SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SitcomsOnline Digest: Tim Allen Still Wants Home Improvement Reboot; SpongeBob SquarePants Renewed

   Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, Tim Allen is still talking about that Home Improvement reboot that only seems to be of interest to him, we have a season premiere date for Adults, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Tim Allen is still talking about the status of the nonexistent Home Improvement reboot that nobody on the cast (other than himself) is interested in whatsoever. (Variety)
• A premiere date has been set for season two of Adults. (Deadline)
• We're sure nobody doubt it was going to happen, but SpongeBob SquarePants and The Patrick Star Show have both been renewed for multiple seasons. (Deadline)
• Ronnie Schell, known for his role on Gomer Pyle, USMC and Good Morning World, along with guest roles on many other series, has died at age 94. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Gene Shalit, the retired film critic from Today, has died at age 100. (NBC News)
• Tubi has announced a trio of new comedies. (SitcomsOnline)

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

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Labels: Adults, Gomer Pyle USMC, Good Morning World, Home Improvement, Simpsons, SitcomsOnline Digest, SpongeBob SquarePants, Today, Tubi

SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Orders Pair of Comedy Pilots; Final Episode Airdate Announced for The Late Show

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! While you've been snowed in (if you've been snowed in), a lot has been going on, including some new comedy pilots for NBC, the renewal of an HBO series, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• NBC has ordered a pair of comedy pilots, including one untitled one starring Katey Sagal and Jane Lynch. (Variety)
• It's Florida, Man has been renewed for a third season. (Deadline)
• Stephen Colbert has announced the date for his last episode of The Late Show. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Stephnie Weir has been cast in the ABC comedy pilot Do You Want Kids? (Deadline)
• Demond Wilson has died at age 79, which leaves Hal Williams (Officer Smitty) and Howard Platt (Officer Hoppy) as the only two cast members of Sanford and Son who are still living. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Catherine O'Hara, best known for her roles in Home Alone and Beetlejuice (but known to TV fans for her roles on Canadian series SCTV and Schitt's Creek, both of which were able to successfully transition to a US audience), has died at age 71. (AP News)
• FETV has acquired the rights to the original 70s version of S.W.A.T., which had a much shorter run than the reboot. (SitcomsOnline)

• Catchy Comedy has a binge of Gomer Pyle, USMC tomorrow.
• Netflix has a new season of The Lincoln Lawyer on Thursday.
• The Winter Olympics kick off Friday on NBC.

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

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Labels: Do You Want Kids?, Gomer Pyle USMC, It's Florida Man, Late Show, NBC, Sanford and Son, Schitt's Creek, SCTV, SitcomsOnline Digest, SWAT

SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Cancels Alert: Missing Persons Unit and The Cleaning Lady; Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune Headed to Streaming

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We're in the slow summer months of news, but we're here for some nonetheless. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• You'd be forgiven if you've never watched them or even heard of them, even though they've been on for a few seasons, but Fox has canceled Alert: Missing Persons Unit and The Cleaning Lady. (Deadline)
• The ratings for Saturday Night Live were good for season 50. (Variety)
• It's crazy to think that after over a decade of next day streaming being a common thing, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! have not been available in that format, but that's about to change this fall. (Variety)
• The creators of Mid-Century Modern want viewers to stop thinking of it as a gay Golden Girls. (Deadline)
• Jonathan Joss, known for his role of John Redcorn on King of the Hill, died after being shot. (BBC)
• We've got early details for the second season of Netflix's Nobody Wants This. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JUNE 7 - JUNE 13)

• Catchy Comedy has a binge of Gomer Pyle, USMC tomorrow.
• The 2025 Tony Awards air Sunday on CBS.
• There's a new season of The 1% Club, with a new host, on Fox on Tuesday.

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

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Labels: Gomer Pyle USMC, Jeopardy, King of the Hill, Mid-Century Modern, Nobody Wants This, Saturday Night Live, SitcomsOnline Digest, Wheel of Fortune

SitcomsOnline Digest: Tracy Morgan to Star in NBC Pilot from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock; Nobody Wants This Returning for Second Season

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're learning of a new Tracy Morgan pilot, the renewal of a Netflix series, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Tracy Morgan is set to star in a new NBC pilot from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, which is in addition to his upcoming Paramount+ comedy series, Crutch. (Deadline)
• Apparently somebody wants this, as Nobody Wants This is set to return for a second season. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Keegan-Michael Key is joining the cast of Only Murders in the Building for season 5. (Deadline)
• S.W.A.T., which has run for eight seasons and is a remake a 1970s series that only ran for 2 seasons, has been cancelled for the third time. (Variety)
• It may be a roll of the dice, but a reality series based upon the board game Monopoly is in the works. (Deadline)
• DVD and Blu-ray sales have plummeted a total of 93% in the past 20 years. (Cord Cutters News)
• Sinclair is changing the name of the OTA network TBD to ROAR next month, and although titles haven't been announced yet, it is said to include a "mix of classic and contemporary comedy series." (Cord Cutters News)
• Peter Engel, the man behind the most popular 90s teen sitcoms (including Saved by the Bell, of course), has died. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (MARCH 8 - MARCH 14)

• Tomorrow's binge on Catchy Comedy is Gomer Pyle, USMC.
• New seasons of American Idol and The $100,000 Pyramid arrive tomorrow night on ABC.
• A new season of The Amazing Race arrives Wednesday on CBS.

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

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Labels: Crutch, DVD, Gomer Pyle USMC, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, Roar, SitcomsOnline Digest, SWAT

SitcomsOnline Digest: Kathy Bates Matlock Premiere Brings Solid Ratings; Whitney Cummings to Host Friends-themed Game Show

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're hearing about ratings success for a new CBS series, a Friends-themed game show, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• The new Matlock series starring Kathy Bates has had a shockingly successful debut and reception has been mostly positive, though it remains to be seen if it will maintain that audience. (Deadline)
• Whitney Cummings has been tapped to host Fast Friends, a four part game show that is themed around the series Friends. (Variety)
• There won't be a third season for Chucky. (Deadline)
• Hoda Kotb is set to leave Today. (NPR)
• Ryan Seacrest's Wheel of Fortune debut week was a ratings winner. (Deadline)
• A pair of new sitcoms is now airing on the Laff lineup. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 4)

• There is a Catchy Comedy binge of Gomer Pyle, USMC this weekend.
• Saturday Night Live returns for a new season tonight, with Jean Smart (for those who haven't watched TV since 1993, she has done so much more than Designing Women since then) as host.
• The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, and Krapopolis all return for a new season on Fox on Sunday.

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

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Labels: Chucky, Friends, Gomer Pyle USMC, LAFF, Matlock, SitcomsOnline Digest, Today, Wheel of Fortune

Camp Snoopy Premieres June 14 on Apple TV+; Remembering Elizabeth MacRae of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

Attention campers! Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for the all-new, highly anticipated summer Peanuts series Camp Snoopy, premiering on Friday, June 14.

After discovering their troop is in danger of disbanding, Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts set off to immerse themselves in nature and the Great Outdoors to earn their badges, with the Beagle Scout Manual as their guide. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown and friends enjoy their summer at Camp Spring Lake, crossing paths with Snoopy as they experience hiking, swimming, sitting around campfires and everything summer camp and the outdoors have to offer.

Produced for Apple TV+ by Peanuts and WildBrain, the new series is based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz and is directed by Rob Boutilier (The Snoopy Show, Snoopy in Space). Executive producers are Craig Schulz, Paige Braddock, Boutilier, Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts and Logan McPherson.

Actress Elizabeth MacRae, who had a recurring role as Lou-Ann Poovie on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., has died. She died on May 27 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Ms. MacRae was 88.

MacRae had a recurring role as Lou-Ann Poovie in 15 episodes of the CBS sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. from 1966 to 1969. Lou-Ann Poovie is Gomer's (Jim Nabors) girlfriend. She debuts in the third season episode "Love's Old Sweet Song" as a singer for a nightclub, but leaves the job at Gomer's urging to return home to Turtle Creek, North Carolina, and marry her beau Monroe Efford. She was hired to play a very lousy singer for just one episode, cast because she was indeed a bad singer, and because of her true bred southern accent. The characters – and MacRae and Nabors – got along so well onscreen, they decided to make her more or less his permanent girlfriend.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included Harrigan and Son, I Dream of Jeannie, The Andy Griffith Show and Rhoda.

She was cast multiple times on the long-running Gunsmoke, appearing once in the role of Fanny in the 1962 episode "Half-Straight" and then, between 1962 and 1965, appearing four times as April, the girlfriend of Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis), one of the series' main characters.

Some of her other television guest appearances included Naked City, Maverick, The Asphalt Jungle, Surfside 6 (3 episodes), 77 Sunset Strip, Dr. Kildare, The Untouchables, Sam Benedict, Stoney Burke, Death Valley Days, Burke's Law, Route 66 (4 episodes), Rawhide, The Fugitive, The Virginian, Bonanza, Judd for the Defense, Mannix, Petrocelli, Kojak (2 episodes) and Barnaby Jones.

MacRae's soap opera credits included General Hospital, Another World, Days of Our Lives, Guiding Light and Search for Tomorrow.

She starred as Meredith in Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation (1974). Her other film credits included Love in a Goldfish Bowl (1961), Everything's Ducky (1961), The Wild Westerners (1962), Wild Is My Love (1963), For Love or Money (1963), The Incredible Mr. Lumpet (1964) (as the voice of Ladyfish) and Alien Zone (1978). Her final credit was as a news reporter in Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! (1989).

Ms. MacRae was funny and memorable as Lou-Ann Poovie. She performed in dozens of television series and in nine feature films over her career that spanned 25 years. We thank her for her work on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and other series. She will be deeply missed.

Film and television producer Albert S. Ruddy, who co-created Hogan's Heroes, has died. He died after a brief illness at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles on May 25. Mr. Ruddy was 94.

Ruddy and Bernard Fein created the 1965-1971 CBS sitcom Hogan's Heroes. The series is set in a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp in Nazi Germany during World War II, which concerns a group of Allied prisoners who use the POW camp as an operations base for sabotage and espionage purposes directed against Nazi Germany. It was a critical and commercial success and ran for six seasons and 168 episodes.

In 1976, he produced a western made-for-TV movie called The Macahans, which was subsequently developed into the 1976-1979 ABC western series How the West Was Won. Ruddy, Leslie Greif, Paul Haggis and Christopher Canaan created the 1993-2001 CBS action crime series Walker, Texas Ranger. He was the executive producer for three episodes in 1993. He was also credited on the 2021-2024 The CW prequel series Walker.

He produced The Godfather (1972) and Million Dollar Baby (2004), both of which won him the Academy Award for Best Picture. In the 2022 Paramount+ biographical drama miniseries The Offer, which dramatizes the making of The Godfather and is executive produced by Ruddy, he is played by Miles Teller.

Mr. Ruddy was developing a Hogan's Heroes sequel series in 2019. It will be interesting to see if it ever happens. We thank him for creating the classic Hogan's Heroes. He will be greatly missed.

We also remember actor, screenwriter, television executive, and acting coach Darryl Hickman. He appeared in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Nanny and other sitcoms. He died on May 22 in Montecito, California. Mr. Hickman was 92.

Hickman played Davey Gillis in three episodes of the first season (1959-1960) of the CBS sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Davey Gillis is Dobie's (Dwayne Hickman) older brother, a college student no more responsible and no less girl-crazy than Dobie. Davey was written out of the series after season one and Dobie is regarded as an only child thereafter.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Love, American Style (1970), Maude and All in the Family. He appeared as various characters in four episodes of The Nanny from 1997 to 1999.

Hickman starred as Ben Canfield in the short-lived 1961 NBC Civil War drama The Americans. Some of his other television guest appearances included The Lone Ranger (2 episodes), The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Perry Mason, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Gunsmoke (2 episodes), Rawhide (2 episodes), The Untouchables (2 episodes), Dr. Kildare and Baywatch. He wrote three episodes of The Loretta Young Show in 1961 and an episode of Hawaiian Eye in 1961.

Some of his voice credits included Space Stars, Pac-Man, The Biskitts, Pole Position, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo and The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible.

He appeared in films such as The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Leave Her to Heaven (1945) and Fighting Father Dunne (1948).

Mr. Hickman started his career as a child actor in the Golden Age of Hollywood and appeared in numerous television series as an adult. He was the older brother of Dwayne Hickman who died in 2022. We thank him for work on television and in films. He will be sorely missed.

Posted by Todd -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:30 PM

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Labels: Apple TV+, Gomer Pyle USMC, Hogan's Heroes, Obits, Peanuts

SitcomsOnline Digest: An End on the Horizon for WGA Strike?; Hallmark Ready for Christmas

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We're in the heart of what is the traditional debut of the fall season, but we're still in a holding pattern with the ongoing strikes... but we're finally seeing some progress on the horizon this week for on of them. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• It's starting to look like a resolution may be coming soon to end the WGA strike, but that still won't bring new scripted series to our screens since there is still an ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike that doesn't appear to be quite as close to a resolution. (CNN)
• It seems that Dancing with the Stars, which was seen to be the type of show that is safe from the strikes, is not so safe after all, and ABC is considering delaying the season premiere. (Hollywood Reporter)
• We're less than a month away from Hallmark's Christmas programming, and it will include plenty of new movies. (Deadline)
• Vanna White is going to be sticking around on Wheel of Fortune for at least a few more years. (Deadline)
• Archer is being made available on FX on-demand, in response to Spectrum dropping FXX but leaving FX on the lineup. (TVLine)
• Season 34 of The Simpsons will arrive on Disney+ on October 11, just a little after the season 35 premiere on Fox. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (SEPTEMBER 23 - SEPTEMBER 29)

• Catchy Comedy is having a Gomer Pyle, USMC binge this weekend.
• Krapopolis, the Fox animated comedy that has been talked about forever, renewed for two more seasons, and had a series premiere delayed by a year, will finally debut on Fox on Sunday... we think.
• The Price is Right and Let's Make a Deal both return for a new season on Monday, in a new studio.

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

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Labels: Archer, Dancing with the Stars, Gomer Pyle USMC, Hallmark Channel, SAG, SitcomsOnline Digest, WGA, Wheel of Fortune

MeTV January 2023 Schedule; Party Down Returns to Starz

MeTV Network will be making some schedule changes starting in January, mainly on weekends. One weekday change is that The Beverly Hillbillies will replace Gomer Pyle at 9PM. The Wild Wild West will replace Maverick on Saturdays at 10AM, while Svengoolie expands to 8 to 10:30PM on Saturdays, followed by Sventoonie. The first 2 1/2 hour Svengoolie will be The Raven (1963). Sunday afternoon Block Parties will be no more, but 10am-6pm will now feature one-hour blocks of Full House, The Flintstones/The Jetsons, The Brady Bunch, Leave it to Beaver, The Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan's Island, Mama's Family and The Love Boat. View the full MeTV January 2023 schedule.

STARZ announced the long-awaited return of the hit comedy series Party Down is set to premiere on Friday, February 24 at midnight on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms and internationally on the LIONSGATE+ premium streaming platform in the UK, Brazil and Latin America. On linear, it will debut on STARZ at 9:00 PM ET/PT in the U.S. and Canada. The third season will consist of six new episodes and to celebrate its return, a first look teaser and photo reuniting the Party Down catering crew is available.

Ten years later, most of the Party Down catering team have moved on, including actor/bartender Henry Pollard (Adam Scott, Severance, Parks and Recreation). After a surprise reunion, the gang find themselves once again stoically enduring the procession of random parties and oddball guests all over Los Angeles. Scott reprises his role alongside original cast members Ken Marino (The Other Two, Veronica Mars), Jane Lynch (Glee, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Martin Starr (Knocked Up, Silicon Valley), Ryan Hansen (Bless this Mess, Veronica Mars) and Megan Mullally (Will & Grace, The Great North). Previously announced new cast members joining in on the fun include Jennifer Garner (The Adam Project, Yes Day) Tyrel Jackson Williams (Thunder Force, Brockmire) and Zoë Chao (Love Life, The Afterparty). James Marsden (Disenchanted, Dead to Me) is set to recur as a guest star.

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

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Labels: Full House, Gilligan's Island, Gomer Pyle USMC, Leave it to Beaver, Mama's Family, ME-TV, Party Down, Starz, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Brady Bunch, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, The Love Boat

May is The Month of Mayberry on MeTV; The Happy Days of Garry Marshall Special Airing May 12 on ABC

MeTV proudly presents "The Month of Mayberry," a month-long celebration of all the memorable television series featuring Mayberry and its beloved characters. During this special event, viewers can tune-in to see specially selected episodes of The Andy Griffith Show (including rare color episodes), the beloved spin-off Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., and the spin-off series Mayberry R.F.D., along with the made-for-TV reunion movie Return to Mayberry. And that's not all...check out guest appearances by Don Knotts on Matlock, Jim Nabors on The Carol Burnett Show, all your fave Mayberry actors on The Love Boat, and more! See the full details below:

Kickoff:
Sunday, May 3 - Premiere episodes and pilots!
The Andy Griffith Show "The New Housekeeper" 5PM | 4C
The Andy Griffith Show "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." 5:30PM | 4:30C
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. "Gomer Overcomes the Obstacle Course" 6PM | 5C
Mayberry R.F.D. "Andy and Helen Get Married" 6:30PM | 5:30C

Week 1: May 4–10
Weekdays, May 4–8
The Andy Griffith Show - The Color Years "The Best of the Color Episodes" 7AM | 6C
Mayberry R.F.D. "The Best of Mayberry R.F.D." 7:30AM | 6:30C
Matlock "Special Guest Don Knotts" 10AM | 9C
The Andy Griffith Show "All About Andy" - The Best of Sheriff Andy Taylor 8PM | 7C, 8:30PM | 7:30C
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. "The Best of Gomer" 9PM | 8C
The Carol Burnett Show "Special Guest Jim Nabors" 11PM | 10C

Sunday, May 10
The Love Boat 5PM | 4C "Crew Confessions / Haven't I Seen You? / Reunion" Don Knotts romances Julie Newmar!
The Love Boat 6PM | 6C "Hidden Treasure/Picture from the Past/Ace's Salary" Andy Griffith sets sail with...Andy Warhol!

Week 2: May 11–17
Weekdays, May 11–15
The Andy Griffith Show - The Color Years "The Best of the Color Episodes" 7AM | 6C
Mayberry R.F.D. "The Best of Mayberry R.F.D." 7:30AM | 6:30C
Matlock "Special Guest Don Knotts" 10AM | 9C
The Andy Griffith Show "The Fife Is Right" - The Best of Barney Fife 8PM | 7C, 8:30PM | 7:30C
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. "Jim Nabors Sings" 9PM | 8C
The Carol Burnett Show "Special Guests Ken Berry and Ronnie Schell" 11PM | 10C

Sunday, May 17
The Love Boat 5PM | 4C "Farnsworth's Fling / Three in a Bed / I Remember Helen / Merrill, Melanie & Melanesia / Gopher Farnsworth Smith (Part 1)" Jim Nabors plays Wayne Bouton, the Valet.
The Love Boat 6PM | 5C "Farnsworth's Fling / Three in a Bed / I Remember Helen / Merrill, Melanie & Melanesia / Gopher Farnsworth Smith (Part 2)" Jim Nabors plays Wayne Bouton, the Valet.

Week 3: May 18–24
Weekdays, May 18–22
The Andy Griffith Show - The Color Years "The Best of the Color Episodes" 7AM | 6C
Mayberry R.F.D. "The Best of Mayberry R.F.D." 7:30AM | 6:30C
Matlock "Special Guest Don Knotts" 10AM | 9C
The Andy Griffith Show "Opie Dokie" - The Best of Ron Howard's Opie Taylor 8PM | 7C, 8:30PM | 7:30C
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. "Guest Stars Week" 9PM | 8C

Sunday, May 24
The Love Boat 5PM | 4C "Tony and Julie / Separate Beds / America's Sweetheart" Gomer Pyle's Ronnie Schell portrays Mr. Scott, the Director.
The Love Boat 6PM | 5C "Third Wheel / Grandmother's Day / Second String Mom" Mayberry R.F.D.'s Ken Berry sets sails on the Pacific Princess.

Week 4: May 25–31
Weekdays, May 25–29
The Andy Griffith Show - The Color Years "The Best of the Color Episodes" 7AM | 6C
Mayberry R.F.D. "The Best of Mayberry R.F.D." 7:30AM | 6:30C
Matlock "Featuring Mayberry Favorites Betty Lynn, Aneta Corsaut and Jack Dodson" 10AM | 9C
The Andy Griffith Show "The Bee Team" - The Best of Aunt Bee, Otis, Ernest, Gomer and Goober 8PM | 7C, 8:30PM | 7:30C
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. "Favorite Characters" 9PM | 8C

Sunday, May 31
Return to Mayberry (1986) 5PM | 4C The cast comes back together again for this charming reunion special.

In a one-of-a-kind, heartfelt tribute to a Hollywood legend, the stars of some of TV and film's most iconic titles, including Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries, come together to celebrate The Happy Days of Garry Marshall, airing Tuesday, May 12 from 8:00–10:00 p.m. EDT on ABC. In this special, Marshall's family and friends share their favorite memories of the creative genius behind some of the most memorable series in television history. It was 1974 when Marshall created his first series for ABC and introduced America to "The Cunninghams." Each week, millions gathered around the television set for Happy Days, shared in the hilarious hijinks of Laverne DeFazio and her best friend, Shirley Feeney, on Laverne & Shirley, and witnessed the "out-of-this-world" adventures of a Martian named Mork on “Mork & Mindy.”

Not only was Marshall a force in television, he directed a wide range of critically acclaimed feature films including Pretty Woman, Beaches, Runaway Bride and The Princess Diaries, creating countless memories for generations around the world. Join stars Richard Gere, Hector Elizondo and Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman); Ron Howard, Don Most, Marion Ross, Anson Williams and Henry Winkler (Happy Days); Cindy Williams, David Lander and Michael McKean (Laverne & Shirley); Pam Dawber (Mork & Mindy); Barbara Hershey (Beaches); and Julie Andrews, Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine (The Princess Diaries) for an evening full of laughs and heartfelt memories about a man who put family first and spent his life and career making us laugh.

Additional appearances in The Happy Days of Garry Marshall include ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and actors Abigail Breslin, Yvette Nicole Brown, Cary Elwes, Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, Ashton Kutcher, Rob Lowe and John Stamos, as well as Marshall's wife, Barbara, and their children Scott, Kathleen and Lori, who share never-before-heard stories about Marshall, including a look back at the start of his career in Hollywood. Tune in Tuesday, May 12! 

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

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Labels: ABC, Andy Griffith Show, Garry Marshall, Gomer Pyle USMC, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Mayberry RFD, ME-TV, Mork & Mindy

Fox Renews Duncanville for Second Season; Remembering Forrest Compton of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

Fox Entertainment has ordered a second season of the new animated series Duncanville, to air during the 2021-2022 season. From Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Amy Poehler and Emmy Award winners Mike and Julie Scully, Duncanville follows a spectacularly average 15-year-old boy with a rich fantasy life, and the people in his world.

In the series, Duncan (Poehler) can see adulthood on the horizon: money, freedom, cars, girls…but the reality is more like: always being broke, driving with your mom sitting shotgun and babysitting your little sister. He's not exceptional, but he has a wild imagination in which he’s never anything less than amazing. Poehler also voices Duncan's mother, Annie, and Emmy Award winner Ty Burrell voices Duncan's father, Jack. The series also features the voices of Emmy Award nominee Riki Lindhome, Betsy Sodaro, Yassir Lester and Zach Cherry, as well as guest voices Rashida Jones, Wiz Khalifa and Joy Osmanski.

Season-to-date, Duncanville averages 2.3 million multiplatform viewers and is Fox's most-streamed new comedy this season, while its premiere is Fox's most-streamed animated debut on record (7-day average).

Actor Forrest Compton, who appeared as Lieutenant Colonel Edward Gray in Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., has died. He died on April 4 in Shelter Island, New York, from COVID-19 complications. Mr. Compton was 94.

Compton appeared in the recurring role of Lieutenant Colonel Edward Gray, the stern but fair battalion commander, in 41 episodes of the 1964-1970 CBS sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. . The cast included Jim Nabors, Frank Sutton, Ronnie Schell, Roy Stuart (1965-1968), Ted Bessell (1965-1966), Barbara Stuart, William Christopher (1965-1968), Allan Melvin (1965-1969), Tommy Leonetti (1964-1965), Larry Hovis (1964-1965) and Elizabeth McRae (1967-1969).

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Hennesey, My Three Sons, The Queen and I, Mayberry R.F.D., Hogan's Heroes and That Girl.

He portrayed attorney Mike Karr, the central character, in the long-running soap opera The Edge of the Night. He appeared in 432 episodes from 1971-1984. Compton was the third actor to play the crime fighting district attorney. Mike Karr was previously played by John Larkin and Laurence Hugo. Some of his soap opera guest appearances included As the World Turns, One Life to Live, Another World, All My Children and Loving.

Some of his drama guest appearances included Death Valley Days, Johnny Ringo, Troubleshooters, Fury, Flight, Route 66, Checkmate, Hawaiian Eye, 77 Sunset Strip, The Fugitive, The Invaders, Mannix, The F.B.I. and Ed.

Mr. Compton served with the 103rd Infantry Division in France during World War II. We thank him for his service to our country and for his acting roles. He will be greatly missed. 

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

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Labels: Duncanville, Fox, Gomer Pyle USMC, Obits

Fri-Yay: Search Party, Creating a New Kind of Sitcom; Remembering Jim Nabors, MeTV and Decades TV Network to Pay Tribute

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

Sitcoms come in all shapes and sizes these days. While at one time, sitcoms all looked and felt fairly similar - laugh track, multi-camera, mostly following similar beats even if the way they portrayed those beats differed - sitcoms now blend with different styles and genres all of the time. So it's only in our current age that a show like Search Party could exist. Search Party is often a dark crime thriller, sometimes an intriguing mystery, sometimes a dramatic relationship drama, and yet it still is considered a sitcom. And it's a damn good one, at that.

What makes Search Party earn its title as a sitcom is its ensemble cast. This is your classic mix-up of different types - there's the relatable if flawed protagonist Dory, the bumbling boyfriend Drew, self-obsessed Elliott, and kind of clueless Portia. These archetypes could easily be a Friends­-esque 90s sitcom about 20-somethings living in the city, and they often play off of each other in well-constructed comic set pieces. If Search Party were just about these characters and their humorous antics, it'd be worth watching. And yet, there's an entire other element to Search Party that only adds to the show's unique flavor. Half of the fun of Search Party is in the well-plotted mysteries that feel more like a prestige drama than a silly sitcom. What makes Search Party work especially well, though, is the blending of these two different types of shows into one. Search Party would be a great show whether it was a silly ensemble comedy or a serious and dark mystery - combining both elements, though, is what makes it something truly special.

Actor, singer and comedian Jim Nabors, who was best known for his role as Gomer Pyle in The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., has died. He died at his Honolulu, Hawaii, home on November 30. He was suffering from health issues regarding his immune system as a result of contracting hepatitis B in India. Mr. Nabors was 87.

Nabors first appeared as Gomer Pyle in the December 24, 1962, episode of The Andy Griffith Show titled "The Bank Job". Gomer Pyle was a simple-minded and gentle gas station attendant at Wally's filling station. He was known for the catchphrases "Shazam!", "Gawwww-leeeee", "Sur-prise, sur-prise, sur-prise!" and "shame, shame, shame!" He would appear in 23 episodes until 1964. The classic series starred Andy Griffith, Ronny Howard, Don Knotts and Frances Bavier. In 1986, Nabors reunited with the cast for the NBC TV movie Return to Mayberry.

The Gomer Pyle character became very popular during the year and a half he appeared on the show. After Howard McNear returned to the series in 1964, Andy Griffith proposed a spin-off series. Gomer leaves Mayberry to join the United States Marine Corps, which stationed him at Camp Henderson, California. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. ran for five seasons and 150 episodes on CBS from 1964 to 1969. The series also starred Frank Sutton and Ronnie Schell. Nabors appeared as Gomer Pyle in a cameo role in a 1966 episode of The Lucy Show. He appeared as Gomer Pyle for the final time in a 1991 episode of the ABC sitcom Hi Honey, I'm Home!.

Nabors' rich baritone voice made him a popular guest on variety shows such as The Carol Burnett Show. He was considered Carol Burnett's good luck charm and appeared in the season premiere of every season of the series. Some of his other variety show appearances included The Steve Allen Show, The Danny Kaye Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Dean Martin Show, The Leslie Uggams Show, The Johnny Cash Show, The Flip Wilson Show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and The Sonny & Cher Show.

He hosted and starred in the variety series The Jim Nabors Hour on CBS from 1969-1971. The series featured his Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. co-stars Frank Sutton and Ronnie Schell. He hosted another variety series in 1978 called The Jim Nabors Show. He received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Talk, Service or Variety Series.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Valentine's Day, Aloha Paradise and The Love Boat.

He was a friend of Burt Reynolds. He starred in three of his movies: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Stroker Ace and Cannonball Run II.

Nabors also had much success as a singer. He recorded 28 albums and numerous singles. His certified gold albums were Jim Nabors Sings Love Me With All Your Heart (1966), Jim Nabors Sings the Lord's Prayer (1968) and Jim Nabors Christmas Album (1990). He was known for performing Back Home Again in Indiana prior to the start of the Indianapolis 500 from 1972 to 2014, except for occasional absences due to illnesses or scheduling conflicts.

Surviors include his husband, Stan Cadwallader. The couple had been together for 38 years before being married in Washington state in 2013.

Mr. Nabors had great talent as an actor, comedian and singer. He was quite memorable and likable as Gomer Pyle. We thank him for the many hours of laughter and entertainment he brought us over the years. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Andy Griffith Show or Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. message boards. View photos in our galleries.

MeTV pays tribute to Jim Nabors with two special episodes of The Andy Griffith Show and two special airings of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. beginning tonight (December 1) at 8PM | 7C. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. airs weekly on Saturday mornings at 5:30AM ET.

The Andy Griffith Show - "Andy Saves Gomer" 8PM | 7C
Gomer is convinced that Andy saved his life by putting out a small fire at the filling station. He then begins to repay Andy by becoming his servant.

The Andy Griffith Show - "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." 8:30PM | 7:30C
Gomer comes to the courthouse one day with an announcement—he has decided to join the Marines, believing it a test of his manhood. This fourth season finale served as the launch pad for the spin-off.

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - "Gomer Overcomes the Obstacle Course" 9PM | 8C
In the series premiere, Gomer tries to pass an obstacle course to earn the respect of Sgt. Carter.

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - "The Show Must Go On" 9:30PM | 8:30C
Gomer has stage fright and loses his voice just before a Washington show. Here, you can witness his deep, booming voice, as Nabors sings in the final act.

Decades TV Network will pay tribute to Jim Nabors with a weekend binge of 84 episodes of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. This special Decades multi-day tribute presentation of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C begins on Saturday, December 9, beginning at 1:00pm ET, and continues all weekend through Monday, December 11 at 7:00 am ET. To see a complete program schedule and to find out where you can watch Decades, please visit www.decades.com .

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:11 PM

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Labels: Andy Griffith Show, Decades, Fri-Yay, Gomer Pyle USMC, ME-TV, Obits, Search Party

SitcomsOnline Digest: Pilot Casting Updates for Potential Sitcoms Based Upon Uncle Buck and Problem Child; New Facts of Life and Hart to Hart DVD Releases from Shout!

• Mike Epps has been cast for the title role in the possible sitcom based upon the movie Uncle Buck. (Entertainment Weekly) 
• Meanwhile, Matthew Lillard has been cast in the male lead role in the comedy in development based upon the movie Problem Child. (Deadline)
• TV Land has undergone many changes over the years, but it appears that most of the changes have not been good for the network. This week, Viacom announced several layoffs, and it appears that TV Land suffered the most. (LA Times)
• Judge Judy recently signed a new contract extending her show all the way through the year 2020. (CNN)
• Netflix has been becoming a major player in the original series realm lately, and now they've announced some additional premiere dates for some of those original series for 2015. (SitcomsOnline) 

MARCH 10 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

• Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (DVD, $59.98): The classic spinoff of The Andy Griffith Show starring Jim Nabors comes to DVD once again as a complete series.
• Petticoat Junction - Family Favorite Episodes (DVD, $12.98): A best-of release of the classic series arrives on DVD from CBS.
• Quincy, M.E. - The Final Season (DVD, $39.97): Nearly a decade after the very first release of the Jack Klugman series on DVD, Shout! Factory finally wraps it up with the eighth and final season.

Posted by Skees -- SitcomsOnline.com at 3:30 PM

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Labels: Facts of Life, Gomer Pyle USMC, Hart to Hart, SitcomsOnline Digest, TV Land

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

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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

Premiere Ratings for TV Land's Hot in Cleveland and The Exes; CBS Consumer Products Launches Classic TV Store

Last Wednesday (Nov. 30), TV Land's season three premiere of Hot in Cleveland drew 3.7 million total viewers on premiere night, which adds up the 10pm, 11pm and 1am airings. Not counting the two encores at 11pm & 1am, the 10pm premiere drew 1.94 million viewers and a 0.4 A18-49 rating. The season premiere led into the series premiere of The Exes which drew 2.9 million total viewers on premiere night, which adds up the 10:30pm, 11:30pm and 1:30am airings. Not counting the two encores at 11:30pm & 1:30am, the 10:30pm premiere drew 1.44 million viewers and a 0.3 18-49 rating. The sitcom stars critically-acclaimed actors Donald Faison, Wayne Knight, David Alan Basche, Kelly Stables and Emmy(R) Award-winner Kristen Johnston.
The Hot in Cleveland season premiere of 1.94 million was down from its 2.44 million for the second season finale in August and also down from the season two premiere of 2.95 million last January. One positive note is that Hot in Cleveland was not a series low. As for The Exes, the premiere of 1.44 million was down from the Retired at 35 premiere of 2.01 million last January but up from its finale of 1.21 million in March. Comparing it to the premiere of Happily Divorced in June, the premiere of The Exes was down from that series' 2.41 million and also its season finale in August of 1.64 million. The Exes has to do better than Retired at 35 if it wants to last, as that series was barely renewed for a second season.
Both series airs Wednesdays at 10:00pm & 10:30pm ET on TV Land through February, with The Exes having its season finale on Feb. 1 and Hot in Cleveland having its mid-season finale on Feb. 15. Retired at 35 returns March 7 airing on its own, while Happily Divorced returns on June 6 at 10:30pm when Hot in Cleveland returns for its second half of the third season. All advanced dates are subject to change, so stay with us for further information.

CBS Consumer Products has joined forces with TeamFanShop, Inc., a leader in e-commerce solutions, to launch a new online store for Television City, the greatest collection of TV icons and the ultimate destination for classic TV fans. ShopTVCity.com launched Thursday and highlights products with unique and relevant slogans and imagery from the shows. Fans of hit shows of the past will now enjoy customer friendly policies such as flat rate, quick and efficient shipping, easy yearlong returns, and an unconditional satisfaction guarantee.
ShopTVCity.com has something for everyone with retro tees, fleece, sweatshirts and hoodies that feature catchphrases like "Here to Save the Day" from Mighty Mouse and "I Make Cool Look Easy" from Happy Days. The following shows from the Television City collection are featured with merchandise: 7th Heaven, Andy Griffith Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Brady Bunch, Cheers, Beverly Hills 90210, Charmed, Dynasty, Ghost Whisperer, Gomer Pyle, Gunsmoke, Happy Days, Hogan's Heroes, Jericho, Laverne & Shirley, Little Rascals, Love Boat, Medium, Melrose Place, Mighty Mouse, Mod Squad, Mork and Mindy, Taxi, Touched by an Angel and Twilight Zone.
TeamFanShop focuses on providing CBS Consumer Products with service, quality, technology and merchandising management. The multi-year agreement includes a fully enhanced shopping experience backed by a growing collection of Television City products that brings back memories of yesteryear, as well as an industry leading customer service team and state-of-the-art security.

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

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Labels: 7th Heaven, Andy Griffith Show, Beverly Hillibillies, Brady Bunch, CBS, Cheers, Gomer Pyle USMC, Happy Days, Hot in Cleveland, Laverne and Shirley, Mork & Mindy, Taxi, The Exes, TV Land

Me-TV Network and Me-Too in Chicago Celebrate New Year's With Marathons/Stunts

The Me-TV Network and the local station in Chicago Me-Too (WMEU) will celebrate the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 with some marathons and stunts! The Me-TV Network will air a marathon of first episodes in a stunt called "Day of Firsts" on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011. The first episodes marathons begins at 11am ET with Perry Mason. Other first episodes include The Streets of San Francisco, The Big Valley, Hawaii Five-O, Hogan's Heroes, Happy Days, Family Affair, The Brady Bunch, The Beverly Hillbillies, Gomer Pyle, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Cheers, M*A*S*H and Taxi. The 12-hour marathon concludes at 11pm ET. The Me-TV Network is available now nationally, but as of now is only in Chicago, Milwaukee and South Bend. We hope to bring you some affiliate news in 2011, so stay with us, as it isn't easy.

Moving on to local station Me-Too in Chicago, Three Stooges fans in Chicago can ring in the new year on Me-Too with a 12-hour "Stooge-A-Palooza" marathon on Friday, December 31, 2010 beginning at noon CT. The marathon will be hosted by Rich Koz, who will also host a midnight countdown from Chicago's original Stooge headquarters! Each title was selected by Rich, who wanted to air episodes that are fan favorites. Plus, watch throughout the marathon for special segments with Rich, featuring his wit and wisdom about the Stooges! Ring in 2011 with Rich and The Stooges! Meanwhile, turn to Me-Too on New Year's Day for The Andy Griffith-thon, beginning at 11 AM CT on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011 for timeless Mayberry classics! From Aunt Bee's pickles to Barney's single bullet, these are some of the most popular titles in the series. The 12-hour marathon will conclude at 11pm CT. The Andy Griffith Show is regularly scheduled weekdays at 12 & 12:30 PM CT and Stooge-A-Palooza is regularly scheduled Saturday evenings at 7:00 PM, both on Me-Too Chicago. Me-Too Chicago can be seen on WCIU-TV 26.4, Comcast Chicago 247/358, RCN 22, WOW 171 and U-verse 23.

Stay tuned tomorrow for our annual sitcom actor and other notable TV deaths in 2010, as we pay tribute to these stars/producers one more time.

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

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Labels: Andy Griffith Show, Beverly Hillibillies, Brady Bunch, Cheers, Gomer Pyle USMC, Happy Days, Hawaii Five-O, Hogan's Heroes, M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Me-Too, ME-TV, Perry Mason, Taxi, Three Stooges

Me-TV Going National Starting December 8; Fox Schedules Running Wilde Schedule and Finale

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 1:30 PM

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Labels: Bob Newhart Show, Brady Bunch, Cheers, Dick Van Dyke Show, Fox, Get Smart, Gomer Pyle USMC, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore Show, ME-TV, Perry Mason, Running Wilde, Taxi

ABC Picks Up Bob Saget Sitcom Surviving Suburbia; Me-TV Milwaukee Adds Brady Bunch, Gomer

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 1:20 PM

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Labels: ABC, Bob Saget, Brady Bunch, Gomer Pyle USMC, ME-TV, Surviving Suburbia