SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Christa B. Allen in Night of January 16th Play Through Sunday; Remembering Sitcom Writer and Producer Bernie Orenstein

Christa B. Allen has been starring in Night of January 16th in New York City's Theatre Row. The play opened with previews on October 7 and opened on October 11. The limited run ends this Sunday the 18th. Catch one of the final performances, as it is a very unique and interactive play with the audience deciding if her character is guilty or not guilty.

On the night of January 16th, financier Bjorn Faulkner falls from the penthouse of his own skyscraper and Karen Andre, his former secretary, lover, and closest confidante, is accused of murder. But the real question is not only whether Karen killed him. It is whether the depth of her love, loyalty, and understanding makes her guilty or the only person capable of telling the truth about who Bjorn really was. To Karen, Bjorn was not simply a corrupt tycoon or reckless seducer, but a man of terrifying vitality: brilliant, dangerous, wounded, and larger than the world that sought to condemn him. As witnesses attempt to reduce him to scandal, fraud, or victim, Karen’s memory of Bjorn becomes both her defence and her undoing.

Ruth Stage's production reimagines Ayn Rand’s courtroom thriller as a bold, heightened descent into a dark, purgatorial parallel reality. Karen is placed not only on legal trial, but on spiritual and psychological trial, pursued by desire, guilt, memory, and threatening forces beyond the visible world. And in the play’s most thrilling device, the audience itself becomes the jury; drawn into the trial, implicated in the verdict, and forced to decide what kind of truth they believe.

We caught up with Christa in NYC this week and she was gracious enough to answer three of our questions. See the videos below!

Canadian-American television writer and producer Bernie Orenstein, who worked on That Girl, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Sanford and Son and What's Happening!!, has died. He died on September 14. Mr. Orenstein was 95.

Orenstein's sitcom writing credits included 26 episodes of That Girl, 17 episodes of The New Dick Van Dyke Show, 23 episodes of Sanford and Son and 5 episodes of What's Happening!!. Some of his other sitcom writing credits included The Monkees (3 episodes), Hey, Landlord (1967), Accidental Family (2 episodes), Good Morning World (2 episodes), Love, American Style (2 episodes), Grady (10 episodes), Sanford Arms, 13 Queens Boulevard (2 episodes), One in a Million (2 episodes), One of the Boys (1982 - 7 episodes), Double Trouble ( (2 episodes), E/R (7 episodes), Foley Square (6 episodes), You Again? (2 episodes), Kate & Allie (4 episodes), Baby Talk (3 episodes) and Cosby (4 episodes). He developed the 1977-1979 ABC sitcom Carter Country with Bud Yorkin and Saul Turteltaub. In 1989, he co-created the ABC sitcom Chicken Soup with Turteltaub.

He was a producer for That Girl (50 episodes), The New Dick Van Dyke Show (48 episodes), Love, American Style (5 episodes), Grady (5 episodes), Sanford and Son (73 episodes), Sanford Arms (4 episodes), What's Happening!! (65 episodes), E/R (22 episodes), You Again? (12 episodes), Throb (10 episodes), Kate & Allie (22 episodes) and Baby Talk (23 episodes).

Some of his credits as an actor included That Girl (2 episodes), The New Dick Van Dyke Show (4 episodes) and Sanford and Son (3 episodes).

He was interviewed for the Archive of American Television for the Television Academy Foundation on June 2, 2016.

Mr. Orenstein had a long and productive career in television. He was a frequent collaborator with writer and producer Saul Turteltaub, who died in 2020, for more than 30 years. We thank him for his work on sitcoms. He will be greatly missed.

We also remember Hall of Fame football player and coach Mike Ditka. He appeared in two episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun and several other sitcoms. He died on October 9 in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Ditka was 86.

Ditka appeared as himself in the final episode of Cheers on May 20, 1993. He appeared as Coach Mafferty in two episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun in 1996 and 1997. Some of his other sitcom credits included Coach, Becker, According to Jim and Entourage.

He appeared twice on Saturday Night Live in 1993 and 1997. In 1990, he appeared in an episode of L.A. Law. He appeared in commercials and ads for over 50 products over the years.

Ditka had a major role in the 2005 sports comedy film Kicking & Screaming, playing himself. He was recruited by Will Ferrell's character to be an assistant little league soccer coach.

During his playing career as a tight end, he was UPI NFL Rookie of Year in 1961, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and a six-time All-Pro with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). As a head coach for the Bears from 1982 to 1992, he was twice both the AP and UPI NFL Coach of Year (1985 and 1988). The 1985 Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX. He also was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999.

Mr. Ditka was the first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. We thank Iron Mike for his work on the gridiron and on television. He will be sorely missed.

Actor and comedian Reggie McFadden starred in the final season of In Living Color and made several sitcom guest appearances. He died in October in Dodoma, Tanzania. Mr. McFadden was 57.

McFadden appeared as Ricky Thompson, an old friend of Martin Payne (Martin Lawrence), in a 1993 episode of Martin. Martin and Ricky get arrested for committing credit card fraud. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Coach, Moesha, Getting Personal (2 episodes) and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He wrote a 1996 episode of the UPN sitcom Minor Adjustments.

He appeared in three episodes of HBO's Def Comedy Jam from 1992 to 1995. He was a regular performer in 23 episodes of the fifth and final season (1993-1994) of the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color.

Mr. McFadden was a funny actor and comedian. We thank him for the laughs on television. He will be greatly missed.

Actor James Sloyan starred as Charlie Wayne in Oh Madeline. He died at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, on July 22. Mr. Sloyan was 85.

Sloyan starred as Charlie Wayne in the 1983-1984 ABC sitcom Oh Madeline. The show revolves around Madeline Wayne (Madeline Kahn), a housewife bored after 10 years of marriage to Charlie, a sweet but staid man who makes his living writing steamy romance novels under the name Crystal Love. It was based on the British sitcom Pig in the Middle that aired on ITV from 1980 until 1983. The series also starred Louis Giambalvo, Jesse Welles and Francine Tacker.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat (3 episodes), Brothers (1986), Growing Pains and Who's the Boss? (1987).

He starred as Dr. Sam Lanagan in the short-lived 1977 ABC medical drama Westside Medical. Some of his other television credits included The Doctors (10 episodes in 1972), Kojak, Hawaii Five-O (1974), The Streets of San Francisco, Delvecchio (3 episodes), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (2 episodes), Lou Grant, CHiPs, Cagney & Lacey, Moonlighting, The Fall Guy, Simon & Simon, Highway to Heaven (2 episodes), Matlock (3 episodes in 1988 and 1989), MacGyver (2 episodes in 1989 and 1990), Murder, She Wrote (7 episodes), Baywatch (2 episodes), Star Trek: The Next Generation (2 episodes), Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (3 episodes), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2 episodes), Party of Five (4 episodes from 1995 to 1997) and The Young and the Restless (4 episodes).

Mr. Sloyan was a talented and versatile actor. He was the voice of Lexus in commercials for 20 years. We thank him for his work on television. He will be sorely missed.

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

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Labels: 3rd Rock from the Sun, In Living Color, Martin, Obits, Revenge, Sanford and Son, That Girl, What's Happening

Trailer for The Varnell Hill Show on Paramount+; Kevin Langue Heads to Netflix

Martin's fan-favorite character Varnell Hill is ready for his close-up on Paramount+ Tuesday, September 1. The Varnell Hill Show reunites Martin Lawrence and Bentley Kyle Evans nearly three decades after Tommy Davidson's Varnell made his unforgettable debut on the iconic sitcom. The eight-episode comedy series stars Davidson alongside Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson and Chris Williams, with special appearances by Lawrence and renowned guest stars including Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps, Omarion and many more.

Set behind the scenes of Varnell's long-running late-night talk show, The Varnell Hill Show finds the larger-than-life host fighting to stay relevant in an ever-changing television industry. Surrounded by network executives with big ideas, a writers' room trying to keep up, celebrity guests and a team tasked with managing his outsized personality, Varnell remains convinced of one thing: he's still the biggest star in the building. Blending workplace comedy with satire, cutaways and fourth-wall breaks, the series explores the corporate, creative and personal chaos that goes into keeping "The Varnell Hill Show" on the air.

Netflix announced a partnership with creator Kevin Langue to bring his channels The Kevin Langue Show and Kevin Langue 2 (KL2) to the service. Beginning September 5, members can watch a curated collection of episodes from each channel pulled from Kevin's back catalog, with new episodes dropping day-and-date alongside YouTube going forward.

Known on YouTube as "the World's Best Guesser," Langue built his audience on big, dramatic guessing-game and social-experiment premises filmed with his close-knit circle of friends. His second channel, Kevin Langue 2, expands that universe, offering fans a more intimate, personality-driven look at Kevin through candid, unscripted content and a closer connection to the creator behind the larger-than-life entertainment.

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

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Labels: Martin, Netflix, Paramount+, The Varnell Hill Show

The Varnell Hill Show Coming to Paramount+ on September 1; Hallmark's 3rd Installment of Holiday Touchdown

Paramount+ unveiled first look photos and announced the premiere date for The Varnell Hill Show, a new half-hour workplace comedy executive produced by Martin Lawrence and Bentley Kyle Evans, and starring and executive produced by Tommy Davidson as the unforgettable talk show host first introduced in the iconic sitcom Martin. The eight-episode first season will make its global debut on Paramount+ with two episodes on Tuesday, September 1, followed by one new episode every Tuesday through October 13.

Nearly three decades after audiences first met him, Varnell Hill is stepping back into the spotlight - and he's determined to prove he's still the star of the show. Set behind the scenes of a long-running late-night talk show, The Varnell Hill Show follows Varnell (Davidson) as he fights to stay relevant in a rapidly changing entertainment landscape. Between network executives eager to modernize the show, a chaotic writers' room, celebrity guests, family drama, and his own outsized ego, Varnell quickly discovers that keeping a television empire together may be harder than building one in the first place.

Davidson leads an ensemble cast that includes Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson and Chris Williams, alongside a lineup of guest stars including Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps, Omarion and many more with special appearances by Lawrence.

With production wrapping last month in the Chicago area, the starting lineup for Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story has been named. Lyndsy Fonseca (How I Met Your Mother, Single on the 25th), Robert Buckley (One Tree Hill, Chesapeake Shores), four-time Academy-Award(R) nominee Marsha Mason (The Goodbye Girl, Grace and Frankie, Frasier), Barbara Alyn Woods (One Tree Hill, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids) and Khary Payton (The Walking Dead, Young Justice) will star. Bolstering the roster, the film will also feature cameo appearances from Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson, tight end Colston Loveland, tight end Cole Kmet, legendary Bears alumni Mike Singletary, Charles "Peanut" Tillman and Dan Hampton, Connie Payton, wife of the late legendary running back Walter Payton, and the team's beloved mascot Staley Da Bear bringing a little extra football spirit to the holiday romance. Additional cameos include beloved Hallmark favorites Tamera Mowry-Housley (Haunted Harmony Mysteries) and Marilu Henner (Aurora Teagarden Mysteries), and talented Chicago-area locals Jake Connelly (Stranger Things) and Dyon "Mojo" Brooks (Miss Governor).

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story premieres Saturday, October 17 on Hallmark Channel, streaming next day on Hallmark Plus.

In addition to the movie, Hallmark is giving Chicago Bears fans another way to celebrate their team this holiday season with a Chicago Bears Santa ornament. The festive ornament offers fans a meaningful way to celebrate their love of the Bears and commemorate this special moment. It will be available on Hallmark.com and at regional Hallmark Gold Crown Stores this fall.

Get ready to see some familiar faces in Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story premiering Saturday October 17 on Hallmark Channel, streaming next day on Hallmark Plus! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/UvJvhIo6op

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 5, 2026

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

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Labels: Hallmark Channel, Martin, Paramount+, The Varnell Hill Show

BET+ Orders Martin Spinoff Varnell Hill; It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in July

BET+ has greenlit Varnell Hill, a workplace comedy series based on the beloved character made famous by actor and comedian Tommy Davidson from the original series Martin, which starred Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, Thomas Mikal Ford, and Carl Anthony Payne. Davidson is set to star, reprising his namesake guest role. The straight-to-series order will showcase a mixture of exciting new characters and celebrity guest cameos.

Set behind the scenes of a long-running late-night talk show, The Varnell Hill Show is a workplace comedy that delves into the chaotic world of television production. The series explores Varnell's journey to remain relevant in an ever-evolving industry and the corporate dynamics of network executives, business stakeholders, and creative teams involved in the making of the show. With its blend of satire, humor, cutaways, and fourth-wall breaks, the show promises to engage audiences in a fresh and innovative way. Martin Lawrence, co-creator, will serve as an executive producer. Co-creator, writer, and director Bentley Kyle Evans will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, Andy Horne, Stacy Lyles, Robert Lawrence, and Rae Proctor will also serve as executive producers. Rose Catherine Pinkney and Jason Harvey will executive produce for BET+. The series will be produced by Bentley Evans and his production team. Production for the new season and a premiere will be announced at a later date.

FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the longest-running live-action comedy series in television history, will premiere its 17th season on Wednesday, July 9. The premiere will include the first two episodes beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FXX, with episodes streaming next day on Hulu. The new season is also coming to Disney+ internationally. The first promo for season 17 was also released - see below. The fan-favorite, ever-inventive series marks the 20th anniversary of its series premiere this year. The new season will include The Gang's take on meeting ABC's Abbott Elementary in the conclusion to the highly-anticipated crossover.

In the latest season, "The Gang Embraces The Corporate Era:" The story of how greed and the New American Dream have consumed Paddy's Pub. Seventeen seasons on, Ronald "Mac" MacDonald (Rob McElhenney), Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day), Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howerton), Dee Reynolds (Kaitlin Olson), and Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito) return to shamelessly shed their "niche" label for grander aspirations. They'll exploit cross-network promotion to increase market share; they'll scapegoat one of their own to avoid a PR backlash; they'll risk everything for a handshake with the Saudis; they'll bend the laws with side hustles to pad their pockets; and they'll change everything about themselves to appeal to a broader audience. And sure, like any corporate goon, the Gang craves money and parasitic social privileges. That's been plain since 2005. But they're also human beings. They crave love.. respect... conditional freedom... constant adulation... histrionic amounts of attention... non-stop gratification... and unfiltered, slaphappy eroticism.

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

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, ABC, BET+, FXX, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Martin, The Varnell Hill Show

ABC News Live's Martin Lawrence Special; Netflix Renews Outer Banks Before Season 3 Premiere

ABC News Live presents ABC News contributor LZ Granderson's one-on-one interview with comedian and actor Martin Lawrence. The half-hour special, A Conversation with Martin Lawrence, is a wide-ranging discussion that covers the importance of Black culture in storytelling and show business, the evolution of comedy over the years, and Lawrence's multidecade career. Lawrence shares anecdotes from his time in Hollywood during his days as creator of the iconic '90s television show Martin, whether fans of the hit sitcom should expect a reboot, as well as his thoughts on some of the most influential comedians of all time, including what it's like to work with Eddie Murphy. He opens up about his family and how his faith serves as a guiding force throughout his career and personal life. A Conversation with Martin Lawrence premieres Tuesday, Feb. 21, on the Emmy(R) Award-nominated ABC News Live at 8:30 p.m. EST/9:30 p.m. PST and streams on Hulu.

Live from the stage in Huntington Beach, CA at Netflix's POGUELANDIA, an Outer Banks fan-fueled, immersive music event, Outer Banks cast members Chase Stokes (John B.), Madelyn Cline (Sarah), Madison Bailey (Kiara), Jonathan Daviss (Pope), Carlacia Grant (Cleo), Rudy Pankow (JJ), Austin North (Topper), and Drew Starkey (Rafe) surprised fans by announcing a Season 4 renewal on the eve of the hit series' Season 3 debut. Fans were also treated to a special nine-minute preview of Season 3 which premieres globally only on Netflix this Thursday, February 23. In the third season, after losing the gold and fleeing the Outer Banks, Season 3 finds the Pogues washed ashore on a desert island that, for a brief moment, seems like an idyllic home. Officially deemed "Poguelandia," the island's newest residents spend their days fishing, swimming, and reveling in the carefree lifestyle of their temporary dwelling. But things quickly go south for John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, JJ, and Cleo when they find themselves once again caught up in a race for the treasure, quite literally running for their lives. They're broke and far from home, they can't trust anyone, Ward and Rafe are hungry for revenge, and there's a ruthless Caribbean Don who will stop at nothing to find the bounty. Was the treasure ever within their reach? Or was it all a trap to stop them once and for all? Either way, it's the Pogues against the world - and the only way out is together.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:03 PM

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Labels: ABC, Martin, Netflix, Outer Banks

SitcomsOnline Digest: Donald Faison and Jon Cryer Join NBC Comedy Pilot; Wendy Williams Show Comes to an End

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a slow summer news week, but we're hear with news of a new NBC comedy pilot, the end of Wendy Williams' talk show, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Donald Faison and Jon Cryer are set to appear in an upcoming NBC comedy pilot. (Deadline)
• The last episode of The Wendy Williams Show aired on Friday, but if you were looking for the host, you'll need to go back about over a year to find her last episode. (Deadline)
• The End is Nye, Bill Nye's new series about disasters, is set to arrive on Peacock in August. (CNET)
• Have we reached peak streaming? The CEO of NBCUniversal doesn't seem to think so. (Deadline)
• Everett Peck, the creator of Duckman, has died. (Yahoo!)
• ABC has set their fall premiere dates. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JUNE 18 - JUNE 25)

• Hill Street Blues is the Decades binge this weekend.
• There is a Martin reunion available to watch, if you have BET+ anyway.
• Antenna TV celebrates Father's Day with a special marathon on Sunday.
• We missed this last week, but the second season of Rutherford Falls has arrived on Peacock.

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

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Labels: Duckman, Hill Street Blues, Martin, SitcomsOnline Digest, The End is Nye

Martin: The Reunion Premieres June 16 on BET+; Apple TV+ Renews Musical Comedy Schmigadoon! for Season Two

Wazzup?! Wazzzup?! Wazzzzzup?! The gang is back for the reunion special we've all been waiting for. Martin: The Reunion premieres June 16th, only on BET+.

The cast reunites to celebrate the impact of the iconic sitcom. Few shows defined an era like Martin. From music to movies to fashion, the iconic sitcom was not only a broad mainstream hit, it was a cultural force that went beyond the screen and epitomized an era. The show was a crossover sensation all while providing an honest and refreshing view of the Black experience and to this day, the characters, all created by the comedic genius of the show's namesake, Martin Lawrence, are still some of pop culture's most beloved. Thirty years later, its legacy lives on, and fans will be able to relive all the love, joy and laughter as Martin and the gang come together once again for the first time in decades.

The reunion special, hosted by comedian and actor Affion Crockett, will include Martin Lawrence ("Martin"), Tisha Campbell ("Gina"), Tichina Arnold ("Pamela") and Carl Anthony Payne II ("Cole"), along with surprise guest appearances. Taking a look at the show's origin and evolution, the reunion will feature interviews with the cast, original directors, special musical performances, and behind the scenes commentary on the importance and impact of the show that shaped a generation. The reunion is executive produced by Martin Lawrence, Robert Lawrence, Rae Proctor and Stacy Lyles through his company Run Tel Dat Entertainment. For Jesse Collins Entertainment, Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon serve as executive producers along with Jeannae Rouzan-Clay who is also the showrunner. The show is executive produced and directed by Stan Lathan. The special is written by Nile Evans as well as Bentley Kyle Evans who also serves as a co-executive producer. Jesse Collins Entertainment's Brittany Brazil is a producer.

Apple TV+ announced that its hit AFI Award-winning musical comedy series Schmigadoon! has been renewed for a second season and will return with new original musical numbers from creator and executive producer Cinco Paul. Stars Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, Dove Cameron, Jaime Camil, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ann Harada, Jane Krakowski, Martin Short and Aaron Tveit are set to return, with Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page joining the cast for season two.

Having found true love in the town of Schmigadoon, season two of Schmigadoon! will find Josh (Key) and Melissa (Strong) in Schmicago, the world of '60s and '70s musicals.

Following its global debut on Apple TV+ last year, Schmigadoon! was honored with an AFI Award, and has received wide acclaim and accolades, including a Critics Choice Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for star Kristin Chenoweth.

The series hails from Broadway Video and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, Schmigadoon! is co-created by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. Paul serves as showrunner and wrote all of the original songs for the series. Robert Luketic directs and co-executive produces. Lorne Michaels and Andrew Singer serve as executive producers, Micah Frank serves as co-executive producer, and star Cecily Strong and Caroline Maroney serve as producers.

The complete first season of Schmigadoon! is now streaming on Apple TV+.

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

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Labels: Apple TV+, BET+, Martin, Schmigadoon!

Martin 30th Anniversary Reunion Coming Later This Year on BET+; Dave Chappelle Forming Comedian Team for Netflix

Damn Gina! Martin is returning for a 30th anniversary reunion special on the BET+ streaming service later this year! The cast reunites to celebrate the impact of the iconic sitcom. Few shows defined an era like Martin. From music to movies to fashion, the iconic sitcom was not only a broad mainstream hit, it was a cultural force that went beyond the screen and epitomized an era. The show was a crossover sensation all while providing an honest and refreshing view of the Black experience and to this day, the characters, all created by the comedic genius of the show's namesake, Martin Lawrence, are still some of pop culture's most beloved. Thirty years later, its legacy lives on, and this summer, fans will be able to relive all the love, joy and laughter as Martin and the gang come together once again for the first time in decades.

The reunion special, hosted by comedian and actor Affion Crockett, will include Martin Lawrence ("Martin"), Tisha Campbell ("Gina"), Tichina Arnold ("Pamela") and Carl Anthony Payne II ("Cole"), along with surprise guest appearances. Taking a look at the show's origin and evolution, the reunion will feature interviews with the cast, original directors, special musical performances, and behind the scenes commentary on the importance and impact of the show that shaped a generation. The reunion is executive produced by Martin Lawrence, Robert Lawrence, Rae Proctor and Stacy Lyles through his company Run Tel Dat Entertainment. For Jesse Collins Entertainment, Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon serve as executive producers along with Jeannae Rouzan-Clay who is also the showrunner. The show is executive produced and directed by Stan Lathan. The special is written by Nile Evans as well as Bentley Kyle Evans who also serves as a co-executive producer. Jesse Collins Entertainment's Brittany Brazil is a producer.

The taping took place yesterday, (Sunday, February 20) and will launch on BET+ later this year. In the meantime, fans can get ready for the reunion by re-watching all five seasons of Martin now on BET+. Martin premiered in August 1992 on Fox. BET+ is the premium streaming service for the Black community offering thousands of hours of hit movies, TV shows, stage plays and more.

Team Dave Chappelle is on deck for Netflix. Chappelle's Home Team is a series of stand-alone comedy specials executive produced by Dave Chappelle and featuring comedians chosen and spotlighted by Chappelle. The first comedian to be featured is Earthquake, premiering on Monday, February 28. In the special, titled Earthquake: Legendary, comedian Earthquake shakes up the stage and delivers aftershocks while going in hard on health as wealth, prostate exams and disciplining kids. Chappelle appears in each special to introduce his fellow comedians, all of whom have been in the comedy game for over 30 years. Earthquake: Legendary premieres globally on Netflix next week on Monday, February 28. The details on the remaining comedians will be revealed at a later date.

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

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Labels: BET+, Chappelle's Show, Fox, Martin, Netflix

SitcomsOnline Digest: Fuller House Comes to Cable TV; Paramount+ Getting South Park and Beavis and Butt-Head Reboot

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! There is a lot of stuff going on this week (we have about twice as much news as we normally do, and we even had to cut some of it out), including the debut of Fuller House on cable, the end of a popular FX series, and a big change that's still a few years away for new episodes of South Park. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Fuller House is about to make a debut on cable, as it joins the GAC Family lineup in a little over a week. (People)
• It's honestly perplexing that CBS sold the streaming rights to South Park to HBO Max anyway given that they were developing their own streaming service at the same time, but in 2025, South Park will move to Paramount+ not only for the library of episodes but new episodes will also debut there instead of Comedy Central (and the new Beavis and Butt-Head reboot, which was planned for Comedy Central, will air there as well). (Hollywood Reporter)
• Paul Reiser, who has starred in a TV reboot himself, is set to be part of the cast in the new Hulu comedy Reboot that is about a TV show being rebooted. (Variety)
• A reunion for Martin is set, for BET+. (TVLine)
• Season 3 is still over a month away, and season 4 is even further off, but both seasons of the FX series Atlanta have already been completed, and they'll also be the last seasons. (Hollywood Reporter)
• However, sister network FXX sees "no end in sight" for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (which has already dethroned The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet for longest live action comedy) and Archer. (Deadline)
• CBS has ordered a comedy pilot about high school newspaper reporters who are left as the only news outlet in a small midwestern town after the local newspaper goes out of business. (Deadline)
• It seems that toxic workplaces have been a theme among daytime talk shows, and now Dr. Phil is the one being accused. (Deadline)
• How I Met Your Father is getting a second season at Hulu. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (FEBRUARY 19 - FEBRUARY 25)

• Brooklyn Nine-Nine heads to Comedy Central tomorrow.
• Decades is doing a Rhoda binge this weekend.
• Antenna TV has a marathon of The Jeffersons today.

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

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Labels: Atlanta, Beavis and Butt-Head, Fuller House, How I Met Your Father, Martin, Reboot, SitcomsOnline Digest, South Park

ABC Winter Midseason 2022 Schedule; HBO Max Acquires Mr. Cooper, Martin, Jamie Foxx and More

ABC announced the first wave of 2022 midseason premiere dates for new and returning series. Teacher knows best! Workplace comedy Abbott Elementary, starring and executive produced by Quinta Brunson, will air a special early premiere on Tuesday, Dec 7 at 9:30pm. The all-new series is then set to air new episodes in its regular time period starting Tuesday, Jan 4 at 9pm, where it will be joined by Emmy®-nominated black-ish at 9:30pm for a star-studded final season, and the winter return of Queens at 10pm. With the most recent seasons of The Bachelor franchise pulling in a combined 23.8 million Total Viewers after 35 days of delayed viewing on linear and digital platforms [MP+35], the search for love continues when The Bachelor launches an all-new season on Monday, Jan. 3 from 8pm-10pm. Then, on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 10pm, ABC's heart-racing quiz show The Chase will return with new episodes (giving A Million Little Things a breather) alongside the winter returns of The Goldbergs, The Wonder Years, The Conners and Home Economics from 8-10pm. ABC's six-episode limited series Women of the Movement, chronicling the story of Mamie Till-Mobley seeking justice for son Emmett Till, will premiere Thursday, Jan. 6 from 8-10pm for three weeks, as previously announced. The epic, generation-spanning drama Promised Land, following two Latinx families vying for wealth and power in California's Sonoma Valley, rounds out January premieres on Monday, Jan. 24 at 10pm giving The Good Doctor a breather. ABC has not announced yet when the 2022 returns of its normal Thursday night line-up (Station 19, Grey's Anatomy, Big Sky) will be, along with The Good Doctor and A Million Little Things. However, additional midseason premiere dates will be shared at a later time.

HBO Max announced a new lineup of Warner Bros. acquisitions are now available on the platform, including the sitcoms Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, In the House, The Jamie Foxx Show, Martin and The Parent'hood. They join other recently added Warner Bros. owned sitcoms such as Full House, Family Matters, and Step by Step on Oct. 1. Perfect Strangers should be coming soon, as they have also a reboot potentially coming of that. Hangin' with Mr. Cooper stars Mark Curry, Holly Robinson Peete, Saundra Quarterman, Nell Carter, Marquise Wilson, Dawnn Lewis, Omar Gooding and Luis Avalos. In the House stars LL Cool J, Debbie Allen, Lisa Arrindell Anderson, Kim Wayans, Maia Campbell, Jeffery Wood, Dee Jay Daniels and Alfonso Ribeiro. The Jamie Foxx Show stars Jamie Foxx, Garcelle Beauvais, Christopher B. Duncan, Ellia English, Garrett Morris and Andy Berman. Martin stars Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Tichina Arnold, Thomas Mikal Ford, Carl Anthony Payne, Jonathan Gries, Garrett Morris and Angelina Estrada. The Parent'hood stars Robert Townsend, Suzzanne Douglas, Carol Woods, Kenny Blank, Reagan Gomez-Preston, Curtis Williams, Ashli Adams, Bobby McGee, Tyrone Dorzell Burton, Faizon Love and Kelly Perine.

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

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, ABC, black-ish, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, HBO Max, Home Economics, In the House, Jamie Foxx Show, Martin, Parent'hood, The Conners, The Goldbergs, Wonder Years (2021)

South Park Streaming Specials to Premiere on Paramount+; Martin Stars Return to Host Soul Train Awards

Paramount+, the streaming service from ViacomCBS, and MTV Entertainment Studios announced two new original South Park exclusive events for Paramount+. The first, titled South Park: Post COVID, premieres Thursday, Nov. 25 and will also roll out on the service in the Nordics, Latin America, Australia and Canada. The second exclusive event will stream in December, the date to be announced. With these exclusive events, Kyle, Stan, Kenny and Cartman make their highly anticipated debut on Paramount+, adding to the service's growing roster of adult animated series. MTV Entertainment Studios' expansive deal with Parker and Stone includes extending South Park on Comedy Central through 2027 and taking cable's longest-running scripted series – August 13, 2022 marks the franchise's 25th anniversary – through an unprecedented 30th season. In addition to the series extension, the new deal includes 14 South Park original made-for-streaming events exclusively for Paramount+.

BET has announced the hosts of the 2021 Soul Train Awards, taking place from a new location, the Apollo in New York City, with co-hosts Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold. Celebrating the best in soul music and the iconic television show's 50th anniversary, the Soul Train Awards recognizes the best in Soul, R&B, and Hip Hop from both established industry legends and the next generation of promising artists. The 2021 Soul Train Awards premieres Sunday, November 28 at 8 pm ET/PT on BET and BET Her. Actor, singer and writer Tisha Campbell (Martin, My Wife & Kids, Last Man Standing, Dr. Ken) will once again join actor, singer, and writer Tichina Arnold (Martin, Everybody Hates Chris, The Neighborhood, Survivor's Remorse) as hosts and co-producers of this year's awards. The legendary best friend duo, both on the 90's hit show Martin and in real-life, will return to the Soul Train Awards stage for the fourth time, bringing their dynamic comedy and infectious personalities to this year's ceremony.

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Labels: BET, BET Her, Comedy Central, Martin, Paramount+, South Park

TCA Winter 2020 Press Tour: Showtime and Pop; Will Smith & Martin Lawrence Talk Hit Sitcoms

Monday's recap from the TCA Winter 2020 Press Tour had Showtime and Pop going. Up first, SHOWTIME has ordered a ten-episode second season of The L Word: Generation Q, the sequel to the groundbreaking drama series The L Word. SHOWTIME has picked up a second season of the critically acclaimed comedy series Work in Progress. Created and written by Chicago improv mainstays Abby McEnany and Tim Mason and co-written by Lilly Wachowski (The Matrix), the series stars McEnany as a fictionalized version of herself whose misfortune and despair unexpectedly lead her to a vibrantly transformative relationship. SHOWTIME has announced that the ten-episode second season of its acclaimed comedy series Black Monday will debut with back-to-back episodes each week beginning on Sunday, March 15th from 10 to 11 p.m. ET/PT. SHOWTIME announced that season five of the hit drama series Billions will premiere on Sunday, May 3 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Starring Oscar(R) nominee and Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) winner Paul Giamatti and Emmy and Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis.

SHOWTIME has announced that the third season of its drama series The Chi, which will feature series creator and Emmy(R) winner Lena Waithe (Queen & Slim, Boomerang) in a multi-episode arc as a Chicago mayoral candidate, will debut on Sunday, July 5 at 10 p.m. SHOWTIME has announced that the highly anticipated series Penny Dreadful: City of Angels will premiere on Sunday, April 26 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, while Emmy(R)-winning documentary series Vice, known for delivering longform, on-the-ground journalism and newsworthy explorations of our world today, will premiere across all SHOWTIME platforms on Sunday, March 29, at 8 p.m. And finally, the network has picked up an 11th and final season of its hit comedy series Shameless premiering this summer.

After a celebrated new season pickup following a passionate fan campaign, Pop TV announced that the acclaimed series One Day at a Time, will return on Tuesday, March 24 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, following all new-episodes of the final season of Schitt's Creek before moving to 9 p.m. ET/PT, starting on April 14. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the award-winning comedy inspired by Emmy(R) winner Norman Lear's 1975 series of the same name will continue to tell the story of the Cuban American Alvarez family throughout 13 original episodes. This season will find Penelope (Screen Actors Guild Award(R) winner Justina Machado) exploring a surprising relationship, her mother Lydia (Emmy, Grammy(R), Oscar(R) and Tony(R) winner Rita Moreno) experiencing a religious crisis - as well as revealing the details of her surprise trip to Cuba with Dr. Berkowitz (Stephen Tobolowsky), and Schneider (Todd Grinnell) finding his relationship with Avery (India de Beaufort) growing deeper. Meanwhile, Elena (Isabella Gomez) begins to prepare for college and Alex (Marcel Ruiz) starts to date.
One Day at a Time joins Pop TV's slate of bold comedies with a point of view including the final season of Emmy-nominated Schitt's Creek, the critically acclaimed Florida Girls, and Flack starring Oscar winner Anna Paquin.

#Blessed. Pop TV announced that it has ordered the miraculous new comedy pilot Mother Mary, a modern twist on one of the famous stories ever told. The project is conceived by CBS Television Studios, written by Casey Feigh (What We Do in the Shadows), Dan Gregor (How I Met Your Mother) and Betsy Sodaro (Disjointed) and executive produced by Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) winner Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) along with Tony Hernandez and Brooke Posch of Jax Media (Broad City, Russian Doll, Florida Girls), and Feigh, Gregor and Sodaro. Crisis averted! Pop TV announced the return of the dark comedy Flack, set in the world of a celebrity crisis PR firm, starring Academy Award(R) and Golden Globe(R) winner and Emmy(R)-nominated actress Anna Paquin (True Blood, The Affair). The six-episode season will premiere on Friday, March 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT and features new cast members Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actor Sam Neill, Screen Actors Guild Award(R) winner Daniel Dae Kim and guest star Emmy-winner Martha Plimpton.

Season 10 of Complex's longest-running and award-winning series, Sneaker Shopping, returns this week with superstars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Host Joe La Puma takes the dynamic duo through Stadium Goods in NYC where they chat setting trends on their sitcoms (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Martin), getting their own sneaker collabs and footwear choices in Bad Boys for Life. The episode is now live on Complex's YouTube. As the host of Sneaker Shopping, Joe La Puma gives fans a sneak peek into the personal lives of the biggest names in music, sports, and pop culture from the feet up, sharing their lives, careers, and personal tastes with La Puma through the lens of sneakers and style.

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

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Labels: Black Monday, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, One Day at a Time, POP, Shameless, Showtime, TCA Winter Tour, Work in Progress

Remembering Martin's Tommy Ford; Fox Picks Up Full Season of Lethal Weapon

Actor Tommy Ford, who was best known for his role as Tommy Strawn in Martin, has died. He died on October 12 at an Atlanta area hospital after an aneurysm in his abdomen ruptured. Mr. Ford was 52.

Ford played Tommy Strawn in Martin, which aired for five seasons on Fox from 1992-1997. Tommy was one of Martin's three best friends. He was the straight man for Martin Lawrence's jokes, but he very often inserted scene-stealing "bald-headed logic" and witty comments in odd situations. There were many jokes regarding his mysterious employment status. He was the only character to physically appear in all 132 episodes of the series. Ford received a NAACP Image Awards nomination in 1996 for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series" for the role.

He earlier starred in the short-lived 1990 NBC sitcom Singer & Sons. He played the streetwise Reggie Patterson, the son of Sarah Patterson (Esther Rolle). The series also starred Harold Gould, Bobby Hosea, Brooke Fontaine, Fred Stoller, Arnetia Walker, Anne Berger and Phil Leeds.

Ford had a recurring role as Mel Parker in seven episodes of the UPN sitcom The Parkers from 1999-2001. He was Nikki's (Mo'Nique) ex-husband and Kim's father (Countess Vaughn).

In 1998, he played the role of Lieutenant Malcolm Barker in the fourth and final season of the Fox police drama New York Undercover. He was the commanding officer of the NYPD's Special Investigations Division.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Kate & Allie, A Different World, Uncle Buck (1990), Living Single, The Jamie Foxx Show, Let's Stay Together and Zoe Ever After.

He was known as the "Pope of Comedy", due to exposure as a judge on TV One's comedy competition show Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes?.

Mr. Ford very funny in Martin. We thank him for all of the laughs he brought us. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Martin message board. View photos in our galleries.

Fox has ordered a full season of the hit action drama Lethal Weapon, picking up an additional five episodes. This brings the total order to 18 episodes for the 2016-17 season. Combining action and drama with ride-or-die friendship and humor, Lethal Weapon reimagines the hit movie franchise, as it follows classic cop duo Riggs (Clayne Crawford, Rectify) and Murtaugh (Emmy Award nominee Damon Wayans, My Wife and Kids, In Living Color), who work a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles. Grief-stricken after the loss of his young wife and unborn child, ex-Navy SEAL-turned-detective Martin Riggs moves to California to "start over" at the LAPD. He's paired up with Roger Murtaugh, who's just coming back to the job after a near-fatal heart attack. Riggs' penchant for diving headfirst into the line of fire immediately clashes with Murtaugh's prudent, by-the-book technique. One has everything to live for, the other has nothing to lose.

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Labels: Fox, Lethal Weapon, Martin, Obits

Meet the Browns Heads to BET; Netflix Goes Back to The Ranch

Tyler Perry's sitcom Meet the Browns is now on BET in reruns. The sitcom starts today with a marathon from 8am-2am, so it's non-stop laughs to start off October. The series will air weekdays from 11am-12pm and 7-8pm. There will be other airings, sometimes a prime stack once a week or even some weekend play in stacks. The series will follow Tyler Perry's other sitcom House of Payne. BET also airs Martin and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. BET also from time to time brings out Eve, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Game and In the House, but most of these air on sister network Centric. As for Meet the Browns, the series revolves around a senior family living under one roof in Decatur, Georgia led by patriarch Mr. Brown and his daughter Cora Simmons. David Mann and Tamela Mann star and the series aired from 2009-2011, but had a bulk episode order, totaling 140 episodes.

Howdy. The Ranch Part 2 returns with ten new episodes Friday, October 7, everywhere where Netflix is available. The Ranch stars Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Sam Elliot, Debra Winger and more. The Ranch is executive produced by Don Reo (Two and Half Men, My Wife and Kids) and Jim Patterson (Two and a Half Men, Mike and Molly). Kutcher and Masterson also serve as executive producers. As mentioned, The Ranch Part 2 Launches on Netflix Friday, Oct. 7 to conclude its first season 20 episode order.

Life on The Ranch is never easy and things get even more complicated in part two of season one. It seems like ex-football star Colt Bennett (Kutcher) has finally accepted his place on the family ranch, but he and his brother Rooster (Masterson) will have to prove themselves to their father Beau (Elliot) if they ever hope to become partners. Maggie (Winger) has hopes of her own and they may no longer involve her on-again/off-again husband and after finally saving his ranch, Beau might be losing his family. And if life weren't complicated enough, when Colt's high school sweetheart Abby (Elisha Cuthbert) expresses doubts about her fiancé, Colt must choose between his current girlfriend and his first love. Dysfunctional doesn't even cover this family.

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Labels: BET, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, Meet the Browns, Netflix, The Ranch

COZI TV Fall 2016 Has Frasier, Little House and Quincy; Martin Lawrence Gets Showtime Special

COZI TV announced Dr. Frasier Crane's return to America's airwaves this fall, with the iconic television sitcom Frasier officially debuting on the popular, multicast network starting Monday, September 12, airing weekdays from 7-9 PM ET (check local listings). There will also be a marathon on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10am-11pm ET. Starring Kelsey Grammer and the winner of 37 primetime Emmy® Awards, Frasier has been ranked by TV Guide among the top 50 television shows of all-time. Frasier follows the journey of noted psychiatrist Frasier Crane as he returns home to launch a new phase in his personal and professional lives. Frasier originally aired on NBC starting in 1993, with the series concluding in 2004. Originally launched as an extension of NBC's Cheers, Frasier quickly emerged as one of the most successful spin-off series in television history. Joined by a memorable cast including John Mahoney, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce and Peri Gilpin, fans enjoyed the latest storylines involving the newly-divorced Dr. Crane (Grammer) as he returned to Seattle and embarked on a new career as a radio talk show host.

Frasier joins Little House on the Prairie and Quincy, M.E. as new additions to COZI TV's fall line-up. Originally announced earlier this year, Little House on the Prairie will debut on COZI TV starting Monday, September 19, airing weekdays from 10 AM to noon and again at 5 PM ET. Quincy, M.E. will also debut the same day, airing weekdays at 2 PM ET. (check local listings).

On the heels of a sold-out national tour, comedy great Martin Lawrence hits the stage in this long-awaited stand-up special, Martin Lawrence Doin' Time: Uncut premiering Friday, September 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime on-air, on demand and over the internet. Filmed live at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, Martin Lawrence Doin' Time: Uncut showcases Lawrence's impeccable comedic skills, physicality and engaging wit. Delivering an unforgettable night of impressions and insights, he touches on everything from sex and relationships to President Obama, Bill Cosby, Hollywood and more. Lawrence is back in a big way and will leave viewers in hysterics, from start to finish.

Lawrence, a renowned stand-up comedian, actor, director, producer and writer, came to fame during the 1990s. He quickly established himself as a leading actor, most notably in the hit television sitcom Martin, for which he created such beloved characters as "Sheneneh Jenkins," "Edna (Mama) Payne," "Otis," and "Jerome." For his dynamic performance, he earned two NAACP Image Awards(R) for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series two years in a row - 1995 and 1996. Lawrence's box office-topping credits include Bad Boys and its sequel Bad Boys II opposite Will Smith, and the three-film Big Momma's House franchise. Additional film credits include House Party, Boomerang, A Thin Line Between Love & Hate, Nothing to Lose, Blue Streak, Life, Wild Hogs, and Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins.

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Labels: Cozi TV, Frasier, Little House on the Prairie, Martin, Quincy ME, Showtime

BET Airs Carmichael Show Marathon; Bones to End After Next Season

NBC's second season sitcom The Carmichael Show is returning with a special preview airing on Wednesday, March 9, before moving to its regular night and time on Sunday, March 13, but before that... BET will be airing a marathon of the first season. The season one marathon will air on Friday, March 11 from 7pm-10pm. The sitcom will be sandwiched in between blocks of sitcoms House of Payne (4-7pm) and Martin (10pm-12am). In this sitcom, inspired by the life of comedian Jerrod Carmichael, the series follows Jerrod and his opinionated North Carolina family as they navigate topics that all families face today in America. Nothing is too uncomfortable to explore, including police protests, guns and religion. Jerrod often finds himself debating such issues with his old-school father, Joe (David Alan Grier), his devoutly religious mother, Cynthia (Loretta Devine), his progressive live-in girlfriend, Maxine (Amber Stevens West), his recently separated brother, Bobby (Rel Howery), and Bobby's estranged and outspoken wife, Nekeisha (Tiffany Haddish). And somewhere in the middle of all of their disagreeing is the heart of this family.

Bones, the long-running comedic procedural beloved by millions of fans around the world, will return for a final farewell 12th season on Fox in 2016-17. The 12-episode run will celebrate the inventive series and bring the storylines of Brennan (Emily Deschanel), Booth (David Boreanaz) and the Jeffersonian-FBI team to a close, allowing the show's loyal fans to say goodbye to these indelible characters. When Bones ends its run, the series will have completed 246 original episodes, making it one of the longest running Fox series ever. Bones returns for its spring premiere on Thursday, April 14 at 8:00PM ET/PT on Fox. Picking up after the explosive fall finale, the all-new episode, "The Death in the Defense," finds Hodgins (TJ Thyne) eight weeks into his rehabilitation and forced to navigate life in a wheelchair. Meanwhile, Brennan and Booth investigate the death of a public defender who had multiple defendants from previous cases with motives to kill her.

In the series, Brennan, a highly skilled forensic anthropologist who works at the Jeffersonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and writes novels on the side, and her FBI partner, Booth, have taken on cases other law enforcement can't solve and proven to be a formidable partnership, both at work and at home. Over the course of the series, Brennan has devoted herself to her career, to Booth, with whom she's had two children, and to her team at the Jeffersonian. They include best friend Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin), an artist who specializes in reconstructing facial features and crime scenes; Angela's husband, Hodgins, a conspiracy theorist and expert on insects, spores and minerals, who is affectionately known as "the slime and bug guy"; Dr. Camille "Cam" Saroyan (Tamara Taylor), the street-smart and centered coroner; and Booth's most recent colleague at the FBI, Special Agent James Aubrey (John Boyd), a young, intrepid FBI agent with a voracious appetite for solving crime, junk food and career advancement.

Utilizing a wide swathe of skills, and using human remains as their roadmap, this exceptional team has cracked some of the toughest cases to cross their lab tables and, in the process,escaped near-death experiences on multiple occasions. Inspired by real-life forensic anthropologist and novelist Kathy Reichs, the series also has explored more ways for human remains to have been discovered than ever thought imaginable. With Brennan leading the way as the top professional in the field of forensic anthropology, Bones has inspired young girls around the world to consider a career in science. At the same time, having stacked up more episodes than the number of bones in the human body (206!), the series has helped viewers distinguish between the patella (kneecap) and the phalanges (bones in human fingers).

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Labels: BET, Fox, House of Payne, Martin, NBC, The Carmichael Show

BET Acquires House of Payne for November; Gilmore Girls Premieres on UP Tonight

BET has acquired the off-network cable rights to the Tyler Perry sitcom House of Payne. The sitcom will launch with a launch marathon on Sunday, November 1, 2015 from 12pm-9pm. Then beginning Monday, November 2, the series joins the regular line-up with fellow sitcom Martin and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in daytime. House of Payne will air weekdays 8-9am and 12:30pm-1:30pm, along with some weekend blocks. Recent acquisition Martin will continue to air weekdays 2:30pm & 3pm and evening blocks beginning at 6pm. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is airing weekdays 9-10am and 1:30pm-2:30pm. In late night, BET will continue to alternate with blocks of The Jamie Foxx Show and The Wayans Bros. starting at 2am. BET is airing Scandal Saturday nights at 1am and 2am and will also air the latest season five premieres on Sundays at 11pm, a few weeks after they premiere on ABC. Keep it right here for continued updates on House of Payne on BET and all things BET.

UP has more, more, more Gilmore Girls. The network's recently announced acquisition of the full 153 episode, seven-season run of Gilmore Girls (#GilMOREGirls) was celebrated with an all-day fan-focused marathon of the award-winning family drama yesterday (Sunday, October 4) at 10am EDT. Starting tonight at 7 p.m. EDT, the series will begin airing back-to-back episodes every Monday through Friday starting with the pilot episode. Gilmore Girls, stars Lauren Graham (Parenthood), Alexis Bledel (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly, Spy), Keiko Agena (Shameless, Transformers of the Dark Moon), Yanic Truesdale (Reumeurs), Scott Patterson (CSI Miami), Liza Weil (How to Get Away with Murder), Jared Padalecki (Supernatural), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes), Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Gun, Pearl Harbor) and Kelly Bishop (Bunheads, The Good Wife), with special appearances by the late Edward Herrmann (The Wolf of Wall Street, The Lost Boys) and recurring guest star Liz Torres (Devious Maids, Scandal).

Gilmore Girls, which aired from 2000-2007, is set in a storybook Connecticut town called Stars Hollow populated by an eclectic mix of dreamers, artists and everyday folk. The multi-generational drama about family and friendship centers around Lorelai Gilmore (Graham) and her daughter, Rory (Bledel). Lorelai owns the town's bed-and-breakfast, the Dragonfly Inn, with best friend/chef Sookie (McCarthy), and contends with weekly dinners with eccentric, well-off parents Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily Gilmore (Kelly Bishop) who always have something to say about their daughter's life.

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Labels: BET, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Gilmore Girls, House of Payne, Jamie Foxx Show, Martin, Scandal, UP, Wayans Bros

Martin Coming to BET in Fall 2015; ABC Fall 2015 Preview Special Airs Friday

Martin is coming to BET in style. The '90s Martin Lawrence sitcom will be joining the BET schedule with a three-day launch marathon that will feature non-stop laughs for 72 straight hours. It all begins on the night of Thursday, October 1 at 11:59pm lasting through Sunday, October 4 at 11:59pm. It's wall-to-wall Martin with 144 airings, which means all 132 episodes will air in the marathon (with a few encores of course). Martin will then join the regular BET schedule on Monday, October 5 airing in the afternoons and evenings. Times vary, but usually afternoons at 2:30pm & 3pm following The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and in the evenings from 6-7pm with some nights of extensions through primetime. Martin will also get some Saturday marathon block play in the mornings/early afternoons, usually 11am-3pm again following The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The other BET off-network series are The Jamie Foxx Show and The Wayans Bros., usually airing in late night blocks from 2-4am. Scandal will air in late nights on Saturday nights from 1-3am. Back to Martin, the sitcom was set in Detroit and starred Martin Lawrence in the role of Martin Payne, a disc jockey with a girlfriend named Gina Waters played by Tisha Campbell-Martin. The series also airs on sister Viacom network MTV2 and on the cable network TV One. Keep it right for continued updates on BET and all things Martin.

Tune in and take a look at the exciting new shows coming to ABC this fall as doctor-turned-actor/comedian Ken Jeong hosts ABC Fall Preview Special, airing Friday, September 18 at 8:31pm ET on the ABC Television Network. Shot on location on the set of Ken's new ABC sitcom, Dr. Ken, the funnyman will introduce you to ABC's much anticipated new fall shows, including Blood and Oil, starring Chace Crawford & Rebecca Rittenhouse and veteran actor Don Johnson in his return to network television; Quantico, starring international superstar Priyanka Chopra in her U.S. television debut; the return of The Muppets like you've never seen them before; Wicked City, starring Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick, Erika Christensen and Suburgatory's Jeremy Sisto; as well as Ken's new show, Dr. Ken, executive produced and starring the doctor-turned-actor/comedian. In addition, Ken will reintroduce you to ABC's uproariously funny returning Wednesday night comedies The Middle, The Goldbergs, Modern Family and black-ish, as well as television's most buzzed about night -- the TGIT lineup, which includes Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and last fall's #1 new series How to Get Away with Murder, which is best enjoyed with red wine, popcorn and friends!

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Labels: ABC, BET, Dr. Ken, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Jamie Foxx Show, Martin, Wayans Bros

Fox Midseason Pilot Review: Surviving Jack - Premieres Thursday, March 27; Martin Lawrence on The Soul Man LIVE Tonight on TV Land

Surviving Jack - Thursdays at 9:30PM ET/PT on Fox
Premieres Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 9:30PM ET/PT

by Vincent

Surviving Jack is a new single-camera comedy set in 1990s Southern California. The series centers on Jack Dunlevy, an ex-military man and no-nonsense guy who becomes a full-time parent when his wife decides to go to law school. He takes an unorthodox approach to keeping his teenagers, Frankie and Rachel, in line.

Cast Details:

Christopher Meloni as Dr. Jack Dunlevy
Rachael Harris as Joanne Dunlevy
Connor Buckley as Frankie Dunlevy
Claudia Lee as Rachel Dunlevy

Christopher Meloni (Dr. Jack Dunlevy) is best known for his long-running role as Detective Elliott Stabler on Law & Order: SVU. He is also known for his work on dramas such as Oz and True Blood. Surviving Jack will be his first time headlining a comedy.

Rachael Harris (Joanne Dunlevy) has an extensive list of guest star credits, including Pushing Daisies, Desperate Housewives, Cougar Town, Archer, Happy Endings, New Girl, Party Down, The Office, Suits and Modern Family. Surviving Jack will be her first starring role in a series.

Connor Buckley (Frankie Dunlevy) has previously appeared in the film The Abduction of Zack Butterfield and in the series Mafia Diaries.

Claudia Lee (Rachel Dunlevy) is best known for her role as Magnolia Breenald on the CW drama Hart of Dixie. She also appeared in the films Kick-Ass 2 and the series Zeke and Luther.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Thursday, March 27 at 9:30PM ET/PT)

In the pilot episode of the series, Jack Dunlevy (Christopher Meloni) is left as the main caregiver of the Dunlevy household after his wife begins law school. While it seems simple at first, things become more complicated when his teenage son Frankie develops a crush, and his daughter Claudia gets a bit too far with her boyfriend. It's up to Jack to reel everyone in, the best way he can.

Analysis:

Surviving Jack is the latest in a wave of 80s/90s "nostalgia" sitcoms this season - the others being ABC's The Goldbergs and NBC's Growing Up Fisher. This is a trend that tends to pop up every so often, and with good reason - nostalgia is a powerful, powerful drug. Just look anywhere on the internet, and you'll be bombarded with endless reminders of just how amazing the '80s and '90s were and how much happier we'd all be if we could just live in that time period. Dating back to Happy Days' dominance, nostalgia-laced sitcoms have attempted to dig into this mindset, but the truth is that it's a hard thing for a sitcom to get right. There have been only a handful of sitcoms since Happy Days to successfully recapture its magic. This is because it's very easy for a sitcom set in the past to feel overly gimmicky and ultimately fast, especially since a sitcom isn't likely to delve into the complex fabrics of the era in a way a show like Mad Men can. When a show becomes more about the time period and less about the characters its placed in that time period, everything starts to look and feel artificial. For a show like this to work, the show has to place a stronger focus on the characters than it does on the "hey, look, it's 1990!" gimmicks. Otherwise, why go through the trouble of watching a half-hour sitcom when you can simply look at a list of gifs on Buzzfeed?

Luckily, the pilot episode suggests Surviving Jack is well aware of this. Helmed by veteran sitcom scribe Bill Lawrence (previous showrunner of Spin City, Scrubs and Cougar Town and current producer of TBS's Ground Floor), Surviving Jack boasts a handful of well-defined - if somewhat stereotypical - characters. Lawrence's experiences shows in the Surviving Jack pilot, which is bursting with the witty dialogue and subtle character moments that we've come to expect from his shows. The characters, as I noted, don't feel exactly original, and that goes for the plots, too - "hard-ass dad and his soft teenage son" is a situation we've seen time and time again, and the pilot uses a groan-worthy school dance plot that would've felt repetitive even back in 1991. But there's a level of earnestness to Surviving Jack that makes me think this is a show that will eventually allow its characters to rise above their stock types, and there are enough funny, charming moments through-out the pilot that it earns the pedigree of its producer. Surviving Jack is not the most interesting or refreshing new comedy of the season, but it's a simple pleasure, and there's always room for that on TV. As long as the show is able to rise above some of the assembly-line stock plots that existed in the pilot, it could become a solidly enjoyable family sitcom.

Conclusion:

Surviving Jack is a little too familiar for its own good, and some of the early '90s gimmicks are a bit too overdone. But with solid writing, strong performances, and a clear sense of direction, Surviving Jack still comes out looking like a pretty decent family sitcom. If the show allows itself to break out of its shell and experiment with some character types that don't feel straight out of 1991, it could grow into something even more.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

Watchability: 3.5/5
Funniness: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5

Discuss the show after you watch it on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 9:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

Fox.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Surviving Jack Photo Gallery

Preview:

Comedic legend Martin Lawrence and hip-hop artist B.o.B will round out The Soul Man guest cast for the LIVE season premiere TONIGHT (Wednesday, March 26) at 10:30pm ET/PT. Previously announced guest stars include singer/actress Brandy Norwood (Moesha) and Betty White, who will cross over to The Soul Man following the live episode of Hot in Cleveland. The LIVE season three premiere will simulcast on TV Land, BET and CENTRIC, as we mentioned. Martin Lawrence (Martin) will appear in the LIVE episode as Rudy, Boyce's (Cedric "The Entertainer") scatterbrained drummer pal who helps to bring Boyce's band back together. At the end of the night, GRAMMY-nominated artist B.o.B hits the stage live to close out the show with a performance that will include The Soul Man himself, Cedric "The Entertainer." In the LIVE season premiere episode, Brandy Norwood will play Rita, one of Boyce's old back-up dancers who's hiding an obvious secret; Betty White appears as Elka Ostrovsky, her Hot in Cleveland character whom Boyce counted as a former parishioner; and Kellee Stewart, returns as Lolli's (Niecy Nash) sister, Kim, who takes her relationship with Stamps (Wesley Jonathan) to the next level. Tune in LIVE for the The Soul Man premiere and also for the Hot in Cleveland LIVE episode, all starting at 10|9c on TV Land!

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

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Labels: Fox, Martin, Pilot Reviews, Surviving Jack, The Soul Man, TV Land

FX Fall 2013 Schedule with Buffy and Ellen; Sabrina the Teenage Witch Now on MTV2

It's day four of our look at the fall 2013 cable and digital TV schedules, and today we will bring you the FX fall schedule. They will be actually adding some older series for a change. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 3, FX turns back the clock and brings back a series that they aired before -- Buffy the Vampire Slayer! The hit Sarah Michelle Gellar drama will air every morning (seven days a week) at 7am & 8am (unless a movie preempts an airing), as it returns for the first time on FX since 2008. Even more surprising is the next acquisition. FX has picked-up the cable rights to the 1994-98 sitcom Ellen starring Ellen DeGeneres! This will be an FX premiere as the series has never aired on the network. Ellen will air mornings Mon-Sat from 9-11am, but also a movie could preempt and airing or two on random days. Ellen has aired on other networks like Lifetime and Oxygen, but hasn't aired anywhere in quite some time. Back to Buffy, the series has aired on many networks since it left FX, including the Viacom world (MTV, TeenNick, Logo) and NBCUniversal (Chiller and Oxygen). The series continues to air on Chiller and will continue to air, but it seems that Viacom networks will lose the drama to FX.

Elsewhere on the FX fall schedule it will be status quo. From 11am-8pm will be movies, How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men, with no real set schedule. Ideally, FX likes to air How I Met Your Mother from 5-7pm and Two and a Half Men from 2-3pm and 7-8pm, but that's not always the case. In primetime, there are movies and original series (like Anger Management) thru 11pm. Encores of originals or a movie fill the rest of the schedule out from 11pm to the wee hours. We mentioned that How I Met Your Mother will be airing on the new FX spin-off network FXX, but as you can see it will still be on FX as well. You'll find the sitcom on both FX and FXX this fall. We will announce the FXX schedule sometime next week and it will have some older series that will surprise you as well. Stay tuned! Highlights for FX Fall 2013 include a Two and a Half Men Labor Day marathon on Monday, Sept. 2 from 7am-5:30pm. The season finale of Wilfred is on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 10. The 90-minute season premiere of Sons of Anarchy on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 10 following the broadcast premiere of the movie X-Men: First Class. The broadcast premiere of Moneyball on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7. The season premiere of American Horror Story: Coven is on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 10 following the broadcast premiere of Paranormal Activity. The following week as the broadcast premiere of Paranormal Activity 2. Other movie premieres include The Green Lantern.

Discuss the FX Fall 2013 schedule on our message board. And stay with us for the FXX launch schedule very soon!

MTV2 has added the Melissa Joan Hart sitcom Sabrina, the Teenage Witch to its line-up to compliment similar series Boy Meets World and Saved by the Bell as of July 27. The sitcom is primarily used on Saturdays from about 7-11am. It will pop-up on some weekdays as well in the mornings from 9am-12pm to lead into the regular Saved by the Bell (12-2pm) and Boy Meets World (2-4pm) airings. Other sitcoms MTV2 airs are Wayans Bros., Everybody Hates Chris, Martin and the sketch comedy In Living Color. They have quietly removed Smart Guy and Living Single after being added in April, while Martin has been reduced heavily. Sabrina, the Teenage Witch continues to air on The Hub, airing Mon-Thurs at 2am so this is a shared deal with The Hub. Smart Guy continues to air on Up, while Living Single is still on TV One with Martin. Stay with us for continued updates and to see what MTV2 looks like in the fall, if any changes.

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

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Labels: Anger Management, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ellen, FX, How I Met Your Mother, Living Single, Martin, MTV, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Smart Guy, Two and a Half Men