SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

by Vincent

Last week, we received the tragic news that Jessica Walter has passed away. Walter was an incredible actress with a long and excellent career in both film and TV. However, to sitcoms fans, she was likely known for two iconic roles: Lucille Bluth in the critically acclaimed and fan beloved comedy Arrested Development, and Mallory Archer in the raunchy, long-running animated hit Archer. Walter worked in both roles even in very recent times (Arrested's final season aired in 2018, and Archer is still running) and her death came as a shock, as even in her later work she still did an excellent job at portraying the characters.

Walter's comic talents might not have been immediately evident to those who knew her from her Play Misty for Me days, but the way she could deliver stone-cold classic lines on both Arrested and Archer was unparalleled. So many Lucille Bluth lines became internet memes for a reason - her blunt, in-your-face delivery made for so many classic moments, and she made the hilariously hatable character of Lucille Bluth an instant classic character, and a big part of Arrested's excellent success. She brought the same energy to her Archer character and once again contributed to that show's continued triumphs. I've been rewatching Arrested Development this week and I'm still in awe of just how great of a comic actress she was. Rest in peace, Jessica Walter - your excellent work will live in for many, many years.

Executive-produced by Robert Smigel (Triumph The Insult Comic Dog), Fox's satirical-puppet series, Let's Be Real, returns with four all-new episodes, and all-new puppets, beginning Thursday, April 29 from 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) on Fox. Following last fall's comedy special, Let's Be Real returns to Fox this spring with all-new episodes beginning Thursday, April 29 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT). Executive-produced and written by Robert Smigel (Triumph The Insult Comic Dog), the new series will debut new puppets from the worlds of entertainment and politics, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Ted Cruz, Kim Kardashian and LeBron James. Previously featured puppets, such as President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald J. Trump, Former Vice President Mike Pence and Kanye West, also will appear, as the satirical comedy series will cover politics and pop culture in 2021 through topical sketches, celebrity cameos and remote pieces.

by Vincent

Last night, NBC's Superstore came to an end. The show has been one of the best network sitcoms of the past decade, and in my mind, one of the most underrated sitcoms of all-time. It's a hilarious show with an excellent ensemble that tackled working class issues that no other show has even come close to tackling, and it deserves to be mentioned in the same conversation as The Office, Community, 30 Rock, The Good Place or any of the other beloved NBC comedies of modern times. The show is also going out with a great season - even though losing America Ferrera and dealing with the issues of the COVID-19 pandemic don't sound like they would make a great Superstore season, they really have. The way Superstore depicts its employees' dealing with the pandemic has made for some great dark and true-to-life humor, and continued its amazing turn of taking serious issues and making funny, thoughtful TV.

At the time I'm writing this, I haven't watched the show's series finale yet. But in some ways, I'm dreading the show's end, just because Superstore has been such a consistent delight these past six years, and I'm not ready for the show to end just yet. With Superstore leaving, it'll leave a huge hole in the network TV landscape, and I truly hope that the show has a revival on streaming the way The Office and Parks and Recreation did - as many people as possible deserve to watch this truly incredible series. So farewell, Superstore, and thanks for all of the laughs and real moments you've given us.

Emmy-winning actress Jessica Walter, who starred as Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development, has died. She died in her sleep at her home in Manhattan, New York, on March 24. Ms. Walter was 80.

Walter's early television guest appearances included Flipper, The Fugitive, The F.B.I., Name of the Game, Mannix, Mission: Impossible, Alias Smith and Jones, Mannix, Banacek, Barnaby Jones, The Magician, Columbo, Hawaii Five-0 and Ironside. She won an Emmy Award in 1975 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for her work in the NBC police drama Amy Prentiss. Amy Prentiss was a relatively young investigator who becomes the first female Chief of Detectives for the San Francisco Police Department following the previous chief's death. The series was a spin-off of Ironside.

She had a recurring role as Claudia Bradford in eight episodes the 1984-1985 ABC sitcom Three's a Crowd. Claudia Bradford was Vicky Bradford's (Mary Cadorette) mother and James Bradford's (Robert Mandan) ex-wife. The Three's Company spin-off also starred John Ritter and Alan Campbell.

Walter provided the voice of Fran Sinclair on the 1991-1994 ABC sitcom Dinosaurs. Fran Sinclair was a ten-ton allosaurus who was the mother and homemaker of the Sinclair family. The cast providing voices included Stuart Pankin, Jason Willinger, Sally Struthers, Kevin Clash, Florence Stanley, Sam McMurray and Sherman Hemsley.

Walter starred as Celia Calloway on the 1998-2000 Lifetime sitcom Oh Baby. Celia was the bossy mother of Tracy Calloway (Cynthia Stevenson). The series also starred Joanna Gleason, Matt Champagne, Dina Spybey, Doug Ballard, Jack Coleman, Patrick Kerr and Don McMarcus.

She starred as the scheming alcoholic socialite matriarch Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development. Lucille is the wife of George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor) and the mother of Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman). Walter received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series for the role in 2005. The series aired on Fox for three seasons from 2003 to 2005 before being revived by Netflix for seasons four (2013) and five (2018-2019). It also stars Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, David Cross and Ron Howard (narrator).

Walter starred as Elaine Robbins on the 2011-2012 TV Land sitcom Retired at 35. It ran for two seasons and 20 episodes. The series follows a successful New Yorker named David (Johnathan McClain), who decides to leave the rat race and his job in the big city and visit his father (George Segal) and mother (Jessica Walter) who live in a retirement community in Florida. The series also starred Josh McDermitt, Ryan Michelle Bathe (Season 1) and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Season 2).

She starred as Maggie Doyle on the 2014 TV Land sitcom Jennifer Falls. The series follows Jennifer Doyle (Jaime Pressly), a single mother who, after losing her high salary job, has to move back in with her mother, Maggie. It also starred Missi Pyle, Ethlan Suplee, Nora Kirkpatrick and Dylan Gelula.

Walter provided the voice of Malory Hunter on the FX/FXX animated series Archer for 11 seasons from 2009 to 2020. Malory Hunter is the mother Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin). The show has been renewed for season 12. Others providing voices include Judy Greer, Amber Nash, Chris Parnell, Adam Reed, Aisha Tyler and Lucky Yates.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included Love, American Style, Aloha Paradise, Joanie Loves Chachi, The Love Boat, Coach (5 episodes as Susan Miller), You Wish, Just Shoot Me! (as Eve Gallo, the mother of Maya (Laura San Giacomo) and the ex-wife of magazine publisher Jack Gallo (George Segal)), Rules of Engagement, Happy Hour, The Big Bang Theory, The Odd Couple (2016), Difficult People and American Housewife.

She had a supporting role as Phyllis Koster, the wife of David Koster (William Shatner), on the short-lived 1965 CBS police drama For the People. She had a recurring role as Melanie McIntyre, Trapper John's (Pernell Roberts) former wife on the CBS medical drama Trapper John, M.D. from 1979 to 1985. In 1982, she appeared as Anne McPherson on the NBC drama The Round Table. She played Ava Marshall on the short-lived 1983 NBC primetime soap opera Bare Essence. She starred as Connie Lo Verde on the 1988 NBC drama Aaron's Way. She was a regular as Tabitha Wilson on the first half of the first season of 90210 from 2008 to 2009.

Some of her other drama television guest appearances in the 1970s and 1980s included McCloud, The Streets of San Francisco, McMillan and Wife, Wonder Woman, Quincy, M.E., Knots Landing, Matt Houston, Hotel, Magnum, P.I. and Murder, She Wrote. Her later guest appearances included Babylon 5, Law & Order, One Life to Live (6 episodes), Jack & Jill, Touched by an Angel, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Saving Grace, Gravity, NCIS and Good Girls.

Her film credits included Play Misty for Me (1971), Grand Prix (1966), The Group (1966), Going Ape! (1981), Spring Fever (1983), The Flamingo Kid (1984) and PCU (1994).

Ms. Walter was a brilliant actress. She was so funny and memorable as Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development. She made everything she appeared in much better. We thank her for the many laughs and entertainment she brought us during her long career. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Arrested Development messsage board. View photos in our galleries.

Character actor Richard Gilliland, who appeared as J.D. Shackelford on Designing Women, has died. He died on March 18 following a short illness in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Gilliland was 71.

Gilliland starred as Lt. Nick Holden in the first season (1977-1978) of the ABC sitcom Operation Petticoat. Lt. Nick Holden was a wheeler-dealer supply officer. The first season also starred John Astin, Melinda Naud, Yvonne Wilder, Dorrie Thomson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bond Gideon, Richard Brestoff and Jim Varney.

He starred as Tom Stafford on the short-lived 1989 CBS sitcom Heartland. The series was about an old-fashioned farmer named B. L. McCutcheon (Brian Keith) moves in with his daughter (Katie Layman), son-in-law (Richard Gilliland) and their family. The series also starred Jason Kristofer, Devin Ratray and Daisy Keith.

Gilliand starred as Keith Barrow on the short-lived 1983 ABC sitcom Just Our Luck. Keith Barrow was a mild-mannered TV weatherman for KPOX-TV who frees a hip, fun-loving 3,000-year-old genie named Shabu (T.K. Carter) after being imprisoned in his bottle for nearly two centuries. The series also starred Ellen Maxted, Rod McCary, Richard Schaal, Hamilton Camp and Leonard Simon.

He had a recurring role as J.D. Shackelford on 14 episodes of the CBS sitcom Designing Women from 1986 to 1991. J.D. Shackelford was Mary Jo Shively's (Annie Potts) boyfriend who worked as a talent scout for the Atlanta Braves. Gilliland married Jean Smart (Charlene Frazier-Stillfield) in 1987. The series also starred Dixie Carter, Delta Burke (1986-1991), Meschach Taylor, Julia Duffy (Season 6), Jan Hooks (Seasons 6-7) and Judith Ivey (Season 7).

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, Mary, Night Court, Valerie, Davis Rules and Becker.

He had a recurring role as Jeffrey Milgrom in seven episodes of thirtysomething from 1989 to 1990. Some of his television drama guest appearances from the 1970 and 1980s included The Streets of San Francisco, Medical Center, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Blue Knight, McMillan and Wife (as Sgt. Steve DiMaggio), Trapper John, M.D., The Waltons, Fantasy Island, Hotel, St. Elsewhere, Hunter, Hearbeat and Jake and the Fatman.

Some of his later guest appearances included Murder, She Wrote, Matlock, Winnetka Road, Touched by an Angel, Dark Skies, Early Edition, The Practice, Party of Five, Judging Amy, Joan of Arcadia, Crossing Jordan, 24, Dexter, Desperate Housewives, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Minds and Imposters.

Mr. Gilliland was a talented and versatile character actor. He was a familiar face on many sitcoms and other television series over the years. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Designing Women message board. View photos in our galleries.

by Vincent

Though the years, Archer has gone through many changes. What started out as an animated spy comedy slowly morphed into many different shows, from a show about dealing cocaine to a noir detective series to a space odyssey, with sometimes little rhyme or reason given for the shifts. More recently, Archer has spent the last several seasons with its lead character in a coma, and having each season be a different hallucination. This year, though, the show has snapped back to normal - and although it isn't as sharp as it was in its first handful of seasons, it's the funniest it's been in years.

I always admired Archer's willingness to abandon its original premise and do whatever it's creator felt like doing. After it's fourth season, which showed some natural signs of decline, the show switched it up to be a Miami Vice-esque crime comedy, and its changed every year since (going back to a spy agency for a season, then to a detective show, then starting the multi-year coma saga). Still, though, some years it felt like Archer was straining to stay interesting and cover genres it didn't really have its heart in. Now that it can settle down and truly address its main characters, it’s gotten much funnier and easier to watch - and it's been a delight during a time when fresh episodes of shows are just tricking in.

The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), celebrating their 30th anniversary as the first and largest myeloma-specific foundation in the world, announced that Ray Romano and his Everybody Loves Raymond castmates will reunite for a special evening to honor co-star Peter Boyle and re-create scenes from the sitcom that ran from 1996-2005. In addition to Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Monica Horan and co-creator and Executive Producer Phil Rosenthal will participate in the two-hour event, along with special guests and bonus content.

The IMF 14th Annual Comedy Celebration will take place tonight (Friday, October 23) at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. It is particularly special for the organization this year, as October marks the IMF's 30-year anniversary. To tune in to this table read and celebrate 30 years of service to the myeloma community, the event will be available to stream on IMF's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/IMFMyeloma, IMF's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/myeloma and on the organization's event website at comedy.myeloma.org.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Peter Boyle Research Fund, named for the beloved actor who died in 2006 after a four-year battle with multiple myeloma - a complex and often misdiagnosed cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. It is the second most common blood cancer in the world. Through laughter, the event honors Boyle and raises crucial funds to find a cure for myeloma. The Peter Boyle Research Fund has supported the IMF's innovative research programs since the fund's inception in 2007. For the 14th year, Loraine Alterman Boyle serves as Event Chair for the annual IMF Comedy Celebration in honor of her late husband. Since 2007, the annual event has featured more than 50 celebrity comedians and musical performers, and raised $8 million.

FXX has set the premiere date for the 11th season of Archer, the Emmy Award-winning animated comedy series. The eight-episode season will premiere Wednesday, September 16 with two new episodes airing back-to-back at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on FXX, and will be available the following day on FX on Hulu. News of the premiere date was shared with fans at the conclusion of the Archer panel during this year's virtual San Diego Comic-Con. Archer is an animated, half-hour comedy that follows Sterling Archer and his return to the spy world after a three-year coma. While many things changed during his absence, Archer is confident it will take just a little time for him to reset things back to the old ways. The problem: does the rest of the team want that? Everyone else has been doing pretty well and may not be ready for his return to throw a wrench in their well-oiled machine.

The series features the voices of H. Jon Benjamin as the newly awakened secret agent, "Sterling Archer;" Aisha Tyler as super spy, "Lana Kane;" Jessica Walter as Archer's mother and spymaster, "Malory Archer;" Judy Greer as the surprisingly well-adjusted assistant, "Cheryl/Carol Tunt;" Chris Parnell as the newly-minted alpha male, "Cyril Figgis;" Amber Nash as the lovable comrade in arms, "Pam Poovey;" Adam Reed as the consummate professional, "Ray Gillette;" and Lucky Yates as the unscrupulous scientist, "Algernop Krieger."

The Fugitive remake drops August 3 on Quibi. Kiefer Sutherland (24, Designated Survivor) and Boyd Holbrook (Narcos) star in this edge-of-your-seat crime thriller from the creator of Most Dangerous Game and co-executive producer of Prison Break, in which an innocent man on the run, desperate to clear his name, is chased through Los Angeles by the cop who will not rest until he is captured. Starring: Kiefer Sutherland and Boyd Holbrook, with Natalie Martinez (Secrets & Lies), Tiya Sircar, Brian Geraghty, Genesis Rodriguez (Time After Time), Glenn Howerton (A.P. Bio) and Keilani Arellanes also starring. See the first trailer above. The original series aired on ABC from September 1963 to August 1967. David Janssen starred as Dr. Richard Kimble, a physician who is wrongfully convicted of his wife's murder and sentenced to receive the death penalty.



FX has officially given the green light to American Horror Stories, a spin-off of Ryan Murphy's award-winning hit anthology series American Horror Story, adding to the FX original programming slate through 2021. American Horror Stories is a weekly anthology series that will feature a different horror story each episode. American Horror Story, the progenitor of the modern-day limited series format - and the longest running hour-long series in FX's history - debuts its 10th installment next year. FX has ordered the show through season 13. American Horror Story and American Horror Stories are produced by 20th Century Fox Television. With the order of American Horror Stories, as well as the recent renewals of the acclaimed comedy series Dave, Breeders and What We Do in the Shadows, the FX original programming slate is set through 2021: Archer, Atlanta, Better Things, Cake, Fargo, Hip Hop Untold, Hysterical, Impeachment: American Crime Story, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mayans M.C., Mr Inbetween, The Old Man, Pose, Pride, Snowfall, A Teacher, Untitled B.J. Novak Anthology, The Weekly, A Wilderness of Error and Y: The Last Man. While the slate is subject to change, it is likely that some additional programs in development will be ordered and could debut in the 2021 calendar year.

NBC has slated a favorite for this summer. The last five original episodes of season six of Hollywood Game Night will air on Sundays at 7:00pm ET/PT starting Sunday, June 7 through Sunday, July 12, 2020 (preempted on July 5 due to NASCAR). The series aired a special social distancing episode a few weeks ago on May 12. Jane Lynch hosted remotely while Kristen Bell, Nick Jonas and Kenan Thompson go head-to-head with Sean Hayes, John Legend and Retta as everyone battled it out from their own homes for a very worthy cause - the Red Nose Day campaign. This unprecedented night of fun and games marked the third annual Red Nose Day edition of Hollywood Game Night. 

FXX has renewed the Emmy(R) Award-winning animated comedy series Archer for an 11th season. Season 11 will debut on FXX in 2020. News of the Archer renewal was shared with fans at San Diego Comic-Con during a sneak peek screening and Q&A with its cast and producers in support of the series' current 10th season, Archer: 1999. Archer: 1999 returns Wednesday, July 24, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FXX with the season's penultimate episode, "Cubert." In it, Archer is convinced a mysterious object is causing the crew to act strangely. Is it magnetic? Is it supernatural? Does it need to be cleaned with some sterile wipes? The episode was written by Adam Reed.

Archer is an animated, half-hour comedy that follows Sterling Archer, Lana Kane, and their crew of acid-tongued misfits onboard the M/V Seamus salvage ship. An important question arises as they explore deep space and try to outsmart giant aliens, intergalactic pirates, and vicious bounty hunters: how do they survive each other? Welcome to the space-tastic world of Archer: 1999.

TBS' new comedy game show The Misery Index will premiere on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 10pm ET / PT. Inspired by the card game Sh*t Happens, The Misery Index is the only game show where contestants can make a fortune out of other people's mis-fortune. Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) stars as the show's host with The Tenderloins comedy troupe and stars of truTV's Impractical Jokers – Brian "Q" Quinn, James "Murr" Murray, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano – starring as recurring panelists. The Misery Index trailer debuted to a room full of fans at the first-ever Impractical Jokers San Diego Comic-Con® International panel. The game will feature two teams, each consisting of one contestant and two Tenderloins. Teams will compete in a game of stakes ranking hysterically miserable real-life experiences — from getting stuck overnight in an elevator to walking in on your grandparents having sex — on a scale of 1-100 based on our Misery Index, a ranking system created by a team of therapists.

FXX has set the premiere date for the 10th season of the Emmy(R) Award-winning animated comedy series Archer, it was announced by the network. Archer: 1999 will debut Wednesday, May 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FXX. FXX also released the first trailer for Archer: 1999, which can be viewed here. Archer is an animated, half-hour comedy that follows Sterling Archer, Lana Kane, and their crew of acid-tongued misfits onboard the M/V Seamus salvage ship. An important question arises as they explore deep space and try to outsmart giant aliens, intergalactic pirates, and vicious bounty hunters: how do they survive each other? Welcome to the space-tastic world of Archer: 1999.

The series features the voices of H. Jon Benjamin as the hard-drinking Captain, "Sterling Archer;" Aisha Tyler as Archer's Co-Captain and short-tempered ex-wife, "Lana Kane;" Jessica Walter as Archer's mother and ball of energy, "Malory Archer;" Judy Greer as the eagle-eye fighter pilot, "Cheryl/Carol Tunt;" Chris Parnell as the attention-seeking First Mate, "Cyril Figgis;" Amber Nash as the crew's rock monster muscle, "Pam Poovey;" Adam Reed as the out-of-place-in-space courtesan, "Ray Gillette;" and Lucky Yates as the synthetic human with questionable morals, "Algernop Krieger."

Hulu has renewed comedy series Shrill for a 8-episode second season. The series is executive produced by Lorne Michaels, Elizabeth Banks, showrunner Ali Rushfield, Lindy West, Andrew Singer of Broadway Video, Max Handelman of Brownstone Productions, and Aidy Bryant. Dannah Shinder of Brownstone Productions will serve as a producer. Season one followed Annie (SNL's Aidy Bryant), a fat young woman who wants to change her life - but not her body. Annie is trying to start her career while juggling bad boyfriends, a sick parent, and a perfectionist boss. The first season starred Bryant, Lolly Adefope, Luka Jones, Ian Owens, John Cameron Mitchell, Patti Harrison, Julia Sweeney, and Daniel Stern. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television, Broadway Video and Brownstone Productions. Warner Bros. International Television Distribution will serve as the international distributor. Season two will premiere in 2020. More info to come!

Archer: Danger Island, the ninth season of the Emmy(R) Award-winning animated series, will premiere on Wednesday, April 25 at 10 PM ET/PT on FXX. Archer: Danger Island is an animated, half-hour comedy that centers on the semi-functioning alcoholic seaplane pilot, Sterling Archer, a lush on the lush South Pacific island of Mitimotu in 1939. While the rest of the world is concerned about the impending Second World War, Archer is only concerned with who's buying his next drink. Along with his trusty co-pilot Pam, Sterling must navigate quicksand, cannibals, super-intelligent monkeys, poison darts, pirates, and did we mention quicksand? Welcome to the mysterious and deadly world of Archer: Danger Island.

The series features the voices of H. Jon Benjamin as the hard-drinking pilot, "Sterling Archer;" Jessica Walter as Archer's acid-tongued mother and hotel owner, "Malory Archer;" Aisha Tyler as island royalty and local revolutionary, "Princess Lanaluakalani;" Judy Greer as the abandoned heiress, "Charlotte Vandertunt;" Chris Parnell as the obvious German spy posing as a businessman, "Siegbert Fuchs;" Amber Nash as Archer's co-pilot and loyal sidekick, "Pam Poovey;" Adam Reed as impeccably uniformed French Capitaine, "Reynaud;" and Lucky Yates as the audacious scarlet macaw, "Crackers."

Actress Nanette Fabray, who appeared as Grandma Katherine Romano in One Day at a Time, has died. She died on February 22 at the Canterbury Nursing home in Palos Verdes, California. Ms. Fabray was 97.

Fabray's first television starring role was in the NBC sitcom/variety/sketch comedy series Caesar's Hour from 1954 to 1956. She appeared as Ann Victor, herself and in various roles. She won three Emmy Awards for Best Comedienne and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1956 and for Best Continuing Performance by a Comedienne in a Series in 1957.

She starred as Nanette "Nan" McGovern in the 1961 NBC sitcom Westinghouse Playhouse (also known as The Nanette Fabray Show, Westinghouse Playhouse Starring Nanette Fabray and Wendell Corey and as Yes, Yes Nanette in syndication). She played a successful Broadway star who marries Dan McGovern (Wendell Corey), a widower. The series also starred Bobby Diamond, Jacklyn O'Donnell and Doris Kemper.

Fabray appeared as Grandma Katherine Romano in 42 episodes of the CBS sitcom One Day at a Time from 1979 to 1984. She was the mother of Ann (Bonnie Franklin) and the grandmother of Julie (Mackenzie Phillips) and Barbara (Valerie Bertinelli). Fabray appeared as a guest and in a recurring role before becoming a regular cast member in the final season. The series also starred Pat Harrington, Jr., Michael Lembeck (1979-1980, 1981-1984), Glenn Scarpelli (1980-1983) and Boyd Gaines (1981-1984).

She played Dottie Richards, the mother of Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore), in two episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1972. She appeared as Mildred Armstrong, the mother of Christine Armstrong (Shelley Fabares), in three episodes of Coach from 1990 to 1994. Fabray was the real-life aunt of Shelley Fabares.

Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Love, American Style, Maude, The Love Boat, The Munsters Today and The Golden Palace. Her television drama guest appearances included Burke's Law, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., Hotel and Murder, She Wrote.

Fabray was also known for her stage work. She won a Tony Award in 1949 for her portrayal of Susan Cooper in Love Life. She received a Tony nomination for her role as Nell Henderson for Mr. President in 1963. Some of her other credits included Meet the People, Let's Face It!, By Jupiter, My Dear Public, Jackpot, Bloomer Girl, High Button Shoes, Arms and the Girl and Make a Wish.

The Archive of American Television conducted an extensive interview with her on August 12, 2004.

Ms. Fabray was wonderful as Grandma Katherine Romano in One Day at a Time. We thank her for the many laughs and entertainment she brought us during her long career. She will be deeply missed.

SYFY announced the acquisition of Seasons 1 and 2 of buzzy web series Con Man from Redbear Films. The news was shared with excited fans during SYFY's Con Man: Cons and Fandom Culture panel at San Diego Comic-Con by creator, star and moderator Alan Tudyk. The short form web series, which debuted on Vimeo and Comic-Con HQ, will premiere on SYFY in September. The critically-acclaimed, geektastic series, which recently received two Emmy nominations in the short form comedy or drama category, follows the journey of Wray Nerely (Tudyk), a washed-up, former sci-fi celebrity who revisits his glory days on the convention circuit. Joining Tudyk on the panel for a conversation about what makes cons - and the fans who love them - so damn great were Con Man's memorable guest stars Tricia Helfer, Amy Acker, Nolan North, Casper Van Dien and Executive Producer PJ Haarsma. In addition to sharing trade secrets on how to make a successful web series, the panelists delighted the audience by performing the iconic hoedown musical number from the second season with all the bells and whistles - props, dancers, and even a cardboard cutout of Nathan Fillion!

After a turn as a hardboiled private eye in 1947 Los Angeles, Archer is headed to "Danger Island" for its upcoming ninth season. Creators of FXX's Emmy(R) Award-winning, animated, half-hour comedy revealed the theme and title treatment at the conclusion of the Archer panel late last week at San Diego Comic-Con. The panel discussion in the Indigo Ballroom brought together Executive Producer Matt Thompson and Co-Executive Producer Casey Willis with the voice cast of H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter, Judy Greer, Amber Nash and Lucky Yates. The ninth season of Archer will premiere on FXX in 2018.

The hit FX animated comedy series Archer is moving to sister network FXX beginning with Season 8 this spring. Archer, which recently received an Emmy(R) for Outstanding Animated Program, has already been renewed for two additional seasons. Archer is an animated, half-hour comedy that revolves around the hardboiled private eye Sterling Archer and his quest to find his partner's killer in 1947 Los Angeles. The case proves to be more difficult than expected after Archer quickly gets mixed up in a deadly game of tug of war between Los Angeles' most powerful crime bosses. Every clue leads Archer further away from his goal and deeper into a mystery involving kidnapping, prostitution and drug addiction. The series features the voices of H. Jon Benjamin, Jessica Walter, Aisha Tyler, Judy Greer, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash, Adam Reed and Lucky Yates.

We now have a date for the Eric Stonestreet competition series for ABC, as we first mentioned. The eight-episode series The Toy Box hosted by Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) premieres on Friday, April 7 from 8:00-9:00 p.m. EST on the ABC Television Network. Sitcoms Last Man Standing and Dr. Ken, which currently air in the hour, will have their season finales the week prior on Friday, March 31. ABC's The Toy Box announced the mentors and judges who will select the winning toy to be made by Mattel and sold exclusively at Toys "R" Us after the series finale. In each episode, inventors present their toy concepts to a group of mentors that include Dylan's Candy Bar owner Dylan Lauren, toy guru Jim Silver and Pixar Creative Director of Consumer Products Jen Tan. If the toy maker gets past the mentors, they will move on to The Toy Box where a panel of young, no-holds-barred judges that include Sophia Grace Brownlee (The Ellen Degeneres Show), Aalyrah Caldwell (Uncle Buck), Toby Grey (The Unexpected John Cena Prank) and Noah Ritter (The Ellen Degeneres Show) decide which toy moves on to the finals and eventually crowned the winner.