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Disney's Hamster & Gretel Premieres Aug. 12; Remembering Larry Storch of F Troop, James Caan and Gregory Itzin

Disney Channel announced the Friday, Aug. 12 (9:35 p.m.* EDT/PDT), premiere date and debuted the official trailer for their upcoming animated superhero comedy, Hamster & Gretel, from Disney Branded Television. Joining the cast as recurring characters are Priah Ferguson (Stranger Things) as Gretel's best friend, Bailey; Liza Koshy (Liza on Demand) as news reporter Veronica Hill; Alyson Stoner (Phineas and Ferb) and Brock Powell (Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe) as the evil sibling duo Lauren and Lyle a.k.a The Destructress and FistPuncher, respectively; and viral rap sensation Akintoye as Kevin's confident buddy, Anthony. Guest stars are Jenny Lorenzo (Victor and Valentino) as Carolina's mother, Abuelita; legendary Latin pop star Karina La Voz as the tear-jerking La Cebolla; YouTube star Thomas Sanders (Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe) as frat guy horse-man Neighslayer; TikTok star Casey Hamilton (@MrHamilton) as Gretel's mild-mannered substitute teacher, Mr. Chabner; and Adam Rose (Merry Happy Whatever) as evil jingle writer The Earworm.

Hamster & Gretel introduces Kevin and his younger sister, Gretel, who are about to be bestowed superpowers by space aliens. But something goes awry, and it's Gretel and her pet hamster (named Hamster) who suddenly have new abilities. Now, protective older brother Kevin must figure out how to work with both Gretel and her pet, Hamster, to protect their city from mysterious dangers. Starring in the series is newcomer Meli Povenmire as Gretel; Michael Cimino (Love, Victor) as Gretel's older brother, Kevin; Beck Bennett (SNL) as Gretel's pet hamster, Hamster; Joey King (Kissing Booth) as her tech-savvy cousin, Fred; Matt Jones (Bob Hearts Abishola) as the siblings' easygoing father, Dave; and Carolina Ravassa (Maya and the Three) as their charismatic mother, Carolina.

Actor and comedian Larry Storch, who was best known for his role Corporal Randolph Agarn on F Troop, has died. He died in his sleep at his home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on July 8. Mr. Storch was 99.

Storch's early sitcom guest appearances included The Phil Silvers Show (2 episodes), Hennesey, Car 54, Where Are You? (4 episodes), The Baileys of Balboa and Gilligan's Island. He starred on the 1953 CBS comedy-variety series The Larry Storch Show.

He starred as bumbling and scheming Corporal Randolph Agarn on the 1965-1967 ABC sitcom F Troop. Corporal Randolph Agarn is Sergeant Morgan O'Rourke's (Forrest Tucker) somewhat dimwitted sidekick and business partner in the shady O'Rourke Enterprises. Storch was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series in 1967. The cast included Ken Berry, Melody Patterson, Frank de Kova, Don Diamond, James Hampton, Bob Steele and Joe Brooks.

Storch starred as Charles Duffy on the short-lived 1969 CBS sitcom The Queen and I. Charles Duffy is a junior officer serving a once popular but now aging and run-down cruise ship, the Amsterdam Queen. The series also starred Billy De Wolfe, Carl Ballantine, Pat Morita, Barbara Stuart, Dave Morick, Liam Dunn and Dave Willock.

He starred as Eddie Spencer on the short-lived but popular 1975 CBS Saturday morning children's show The Ghost Busters. The live-action children's sitcom is about a team of bumbling detectives who investigate ghostly occurrences. The series also starred Forrest Tucker and Bob Burns.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included I Dream of Jeannie, The Mothers-in-Law, Get Smart, He & She (2 episodes), That Girl, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (2 episodes), The Flying Nun, My World and Welcome to It, The Debbie Reynolds Show, The Doris Day Show (4 episodes), All in the Family, The New Temperatures Rising Show (2 episodes), Love, American Style (5 episodes), Phyllis, C.P.O. Sharkey, The Love Boat (3 episodes), Phyl & Mikhy, Harper Valley PTA, Small & Frye, Out of This World and Married with Children.

Storch was also known for his voiceover work for cartoon shows. He was the voice of Phineas J. Whoopee on Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales. Some of his other voice credits included Out of the Inkwell, Groovie Goolies, Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1969-1972) and The Brady Kids. He was the voice of Cool Cat in the 1967 short film Cool Cat. He provided the voice of Merlin the Magic Mouse from 1968 to 1969.

He appeared in more than 25 films. Some of his credits included Gun Fever (1958), Who Was That Lady? (1960), 40 Pounds of Trouble, (1962), Captain Newman, M.D. (1963), Wild and Wonderful (1964), Sex and the Single Girl (1964) and The Great Race (1965).

Mr. Storch had a prolific career with around 250 credits. He was very funny and memorable as Corporal Randolph Agarn on F Troop. He was the last surviving cast member. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment he brought us on television. He will be greatly missed.

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

Actor James Caan was known for his roles in films such as The Godfather, Thief and Misery. He starred on the 2013 ABC sitcom Back in the Game. He died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles from a heart attack caused by coronary artery disease on July 6. Mr. Caan was 82.

Caan played Rupert of Rathskeller in the Get Smart episodes "To Sire, with Love: Parts 1 and 2" in 1969. Some of his other early television guest appearances included Naked City, Route 66, The Untouchables, The Doctors and the Nurses, Dr. Kildare, Ben Casey, Death Valley Days (2 episodes), Combat!, Channing, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Wagon Train and The F.B.I. (1969).

Caan's first television starring role was as Ed Deline on the 2003-2008 NBC comedy-drama Las Vegas. The series originally centered on Ed Deline, a strict ex-CIA officer who serves as the president of operations for the Montecito, a fictional hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Caan and his character depart the series in season five, when Ed becomes a wanted man for killing Mary Connell's (Nikki Cox) father. He was replaced by Tom Selleck as A.J. Cooper.

He starred as Terry "The Cannon" Gannon on the 2013 ABC sitcom Back in the Game. The series is about a newly divorced single mother (Maggie Lawson) who has to move back home to live with her ex-minor league baseball manager father (Caan). The cast included Griffin Gluck, Ben Koldyke, Lenora Crichlow, Cooper Roth, Josie Totah (credited as J. J. Totah), Kennedy Waite, Brandon Selgado-Telis and Matthew Zhang.

Caan appeared as himself in a 1996 episode of NewsRadio. He voiced himself in a 2004 episode of The Simpsons and a 2010 episode of Family Guy.

He portrayed Chicago mob kingpin Sy Berman in five episodes of the Starz TV drama Magic City in 2013. He guest starred in a 2012 episode of Hawaii Five-0.

Caan received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie nomination for his portrayal of Brian Piccolo in the 1971 ABC television movie Brian's Song.

He received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972). He reprised his role in The Godfather Part II (1974). Some of his other film credits included Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Gambler (1974), Funny Lady (1975), Rollerball (1975), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Comes a Horseman (1978), Chapter Two (1979), Thief (1981), Gardens of Stone (1987), Misery (1990), Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Bottle Rocket (1996), Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), The Yards (2000), City of Ghosts (2002), Elf (2003) and Get Smart (2008).

Mr. Caan was a gifted actor. He had so many memorable film roles. It was good to see his comedic side on Back in the Game. We thank him for his work in films and on television. He will be sorely missed.

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

Character actor Gregory Itzin was perhaps best known for his role as U.S. President Charles Logan in the action thriller series 24. He starred on the short-lived sitcoms The Nutt House and Something Wilder. He died on July 8 due to complications during an emergency surgery. Mr. Itzin was 74.

Itzin starred as Dennis on the short-lived 1989 NBC sitcom The Nutt House. The Nutt House was was a broad farce about a once-prestigious New York City hotel, which had of late fallen on hard times. The cast included Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Mark Blankfield, Brian McNamara and Molly Hagan.

He starred as Jack Travis on the short-lived 1994-1995 NBC sitcom Something Wilder. The series is about a fifty-something husband, Gene Bergman (Gene Wilder), and his wife, Annie (Hillary Bailey Smith), who is in her thirties, are learning to cope with raising 4-year-old fraternal twin sons, Sam and Gabe (Carl Michael Lindner and Ian Bottiglieri). Gene ran an advertising agency with his partner, crabby best friend Jack Travis, whose offices were located adjacent to both their homes.

Itzin starred as Sergei Zokolov on the 2001-2001 Comedy Central sitcom Strip Mall. Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Mork & Mindy, Frank's Place, Murphy Brown, Anything But Love, Head of the Class, Coach, Night Court (2 episodes), Empty Nest (3 episodes), Major Dad, Shaky Ground, Dave's World, Arli$$, Suddenly Susan, Brother's Keeper, It's Like, You Know..., Friends (2 episodes as Theodore Hannigan) and Hannah Montana.

He starred as D.A. Roger Garfield on the ABC legal drama Murder One from 1995 to 1996. He appeared as U.S. President Charles Logan in 44 episodes of the Fox action drama 24 from 2005 to 2010. He received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2006 and Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2010 for the role.

Some of his film credits included Airplane! (1980), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), Law Abiding Citizen (2009) and Lincoln (2012).

Mr. Itzin was a talented character actor. He had nearly 200 film and television credits. We thank him for the entertainment that he brought us. He will be missed.

Share your memories on our 24 message board. View photos in our galleries.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:20 PM

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Labels: Back in the Game, Disney Channel, F Troop, Hamster & Gretel, Obits

Disney Channel's Hamster & Gretel Rounds Out Cast; The Muppets Mayhem Adds More to Cast

Disney Channel's upcoming animated superhero comedy, Hamster & Gretel, from Disney Branded Television, will introduce Meli Povenmire in the titular role of Gretel. The series will also star Michael Cimino (Love, Victor) as Gretel's older brother, Kevin; Beck Bennett (SNL) as Gretel's pet hamster, Hamster; Joey King (Kissing Booth) as her tech-savvy cousin, Fred; Matt Jones (Bob Hearts Abishola) as the siblings' easygoing father, Dave; and Carolina Ravassa (Maya and the Three) as their charismatic mother, Carolina. Premiering this summer on Disney Channel, a sneak peek of Hamster & Gretel was released last week. Hamster & Gretel introduces Kevin and his younger sister Gretel, who are about to be bestowed superpowers by space aliens. But something goes awry, and it's Gretel and her pet hamster (named Hamster) who suddenly have new abilities. Now, protective older brother Kevin must figure out how to work with both Gretel and her pet Hamster to protect their city from mysterious dangers.

Disney+ announced today that Saara Chaudry (The Mysterious Benedict Society, Holly Hobbie) and Anders Holm (Workaholics, Inventing Anna) have been cast as Hannah and JJ in the highly anticipated live-action series, The Muppets Mayhem, joining previously announced stars, Lilly Singh (A Little Late with Lilly Singh, Dollface) and Tahj Mowry (Smart Guy, Baby Daddy). The comedy series follows The Electric Mayhem Band — Dr. Teeth on vocals and keyboards, Animal on drums, Floyd Pepper on vocals and bass, Janice on vocals and lead guitar, Zoot on saxophone and Lips on trumpet — on an epic, music-filled journey to record their first-ever studio album. With the help of a driven young music executive, Nora Gibbs (Singh), the old-school Muppet band comes face to face with the current day music scene as they try to finally go platinum. Chaudry will star as series regular Hannah, Nora's younger and arguably more accomplished sister. Raised in the era of likes, shares and the idea that "if it wasn't posted, it didn't happen," Hannah translated her e-acumen and talent for enthusiastic and aspirational make-up videos into a burgeoning social media empire, complete with a legion of "Fan-a-Hannahs." Her success has unfortunately upended her dynamic with Nora. Holm was cast as recurring guest star JJ, a formerly sheepish, nerdy intern-turned uber-cool, tech entrepreneur who happens to be Nora's ex. On the surface, his ambition knows no bounds, but the real JJ underneath still hopes to win back Nora.

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

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Labels: Disney Channel, Disney+, Hamster & Gretel, The Muppets