SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Actor Tom Lester, who was best known for his role as Eb Dawson in Green Acres, has died. He died of complications from Parkinson's disease on April 20 in the Nashville, Tennessee home of his fiancée and long-term caregiver, Jackie Peters. Mr. Lester was 81.

Lester starred as Eb Dawson in the 1965-1971 CBS sitcom Green Acres. Eb Dawson was the naive, wide-eyed, yet smart-mouthed young farmhand to Oliver Wendell Douglas (Eddie Albert) and Lisa Douglas (Eva Gabor). He habitually addressed the Douglases as "Dad" and "Mom", much to Oliver's consternation. Lester won the role over 400 other actors after a screen test. He got the role because he was the only one who could milk a cow in real life since he grew up on a farm in Mississippi. He appeared in 150 of the 170 episodes. He missed the first half of the 1967–1968 season when he suffered mononucleosis. The cast also included Pat Buttram, Alvy Moore, Frank Patterson, Barbara Pepper (1965-1969), Frank Cady, Sid Melton (1966-1969) and Mary Grace Canfield (1966-1971).

He appeared as Eb Dawson in six episodes of Petticoat Junction in 1966-1967 and three episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies in 1968. In 1990, he reunited with Albert, Gabor and the other surviving cast members in the CBS TV movie Return to Green Acres.

Some of his other TV guest appearances included Love, American Style, Marcus Welby, M.D., Little House on the Prairie, Knight Rider and Santa Barbara.

Lester appeared as Riley in the 1974 film Benji. He played the adult Pete Maravich in the 1991 film The Pistol: The Birth of a Legend. He appeared as Cousin Jake in the 1995 film Gordy, which was about a talking pig. His final role was in the 2014 film Campin' Buddies. He also served as a writer and producer of the film.

He was a farmer and for many years had been a Christian speaker who traveled the nation, preaching a message of faith and obedience.

Survivors include his brother, Michael; great-nieces Haleigh and McKenzie; great-great-niece Scarlett; and great-great-nephew Wes.

Mr. Lester was very funny and likable as Eb Dawson in Green Acres. He seemed like a very nice man off the screen just like his character. He will be greatly missed.

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

Emmy-winning writer Roger Beatty worked on The Carol Burnett Show and Mama's Family. He died on April 6 at his home in Palm Desert, California, of prostate cancer. Mr. Beatty was 87.

He won five Emmy Awards (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1978) for his work on The Carol Burnett Show. He created his first sketch for Carol Burnett in 1969.

Beatty directed three episodes and wrote an episode of the variety series The Tim Conway Show in 1980 and 1981. He co-wrote the feature film The Billion Dollar Hobo (1977), which starred Tim Conway. He directed 35 episodes and wrote an episode of Mama's Family in 1983 and 1984.

Television writer and producer Saul Turteltaub worked on 23 sitcoms, including That Girl, Sanford and Son and What's Happening!!. He died on April 9 at his home in Beverly Hills, California. Mr. Turteltaub was 87.

Turteltaub worked as a producer on That Girl from 1969 to 1971. He also directed 6 episodes and wrote 26 episodes of the series. The series starred Marlo Thomas, Ted Bessell, Lew Parker, Bernie Kopell and Rosemary DeCamp.

His sitcom producing credits included The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Love, American Style, Sanford and Son, Sanford Arms, What's Happening!!, E/R (1984-1985), You Again?, Throb and Baby Talk.

Some of his sitcom writing credits included Hey, Landlord, Accidental Family, A Touch of Grace, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Love, American Style, Lotsa Luck!, Grady, Sanford and Son (23 episodes), Sanford Arms, What's Happening!!, Carter Country, 13 Queens of Boulevard, One in a Million, One of the Boys, Double Trouble, E/R (1984-1985), Foley Square, You Again?, Kate & Allie, Chicken Soup, Baby Talk and Cosby.

He received three Emmy nominations as part of the writing team for That Was the Week that Was in 1964 and 1965 and for The Carol Burnett Show in 1968.

He was interviewed for The Television Academy Foundation: The Interviews on May 12, 2016.

Television producer and writer Thomas L. Miller worked on Perfect Strangers, Full House and Family Matters. He died on April 5 from complications from heart disease in Salisbury, Connecticut. Mr. Miller was 79.

Miller and Edward K. Milkis formed Miller-Milkis Productions in 1969. They worked as producers on Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, Blansky's Beauties, Angie, Makin' It and Out of the Blue. Miller-Milkis-Boyett Productions sitcoms included Goodtime Girls, Bosom Buddies and Joanie Loves Chachi.

Robert L. Boyett joined the company in 1978. They became Miller-Boyett Productions. Miller-Boyett was responsible for family-oriented hit sitcoms such as Valerie/The Hogan Family, Perfect Strangers, Full House, Family Matters and Step by Step. Some of their other sitcoms included Going Places, The Family Man, Getting By, On Our Own, Meego, Two of a Kind and Fuller House.

Some of his sitcom writing credits included Nanny and the Professor, Me and the Chimp, Out of the Blue, Goodtime Girls, Bosom Buddies, Going Places, Getting By, Meego, Step by Step, Family Matters and Two of a Kind.

He is survived by Bob Boyett, his real-life and professional partner of 40 years.

Actor Brian Dennehy starred in the short-lived sitcoms Star of the Family and The Fighting Fitzgeralds. He died on April 15 of cardiac arrest due to sepsis at his home in New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Dennehy was 81.

Dennehy starred as Buddy Krebs in the short-lived 1982 ABC sitcom Star of the Family. Buddy Krebs was a fire captain and the father of a 16-year-old singing daughter named Jennie Lee. The series also starred Kathy Maisnik, Michael Dudikoff, Todd Susman, George Deloy, Danny Mora and Judy Pioli.

He starred as "Fitz" Fitzgerald in the short-lived 2001 NBC sitcom The Fighting Fitzgeralds. Fitz was a widower and retired fire captain who wants to enjoy his retirement but shares his home with three grown sons, a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter. The series also starred Justin Louis, Connie Britton, Christopher Moynihan, Abigail Mavity, Jon Patrick Walker and Constance Zimmer.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included M*A*S*H, The Tony Randall Show, Just Shoot Me, 30 Rock and Rules of Engagement. His TV drama credits included Kojak, Police Woman, Dynasty, Cagney & Lacey, Hunter, Miami Vice, Birdland, The West Wing, The Good Wife, Public Morals, The Blacklist and Hap and Leonard. He was nominated for Emmy Awards six times for his television movies.

He was best known for his film work. Some of his credits included First Blood (1982), Gorky Park (1983), Silverado (1985), Cocoon (1985), F/X (1986), Presumed Innocent (1990), Tommy Boy (1995), Romeo + Juliet (1996), and Knight of Cups (2015). He won Tony Awards in 1999 for Death of a Salesman and in 2003 for Long Day Journey's Into Night.

Actor Danny Goldman starred in The Good Life and Busting Loose. He died in his home in Los Angeles on April 12 from complications of two strokes. Mr. Goldman was 80.

Goldman starred as Nick Dutton, the teenage son of Charles Dutton (David Wayne) and Grace Dutton (Hermione Baddeley), in the 1971-1972 NBC sitcom The Good Life. The series starred Larry Hagman and Donna Mills as Albert and Jane Miller, a middle-class American couple who tire of their mundane existence and decide to seek new employment as the live-in butler and cook of a millionaire industrialist, Charles Dutton.

He starred as Lester Bellman, a childhood friend of Lenny Markowitz (Adam Arkin), in the short-lived 1977 CBS sitcom Busting Loose. The series also starred Barbara Rhodes, Jack Kruschen, Pat Carroll, Steve Nathan, Greg Antonacci, Paul Sylvan, Paul B. Price, Ralph Wilcox and Louise Williams.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included That Girl, Room 222, The Partridge Family, Love, American Style, Happy Days, Chico and the Man, At Ease!, Soap, Alice, It's a Living, The Love Boat, Webster, The Golden Girls, The Famous Teddy Z, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and The King of Queens.

Goldman was most widely recognized as the voice of Brainy Smurf in Hanna-Barbera's The Smurfs from 1981 to 1989. He played Ozzie the Answer in Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer from 1984 to 1987. He appeared as the inquisitive medical student in the opening scene of the 1974 film Young Frankenstein.

Actor, singer and professional football player (Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Colts) Timothy Brown starred as Spearchucker Jones in the first season of M*A*S*H. He died of complications of dementia on April 4 in Palm Springs, California. Mr. Brown was 82.

Brown appeared as Dr. Oliver Harmon "Spearchucker" Jones in the first six episodes of M*A*S*H in 1972. The character was dropped from the show reportedly because the producers learned there were no African American surgeons serving in Korea during the Korean War. He played Cpl. Judson in the 1970 film M*A*S*H. Gary Burghoff, G. (George) Wood, and Corey Fischer were the only other actors to appear in both the film and TV series.

He guest starred in The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1970, Benson in 1984 and Gimme a Break! in 1985. Some of his other TV guest appearances included The Wild Wild West, The Young Lawyers, Cade's County, Adam-12, Mission: Impossible, S.W.A.T, Cannon, The Rookies, T.J. Hooker and The Colbys.

Actor David Schramm was best known for playing the role of Roy Biggins in Wings. He died from a heart attack on March 28 in New York City. Mr. Schramm was 73.

Schramm starred as Roy Biggins, the blustery, cantankerous rival airline owner of Aeromass, in the 1990-1997 NBC sitcom Wings. He appeared in all 172 episodes of the series. The series also starred Timothy Daly, Steven Weber, Crystal Bernard, Rebecca Schull, Thomas Haden Church (1990-1995), Tony Shalhoub (1991-1997), Farrah Forke (1992-1994) and Amy Yasbeck (1994-1997).

He played Joe McGill, the father of Tess McGill (Sandra Bullock), in the short-lived 1990 NBC sitcom Working Girl, which was based on the 1988 film of the same name. The series also starred Nana Visitor, Judy Prescott, George Newbern, Edye Byrde, Tom O'Rourke, Anthony Tyler Quinn and B.J. Ward.

Some of his TV guest appearances included Another World, Spenser: For Hire, The Equalizer, Wiseguy, Jake and the Fatman, Max Monroe and Space Cases. His film credits included Let It Ride (1989), Johnny Handsome (1989) and A Shock to the System (1990).

We thank them all for the laughs and entertainment they brought us during their careers. They will be greatly missed.

Summertime means yard work. But why toil outside? Stay in and watch two city folk work the soil. As of yesterday (May 27), Green Acres has now moved to a new time, five days a week - weeknights at 9:30PM replacing WKRP in Cincinnati. That is not the only fresh crop arriving in The Summer of Me. Two rarely aired pieces of television history are coming to MeTV this coming weekend -- the 1985 iteration of The Twilight Zone (Saturdays at 12:30am and Sundays 12am, replacing the original Twilight Zone) and the 90-minutes episodes of Wagon Train every weekday at 3:30pm (essentially replacing an airing of The Rifleman). Then, on Saturdays, MeTV presents The Three Stooges at 6PM | 5C (replacing The Wild, Wild West), with two thematically tied shorts presented in full, unedited and without commercial interruption.

More details on Stooges: On Saturday, June 1, legendary comedy troupe and masters of mirth The Three Stooges will join MeTV's lineup of memorable entertainment television. Over 13 weeks, these specially selected and themed broadcasts will present full-length, unedited shorts without commercial interruption, packaged into an hour-long presentation that highlights the many "best of" moments from the beloved comedians. Airing Saturdays at 6PM | 5C, weekly themes include "Crème de la Curly," "Just Say Moe," "Pie...I Oughta!" and "Shemp Cocktail," featuring the classic combo of the Stooge trio -- laidback Larry, hotheaded Moe, man-child Curly, along with dimwitted Shemp.

Disney Channel has picked up a second season of the popular live-action daughter/father comedy Sydney to the Max, starring 13-year-old actress/musical artist Ruth Righi in the title role of Sydney. Geared for kids ages 6-14 and families, the series is set in the present day with flashbacks to the 1990s and follows outgoing middle schooler Sydney Reynolds, who lives with her single dad Max (Ian Reed Kesler, Suits), in the house he grew up in, along with her progressive grandmother Judy (Caroline Rhea, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Disney's Phineas and Ferb). As Sydney's preteen pursuits begin to expand, Max's flashbacks of his childhood help him gain a better perspective of his daughter's experiences. Created and executive produced by Mark Reisman (Frasier, Wings, The Exes), production on season two will commence later this summer.

New episodes from season one will return on Tuesday, June 18 from 8:00-8:30 p.m. EDT on Disney Channel and in the DisneyNOW app. Also starring are Jackson Dollinger as young Max, Ava Kolker as Sydney's best friend Olive, and Christian J. Simon as young Max's best friend Leo.

MeTV has announced its fall lineup, with some new additions and some shows leaving as a result. Coming this September to MeTV are In the Heat of the Night, Green Acres, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Shows leaving are Batman, Star Trek, and The Odd Couple. The only change to weekdays is In the Heat of the Night replacing The Big Valley at noon Eastern. The other changes are to weekends with timeslot changes primarily to morning sitcoms and sci-fi evenings on Saturdays. Changes for Saturdays are Petticoat Junction replacing Gomer Pyle at 5AM, The Beverly Hillbillies replacing Petticoat Junction at 6AM, Green Acres replacing The Beverly Hillbillies at 7AM, Lost in Space replacing Batman at 10PM, Buck Rogers replacing Star Trek at 11PM, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea replacing Lost in Space at 2AM, Land of the Giants replacing Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea at 3AM, and Swamp Thing replacing Land of the Giants at 4:00 and 4:30AM.

Sundays will have more ALF in the morning, with ALF replacing Swamp Thing at 5 and 5:30AM, so ALF is now 5-7am. Gilligan's Island gets a Three-Hour Tour from 2PM-5PM replacing sitcoms like Mama's Family, The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes, and following The Brady Bunch Brunch from 12-2pm. And the final Sunday change is M*A*S*H* replacing The Odd Couple at 7 and 7:30PM.

Multi-talented young actors Dakota Lotus and Ruby Rose Turner lead the ensemble cast of Coop & Cami Ask the World, Disney Channel's new live-action multi-camera comedy. The series follows the antics of middle-school siblings Coop and Cami Wrather, who co-host a popular online show while balancing life, family and friendship, premiering Friday, October 12, on Disney Channel at 8:30pm EDT, in the DisneyNOW app and on Disney Channel VOD (12:01 a.m. local). The second episode will be available immediately following the series' premiere (9:00 p.m. EDT) in the DisneyNOW app and Disney Channel YouTube.

Made for kids and families, the live-action comedy follows Cooper (Lotus) and Cameron (Turner) Wrather, two middle-school siblings who co-host Coop's online show Would You Wrather. With the help of their little brother Ollie and Coop's best friend Fred, the duo present out-of-the-box questions and results to the show's millions of followers (aka Wratherheads) who help them solve life problems - both mundane and madcap. Every day is an adventure in the Wrather's hectic household, which also includes their older sister Charlotte and mom, Jenna. Whatever the question or result, Coop and Cami tackle adolescence and everyday family situations with humor and heart.

Also starring are Olivia Sanabia (Just Add Magic) as their older sister Charlotte; Albert Tsai (Dr. Ken, Trophy Wife) as Coop's best friend Fred; Paxton Booth (The Toy Box) as their little brother Ollie and Rebecca Metz (Better Things) as their mom Jenna. In the premiere episode, Cooper and Cami are preparing for their school dance when they learn their mom is ready to start dating again, now that it's been two years since their father passed away. Much to their chagrin, her first date happens to be with their principal. Not sure what to do, they turn to the Wratherheads for advice, asking "Would you Wrather have your mom date the principal or take your mom to the school dance?"

Antenna TV is showing its St. Paddy's Day pride by airing 17-hours (fitting for March 17) of "green" with a 34-episode Green Acres marathon. Antenna TV's "St. Patrick's Day Green Acres Marathon" begins on the farm with Oliver & Lisa Douglas at 5am ET on Friday, March 17 and concludes at 10pm ET. Green Acres regularly airs on Antenna TV weekdays 8am ET/5am PT and Sundays 2pm ET/11am PT. Antenna TV's "St. Patrick's Day Green Acres Marathon" will air the following episodes:

5:00 AM Oliver Buys a Farm
5:30 AM Lisa's First Day on the Farm
6:00 AM My Husband the Rooster Renter
6:30 AM The Deputy
7:00 AM Ballad of Molly Turgiss
7:30 AM Never Look a Tractor in the Mouth
8:00 AM Wings Over Hooterville
8:30 AM Ugly Duckling
9:00 AM I Didn’t Raise a Pig to Be a Soldier
9:30 AM The Hooterville Image
10:00 AM Never Take Your wife to a Convention
10:30 AM The Computer Age
11:00 AM The Beverly Hillbillies
11:30 AM Music to Milk By
12:00 PM Getting Even With Haney
12:30 PM Love Comes to Arnold Ziffel
1:00 PM Haney's New Image
1:30 PM Flight to Nowhere
2:00 PM Guess Who's Not Going to the Luau
2:30 PM Agricultural Student
3:00 PM Old Mail Lady
3:30 PM How to Get From Hooterville to Pixly
4:00 PM Everywhere a Chick Chick
4:30 PM Prize in Each and Every Package
5:00 PM Oh' Promise Me
5:30 PM The Road
6:00 PM The Confrontation
6:30 PM The Cow Killer
7:00 PM Ralph's Nuptials
7:30 PM The Case of the Hooterville Refund Fraud
8:00 PM Oliver Goes Broke
8:30 PM Great Mayorality Campaign
9:00 PM Oliver's Double
9:30 PM The Spot Remover

Sitcom writer and producer Howard Leeds, who was one of the creators of The Facts of Life, Silver Spoons and Small Wonder, has died. He died on February 11 at his home in Los Angeles, California after a long-term illness. Mr. Leeds was 97.

Leeds worked as a writer for many sitcoms from the 1950s to 1980s, including Meet Millie, How to Marry a Millionaire, Bachelor Father, The Bob Cummings Show, Ensign O'Toole, Make Room for Daddy, McHale's Navy, My Three Sons, The Bill Dana Show, Bewitched, That Girl, The Doris Day Show, Julia, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, The Brady Bunch, Barney Miller and Grady. He received an Emmy nomination in 1956 for his work on the comedy/variety series The George Gobel Show.

He created his first sitcom The Queen and I in 1969. The short-lived CBS series starred Larry Storch, Billy DeWolfe, Carl Ballantine, Pat Morita, Barbara Stuart, Dave Morick, Liam Dunn and Dave Willock.

Leeds was a producer and story consultant for the 1964-1965 CBS sitcom My Living Doll. The series was about a lifelike adult android being cared for by a psychiatrist. It starred Bob Cummings, Julie Newmar, Jack Mullaney and Doris Dowling.

In 1979, he wrote "The Girls School" episode of Diff'rent Strokes with Ben Starr, Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon. The episode was for pilot for the spinoff The Facts of Life. Leeds worked as a writer on 33 episodes of Diff'rent Strokes from 1978-1984. He also served as a producer from 1979-1984.

He helped Martin Cohan and Ben Starr create the sitcom Silver Spoons in 1982. The series aired for four seasons on NBC before moving to first-run syndication for the fifth and final season. It starred Ricky Schroder, Joel Higgins, Erin Gray, Franklyn Seales, Jason Bateman (1982-1984), Corky Pigeon (1983-1985), Alfonso Ribeiro (1984-1987) and John Houseman. Leed provided the story for one episode.

Leeds was the creator and producer for the syndicated sitcom Small Wonder. The series aired for four seasons from 1985-1989. It starred Dick Christie, Marla Pennington, Jerry Supiran, Tiffany Brisette, Paul C. Scott and Emily Schulman. Leeds wrote one episode. He was also one of the writers of the theme song lyrics.

Some of his other producing credits included The Bill Dana Show, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, The Brady Bunch and Grady. He worked as a production executive for Reg Grundy Productions from 1976 to 1978.

Survivors include his wife Joan Hajny-Leeds, son John Hajny, daughter-in-law Kim Hajny and grandchildren Jenna and Erin Hajny.

Mr. Leeds worked on many memorable sitcoms during his career. We thank him for bringing us The Facts of Life, Silver Spoons and Small Wonder. He will be greatly missed.

It looks like Logo is the place to be for sitcoms, as Green Acres and Married...with Children are joining the lineup beginning this week. The '60s classic Green Acres will begin on Tuesday (Nov. 15) at 8am, as New York lawyer Oliver Douglas longs to live on a farm, so he quits his job at the law firm and moves to Hooterville. On the first day the series will air from 8am-1:30pm. The series will air on most weekdays, with times varying but usually 11am-1:30pm. Married...with Children will begin on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 9pm and looks like a weekend play with the first night being from 9pm-2am. And a Sunday afternoon block from 1-6pm. Married... with Children is a show about shoe salesman, Al Bundy, who raises his dysfunctional family. These two sitcoms join other series on the Logo line-up like Three's Company, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, All in the Family, Roseanne, Will & Grace and The Golden Girls. No sign of all the other sitcoms they have had recently like The Facts of Life and Silver Spoons, though.

WGN America will treat viewers to a holiday season chock-full of fan-favorite programming, including two America's Funniest Home Video marathons, two Cops marathons and two movie marathons for fans to enjoy, from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. Kicking off the holidays is WGN America's live coverage of McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which leads into an array of popular series and films that wrap with a 14-hour marathon of Cops on New Year's Day. The AFV Laughsgiving Marathon featuring eight hours of America's Funniest Home Videos begins at 12 noon ET on Thanksgiving, while the AFV Ha Ha Holidays marathon featuring back to back episodes airs on Christmas Day at 9am. Movies airing on Friday, Nov. 25 are Gangs of New York, Gran Torino, The Perfect Storm, while the Very Merry Movie Marathon featuring Rio, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Head of State airs on Christmas Eve.

Starting Monday, February 24, COZI TV is giving you more of what COZI TV superfans love most, plus other shows you've been asking to see! Say hello to The Avengers, Maverick, The Real McCoys, Make Room For Daddy, and more. Tune in weekdays for a special midday mystery wheel from 3-4:30P, with COZI TV favorites McMillan & Wife, Banacek, McCloud and Name of the Game. And you wanted it, you got it -- MORE Magnum P.I., daytime and primetime, with daytime being added weekdays at 2pm (in addition to its Thursday prime block). Plus more shows are coming as we mentioned that Starsky & Hutch, Knight Rider and Hart to Hart begins this summer. It has been a great first year for COZI TV and they thank their superfans. The new weekday daytime schedule will have the following changes: 9:30AM The Adventures of Jim Bowie, 11AM Maverick, 1PM The Avengers, 2PM Magnum P.I., 3PM Midday Mystery Wheel, 4:30 Make Room For Daddy and 6PM The Real McCoys. We will have more on their summer slate in the coming months, but expect marathons in May and June for Mother's Day and Father's Day and launch marathons for the three new series we mentioned for summer.

Character actress Mary Grace Canfield, who was best known for her recurring role as Ralph Monroe in Green Acres, has died. She died from lung cancer on February 15 in Santa Barbara, California. Ms. Canfield was 89.

Canfield appeared as Ralph Monroe in more than forty episodes of Green Acres, which ran on CBS for six seasons from 1965-1971. Ralph and her brother, Alf (Sid Melton), were quarrelsome carpenters hired to rebuild the Douglas' house and barn. Her signature greeting to fellow Hootervillians was "Howdie Doodie!" In 1990, she reprised her role in the TV movie Return to Green Acres.

Her first television appearance was in March 1954 on Goodyear Playhouse. She had a recurring role as a housekeeper, Amanda Allison, in the 1961-1962 ABC sitcom The Hathaways. She appeared as Mrs. Hanley in two episodes of Family in 1976. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Hazel, The Joey Bishop Show, The Andy Griffith Show, The Farmer's Daughter, Bewitched (four episodes as Abner Kravitz's sister, Harriet), Love, American Style, The Love Boat, Tabitha, Alice and The Jackie Thomas Show. Her other television credits included Thriller, The Eleventh Hour, Adam-12 and General Hospital.

Survivors include John Bischof, her husband of 25 years; daughters Phoebe Alexiades and Alison Carey; and three grandsons. It's sad that we've lost another member of the Hooterville family. The Monroe Brothers were a very funny duo. We thank her for the laughs she brought us. She will be deeply missed.

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

We mentioned that six new series will be coming to Antenna TV this November, but now we can officially reveal their timeslots. As a reminder, joining Antenna TV's schedule starting Monday, Nov. 4 will be Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Green Acres, Mister Ed, The Patty Duke Show and Flipper. The latter four are migrating over from now sister network THIStv. As usual, Antenna TV will refresh the schedule with many timeslot changes for existing programs as well as adding these six series to its line-up. On weekdays, The Patty Duke Show will air seven days a week from 1-2pm, while from 3-7pm on weekdays will be completely new with an hour each of Mister Ed, Green Acres, I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched, in that order. I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched will also air in late night airing 12-1am and 1-2am, respectively. These series will air on weekends as well with Mister Ed airing 3-4pm both days, while Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie air in primetime on Sunday nights from 8-10am. Green Acres will lead-in to them in late night on Sundays from 2-3am. As for Flipper, the classic family series will air on weekends from 6-7pm following Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.

As for existing series, the key highlight is primetime will now be a set weeknight schedule rather than a rotating show schedule. Weeknights from 8-9pm will be Diff'rent Strokes leading into an hour each of Sanford & Son, All in the Family and Maude from 9pm-12am. A few series will also be back on the line-up, including Circus Boy and Here Come The Brides, both weekend bound, with the former both days from 4-5pm and the latter Sundays 7-9am. With all these additions, some shows will have to have a little rest, but only three shows are going to the bench for now: Benson, Married...with Children and The Nanny. The latter two have come back before to the line-up, so they could return again.

Anyway, view the entire Antenna TV "Fall 2013" schedule that begins in November. And don't forget, Bewitched actually launches on Wednesday, Oct. 30 with a 27-hour marathon! Stay with us for continued updates.

Superhero siblings share an extraordinary secret in Nickelodeon's brand-new live-action comedy series, The Thundermans, premiering Saturday, Nov. 2, at 9 pm (ET/PT). Created and executive produced by three-time Emmy Award-winner Jed Spingarn (Big Time Rush, Jimmy Neutron) and executive produced by Dave Hoge and Dan Cross (Just Jordan, Pair of Kings), the scripted half-hour series follows a pair of superhero twins, Phoebe (Kira Kosarin) and Max Thunderman (Jack Griffo), with opposite personalities, who must navigate their way through school, friends and a family of extraordinary superheroes, all while keeping their true identities a secret. New episodes of The Thundermans will air regularly Saturdays at 9 pm (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. The first episode of The Thundermans will be available for free on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Xbox Video, PlayStation Store, Samsung Media Hub and Vudu until Nov. 2, along with a free behind-the-scenes video called "Meet The Thundermans."

On the series, Phoebe and Max Thunderman are 14-year-old fraternal twins turbocharged by freeze breath and the power to move objects via telekinesis. Phoebe, a good-natured sister, always tries to do the right thing, while Max, a troublemaker, dreams of one day becoming a super villain. Brother Billy (Diego Velazquez) moves at super speed, while younger sister Nora (Addison Riecke) cuts solid objects with her laser beam eyes. Rounding out the family are parents Hank (Chris Tallman), who possesses extraordinary strength and the ability to fly, and Barb (Rosa Blasi), who can generate lightning from her hands. Ultimately, the family must attempt keep their powers under wraps and lead a "normal" life... but can life ever be "normal" in a family of superheroes?

ABC Family has cast Jennie Garth to join former Beverly Hills 90210 co-star Tori Spelling in the network's comedy pilot, Mystery Girls. Both Spelling and Garth will also serve as executive producers. The casting marks a reunion of the two from their days on the hit series. The Mystery Girls pilot, starring Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth, follows a former starlet who is roped into solving crimes with her former mystery TV show co-star when a witness to a crime will only speak to the infamous 'Mystery Girls,' which was the highest rated program of the '90s. Spelling will play Holly, who is desperate to regain her former fame and plans to resurrect her life by using her acting skills and crime "experience" to open a detective agency. Now she just has to get Charlie (played by Jennie Garth), her former co-star-turned suburban housewife and mother, on board with the plan. Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth and Maggie Malina (Single Ladies) will serve as executive producers. The story is by Tori Spelling and Shepard Boucher (Men at Work). The pilot was written by Shepard Boucher. Mystery Girls is scheduled to shoot in November.

This is just a pilot order, so stay with us if the pilot is picked-up to series or not. We don't know if this pilot will be a single-camera comedy or a traditional multi-camera sitcom, but it is favoring a single-camera feel.

This TV quietly added Green Acres to their schedule yesterday morning. The first two episodes of the series, "Oliver Buys a Farm" and "Lisa's First Day on the Farm", aired at 5-6am. It will air weekdays at 5-6am and weekends at 7-8am. The 7am weekend airing will occasionally be pre-empted when they have a longer movie on the schedule. Check their show page for any additional airings. Green Acres last aired on MeTV earlier this year from June 20 to September 1 as part of their "Summer of Me" block.

Highway Patrol, Sea Hunt, Bat Masterson (which was airing on Sundays at 7am) and The Outer Limits (1963) have been taken off the lineup. The first three of those classic series were produced by Ziv Television Programs. As we mentioned back in September, This TV also airs The Patty Duke Show and Mister Ed. In addition to its regular 6am timeslot, The Patty Duke Show will receive additional airings some weekdays and weekends at 4am. Mister Ed will air some weekdays and weekends at 4:30am plus their regular 6:30am timeslot. Stargate SG-1 remains on Sundays at 9pm and 10pm. The rest of their schedule includes animated series from the Cookie Jar Toons archive like Inspector Gagdget, Hurricanes, Action Man, Metajets, and Sabrina, the Animated Series. Movies or E/I programming fill out the rest of their lineup.

This TV is a free over the air digital station that brings you award winning films, box office hits, cult classics, retro TV series and all your favorite Hollywood stars. Whether it's on satellite, your local cable provider, or your over-the-air digital signal, it doesn't get better than This! This TV is the place to be! Stay with us for any further schedule changes.

It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of November 5-9, 2012, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, November 5, 2012

• Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) - Watch Simon on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Katey Sagal (Married with Children/8 Simple Rules) - Katey drops by Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Ellen Barkin (The New Normal) - Ellen is a guest on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
• Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program) - Sarah appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Brian Austin Green (Wedding Band) - Brian stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Julie Bowen (Modern Family) - Julie visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
• Peter Facinelli (Nurse Jackie) - Peter is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
• Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years) - Danica talks about her latest book on Marie on Hallmark Channel at 12pm ET/PT.
• Krysten Ritter (Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Krysten appears on Anderson Live, so check your local listings.
• Jay Mohr (Gary Unmarried/Action) - Jay visits Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.

• Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project/The Office) - Watch Mindy on Conan at 11pm on TBS. She also appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
• Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) - Simon and Kunal are guests on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Kelly Ripa (Hope & Faith and Michael Strahan (Brothers) - Kelly and Michael appear on Katie, so check your local listings.
• Garret Dillahunt (Raising Hope) - Garret talks about working with Cloris Leachman on Marie on Hallmark Channel at 12pm ET/PT.
• Keke Palmer (True Jackson, VP) - Keke guest co-hosts Anderson Live on Tuesday and Thursday, so check your local listings.

• John Goodman (Roseanne) - Watch John on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12am on ABC.
• Eliza Coupe (Happy Endings/Scrubs) - Eliza appears on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Peri Gilpin (Frasier) - Peri visits The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Josh Peck (Drake & Josh) - Josh stops by LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced/The Nanny) - Fran chats on Marie on Hallmark Channel at 12pm ET/PT.
• Alicia Silverstone (Suburgatory) - Alicia appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City) - Michael is a guest on Katie, so check your local listings.

• Robin Williams (Mork & Mindy) - Catch Robin on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Sally Field (Gidget/The Flying Nun) - Sally visits The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Kirstie Alley (Cheers/Veronica's Closet) - Kirstie drops by Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12am on ABC.
• Brian Austin Green (Wedding Band) - Brian talks about his TV new series, Wedding Band, on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Debi Mazar (Entourage) - Debi chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Steve Harvey (The Steve Harvey Show) - Steve is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) - Tune in to see Miley on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.

• Matthew Perry (Go On/Mr. Sunshine/Friends) - Watch Matthew on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
• T.J. Miller (Carpoolers) - T.J. drops by Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Kirstie Alley (Cheers/Veronica's Closet) - Kirstie continues to make the rounds on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
• David Alan Basche (The Exes/Oh, Grow Up/Three Sisters) - David is a guest on Marie on Hallmark Channel at 12pm ET/PT.
• Cedric the Entertainer (The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - Cedric stops by Steve Harvey, so check your local listings.

Start spreading the news! The hilarious live evening of comedy Worst Audition Ever is headed to the Big Apple for a night of big laughs! After a successful year-long run in Hollywood (six versions and about a dozen shows), Worst Ever Productions is proud to present its first installment of the cult-hit evening of comedy Worst Audition Ever in New York City at Joe's Pub - produced by the talented creator Christine Lakin (Step by Step), the equally talented Alec Ledd (aka Alaa Khaled), along with Daniel A. Miles and Corri English. The ticket proceeds from this performance of Worst Audition Ever will be donated to The Actors Fund. Christine Lakin tells us, "New York was something we always wanted to do to represent actors from the other coast. I couldn't think of a better cause to conjoin with it than The Actors Fund. I'm also a board member of the Hollywood SAG-AFTRA so it seemed fitting." The night of laughs in New York is this Monday (June 18, 2012) at 9:30PM. More info is below but Christine tells us "doing it in New York is a totally different beast because the way people audition in New York is so different than the way people audition in Los Angeles. New York is primarily theater based and LA is very much a film and television world. The things people are asked to do in a musical theater audition can feel so outlandish to somebody who makes their living in film and television and I think that is what a lot of this crowd in NY is going to really impart with their stories."

So what is this show about? Forget the terrible auditions on reality competition shows like American Idol, this show has stories of true auditions from known artists and they are funnier without bashing anyone. Worst Audition Ever is an evening of comedy about a group of artists (actors, directors, dancers, etc.) telling their real stories about the all too familiar audition process. The format is simple - a blank stage with one microphone - making the shared stories truly intimate and personal. For anyone who has ever had an embarrassing moment "putting themselves out there" in the name of art, Worst Audition Ever presents a wry and candid evening of some of the most awkward moments in artistic vulnerability – because pain is best served funny and with cocktails. The show was conceived around a circle of friends drinking beer and telling war stories about their artistic lives. The darkly funny, off-the-wall material that ensued is what conceptualized the show. Some of LA's funniest comedians have graced the stage revealing their awful, hysterical tales. Painfully true, mutually hilarious and completely cathartic, Worst Audition Ever has built an underground following playing small clubs in Los Angeles and building a viral fan base since April 2011.

Many celebrities have done the show in Hollywood over the past year including Danielle Fishell (Boy Meets World), James Denton (Desperate Housewives), Kelly Stables (The Exes), Matt Moy (2 Broke Girls), Autumn Reeser (ABC's upcoming Last Resort), Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm), and director Andy Fickman (You Again). The stories they share are hilarious and at the same time easy to listen to! Danielle Fishell shared her audition stories for the horror movie Cabin Fever and the soap The Bold and the Beautiful--on the same day and two genres she requested never to do! Kelly Stables shared a comical story about an audition on the short-lived sitcom Cavemen where she had to play... a cave boy! And director Andy Fickman shared stories of auditions he witnessed including a mom filling in for a sick eight year-old for the part of an eight year-old...gotta love stage moms. Priceless fun!

Future plans are already underway for the show, as Christine tells us, "we are currently developing a TV pilot around the idea. And I would ultimately like to do two big shows a year in LA and two in NY. If people want us to come somewhere and put on a show, we're very open to that." The possibilities and laughter are endless for Worst Ever Productions! But for now, don't miss out seeing the show in person. As mentioned earlier, if you're in the New York metro area, your chance to see this entertaining and comical show is this coming Monday (June 18) at 9:30PM (doors open at 9) at Joe's Pub at 425 Lafayette Street near Astor Place. The New York show will have a New York/theater feel to it with the show being hosted by Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys original cast, The Midtown Men). Christine says, "theater, as any actors knows is probably one of the most brutal industry in some way--it's physically demanding, it's over and over every night, it's relentless, but people do it because they really really love it." And reciting their worst auditions ever for the NY themed show will be: Tyler Maynard (Altar Boyz, Little Mermaid), Kevin Duda (The Book of Mormon, Les Liaisons Dangereuses), Jena Friedman (writer for Late Night With David Letterman), Jenna Leigh Green (Wicked, For the Record: Baz Luhrman), John West (The Drowsy Chaperone, Newsical the Musical), Cheryl Stern (La Cage Aux Folles, Candide). Directing for the evening will be Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages, Surf the Musical). As a preview to this evening in NY, Christine says, "there is a story this time around for an actress who did a part for over a year and then was asked to re-audition...for her part! This was a part she did for many many performances on Broadway, and then was asked to re-audition and then didn't get it. It's so unfathomable that you can't even believe people go through that kind of pain, which is why we have to laugh at it." It's certainly going to be a night of New York style fun, so come out and watch! I think for those who have seen the show in LA, know it is really cool and they wouldn't want to miss any show!

Finally, the new Worst Audition Ever website is now up and running and is very well designed. It has all the information you need on this comedic show, with videos of past performances, pictures, and of course a schedule of upcoming shows. There's even a theme song! For a preview of what this show is like, check out a video montage of past performances below.

Tickets for the June 18 show in NY are $20 with a two drink minimum and can be purchased at the Worst Audition Ever website's Tickets section.

Related links:

Worst Audition Ever Official Website
Joe's Pub Official Website
Worst Audition on Facebook
Worst Audition on Twitter
Worst Audition on YouTube
Our Seven Questions Interview with Christine Lakin from August, 2011

Moving on, Todd has a look back at the career of Frank Cady.

Frank Cady, a character actor best known for his role as storekeeper Sam Drucker on Petticoat Junction, Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies, has died. Cady died on June 8 at his home in Wilsonville, OR. No information on cause of death has been provided. Mr. Cady was 96.

Cady's acting career in Hollywood began with appearances in plays in Los Angeles. This led to movie roles in D.O.A., Father of the Bride, The Ashphalt Jungle, When Worlds Collide, Ace in the Hole (aka The Big Carnival), Rear Window, The Bad Seed and 7 Faces of Dr. Lao. Some of his early sitcom appearances included Life with Luigi, December Bride, Private Secretary and The Gale Storm Show. In 1960, he played the town drunk in an episode of Make Room for Daddy that served as the pilot episode of The Andy Griffith Show. Cady played the role of neighbor Doc Williams on The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet in 60 episodes over 12 years.

His best known role was as general-store owner Sam Drucker on Petticoat Junction, Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies. He became the only actor to play a recurring character on three television sitcoms at the same time when he did it in 1968-69. Cady first appeared as Sam Drucker on Petticoat Junction in 1963. He was on the show for the entire 7 season run and appeared in approximately 166 of the sitcom's 222 episodes. In 1965, he began appearing on Green Acres. During the 6 season run of the show, he appeared in 142 or more episodes. His final acting appearance was in the 1990 television movie Return to Green Acres. Cady made 10 appearances on The Beverly Hillbillies in 1968-70. His character operated a bank in the later episodes of the series. Visit his IMDB page for a complete listing of his film and television credits.

Cady's wife, Shirley, died on August 22, 2008, at age 91. They had been married 68 years. He is survived by two children — daughter, Catherine Turk; son, Steven Cady; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His Sam Drucker character was so friendly and beloved. He has said that he was playing himself, so it seemed like he was a wonderful and genuinely nice man. In addition to his lengthy acting career, he earned a degree from Stanford University and served in the military in World War II. Mr. Cady lived a long and productive life. He will be deeply missed.

As we reported last week, Green Acres is coming to MeTV starting next week. They will air it Wednesdays at 9:00pm & 9:30pm as part of Hillbillies & Hooterville Wednesdays and on Saturdays at 6:00pm & 6:30pm. MeTV already airs The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction, so they have all three of his series covered. They have been paying tribute this week with episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction featuring his Sam Drucker character.

What are your favorite Frank Cady memories? Discuss them on our message board.