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Disney+ Announces Brand New The Simpsons Episodes; Remembering the Sitcom Stars and Crew Members We Recently Lost

Disney+ announced three all-new episodes of The Simpsons set to stream exclusively on Disney+ globally this summer, following the series' recent landmark 800th episode milestone. The episodes include double-episode "Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition" streaming June 17, and full-length episodes "Simpsley" streaming July 3, and "Yellow Mirror" streaming August 26.

"Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition"
Premieres June 17, 2026, exclusively on Disney+
In this Disney+ exclusive double-episode, Homer and Marge’s fun couples’ date night goes off the rails when Marge learns Homer left the kids unsupervised with only the doorbell camera as a babysitter. Frustrated with her imperfect husband, a tipsy Marge stirs up a trilogy of fantasies of a different Homer. The special guest stars Betty Gilpin, with musical guests Laufey and Tegan and Sara.

"Simpsley"
Premieres July 3, 2026, exclusively on Disney+
When penniless con-artist Marge Bouvier is sent to Italy to convince wealthy sap Seymour Skinner to come home, she’s tempted by the trappings of his affluent lifestyle. But there’s a big fat fly in the ointment: Skinner’s clingy, dim-witted mooch of a houseguest, Homer Simpsley. Lies, lust and Italian lira are abound in this Disney+ exclusive Simpsons noir.

"Yellow Mirror"
Premieres August 26, 2026. exclusively on Disney+
A defective lamp reveals a heartbreaking truth about what Homer believes is reality, and an AI-powered tablet befriends and controls Maggie. The Simpsons struggle to find the light through two dark tales of the curious and bizarre in this Disney+ exclusive.

The new episodes continue Disney+'s growing collection of exclusive The Simpsons content, including previous installments "Yellow Planet," "The Past and the Furious" and "O C'Mon All Ye Faithful."

Today we remember the sitcom actors, producers, directors and writers we lost in recent months. We thank them for the laughs and entertainment. They will be greatly missed.

Producer Jay Daniel worked on Roseanne and Cybill. He died on May 27 at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center of a pneumonia-related illness. Mr. Daniel was 82.

Daniel was a producer on the 1985-1989 ABC comedy-drama Moonlighting, which stars Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis. He and others shared outstanding drama series nominations in 1986 and 1987. He directed four episodes of the series from 1987 to 1989.

He was a producer on the ABC sitcom Roseanne starting from the third season in 1990 until the sixth season in 1994. He developed and executive produced Cybill, which stars Cybill Shepherd, on CBS from 1995 to 1996. Some of his other sitcom producing credits included ABC's The Naked Truth in 1997, The WB's Maybe It's Me from 2001 to 2002, and ABC's Hot Properties in 1995.

In 1984, he won a Daytime Emmy for outstanding children's informational/instructional special for producing the CBS Schoolbreak Special episode titled "Dead Wrong: The John Evans Story".

Director and actor Howard Storm worked on Mork & Mindy and Valerie (later re-titled Valerie's Family and The Hogan Family). He died at his home in Beverly Hills, California, on May 26. Mr. Storm was 94.

Storm's sitcom acting credits included Hennesey (1959), Love, American Style (1970), The Governor & J.J., That Girl, Funny Face, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Chico and the Man, Sanford and Son, Rhoda (2 episodes), C.P.O. Sharkey, and Good Grief.

He directed 59 episodes of the ABC sitcom Mork & Mindy from 1978 to 1981. He directed 28 episodes of the NBC sitcom Valerie (later re-titled Valerie's Family and The Hogan Family) from 1986 to 1989.

Some of his other sitcom directing credits included Rhoda (6 episodes), Doc (8 episodes), Fish, Laverne & Shirley (8 episodes), Angie (3 episodes), Taxi (2 episodes), Gimme a Break! (2 episodes), Mr. Merlin, Best of the West (6 episodes), Joanie Loves Chachi, Too Close for Comfort (3 episodes), Amanda's (7 episodes), Perfect Strangers, What a Country! (4 episodes), Me & Mrs. C, (7 episodes), Mr. Belvedere, Just the Ten of Us (2 episodes), She's the Sheriff (2 episodes), ALF, City (13 episodes), Good Grief (11 episodes), Head of the Class (10 episodes from 1990 to 1991), Billy (4 episodes), Major Dad (2 episodes), Daddy Dearest (5 episodes), Everybody Loves Raymond (3 episodes), and Kenan & Kel (4 episodes).

Storm's sitcom writing credits included The Partridge Family, All in the Family, The Bob Newhart Show, and Happy Days.

In 1985, he directed his only feature film, Once Bitten, starring Lauren Hutton and Jim Carrey in his first major lead role.

He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on August 20, 2008.

Actor Grizz Chapman had a recurring role as Grizz in 30 Rock. He died on on May 22. Mr. Chapman was 52.

Chapman appeared as Grizz in 80 episodes of the NBC sitcom 30 Rock from 2006 to 2013. Warren "Grizz" Griswold is a gentle giant member of Tracy Jordan's (Tracy Morgan) entourage. He was a recurring character during the first two seasons. He was credited as a series regular in seasons three and four.

Some of his other television credits included Blue Bloods, The Blacklist, and The Good Fight.

Writer and producer Jeffrey Lane worked on Mad About You and Bette. He died on May 20 following a long illness in New York. Mr. Lane was 71.

Lane wrote an episode of The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd in 1987. He wrote four episodes of The Slap Maxwell Story from 1987 to 1988. He initially came up with the concept of Ink, but he was replaced by Diane English at the last minute.

He wrote 15 episodes of the NBC sitcom Mad About You and worked as an executive producer from 1992 to 1995. He created and executive produced the 2000-2001 CBS sitcom Bette, which starred Bette Midler.

Some of his other television writing credits included Ryan's Hope, Lou Grant, Dynasty (1982), Cagney & Lacey (12 episodes), and Boone.

Actor Donald Gibb starred as Leslie "Dr. Death" Krunchner in the HBO sitcom 1st & Ten. He died from complications of throat cancer at his home in Texas on May 12. Mr. Gibb was 71.

Gibb starred as linebacker Leslie "Dr. Death" Krunchner in the 1984-1991 HBO sitcom 1st & Ten. The sports-themed series follows the on-and off-field antics of the fictional American football team, the California Bulls. Gibb, Cliff Frazier, Prince Hughes, and Reid Shelton were the only cast members who appeared in all six seasons of the series.

He starred as Scab, Lorraine Popowski's (Rosie O'Donnell) illiterate biker friend, in the short-lived 1992 Fox sitcom Stand by Your Man. The series also starred Melissa Gilbert, Sam McMurray, Rick Hall, Rusty Schwimmer, Ellen Ratners, and Miriam Flynn.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Alice, Just Our Luck, Benson, The Facts of Life, 227, My Two Dads (2 episodes), Dear John, Night Court (1990), Doctor Doctor, Sons and Daughters (2 episodes), True Colors, Cheers, Harry and the Hendersons (2 episodes), Daddy Dearest, Hearts Afire, Empty Nest (2 episodes), Boy Meets World, Muddling Through, Seinfeld, Murphy Brown, Kirk, Unhappily Ever After, Weird Science (3 episodes), Homeboys in Outer Space, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Step by Step (6 episodes), Arli$$, The Steve Harvey Show, and Veronica's Closet.

He starred as as the hulking, dimwitted fraternity brother Frederick "Ogre" Palowaski in Revenge of the Nerds (1984), Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise (1987), and Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love (1994). He starred as Ray Jackson in Bloodsport (1988) and Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite (1996).

Actor Dennis Rush had a recurring role as Howie Pruitt in The Andy Griffith Show. He died whilst en route to a hospital in San Diego on May 9. Mr. Rush was 74.

Rush was best known for his role as Howie Pruitt, Opie Taylor's (Ron Howard) friend, in seven episodes of the CBS sitcom The Andy Griffith Show from 1963 to 1965. He played Howie Williams in a season five episode.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Lucy Show Going My Way, and My Favorite Martian. Some of his other television credits included The Deputy, General Electric Theater, Checkmate (2 episodes), Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Wagon Train (7 episodes), Perry Mason, Laramie (3 episodes), Breaking Point, Kraft Suspense Theatre, and The Magical World of Disney (2 episodes).

Businessman, television producer, media proprietor, and philanthropist Ted Turner founded CNN and WTBS. He died following a long battle with Lewy body dementia at his 29,000-acre (12,000 ha) Avalon Plantation home in Lamont, Florida, on May 6. Mr. Turner was 87.

In 1965, he founded Turner Broadcasting System. He founded CNN, the first 24-hour cable news channel, and WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television. He also founded the television networks TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

He appeared as himself in a 1997 episode of the HBO sports comedy series Arli$$.

He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on June 12, 1999 and December 6, 1999.

Television writer, director and producer David Kendall worked on Growing Pains and Boy Meets World. He died on May 2. Mr. Kendall was 68.

Kendall's sitcom writing credits included Just the Ten of Us, Growing Pains (32 episodes), Kelly Kelly (7 episodes), Family Affair (2 episodes in 2002), and Girl Meets World. Kendall and Bob Young created the 2010-2015 Freeform sitcom Melissa & Joey.

He directed 13 episodes of Boy Meets World from 1995 to 1999. Some of his other sitcom directing credits included Kelly Kelly, Sister Sister (1999), Clueless, Smart Guy, Odd Man Out (9 episodes), Even Stevens, That's So Raven, Phil of the Future (6 episodes), Hannah Montana (5 episodes), Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (9 episodes), Just Jordan (3 episodes), Zoey 101 (5 episodes), Cory in the House (2 episodes), Jonas, iCarly (14 episodes), Big Time Rush (4 episodes), Victorious (6 episodes), Pair of Kings (9 episodes), The Thundermans (4 episodes), Dog with a Blog (3 episodes), Melissa & Joey (7 episodes), Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn (2 episodes), Kirby Buckets (9 episodes), Stuck in the Middle (15 episodes), Bizaardvark (14 episodes), Game Shakers (11 episodes), Henry Danger (9 episodes), Coop and Cami Ask the World (8 episodes), and Sydney to the Max (11 episodes).

Kendall served as showrunner for the second and third seasons of Boy Meets World. Some of his sitcom producing credits included Growing Pains, Kelly Kelly, Boy Meets World, and Melissa & Joey.

Actress Gwen Farrell Adair had a recurring role as various nurses in M*A*S*H. She died in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, on April 30. Ms. Farrell Adair was 93.

She appeared as various nurses in 26 episodes, including the series finale, of the the 1972-1983 CBS sitcom M*A*S*H. Her credited roles included Nurse Butler, Nurse Wilson, Nurse Able, and Nurse Gwen. The series, produced by 20th Century-Fox Television, follows a team of doctors and support staff stationed at the "4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" in Uijeongbu, South Korea, during the Korean War (1950–1953).

Actor Patrick Muldoon guest starred in episodes of Who's the Boss? and Saved by the Bell. He died at his home in Beverly Hills from a heart attack on April 19. Mr. Muldoon was 57.

Muldoon appeared as Matt, Samantha's (Alyssa Milano) boyfriend, in two episodes of Who's the Boss? in 1990. He had a recurring role as Jeffrey "Jeff" Hunter, the manager of the teens' favorite hangout spot The Max, in three episodes of Saved by the Bell in 1991. He is famously remembered as the guy who caused a rift between the show's beloved couple, Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski, when he briefly dated Kelly.

He starred as Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives from 1992 to 1995 and again from 2011 to 2012. He played Richard Hart in 35 episodes of Melrose Place from 1995 to 1996.

Muldoon played Zander Barcalow in the 1997 Paul Verhoeven-directed film Starship Troopers.

Actor Rif Hutton had a recurring role as Dr. Ron Welch in Doogie Howser, M.D. from 1989 to 1993. He died from brain cancer at his home in Pasadena, California, on April 18. Mr. Hutton was 73.

Hutton had a recurring role as Dr. Ron Welch in 17 episodes of the ABC medical sitcom Doogie Howser, M.D. from 1989 to 1993. The series stars Neil Patrick Harris in the title role as a teenage physician who balances the challenge of practicing medicine with the everyday problems of teenage life.

He had a recurring role as Wes, Dolores Dixon's (Telma Hopkins) love interest, in three episodes of Getting By in 1993 and 1994. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Jeffersons, The New Gidget, 227, Night Court (1987), Beverly Hills Buntz, Webster, A Different World, Living Dolls, Empty Nest, Full House, Working Girl (2 episodes), The Hogan Family, Married... with Children, Wings, Murphy Brown, Stand by Your Man, The Larry Sanders Show, Step by Step, The Sinbad Show, George, Sister, Sister (1994), On Our Own (1994), Home Improvement, Fudge (3 episodes), The Jamie Foxx Show, Family Matters, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Seinfeld, The Wayans Bros. (2 episodes), The Bernie Mac Show, That's So Raven, and The Carmichael Show.

Hutton had a recurring role as Lt. Commander Alan Mattoni in JAG from 1997 to 2001. He appeared Lenny Caulfield in General Hospital from 2021 to 2022.

Television creator, producer, writer and puppeteer Sid Krofft worked on H.R. Pufnstuf, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, and Land of the Lost. He died at the home of a friend in Los Angeles on April 10. Mr. Krofft was 96.

Sid and his brother Marty made numerous children's television and variety show programs in the U.S., particularly in the 1970s, including H.R. Pufnstuf (1969), Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1973-1975) and Land of the Lost (1974-1976) through their production company, Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures. Their fantasy programs often featured large-headed puppets, high-concept plots and extensive use of low-budget special effects. They designed the characters and sets for Hanna-Barbera's The Banana Splits on NBC from 1968 to 1970.

Some of The Krofft Brothers other credits as creators and producers included The Bugaloos (1970-1972), Lidsville (1971-1973), Far Out Space Nuts (1975-1976), The Lost Saucer (1975), Donny & Marie (1976), The Krofft Supershow (1976-1978) (which included Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (1976) and Wonderbug (1976-1978)), The Krofft Superstar Hour (aka The Bay City Rollers Show) (1978-1979), Pink Lady and Jeff (1980), Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters (1980-1982), Pryor's Place (1984), Land of the Lost (1991-1992 reboot), Mutt & Stuff (2015-2017), and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (2016-2017 reboot).

They created and produced the 1977 ABC variety show The Brady Bunch Hour. The series starred the original cast members of The Brady Bunch, with the exception of Eve Plumb, who was replaced by Geri Reischl (a.k.a. "Fake Jan"). The show began as a 60-minute special titled The Brady Bunch Variety Hour on November 28, 1976. It featured skits and songs produced by Sid & Marty Krofft Productions in association with Paramount Television.

The Krofft Brothers created and produced the 1987-1989 syndicated sitcom D.C. Follies. The show was set in a Washington, D.C. bar, where a bartender played by Fred Willard would welcome puppet caricatures of politicians and popular culture figures. Celebrity guest stars included Martin Mull, Leslie Nielsen, Bob Uecker, and Betty White.

Sid and his brother Marty made many entertaining children's television and variety show programs in the 1970s and 1980s. The Kroffts received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys in 2018. In 2020, the Kroffts were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their contributions to television. Marty died in 2023 at the age of 86.

Actress and singer Dinah Christie starred as Edna Moseley in Check It Out!, which aired from 1985 to 1988. She died on April 10. During her last years she suffered from dementia and was receiving care at Toronto's Kensington Gardens nursing home. Ms. Christie was 83.

Christie starred as Edna Moseley in the 1985-1988 CTV sitcom Check It Out!, which aired in the United States in syndication and on the USA Network. Based on the British series Tripper's Day, it was set in a fictional supermarket called Cobb's, located in Brampton, Ontario and stars Don Adams as manager Howard Bannister. The series also starred Jeff Pustil, Kathleen Laskey, Tonya Williams (season 1), Henry Beckman (season 1), Aaron Schwartz, Simon Reynolds (seasons 1-2), Gordon Clapp, and Elizabeth Hanna (season 3).

She was a regular performer on the Canadian game show Party Game (1970-1980).

Actress Mary Beth Hurt starred in the 1990 NBC sitcom Working It Out. She died at an assisted-living facility in Jersey City, New Jersey, on March 28 after battling Alzheimer's disease for over a decade. Ms. Hurt was 79.

Hurt starred as Sheila Bradley in the 1988-1989 comedy-drama Tattingers. The series is about a divorced couple, Nick and Hillary Tattinger (Stephen Collins and Blythe Danner), along with their 2 daughters: Nina and Winnifred. After failing in the Nielsen ratings as an hour-long program, the plot and characters were briefly revived in the spring of 1989 as the half-hour sitcom Nick & Hillary.

She starred as Andy in the short-lived 1990 NBC sitcom Working It Out. The series is about two single parents, Sarah Marshall (Jane Curtin) and David Stuart (Stephen Collins), who had never seriously contemplated remarriage until they met each other. Andy is Sarah's best friend. It also starred David Garrison, Kyndra Joy Casper, and Chevi Colton.

Some of her film credits included Interiors (1978), The World According to Garp (1982), D.A.R.Y.L. (1985), The Age of Innocence (1993), and Six Degrees of Separation (1993).

Actor James Tolkan starred as Lester Mintz in Mary. He died on March 26 at his home in Saranac Lake, New York. Mr. Tolkan was 94.

Tolkan stared as Lester Mintz in the short-lived 1985-1986 CBS sitcom Mary. The series stars Mary Tyler Moore in her return to series television after an absence of over six years. She plays Mary Brenner, a 40-ish divorcée working at a second-rate tabloid, the Chicago Eagle. Neighbors include Susan Wilcox (Carlene Watkins), Mary's good friend, whose fiancé Lester Mintz (James Tolkan) seems to be somehow "connected". The series also starred James Farentino, Katey Sagal, John Astin, David Byrd, Harold Sylvester, and Derek McGrath.

He guest starred in episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1990 and The Wonder Years in 1993. He starred as Dallas Cassel in the 1993-1994 syndicated adventure/action series Cobra. As a member of the repertory cast of Nero Wolfe (2001–02), he played more than a dozen roles and directed two episodes.

Tolkan was best known for portraying the strict high school vice‑principal Mr. Strickland in Back to the Future (1985) and Back to the Future Part II (1989), and the character's ancestor, Marshal James Strickland, in Back to the Future Part III (1990). Some of his other film credits included Serpico (1973), Love and Death (1975), Prince of the City (1981), Top Gun (1986), Masters of the Universe (1987), Viper (1988), Dick Tracy (1990), and Problem Child 2 (1991).

Actor Nicholas Brendon starred as Seth Richman in the Fox sitcom Kitchen Confidential. He died on March 20 in his sleep in his home in Greencastle, Indiana. The official cause of death was determined to be atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease with a blockage in the right coronary artery. Mr. Brendon was 54.

Brendon starred as Seth Richman in the short-lived 2005-2006 Fox sitcom Kitchen Confidential. The series is based on Anthony Bourdain's New York Times bestselling book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. Bradley Cooper played the lead character, Jack Bourdain, inspired by Anthony Bourdain. Seth Richman is an old friend of Jack and a pastry chef. It also starred John Francis Daley, Jaime King, Bonnie Somerville, and Owain Yeoman. Recurring cast members included John Cho, Frank Langella, Sam Pancake, Tessie Santiago, Erinn Hayes, and Frankie Alvarez.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Married... with Children in 1993 and Dave's World in 1995. He had a recurring role as Jackson Lee in two episodes of the MTV romantic comedy Faking It from 2014 to 2015.

He was best known for playing Xander Harris in the supernatural horror drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) and Kevin Lynch in the CBS police procedural crime drama Criminal Minds (2007–2014). He had a recurring role as Lee McHenry, a mentally disturbed man who assaults Charlotte King (KaDee Strickland), in four episodes of Private Practice from 2010 to 2011.

Actor Matt Clark starred as Walt Bacon in The Jeff Foxworthy Show. He died from complications of spinal surgery at his home in Austin, Texas, on March 15. Mr. Clark was 89.

Clark starred as Walt Bacon in the first season of The Jeff Foxworthy Show, which aired on ABC from 1995 to 1996. In the first season, Jeff Foxworthy owned a small heating and air conditioning company in Indidana. Walt and Russ Francis (Matt Borlenghi) were his two dim-witted workers on the job. The first season also starred Anita Barone, Haley Joel Osment, Dakin Matthews, Bibi Besch, Debra Jo Rupp, Sue Murphy (1995), Steve Hytner (1995), Jay Mohr (1996), and Michelle Clunie (1996).

He guest starred in an episode of Funny Face in 1971. In 1977, he starred as Lieutenant Arthur Kipling in the short-lived ABC police drama Dog and Cat. He had a recurring role as Emmet Kelly in four episodes of Grace Under Fire from 1993 to 1995.

Actor Ric Carrott appeared as the original Chuck Cunningham in an episode of Love, American Style in 1972. He died on November 25, 2025. Mr. Carrott was 76.

Carrott originated the role of Chuck Cunningham in the pilot for Happy Days, which aired as a segment of Love, American Style titled "Love and the Happy Days" on February 25, 1972. The role was later played on Happy Days by Gavan O'Herlihy and Randolph Roberts. The oldest son of Howard and Marion Cunningham and older brother of Richie and Joanie, Chuck is a college student and basketball player. He is rarely seen and disappears without explanation in season three, never to be seen nor referenced again after season 2's "Fish and Fins".

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Bill Cosby Show, Nanny and the Professor, Room 222, The Partridge Family, The Bob Newhart Show, The Odd Couple (1972), and Three's Company.

He starred as Captain Chris Gentry in the 1977 CBS Saturday morning children's science fiction series Space Academy. The series starred veteran actor Jonathan Harris, best known as Dr. Zachary Smith of Lost in Space. Co-starring were Pamelyn Ferdin, Maggie Cooper, Brian Tochi, Ty Henderson, and Eric Greene. The program featured a pint-sized robot called "Peepo", a radio-controlled machine voiced by Erika Scheimer talking through a pitch-shifter with regenerative delay.

Some of his other television guest appearances included The F.B.I. (1973), Dirty Sally, The Streets of San Francisco, McCloud, Lucas Tanner, S.W.A.T. (1975), Cannon, Police Woman, Delvecchio, The Feather and Father Gang, The Rockford Files (2 episodes), Starsky and Hutch, Barnaby Jones, Lou Grant, and Fantasy Island (1979).

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

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Labels: 30 Rock, Check It Out, Disney+, Doogie Howser MD, Jeff Foxworthy Show, M*A*S*H, Mork & Mindy, Obits, Sid and Marty Krofft, The Simpsons

SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox and Sony Developing Reimagined Bewitched; Samsung TV Plus Launching AFV Channel

  Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we have news of a reimagining of a classic series (a trend that has sort of died down lately), a new FAST channel for a long-running ABC Sunday night staple, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Would you watch a reimagined version of Bewitched in an hourlong form? Sony and Fox hope you will. (Deadline)
• A new America's Funniest Home Videos FAST channel is set to launch, exclusively for Samsung TV Plus. (Deadline)
• Freeform, which is now available to many more cable subscribers once again after returning to Spectrum, has unveiled some details for their 25 Days of Christmas. (Deadline)
• Jon Stewart is sticking around for another year on The Daily Show. (NBC News)
• The on-going legal dispute between Sony and Paramount over distribution of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune has finally been settled. (Variety)
• Best Medicine, a new comedy, will debut in January on Fox. (SitcomsOnline)

• The Paper arrives on NBC (after already airing on Peacock) on Monday night.
• All in the Family is tomorrow's binge on Catchy Comedy.
• MeTV has their special presentation of the series finale of M*A*S*H on Tuesday for Veterans Day.

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

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Labels: America's Funniest Home Videos, Best Medicine, Bewitched, Daily Show, Freeform, Jeopardy, M*A*S*H, SitcomsOnline Digest, Wheel of Fortune

Remembering Loretta Swit of M*A*S*H, Valerie Mahaffey of Young Sheldon, and The Simpsons Composer Alf Clausen

Emmy-winning actress Loretta Swit, who starred as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in M*A*S*H, has died. She died from natural causes at her home in New York City on May 30. Ms. Swit was 87.

She starred as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the 1972-1983 CBS sitcom M*A*S*H. Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan is the Regular Army head nurse of the 4077th and begins allied with Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville) against the more civilian doctors of the unit. She is the extremely capable head nurse of the 4077th MASH, the highest-ranking female officer in the unit, and fiercely protective of the women under her command.

Swit was one of only four cast members to stay for all 11 seasons of the show, from 1972 to 1983 (the others were Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher). She appeared in all but 11 of the total of 256 episodes. She won two Emmy Awards in 1980 and 1982 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series for the role. She was nominated for every season of the series except season one. In 1983, she won People's Choice Award for Favorite Female TV Performer. She appeared in the 1991 CBS retrospective special Memories of M*A*S*H. In 2002, she appeared in the M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion on Fox.

She played the role of Christine Cagney in the 1981 CBS movie pilot for the television series Cagney & Lacey. She was forced to decline the role in the series when the producers of M*A*S*H refused to let her out of her contract. The role was played Meg Ryan in the six first season episodes before she was replaced by Sharon Gless in the second season.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included Love, American Style (2 episodes), Good Heavens, and The Love Boat (5 episodes). She appeared in four episodes of Hawaii Five-O from 1969 to 1972. Some of her other television guest appearances included Mannix, Mission: Impossible, Gunsmoke (3 episodes), Bonanza, Ironside, Petrocelli, Murder, She Wrote (1994), Burke's Law, and Diagnosis: Murder. She hosted Those Incredible Animals on the Discovery Channel for 26 episodes from 1992 to 1994.

She was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on May 10, 2005.

Ms. Swit did a wonderful job portraying Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan for 11 seasons on M*A*S*H. She could do both comedy and drama well. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment that she brought us during her career. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our M*A*S*H message board. View photos in our galleries.

MeTV will remember Loretta Swit this week with special episodes featuring Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan. Watch M*A*S*H weeknights from 6pm-8pm ET and Sundays at 7pm ET.

June 2
7pm: S5E6- "The Nurses" (OAD: October 19, 1976)
7:30pm: S5E3- "Margaret's Engagement" (OAD: September 28, 1976)

June 3
7pm: S6E13- "Comrades in Arms: Part 1" (OAD: December 6, 1977)
7:30pm: S6E14- "Comrades in Arms: Part 2" (OAD: December 13, 1977)

June 4
7pm: S5E1&E2- "Bug Out" (OAD: September 21, 1976)

June 5
7pm: S5E7- "The Abduction of Margaret Houlihan" (OAD: October 26, 1976)
7:30pm: S10E12- "The Birthday Girls" (OAD: January 11, 1982)

June 6
7pm: S8E2- "Are You Now, Margaret?" (OAD: September 24, 1979)
7:30pm: S7E20- "Hot Lips is Back in Town" (OAD: January 29, 1979)

Emmy-winning actress Valerie Mahaffey, who starred as Caitlyn Van Horne in The Powers That Be and who had a recurring role as Victoria MacElroy in Young Sheldon, has died. She died of cancer on May 30 in Los Angeles. Ms. Mahaffey was 71.

Mahaffey began her career starring as Ashley Bennett in the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors from 1979 to 1981. She was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1980.

She starred as Caitlyn Van Horne in the short-lived 1992-1993 NBC sitcom The Powers That Be. It was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, with Norman Lear as executive producer. At the center of the series is U.S. Senator William Powers (John Forsythe), a parody of the political establishment in Washington, D.C. Margaret (Holland Taylor), the senator's status-hungry wife, treats Charlotte (Elizabeth Berridge), their maid, with comedic disdain. Caitlyn, the senator's daughter, has an eating disorder and is married to Representative Theodore Van Horne (David Hyde Pierce), who is suicidal; their son, Pierce (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), is mature beyond his years from having to care for his unbalanced parents. The series also starred Eve Gordon, Peter MacNicol, and Robin Bartlett.

Mahaffey starred as Jennifer Malone in five episodes of the short-lived 1995 CBS sitcom Women of the House. The series starred Delta Burke, reprising her role of Suzanne Sugarbaker, who had reconciled with producers of Designing Women after a bitter, highly publicized, off-screen battle. Jennifer Malone, known to her co-workers as "Malone", was a vivacious, naïve housewife who was recently left by her husband, and whose children were tyrants. She works as Suzanne's receptionist. Julie Hagerty played Jennifer Malone in two episodes. The cast included Teri Garr, Patricia Heaton, Lisa Rieffel, Jonathan Banks, Brittany Parkyn, and William Newman.

She had a recurring role as Victoria MacElroy in 14 episodes of the CBS sitcom Young Sheldon in seasons 1-3 from 2017 to 2020. Victoria MacElroy is Sheldon's (Iain Armitage) homeroom and English teacher at Medford High.

Mahaffey had a recurring role as Sandy Cooper in three episodes of Wings from 1993 to 1996. In 2009, she had a recurring role as Dr. Ocean in seven episodes of the Showtime comedy-drama United States of Tara. She had a recurring role as Lorna Harding, Jen Harding's (Christina Applegate) mother-in-law, in nine episodes of the Netflix comedy-drama Dead to Me from 2019 to 2022.

Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Newhart, Cheers, Seinfeld, Baby Talk, Dream On, Caroline in the City, George & Leo, Love & Money, That's My Bush!, Frasier, Good Morning, Miami (2004), Out of Practice, Crumbs, Better with You, Hannah Montana, Raising Hope, The Exes, Kirstie, Workaholics, Impastor, and The Mindy Project.

She had a recurring role as Eve in five episodes the CBS comedy-drama Northern Exposure from 1991 to 1994. In 1992, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as the chronic hypochondriac Eve.

Mahaffey had a recurring role as Alma Hodge, Orson Hodge's (Kyle MacLachlan) first wife, in eight episodes of the third season (2006-2007) the ABC mystery comedy-drama Desperate Housewives. She had a recurring role as Fran Horowitz in the 2013 TNT medical drama Monday Mornings. From 2013 to 2015, she had a recurring role as Olivia Rice on the Lifetime comedy-drama Devious Maids. She starred as Helen Pergman, Ronald's (Brian Geraghty) mother, in the first season (2020-2021) of the ABC crime drama thriller Big Sky.

Some of her other television credits included Father Dowling Mysteries, Quantum Leap (1990), The Young Riders, L.A. Law, The Client (4 episodes as Ellie Foltrigg), ER (4 episodes as Joi Abbott), Ally McBeal, Judging Amy, The West Wing, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Without a Trace, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Private Practice, Boston Legal, Glee (3 episodes as Rose Pillsbury), Grey's Anatomy, Franklin & Bash, Hart of Dixie (3 episodes as Mae Ellen Waterloo), and The Man in the High Castle (3 episodes as Susan), and Echo 3 (3 episodes as Maggie Chesborough).

Ms. Mahaffey was a talented and versatile character actress. She was a familiar face with nearly 100 television and film credits. We thank her for her work on sitcoms and television. She will be sorely missed.

Emmy-winning composer Alf Clausen, who worked on ALF and The Simpsons, has died. He died at his home in Los Angeles on May 29 after a decade-long battle with progressive supernuclear palsy (PSP). Mr. Clausen was 84.

Clausen was the composer for the 1986-1990 NBC sitcom ALF. He co-composed the theme music with Tom Kramer. He served as the composer for the ABC comedy-drama Moonlighting from 1985 to 1989, scoring 63 of the 65 episodes.

He was the sole composer for the Fox animated sitcom The Simpsons between 1990 and 2017. He joined the series in the second season and worked until the end of the 28th season. He received two Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on The Simpsons, winning the award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics two years in a row in 1997 and 1998.

Some of his other sitcom composing credits included ABC's Dads (1986-1987), ABC's Harry (1987), ABC's/Fox's animated series The Critic (1994-1995), and CBS' Bette (2000-2001). Some of his other television credits included Wizards and Warriors, Fame, and Lime Street.

He provided additional music for several films including The Beastmaster (1982), Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), Splash (1984), Weird Science (1985), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), Dragnet (1987), and The Naked Gun (1988).

We were fortunate enough to interview him for our blog in 2007 when we reviewed The Simpsons: Testify CD. He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television in 2014 and 2015.

Mr. Clausen scored or orchestrated music for more than 30 films and television shows. With 30 nominations, he received more Emmy nominations to date than any other musician. We thank him for his music on The Simpsons and television. His music made the episodes much better and funnier. He will be greatly missed.

We also remember actor Jonathan Joss. He was best known for providing the voice of John Redcorn on King of the Hill. He was shot to death during an argument with a neighbor in San Antonio on June 1. Mr. Joss was 59.

Joss was the voice of John Redcorn from season 2 to 13 of the Fox animated sitcom King of the Hill, replacing the original actor Victor Aaron after Aaron's death in 1996. John Redcorn is a Native American healer who has given Nancy therapeutic massages for her headaches for years. He is invariably addressed or referred to as "John Redcorn" or "Mr. Redcorn" by every character in the series, and is never addressed or referred to simply as "John".

He was also known for his recurring role as Chief Ken Hotate in five episodes of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation from 2011 to 2015. Ken Hotate is the leader of Pawnee's local Wamapoke Native American tribe. He also runs a casino in the city.

Joss guest starred in a 2014 episode of the FXX sitcom The League and a 2014 episode of the ABC sitcom Manhattan Love Story. Some of his other television credits included Walker, Texas Ranger (6 episodes), Charmed, ER, In Plain Sight, Friday Night Lights, Ray Donovan (3 episodes), and Tulsa King (2 episodes).

Mr. Joss was memorable as Ken Hotate on Parks and Recreation. We thank him for his work on television. He will be missed.

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

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Labels: ALF, Alf Clausen, King of the Hill, M*A*S*H, MeTV, Obits, Parks and Recreation, The Simpsons, Young Sheldon

SitcomsOnline Digest: New King of the Hill Reboot Details; CBS Makes Late Night Changes

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a somewhat busy week, but we've got highlights, including a lot to take in about the King of the Hill reboot. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Not only do we have a premiere date for the King of the Hill reboot, we've even got opening credits... and we suggest watching them and frequently pausing to catch every little detail of what has happened in the past decade and a half. (Deadline)
• Jenna Fischer is talking about her favorite episodes of The Office, and they're mostly ones after Steve Carell left the show. (Deadline)
• CBS is putting Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen in their post-Colbert timeslot next season... again. (Hollywood Reporter)
• The back and forth between CBS and Sony on who owns the distribution rights to Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! is now back to CBS having the rights. (AV Club)
• Former Simpsons music composer Alf Clausen, whom we actually interviewed nearly 20 years ago, has died. (Variety)
• Loretta Swit, known for her role on M*A*S*H (and who played Cagney in the pilot for Cagney & Lacey, but wasn't able to play the role because she couldn't get out of her M*A*S*H contract) has died. (Hollywood Reporter)
• We have our first look at Leanne, a Chuck Lorre sitcom coming to Netflix. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (MAY 31 - JUNE 6)

• Tomorrow's binge on Catchy Comedy is Brooklyn Bridge.
• Antenna TV has an Alice marathon tomorrow.
• Fox has a new season of The Quiz with Balls on Monday.

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

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Labels: Alf Clausen, Brooklyn Bridge, Jeopardy, King of the Hill, Leanne, M*A*S*H, SitcomsOnline Digest, The Office, Wheel of Fortune

Classic TV's Biggest Auction; Remembering Will Hutchins and Wink Martindale

Lecy Goranson (The Conners & Roseanne) appeared at the preview of TV's biggest auction CHANNEL SURFING at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles. Lecy Goranson who played Becky Conner was reunited with one of the most famous and instantly recognizable TV couches–the beige plaid sofa and knitted afghan blanket used by the brash and lovable Conner family on the smash hit comedy series Roseanne. Originally bought at Sears in 1988 and previously exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution, the artifact will go under the hammer May 7th-8th coming off the series finale of the Roseanne reboot series The Conners. Other items from Roseanne up for offer and seen in the video include costumes worn by Roseanne Barr ("Chicken Hearts" episode waitress uniform and pink bathrobe and nightgown), Laurie Metcalf (police uniform), Sara Gilbert (hoodie and jeans) and John Goodman (red, white and blue plaid shirt and Lee jeans).

Channel Surfing features an astonishing collection of over 600 iconic objects and important TV memorabilia that will be sold for the first time to the public in a historic two-day auction taking place Wednesday, May 7th and Thursday, May 8th live at Julien's Studios in Los Angeles and online at Julien's Auctions. Iconic items will be offered from the shows Cheers, Frasier, Roseanne, Wonder Woman, All in the Family, Law & Order, Saturday Night Live, Late Night with David Letterman, Mad Men, M*A*S*H, Beverly Hills 90210, Cher show/Sonny & Cher Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Six Feet Under, Breaking Bad, Dynasty, The Handmaid's Tale, Dexter, Veep, The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, The Facts of Life, The Office, The Carol Burnett Show, American Idol, Survivor, Captain Kangaroo, Get Smart, Lost in Space, The Greatest American Hero, Deal or No Deal, The X-Files, Star Trek, The Munsters, The Brady Bunch, and more.

Actor Will Hutchins, who starred as Woody Banner in Hey, Landlord and as Dagwood Bumstead in Blondie (1968-1969), has died. He died of respiratory failure at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, on April 21. Mr. Hutchins was 94.

Hutchins starred as Woody Banner in the short-lived 1966-1967 CBS sitcom Hey, Landlord. Woody Banner learns that his uncle has died and that he has inherited from him a New York City brownstone apartment building in Manhattan's East 30s as its landlord. It served as the first TV show as co-creator/producer for Garry Marshall. The series also starred Sandy Baron, Pamela Rodgers, Miko Mayama, Michael Constantine, Ann Morgan Guilbert, and Kathryn Minner.

He starred as Dagwood Bumstead in the short-lived 1968-1969 CBS sitcom Blondie. The series is an updated version of the 1957 TV series based on the comic strip of the same name. The series stars Patricia Harty as the title character and Will Hutchins as her husband, Dagwood Bumstead. Other cast members included Jim Backus, Peter Robbins, Pamelyn Ferdin, Henny Backus, Bobbi Jordan, and Bryan O'Byrne.

Hutchins was best known for his role as Tom "Sugarfoot" Brewster in the 1957-1961 ABC western Sugarfoot. Tom Brewster was an Easterner who comes to the Oklahoma Territory to become a lawyer. Brewster was a correspondence-school student whose apparent lack of cowboy skills earned him the nickname "Sugarfoot", a designation even below that of a tenderfoot. Hutchins was the only regular on the show.

He guest starred in a 1972 episode of Love, American Style. Some of his other television guest appearances included Conflict (3 episodes), Matinee Theatre (4 episodes), 77 Sunset Strip (2 episodes), Maverick, Cheyenne, The Roaring 20's, Bronco, Surfside 6, Gunsmoke, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Perry Mason, The New Perry Mason, Emergency!, Chase, Movin' On, and The Streets of San Francisco.

Hutchins co-starred with Elvis Presley as Lt. Tracy Richards in Spinout (1966) and as Tom Wilson/"Scott Hayward" in Clambake (1967). He played real-life American scout Frederick Russell Burnham in Shanghai Patrol (1970).

Mr. Hutchins was a talented and versatile actor. He later became a ringmaster and a clown for various circuses. We thank him for his work on television and in films. He will be greatly missed.

Disc jockey, radio personality, game show host and television producer Wink Martindale, who hosted Gambit and Tic-Tac-Dough, has died. He died from lymphoma at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California, on April 15. Mr. Martindale was 91.

Martindale hosted the 1972-1976 CBS game show Gambit and the 1980-1981 NBC game show Las Vegas Gambit. He hosted Tic-Tac-Dough on CBS and in first-run syndication from 1978 to 1985. He hosted the 1987-1988 syndicated version of High Rollers. He hosted the 1996-1998 Lifetime game show Debt for two seasons.

He guest starred as himself in an episode of the 1983 ABC sitcom Just Our Luck. He does a burlesque quiz show in which he couldn't seem to give away anything. In 1997, he appeared as himself with Bea Arthur in an episode of the CBS sitcom Dave's World. Some of his other television guest appearances included Equal Justice and The Bold and the Beautiful (4 episodes as Reverend Brown). He provided the voice of Wink Martiandale in a 1987 episode of The Jetsons and Sphinx Martindale in a 1998 episode of Hercules.

Martindale started his career as a disc jockey. His rendition of the spoken-word song "Deck of Cards" went to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold over a million copies in 1959.

He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on April 11, 2017.

Mr. Martindale was a game show host legend. He hosted or was involved in the production of over 20 game shows. On October 13, 2007, he was one of the first inductees into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. We thank him for the entertainment during his career. He will be sorely missed.

We also remember Filipino-American actor Patrick Adiarte. He had a recurring role as Ho-Jon in the first and second seasons of M*A*S*H. He died of pneumonia in a Los Angeles-area hospital on April 15. Mr. Adiarte was 82.

Adiarte had a recurring role as Ho-Jon in seven episodes of the first and second seasons of the CBS sitcom M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1973. Ho-Jon is an orphaned Korean houseboy who assisted Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda) and Trapper John McIntyre (Wayne Rogers).

He guest starred as David in two episodes of the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch in 1972. In "Hawaii Bound" and "Pass the Tabu", he is the construction gofer who gives the kids a tour before things get chaotic when Bobby discovers a small tiki idol that could be cursed.

Adiarte guest starred in a 1973 episode of The New Temperatues Rising. Some of his other television credits included CBS Playhouse, It Takes a Thief, Ironside, Bonanza, Hawaii Five-O (1972), and Kojak (2 episodes). He was a regular dancer on the 1965-1966 NBC musical variety series Hullabaloo.

Some of his film credits included The King and I (1956), High Time (1960), and Flower Drumg Song (1961).

Mr. Adiarte focused on dance instruction after retiring from screen work. We thank him for his work on television and in films. He will be greatly missed.

Actor Nicky Katt starred as Matthew MacLane in Herbie, the Love Bug. He was found dead by his landlord who went to collect his overdue rent on April 8 at his home in Burbank, California. He had died by suicide by hanging and appeared to have been dead for several days before his body was discovered. Mr. Katt was 54.

Katt starred as Matthew MacLane in the short-lived 1982 CBS sitcom Herbie, the Love Bug. Dean Jones, who had appeared in two of the films (The Love Bug and Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo), reprises his role of Jim Douglas, Herbie's original owner, now a retired race car driver who works as an instructor at the Famous Driving School with his partner Bo Phillips (Richard Paul). The series also starred Patricia Harty, Claudia Wells, Douglas Emerson, Bryan Utman, Larry Linville, and Natalie Core.

Some of his sitcom guest apperances included The Facts of Life, Dear John (2 episodes), Uncle Buck (1991), Love & War, Double Rush, Friends, and Casual. He provided various voices for three episodes of King of the Hill.

He was known for his starring role as Harry Senate in the Fox drama Boston Public from 2000 to 2002. He played Sean Donovan in two episodes of V: The Series. Some of his other television guest appearances included CHiPs, Father Murphy (2 episodes), Code Red, Voyagers!, Trapper John, M.D. (1982), Quincy, M.E. (1983), The Guardian (2 episodes), Monk, Love Monkey, and Law & Order.

Some of his film credits included Dazed and Confused (1993), A Time to Kill (1996), The Limey (1999), Boiler Room (2000), The Way of the Gun (2000), Insomnia (2002), Secondhand Lions (2003), and Sin City (2005).

Mr. Katt began his career as a child actor, and as an adult, frequently played unsympathetic characters or villains. We thank him for his work on television and in films. He will be sorely missed.

Actor Joey D. Vieira had recurring roles in The Pride of the Family and Hank. He died on April 7 following a long illness while receiving hospice care. Mr. Vieira was 80.

Vieira had a recurring role as Hollis Bridwell in seven episodes of the 1953-1954 ABC sitcom The Pride of the Family. He had a recurring role as Norman Zelinko in nine episodes of the 1965-1966 NBC sitcom Hank.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Ray Milland Show, Mayor of the Town, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (2 episodes), My Three Sons, and Married...with Children.

He began as a child actor using the professional name Donald Keeler playing Sylvester "Porky" Brockway, a farm boy and Jeff's friend, in the first several seasons (1954–57) of Lassie.

Some of his film credits included Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) and The Patriot (2000).

Mr. Vieira spent over 65 years in show business. He was the older half-brother of the late child actor Ken Weatherwax, widely known for portraying Pugsley Addams on The Addams Family. We thank him for his work on television and in films. He will be greatly missed.

Posted by Todd -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:30 PM

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Labels: GSN, M*A*S*H, Obits, Roseanne, The Conners, Tic Tac Dough

Antenna TV Pays Tribute to Linda Lavin with Alice Marathon; Catchy Comedy Recreates Classic CBS Saturday Night Lineup from the 1970s

Antenna TV is honoring the life, laughter and love of Linda Lavin with a full day of Alice. Join them on January 4 at 10AE | 7AP as they remember Linda Lavin. Alice airs weekdays at 2A ET / 11P PT and Saturdays at 6P ET / 3P PT.

10:00 AM - "Alice Gets a Pass"
10:30 AM - "Pay the Fifty Dollars"
11:00 AM - "The Odd Couple"
11:30 AM - "Mel's Happy Burger"
12:00 PM - "The Bundle"
12:30 PM - "Alice "Alice by Moonlight"
1:00 PM - "Alice "The Second Time 'Round"
1:30 PM - "That Old Black Magic"
2:00 PM - "The Bus"
2:30 PM - "Take Him, He's Yours"
3:00 PM - "Car Wars"
3:30 PM - "Block Those Kicks"
4:00 PM - "The Happy Hoofers"
4:30 PM - "Alice's Decision"
5:00 PM - "The Principal of the Thing"
5:30 PM - "Mona Lisa Alice"
6:00 PM - "Alice in TV Land"
6:30 PM - "Alice Beats the Clock"
7:00 PM - "Alice Strikes Up the Band"
7:30 PM - "Alice Locks Belle Out"
8:00 PM - "Alice's Big Four-Oh!"
8:30 PM - "Alice Calls the Shots"
9:00 PM - "Alice and the Acorns"
9:30 PM - "Alice at the Palace"
10:00 PM - "Alice Doesn't Work Here Anymore"
10:30 PM - "Alice Doesn't Work Here Anymore"

Starting in January, Catchy Comedy is reducing the weekend Binge to just Sundays.

Here's the new Saturday schedule starting on January 4: (All times Eastern)

6A-8A: Full House
8A-9A: Family Affair
9A-11A: E/I programming
11A-1P: Full House
1P-3P: The Brady Bunch
3P-5P: My Three Sons
5P-6P: The Lucy Show
6P-7P: The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
7P-8P: I Love Lucy

From 8P-11P they're recreating the classic CBS Saturday night lineup from the 1970s:

8P: All in the Family
8:30: M*A*S*H
9P: The Mary Tyler Moore Show
9:30P: The Bob Newhart Show
10p: The Carol Burnett Show

11P-12A: Get Smart
12A-1A: Sledge Hammer!
1A: Police Squad!
1:30: When Things Were Rotten
2A-4A: Newhart
4A-5A: The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
5A-6A: Car 54, Where Are You?

Here are the first few Binges of January:

1/5: Night Court
1/12: Bosom Buddies

Discuss the Catchy Comedy changes and view more upcoming Binges.

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

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Labels: Alice, All in the Family, Antenna TV, Bob Newhart Show, Catchy Comedy, M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Carol Burnett Show

A Very Merry MeTV 2024 Schedule; Stranger Things Final Season in 2025

Now that the jack-o-lanterns have gone out and the weather is going from "brisk" to "chilly"... it's time for A Very Merry MeTV! Come in from the cold and curl up with over a hundred hand-picked Thanksgiving and holiday-themed programs starting Sunday, November 24 at 11A | 10C on MeTV. The two-month celebration of all things festive brings back the fan favorite Peanuts movies, A Boy Named Charlie Brown on Sunday, November 24 at 6P | 5C and Snoopy, Come Home on Sunday, December 1 at 6P | 5C. Plus, you can catch the two Peanuts movies back-to-back during a special festive airing on Sunday, December 22 at 1P | 12C! Plus, catch specially selected holiday episodes of all your favorite shows, including The Love Boat, All in the Family, M*A*S*H, Happy Days, The Brady Bunch, Gillgan's Island, Mama's Family, The Andy Griffith Show, and more! It all starts November 24 at 11A | 10C and continues through Christmas Day. View the schedule here.

In the Fall of 1987, one last adventure begins, Stranger Things Season 5 Coming to Netflix in 2025. A love letter to the '80s classic genre films that captivated a generation, Stranger Things is a thrilling drama set in the seemingly normal Midwestern town of Hawkins, Indiana. After a boy vanishes into thin air, his close-knit group of friends and family search for answers and are pulled into a high-stakes and deadly series of events. Beneath the surface of their ordinary town lurks an extraordinary supernatural mystery, along with top-secret government experiments and a dangerous gateway that connects our world to a powerful yet sinister realm. Friendships will be tested and lives will be altered as what they discover will change Hawkins and possibly the world - forever.

Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things debuted in July 2016 and quickly became one of Netflix's most popular television series ever with its fourth season alone amassing over 140.7 Million views globally. Rooted in 80's nostalgia, it has sparked a resurgence of pop culture items from the decade with every new season, including Eggo waffles and New Coke. Most recently, the series breathed new life into Kate Bush's track "Running Up That Hill" with the song soaring in streams on Spotify and entering the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time in its 38-year history. The series has also garnered over 70 awards worldwide including Emmys and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, and has been nominated for over 230 awards. Stranger Things fans everywhere celebrate November 6 - the day Will Byers went missing - as 'Stranger Things Day,' a special day to share their love for the world of Stranger Things. Season 5 was announced as the final season of Stranger Things with additional projects in the universe in the works, including: Stranger Things: The First Shadow live on stage in London's West End and coming to Broadway in 2025, along with an untitled animated spinoff series.

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

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Labels: All in the Family, Andy Griffith Show, Happy Days, M*A*S*H, ME-TV, Netflix, Peanuts

Season 3 of Hacks Adds Star Power; Remembering Richard Lewis

The Emmy(R)-winning and critically acclaimed Max Original comedy series Hacks has added Helen Hunt, Christina Hendricks, Christopher Lloyd, Dan Bucatinsky, George Wallace, and Tony Goldwyn as guest stars for the highly anticipated third season, debuting this spring. A year after parting, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) is riding high off the success of her standup special while Ava (Hannah Einbinder) pursues new opportunities back in Los Angeles. Newly announced cast: Helen Hunt (Blindspotting, Mad About You, Twister, As Good as it Gets), Christina Hendricks (The Buccaneers, Good Girls, Mad Men, Drive), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future, The Tender Bar, Who Framed Roger Rabbit), Dan Bucatinsky (Air, Scandal, The Comeback), George Wallace (Clean Slate), and Tony Goldwyn (Oppenheimer, Law & Order, Scandal, upcoming film Ezra). Returning cast: Emmy(R), SAG Award, and Critics Choice Award winner Jean Smart and Emmy(R), SAG Award, and Critics Choice Award nominee Hannah Einbinder return alongside Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Mark Indelicato, Rose Abdoo, and Lorenza Izzo.

Stand-up comedian and actor Richard Lewis, who starred as Marty Gold in Anything But Love and as a semi-fictionalized version of himself in Curb Your Enthusiasm, has died. He died of a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles on February 27. Mr. Lewis was 76.

Lewis starred as Richard Breskin in the short-lived 1987 ABC sitcom Harry. The series stars Alan Arkin as Harry Porschak, a wheeler-dealer supply clerk at County General Hospital. The cast also included Holland Taylor, Thom Bray, Matt Craven, Barbara Dana and Kurt Knudson.

He starred as Marty Gold in the 1989-1992 ABC sitcom Anything But Love, which spanned four seasons and 56 episodes. The show stars Lewis as Marty Gold and Jamie Lee Curtis as Hannah Miller, coworkers at a Chicago magazine with a mutual romantic attraction who struggle to keep their relationship strictly professional. The cast also included Richard Frank, Louis Giambalvo (Season 1), Bruce Kirby (Season 1), Sandy Faison (Season 1), Ann Magnuson (Seasons 2-4), Holly Fulger (Seasons 2-4), Joseph Maher (Season 2), Billy Van Zandt (Season 2), Jane Milmore (Season 2) and Bruce Weitz (Seasons 3-4).

Lewis starred as Dr. Steven Mitchell in the short-lived 1993 Fox sitcom Daddy Dearest. The series revolves around Dr. Steven Mitchell, a psychologist who lived in Manhattan with his young son and, despite his constant insults and put downs, his father Al (Don Rickles), an obnoxious used car salesman who was recently separated from his wife Helen (Renée Taylor). The cast also included Sydney Walsh, Alice Carter, Carey Eidel, Jonathan Gibby (pilot only), Jeffrey Bomberger and Barney Martin.

He starred as Neil Diller in the 1997-1998 ABC sitcom Hiller and Diller. Ted Hiller (Kevin Nealon) and Neil Diller are two comedy writers with very different lives. Ted has an overachieving daughter among his three children, while Neil has two troublesome teenagers. The series also starred Jordan Baker, Allison Mack, Kyle Sabihy, Jill Bernard, Faryn Einhorn, Jonathan Osser and Eugene Levy.

Lewis had a recurring role as a semi-fictionalized version of himself in 41 episodes of the 2000-2024 HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm. Richard is a neurotic stand-up comedian who has recently recovered from alcohol and drug problems. He is one of Larry David's oldest and closest friends, both having moved from New York City to Los Angeles to pursue careers in comedy. The series also stars Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, Susie Essman and J. B. Smoove.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included House Calls (also 2 episodes as a writer), The Larry Sanders Show, Rude Awakening (6 episodes as Harve Schwartz), Two and a Half Men, George Lopez, Everybody Hates Chris, 'Til Death (3 episodes) and Blunt Talk (6 episodes as Dr. Weiss). Some of his voice credits included episodes of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1997), The Simpsons and BoJack Horseman.

Lewis had a recurring role as Rabbi Richard Glass in 9 episodes of 7th Heaven from 2002 to 2004. Some of his other television guest apperarances included Riptide, CBS Summer Playhouse, Tattingers, Tribeca, Tales from the Crypt, V.I.P., Presidio Med, Alias, The Dead Zone, Las Vegas, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (voice), The Cleaner (2009) and Code Black.

He starred as Prince John in the 1993 adventure comedy film Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Some of his other film credits included Wagons East (1994), Leaving Las Vegas (1995) and Hugo Pool (1997).

Mr. Lewis was a talented comedian and actor. He was always a very funny late night guest. We thank him for the many laughs he brought us during his long career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Anything But Love and Curb Your Enthusiasm message boards. View photos in our galleries.

We also remember Emmy-winning television producer and screenwriter Dan Wilcox. He worked on M*A*S*H. He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on February 14. Mr. Wilcox was 82.

Wilcox worked on the last four seasons (1979-1983) of the CBS sitcom M*A*S*H. He was a writer and/or executive story editor on 36 episodes of M*A*S*H from 1979 to 1983. He wrote the series finale "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" along with Alan Alda, Burt Metcalfe, John Rappaport, Thad Mumford, Elias Davis, David Pollock and Karen Hall. It was the most-watched finale and single episode of any television series in U.S. history with 106 million viewers. He was a producer for the last two seasons from 1981 to 1983.

Some of his other sitcom writing credits included That's My Mama, The Practice (1976), America 2-Night (65 episodes), Good Times, The Waverly Wonders (4 episodes), Angie (2 episodes), Open All Night, The Duck Factory (2 episodes), Newhart (2 episodes), Eisenhower & Lutz, FM (3 episodes), Growing Pains, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Police Academy: The Series, Cosby and Becker.

Some of his other sitcom producing credits included The Duck Factory, Newhart, Eisenhower & Lutz, FM and Growing Pains.

Mr. Wilcox received an Emmy Award for his work on Sesame Street in 1970. He was nominated for four more Primetime Emmy Awards. We thank him for his work on M*A*S*H and other sitcoms. He will be missed.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:52 PM

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Labels: Anything But Love, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Hacks, M*A*S*H, Max, Obits