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Johnson Returns to Bounce; According to Jim Star Starring in Lifetime Film; Remembering Erica Ash of Survivor's Remorse

Johnson, Bounce TV's popular dramedy focusing on four life-long best friends with the same last name, returns for an all-new season Saturday nights at 8pm ET / 7pm CT starting August 3 with two new back-to-back episodes. Johnson is a journey of love, self-discovery, and brotherhood, touching on hot-button topics including race, mental health, classism and the ever-evolving relationship dynamics between men and women -- themes that continue to be prominent in the new season ahead.

Johnson is produced in partnership with Eric C. Rhone and Cedric The Entertainer's A Bird & A Bear Entertainment, as well as Deji LaRay (the show's creator) and Thomas Q. Jones' Midnight Train Productions. The ensemble cast is led by Jones (P. Valley, Luke Cage), LaRay (Bosch, Greenleaf), Philip Smithey (Murderville, The Rookie), Derrex Brady (NCIS, First) with D.L. Hughley (The Original Kings of Comedy, The Hughleys). LaRay and Jones serve as show-runners and executive producers; Rhone, Cedric The Entertainer and Reesha L. Archibald serve as executive producers.

Lifetime announces the new original movie, He Slid Into Her DMs. Inspired by a true story, Courtney Thorne-Smith (Melrose Place, Ally McBeal, According to Jim) and Stella Gregg (daughter of Clark Gregg, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Trust Me) star in the movie about a teenage social media influencer whose stalker shows up on her doorstep after blocking him online. The movie explores the tragic consequences of how online and social media fame can fuel real-world violence. Alicia Coppola (Writer and director of the award-winning short film And You Are...?, Jericho, Why Women Kill) directs her first feature film with He Slid Into Her DMs, which premieres Saturday, September 28 at 8/7c as part of Lifetime's fall Ripped from the Headlines movie slate.

Actress and comedian Erica Ash, who starred in the final season of Mad TV and played M-Chuck Calloway in Survivor's Remorse, has died. She died from breast cancer in Los Angeles on July 28. Ms. Ash was only 46.

Ash was a cast member in the first two seasons (2006-2008) of the Logo sketch comedy program The Big Gay Sketch Show. One of her characters included LaTanya, an uncouth, loudmouthed fitness instructor who teaches classes with a "Chicago-style" twist (i.e. Chicago-style yoga, Chicago-style pilates).

She joined the cast of the Fox sketch comedy series Mad TV (stylized as MADtv) in 2008 as a feature performer for the 14th and final season, along with Matt Braunger, Eric Price, and Lauren Pritchard. Her impressions included Naomi Campbell, Whoopi Goldberg, Mo'Nique, Lisa Leslie, Raven-Symoné, and Michelle Obama.

Ash had a recurring role as Bridgette Hart, Kevin Hart's ex-wife, in the 2013-2016 BET reality television parody series Real Husbands of Hollywood. The series was co-created by comedian Kevin Hart, and follows the daily lives of him and other married celebrities, each playing a fictionalized version of themselves, as they venture through their surreal life in Hollywood.

She starred as Mary Charles "M-Chuck" Calloway in the 2014-2017 Starz comedy-drama Survivor's Remorse, which was created by Mike O'Malley and produced by LeBron James. The plot centers around the lives of Cam Calloway (Jessie T. Usher) and his family after he signs a pro-basketball contract and moves his family to Atlanta. M-Chuck is Cam's half-sister. The series also starred RonReaco Lee, Teyonah Parris, Tichina Arnold, and Mike Epps (Seasons 1-2).

Ash appeared as Grace, Moz and Daniel's younger sister, in three episodes of the Netflix sitcom Family Reunion from 2019 to 2021. She guest starred as Lydia in a 2024 episode of the NBC sitcom Extended Family. She provided the voice of Julie Vous Coucher for a 2020 episode of the Fox animated sitcom Bless the Harts.

In 2018, she starred as Gwendolyn "Gwen" Sullivan, a public defender, in the BET legal drama In Contempt. Some of her other television guest appearances included Cold Case, Shades of Blue (3 episodes), Legacies (4 episodes), and Sacrifice.

Ash starred as Kendra Brooks in Scary Movie 5 (2013). Some of her other film credits included Jean of the Joneses (2016), Uncle Drew (2018), We Have a Ghost (2023), and Outlaw Johnny Black (2023).

Ms. Ash was a talented and funny actress. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us on television and in films. She will be deeply missed.

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

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Labels: According to Jim, Bounce TV, Johnson, Lifetime, MADtv, Obits, Survivor's Remorse

Bounce TV Comedy Mind Your Business Airing Now; Onyx Collective's Queenie Debuts Friday

Bounce TV original series Mind Your Business starring ensemble cast, Columbus Short (Scandal, Stomp the Yard), Drew Sidora (The Real Housewives of Atlanta, That's So Raven), Rolonda Watts (Rolonda), and singer/radio host Bebe Winans is streaming now on Bounce TV, 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The 10-episode first-season series will run throughout the summer, leading into the return of the hit Bounce series Johnson, which will start airing new episodes on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The half-hour situation comedy tells the story of The Williams family, which is in the business of celebrating some of life's most significant occasions with its event and party space in Chicago. However, when it comes to their family affairs, there is a bigger need for referees than DJs.

Like many small businesses, the once-prospering 30s-and-older lounge, Lucille's, owned by Lucille Williams (Played by Watts) took a considerable pandemic hit, forcing her to close. Lucille's baby brother, Henry (Winans), couldn't stand by and let Lucille's Place slip away, so he recruited his fraternal twins, Aaliyah (Sidora) and Alfonso (Short), to keep the business in the family. A safe space for planning and hosting events was born with Aaliyah's creative sensibilities and Alfonso's business mind. Alfonso's wife, Kimberly, and son, Alfonso Jr. (A.J.), join the event planning team. Even Aaliyah has one of their chosen family members, Mia, join the team; she is a jack of all trades – so she thinks. Although the new-and-improved Lucille’s brings everyone together, their affairs end up causing a mess bigger than a college frat party. Mind Your Business also features Caryn Ward Ross (Fame, Monogamy, Patterns of Attraction), Brely Evans (Ambitions, Being Mary Jane, The Man in 3B), Bryce Xavier (A Bennett Song Holiday, Stay Tuned: The Movie, Total Eclipse), and Chloe Elise Ellis (Borrasca, Footprints, Three Stories Up). Mind Your Business is produced by Harvest Studios and executive produced by Bentley Kyle Evans (Martin, The Jamie Foxx Show).

Onyx Collective is excited to share a sneak peek clip from the series premiere of Queenie, the new dramedy based on the best-selling novel by Candice Carty-Williams. Queenie Jenkins (played by Dionne Brown) is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in south London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. After a messy breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places and begins to realize she has to face the past head-on before she can rebuild. All eight episodes of Queenie will premiere this Friday, June 7 on Hulu.

Queenie stars Dionne Brown as Queenie, Bellah as Kyazike, Samuel Adewunmi as Frank. Created by Candice Carty-Williams, Queenie is executive produced by Carty-Williams, who will also serve as showrunner. Non-writing executive producers are Further South's Steve November and Sarah Conroy, with Lisa Walters as co-executive producer and series producer. The series is produced by Further South Productions in association with Lionsgate TV.

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

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Labels: Bounce TV, Hulu, Johnson, Mind Your Business, Onyx Collective

Freevee's Sprung Premieres August 19; Bounce's Johnson Returns and Binge Marathon

Amazon Freevee has released the official trailer for its highly anticipated new comedy series Sprung, a 9-episode series focusing on an unlikely group of formerly incarcerated people who band together to use their criminal expertise for good. From Emmy award-winning writer Greg Garcia (My Name is Earl and Raising Hope), Sprung stars Garret Dillahunt (Fear the Walking Dead, The Mindy Project) as Jack, Emmy award-winner Martha Plimpton (Generation, Younger) as Barb, Phillip Garcia (Scandal) as Rooster, Shakira Barrera (GLOW) as Gloria, James Earl (Night School) as Melvin, and introducing Clare Gillies as Wiggles. The first two episodes will debut exclusively on Freevee beginning August 19, followed by new episodes each week and a one-hour season finale on September 16. Guest stars include Kate Walsh (Grey's Anatomy) as Congresswoman Paula Tackleberry, Camden Garcia (My Name is Earl), Andre Jamal Kinney (Embeds), Chris Bauer (Gaslit), Mark Christopher Lawrence, Mike Rob (The Equalizer), Fred Grandy (The Love Boat), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead), Susan Ruttan (Shameless), and David Wells (Shameless).

Bounce, the popular broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, is heating things up this summer with the return of its hit original series Johnson, premiering with two new episodes back-to-back Sunday, July 10, 2022 8/7c. Ahead of its season two premiere, Bounce will air a binge-viewing marathon of the first season of the popular dramedy Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m. ET. The Johnson men are back together... well, almost. A couple of months have passed since the fellas had the fallout at the art gallery. This season you will see more dating adventures of four best friends and the challenges they face while confronting and finding humor in the most current controversial social issues from the Black man's perspective, ranging from love and marriage to business, politics, and religion. The ensemble cast is led by Deji LaRay (Bosch, Greenleaf), Thomas G. Jones (P. Valley, Luke Cage), Philip Smithey (Switched at Birth, The Rookie), and Derrex Brady (NCIS, First) with D.L. Hughley. Terri J. Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show, All of Us) joins the show for season two.

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

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Labels: Bounce TV, Freevee, Johnson, Sprung

Fri-Yay: The Fall 2021 Sitcom Line-up Is Pretty Bare; Bounce Renews Johnson for Season 2

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

Last week officially began the 2021-2022 television season. And if you're like me, you’ve wondered...where are the sitcoms? This fall's line-up is pretty light on sitcoms, with NBC dropping its comedy block entirely (for now - Mr. Mayor, Young Rock and Kenan are all set to return midseason), and Fox sticking with only its animated line-up for now. CBS and ABC will be premiering their sitcom line-ups this fall (ABC already did last week) but it certainly seems like the lightest year for new sitcoms in quite some time. The only new sitcom that has any kind of buzz is ABC's Wonder Years reboot, which did premiere to decent ratings and reviews last week. But overall, it's certainly a light fall for sitcom fans.

Truthfully, it does seem to be getting to the point where sitcoms are becoming less common on broadcast TV and more common on steaming services. NBC seems to be moving much of its comedy content to Peacock, such as AP Bio, and the buzziest new sitcom of the year is Ted Lasso on AppleTV. Is there hope for the broadcast sitcom? The next few years will be very telling.

Bounce, the leading broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, announced that the hit new original series Johnson will be returning for a second season in 2022. Johnson earned more than two million viewers across its debut in August 2021, setting a Bounce viewership record for a half-hour series. Johnson's first season finale will air this Sunday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m. ET with a primetime play for the west coast at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. All episodes are available on Bounce's streaming service Brown Sugar.

Johnson is a dramedy that focuses on life-long best friends, all of whom share the same last name, centering around their intriguing and sometimes complicated journey of love, friendship, heartbreak and personal growth. Told from the Black male perspective, but inclusive of all men, the series looks to shine a new light on hot-button stereotypes and misconceptions. Shot in Atlanta, the show integrates the culture of the city by featuring some of its most popular landmarks into storylines. The series is produced in partnership with Eric C. Rhone and Cedric The Entertainer's A Bird & A Bear Entertainment, Deji LaRay (the show's creator) and Thomas Q. Jones' Midnight Train Productions. Johnson's ensemble cast is led by D.L. Hughley, LaRay (Bosch, Greenleaf), Jones (P. Valley, Luke Cage), Philip Smithey (Switched At Birth, The Rookie) and Derrex Brady (NCIS, First). LaRay and Jones serve as showrunners and executive producers; Rhone, Cedric The Entertainer and Reesha L. Archibald serve as executive producers.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:06 PM

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Labels: Bounce TV, Fall Sitcoms Preview, Fri-Yay, Johnson, Wonder Years (2021)

Remembering Markie Post of Night Court, Hearts Afire & More; Bounce Comedy Johnson Scores in Ratings

Actress Markie Post, who starred as Christine Sullivan on Night Court and as Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman on Hearts Afire, has died. She died of cancer in Los Angeles on August 7. She had been diagnosed almost four years earlier. Ms. Post was 70.

Post made her television series debut on a 1979 episode of CHiPs. Some of her early television guest apperances included Barnaby Jones, The Incredible Hulk, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (2 episodes), Hart to Hart, B.J. and the Bear, Eight Is Enough, The Greatest American Hero, Simon & Simon, McClain's Law and Code Red. She played Chris Brennan on the 1981 crime drama television miniseries The Gangster Chronicles.

Her first sitcom starring role was as Barbara Jane Bookman on the short-lived 1980 ABC series Semi-Tough. The slapstick comedy was based on the 1977 film Semi-Tough, which starred Burt Reynolds. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Dan Jenkins. The series starred Bruce McGill, David Hasselhoff, Hugh Gillin, Mary Jo Catlett, Jim McKrell, Ed Peck, Bubba Smith and Freeman King.

Post joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Night Court as Christine Sullivan for the third season in the fall of 1985. She made her first appearance as Christine Sullivan on the second season episode "Daddy for the Defense" in 1984. Christine Sullivan was the public defender at New York's Manhattan Night Court. Post appeared in 159 episodes from 1984 to 1992. The cast from seasons 3-9 included Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, Richard Moll, Charlie Robinson (seasons 2-9) Florence Halop (1985-1986) and Marsha Warfield (1986-1992). Post, Anderson and Robinson reprised their roles on the 2008 30 Rock episode, "The One with the Cast of Night Court".

She starred as Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman on the 1992-1995 CBS sitcom Hearts Afire. The show was set in Washington, D.C., and centered on a conservative senator's aide (John Ritter) and a liberal political reporter (Post) whose professional disagreements masked a growing attraction for one another. The cast included Billy Bob Thornton, Clark Duke, Wendie Jo Sperber (1992-1993), Doren Fein, Beth Broderick (1992-1993), George Gaynes (1992-1993), Edward Asner (1992-1993), Beah Richards (1992), Adam Carl (1992-1993), Conchata Ferrell (1993-1995), Leslie Jordan (1993-1995), Debbie Gregory (1993-1994), Justin Burnette (1992-1994) and J. Skylar Testa (1994-1995).

Post starred as Julia Whitney on the 1999-2000 ABC sitcom Odd Man Out. Julia Whitney was the mother of fifteen-year-old Andrew Whitney (Erik von Detten), the only male in a house full of females. The series also starred Natalia Cigliuti, Agnes Bruckner, Marina Malota, Jessica Capshaw and Trevor Fehrman.

She had a recurring role as Lily Reid, the mother of Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), on three episodes of Scrubs from 2002 to 2006. She played Betsy on the 2014 web series Rack and Ruin. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included House Calls, The Love Boat (2 episodes), Cheers, Dave's World (2 episodes), Man Up!, Back in the Game, Santa Clarita Diet and The Kids Are Alright (4 episodes as Helen Portollo).

She starred as bail bondswoman Terri Michaels on the ABC action/adventure series The Fall Guy from 1982 to 1985. She had a recurring role as Barbara "Bunny" Fletcher on 18 episodes of Chicago P.D. from 2014 to 2017. Some of her other drama guest appearances included Matt Houston, Fantasy Island (2 episodes), Glitter, Scene of the Crime, The A-Team (2 episodes), Hotel (3 episodes), VR.5, The District (2 episodes), Ghost Whisperer and Soundtrack. She was the voice of June Darby on the computer animated robot superhero TV series Transformers: Prime.

Post was a card dealer on Card Sharks. She was an associate producer of CBS's Double Dare from 1976 to 1977. Some of her game show appearances included Go, Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour, Body Language, The (New) $25,000 Pyramid, The $100,000 Pyramid, Super Password and Hollywood Squares.

She played Mary's (Cameron Diaz) mom in the 1998 film There's Something About Mary. Some of her TV movie credits included Tricks of the Trade (with Cindy Williams and John Ritter), Glitz, Someone She Knows and Visitors of the Night.

Survivors include her husband, producer and writer Michael A. Ross; and daughters Kate Armstrong Ross and Daisy Schoenborn.

Ms. Post was a talented and beautiful actress. She was wonderful as Christine Sullivan and in her many other television roles. We thank her for the many laughs and entertainment she brought us during her career. It's been a very sad last month for Night Court fans as we lost Charlie Robinson on July 11. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Night Court and Hearts Afire message boards. View photos in our galleries.

Night Court airs weekdays on Laff TV from 8-9am & 2-3am and weekends from 6-8am.

The series premiere episodes of the newest Bounce original series Johnson were seen by 2.1 million viewers 2+ in their debut telecasts. The first two episodes of Johnson premiered back-to-back on Bounce on Sunday, Aug. 1st from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET and their initial airing burst within 24 hours included special presentation on Bounce's sister network ION Sunday night. Johnson becomes the most-watched half-hour series launch in Bounce history. Johnson is a single-camera half-hour series that focuses on life-long best friends, all of whom share the same last name, centering around their intriguing and sometimes complicated journey of love, friendship, heartbreak and personal growth. The series is produced in partnership with Cedric The Entertainer and Eric Rhone's A Bird & A Bear Entertainment and Deji LaRay (The show's creator) and Thomas Q. Jones' Midnight Train Productions. Johnson's ensemble cast is led by D.L. Hughley, LaRay (Bosch, Greenleaf), Jones (P. Valley, Luke Cage), Philip Smithey (Switched At Birth, The Rookie), and Derrex Brady (NCIS, First). Bounce premieres new episodes of Johnson Sunday nights at 8:00 p.m. ET, with a primetime play for the west coast at 12 Midnight ET/9:00 p.m. PT. They are added to Bounce's streaming service Brown Sugar on Monday mornings.

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

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Labels: $100000 Pyramid, Bounce TV, Hearts Afire, Johnson, Night Court, Obits, Scrubs, Super Password, The Kids Are Alright

Bounce Brings Back Two Sitcoms and Orders Two New Ones; Disney Television Studios Rebrands Three Divisions

Bounce, the first and only broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, unveiled its 2020-21 original programming slate during the 2020 summer press tour. The wide-ranging array of originals includes: Two new comedy series-one produced by Cedric The Entertainer, three new movies, a limited-run true-crime murder mystery, the U.S. premiere of a new documentary special about the death of Michael Jackson, the renewal of the mega-hit drama Saints & Sinners plus a first-ever stand-alone movie based on the franchise, new seasons of popular network sitcoms In The Cut and Family Time, the 29th annual Bounce Trumpet Awards and more.

New Scripted Series - Bounce will debut two new original comedies looking - and laughing - at single life from both the male and female perspective. Both series, debuting in the second quarter of 2021, will include guest appearances and cameos from top names in entertainment, music, sports and more. Johnson - Executive Producer Cedric The Entertainer, iconic comedian D.L. Hughley and a stellar cast of fresh new faces are part of this single-camera dramedy about life-long best friends navigating the world while Black. Produced by Cedric's A Bird & A Bear Entertainment. Premieres second quarter 2021. Secrets of the Salon comedically chronicles the lives, loves, relationships and daily web of gossip that finds its way into an Atlanta hair salon. Vivica A. Fox stars along with Reginae Carter and Monique Coleman. Produced by Swirl Films. This multi-camera comedy premieres third quarter 2021.

And finally, the return of two Bounce favorites. In The Cut - Bounce's popular comedy In The Cut is back in the barbershop for an all-new seventh season starting August 26 at 9:00 pm (ET). Series stars Dorien Wilson and Kellita Smith will be joined by TV veterans Mark Curry (Hangin' With Mr. Cooper) and Kim Coles (Living Single) in the hilarious cast. Family Time - The new season of Family Time, Bounce's longest-running original series, will bow this October and will see Tony (Omar Gooding, Jr.) and Lisa (Angell Conwell) dealing with all the good and the bad that comes with being empty nesters.

Nearly 18 months following the 21st Century Fox acquisition which led to the formation of Disney Television Studios, its three studios are undergoing a significant rebrand, it was announced by Disney Television Studios President Craig Hunegs. The changes are as follows: ABC Studios and its subsidiary ABC Signature led by President Jonnie Davis will merge into one studio entitled ABC Signature. Fox 21 Television Studios led by President Bert Salke will be renamed Touchstone Television. 20th Century Fox Television led by President Carolyn Cassidy will become 20th Television.

The new graphic logos and "motion end cards" will be rolled out in all-new episodes of Disney Television Studios programming going forward. (Library titles and episodes broadcast before the rebrand will remain unchanged.) 

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

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Labels: ABC, Bounce TV, Family Time, In The Cut, Johnson, Secrets of the Salon