SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Apple TV+ Comedy Central Park Returns in September; Leah Remini Game Show Is Back on Aug. 1

Apple TV+ announced that Central Park, the critically acclaimed, hit animated musical comedy series, will return for its third season on Friday, September 9. From creator, writer and executive producer Loren Bouchard, Josh Gad and Nora Smith, the 13-episode third season will premiere globally on Apple TV+ with three episodes, followed by one episode weekly, every Friday thereafter through November 18. In the third season of Central Park, as Bitsy continues her relentless pursuit to buy the park, Owen embarks on a new promotional campaign to make more people fall in love with it, and Paige finds herself busier than ever when she lands her first book deal.

Central Park stars a renowned voice cast that includes Josh Gad, Tituss Burgess, Daveed Diggs, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Emmy Raver-Lampman and Stanley Tucci and Kristen Bell who will star in season three in the new role of Abby, Paige's (Hahn) little sister. Guest stars lending their voice talents to this season include The Afterparty stars Sam Richardson, Ike Barinholtz, Ben Schwartz and Zoë Chao; Loot star Ron Funches; Hello, Jack star Jack McBrayer; as well as Amber Ruffin, Yvette Nicole Brown, Craig Robinson, Tim Meadows, David Alan Grier and more. The new season will also add over 40 new original songs to the celebrated catalog. The first two seasons of Central Park are now streaming on Apple TV+. Since its global debut, the series has been recognized with Emmy Award nominations for stars Leslie Odom Jr., Tituss Burgess and Stanley Tucci, and an NAACP Image Award nomination in the Outstanding Animated Series category.

Game Show Network, the leader in game shows and competitive entertainment, has announced that the new season of one of its most popular originals, People Puzzler, will premiere on Monday, August 1 at 6 pm ET and will air weeknights at 6 pm ET. Hosted by two-time Emmy® Award winner and Daytime Emmy nominee for Outstanding Game Show Host Leah Remini, and based on the iconic crossword puzzles in PEOPLE, the No. 1 magazine brand in the country, season three of People Puzzler will feature the familiar pop culture quiz fare along with some special contestants and show themes.

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

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Labels: Apple TV+, Central Park, GSN

Remembering Comedian Louie Anderson; Central Park Returns March 4 on Apple TV+

Emmy-winning actor, game show host and stand-up comedian Louie Anderson, who starred as Christine Baskets on Baskets, has died. He died on January 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada, of complications from large B-cell lymphoma. Mr. Anderson was 68.

Anderson created and produced the 1994-1998 Fox animated series Life with Louie. The first two episodes aired in primetime on December 18, 1994, before moving to Saturday mornings on Fox Kids in 1995. The series was based on Anderson's childhood with 10 siblings, a sweet-hearted mother and a loud, war-crazed father. He provided the voices of Little Louie and Andy Anderson, Louie's difficult, but caring father. He won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program in 1997 and 1998.

He starred as Dr. Louie Lundgren on the short-lived 1996 CBS sitcom The Louie Show. Dr. Louie Lundgren is a psychotherapist dealing with his friends and family in Duluth, Minnesota. The series also starred Bryan Cranston, Kate Hodge, Paul Feig, Laura Innes, Nancy Becker Kennedy and Kimmy Robertson.

Anderson was the host of Family Feud from 1999 to 2002. He was a regular panelist on Funny You Should Ask from September 2018 until the show went on hiatus in 2020. He appeared on The New Hollywood Squares and Hollywood Squares. In 2013, he appeared on the ABC reality competition series Splash.

He starred as Christine Baskets on the 2016-2019 FX comedy-drama Baskets. Christine Baskets is the mother of identical twin brothers Chip Baskets and Dale Everett Baskets (Zach Galifianakis). Anderson received three consecutive nominations for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and won once in 2016 for the role.

Anderson played Lou Appleton on the Perfect Strangers unaired pilot episode. When the show was picked up, he was replaced by Mark Linn-Baker in the role of Appleton (whose first name was then changed from Lou to Larry) as the producers didn't think the chemistry between Anderson and Bronson Pinchot was quite right.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Trying Times, Grace Under Fire, Love & War, Scrubs, Half & Half, Joey, Young Sheldon, Search Party (5 episodes as Bob) and Twenties (2 episodes). His drama guest appearnces included Remington Steele, Chicago Hope, Touched by an Angel, Ally McBeal, Nash Bridges and V.I.P. (2001).

He starred as Maurice in the 1988 film Coming to America and the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America. Some of his other film credits included Quicksilver (1986), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), The Wrong Guys (1988), Mr. Wrong (1996), Cook Off! (2007) and Sandy Wexler (2017).

His survivors include his sisters Lisa and Shanna Anderson.

Mr. Anderson was a gifted comedian and performer. His late night talk show appearances were always very funny. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment he brought us during his career. He will be sorely missed.

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

We also remember television and film director Jim Drake. He worked on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976-1977), Gimme a Break!, The Golden Girls and Night Court. He died on January 10 in Freeland, Washington. Mr. Drake was 77.

Some of his sitcom directing credits included Alice (2 episodes), Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (157), Fernwood Tonight (8), The Facts of Life (3), Sanford (26), Gimme a Break! (14), Buffalo Bill (9), We Got It Made (6), Domestic Life (5), Double Trouble (5), Newhart (5), It's Your Move (4), The Golden Girls (8), Who's the Boss? (5), Roomies (5), Boys Will Be Boys (9), Night Court (63), Dave's World (24), The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (7) and The Suite Life on Deck (2).

He directed the films Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987) and Speed Zone (1989).

In addition to his wife Brigit, he is survived by his daughter Christina, son Kevin and his daughter River, stepdaughter Christel Layton and husband Bob and their daughter Katrina, his brother Tom, and also by his first wife Kirsten.

Mr. Drake received Emmy nominations for his work on Buffalo Bill in 1983 and The Golden Girls in 1986. We thank him for bringing us many sitcom episodes from 1976 to 2008. He will be greatly missed.

Apple TV+ announced that Central Park, the critically acclaimed, hit animated musical comedy series, will return with eight all-new episodes on Friday, March 4 on Apple TV+. From creator, writer and executive producer Loren Bouchard, Josh Gad and Nora Smith, the second season of the series will debut three new episodes on March 4, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday thereafter through April 8, 2022. Central Park stars a renowned voice cast that includes Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Kathryn Hahn, Tituss Burgess and Stanley Tucci. New guest stars featured this season include Aparna Nancherla, Billy Porter, Catherine O'Hara, Ellie Kemper and Naomi Ekperigin. In a first look at the second half of the new season, Josh Gad and Rory O'Malley reunite for a catchy musical number called "You are the Music." The song is written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez and also features Tituss Burgess and Emmy Raver-Lampman.

As season two of Central Park unfolds with eight new episodes, the Tillerman family continues to navigate living in and caring for the world's most famous park. Molly experiences the trials and tribulations of adolescence, Cole is challenged by a truly embarrassing moment at school, Paige continues to chase down the Mayor's corruption story, and Owen juggles managing the park, his staff, and his family all with a smile on his face. Meanwhile, Bitsy inches ever closer to her sinister goal of claiming Central Park as her own; with Helen by her side, eternally wondering whether she's made it into Bitsy's will. Every step of the way, we are guided along by our friendly, fumbling, fiddler narrator, Birdie. The complete first season and the first half of the second season of Central Park are now streaming on Apple TV+. Since its global debut, the series has been recognized with Emmy Award nominations for stars Leslie Odom Jr., Tituss Burgess and Stanley Tucci, and an NAACP Image Awards nomination in the Outstanding Animated Series category.

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

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Labels: Apple TV+, Baskets, Central Park, Family Feud, FX, Obits

SitcomsOnline Digest: America Ferrera to Return for Superstore Finale; Kaley Cuoco Set to Play Role of Doris Day

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's not a heavy news week, but we're hearing about the finale of Superstore, the renewal of an Apple TV+ series, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• America Ferrera will return to Superstore for the final episode. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Kaley Cuoco is set to play the role of Doris Day in an upcoming limited series. (Deadline)
• Apple TV+ has renewed Central Park for a third season. (TVLine)
• Plenty of reunions are coming up for Stars in the House next week. (Deadline)
• NBC is making their summer plans. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (MARCH 13 - MARCH 19) 

• Decades is doing a binge of The Saint this weekend.
• Antenna TV celebrates St. Patrick's Day with some "lucky" episodes on Wednesday.

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

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Labels: Apple TV+, Central Park, SitcomsOnline Digest, Superstore

Central Park Renewed for Season 3 Ahead of Season 2 Launch; America Ferrera Returns for Superstore Finale

Apple TV+ announced that its critically acclaimed, hit animated musical comedy series Central Park has been renewed for a third season. From creator, writer and executive producer Loren Bouchard, Josh Gad and Nora Smith, the first three episodes of the second season of the Emmy and NAACP Image Award-nominated series will debut globally Friday, June 25 on Apple TV+, and new episodes will premiere weekly every Friday. Additionally, a first look at the second season of the Apple Original series, which boasts a star-studded voice cast that includes Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Kathryn Hahn, Tituss Burgess and Stanley Tucci, was revealed. In season two of Central Park, the Tillerman family continues to navigate living in and caring for the world's most famous park. Molly experiences the trials and tribulations of adolescence, Cole is challenged by a truly embarrassing moment at school, Paige continues to chase down the Mayor's corruption story, and Owen juggles managing the park, his staff, and his family all with a smile on his face. Meanwhile, Bitsy inches ever closer to her sinister goal of claiming Central Park as her own; with Helen by her side, eternally wondering whether she’s made it into Bitsy’s will. Every step of the way, we are guided along by our friendly, fumbling, fiddler narrator, Birdie.

In the first look at the second season, ‘Helen’ (voiced by Daveed Diggs) proclaims her love for her hometown in a special song called, "Weehawken Rap." The complete first season of Central Park is now streaming on Apple TV+. After premiering last May, The series is written and executive produced by Loren Bouchard, alongside Josh Gad and Nora Smith. Halsted Sullivan, Sanjay Shah and Janelle Momary-Neely also executive produce. The series is produced for Apple by 20th Television.

Following the recent news that NBC's Superstore will be closing the doors of Cloud 9, America Ferrera is confirmed to reunite with the cast once more as a final farewell to the series. Ferrera will appear in the one-hour series finale on Thursday, March 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Executive producers Justin Spitzer, Gabe Miller and Jonathan Green last year renewed their overall deals with Universal Television. Spitzer is continuing his relationship with NBC with his upcoming series American Auto. Executive producers David Bernad and Ruben Fleischer currently serve as EP's on UTV's The Bold Type on Freeform. Victor Nelli, Jr. also serves as executive producer.

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

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Labels: Apple TV+, Central Park, NBC, Superstore

Apple TV+ Animated Comedy Premieres May 29; Brooke Burns Returns to GSN to Host Game Show

Apple TV+ series Central Park now has a premiere date, May 29. Central Park is an animated musical comedy from Emmy(R) Award-winner Loren Bouchard (Bob's Burgers) that follows the exploits of a family living in the world's most famous park. The series voice cast includes Josh Gad, Leslie Odom, Jr., Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Tituss Burgess, Daveed Diggs, and Stanley Tucci. A musical walk in the park. Watch Central Park on May 29 on the Apple TV app: https://apple.co/_CentralPark The new series will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on May 29, a new home for the world's most creative storytellers. Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices, as well as at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial.

Master Minds, Game Show Network's new expert trivia game show hosted by Emmy®-nominated Game Show Host Brooke Burns (Baywatch; The Chase) and featuring Jeopardy! G.O.A.T./Trivia Legend Ken Jennings. Master Minds will premiere on Monday, April 6 at 4 p.m. ET on Game Show Network and air weekdays. In Master Minds, three contestants square off against three trivia Master Minds in multiple rounds of intense trivia competition. The lowest scoring player on each side is eliminated until the top competitor and top Master Mind are left standing and now must face off, head-to-head, in the Ultimate Trivia Challenge. If the contestant can get more questions correct than the Master Mind, they will win $10,000 and come back to challenge the Masters again. If they win three games in a row, they join the ranks of the Master Minds and will appear in future episodes.

Actress and Emmy®-nominated television host Brooke Burns began her career with breakout roles in Ally McBeal, Baywatch and Melrose Place. In 2002, she made her game show hosting debut on NBC's Dog Eat Dog, and went on to host ABC's You Deserve It with Chris Harrison. From 2013-2015 Burns served as host of Game Show Network's Emmy®-nominated and wildly popular UK-adapted trivia show, The Chase, where she was also nominated for an Emmy® as Outstanding Game Show Host.

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

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Labels: Apple, Central Park, GSN

TCA Winter 2020 Press Tour: More Cable; 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Winners

We have all of the major updates from the TCA Winter 2020 Press Tour where more cable networks presented Fri-Sun. We'll focus on comedy news, of course. Fresh off of last week's buzzed-about season premiere, grown-ish has been picked up for a fourth season on Freeform. Starring Yara Shahidi, Trevor Jackson, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook, Jordan Buhat, Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Luka Sabbat and Diggy Simmons, the series is a contemporary take on the issues that students face in the world of higher education. Freeform's new comedy Everything's Gonna Be Okay, which The New York Times called "a charming dramedy, with an oddball voice and a bittersweet undercurrent," will have a special airing of its pilot episode on sister network FX on Wednesday (Jan. 22) at 10 p.m. EST/PST.

National Geographic Global Television Networks President announced additional season pickups of hit franchise series Brain Games, Running Wild with Bear Grylls and Life Below Zero. It was also announced that the second season of Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted will premiere on Sunday, May 10, at 10/9c on National Geographic. Family entertainment network BYUtv announced its new comedy competition series Wayne Brady's Comedy IQ, created and hosted by multiple Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated Wayne Brady and his producing partner, Mandie Taketa. The show, which counts Queen Latifah among its executive producers, will premiere on April 6, 2020. Meanwhile, Apple announced that Central Park, an animated musical comedy from Emmy Award winner Loren Bouchard (Bob's Burgers), executive producer Josh Gad (Frozen) and executive producer Nora Smith (Bob's Burgers), will premiere exclusively on Apple TV+ this summer. Central Park is an animated musical comedy about the Tillermans, a family that lives in Central Park. Owen, the park manager, and Paige, his journalist wife, raise their kids Molly and Cole in the world's most famous park, while fending off hotel heiress Bitsy Brandenham and her long suffering assistant Helen, who would love nothing more than to turn the park into condos. The series voice cast includes Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Tituss Burgess, Daveed Diggs and Stanley Tucci.

Apple announced that Trying, its first original series from the UK to debut on Apple TV+, will premiere Friday, May 1 around the world. All Jason and Nikki want is a baby. But it's the one thing they just can't have. Starring Rafe Spall and Esther Smith, Trying is a new comedy series about growing up, settling down and finding someone to love. BAFTA Award winner Imelda Staunton also stars. The series, featuring eight half-hour episodes, hails from BBC Studios and is written by Andy Wolton. The new series will premiere globally on Apple TV+, a new home for the world's most creative storytellers. Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices, as well as at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards® presented its coveted Actor® statuettes for the outstanding motion picture and television performances of 2019 at the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, held Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall. The television winners are below:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
SAM ROCKWELL / Bob Fosse – FOSSE/VERDON

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
MICHELLE WILLIAMS / Gwen Verdon – FOSSE/VERDON

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister – GAME OF THRONES

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
JENNIFER ANISTON / Alex Levy – THE MORNING SHOW

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
TONY SHALHOUB / Abe Weissman – THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE / Fleabag – FLEABAG

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
THE CROWN

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
GAME OF THRONES

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

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Labels: Apple, BYUtv, Central Park, Everything's Gonna Be Okay, Freeform, FX, grown-ish, Nat Geo, SAG, TCA Winter Tour, TNT, Trying