits included Superman III (1983), Never Say Never Again (1983), Death Wish 3 (1985), Hidden Assassin (aka The Shooter) (1995), Prince Valiant (1997), Top of the World (1997), Seven Days of Grace (2006) and The Descent Part 2 (2009).

Survivors include his wife, Juliette; his children Rogan, Lonan, David and Daniel; and his siblings Cormac, Patricia, Lorcan and Olwen.

Mr. O'Herlihy was a good character actor. He had over thirty screen credits to his name, most of them in villainous or antagonistic roles. Willow was one of his few heroic roles. It was nice to see him work with Ron Howard again. We thank him for the entertainment he brought us during his career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Happy Days message board. View photos in our galleries.

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

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Labels: Andy Griffith Show, Carol Burnett Show, Columbo, Happy Days, M*A*S*H, ME-TV, Monk, Obits

SitcomsOnline Digest: Season 2 Premiere Date Set for The Righteous Gemstones; Complete Series of The Andy Griffith Show Headed to Blu-ray

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! The week, we're getting some new (and sort of surprising) home media news, hearing of the season two premiere date for an HBO series, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• The Righteous Gemstones finally has a season 2 premiere date. (Deadline)
• This one is one that we found a bit surprising: the entire series of The Andy Griffith Show is being released on Blu-ray (as a manufacture on demand title) next month. (Blu-ray.com)
• That isn't all of the home media news, as The Trials of Rosie O'Neill - The Complete Series, an early 90s legal drama starring Sharon Gless, is coming to DVD from VEI. (VEI)
• The Wonder Years parents Alley Mills and Dan Lauria have reunited again for different roles, but only on Broadway. (Deadline)
• Even though a lot of cable operators have already dropped it anyway, ESPN Classic is officially going away for good. (CNN)
• We love a good listing of holiday programming, and Deadline has that. (Deadline)
• Although the network it airs on has undergone two name changes since it began, the network now known as Freeform is ready for the 25th anniversary of 25 Days of Christmas. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12)

• Decades has a Get Smart binge this weekend.
• HBO Max has five new classic 90s sitcoms from the WBTV library (Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, In the House, The Jamie Foxx Show, Martin and The Parent'hood) this week, and we can only hope more are coming.
• The Game, which was developed for UPN, but ended up airing on The CW before moving to BET, returns with a revival on Thursday on Paramount+.

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

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Labels: Andy Griffith Show, SitcomsOnline Digest, The Righteous Gemstones, Wonder Years

GAC Family Acquires Classic Sony Sitcoms; Remembering Betty Lynn from The Andy Griffith Show

As of Sept. 27, cable network Great American Country has rebranded into two networks: GAC Family and GAC Living. Classic Sony Pictures Television sitcoms have joined the lineup on GAC Family! The weekday schedule has blocks of Hazel from 6am-8am, Father Knows Best from 8am-11am, Silver Spoons from 11am-2pm, Bewitched from 2pm-5pm, I Dream of Jeannie from 5-8pm, then a movie double feature from 8pm-12am, with sitcoms returning in late night with more Bewitched from 12am-3am and more I Dream of Jeannie from 3am-6am. Weekends has less sitcoms, but still some airings! Silver Spoons airs 6-10am, Bewitched from 10am-1pm, I Dream of Jeannie from 1-2pm, then movies from 2pm-2am, before closing the night off with Bewitched from 2am-3am and I Dream of Jeannie from 3am-6am.

GAC Family announced the network's first original movies debuting this fall. The star-studded films kick off with An Autumn Romance, starring Chad Michael Murray, Jessica Lowndes, Dennis Andres, Moni Ogunsuyi and Michael Brown, premiering October 23; followed by all-new Christmas movies Much Ado About Christmas, starring Susie Abromeit and Torrance Coombs on October 30; and Christmas Time is Here, starring Dewshane Williams, Rukiya Bernard and Tom Pickett on November 13. A Kindhearted Christmas, starring Cameron Mathison and Jennie Garth premieres Saturday, November 20 at 8pm ET/PT.

Actress Betty Lynn, who was best known for her role as Thelma Lou on The Andy Griffith Show, has died. She died on October 16 in Mount Airy, North Carolina, after a brief illness. Ms. Lynn was 95.

Lynn's first sitcom starring role was as June on the first season of the ABC sitcom Where's Raymond? from 1953 to 1954. June was the wife of Jonathan (Allyn Joslyn) and mother of Ginny (Frances Karath). The series was renamed The Ray Bolger Show for the second season. The Where's Raymond? cast included Ray Bolger, Richard Erdman and Sylvia Lewis.

She played Pearl on the short-lived 1958 ABC sitcom Love That Jill. Pearl was the secretary of Jack Gibson (Robert Sterling). The cast included Anne Jeffreys, James Lydon, Polly Rose, Barbara Nichols, Nancy Hadley and Kay Elhardt.

Lynn appeared in the recurring role as Thelma Lou, Deputy Barney Fife's (Don Knotts) girlfriend, on the CBS sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. She appeared as Barney's sweetheart in 26 episodes from 1961 to 1966. She reprised the role in the 1986 NBC TV reunion movie Return to Mayberry. The Andy Griffith Show cast included Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Francis Bavier, Elinor Donahue (1960-1961), Jim Nabors (1963-1964), George Lindsey (1965-1968), Aneta Corsaut (1964-1968), Howard McNear, Jack Dodson (1966-1968), Hal Smith (1960-1967) and Jack Burns (1965-1966).

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Gale Storm Show (aka Oh, Susanna), The Farmer's Daughter, The Smothers Brothers Show (aka My Brother the Angel), Family Affair (4 episodes as Miss Lee) and My Three Sons (1 episode as Lois Bradley, 6 episodes as Janet/Janice Dawson).

She appeared as Viola Slaughter on eight episodes of the ABC western Texas John Slaughter from 1959 to 1960. Some of her drama guest appearances included M Squad, Lawman, Wagon Train, Bronco, Sugarfoot, Tales of Wells Fargo, National Velvet, Mod Squad, Little House on the Prairie, Police Story, Barnaby Jones and Matlock (4 episodes as Sarah).

Lynn appeared in many films during the 1940s and 1950s. Some of her credits included Sitting Pretty (1948), June Bride (1948), Mother is a Freshman (1949), Cheaper by the Dozen (1950), Payment on Demand (1951) and Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956).

Ms. Lynn was wonderful as Thelma Lou. Thelma Lou was a sweet and kind character. It's surprising that she didn't appear in more than 26 episodes of the series. Lynn had lived in Mount Airy, the home town of Andy Griffith, since 2006. She continued to make monthly personal appearances in town at The Andy Griffith Museum, signing autographs and meeting with her fans. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our The Andy Griffith Show message board. View photos in our galleries.

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

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Labels: Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, Father Knows Best, GAC Family, Great American Country, Hazel, I Dream of Jeannie, Obits, Silver Spoons, Sony Pictures

Fri-Yay: Happy Endings Now on Netflix, a Perfect New Comedy Binge; Remembering Arlene Golonka of Mayberry R.F.D.

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

ABC's Happy Endings is one of the biggest cult favorite sitcoms of the last decade, at least in terms of shows that were canceled far too soon. The zippy single-camera sitcom can best be described as "a faster, weirder version of Friends," and for three seasons it was a beloved factory of fast paced one liners and quotable lines, with cleverness on par with 30 Rock or The Simpsons. However, the show was canceled due to low ratings in 2013. It has lived on as a cult classic on Hulu since then, even getting namedropped in the sitcom-obsessed Marvel miniseries Wandavision a few months ago. Now, the show has the opportunity to reach an even bigger audience as it started streaming on Netflix this month.

While Hulu has expanded and quickly developed a following, there's no denying that Netflix is still the supreme streamer, and a show moved to Netflix has been proven to be able to catapult it to new heights, such as when Community bursted in popularity last year after it began streaming on Netflix, despite being available on Hulu for years. Considering Netflix's algorithm success, it shouldn't be hard for people who watched shows like Community, New Girl or Schitt's Creek - all popular Netflix shows that share DNA with Happy Endings - to discover this gem of a sitcom. Here's to hoping it's the next sitcom to explode in popularity.

Actress Arlene Golonka, who starred as Millie Swanson on Mayberry R.F.D., has died. She died on May 31 in her sleep at a memory care facility in West Hollywood, California, after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. Ms. Golonka was 85.

Golonka's early drama guest appearances included The United States Steel Hour, Naked City (2 episodes), The Defenders, The Doctors (5 episodes), The Doctors and the Nurses (3 episodes), The Big Valley (2 episodes) and I Spy.

Some of her early sitcom guest appearances included Car 54, Where Are You?, The Flying Nun, Accidental Family and Get Smart. She played Millie Hutchins in the eighth and final season of The Andy Griffith Show episodes "Howard's Main Event" and "Howard and Millie." She works at the bakery and becomes engaged to Howard Sprague (Jack Dodson) before they decide to break the engagement.

Her character was named Millie Swanson on The Andy Griffith Show spinoff series Mayberry R.F.D., which premiered on September 23, 1968. The 1968-1971 CBS sitcom aired for 3 seasons and 78 episodes. Millie Swanson was the love interest of Sam Jones (Ken Berry). The cast included Frances Bavier (1968-1970), George Lindsey, Jack Dodson, Paul Hartman, Buddy Foster and Alice Ghostley (1970-1971).

She starred as Stella Sweetzer in the second season of the short-lived 1978-1979 NBC sitcom Joe & Valerie. Stella Sweetzer was the mother of Valerie Sweetzer (Char Fontane). The season two cast included Paul Regina, Lloyd Alan, David Elliott, Donna Ponterotto, Robert Costanzo and Jack Riley.

Golonka appeared as Lieutenant Edwina “Eddie” Ferguson, an attractive but clumsy nurse, in the M*A*S*H episode "Edwina." She played Tina, an escort of one of Archie's old pals (Larry Storch), in the All in the Family episode "Oh Say Can You See." Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included That Girl (3 episodes), Love, American Style (3 episodes), The Mary Tyler Moore Show (2 episodes), The Girl with Something Extra, Maude (2 episodes), The Cop and the Kid (2 episodes), Alice, Carter Country, One Day at a Time, Taxi, The Love Boat (2 episodes), Gimme a Break!, Benson, Valerie, We Got It Made, Growing Pains (2 episodes), 1st & Ten (3 episodes) and Drexell's Class. Her final credit was a 2005 episode of The King of Queens.

Some of her drama guest appearances included Sarge, The Rookies, The F.B.I., Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1972), The Delphi Bureau, Young Dr. Kildare, Cannon, Faraday and Company, The Manhunter, Police Woman, Barnaby Jones (2 episodes), The Streets of San Francisco (2 episodes), The Rockford Files, Police Story, Trapper John, M.D., Fantasy Island (3 episodes), Simon & Simon, Murder, She Wrote (2 episodes), In the Heat of the Night and Matlock (2 episodes).

Her voice credits included Speed Buggy, The New Scooby-Doo Movies, Scooby's Laff-A Lympics and The New Yogi Bear Show.

Some of her film credits included Harvey Middleman, Fireman (1965), Penelope (1966), The Busy Body (1967), Welcome to Hard Times (1967), Hang 'Em High (1968), Airport '77 (1977), The In-Laws (1979), Love at First Bite (1979), The Last Married Couple in America (1980), My Tutor (1983), The End of Innocence (1990) and A Family Affair (2001).

Survivors include her sister, Zorine; nieces Stephanie, Susan, Amy, Debra, Lisa, Karen and Crissy; and nephews David and Michael.

Ms. Golonka was a talented, cute and bubbly actress. If you enjoy The Andy Griffith Show, the first season of Mayberry R.F.D. is worth checking out on DVD or digitally. It has some of the same Mayberry charm. Hopefully they will release the other two seasons on DVD or put them on a streaming service at some point. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Mayberry R.F.D. message board. View photos in our galleries.

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

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Labels: ABC, Andy Griffith Show, Fri-Yay, Happy Endings, Hulu, Mayberry RFD, Netflix, Obits