SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Hulu Renews Life & Beth for Season 2; HBO Max's Made for Love Season 2 Rollout

Hulu has renewed Amy Schumer's Life & Beth for a 10-episode, second season. The critically acclaimed first season debuted on Hulu on Friday, March 18 and is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at 91%. Life & Beth is written, directed and executive produced by Amy Schumer and executive produced by Kevin Kane, Daniel Powell and Ryan McFaul. The series is produced by Endeavor Content. The series stars Schumer, Michael Cera, Susannah Flood, Violet Young, Kevin Kane, Yamaneika Saunders, Laura Benanti, Larry Owens, Michael Rapaport and LaVar Walker. In the series, Beth's (Schumer) life would look pretty great on paper. Impressive to everyone she grew up with. She makes a good living as a wine distributor. She's in a long term relationship with a successful guy and lives in Manhattan. When a sudden incident forces Beth to engage with her past, her life changes forever. Through flashbacks to her teen self, Beth starts to learn how she became who she is and who she wants to become. We'll go on her journey towards building a bigger, bolder and more authentic life. Learning to express herself and living in an intentional way. A trip down memory lane is a strong source of trauma, comedy and moving forward.

Season Two of the acclaimed Max Original series Made for Love returns with two new episodes Thursday, April 28. Two episodes will debut each week on subsequent Thursdays, with the final two installments of the eight-episode season debuting May 19. Based on the novel by Alissa Nutting, MADE FOR LOVE is a poignantly humorous story of modern love and divorce. Season One followed Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), a thirty-something woman on the run after ten years in a suffocating marriage to tech billionaire Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), as smart as he is insufferable. After discovering that her husband implanted a monitoring device – the Made for Love chip – in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her and know her "emotional data," Hazel fled to her desert hometown to take refuge with her outcast father Herbert (Ray Romano) and his synthetic partner, Diane. In the second season, in order to save her father’s life, Hazel returns to the Hub, Byron’s high-tech palace. But once inside, she and Byron both become ensnared by Gogol’s newest revolutionary (and dangerous) technology.

Season two series regulars: Cristin Milioti (as Hazel Green), Billy Magnussen (as Byron Gogol), Ray Romano (as Herbert Green), Dan Bakkendahl (as Herringbone), Noma Dumezweni (as Fiffany), Caleb Foote (as Bennett), Sarunas J. Jackson (as Jay).

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

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Labels: HBO Max, Hulu, Life & Beth, Made for Love

HBO Max Picks Up Season 2 of Made for Love; Discovery Is Growing with Jim Belushi

HBO Max has renewed the Max Original series Made for Love for a second season. The critically acclaimed, darkly absurd comedy ranks among HBO Max's top original half-hours since launch. Based on the novel by Alissa Nutting, Made for Love is a cynically poignant story of love and divorce following Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), a thirty-something woman on the run after ten years in a suffocating marriage to Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), a controlling tech billionaire. Soon she discovers that her husband has implanted a monitoring device – the Made for Love chip – in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her, and know her "emotional data" as she tries to regain her independence. Through the chip, Byron's able to watch Hazel's every move as she flees to her desert hometown to take refuge with her aging widower father Herbert (Ray Romano) and his synthetic partner, Diane. Made for Love is a production of Paramount Television Studios. In addition to Milioti, Magnussen and Romano, season one of Made for Love starred Dan Bakkedahl, Noma Dumezweni, Augusto Aguilera and Caleb Foote.

Audiences around the world have watched as Jim Belushi (According to Jim, SNL, Real Men) sang, danced and entertained across our screens over the years, but few could have imagined his next move. Viewers were delighted to follow along as Jim combined his many talents with an immense passion and built a cannabis business from the ground up in southern Oregon. Now, viewers will continue on this journey as Discovery today announced the return of the hit series, Growing Belushi, set to air across Discovery platforms later this year. What started as almost a hobby has grown into a successful business, and now, Belushi's Farm is experiencing an increasing national demand for its cannabis products. Viewers will get a front-row seat as Jim and his team work to scale the business up to meet that increased demand. They are bringing state-of-the-art technology, cultivation methods, equipment and facilities to Belushi's Farm. The results are as promising as they are challenging.

Season one of Growing Belushi took Jim on a journey from legalization rallies in South America, Pablo Escobar's impact on Colombia and Jim's own family, and the genesis behind bringing the Blues Brothers' cannabis brand to dispensary shelves. In this season, Jim becomes an expert on cannabis farming, groundbreaking discoveries in medicinal cannabis, and learns first-hand what happens when a small farm passion-project grows into a cutting-edge business with a hot national brand. With the help from some familiar faces, including Dan Aykroyd, Judy Belushi, cousin Chris, and of course, the legendary Captain Jack (whose cannabis was known as "The Smell of SNL"), viewers will experience the familiar and familial back-and-forth between cousin Chris and Jim as they use Chris' restaurant-business savvy to establish infrastructure, compliance and business know-how at the farm. And of course, there are many new adventures, such as Chris operating a tiny, test kitchen restaurant at the farm, the Engjell Café, which introduces a whole new element of comedy as Chris experiments with cannabis-infused cuisine. Jim likes to say with a smile, "With one table and free food, the Engjell Cafe is the most exclusive restaurant in southern Oregon. The only problem is the owner is a pain in the..." Equally funny as it is informative and in true 'edutainment' style, Growing Belushi, which is filmed in southern Oregon, will shed light on the groundbreaking medical discoveries in the medicinal cannabis industry, as well as the personal journey of Jim and his mighty farm.

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

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Labels: According to Jim, Discovery Channel, HBO Max, Made for Love

Remembering George Segal, Pops from The Goldbergs; HBO Max Comedy Series Made for Love Drops April 1

Actor George Segal, who starred as Jack Gallo on Just Shoot Me! and as Albert "Pops" Solomon on The Goldbergs, has died. He died of complications from bypass surgery in Santa Rosa, California, on March 23. Mr. Segal was 87.

Some of Segal's early television guest appearances included The Play of the Week, Armstrong Circle Theatre, The United States Steel Hour, Naked City, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Channing, The Doctors and the Nurses and Arrest and Trial.

His first television starring role was as Andy Kooper on the 1987 CBS sitcom Take Five. The short-lived series was canceled after only two episodes had aired. In the semi-autobiographical series, Andy Kooper has a midlife crisis after his wife had divorced him and her father had fired him from his public relations job. He sang with his buddies in the Lenny Goodman Quartet, a semi-pro Dixieland jazz band in which he sang and played the banjo. The series also starred Severn Darden, Derek McGrath, Bruce Jarchow, Jim Haynie, Melanie Chartoff, Todd Field and Eugene Roche.

Segal starred as Jack Gallo on the 1997-2003 NBC workplace sitcom Just Shoot Me!. The series ran for seven seasons and 148 episodes. Jack Gallo was the successful yet often oblivious owner and publisher of a New York City fashion magazine called Blush. Segal was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999 and 2000 as well as a Satellite Award in 2002 for the role. The series also starred Laura San Giacomo, Wendie Malick, Enrico Colantoni, David Spade, Chris Hogan (1997) and Rena Sofer (2002-2003).

He starred as Alan Robbins on the 2011-2012 TV Land sitcom Retired at 35. It ran for two seasons and 20 episodes. The series follows a successful New Yorker named David (Johnathan McClain), who decides to leave the rat race and his job in the big city and visit his father (George Segal) and mother (Jessica Walter) who live in a retirement community in Florida. The series also starred Josh McDermitt, Ryan Michelle Bathe (Season 1) and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Season 2).

Segal has starred as Albert "Pops" Solomon on the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs for eight seasons since 2013. "Pops" is the eccentric but lovable grandfather of a semi-autobiographical family based on that of series creator Adam F. Goldberg. He is Beverly Goldberg's (Wendi McLendon-Covey) laid-back widower father and a World War II Veteran. Segal was an accomplished banjo player and played it several times on the show. The cast includes Jeff Garlin, Sean Giambrone, Troy Gentile, Hayley Orrantia, AJ Michalka (Season 3–4; recurring 1–2 and 5–6, guest 7) and Sam Lerner (Season 5–present; recurring 2–4).

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Larry Sanders Show, The Naked Truth (4 episodes), Caroline in the City, Bette, The War at Home and Entourage (3 episodes). He appeared on five episodes of the sketch comedy series Tracy Takes On.... Some of his voice credits included Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, American Dad! and The Simpsons.

He starred as Daedalus Patrick Murphy on the 1988-1989 ABC crime drama Murphy's Law. He played Gordon in seven episodes of the syndicated adventure series High Tide from 1994 to 1995. Some of his television drama guest appearances included Murder, She Wrote, Burke's Law, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Private Practice, Boston Legal and Pushing Daisies.

Segal was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and won two Golden Globe Awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance in A Touch of Class (1973). Some of his other film credits included Ship of Fools (1965), King Rat (1965), The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967), Where's Poppa? (1970), The Hot Rock (1972), Blume in Love (1973), California Split (1974), For the Boys (1991) and Flirting with Disaster (1996).

Mr. Segal was a talented and verstatile actor. He was very funny as Jack Gallo on Just Shoot Me! and perfectly cast as "Pops" on The Goldbergs. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment he brought us during his long career. He will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Just Shoot Me! and The Goldbergs message boards. View photos in our galleries.

We also remember child actor Kim Tyler. He was best known for his role as Kyle Nash on Please Don't Eat the Daisies. He died on February 10 at his home in Hollywood Heights, California, surrounded by loved ones, after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Tyler was 66.

Tyler starred as Kyle Nash, the oldest son of Joan (Patricia Crowley) and James (Jim) Nash (Mark Miller), on the 1965-1967 NBC sitcom Please Don't Eat the Daisies. The series ran for two seasons and 58 episodes. It also starred Brian Nash, Joe Fithian, Jeff Fithian, Shirley Mitchell, Harry Hickox (1965-1966), King Donovan (1966-1967), Dub Taylor (1965-1966), Ellen Corby, Bill Quinn (1966-1967) and Jean VanderPyl (1966-1967).

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Hazel, The Andy Griffith Show (as Billy Gray in the episode "One-Punch Opie"), The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (6 episodes), The Addams Family, My Three Sons and My Favorite Martian. He appeared on episodes of The 20th Century-Fox Hour in 1956 and The Law and Mr. Jones in 1961.

His family said he was a talented musician, a proficient poker player and an amateur videographer. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Michelle.

Mr. Tyler was very good on Please Don't Eat the Daisies. It was surprising that he didn't continue acting after the series ended. Please Don't Eat the Daisies is a wonderful series that should be shown again in syndication or be available on DVD or streaming. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Please Don't Eat the Daisies message board.

The Max Original Made for Love debuts with three episodes on Thursday, April 1. The season continues with three episodes on April 8 and concludes with two episodes on April 15. Based on the novel by Alissa Nutting, the comedy series is a darkly absurd and cynically poignant story of love and divorce following Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), a thirty-something woman on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), a controlling tech billionaire. Soon she discovers that her husband has implanted a monitoring device – the Made for Love chip – in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her, and know her "emotional data" as she tries to regain her independence. Through the chip, Byron's able to watch Hazel's every move as she flees to her desert hometown to take refuge with her aging widower father Herbert (Ray Romano) and his synthetic partner, Diane. Made for Love stars Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen, Dan Bakkedahl, Noma Dumezweni, Augusto Aguilera, Caleb Foote and Ray Romano. The series is executive produced by Christina Lee, Alissa Nutting, Patrick Somerville, Dean Bakopoulos, Liza Chasin and SJ Clarkson. Christina Lee is showrunner and Paramount Television Studios is the studio. Stephanie Laing directed the pilot and is a Co-EP. The season was directed by Laing and Alethea Jones.

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

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Labels: ABC, HBO Max, Just Shoot Me, Made for Love, Obits, Please Don't Eat the Daisies, The Goldbergs

Fri-Yay: Marvel's WandaVision Is a Delightful Tribute to Sitcoms; Cristin Milioti HBO Max Comedy Series Trailer

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

If you haven't heard about the buzzy Marvel series on Disney+ WandaVision, I'm, frankly, surprised - it seems to be all many people have been talking about the past few weeks. The show's mystery format and tie-ins to the wildly popular Marvel film series have made it one of the most buzzed about TV shows of recent memory. And while many love WandaVision for its deep exploratioion of Wanda (from the Avengers movie series) or the fun Easter Eggs and hints about past and upcoming Marvel films, sitcom fans may have a different reason to love it: the show is basically a long tribute to sitcoms and TV comedies, using their format to tell an intriguing and action-packed story about superheroes, grief, and love.

I don't want to give too much away because WandaVision, like other mystery-box series such as LOST, is experienced best unspoiled. The show's weekly format (unlike Netflix, Disney+ drops its episodes on a traditional weekly schedule) has led to a lot of fun speculation that wouldn't be possible if spoilers were as rampant as they are with all-at-once drops. But essentially, WandaVision sees titular characters Wanda and Vision in a different type of sitcom every week, usually specific to whatever decade the "show within the show" is taking place in that week. In the show's first 8 episodes (the finale drops Friday night), there have been odes to sitcoms as diverse as The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Donna Reed Show, Bewitched, The Munsters, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Brady Bunch, Family Ties, Growing Pains, Full House, Malcom in the Middle, The Office, Modern Family and Happy Endings. The show is a TV (and sitcom specifically) lover's dream, but it also packs in plenty of the action and wit we have come to expect from the Marvel series. If you haven't watched it yet, I highly recommend checking it out - even if you're not usually a superhero fan, there's just as many TV Easter Eggs as Marvel Easter Eggs. It's a treat, and I'm both excited and bummed it'll be wrapping up this week.

Max Original comedy Made for Love debuts this April on HBO Max. The comedy series is a darkly absurd and cynically poignant story of love and divorce. It follows Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti, How I Met Your Mother), a thirty-something woman on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), a controlling tech billionaire. Soon she discovers that her husband has implanted a monitoring device - the Made for Love chip - in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her, and know her "emotional data" as she tries to regain her independence. Through the chip, Byron's able to watch Hazel's every move as she flees to her desert hometown to take refuge with her aging widower father Herbert (Ray Romano) and his synthetic partner, Diane. i>Made for Love stars Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen, Dan Bakkedahl, Noma Dumezweni, Augusto Aguilera and Ray Romano. Recurring guest stars include Caleb Foote, Kym Whitley, Nyasha Hatendi and Patti Harrison, and additional guest stars include Ione Skye, Jon Daly, Matty Cardarople, Mel Rodriguez and Sarunas Jackson. 10 half-hour episodes have been ordered. Trailer has been relased, but no premiere date just yet

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

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Labels: Bewitched, Dick Van Dyke Show, Disney+, Family Ties, Fri-Yay, HBO Max, Made for Love, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Modern Family, The Brady Bunch, WandaVision