SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Apple TV's Brothers Premieres September 23; Remembering Dolly Parton and Tim Curry

Apple TV unveiled the trailer for Brothers, the new comedy series starring and executive produced by Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey and Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson, and showrun and executive produced by multi-Emmy Award nominee and Peabody Award winner Lee Eisenberg. The eight-episode comedy will premiere on Apple TV with the first two episodes on Wednesday, September 23, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through November 4, 2026.

Brothers follows McConaughey and Harrelson, who play fictionalized versions of themselves, and whose friendship is thrown into chaos when they uncover a decades-old secret: they might actually be brothers. After Woody's daughter's engagement falls apart, he loads up the family and heads to Austin for an extended stay at Matthew's ranch. But what begins as a healing getaway quickly spirals when Matthew's mother, Ma Mac (played by Holland Taylor), accidentally lets slip a long-buried secret that the two friends might actually be brothers. As Woody turns the ranch upside down in pursuit of the truth, Matthew finds himself juggling an entirely different identity crisis: a potential run for governor of Texas. The result is a heartfelt, chaotic and wildly funny story about friendship, family, fame and the messy line between myth and reality.

The ensemble cast starring alongside Harrelson and McConaughey includes Natalie Martinez, Brittany Ishibashi, Nolan Almeida, Ella Grace Helton, Noah Carganilla, Highdee Kuan, Oona Yaffe and Taylor.

Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and actress Dolly Parton, who had a recurring role as Aunt Dolly in Hannah Montana, has died. She died after a brief battle with cancer in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 25. Ms. Parton was 80.

Parton made several attempts at starring in a sitcom. She was set to star as Betsy Baxter in the sitcom Heavens to Betsy on CBS in early 1995. Betsy Baxter is a Las Vegas lounge singer who returns home to Tennessee following a near-death experience to work as a waitress at a diner called Spec's. The cast included Connie Ray, Connie Schulman, Boyd Gaines, O'Neal Compton, Doug Sheehan and Elisabeth Harnois.

Six episodes were shot at Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, Florida, in 1994 with an intent to air at midseason in early 1995, but the show was plagued with production problems and wound up being permanently shelved. In 1996, she made a pilot called Mindin' My Own Business for CBS. The show featured Parton as a Southerner who moved to Los Angeles and opened a catering company.

She guest starred as herself, the guardian movie star of Charlene's (Jean Smart) baby, in two episodes of Designing Women in 1990. She won a 2003 TV Land Award for Most Memorable Female Guest Star in a Comedy as Herself. In 1991, she appeared as herself in a 1991 episode of the Fox sitcom Babes. She voiced herself in a 1999 episode of The Simpsons. She appeared as herself in a 2000 Halloween-themed episode of the CBS sitcom Bette. In 2005, she played Dolly Majors, a local real estate agent Reba (Reba McEntire) wants to work for, in an episode of The WB sitcom Reba. She appeared as herself in an episode of the Fox sitcom Call Me Kat in 2023.

Parton had a recurring role as Aunt Dolly in three episodes of the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana from 2006 to 2010. Aunt Dolly is a long-time friend of the Stewart family, long enough to remember when Robby (Billy Ray Cyrus) was in diapers. Although not a blood relation, the Stewarts consider her a family member as she is Miley Stewart's (Miley Cyrus) godmother.

She appeared as a regular performer in 218 episodes of the syndicated weekly variety show The Porter Wagoner Show between 1967 and 1974. She starred in the first-run syndicated variety show Dolly! from 1976 to 1977. During the 1987–1988 television season, she starred in the ABC variety show Dolly. With 39.47 million viewers, the first episode of Dolly attracted the largest audience for any television series premiere. She hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live on April 15, 1989.

Parton made her theatrical film debut as Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5 (1980). She wrote the film's theme song, which was nominated for an Academy Award and a Grammy. Some of her other film credits included The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Rhinestone (1984), Steel Magnolias (1989), Straight Talk (1992) and Joyful Noise (2012).

She released 49 studio albums and wrote more than 3,000 songs, including "I Will Always Love You" (a two-time U.S. country chart-topper and an international success for Whitney Houston that sold 24 million copies worldwide), "Jolene", "Coat of Many Colors", and "9 to 5". She earned 11 Grammy Awards (including her 2011 Lifetime Achievement Grammy) and received 55 Grammy nominations, the third-most nominations of any female artist.

Ms. Parton was a national treasure. She made over 400 appearances on television. It's too bad her sitcoms never made it to air on CBS. We thank her for the music and her work on television and in films. Dolly, we will always love you. You will be deeply missed.

CBS announced that Remembering Dolly: A Rhinestone Life, an Entertainment Tonight special, will air Sunday, Aug. 30 at (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+. Hosted by Entertainment Tonight co-hosts Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, the special celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of Dolly Parton.

Presented by Entertainment Tonight, the special takes viewers from Dolly's first ET interview in 1982 to her final conversation more than four decades later, looking back at how she rose from the Smoky Mountains to become one of the world's most beloved entertainers.

Through rare interviews and new tributes from Dionne Warwick, Melissa Etheridge, Diane Warren, Debbie Allen, Jennifer Nettles and more, viewers will discover the stories behind the songs that made her immortal, her unforgettable Hollywood career, the larger-than-life look she created and controlled and the nearly 60-year love story she shared with her husband, Carl Dean. The special also explores Dolly's bond with her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus; the philanthropy that changed millions of lives; and the wit, faith and wisdom that made her unlike anyone else.

In the end, Dolly gets the last word on how she hoped to be remembered: "I just want to be remembered as a good-hearted person."

On Sunday, August 30 at 5P | 4C, MeTV celebrates the songwriter, actress, and philanthropist with a documentary film and an encore episode of Collector's Call featuring an appearance from Dolly herself.

English actor and singer Tim Curry, who starred as Simon Ferguson in Over the Top and as Mr. Giles French in the remake of Family Affair, has died. He died at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, on August 25. A cause of death was not provided, though he had experienced multiple health issues after his 2012 stroke. Mr. Curry was 80.

Curry starred as Simon Ferguson in the short-lived 1997 ABC sitcom Over the Top. After being fired from the soap opera Days to Remember, down on his luck, eccentric, self-centered actor Simon Ferguson moves into Manhattan's Metropolitan Hotel, which is run by ex-wife Hadley Martin (Annie Potts), to whom he was married for twelve days twenty years prior. Curry was also one of the producers. The cast included Marla Sokoloff, Luke Tarsitano, Steve Carell (in his first starring role in a sitcom), John O'Hurley and Liz Torres.

He starred as Mr. Giles French in the 2002-2003 The WB sitcom Family Affair. The series was created as a remake of the original 1966–1971 CBS Family Affair sitcom. This version was from Sid and Marty Krofft, and was produced by Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, Pariah Films, and Turner Television. The series also starred Gary Cole, Caitlin Wachs, Sasha Pieterse, Luke Benward (pilot) and Jimmy "Jax" Pinchak (episodes 2–15).

Curry appeared as Roger, an eccentric, sophisticated friend and love interest of Nancy Bartlett (Sandra Bernhard), in two episodes of Roseanne in 1993. Some of his other sitcom credits included Dinosaurs (7 episodes as various voices), The Naked Truth (2 episodes), Teen Angel (voice), Rude Awakening (6 episodes), 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd (voice), Bette and Will & Grace (2 episodes).

Curry had a recurring role as Winston Newquay in six episodes of Wiseguy in 1989. He earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1994 for his role as a family of Hillbillies in the HBO horror anthology series Tales from the Crypt. He provided the voice of Sorcerer in the USA Network drama The Net in 1998. Some of his other television guest appearances included Earth 2 (4 episodes), Lexx, Martial Law (3 episodes as the voice of The One), Monk, Psych and Criminal Minds (2 episodes).

He was also a prolific voice-over performer. He won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991 for voicing Captain Hook on Peter Pan & the Pirates (1990–1991). In 1992, he provided the voice of Sharkster in the CBS adult animated private eye comedy series Fish Police. Some of his other voice credits included Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Mighty Max, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Duckman, The Wild Thornberrys and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Curry was perhaps best known for his portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the musical The Rocky Horror Show (1973–1975) and its film adaptation The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). He starred as Wadsworth in Clue (1995). He portrayed Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 ABC horror miniseries It. Some of his other film credits included The Shout (1978), Annie (1982), Legend (1985), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), The Three Musketeers (1993), Muppet Treasure Island (1996), The Worst Witch (1986), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Congo (1995), Charlie's Angels (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001) and Kinsey (2004).

Mr. Curry was a talented and versatile actor with more than 240 acting and voice credits across his five-decade career. Over the Top and the remake of Family Affair were his only two lead roles in live-action television series. We thank for his work on television and in films. He will be greatly missed.

We also remember singer, actress and game show show panelist Jaye P. Morgan. She died from injuries sustained in a fall at a hospital in Longview, Washington, on August 24. Ms. Morgan was 94.

Morgan guest starred as Susan Duvall in the My Three Sons episode "Second Chorus" in 1964 and as fading singer Claudia Farrell in the episode "A Falling Star" in 1966. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included The Jack Benny Program, Hennesey, The Joey Bishop Show, The Danny Thomas Show (1963), Love, American Style (1971), The Odd Couple (1973), The Love Boat and Too Close for Comfort. She performed the theme song, "Coming into My Own", of the short-lived 1975-1976 NBC sitcom Fay, which starred Lee Grant.

She had her own short-lived music show titled The Jaye P. Morgan Show on NBC in 1956. Some of her other televison guest appearances included General Electric Theater, The Eleventh Hour (1964), Vacation Playhouse, The Outsider, Lucas Tanner, The Muppet Show and Simon & Simon.

Morgan was a regular panelist on The Gong Show from 1976 to 1978. She achieved notoriety for flashing her breasts while on live camera during a Gene, Gene, the Dancing Machine performance. NBC banned her from the program for the flashing incident. She appeared as herself in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, a 2003 semi-biographical film about the life of Chuck Barris, creator of The Gong Show, The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game.

Ms. Morgan's biggest hit as a singer was "That's All I Want from You," which reached number 3 on the U.S. Billboard record chart in 1955. We thank her for work as a singer, actress and game show panelist. She will be sorely missed.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Apple TV+, Brothers (2026), CBS, Family Affair, Hannah Montana, Obits, The Gong Show

Antenna TV's Alice 50th Anniversary Marathon; Catchy Comedy's Family Affair 60th Anniversary Marathon

This Labor Day, Antenna TV is tipping its apron to one of television's most iconic workplaces with a special 50th Anniversary marathon of the beloved sitcom Alice, celebrating the hardworking waitresses who kept Mel's Diner running—and generations of viewers laughing. Beginning Monday, September 7, viewers can spend the holiday with Alice Hyatt, Flo Castleberry, Vera Gorman and the unforgettable crew at Mel's Diner during an 18-hour marathon airing from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET, followed by an overnight encore from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. ET.

Inspired by the Academy Award-winning film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Alice premiered in 1976 and quickly became one of television's most beloved comedies. Starring Linda Lavin as widowed waitress Alice Hyatt, the series followed her dream of building a better life for herself and her son while working alongside a memorable cast of co-workers—including the quick-witted Flo and the sweet-natured Vera. Flo's unforgettable catchphrase, "Kiss my grits!" became one of television's most iconic lines and helped cement the show's place in pop culture.

For nine successful seasons, Alice celebrated the everyday resilience, humor and friendship of working women, making it the perfect series to honor on Labor Day. The series earned widespread acclaim during its original run, including multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations, while Linda Lavin won back-to-back Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy. Whether you're revisiting Mel's Diner or discovering the series for the first time, pull up a booth and celebrate Labor Day with one of television's most enduring workplace comedies.

View the complete schedule.

Catchy Comedy Presents Family Affair's 60th Anniversary on Sunday, September 13. Catchy Comedy is bringing a block of the beloved series with special host Kathy Garver, who played Cissy, from 1-5pm ET/PT. Kathy will share eight of her favorite episodes!

Episodes airing in the marathon are:

1pm — “Jody and Cissy”
Jody, Buffy's twin brother, and Cissy arrive while Bill is away. When he returns, he must decide what would be best for the children. (Season 1, Episode 2)
1:30pm — “A Member of the Family”
Cissy is taking an art class and has been drawing caricature images of the family members but does not mention one for Mr. French. He is hurt at being left out; however, Cissy has his picture and wants to surprise him with it. (Season 2, Episode 23)
2pm — “Waltz From Vienna”
A teenager from a royal family in Vienna wants to marry Cissy and she wants to marry him. She thinks she is a grownup who can make her own decisions, but Uncle Bill knows she is just in love with love and in love with something different. (Season 3, Episode 3)
2:30pm — “With This Ring”
Since most of Cissy's friends are getting engaged and married, Cissy decides it is time for her and Gregg to be engaged, even if Gregg does not want it. (Season 4, Episode 6)
3pm — “The Thursday Man”
For a school project, Cissy wants to write a story about Mr French. She starts following him and finds out what he does every Thursday. (Season 1, Episode 13)
3:30pm — “A Room With a Viewpoint”
When Bill gets Cissy her own phone and arranges for an interior decorator to redo Cissy's and Buffy's bedroom, Buffy becomes withdrawn as the changes appear to separate the room and, as a result, she fears Cissy is separating from her. (Season 1, Episode 6)
4pm — “The New Cissy”
A boy at school likes Buffy but does not talk to her. Cissy thinks the boys do not like her because there is something wrong with her, so Uncle Bill pays to have different people coach her in dress, makeup, talking, walking and more. (Season 2, Episode 25)
4:30pm — “It Can't Be Five Years”
Cissy, Jody and Buffy talk about when they first came to live with their Uncle Bill and realize it has been five years. They decide to throw a party for the occasion, but Bill almost misses it due to work. (Season 5, Episode 6)

Family Affair is a beloved part of the Catchy Comedy lineup, airing regularly weekdays at 8:30am and 5:30pm ET/PT.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Alice, Antenna TV, Catchy Comedy, Family Affair

SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Mulls Future of Animated Comedies; Saturday Night Live Season Premiere Date Set

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a slow pre-fall season week (with the big "beginning" of the season coming on September 20), but we've got news about the future of some animated Fox comedies, the premiere of Saturday Night Live, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• The Simpsons and Family Guy have stuck around long enough to define Fox (one since 1989 and the other since 1999, albeit with a hiatus for the latter), but with the network no longer owning either series and effectively being the one responsible for much of the costs without much to show for it past the original airing of the episodes, how much longer can they last? (Deadline)
• A date for the season premiere of Saturday Night Live has been set, but it's still not clear which cast members will return and some long time members could be gone as the series seeks to retool in a post-Trump era. (Deadline)
• Judge Judy's return in Judy Justice has been set for November 1. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Steve from Blue's Clues made a return online this week to talk to his fans from 25 years ago. (CBS News)
  
• Irma Kalish, a writer and producer who was involved in several Norman Lear series among others, has died at age 96. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (SEPTEMBER 11 - SEPTEMBER 17)

• Decades has a binge of Family Affair this weekend.
• New seasons of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! debut next week, complete with the new host of Jeopardy! Mike Richards, who is already fired (but already had episodes taped before being fired).

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Family Affair, Family Guy, Saturday Night Live, SitcomsOnline Digest, The Simpsons

Decades Acquires Newhart Starting March 2018; Santa Clarita Diet Brings Out More Stars for Season 2

Decades has acquired the rights to Newhart beginning in March. Newhart was last seen on Antenna TV up until end of 2017. Decades will begin a regular weekday schedule starting Monday, March 5 with shows from sister network MeTV being added. Back-to-back sitcom episodes will air from 9am-8pm. Sitcoms airing are I Love Lucy, Our Miss Brooks, I Married Joan, The Donna Reed Show, Family Affair, Petticoat Junction, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart, Ed Sullivan, and Laugh-In. In the overnight, after movies there will be other series such as The Loretta Young Show, Honey West, Mr. Lucky and more. Weekends will still be the Decades Weekend Binge with all-day marathons for two days, as this past weekend was The Facts of Life, next weekend will bring The Mod Squad. The weekend of March 3-4 will be The Mary Tyler Moore Show, followed by The Doris Day Show on the weekend of March 10-11. View the full Decades schedule that begins March 5. Keep it right here for continued updates on all things Decades.

Netflix unveiled some delicious casting news and a first look at the much-anticipated second season of comedy Santa Clarita Diet, launching this spring. Joel McHale and Maggie Lawson guest star as Chris and Christa, married realtors in Santa Clarita -- and a more successful, more aggressive version of Sheila and Joel. Gerald McRaney guest stars as Ed Thune, a retired army colonel who Joel finds very intimidating. Zachary Knighton guest stars as Paul, the chill descendent of Serbian ancestors who has been tasked with pursuing the truth of the undead, no matter who or what stands in his way. In Santa Clarita Diet, Joel (Timothy Olyphant) and Sheila (Drew Barrymore) are husband and wife realtors leading vaguely discontented lives in the L.A. suburb of Santa Clarita with their teenaged daughter Abby (Liv Hewson), until Sheila goes through a dramatic change sending their lives down a road of death and destruction...but in a good way.

Picking up right where we left off, Season 2 of Santa Clarita Diet finds the Hammonds trying to adapt to Sheila's now-advanced undead state -- even though she's desperately working to hold on to her suburban lifestyle and not be defined as just another monster. Unfortunately -- while the family has become markedly better at murder -- the number of missing people in Santa Clarita is starting to pile up and it's no longer going unnoticed. Meanwhile, the Hammonds are chasing the source of the virus so they can stop it from spreading and save humanity -- which seems important. Through it all, Sheila and Joel are grounded by their unconditional love for one another. Sure, being undead -- or loving someone who is -- isn't always easy, but don't all relationships have their challenges?

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Bob Newhart Show, Decades, Donna Reed Show, Family Affair, I Love Lucy, Laugh-In, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Netflix, Newhart, Petticoat Junction, Santa Clarita Diet

MeTV Network's Summer 2013 Schedule "Summer of Me"; ABC Family Launching New Summer Comedic Game in July

It's "The Summer of Me!" The MeTV Network has got new shows coming up this summer on their schedule, such as The Lucy Show and Ironside, which will join other recently launched shows from last month like, Dragnet, Leave it to Beaver and Adam-12. Several shows will also change time periods and a few are taking a summer vacation from the summer schedule. "The Summer of Me" begins Monday, June 3 and The Lucy Show will air weekday mornings at 6am, while Ironside will air weekdays at 11am (so you have all summer to watch while the new Ironside will launch this fall on NBC Wednesdays). To make space for these new shows launching on the schedule next month, some long-running and popular series need to take a summer vacation to rest a bit before they return to the MeTV line-up. So we say goodbye to Lucy, Bob and Rod Serling as I Love Lucy, The Bob Newhart Show and The Twilight Zone depart from their program schedule on June 3 after an almost continuous run on the network since MeTV launched in 2010. Not to fret, the memorable entertainment continues with another Lucille Ball series, The Lucy Show, as we mentioned weekday mornings, while Night Gallery moves to a new time and picks up at the same time where The Twilight Zone leaves off. For Bob Newhart, it's time for him to take a shrink sabbatical after treating MeTV viewers to a healthy dose of laughs for so long.

While we have new shows, shows leaving, and shows with new timeslots, we also have shows returning to the schedule after a hiatus. Family Affair is back and will air weekdays at 7 AM. Daniel Boone is back and will air weekdays at 8 AM, while Gomer Pyle patrols at 5:30 AM on Sunday mornings and Mothers-in-Law has the Sunday shift at 2 PM. Since the I Love Lucy Sunday block is taking a break, joining Mothers-in-Law will be extra runs of Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie and That Girl to form a new 2-4pm Sunday afternoon block immediately following the Brady Bunch Brunch block. We will have more on MeTV very soon as they will announce some new acquisitions. We will have complete details on those soon. For now, view the MeTV "Summer of Me" schedule beginning Monday, June 3!


ABC Family has added another original series to its roster of original programming that will premiere this summer. Spell-Mageddon is an hour game show where contestants take on hilarious distractions while spelling increasingly challenging words. Spell-Mageddon, which takes a traditional spelling bee to a whole new level, is created and Executive-Produced by Adam Reed, Adam Freeman and Leslie Greif of Thinkfactory Media. Additional Executive Producers are Jeff Krask and Michael Canter. It will join ABC Family's Wednesday night comedy line-up on Wednesday July 24, 2013 at 9pm following sitcoms Melissa and Joey and Baby Daddy. The series will replace Dancing Fools, which will have its season finale on July 17 at 9. As a reminder, the block of Melissa and Joey, Baby Daddy and Dancing Fools launches tomorrow night (Wednesday, May 29) at 8|7c. Look for our review of the season premieres of those sitcoms tomorrow at noon! Meanwhile, more details on Spell-Mageddon will be coming soon, such as the host.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: ABC Family, Bewitched, Bob Newhart Show, Family Affair, Gomer Pyle USMC, I Dream of Jeannie, I Love Lucy, Lucy Show, ME-TV, Mothers-In-Law, That Girl