SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

SitcomsOnline Digest: King of the Hill Renewed for Two More Seasons on Hulu; MTV Cancels Ridiculousness

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a bit busier this week, with news of a multi-season renewal of a reboot of a popular animated series, the end of a seemingly never-ending MTV show, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• It looks like King of the Hill is proving to be just as successful as (if not more than) the original, as two additional seasons have been ordered on top of the one that has already aired and the one that is coming up (bringing it to four new seasons total for Hulu). (Variety)
• After 46 seasons (we question how they count seasons, it has only been 14 years, though 14 long years) and 1700 episodes, MTV has canceled Ridiculousness, but don't get too excited yet because there are still unaired episodes and they never said they were dropping reruns. (Variety)
• John Dickerson, who just recently came to CBS Evening News, is leaving (as are many other CBS News staff), and now there are questions about the future of the operations of CBS News overall. (Variety)
• If you subscribe to YouTube TV, you've lost your Disney owned channels. (USA Today)
• June Lockhart, one of the very few remaining stars from the black and white era of television, died this week at age 100. (SitcomsOnline)

• Crutch, the spinoff of The Neighborhood starring Tracy Morgan, debuts Monday on Paramount+
• The second season of St. Denis Medical starts Monday on NBC.
• NBC has the season premiere of Happy's Place and the series premiere of Stumble on Friday.
• Here Come the Brides starts airing today on FETV, though there is no fanfare of a special marathon or anything just yet.
• Laugh-In is the Catchy Binge on Catchy Comedy tomorrow.

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

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Labels: CBS, Crutch, Here Come the Brides, Hulu, King of the Hill, Lassie, Laugh-In, MTV, Ridiculousness, SitcomsOnline Digest, St. Denis Medical, Stumble, YouTube TV

Hulu Renews King of the Hill for Seasons 16 and 17; FX Renews Adults for Season 2; Remembering June Lockhart

Hulu has renewed the adult animated series King of the Hill for seasons 16 and 17 with a 20-episode order. King of the Hill was initially revived in January 2023 with a 20-episode order. Season 14 streamed its 10-episode season on Monday, August 4 following its world premiere at San Diego Comic-Con which included an activation recreating the show's famous Arlen, Texas. King of the Hill premiered at No. 2 on Nielsen's Overall Top 10 Streaming Chart. The upcoming 15th season of King of the Hill will premiere on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the US, and on Disney+ internationally in 2026.

In Season 14, after years working a propane job in Saudi Arabia to earn their retirement nest egg, Hank and Peggy Hill return to a changed Arlen, Texas to reconnect with old friends Dale, Boomhauer and Bill. Meanwhile, Bobby is living his dream as a chef in Dallas and enjoying his 20s with his former classmates Connie, Joseph and Chane. The Emmy(R)-winning series ran for 13 seasons with over 250 episodes on Fox and all seasons now stream on Hulu. Season 14 Cast: Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Pamela Adlon, Johnny Hardwick, Stephen Root, Lauren Tom, and Toby Huss.

FX's Adults, the ensemble comedy that The New York Times called "Friends for a new generation," has been renewed for a second season. All episodes of season one are available to stream on Hulu. Adults is created by Ben Kronengold & Rebecca Shaw, who are Executive Producers and Writers. Comedy veterans Nick Kroll, Sarah Naftalis, Jonathan Krisel and Rob Rosell are Executive Producers. The series stars Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Jack Innanen, Amita Rao and Owen Thiele.

Adults follows a group of twenty-somethings in New York trying to be good people, despite being neither "good" nor "people" yet. "Samir" (Malik Elassal), "Billie" (Lucy Freyer), "Paul Baker" (Jack Innanen), "Issa" (Amita Rao) and "Anton" (Owen Thiele) are five friends crashing together in Samir's childhood home, where they share their meals, anxieties and, occasionally, toothbrushes. The series puts a slightly heightened twist on the wins, losses and humiliations of starting out in the adult world. Whether they're trying to get ahead at work, navigating the healthcare system, hosting a dinner party or dating in the age of Find My Friends, the group is finding that nothing about the real world is simple, and all their best intentions tend to make things worse.

Actress June Lockhart, who starred as Ruth Martin in Lassie, as Dr. Maureen Robinson in Lost in Space and as Dr. Janet Craig in Petticoat Junction, has died. She died of natural causes at her home in Santa Monica, California, on October 23. Ms. Lockhart was 100.

Lockhart starred as Ruth Martin in seasons 5-10 (1958-1964) of the CBS adventure drama Lassie. The series follows the adventures of a female Rough Collie dog named Lassie and her companions, both human and animal. Ruth Martin is the wife of Paul Martin (Hugh Reilly) and the mother of Timmy Martin (Jon Provost). Lockhart replaced Cloris Leachman, who in turn had replaced Jan Clayton. In 1959, she was nominated for an Emmy for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series for her role. She had earlier starred as Priscilla in the 1945 film Son of Lassie. She guest starred as Mrs. Chadwick in a 1989 episode of The New Lassie.

She starred as Dr. Maureen Robinson in the 1965-1968 CBS science fiction series Lost in Space. The series follows the adventures of the Robinsons, a pioneering family of space colonists who struggle to survive in the depths of space. Dr. Maureen Robinson is biochemist who is often seen preparing meals, tending the garden, and helping with light construction while adding a voice of compassion. She is the wife of Professor (Lt. Colonel) John Robinson (Guy Williams) and the mother of Judy (Marta Kristen), Penny (Angela Cartwright), and Will (Bill Mumy). Lockhart had a cameo role as Principal Cartwright in the 1998 film Lost in Space.

Lockhart starred as Dr. Janet Craig in the sixth and seventh seasons (1968-1970) of the CBS sitcom Petticoat Junction. Lockhart's character was essentially brought on as a surrogate mother figure to fill the void left by the death of Bea Benaderet (Kate Bradley), and takes up a medical practice at the Shady Rest Hotel and also serves as a counsel of sorts for the girls. The cast in the final two seasons incldued Edgar Buchanan, Linda Kaye Henning, Meredith MacRae, Lori Saunders, Mike Minor, Frank Cady, Elna Hubbell, Byron Foulger (season 6), Rufe Davis (recurring in season 7), and Jonathan Daly (season 7).

She appeared as Miss Wiltrout, Michelle Tanner's (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) kindergarten teacher, in two episodes of Full House in 1991. She had a recurring role as Helen Lambert, Frank Lambert's (Patrick Duffy) mother, in three episodes of Step by Step in 1996. She appeared as Misty Kiniski, Lewis's (Ryan Stiles) mother, in two episodes of The Drew Carey Show in 2002.

Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Bewitched, Family Affair (1968), The Beverly Hillbillies, Love, American Style (1973), Happy Days, It's Garry Shandling's Show (as herself), Get a Life, Nurses, The John Larroquette Show, The Mommies, Roseanne, Fired Up, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Rock Me, Baby (2004), and Complete Savages (2 episodes). She provided the voice of Martha Day for the 1974-1975 Hanna-Barbera animated series These Are the Days.

She had a recurring role as Mariah Ramirez in General Hospital. Some of her other television guest appearances included Justice (3 episodes in 1954 and 1955), Have Gun – Will Travel (2 episodes), Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Wagon Train (2 episodes), Perry Mason, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Branded, Death Valley Days, Marcus Welby, M.D. (1974), Adam-12 (2 episodes), Quincy, M.E. (3 episodes), Vega$, Magnum, P.I. (1981), Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, The Greatest American Hero (2 episodes), Murder, She Wrote (1985), The Colbys (2 episodes), Babylon 5, 7th Heaven, Beverly Hills, 90210 (4 episodes as Celia Martin), Las Vegas, Grey's Anatomy, and Cold Case.

Lockhart made her film debut with her parents in a film version of A Christmas Carol in 1938. Some of her other film credits included All This, and Heaven Too (1940), Sergeant York (1941), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), The Yearling (1946), and Troll (1986). In 1948, she received a Special Tony Award for Outstanding Performance by a Newcomer (a category that no longer exists) for her role on Broadway in For Love or Money.

Ms. Lockhart was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood, with a career spanning nearly 90 years. She was a two-time Emmy Award nominee and a Tony Award winner. She did a great job portraying mothers on television. She will be deeply missed.

We also remember actor Ed Williams. He starred as Ted Olson in Police Squad! and in The Naked Gun films. He died in Los Angeles on October 2. Mr. Williams was 98.

Williams starred as Ted Olson in the short-lived 1982 ABC sitcom Police Squad!, which was created by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker. A spoof of police procedurals and many other television shows and movies, the series features Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker's usual sight gags, wordplay, and non sequiturs. Ted Olson is a lab technician at Police Squad. The series also starred Leslie Nielsen, Alan North, Peter Lupus, and William Duell.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Madame's Place, Hooperman, and The Loop. Some of his other television guest appearances included MacGyver (1986), Matlock (1989), L.A. Law, Sisters (2 episodes), and House.

He starred as lab scientist Ted Olsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991), and Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult (1993). Some of his other film credits included The Giant of Thunder Mountain (1991), Father of the Bride (1991), and Carnosaur (1993).

Mr. Williams was a science teacher for many years and had some previous acting experience when he landed the Police Squad! role. He was funny and memorable in Police Squad! and The Naked Gun films. He will be greatly missed.

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

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Labels: Adults, FX, Hulu, King of the Hill, Lassie, Lost in Space, Obits, Petticoat Junction

NBCUniversal to Launch FAST Channels, Sitcoms & More; Tracy Morgan's Max Special Debuts Aug. 17

NBCUniversal announced new free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) linear content offerings from across the NBCU Television & Streaming portfolio and NBCUniversal Global Distribution library. For the first time ever, viewers can access programming across all NBCUniversal genres centered on popular titles and categories available anytime at no additional cost. Curated with content from past seasons of iconic series including Saturday Night Live, The Real Housewives franchises, Top Chef, and Keeping Up with the Kardashians, along with hit library television series including Little House on the Prairie, Murder, She Wrote and Saved by the Bell, along with genre-based sitcoms, action, crime, westerns, and monster movie content will also launch as dedicated FAST channels.

NBCUniversal has inked agreements with Amazon Freevee and Xumo Play for the entire FAST content portfolio. Xumo Enterprise, the business-to-business arm of Xumo that provides content owners, distributors and advertisers with tools and services to succeed in FAST, will power the distribution of NBCUniversal's new FAST channels on third party services starting with Amazon Freevee. With the new launches, NBCUniversal is adding to its industry leading lineup of current channels including Dateline 24/7, NBC News NOW, and Local NBC and Telemundo news stations. The new entertainment, news, sports, and Spanish Language FAST channels include: Bravo Vault, E! Keeping Up, Million Dollar Listing Vault, Oxygen True Crime Archives, Real Housewives Vault, SNL Vault, Top Chef Vault, News, Sports, Telemundo Channels, Rotten Tomatoes, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bad Girls Club, Lassie, Little House on the Prairie, Murder, She Wrote, Saved by the Bell, TNBC (Punky Brewster, City Guys, Hang Time, Major Dad and more), The Lone Ranger, Universal Action (Magnum P.I., Knight Rider, The A-Team and many others), Universal Crime (Columbo, Kojak, The Rockford Files and more), Universal Westerns (The Virginian, Tales of Wells Fargo among many others), and Universal Monsters (movies). These channels join NBCUniversal’s lineup of previously announced FAST channels including NBC News NOW, TODAY All Day, Dateline 24/7, LX, NBC and Telemundo Local Stations, and Sky News International. Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service, also has a robust FAST channels offering featuring content from across the company's portfolio.

The Max Original stand-up comedy special Tracy Morgan: Takin' It Too Far debuts Thursday, August 17 on Max. Two-time Emmy®-nominated actor and comedian Tracy Morgan (30 Rock, The Last O.G.) leaves it all on the stage in his first Max stand-up special taped live from the Wilbur Theater in Boston, Massachusetts. Grateful and hyped, the comedian owns his set and unabashedly tackling topics such as dating in his 50s (along with the unexpected side effects that comes with it), his dysfunctional family, attempting to reverse gentrification in Brooklyn, and the very public 2014 car accident that left him with multiple broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, and a substantial settlement. Executive produced by Emmy and GRAMMY® winner Rikki Hughes, Tracy Moran: Takin' It Too Far showcases a seasoned comedy veteran in his most edgy and fearless special yet.

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

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Labels: Alfred Hitchcock Presents, City Guys, Hang Time, Lassie, Little House on the Prairie, Major Dad, Max, Murder She Wrote, NBC, Punky Brewster, Saturday Night Live, Saved by the Bell

Lifetime's Highway to Heaven Premieres November 6; COZI TV's Dog Days of Summer on August 21

The Lifetime original movie Highway to Heaven, starring Grammy(R) Award winner Jill Scott and Barry Watson, is set to premiere on Saturday, November 6 at 8/7c. A "first look" trailer for the film has been released by the network in anticipation of the upcoming premiere. A contemporary take on Michael Landon's iconic 80s television series Highway to Heaven, the new movie follows Angela Stewart (Jill Scott), an angel who is sent back to earth to help others in need. In the premiere movie, Angela takes on the role of a temporary school counselor and finds herself working alongside junior high school principal Bruce Banks (Barry Watson) as she intervenes in the lives of a troubled student Cody (Ben Daon), his father Jeff (Robert Moloney) and his aunt Vanessa (Victoria Bidewell), who are grieving the tragic loss of Cody's mother, Melissa (Ashley Ross). As Angela seemingly works miracles with Cody, Bruce is stunned when he learns of the divine nature of Angela's work. Just like the original series, Lifetime wishes to retain the same messages of hope and encouragement for its audience, while exploring social and emotional issues with sensitivity, joy, and humor.

The first movie installment of the Highway to Heaven series is produced by Rain Productions and Propagate for Lifetime. Jonathan Baruch and Rob Wolken executive produce for Rain Productions; Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Gregory Lipstone and Rodney Ferrell executive produce from Propagate; Howard Braunstein is executive producer; Jill Scott and Shawn Gee also executive produce. Stacey K. Black directs from an original script by executive producer/writer Cathryn Humphris and award-winning playwright Angelica Chéri. Cindy Landon and Wayne Lepff are executive producing on behalf of Michael Landon's estate.

COZI TV will be airing its Dog Days of Summer special, a day full of viewers' favorite television dogs, on Saturday, August 21 starting at 9:00 a.m. The special will begin with a Lassie marathon running until 1:00 p.m., followed by a special edition Ten Secret Stories episode, TV's Amazing Dogs, and concluding with a season two episode of Frasier, where fans are introduced to Dr. Frasier Crane's Jack Russell Terrier, Eddie, who will also be featured in the prior special Ten Secret Stories special. All of these animal-friendly episodes are to help kick-off NBCUniversal Local's Clear The Shelters™ campaign. The animal adoption campaign starts on Monday, August 23 and goes through Sunday, September 19.

Ten Secret Stories is a COZI original series that first aired in 2017. The half-hour episodes feature clips from many of television’s most beloved programming along with behind-the-scenes access to many of television's best-known personalities. This year's special is an updated episode from the original series showcasing TV's most iconic dogs. The special episode, TV's Amazing Dogs, will include appearances by The Nanny's Fran Drescher, sharing memories of her beloved dog, Chester, who also appeared on her sitcom, John Roberts from Bob's Burgers, comedian Chris Gethard, and from NBC's 1st Look, Johnny Bananas. Clear The Shelters™ is NBCUniversal Local's campaign promoting pet adoption and is returning for its seventh consecutive year on Monday, August 23. This campaign has nationally helped find forever homes for more than half a million pets. For more information on Clear The Shelters™ including participating animal shelters and rescues, along with details on local events, visit ClearTheShelters.com.

The following is the episode lineup for the Dog Days of Summer special airing on Saturday, August 21 (check local listings):
Lassie Episodes
9:00 a.m. – "Winged Rescue"
9:30 a.m. – "The Cliff"
10:00 a.m. – "Warm Heart--Cold Nose"
10:30 a.m. – "Whitewater Fury"
11:00 a.m. – "Lassie's Busy Day"
11:30 a.m. – "The River"
12:00 p.m. – "For the Love of Lassie (1)"
12:30 p.m. – "For the Love of Lassie (2)"
1:00 p.m. – Ten Secret Stories, "TV's Amazing Dogs"
1:30 p.m. – Frasier, "The Unkindest Kind of Cut" (Season 2, Episode 2)

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

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Labels: Cozi TV, Frasier, Highway to Heaven, Lassie, Lifetime