SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Bounce TV Renews Mind Your Business; AMC Networks 2025 Upfront Highlights

Bounce TV has renewed its hit comedy Mind Your Business, and the NAACP Image Award nominated series will return for a second season on June 7 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. Mind Your Business is the story of the Williams family, which is in the business of celebrating some of life’s most significant occasions with its event and party space in Chicago. However, when it comes to their own family affairs, there seems to be a bigger need for referees than DJs. Columbus Short (Scandal, Stomp the Yard), Drew Sidora (The Real Housewives of Atlanta, That's So Raven) and Emmy-Award winner Rolonda Watts (Rolonda) lead the ensemble cast.

In the second season, the Williams family is back with more twists, surprises and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Jordan takes matters into her own hands to protect her parents' relationship, while Aaliyah moving in with Mia leads to unexpected chaos. Alfonso and Kim navigate a series of bizarre situations, while the family deals with surprising revelations that shake up their dynamics. With old secrets resurfacing, budding romances and new family tensions, the Williams crew must find a way to stick together through all the chaos – proving that no matter how wild things get, they always have each other's backs. Mind Your Business also features Caryn Ward Ross (Fame, Monogamy, Patterns of Attraction), Brely Evans (Ambitions, Being Mary Jane, The Man in 3B), Bryce Xavier (A Bennett Song Holiday, Stay Tuned: The Movie, Total Eclipse) and Chloe Elise Ellis (Borrasca, Footprints, Three Stories Up). The series is produced by Harvest Studios and executive produced by Bentley Kyle Evans (Martin, The Jamie Foxx Show).

This past Wednesday in New York City, AMC Networks hosted its 2025 Upfront Content Showcase at Spring Studios. Stars of AMC Networks' hit shows and upcoming series were also present including Brooke Shields (Allie and Andi for Acorn TV), Sam Reid and Eric Bogosian (Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire for AMC/AMC+), Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan (The Walking Dead: Dead City for AMC/AMC+), Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol for AMC/AMC+), Alexandra Daddario and Tongayi Chirisa (Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches for AMC/AMC+), Harry Hamlin (Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches, Mad Men, In the Kitchen with Harry Hamlin for AMC/AMC+), Nicholas Denton and Elizabeth McGovern (Anne Rice's Talamasca: The Secret Order for AMC/AMC+), Dracmorda Boulet and Swanthula Boulet (The Boulet Brothers' Dragula for Shudder), Deanna Taushi Allison (Dark Winds for AMC/AMC+), CCH Pounder and Judith Light (The Terror: Devil in Silver for AMC/AMC+), Toya Johnson-Rushing and Reginae Carter (Toya & Reginae for We TV), Hilarie Burton Morgan (True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here for SundanceTV/AMC+), and Billy Magnussen, Simon Helberg, Lucy Punch and Meaghan Rath (The Audacity for AMC/AMC+).

Attendees were shown an exclusive look at Dark Winds brought to life with an electrifying performance by Native American rocker Mozart Gabrielfrom the Taos Pueblo and Navajo Nation; Janelle Monae rocked the room with a surprise performance following the announcement of her return as the "HalloQueen" host of AMC Networks' annual Fall Halloween programming event, FearFest; and Frendo the clown from Clown in a Cornfield came out to play.

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

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Labels: AMC, Bounce TV, Mind Your Business

2024 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day TV Marathons

Welcome to a special Christmas marathon style edition of the News Blog! That means we will recap all of the holiday episode stunts and marathons on TV this holiday on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

Some of the major TV stunts we mentioned already were Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas 2024 edition, concluding on Christmas Day after 25 days. That is always a fan favorite pick of course! Some of the stuff that will air on Christmas Eve and Day on Freeform include The Santa Clause and Home Alone. However, our pick of the marathons is once again on Antenna TV! Starting Christmas Eve they have a "Classic Christmas Collection" marathon beginning at 10am on Christmas Eve through 5am Christmas Day. Then they will have a "Christmas Through the Years" marathon on Christmas Day running from 10am-5am following The Yule Log. Shows airing during these two events include Father Knows Best to Bewitched to The Facts of Life to Three's Company! Sister network Rewind TV will have similar marathons on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with shows such as Who's the Boss?, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and The Drew Carey Show. The MeTV Network will also have holiday episodes of their series for their A Very Merry MeTV block but also The Ed Sullivan Show Christmas special on Christmas Eve from 1am-3am.

Streaming networks like Pluto TV has a nice holiday schedule, too, as we mentioned. Laff, Bounce and ION will air some holiday episodes as well. There is something for everyone, including holiday TV movies on Hallmark, Lifetime and GAC.

Stay tuned this time next week for our annual look at marathons on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! Join us then but of course keep coming back every day until then for news!

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 3:00 AM

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Labels: Antenna TV, Bounce TV, LAFF, MeTV, Pluto TV, Rewind TV

Scripps Networks (Laff, Bounce, ION) Holiday Schedule; First Look at Watson on CBS

This holiday season, Scripps Networks invites you to embrace the magic of the season with heartwarming films and series collections that uplift, entertain, and spark holiday happiness. From charming tales of love and friendship to festive adventures that bring families together, these carefully curated movies are the perfect way to celebrate the joy and wonder of the holidays. Whether you're looking to relax by the fire or create lasting memories with loved ones, Scripps Holiday Movies and series collections has something for everyone to enjoy. You can watch Scripps Networks portfolio including ION, Bounce, and Laff brands, continuing its long-running tradition of bringing the best of the holiday season to viewers wherever and however they watch television. Sitcom highlights include:

Laff Sitcom Holiday Episodes
On Friday, December 13 at 3 pm ET, tune into Laff for an afternoon and evening of holiday episodes from fan-favorite sitcoms including According to Jim, Home Improvement, Last Man Standing, and That '70s Show. On Christmas at 5 pm ET, fans can also catch Home Improvement holiday episodes.

Bounce TV
The Bernie Mac Show holiday episodes, Family Time holiday episodes, and the 2022 film A Family Matters Christmas (December 7), which reunited a few of the actors from Family Matters in a new unrelated story.

Your first look at the official teaser trailer for the highly anticipated new CBS Original series Watson, starring Morris Chestnut is here. A 60-second version of the trailer aired during the Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions NFL Thanksgiving game on Thursday, November 28, on CBS, with the full version available online. Watson premieres following the AFC Championship Game, Sunday, January 26, 2025 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET; 9:00-10:00 PM, CT; 8:00-9:00 PM, MT; 7:00-8:00 PM, PT)** on CBS, and streaming on Paramount+*. **(Start time is approximate after post-game coverage.)

Watson will begin airing in its regular time period beginning Sunday, Feb. 16 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT). Watson takes place six months after the death of the titular character's friend and partner Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty. The show stars Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson, who resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. Watson's old life isn't done with him, though - Moriarty and Watson are set to write their own chapter of a story that has fascinated audiences for more than a century. Watson is a medical show with a strong investigative spine, featuring a modern version of one of history's greatest detectives as he turns his attention from solving crimes to solving medical mysteries. Watson also stars Eve Harlow, Peter Mark Kendall, Ritchie Coster, Inga Schlingmann and Rochelle Aytes.

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

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Labels: According to Jim, Bernie Mac, Bounce TV, CBS, Family Time, Home Improvement, ION Television, LAFF, Last Man Standing, That '70s Show

Johnson Returns to Bounce; According to Jim Star Starring in Lifetime Film; Remembering Erica Ash of Survivor's Remorse

Johnson, Bounce TV's popular dramedy focusing on four life-long best friends with the same last name, returns for an all-new season Saturday nights at 8pm ET / 7pm CT starting August 3 with two new back-to-back episodes. Johnson is a journey of love, self-discovery, and brotherhood, touching on hot-button topics including race, mental health, classism and the ever-evolving relationship dynamics between men and women -- themes that continue to be prominent in the new season ahead.

Johnson is produced in partnership with Eric C. Rhone and Cedric The Entertainer's A Bird & A Bear Entertainment, as well as Deji LaRay (the show's creator) and Thomas Q. Jones' Midnight Train Productions. The ensemble cast is led by Jones (P. Valley, Luke Cage), LaRay (Bosch, Greenleaf), Philip Smithey (Murderville, The Rookie), Derrex Brady (NCIS, First) with D.L. Hughley (The Original Kings of Comedy, The Hughleys). LaRay and Jones serve as show-runners and executive producers; Rhone, Cedric The Entertainer and Reesha L. Archibald serve as executive producers.

Lifetime announces the new original movie, He Slid Into Her DMs. Inspired by a true story, Courtney Thorne-Smith (Melrose Place, Ally McBeal, According to Jim) and Stella Gregg (daughter of Clark Gregg, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Trust Me) star in the movie about a teenage social media influencer whose stalker shows up on her doorstep after blocking him online. The movie explores the tragic consequences of how online and social media fame can fuel real-world violence. Alicia Coppola (Writer and director of the award-winning short film And You Are...?, Jericho, Why Women Kill) directs her first feature film with He Slid Into Her DMs, which premieres Saturday, September 28 at 8/7c as part of Lifetime's fall Ripped from the Headlines movie slate.

Actress and comedian Erica Ash, who starred in the final season of Mad TV and played M-Chuck Calloway in Survivor's Remorse, has died. She died from breast cancer in Los Angeles on July 28. Ms. Ash was only 46.

Ash was a cast member in the first two seasons (2006-2008) of the Logo sketch comedy program The Big Gay Sketch Show. One of her characters included LaTanya, an uncouth, loudmouthed fitness instructor who teaches classes with a "Chicago-style" twist (i.e. Chicago-style yoga, Chicago-style pilates).

She joined the cast of the Fox sketch comedy series Mad TV (stylized as MADtv) in 2008 as a feature performer for the 14th and final season, along with Matt Braunger, Eric Price, and Lauren Pritchard. Her impressions included Naomi Campbell, Whoopi Goldberg, Mo'Nique, Lisa Leslie, Raven-Symoné, and Michelle Obama.

Ash had a recurring role as Bridgette Hart, Kevin Hart's ex-wife, in the 2013-2016 BET reality television parody series Real Husbands of Hollywood. The series was co-created by comedian Kevin Hart, and follows the daily lives of him and other married celebrities, each playing a fictionalized version of themselves, as they venture through their surreal life in Hollywood.

She starred as Mary Charles "M-Chuck" Calloway in the 2014-2017 Starz comedy-drama Survivor's Remorse, which was created by Mike O'Malley and produced by LeBron James. The plot centers around the lives of Cam Calloway (Jessie T. Usher) and his family after he signs a pro-basketball contract and moves his family to Atlanta. M-Chuck is Cam's half-sister. The series also starred RonReaco Lee, Teyonah Parris, Tichina Arnold, and Mike Epps (Seasons 1-2).

Ash appeared as Grace, Moz and Daniel's younger sister, in three episodes of the Netflix sitcom Family Reunion from 2019 to 2021. She guest starred as Lydia in a 2024 episode of the NBC sitcom Extended Family. She provided the voice of Julie Vous Coucher for a 2020 episode of the Fox animated sitcom Bless the Harts.

In 2018, she starred as Gwendolyn "Gwen" Sullivan, a public defender, in the BET legal drama In Contempt. Some of her other television guest appearances included Cold Case, Shades of Blue (3 episodes), Legacies (4 episodes), and Sacrifice.

Ash starred as Kendra Brooks in Scary Movie 5 (2013). Some of her other film credits included Jean of the Joneses (2016), Uncle Drew (2018), We Have a Ghost (2023), and Outlaw Johnny Black (2023).

Ms. Ash was a talented and funny actress. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us on television and in films. She will be deeply missed.

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

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Labels: According to Jim, Bounce TV, Johnson, Lifetime, MADtv, Obits, Survivor's Remorse

Bounce TV Comedy Mind Your Business Airing Now; Onyx Collective's Queenie Debuts Friday

Bounce TV original series Mind Your Business starring ensemble cast, Columbus Short (Scandal, Stomp the Yard), Drew Sidora (The Real Housewives of Atlanta, That's So Raven), Rolonda Watts (Rolonda), and singer/radio host Bebe Winans is streaming now on Bounce TV, 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The 10-episode first-season series will run throughout the summer, leading into the return of the hit Bounce series Johnson, which will start airing new episodes on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The half-hour situation comedy tells the story of The Williams family, which is in the business of celebrating some of life's most significant occasions with its event and party space in Chicago. However, when it comes to their family affairs, there is a bigger need for referees than DJs.

Like many small businesses, the once-prospering 30s-and-older lounge, Lucille's, owned by Lucille Williams (Played by Watts) took a considerable pandemic hit, forcing her to close. Lucille's baby brother, Henry (Winans), couldn't stand by and let Lucille's Place slip away, so he recruited his fraternal twins, Aaliyah (Sidora) and Alfonso (Short), to keep the business in the family. A safe space for planning and hosting events was born with Aaliyah's creative sensibilities and Alfonso's business mind. Alfonso's wife, Kimberly, and son, Alfonso Jr. (A.J.), join the event planning team. Even Aaliyah has one of their chosen family members, Mia, join the team; she is a jack of all trades – so she thinks. Although the new-and-improved Lucille’s brings everyone together, their affairs end up causing a mess bigger than a college frat party. Mind Your Business also features Caryn Ward Ross (Fame, Monogamy, Patterns of Attraction), Brely Evans (Ambitions, Being Mary Jane, The Man in 3B), Bryce Xavier (A Bennett Song Holiday, Stay Tuned: The Movie, Total Eclipse), and Chloe Elise Ellis (Borrasca, Footprints, Three Stories Up). Mind Your Business is produced by Harvest Studios and executive produced by Bentley Kyle Evans (Martin, The Jamie Foxx Show).

Onyx Collective is excited to share a sneak peek clip from the series premiere of Queenie, the new dramedy based on the best-selling novel by Candice Carty-Williams. Queenie Jenkins (played by Dionne Brown) is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in south London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. After a messy breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places and begins to realize she has to face the past head-on before she can rebuild. All eight episodes of Queenie will premiere this Friday, June 7 on Hulu.

Queenie stars Dionne Brown as Queenie, Bellah as Kyazike, Samuel Adewunmi as Frank. Created by Candice Carty-Williams, Queenie is executive produced by Carty-Williams, who will also serve as showrunner. Non-writing executive producers are Further South's Steve November and Sarah Conroy, with Lisa Walters as co-executive producer and series producer. The series is produced by Further South Productions in association with Lionsgate TV.

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

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Labels: Bounce TV, Hulu, Johnson, Mind Your Business, Onyx Collective

Act Your Age Returns June 3 on Bounce with More Episodes; High Desert Launches May 17 on Apple TV+

Bounce, the popular broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, announced that its new hit series Act Your Age will return on Saturday, June 3 with two all-new episodes back-to-back starting at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The premieres kick off the second half of the 16-episode first season of Act Your Age, running weekly on Saturday nights through the summer. Bounce will air the first seven episodes in double-features every Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT starting April 29. A spring season marathon is set for Saturday, May 27 starting at 5:30 p.m. The multiple-camera, half-hour comedy tells the story of three vibrant, successful Washington D.C./Northern Virginia-area women in their 50s who are each at a personal crossroads and who decide the best way forward in life is together.

Act Your Age stars Kym Whitley (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Next Friday, Young and Hungry) and Tisha Campbell (Uncoupled, My Wife and Kids, Dr. Ken) with special guest star Yvette Nicole Brown (Community, The Mayor, Big Shot). Whitley plays Bernadette, a successful, no-nonsense real estate developer. Campbell plays Keisha, the wild card of the group who is always up to something, and Brown plays Angela, the former First Lady of Norfolk, Virginia, who is looking to redefine her life after being widowed by her husband, a revered career politician. The multi-generational sitcom also features Mariah Robinson (The Wrong Valentine) and Nathan Anderson (black-ish, Richie Rich) as the 20-something children of Angela and Bernadette, respectively. Bounce premieres new episodes on Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET, with a primetime play for the west coast at 8 p.m. PT. They are added to Bounce's streaming service Brown Sugar on Sunday mornings.

Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for High Desert, the new eight-episode dark comedy starring Patricia Arquette, who also serves as executive producer, Matt Dillon, Christine Taylor, Weruche Opia, Brad Garrett, Bernadette Peters, Rupert Friend and Keir O'Donnell. Directed by Emmy Award-winner Jay Roach, created by Nancy Fichman, Katie Ford and Jennifer Hoppe, and executive produced by Ben Stiller, the half-hour series will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, followed by new episodes weekly, every Wednesday. High Desert follows Peggy (Arquette), an on-again-off-again addict who decides to make a new start after the death of her beloved mother, with whom she lived in the small desert town of Yucca Valley, California, and makes a life-changing decision to become a private investigator.

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

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Labels: Act Your Age, Apple TV+, Bounce TV, High Desert

Act Your Age Opens as Biggest Launch in Bounce History; Starz Comedy Blindspotting Returns April 14

Act Your Age becomes the most-watched half-hour series launch in Bounce history. The series premiere episodes of the newest Bounce original series Act Your Age were seen by 2.14 million viewers in their debut telecasts. The first two episodes of Act Your Age premiered back-to-back on Bounce on Saturday, March 4 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET, and their initial airing burst within 24 hours included a special presentation on Bounce's sister network ION. The premieres kicked off the two-part, 16-episode first season of Act Your Age, with the first seven episodes running weekly on Saturday nights throughout the spring and the second half premiering over the summer.

The multiple-camera, half-hour comedy tells the story of three vibrant, successful Washington D.C./Northern Virginia-area women in their 50s who are each at a personal crossroads and who decide the best way forward in life is together. Act Your Age stars Kym Whitley (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Next Friday, Young and Hungry) and Tisha Campbell (Martin, Uncoupled, My Wife and Kids, Dr. Ken) with special guest star Yvette Nicole Brown (Community, The Mayor, Big Shot). Whitley plays Bernadette, a successful, no-nonsense real estate developer. Campbell plays Keisha, the wild card of the group who is always up to something, and Brown plays Angela, the former First Lady of Norfolk, Virginia, who is looking to redefine her life after being widowed by her husband, a revered career politician. The multi-generational sitcom also features Mariah Robinson (The Wrong Valentine) and Nathan Anderson (black-ish, Richie Rich) as the 20-something children of Angela and Bernadette, respectively.

STARZ unveiled the trailer and key art for season two of its half-hour comedy series Blindspotting which returns with a special two-episode premiere on Friday, April 14 at Midnight ET on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms in the US and Canada. On linear, it will debut at 9:00 pm ET/PT on STARZ in the U.S. and Canada, immediately followed by episode two at 9:30 pm ET/PT. All subsequent episodes will be available to stream Fridays at Midnight ET on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms in the US and Canada and will air linearly on STARZ Fridays at 9:00 pm ET/PT.

Blindspotting is co-created by Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, with Casal also starring in the series alongside Emmy® winner Jasmine Cephas Jones and Academy Award®- winner Helen Hunt. The new trailer brings viewers right back to Oakland, CA where Ashley (Jones) is trying- with mixed results- to adjust to her "new normal," raising her son Sean (Atticus Woodward) alone while Miles (Casal), her partner of 12 years and new husband, is serving time in San Quentin Prison. The sophomore season maintains a lighthearted and fun tone while simultaneously tackling complex issues with a comedic and innovative twist, spotlighting the hilarious hijinks Ashley and family get into as she attempts to navigate the crazy chaos of her life in the Bay Area. 

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

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Labels: Act Your Age, Blindspotting, Bounce TV, Starz

Bounce Launches New Sitcom Act Your Age on March 4; Hallmark's Latest New Series Premieres March 26

Bounce, the popular broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, announced that its newest original series, Act Your Age, produced in partnership with MGM, will premiere on Saturday, March 4, with the first two episodes back-to-back starting at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The premieres kick off the two-part, 16-episode first season, with the first eight episodes running weekly throughout the spring and the second half running over the summer.

The multiple-camera, half-hour comedy tells the story of three vibrant, successful Washington D.C./Northern Virginia-area women in their 50s who are each at a personal crossroads and who decide the best way forward in life is together. Act Your Age stars Kym Whitley (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Next Friday, Young and Hungry) and Tisha Campbell (Uncoupled, My Wife and Kids, Dr. Ken, Martin) with special guest star Yvette Nicole Brown (Community, The Mayor, Big Shot). Whitley plays Bernadette, a successful, no-nonsense real estate developer. Campbell plays Keisha, the wild card of the group who is always up to something, and Brown plays Angela, the former First Lady of Norfolk, Virginia, who is looking to redefine her life after being widowed by her husband, a revered career politician. The multi-generational sitcom also features Mariah Robinson (The Wrong Valentine) and Nathan Anderson (black-ish, Richie Rich) as the 20-something children of Angela and Bernadette, respectively.

Hallmark Channel offers viewers a special event night with a double dose of primetime drama on Sunday, March 26. The night kicks off with the highly-anticipated finale of its critically acclaimed, hit multigenerational family drama series The Way Home which travels to an earlier time slot of 8 p.m. ET/PT. Then hold on to your cowboy hats for the debut of an all-new original series Ride at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the intertwined lives of a rodeo family dynasty.

Nancy Travis (Last Man Standing, The Kominsky Method), Tiera Skovbye (Riverdale, Nurses), Beau Mirchoff (Good Trouble, Hidden Gems), Sara Garcia (The Flash, Reign), Jake Foy (Designated Survivor, A Little Daytime Drama) and Tyler Jacob Moore (Barry, Shameless) star in the new, multigenerational family ensemble following the lives of the McMurrays, part of a rodeo dynasty going back a generation, as they struggle to keep their beloved ranch afloat. After a tragic loss, each character embarks on an empowering journey of transformation and self-discovery while also uncovering a twisted web of secrets, threatening to tear the family and their small Colorado town apart at the seams.

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

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Labels: Act Your Age, Bounce TV, Hallmark Channel

Bounce Orders New Sitcom for Spring 2023; Remembering Hogan's Heroes Star Robert Clary, The Bob Newhart Show and Taxi Co-Creator David Davis, and Head of the Class Co-Creator Richard Eustis

Bounce, the popular broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, announced a partnership with MGM to produce a new original series, Act Your Age. The multiple-camera, half-hour comedy tells the story of three vibrant, successful Washington D.C./Northern Virginia-area women in their 50's who are each at a personal crossroads and who decide the best way forward in life is together. Act Your Age stars Kym Whitley (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Next Friday, Young and Hungry) and Tisha Campbell (Uncoupled, My Wife and Kids, Dr. Ken, Martin) with special guest star Yvette Nicole Brown (Community, The Mayor, Big Shot).

Whitley plays Bernadette, a successful, no-nonsense real estate developer. Campbell plays Keisha, the wild card of the group who is always up to something, and Brown plays Angela, the former First Lady of Norfolk, Virginia, who is looking to redefine her life after being widowed by her husband, a revered career politician. The multi-generational sitcom also features Mariah Robinson (The Wrong Valentine) and Nathan Anderson (All About the Washingtons, Richie Rich) as the 20-something children of Angela and Bernadette, respectively. Alyson Fouse (Big Shot, Everybody Hates Chris, The Wanda Sykes Show) created the series and serves as showrunner and executive producer. The series is produced by Mark Burnett, Barry Poznick and Bradley Gardner (Hot in Cleveland) and co-executive producer Ken Ornstein (Everybody Loves Raymond). The 16-episode first season of Act Your Age has begun production in Los Angeles and will premiere on Bounce in the spring of 2023.

French-born American actor Robert Clary, who was best known for his role as Corporal Louis LeBeau on Hogan's Heroes, has died. He died at his Los Angeles home on November 16. Mr. Clary was 96.

Clary starred as Corporal Louis LeBeau on the 1965-1971 CBS sitcom Hogan's Heroes. The series was set in a German prisoner of war (POW) camp during World War II, and Clary played a French POW who was a member of an Allied sabotage unit operating from inside the camp. Corporal Louis LeBeau is a gourmet chef, and patriotic Frenchman, frequently referred to as "the cockroach" by both Colonel Wilhelm Klink (Werner Klemperer) and Sergeant Hans Schultz (John Banner). The cast included Bob Crane, Richard Dawson, Ivan Dixon (1965-1970), Kenneth Washington (1970-1971), Larry Hovis, Cynthia Lynn (1965-1966) and Sigrid Valdis (1966-1970).

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Love, American Style (1969), Arnie, Love Thy Neighbor and The Munsters Today. Some of his other television guest appearances included Appointment with Adventure, Play of the Week, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, The High Chaparral, Fantasy Island (1978) and The New Adam-12 (1990).

He starred as Robert LeClair on Days of Our Lives from 1972–1973, 1975–1983 and 1986–1987. He played Pierre Jourdan on The Bold and the Beautiful from 1990 to 1992. He appeared as Pierre Roulland on two episodes of The Young and the Restless in 1974.

Clary was a survivor of the Holocaust. He published a memoir, From the Holocaust to Hogan's Heroes: The Autobiography of Robert Clary, in 2001. He describes his childhood in Paris, the German occupation in 1940, and his deportation in 1942 at the age of sixteen to the infamous transit camp Drancy. He recounts his nightmarish, two-and-a-half-year incarceration in Nazi concentration camps like Ottmuth, Blechhammer, Gross-Rosen, and Buchenwald. He played himself in the 1982 NBC TV movie Remembrance of Love.

Mr. Clary was the last surviving main cast member who starred in all six seasons of Hogan's Heroes, with only Kenneth Washington who played Sergeant Richard Baker in the final season left. He was funny and memorable as Corporal Louis LeBeau. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment that he brought us during his career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Hogan's Heroes message board. View photos in our galleries.

MeTV remembers French actor and singer Robert Clary with special episodes of Hogan’s Heroes showcasing his memorable character, Corporal LeBeau. They will be celebrating Clary's life with some of the fan-favorite best episodes of Hogan's Heroes that highlight Cpl. LeBeau, Nov. 21-23 at 10P | 9C.

November 21st
10P | 9C - “Lebreau and the Little Old Lady" - LeBeau says that he keeps rendezvousing with a little old lady who is actually young and beautiful.
10:30P | 9:30C - “Gowns by Yvette” - Burkhalter's niece is getting married and by having LeBeau design her wedding gown, Hogan is going to contact an underground agent, and later free him after capture by the Gestapo.

November 22nd
10P | 9C - “Man in a Box” - Hogan is hot on the trail of capturing LeBeau, but not too quickly since he has a mission to complete.
10:30P | 9:30C - “Cuisine a la Stalag 13” - LeBeau wants to escape, leaving Stalag 13 without its resident chef.

November 23rd
10P | 9C - “The Scientist” - Corporal LeBeau pretends to be a visiting French scientist while Hogan smuggles out the real one.
10:30P | 9:30C - “The Gypsy” - LeBeau is passed off as a Gypsy fortune teller to help get a radar countermeasure device to London.

Emmy-winning producer and writer David Davis, who co-created The Bob Newhart Show and Taxi, has died. He died in Los Angeles on November 4. Mr. Davis was 86.

Davis and Lorenzo Music created the 1972-1978 CBS sitcom The Bob Newhart Show. Comedian Bob Newhart portrays a psychologist whose interactions with his wife, friends, patients, and colleagues lead to humorous situations and dialogue.

James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, Ed. Weinberger and Davis created the 1978-1983 sitcom Taxi, which aired on ABC for four seasons from 1978 to 1982 and the fifth and final season on NBC from 1982 to 1983. It focuses on the everyday lives of a handful of New York City taxi drivers and their abusive dispatcher. Davis won a Primetime Emmy Award for his producing work on Taxi in 1979 when it won for Outstanding Comedy Series. Taxi also won Outstanding Comedy Series in 1980 and 1981.

Davis and Lorenzo Music developed the 1974-1978 CBS sitcom Rhoda. He met actress Julie Kavner (Brenda Morgenstern) on the set. They were partners from 1976 until his death.

Some of his other sitcom writing credits included Love, American Style (3 episodes) and The Mary Tyler Moore Show (7 episodes). He worked as a dialogue supervisor for The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis from 1962 to 1963. He was an associate producer for O.K. Crackerby!, My Mother the Car, He & She and Get Smart. He worked as a production advisor for the 1993-1994 ABC sitcom Phenom.

Survivors include Julie Kavner, daughter Samantha Davis-Friedman, daughter Abigail, and grandsons Joshua, Jacob, Aden, Asher and Elijah.

Mr. Davis was a key player on the MTM Enterprises team in the 1970s. He also shot footage for the title sequences for The Bob Newhart Show and Taxi. We thank him for his work on The Bob Newhart Show, Taxi and Rhoda. He will be sorely missed.

Emmy-winning writer and producer Richard Eustis, who co-created Head of the Class, has died. He died on October 30 in Thousand Oaks, California. Mr. Eustis was 86.

Eustis and Michael Elias created and executive produced the 1986-1991 ABC sitcom Head of the Class. The series follows a group of gifted students in the Individualized Honors Program (IHP) at the fictional Millard Fillmore High School in Manhattan, and their history teacher Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman).

They created and executive produced the short-lived 1992 ABC sitcom Billy. The spin-off of Head of the Class starred Billy Connolly as Billy MacGregor, a Scottish teacher who moves to America in order to build a new life for himself.

Eustis and Elias created and executive produced the short-lived 1993 CBS sitcom Tall Hopes. The series starred George Wallace, Anna Maria Horsford, Kenn Michael, Terrence Howard and Karla Green.

He wrote a Scrubs episode in 2004 and worked as a consultant for eight episodes from 2003 to 2004.

Eustis won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special - Comedy-Variety or Music for An Evening with John Denver in 1975.

Survivors include his wife, Tiana, sons John and Ronald, daughter Madeleine, son-in-law Marcel Samek, grandson Julian Eustis Samek and granddaughters Colette Eustis Samek and Linh Eustis.

We thank him for bringing us Head of the Class and his other work on sitcoms. He will be sorely missed.

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

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Labels: Act Your Age, Bob Newhart Show, Bounce TV, Head of the Class, Hogan's Heroes, MeTV, Obits, Taxi

Community the Movie Set for Peacock; Finding Happy Hits Big on Bounce TV

In a highly competitive situation, Peacock announced the long-awaited Community movie, based on the Emmy Award-winning, critically-acclaimed fan-favorite NBC comedy series. Original stars Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong will reunite with Joel McHale as an executive producer. The movie will come from original series creator Dan Harmon, executive producer Andrew Guest, and from studios Sony Pictures Television and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. Peacock is also acquiring the full series library (non-exclusively). Community the Movie, from the TV series that predicted its own movie, comes the least predictable movie of a TV series that referenced a lot of movies and TV. Community launched on NBC in 2009 as part of Must See TV Thursday along with The Office, 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation, and ran for 110 episodes over six seasons. The series won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation - Comedy Series in 2012. The series also spawned the unofficial fan-led convention CommuniCon.

The series premiere episodes of the newest Bounce original comedy series, Finding Happy, were seen by 2.6 million viewers 2+ in their debut telecasts. The first two episodes of Finding Happy premiered back-to-back on Bounce on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 8 to 9 p.m. ET, and their initial airing burst within 24 hours, including a special presentation on Bounce's sister network ION on Sunday night. Centering around the Black female experience through the eyes of protagonist Yaz Carter, Finding Happy is a dramedy about the unfulfilled life of Yaz, beginning with her unhappy 36th birthday. The 10-episode debut season features Yaz's loving-but-complicated family, her stagnant career in the evolving landscape of radio, and a merry-go-round of unrequited love while dating in the love desert of Atlanta. B. Simone (MTV's Wild 'n Out) stars as Yaz along with Kim Coles (Living Single), Marketta Patrice (Black Jesus), Angela Gibbs (Hacks), Stevie Baggs (Ruthless) and Mike Merrill (A La Carte).

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

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Labels: Bounce TV, Community, Finding Happy, NBC, Peacock

Bounce Dramedy Finding Happy Premieres Saturday (Sept. 24); Roku's Kevin Hart Comedy Adds More Stars for Season 2

Bounce, the popular broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, will premiere its newest original series, Finding Happy, on Saturday, September 24 with the first two episodes airing back-to-back starting at 8 p.m. EDT. Centering around the Black female experience through the eyes of protagonist Yaz Carter, Finding Happy is a dramedy about the unfulfilled life of Yaz, beginning with her unhappy thirty-sixth birthday. The 10-episode debut season features Yaz's loving-but-complicated family, her stagnant career in the evolving landscape of radio and a merry-go-round of unrequited love while dating in the love desert of Atlanta. Finding Happy reveals over time that true happiness can only be found within. B. Simone (MTV's Wild 'n Out) stars as Yaz along with Kim Coles (Living Single), Marketta Patrice (Black Jesus), Angela Gibbs (Hacks), Stevie Baggs (Ruthless) and Mike Merrill (A La Carte).

Roku announced that John Cena, Ben Schwartz, and Paula Pell have joined the cast of the highly anticipated Roku Original comedy series Die Hart 2: Die Harter. Emmy award nominee Nathalie Emmanuel will reprise her role from season 1. In addition to starring in the series, Kevin Hart also serves as executive producer. Eric Appel has returned to direct season 2 of the comedy series, with Tripper Clancy returning to write. From Hartbeat, the global, multi-platform media company creating entertainment where comedy meets culture, Hart, Jeff Clanagan, Candice Wilson Cherry, Bryan Smiley, Thai Randolph, Mike Stein, Luke Kelly-Clyne, Kevin Healey and Ty Walker will serve as executive producers.

After achieving his dream of becoming a bona fide action hero in Die Hart, Kevin Hart now wants to cement his legacy as the greatest action star of all time. He's developed a concept for a revolutionary movie where the action is so unscripted and unexpected that even Kevin won't know what's coming next. But Kevin's myopic dream comes with a blind spot, and he soon finds himself the victim of an evil revenge plot, orchestrated by someone from his past. Kevin must enlist the help of his favorite co-star Jordan King (Nathalie Emmanuel, returning for season 2), his over-eager assistant Andre (Ben Schwartz), Andre's mom Cynthia (Paula Pell), and legendary Hollywood stuntman Mr. 206 (John Cena) if he wants to survive.

The first season of the series, Die Hart, premiered on The Roku Channel in May 2021. After a successful debut with a record number of households streaming the series, Roku announced plans to order a second season of the series in June 2021. Die Hart was the first Roku Original series that the company renewed.

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

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Labels: Bounce TV, Die Hart, Finding Happy, Roku

Freevee's Sprung Premieres August 19; Bounce's Johnson Returns and Binge Marathon

Amazon Freevee has released the official trailer for its highly anticipated new comedy series Sprung, a 9-episode series focusing on an unlikely group of formerly incarcerated people who band together to use their criminal expertise for good. From Emmy award-winning writer Greg Garcia (My Name is Earl and Raising Hope), Sprung stars Garret Dillahunt (Fear the Walking Dead, The Mindy Project) as Jack, Emmy award-winner Martha Plimpton (Generation, Younger) as Barb, Phillip Garcia (Scandal) as Rooster, Shakira Barrera (GLOW) as Gloria, James Earl (Night School) as Melvin, and introducing Clare Gillies as Wiggles. The first two episodes will debut exclusively on Freevee beginning August 19, followed by new episodes each week and a one-hour season finale on September 16. Guest stars include Kate Walsh (Grey's Anatomy) as Congresswoman Paula Tackleberry, Camden Garcia (My Name is Earl), Andre Jamal Kinney (Embeds), Chris Bauer (Gaslit), Mark Christopher Lawrence, Mike Rob (The Equalizer), Fred Grandy (The Love Boat), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead), Susan Ruttan (Shameless), and David Wells (Shameless).

Bounce, the popular broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, is heating things up this summer with the return of its hit original series Johnson, premiering with two new episodes back-to-back Sunday, July 10, 2022 8/7c. Ahead of its season two premiere, Bounce will air a binge-viewing marathon of the first season of the popular dramedy Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m. ET. The Johnson men are back together... well, almost. A couple of months have passed since the fellas had the fallout at the art gallery. This season you will see more dating adventures of four best friends and the challenges they face while confronting and finding humor in the most current controversial social issues from the Black man's perspective, ranging from love and marriage to business, politics, and religion. The ensemble cast is led by Deji LaRay (Bosch, Greenleaf), Thomas G. Jones (P. Valley, Luke Cage), Philip Smithey (Switched at Birth, The Rookie), and Derrex Brady (NCIS, First) with D.L. Hughley. Terri J. Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show, All of Us) joins the show for season two.

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

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Labels: Bounce TV, Freevee, Johnson, Sprung

Fri-Yay: The Fall 2021 Sitcom Line-up Is Pretty Bare; Bounce Renews Johnson for Season 2

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

Last week officially began the 2021-2022 television season. And if you're like me, you’ve wondered...where are the sitcoms? This fall's line-up is pretty light on sitcoms, with NBC dropping its comedy block entirely (for now - Mr. Mayor, Young Rock and Kenan are all set to return midseason), and Fox sticking with only its animated line-up for now. CBS and ABC will be premiering their sitcom line-ups this fall (ABC already did last week) but it certainly seems like the lightest year for new sitcoms in quite some time. The only new sitcom that has any kind of buzz is ABC's Wonder Years reboot, which did premiere to decent ratings and reviews last week. But overall, it's certainly a light fall for sitcom fans.

Truthfully, it does seem to be getting to the point where sitcoms are becoming less common on broadcast TV and more common on steaming services. NBC seems to be moving much of its comedy content to Peacock, such as AP Bio, and the buzziest new sitcom of the year is Ted Lasso on AppleTV. Is there hope for the broadcast sitcom? The next few years will be very telling.

Bounce, the leading broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, announced that the hit new original series Johnson will be returning for a second season in 2022. Johnson earned more than two million viewers across its debut in August 2021, setting a Bounce viewership record for a half-hour series. Johnson's first season finale will air this Sunday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m. ET with a primetime play for the west coast at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. All episodes are available on Bounce's streaming service Brown Sugar.

Johnson is a dramedy that focuses on life-long best friends, all of whom share the same last name, centering around their intriguing and sometimes complicated journey of love, friendship, heartbreak and personal growth. Told from the Black male perspective, but inclusive of all men, the series looks to shine a new light on hot-button stereotypes and misconceptions. Shot in Atlanta, the show integrates the culture of the city by featuring some of its most popular landmarks into storylines. The series is produced in partnership with Eric C. Rhone and Cedric The Entertainer's A Bird & A Bear Entertainment, Deji LaRay (the show's creator) and Thomas Q. Jones' Midnight Train Productions. Johnson's ensemble cast is led by D.L. Hughley, LaRay (Bosch, Greenleaf), Jones (P. Valley, Luke Cage), Philip Smithey (Switched At Birth, The Rookie) and Derrex Brady (NCIS, First). LaRay and Jones serve as showrunners and executive producers; Rhone, Cedric The Entertainer and Reesha L. Archibald serve as executive producers.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:06 PM

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Labels: Bounce TV, Fall Sitcoms Preview, Fri-Yay, Johnson, Wonder Years (2021)

Remembering Markie Post of Night Court, Hearts Afire & More; Bounce Comedy Johnson Scores in Ratings

Actress Markie Post, who starred as Christine Sullivan on Night Court and as Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman on Hearts Afire, has died. She died of cancer in Los Angeles on August 7. She had been diagnosed almost four years earlier. Ms. Post was 70.

Post made her television series debut on a 1979 episode of CHiPs. Some of her early television guest apperances included Barnaby Jones, The Incredible Hulk, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (2 episodes), Hart to Hart, B.J. and the Bear, Eight Is Enough, The Greatest American Hero, Simon & Simon, McClain's Law and Code Red. She played Chris Brennan on the 1981 crime drama television miniseries The Gangster Chronicles.

Her first sitcom starring role was as Barbara Jane Bookman on the short-lived 1980 ABC series Semi-Tough. The slapstick comedy was based on the 1977 film Semi-Tough, which starred Burt Reynolds. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Dan Jenkins. The series starred Bruce McGill, David Hasselhoff, Hugh Gillin, Mary Jo Catlett, Jim McKrell, Ed Peck, Bubba Smith and Freeman King.

Post joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Night Court as Christine Sullivan for the third season in the fall of 1985. She made her first appearance as Christine Sullivan on the second season episode "Daddy for the Defense" in 1984. Christine Sullivan was the public defender at New York's Manhattan Night Court. Post appeared in 159 episodes from 1984 to 1992. The cast from seasons 3-9 included Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, Richard Moll, Charlie Robinson (seasons 2-9) Florence Halop (1985-1986) and Marsha Warfield (1986-1992). Post, Anderson and Robinson reprised their roles on the 2008 30 Rock episode, "The One with the Cast of Night Court".

She starred as Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman on the 1992-1995 CBS sitcom Hearts Afire. The show was set in Washington, D.C., and centered on a conservative senator's aide (John Ritter) and a liberal political reporter (Post) whose professional disagreements masked a growing attraction for one another. The cast included Billy Bob Thornton, Clark Duke, Wendie Jo Sperber (1992-1993), Doren Fein, Beth Broderick (1992-1993), George Gaynes (1992-1993), Edward Asner (1992-1993), Beah Richards (1992), Adam Carl (1992-1993), Conchata Ferrell (1993-1995), Leslie Jordan (1993-1995), Debbie Gregory (1993-1994), Justin Burnette (1992-1994) and J. Skylar Testa (1994-1995).

Post starred as Julia Whitney on the 1999-2000 ABC sitcom Odd Man Out. Julia Whitney was the mother of fifteen-year-old Andrew Whitney (Erik von Detten), the only male in a house full of females. The series also starred Natalia Cigliuti, Agnes Bruckner, Marina Malota, Jessica Capshaw and Trevor Fehrman.

She had a recurring role as Lily Reid, the mother of Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), on three episodes of Scrubs from 2002 to 2006. She played Betsy on the 2014 web series Rack and Ruin. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included House Calls, The Love Boat (2 episodes), Cheers, Dave's World (2 episodes), Man Up!, Back in the Game, Santa Clarita Diet and The Kids Are Alright (4 episodes as Helen Portollo).

She starred as bail bondswoman Terri Michaels on the ABC action/adventure series The Fall Guy from 1982 to 1985. She had a recurring role as Barbara "Bunny" Fletcher on 18 episodes of Chicago P.D. from 2014 to 2017. Some of her other drama guest appearances included Matt Houston, Fantasy Island (2 episodes), Glitter, Scene of the Crime, The A-Team (2 episodes), Hotel (3 episodes), VR.5, The District (2 episodes), Ghost Whisperer and Soundtrack. She was the voice of June Darby on the computer animated robot superhero TV series Transformers: Prime.

Post was a card dealer on Card Sharks. She was an associate producer of CBS's Double Dare from 1976 to 1977. Some of her game show appearances included Go, Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour, Body Language, The (New) $25,000 Pyramid, The $100,000 Pyramid, Super Password and Hollywood Squares.

She played Mary's (Cameron Diaz) mom in the 1998 film There's Something About Mary. Some of her TV movie credits included Tricks of the Trade (with Cindy Williams and John Ritter), Glitz, Someone She Knows and Visitors of the Night.

Survivors include her husband, producer and writer Michael A. Ross; and daughters Kate Armstrong Ross and Daisy Schoenborn.

Ms. Post was a talented and beautiful actress. She was wonderful as Christine Sullivan and in her many other television roles. We thank her for the many laughs and entertainment she brought us during her career. It's been a very sad last month for Night Court fans as we lost Charlie Robinson on July 11. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Night Court and Hearts Afire message boards. View photos in our galleries.

Night Court airs weekdays on Laff TV from 8-9am & 2-3am and weekends from 6-8am.

The series premiere episodes of the newest Bounce original series Johnson were seen by 2.1 million viewers 2+ in their debut telecasts. The first two episodes of Johnson premiered back-to-back on Bounce on Sunday, Aug. 1st from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET and their initial airing burst within 24 hours included special presentation on Bounce's sister network ION Sunday night. Johnson becomes the most-watched half-hour series launch in Bounce history. Johnson is a single-camera half-hour series that focuses on life-long best friends, all of whom share the same last name, centering around their intriguing and sometimes complicated journey of love, friendship, heartbreak and personal growth. The series is produced in partnership with Cedric The Entertainer and Eric Rhone's A Bird & A Bear Entertainment and Deji LaRay (The show's creator) and Thomas Q. Jones' Midnight Train Productions. Johnson's ensemble cast is led by D.L. Hughley, LaRay (Bosch, Greenleaf), Jones (P. Valley, Luke Cage), Philip Smithey (Switched At Birth, The Rookie), and Derrex Brady (NCIS, First). Bounce premieres new episodes of Johnson Sunday nights at 8:00 p.m. ET, with a primetime play for the west coast at 12 Midnight ET/9:00 p.m. PT. They are added to Bounce's streaming service Brown Sugar on Monday mornings.

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

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Labels: $100000 Pyramid, Bounce TV, Hearts Afire, Johnson, Night Court, Obits, Scrubs, Super Password, The Kids Are Alright

Fri-Yay: The Return of Sitcoms: black-ish & Superstore; Bounce Acquires Everybody Hates Chris & Greenleaf

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

It's been a long time since we had an actual new sitcom episode on television that wasn't filmed remotely (or before the pandemic like United We Fall), but this month we will have two veteran sitcoms returning: black-ish and Superstore. It's going to be really interesting to see these two shows return, especially given both shows are known for tackling current issues. So will the shows address the crazy dumpster fire that has been 2020? The promos for both shows suggest they will be - in fact, black-ish's return episode is technically an "election special," so it will surely tackle the issues of 2020, and Superstore's promos remind everyone that its characters are essential workers. It'll be interesting to see these shows tackle modern issues, especially since they generally do a great job doing so. (black-ish returns with the Election special this Sunday at 10pm ET and season premiere on Wed. Oct 21 at 9:30pm on ABC, while Superstore returns Thursday, Oct. 29 at 8 on NBC.)

Additionally, South Park aired a "pandemic special" this past week, which tackled the pandemic in a very humorous and typically South Park way. It's taken a while, but we are finally getting our first taste of scripted shows genuinely dealing with the pandemic. NBC's new series Connecting will also do so next week (premieres Oct. 8, look for our review in the coming days), covering the pandemic concept of "Zoom hangouts." It'll be really interesting to see just how all of these shows tackle these complex issues.

Bounce, the first and only multi-platform entertainment network focusing on African Americans, announced the addition of two popular series, Greenleaf and Everybody Hates Chris. Bounce will air Greenleaf, the multiple NAACP Image Award-winning drama, Sunday nights at 8:00 p.m. (ET) starting October 4. Everybody Hates Chris, the hit sitcom loosely based on the life of comedian Chris Rock, will be seen weeknights at 7:00 p.m. beginning Monday, October 5.

Executive produced and narrated by Chris Rock, Everybody Hate Chris chronicles the misadventures of teenage Chris as he grows up in 1980s Brooklyn. Starring The Walking Dead's Tyler James Williams as Chris, the ensemble also includes Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Terry Crews and The Neighborhood's Tichina Arnold as Chris' parents Julius and Rochelle.

Bounce has licensed the rights to all five seasons of Greenleaf, which recently completed a very successful run on OWN. Executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, the series follows the unscrupulous world of the Greenleaf family with scandalous secrets and lies, and their sprawling Memphis megachurch. Keith David (The Princess And The Frog, The Bible) and Lynn Whitfield (Madea's Family Reunion, How To Get Away With Murder) lead the ensemble as the charismatic Bishop James and "First Lady" Daisy Mae Greenleaf, whose lives are rocked upon the return of their eldest child Grace (The Night Shift's Merle Dandridge) following a 20-year estrangement. Bounce also announced] today that Greenleaf co-star Gregory Alan Williams (The Righteous Gemstones, Chicago Med) is joining the cast of the network's hit drama Saints & Sinners for its fifth season, premiering in 2021.

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

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Labels: ABC, black-ish, Bounce TV, Connecting..., Everybody Hates Chris, Fri-Yay, NBC, Superstore

Bounce Brings Back Two Sitcoms and Orders Two New Ones; Disney Television Studios Rebrands Three Divisions

Bounce, the first and only broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, unveiled its 2020-21 original programming slate during the 2020 summer press tour. The wide-ranging array of originals includes: Two new comedy series-one produced by Cedric The Entertainer, three new movies, a limited-run true-crime murder mystery, the U.S. premiere of a new documentary special about the death of Michael Jackson, the renewal of the mega-hit drama Saints & Sinners plus a first-ever stand-alone movie based on the franchise, new seasons of popular network sitcoms In The Cut and Family Time, the 29th annual Bounce Trumpet Awards and more.

New Scripted Series - Bounce will debut two new original comedies looking - and laughing - at single life from both the male and female perspective. Both series, debuting in the second quarter of 2021, will include guest appearances and cameos from top names in entertainment, music, sports and more. Johnson - Executive Producer Cedric The Entertainer, iconic comedian D.L. Hughley and a stellar cast of fresh new faces are part of this single-camera dramedy about life-long best friends navigating the world while Black. Produced by Cedric's A Bird & A Bear Entertainment. Premieres second quarter 2021. Secrets of the Salon comedically chronicles the lives, loves, relationships and daily web of gossip that finds its way into an Atlanta hair salon. Vivica A. Fox stars along with Reginae Carter and Monique Coleman. Produced by Swirl Films. This multi-camera comedy premieres third quarter 2021.

And finally, the return of two Bounce favorites. In The Cut - Bounce's popular comedy In The Cut is back in the barbershop for an all-new seventh season starting August 26 at 9:00 pm (ET). Series stars Dorien Wilson and Kellita Smith will be joined by TV veterans Mark Curry (Hangin' With Mr. Cooper) and Kim Coles (Living Single) in the hilarious cast. Family Time - The new season of Family Time, Bounce's longest-running original series, will bow this October and will see Tony (Omar Gooding, Jr.) and Lisa (Angell Conwell) dealing with all the good and the bad that comes with being empty nesters.

Nearly 18 months following the 21st Century Fox acquisition which led to the formation of Disney Television Studios, its three studios are undergoing a significant rebrand, it was announced by Disney Television Studios President Craig Hunegs. The changes are as follows: ABC Studios and its subsidiary ABC Signature led by President Jonnie Davis will merge into one studio entitled ABC Signature. Fox 21 Television Studios led by President Bert Salke will be renamed Touchstone Television. 20th Century Fox Television led by President Carolyn Cassidy will become 20th Television.

The new graphic logos and "motion end cards" will be rolled out in all-new episodes of Disney Television Studios programming going forward. (Library titles and episodes broadcast before the rebrand will remain unchanged.) 

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

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Labels: ABC, Bounce TV, Family Time, In The Cut, Johnson, Secrets of the Salon

Bounce Sitcom Returns April 1, No Foolin'; Never Have I Ever Gets Netflix Premiere Date

Bounce, the first and only multi-platform entertainment network for African Americans, announced the upcoming return of its original comedy series In The Cut. The new season of the long-running hit will roll-out over thirteen Wednesday nights throughout the spring, starting on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. (ET). Following their weekly premiere on Bounce, the new episodes will also be available on the popular subscription streaming service Brown Sugar on Thursday mornings. Complete seasons one through five are available on Brown Sugar anytime.

In The Cut revolves around Jay Weaver (Dorien Wilson, The Parkers) who must adjust to married life with Cheryl (Kellita Smith, The Bernie Mac Show), all while running a barbershop and beauty salon together. This season, the pair - along with Jay's son Kenny (Ken Lawson, The Parkers) and their friends Smitty (John Marshall Jones, Rectify), Mabel (Laura Hayes, Meet The Browns) and Percy (Dorion Renaud) - must contend with their biggest challenges yet - including convincing the city not to demolish the business to pave the way for a new freeway. This season will also include guest appearances from Dawn Halfkenny (Saints & Sinners), Chastity Dotson (Imposters), Luenell (Dolemite Is My Name), YoYo (Love & Hip Hop Hollywood) and Aida Rodriguez (Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready).

Watch out Sherman Oaks High, here comes Devi Vishwakumar. Never Have I Ever, a new series from Mindy Kaling, premieres April 27. Only on Netflix. In the 10 episode series, a new coming-of-age comedy series from Mindy Kaling about the complicated life of a modern-day first generation Indian American teenage girl, inspired by Kaling's own childhood. The comedy stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi, Sendhil Ramamurthy as Mohan Venkatesan, Poorna Jagannathan as Nalini, Richa Shukla as Kamala and John McEnroe as Narrator (Voice).



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

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Labels: Bounce TV, In The Cut, Netflix, Never Have I Ever

The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show Coming Soon to Netflix; Family Time Returns for Season Seven

Netflix has ordered The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show, sketch comedy series from Iliza Shlesinger, The six-episode half-hour series will shoot in New York this fall and launch in 2020. From the mind of Iliza Shlesinger comes a secret world filled with absurd characters, insight into the female experience, and irreverent yet poignant social commentary. Shlesinger serves as an executive producer alongside Kim Gamble, Kara Baker, David Martin, Richard Allen-Turner, and Jon Thoday. The series is produced by Avalon Television and directed by Laura Murphy (Girl Code; Adam Ruins Everything).

Iliza is one of today's leading comedians selling out theatres around the world to a fan base who show their loyalty by creating their own Iliza inspired swag to wear to her shows. In 2019, she will launch her fifth stand up special for Netflix - her past specials on Netflix are Elder Millennial, Confirmed Kills, Freezing Hot, and War Paint. This past summer she released Over & Over, a documentary which give fans a behind the scenes look into the making of Elder Millennial. In addition to her stand up, Iliza was recently seen co-starring in the Paramount Pictures movie Instant Family, starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. She'll next be seen opposite Wahlberg in the Netflix film Wonderland directed by Peter Berg.

She released her first book Girl Logic: The Genius and the Absurdity (Hachette Book Group) a subversively funny collection of essays and observations on a confident woman's approach to friendship, singlehood, and relationships. On her new podcast AIA: Ask Iliza Anything she offers up her unique perspective to listeners, answering their questions on virtually any topic.

Family Time, Bounce TV's popular original comedy series, returns for an all-new season of laughs on an all-new night - Wednesday - this fall starting with two new episodes back-to-back on Wed. Oct. 9 at 9:00 p.m. (ET). New episodes will also be available on Thursdays on Brown Sugar, Bounce's subscription video-on-demand service, along with complete seasons one through six. Family Time follows the lives of the Stallworth family who relocated to the suburbs after hitting the lottery. High school sweethearts Anthony and Lisa and their children are a tight-knit family living the middle-class American dream who make up their own rules for love, marriage and family along the way. Season seven finds Anthony (Omar Gooding) and Lisa Stallworth (Angell Conwell) grappling with becoming empty nesters while their children, Devin (Bentley Kyle Evans, Jr) and Ebony (Jayla Calhoun), spread their wings as young adults. Their lives may be going in different directions, but it's the family time that keeps them bonded. Watch the new season trailer here.

Cast members include Paula Jai Parker (Lori), Tanjareen Thomas (Rachel), Erica Shaffer (Vivian), Clayton Thomas (Donnie), and Shanti Lowry (Cheryl). Among the special guests this season are Stokley Williams (Mint Condition), Denise Boutte (Meet the Browns), KiKi Haynes (For Better or Worse) and Rodney Perry (Madea's Big Happy Family). Family Time was created by producer, director and writer Bentley Kyle Evans (Martin, The Jamie Foxx Show).

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

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Labels: Bounce TV, Family Time, Netflix, The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show