SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

BET+ Renews Churchy for Season 2 and The Ms. Pat Show for Season 5; Remembering Teri Garr

BET+ has renewed the original comedy series Churchy for a second season. The series, originally released on February 15, 2024, broke ground for BET+ quickly becoming the #1 scripted comedy series on the platform in its debut week. Inspired by/drawing from/from the mind of standup comedian "KevOnStage" Fredericks, Corey Carr Jr.'s life takes an unexpected turn when he's bypassed for leadership of his father's mega-church. Determined to prove his worth, Corey packs up his dreams and heads to middle-of-nowhere Lubbock, Texas, with lofty ambitions to build his own ministry from the ground up. However, after quickly stumbling upon the realization that small-town church life is an entirely different ball game, Corey slowly accepts that the path to spiritual leadership might just be funnier and more profound than any sermon could ever teach.

Fredericks is set to reprise his role as "Corey Carr, Jr." an ambitious yet naive new pastor. Season one also starred Anthony Elfoniza, Lexi Allen, London Solomon, Mark J. P. Hood, and Shani Shockley. Casting for season two includes series regulars Quin Walters and Tahir Moore with Nic Few, Tony Baker, and Tabitha Brown also set to appear. Kevin "KevOnStage" Fredericks and Melissa Fredericks will return to executive produce for KevOnStage Studios. LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, and Lezlie Wills are executive producers for SpringHill. The second season will be penned by comedy writers Richard A. Washington & David Murphy. Production for the new season and a premiere will be announced at a later date.

In DJ Khaled’s voice - 'And Another One!' 🎉 BET+ has renewed the Emmy-nominated multi-cam sitcom The Ms. Pat Show for a fifth season, keeping the laughs and realness coming! 🙌🏾 BET Media Group also locked in an extended deal with the one and only Ms. Pat, so you know BET is about to get more unapologetically Black, bold, and hilarious content coming to our screens. Since 2021, The Ms. Pat Show been serving up that raw comedy, and we're here for it all! 🔥 Prepare yourself for an epic new season ahead by catching up on all 4 season streaming on #BETPlus.

Actress Teri Garr, who starred in Good & Evil, Good Advice and Women of the House, has died. She died from complications of multiple sclerosis at her home in Los Angeles, California, on October 29. Ms. Garr was 79.

Garr had a recurring role as Amber in four episodes of the 1973-1974 NBC sitcom The Girl with Something Extra. Some of her early sitcom guest appearances included That Girl (2 episodes), The Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry R.F.D., The Mothers-in-Law, Room 222, M*A*S*H, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Odd Couple, The Bob Newhart Show (2 episodes as Miss Brennan), Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers and Maude.

She starred as Denise Sandler in the short-lived 1991 ABC sitcom Good & Evil, which was created by Susan Harris. Good & Evil was the saga of two sisters – one "good", the other "evil" – and the backstabbing, jealously and power struggles that occurred between them. Denise Sandler, the evil sister, was heir to her mother Charlotte (Marian Seldes)'s cosmetics empire Sandler Cosmetics. The series also starred Margaret Whitton, Mark Blankfield, Lane Davies, Mary Gillis, Seth Green, Sherman Howard, Lane Smith, Brooke Theiss, Marius Weyers and William Shockley.

Garr starred as Paige Turner in the second season of the 1993-1994 CBS sitcom Good Advice. Dr. Susan DeRuzza (Shelley Long) is a successful marriage therapist and the author of a best-selling book on the subject, Giving and Forgiving. Paige Turner is Susan's flighty, self-centered older sister, who had just moved to Los Angeles and became the new inept receptionist. The cast included Treat Williams, George Wyner, Christopher McDonald (season 1), Peter Onorati (season 2), Ross Malinger, Estelle Harris (season 1), Lightfield Lewis and Henriette Mantel (season 2).

She starred as Sissy Emerson in the short-lived 1995 CBS sitcom Women of the House. The spin-off of Designing Women starred Delta Burke, reprising her role of Suzanne Sugarbaker. Sissy Emerson is Suzanne's press secretary, a washed up reporter who had turned to the bottle a few years earlier, but was starting to clean up her act. The cast included Patricia Heaton, Valerie Mahaffey (episodes 1-4, 7), Julie Hagery (episodes 5-6), Lisa Rieffel (episodes 8-12), Jonathan Banks, Brittany Parkyn and William Newman.

Garr had a recurring role as Phoebe Abbott, the estranged birth mother of Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), in three episodes of the NBC sitcom Friends from 1997 to 1998. Some of her other sitcom credits included Dream On (2 episodes), Murphy Brown, The Larry Sanders Show, Frasier (voice), Men Behaving Badly, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Life with Bonnie, Greetings from Tucson and Crumbs. She stared as Talon Kensington in the 1986 CBS comedy miniseries Fresno.

She had her breakthrough appearing as secretary Roberta Lincoln in the Star Trek episode "Assignment: Earth" in 1968. Some of her other televison guest appearances included Mr. Novak, Dr. Kildare, Batman, It Takes a Thief (2 episodes), Banyon, Barnaby Jones, McCloud (6 episodes), Tales from the Crypt, ER, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Felicity, Strong Medicine and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Garr was a regular cast member on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour from 1971 to 1974, dancing and acting in comedy sketches. In 1972, she landed a regular role on The Ken Berry "WOW" Show, a summer replacement variety series. She hosted Saturday Night Live three times in 1980, 1983, and 1985. She was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman.

She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her comedic role as Sandy Lester, an acting student, in Sydney Pollack's romantic comedy Tootsie (1982). Some of her other film credits included The Conversation (1974), Young Frankenstein (1974), Oh, God! (1977), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), The Black Stallion (1979), One from the Heart (1982), Mr. Mom (1983), Firstborn (1984), After Hours (1985), Let It Ride (1989), Mom and Dad Save the World (1992), Dumb and Dumber (1994), Prêt-à-Porter (1994), Michael (1996) and Ghost World (2001).

Ms. Garr was a talented, funny and lovely actress. She was always a great late night talk show guest. She made everything she appeared in much better. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us during her career. She will be deeply missed.

We also remember singer and actor Jack Jones. He sang the opening theme song for The Love Boat from 1977 to 1985. He died from leukemia at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California, on October 23. Mr. Jones was 86.

The Love Boat theme song was composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Paul Williams. It was sung by Jack Jones in the opening sequence of the first eight seasons (1977-1985) and, in a different arrangement, by Dionne Warwick in the last season (1985-1986) and the four specials that followed it. Jones lip-syncs the song in Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), appearing in a cameo as a lounge singer as Ted (Robert Hays) escapes from the hospital.

He provided the vocals to the theme song ("The Kind of Girl She Is") of the short-lived 1971 CBS sitcom Funny Face, which starred Sandy Duncan.

Jones played himself in the episode "The Vegas Show" of It's a Living in 1980. Some of his other sitcom credits included Hey, Jeannie! (pilot), The Love Boat, Get a Life and Night Court (1990). Some of his other television credits included Code 3, General Electric Theater, The Rat Patrol, McMillan & Wife, Police Woman, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Sweepstakes and Buddy Faro.

He won two Grammy Awards and received five nominations for Grammys. His recordings included "Lollipops and Roses", "Wives and Lovers", "The Race Is On", "The Impossible Dream" and "Call Me Irresponsible".

Television writer and producer Alan Sacks was the co-creator of Welcome Back, Kotter. He died from lymphoma in New York on October 22. Mr. Sacks was 81.

Sacks helped develop and co-create the ABC sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter with Gabe Kaplan in 1975, based on Kaplan's stand-up routine about his high school buddies in Brooklyn. He was also a producer for first season (1975-1976).

He worked as a production executive and producer on Chico and the Man from 1974 to 1975, a show created by Welcome Back, Kotter executive producer James Komack.

In 1986, he wrote and produced the skateboarding film Thrashin', which starred Josh Brolin, Robert Rusler and Pamela Gidley.

Television writer and producer Sherry Coben was the creator of Kate & Allie. She died from cancer at her home in New Milford, New Jersey, on October 16. Ms. Coben was 71.

Coben created the 1984-1989 CBS sitcom Kate & Allie. The series stars Susan Saint James and Jane Curtin as two divorced mothers who decide to live together and raise their children in the same home. Curtin won two consecutive Emmy Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, while Saint James was nominated in the same category three times. The cast included Ari Meyers, Allison Smith and Frederick Koehler.

She wrote for the ABC soap opera Ryan's Hope from 1980 to 1981. She was a writer and producer of the 1996 CBS Saturday morning children's sitcom Bailey Kipper's P.O.V.. The series starred Michael Galeota, John Achorn, Meg Wittner, Andi Eystad and Joey Zimmerman.

Actor Ron Ely starred as Tarzan in the 1966-1968 NBC series Tarzan. He died at the home of one of his daughters in Los Alamos, California, on September 29. Mr. Ely was 86.

Ely starred as Mike Madison in the CBS adventure/drama series The Aquanauts in 1961. He was best known for portraying Tarzan in the 1966-1968 NBC adventure series Tarzan. He also directed an episode of the series in 1967. He starred as Mike Nelson in the 1987-1988 syndicated revival of Sea Hunt.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Father Knows Best, How to Marry a Millionaire, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (as Dobie's older brother in the Pilot), The Courtship of Eddie's Father and The Love Boat (3 episodes).

He guest starred in five episodes of Fantasy Island from 1979 to 1984. Some of his other television credits included Steve Canyon, The Millionaire, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Thriller, Ironside, Marcus Welby, M.D. (1974), Wonder Woman, Matt Houston, Hotel, Blacke's Magic, Superboy, Tarzán, The Hat Squad, L.A. Law, Hawkeye, Renegade (2 episodes) and Sheena.

Ely starred as Clark "Doc" Savage Jr. in the 1975 action film Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze.

We thank them for their work on television and in films. They will be greatly missed.

SitcomsOnline Digest: Rick and Morty Renewed for Two More Seasons; A Look at Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Crossover

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! The fall TV season has finally started among all the broadcast networks (it seems that it gets later every year), so we're mostly just in that period where network executives are just seeing what'll work... which means we don't have a whole lot of news this week. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• It probably isn't a big surprise that Rick and Morty has gotten a two season renewal. (Hollywood Reporter)
• We have a photo from the upcoming Abbott Elementary crossover with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. (Deadline)
• Sherry Coben, creator of Kate & Allie, has died. (Variety)
• The president of The CW has stepped down. (Deadline)
• ABC has some special Halloween episodes of their series coming up. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (OCTOBER 19 - OCTOBER 25)

• The series premiere of Poppa's House and season premiere of The Neighborhood arrives Monday on CBS.
• Catchy Comedy has a binge of The Three Stooges this weekend.

SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at New Netflix Comedy; TNT Picks Up The Librarians: The Next Chapter

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we are getting a preview of a new Netflix comedy, learning more about the future of Fox animated comedies in broadcast syndication (it's not good), and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• We're getting our first look at the new Netflix comedy, A Man on the Inside. (Deadline)
• The Librarians: The Next Chapter was pulled from The CW before it could even debut, but now, it is coming full circle back home to TNT. (Variety)
• Last week, we talked about the future of some of the Fox animated comedies, with Family Guy coming to Comedy Central and specials for The Simpsons and Family Guy on Hulu, and this week there has been a further development: Family Guy was dropped from broadcast syndication on Sunday, and Bob's Burgers will be doing the same on September 1, leaving just The Simpsons (which was the first of the Fox animated comedies to air in syndication) as the last survivor. (T Dog Media)
• Netflix has ordered a new animated comedy from the BoJack Horseman creator. (Deadline)
• Chick-Fil-A (yes, you read that right) is planning to launch their own streaming service. (Deadline)
• One of the reasons Chick-Fil-A is likely doing this is because streaming media is becoming more popular than ever before, with over 40% of total TV viewing now coming from streaming. (Cord Cutters News)
• We now know who'll be hosting the Emmys. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (AUGUST 24 - AUGUST 30)

• Every episode of Kate & Allie is now streaming on The Roku Channel.
• Catchy Comedy has a binge of Car 54, Where Are You? (Saturday) and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (Sunday) this weekend.
• The fourth season of Only Murders in the Building arrives Tuesday on Hulu.

SitcomsOnline Digest: Reboots in the Works for The Wonder Years and Kate & Allie; Saturday Night Live Finally Sees Ratings Success After 46 Years

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we've got news about even more reboots (will they actually make it on the air, and survive if they do?), we're hearing about a streaming deal for Modern Family, and more. Let's get going! 

• The Wonder Years may be next in line for a reboot for ABC, except this time it would be from the perspective of a black family. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Not to be outdone, here is a surprising one, Kate & Allie, as NBC is looking to reboot it. (Variety) 
• Although the dynamics are much different than usual this year, Saturday Night Live is celebrating success of being rated number 1 among all comedies on broadcast and cable in the 18-49 demographics, for the first time ever. (Deadline) 
• The Office is looking to be an even bigger hit for Peacock than it was for Netflix. (Deadline)
• A streaming deal has been set for Modern Family on not one, but two services, and you'll be able to catch it there in just a few days. (SitcomsOnline)  

WEEKLY PLANNER (JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5)

 

• Antenna TV is doing a tribute to Cloris Leachman with a Facts of Life "mini marathon" that runs until 6 PM today.
• The complete run of Modern Family arrives on both Peacock and Hulu on Wednesday.
• The Decades binge this weekend is The Mod Squad.

FamilyNet Fall 2010 Schedule; RTV Launching in San Francisco, RTV Now in HD in South Florida

TCA Winter 2009 Press Tour: CBS; More Bush Speech Updates; DejaView in Canada Adds More Sitcoms

Today it is CBS's turn at the TCA Winter 2009 press tour. At the executive session, CBS chief Nina Tassler said an additional episode of The Mentalist could be ordered, and they are not going to move the show to Sundays at 10pm, despite it airing there this coming week after the AFC Championship Game. In other news, CBS has officially canceled last summer's Swingtown, which is not a surprise. CBS is moving forward with the NCIS spin-off and plans to do a backdoor pilot within NCIS this spring. CBS is also planning on a variety show or special starring musician John Mayer for this year. Fox is also developing a variety show hosted by the Osbourne family later this year.
After the executive session, panels for upcoming murder mystery drama Harper's Island and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson followed. CBS focused mainly on Showtime and other ventures after that. After the Showtime Executive Session, which we won't cover, Showtime's United States of Tara, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, The L Word, Tracy Ullman's State of the Union, The Tudors, and Nurse Jackie had panels. Wow, a lot...more than CBS itself.
There was also a presentation on TV.com, which is owned by CBS Interactive. CBS Interactive went you on a guided tour of the leading online destination for video and community, including a look at new and future developments for the site. Speaking of TV.com, be sure to check out their great videos! My personal favorite is their interview with CBS's Kaley Cuoco, who is quite frankly wearing something very stunning! They also have Full Episodes of TV series, so check it out!
Stay tuned tomorrow for NBC's portion of the TCA tour and ABC on Friday!

Yesterday we gave you updates on CBS and Fox's plan for Thursday, as President Bush will have his farewell address at 8pm ET for 15 minutes, messing up all the network's plans. ABC will have to preempt Ugly Betty as a result, just like Fox is doing with Bones. After the President's address, ABC will air a repeat of Scrubs at 8:15/7:15c, joined in progress, followed by another repeat of Scrubs at 8:30/7:30c. Both repeats will likely be repeats of last night's episodes. So, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice will still be all-new and air on time everywhere. I think ABC decided on this so they can have a 15 minute head start on CSI in the east and central, as CBS is delaying programming to those zones by 15 minutes. As for mountain and pacific time, ABC will air two repeats of Scrubs in their entirety. View the ABC schedule for Thursday in all time zones, if you're confused in what I'm saying. In other ABC schedule news, they will preempt Samantha Who? once again this coming Monday (Jan. 19). This is the second week in a row that will happen, as this past Monday (Jan. 12), the sitcom didn't air either. Why? Because The Bachelor is doing very well in its two-hours and is very compatible with new series True Beauty at 10pm. Honestly, I don't think Samantha Who? will return to 9:30pm on Mondays anytime son. I think either it will return when Dancing with the Stars returns in March OR it will be paired with Scrubs on Tuesdays starting next month. We'll keep you up to date. ABC is up at the TCA tour on Friday, and we should find out then maybe, along with ABC's other mid-season sitcom plans (In The Motherhood, The Goode Family, Better Off Ted).
As for NBC's Thursday plans, they will air a repeat of My Name is Earl after Bush's address at 8:15/7:15c, joined in progress. Then at 8:30pm, they will move the new My Name is Earl episode that was scheduled at 8pm ET/PT to 8:30pm, preempting Kath & Kim totally. As for mountain and pacific zones, you all will get the full repeat of Earl then the new one following it.

The Canada cable station DejaView, which features lots of classic TV, has changed their schedule a bit. Their last change was in the fall. They have added North of Sixty (Canadian series), One Day at a Time, Silver Spoons, Mad About You, but have also removed My Secret Identity, Maude, Charles in Charge, Facts of Life, Kate & Allie. The Canadian series North of Sixty airs weekdays at 7am, 10am, and 11pm, all replacing My Secret Identity. It also airs weekends at 6am and 11pm, replacing My Secret Identity. One Day at a Time airs now weekdays at 4pm, 9pm, and 3am, all replacing Good Times, which slides down a half-hour replacing Maude, so Maude is gone totally. The other new series have joined the weekend schedule with Silver Spoons airing back-to-back episodes at 10am and 4am, 10am hour replacing Charles in Charge and 4am hour replacing Facts of Life/Kate & Allie. Mad About You airs on weekends back-to-back at 1pm and 2am.
DejaView's key shows continues to be Three's Company, Cosby Show, All in the Family, Who's the Boss? and Roseanne.
View the full new DejaView winter 2009 schedule.

Many Universal Series Seasons Not on DVD on Netflix.com!; Network Notes

Tired of waiting for some of your favorite Universal series to continue on DVD? Now Netflix is giving you the entire run of many series that are not yet complete on DVD from Universal! Shows include Coach, Charles in Charge, Leave it to Beaver, Gimme a Break!, Kate & Allie, Dragnet '67, Adam-12, Emergency!, Kojak, Simon & Simon, McMillian & Wife, Quincy, seaQuest DSV, The Rockford Files, Airwolf, Murder She Wrote and Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. Wow you can watch every episode of Leave it to Beaver! Even season 6! Now you don't have to wait for Universal to complete the series and all the rest of these! All you have to do is to be a Netflix subscriber and you can watch all these episodes instantly on your computer in a nice streaming quality! Don't like that? Get the Netflix Ready Device so you can download these episodes to a device and play them on your TV! I know many of you would like to own the episodes on DVD, but this is a start in watching them.

It's time for more wheelings and dealings...it's network notes! CBS has given a full season order to its new drama The Mentalist, the season's top new freshman series in viewers and adults 25-54 so far. No surprise.
The Mentalist is averaging 16.14 million viewers (No. 7 among all primetime programs), 5.3/12 in adults 25-54 and 3.8/9 in adults 18-49. The series stars Golden Globe Award nominee Simon Baker as Patrick Jane, an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his razor sharp skills of observation. The series joins Fringe and 90210 for full season orders for rookie series.
Meanwhile, NBC's veteran drama Medium returns sometime this mid-season (or earlier I bet) and NBC has ordered three additional episodes. Last season the show had 16 episodes, so we are not sure what the original episode order was for this year. Could be 13 or 16 and you can tack on three more for Patricia Arquette's series.
ABC's Eli Stone will have 4 more episodes this season as well. The show was ordered for 13 episodes in its second season, so you can tack on four more to that at least, pending the ratings being decent enough. ABC has been pleased with the quality and direction so far, thus their decision in adding four more. And if you haven't seen the season premiere yet, you missed out on an excellent season premiere with guest Sigourney Weaver. Catch it on abc.com if you missed it and don't forget to tune in for the second episode this Tuesday at 10PM ET, with special guest star Katie Holmes! As I said before, I saw this episode already from a review screener and she is excellent. Gina Torres and Katey Sagal also guest star. Have faith in Eli!
Finally, it seems that Fox will also air the half-hour political ad from Presidential Candidate Barack Obama on Wednesday, October 29. CBS and NBC have already signed on to air it. However, Major League Baseball would have to push back the start of game six of the World Series, if necessary, so Fox can air the Obama. The game was scheduled to have first pitch at 8:20pm, but Fox and MLB could move it to 8:35pm if necessary. ABC is in discussions as well to air it, but maybe on a different night like Tuesday instead, since they air an hour-long sow (Pushing Daisies) in the time period. CBS has two half-hour sitcoms and will preempt Gary Unmarried on the night and shift Old Christine to 8:30 for this night. NBC will preempt Knight Rider altogether and air a TBD show at 8:30.

ION Television and WE tv October 2008 Schedules; Mel Brooks Interview on TVTimeMachine.com

This October on ION Television they will expand Boston Legal to air more than once a week! Currently the show is airing Mondays at 8:00PM but beginning Monday, September 29, the show will air Mon-Thurs at 8:00PM ET/PT and also Wednesdays at 9:00PM. However, a few Thursdays, it will be preempted for the Thursday movie. When it isn't, the Thursday movie will air 9-11PM. All of the additional Boston Legal airings will replace ER airings, except Thursdays. ER will still remain in its Mon-Wed at 10:00PM ET/PT timeslot. Boston Legal and especially NCIS are off to great starts for the network. Thursday night (Total Theatre Thursday) movie titles weren't available at press time, but when the movie starts at 8PM this month, Drew Carey Show will be on at 10:30PM!
As for RHI programming, Flash Gordon continues to air Fridays at 7:00PM. The 10th Kingdom wraps up its 10 episode run on October 10. Today ION announced the U.S. television premiere of Archangel, debuting Friday, October 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The three-hour mystery-thriller stars Daniel Craig, best known for his title role as the fictional secret agent James Bond in Casino Royale and in the soon-to-be-released 22nd Bond movie Quantum of Solace. Archangel also stars Gabriel Macht and Harry Ditson. The project, which was filmed on location in Russia and Latvia, also features an all-star Russian cast. Other RHI titles include Virtual Obsession and Legend Of Sleepy Hollow on Halloween night. Speaking of Halloween, during Halloween week, you'll see Halloween themed episodes of Boston Legal, NCIS, and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper!
Check out the complete ION Television October 2008 schedule and highlights.

Moving on to WE tv October, as we mentioned previously, WE tv has gotten the rights to air the last three seasons of Girlfriends. The show will start Monday, October 6 airing weekdays at 12 noon and 12:30pm, shifting Hope & Faith back to its old 10am & 10:30am timeslot, which means Kate & Allie will be removed from the schedule at this time. Dharma & Greg will remain in its 11am & 11:30am timeslot.
Girlfriends will also air Mondays on an eight episode block from 6pm-10pm and on Sundays from 3-6pm with a six episode block. On Halloween, catch Halloween episodes of Hope & Faith and Dharma & Greg in their regular timeslots.

Mel Brooks talks about his TV career in a one-hour interview on the Internet radio show TV Time Machine (http://www.tvtimemachine.com), hosted by TV historian Jim Benson.
On TV Time Machine, Mel Brooks gives his most comprehensive interview ever about his fifty-year contribution to television. Among other topics, Mr. Brooks talks about working with comedy legends Sid Caesar, Neil Simon and Woody Allen on the classic 1950's TV series, Your Show of Shows, and how he created the classic TV spy spoof Get Smart with Buck Henry, the basis for the 2008 film starring Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway.
Mel Brooks also discusses his personal life and experiences on TV Time Machine, including his service in World War II as a Combat Engineer (where his job consisted of de-activating German land mines). Brooks reminisces about growing up in Brooklyn, New York, and watching musicals on Broadway as a young boy, which ultimately inspired him to bring The Producers and Young Frankenstein to the stage, nearly seventy-years later.
TV Time Machine is a unique Internet radio show that explores classic TV and its influence over the past five decades. TV Time Machine is more than a nostalgia trip. It also spotlights TV's impact on our culture and society, and explores how present day television and its movers and shakers are still influenced by the stories, programs, and characters of television's past.
So, head on over to http://www.tvtimemachine.com for the Mel Brooks interview!

RTN's New Line-Up and Answers To Fan Questions; New Digital TV Channel Coming Nationwide With MGM Classics

As many of you with Retro Television Network (RTN) affiliates already know, RTN changed their line-up last week (July 21). They primarily had CBS-Paramount shows on their line-up such as Perry Mason, Happy Days, The Beverly Hillbillies, Family Ties, Gomer Pyle, Get Smart, etc. But they also had other studio shows mixed in such as NBC Universal and Stephen J. Cannell. They also seem to have a few Sony shows on some affiliates still, such as The Monkees and The Partridge Family. Now the CBS-Paramount deal has expired, so those shows are gone, and RTN currently has Universal and Cannell shows only. Some of these shows were already airing on many RTN affiliates, but now more are added such as Leave it to Beaver, Adam-12, Dragnet, Kate & Allie, McHale's Navy, and That's Incredible! With of course the classics like The A-Team, Knight Rider, Magnum P.I., Rockford Files, Ironside and many others remaining.
After this new schedule started, all the affiliates are almost the same (more uniform than before) as RTN is trying to air a nationwide line-up, as this might help them. This NBC Universal and Stephen J. Cannell line-up can let them do that, as some of the CBS-Paramount shows were also in syndication on another station in other markets (such as Matlock), that's why some shows weren't available in some markets. That is not to say the CBS-Paramount shows will ever return, but if this works, you can see them return. Also, RTN is not ruling out by signing more studio deals, such as Sony and Warner Bros. They are all for the viewers and classic TV.
Also, many of your local RTN affiliates have some rare programs listed on your local RTN TV listings such as Bachelor Father and Operation Petticoat listed but they haven't actually aired yet and more Leave it to Beaver is airing instead. Why? Because some of these shows have been stuck inside Universal's vault for many years and they are just now getting them out. Honestly, can you think of the last time Bachelor Father was aired? Also, if you recall there was a fire at Universal a few months ago, so that is a cause for this delay, too. RTN has told me they will indeed air these shows not airing yet. They will most likely start by this weekend (if not sooner), so keep checking! If not by this weekend, for sure at the latest by sometime next week. They will air! So get those DVRs/VCR's ready for rare Universal stuff like Operation Petticoat, Wagon Train, Run For Your Life, The Bold Ones, and Bachelor Father. Kudos to RTN for trying and bringing out the classics from the vault that have been barely seen in the last few decades.
Many of you also asked how come there hasn't been more announcements for some new RTN affiliates? Well, they were recently bought by another company (as we mentioned), and they are just settling in. You will see more announcements of new stations in the near future! If you don't have an RTN affiliate yet, don't worry, you could be next! RTN is very happy to note that Washington, D.C.'s RTN has gone live today! A big step! Nothing for New York yet, but those of you in the NY market, e-mail WCBS, WABC, WNBC or WNYW (Fox) and suggest to add RTN to their digital broadcasts.
So how can YOU help RTN? RTN says if you really like RTN, e-mail/call your local affiliates and tell them you love RTN and watch it everyday. This is the best way to help RTN as this shows the affiliates that viewers are happy and tuning in. The comments about RTN are then sent to RTN themselves, so they get each comment you make to your local affiliate. So go to your local station's website or call them (if you don't know your RTN's website, email me and I'll tell you!)!
Head on over to our RTN thread where you can see/post RTN schedules, see press releases, post your comments and more! It is 22 pages so far and growing!

From the people who brought you Me-TV and Me-Too in Chicago will bring you "This TV" coming nationwide to a digital channel near you in October! Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) is rolling out "This TV," a new ad-supported around-the-clock linear digital channel designed for broadcast stations' digital spectrum. The new network, a partnership with Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting (Me-TV, Me-Too, WCIU owners), will launch this fall. It gets immediate carriage with Weigel stations in Chicago, Milwaukee and South Bend, Ind. The idea is for MGM is to leverage its library of more than 4,100 films and 10,000 hours of television programming, but also to give stations the chance to localize the look.
This TV will offer stations programming all day every day, but stations signing on have the right to a certain number of pre-emptions so that they can localize the channel with sports, news and weather if they want.
The lineup will be film-heavy, with possible MGM titles including 12 Angry Men and Class, starring Rob Lowe. It also will have some MGM classic television shows mixed in there ranging from The Addams Family to Thirtysomething. We're working on a full list of shows they will air, so come on back...but beware the channel will mainly be a film network.
The line-up will also feature children's programming from Cookie Jar Entertainment, with shows such as Johnny Test, The Doodlebops and Caillou.
The goal for the network is at least a 40% clearance across the country within the first year.
We will have more on This TV for sure soon! So stay tuned!

Sitcom Time Changes on WE tv; Programming Reminders for This Weekend

Starting this Monday (May 12), WE tv will switch the timeslots for sitcoms Kate & Allie and Hope & Faith. Kate & Allie was airing weekdays from 12-1pm (sometimes it would be extended a bit longer, too) and will now move to 10-11am weekdays where Hope & Faith was airing. And yes, Hope & Faith will move to 12-1pm (and sometimes it will be extended a bit beyond that, too). Dharma & Greg will remain in the middle from 11am-12pm.
Remember WE tv also has reruns of Girlfriends, Golden Girls and Ghost Whisperer coming in 2009.

Yes, MTV Networks (TV Land, Nick at Nite, etc) had their upfront yesterday, but as of now, still no press releases or anything from TV Land. I do know that Chris Rock was on hand at the upfront for Everybody Hates Chris, which comes to Nick at Nite in 2009.
At its 2008 upfront presentation, MTV Networks united its leadership, talent and marketing partners to showcase innovative partnerships, programming and platforms across its brands. The presentation highlighted "return on innovation" -- the value for marketers in MTVN's reinvention of how audiences experience content and advertising on every screen. The event was highlighted by special guest appearances by some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Justin Timberlake, Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Rock, Ashanti, Taylor Swift, Lauren Conrad, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, George Foreman, Dr. Drew Pinsky, as well as exclusive musical performances by John Legend, Sarah Silverman, JabbaWockeeZ from MTV's Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew and the cast of hit Broadway musical Legally Blonde.
Yeah, nothing major at all. We will let you know if there is anything announced today or whenever.

This weekend has a lot of nice programming for everyone. We have mentioned all of these already, but we are going to remind you again. Tonight ABC will air the two-hour special TV's All-Time Funniest...sitcoms of the past and present are featured from Married with Children to I Love Lucy to The Office. Tune in from 8-10pm ET/PT on ABC! Must see for sitcoms fans.
Then we mentioned a few Mother's Day stunts. They will all of course air on Mother's Day, this Sunday (May 11). Airing on BET from 12pm-5pm is a sitcom marathon of Thea. The short-lived ABC sitcom starring Thea Vidale and Brandy Norwood. Watch Thea take care of her four kids and work two jobs...how does she do it? Tune in! On Boomerang this Sunday from 12pm-7pm, there will be Wilma themed episodes of animated sitcom The Flintstones. Finally, Nick at Nite has a nice primetime block featuring "Hot Moms." Tune in starting at 9pm for "Hot Moms" like Jill Taylor, Angie Lopez and Vivian Banks! The marathon will be hosted by one of the hot moms themselves, Constance Marie (Angie on George Lopez)!

Kate and Allie Comes to WE tv; Show Me the Money to GSN

The popular family-friendly sitcom, Kate & Allie will be coming to WE tv. The show will launch with a marathon on Saturday, June 2 from 12 noon to 9 p.m. ET before settling into its regular weeknight slot of 7 & 7:30 p.m. starting Monday, June 4. Kate & Allie joins Hope & Faith (weeknights 5-6pm) and Dharma & Greg (weeknights 6-7pm) as the only sitcoms on the schedule. Now all they need is Laverne & Shirley, and they have every woman's based show basically with the ampersand (&)! Unless I'm missing one? Anyway, here is a synopsis of the show from WE tv:
Kate is a woman recently divorced from her unstable actor husband. She has a teenage daughter, Emma. Allie is also recently divorced from her successful, but unfaithful doctor husband. She also has a teenage daughter, Jennie, and a younger son, Chip. The two friends decide to live together, along with their children. Neither Kate nor Allie have ruled out remarriage but view their new situation as a provisional reprieve, a time for both women to come to know and appreciate themselves.

Short lived game show Show Me the Money will come to reruns on GSN. The game show hosted by William Shatner just lasted 5 episodes this past November on ABC and also has 2 unaired episodes. GSN will air all 7 starting June 12, airing it Tuesdays at 8.
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