SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Apple TV+ Bad Monkey Renewed for Season 2; Norman Lear's Clean Slate Comedy to Premiere on Prime Video in February

Apple's acclaimed hit comedy Bad Monkey lands season two renewal. Vince Vaughn to return in his broadly celebrated performance as Andrew Yancy in fan-favorite comedy from award-winning executive producer Bill Lawrence Based on Carl Hiaasen's New York Times bestselling novel and enduring cult favorite, the first season of Bad Monkey is now streaming globally on Apple TV+ Following its critically acclaimed and Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh first season, Apple's hit comedy series Bad Monkey, from award-winning executive producer Bill Lawrence, and starring and executive produced by actor, producer and screenwriter Vince Vaughn, has been renewed for a second season. The series tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), who has been bounced from the Miami Police Department and is now a health inspector in the Keys. But after stumbling upon a case that begins with a human arm fished up by tourists, he realizes that if he can prove murder, he'll be back in. He just needs to get past a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey.

The season one ensemble cast also includes L. Scott Caldwell ("The Fugitive"), Rob Delaney ("Catastrophe"), Meredith Hagner ("Search Party"), Natalie Martinez ("Ordinary Joe," "Reminiscence"), Alex Moffat ("Saturday Night Live," "Holidate"), Michelle Monaghan ("Gone Baby Gone"), Ronald Peet ("First Reformed") and Jodie Turner-Smith ("Queen & Slim"), with special guest stars John Ortiz ("American Fiction"), Zach Braff ("Scrubs"), Ashley Nicole Black ("Ted Lasso"), Scott Glenn ("The Leftovers") and Charlotte Lawrence in her television debut.

Prime Video announced that the upcoming comedy series Clean Slate will debut all eight episodes on Thursday, February 6, 2025. Starring four-time Emmy(R)-nominated actress Laverne Cox and legendary comedian George Wallace, the series will stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. This heartfelt comedy follows Harry (Wallace), an old-school car wash owner in Alabama who has a lot of soul searching to do when the child he once called "son" returns after 17 years as a proud trans woman named Desiree (Cox). Her homecoming brings together a hilarious cast of friends, coworkers, and love interests as Desiree and Harry try to get it right the second time around. The series explores universal themes of unconditional love, all through Norman Lear's signature boundary-pushing brand of comedy.

Cox of Laverne Cox Productions, Wallace, and Dan Ewen (Dear Santa, Playing with Fire) are creators and executive producers of the series. Emmy(R) winners Norman Lear (Act III Productions) and Brent Miller executive produce the series. Ewen co-showruns the series with Executive Producer Simran Baidwan. Paul Hilepo is a producer. Also joining the cast are Telma Hopkins, D.K. Uzoukwu, Jay Wilkison, and Norah Murphy. Clean Slate is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios.

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

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Labels: Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Bad Monkey, Clean Slate, Norman Lear

Netflix's Good Times Animated Comedy Trailer; Too Close for Comfort and Check It Out! Complete Series on DVD

Good Times is back...now as an animated series! In this irreverent reimagining of the TV classic, a new generation of the Evans family keeps their heads above water in a Chicago housing project. An unfiltered adult comedy with the voices of Yvette Nicole Brown, J.B. Smoove, Wanda Sykes, Jay Pharoah, Marsai Martin and more. Add Good Times to your MyList here. From Showrunner Ranada Shepard and Executive Producers Stephen Curry, Norman Lear and Seth MacFarlane, the animated comedy drops on Netflix on Friday, April 12. No word yet on how many episodes will drop.

'80s sitcom Too Close for Comfort will be out with a Complete Series DVD set on April 3 with all 6 seasons consisting of 129 episodes from VEI (Visual Entertainment Inc.) for just $39.99. Just like fellow DLT Entertainment sitcom Three's Company earlier this year. Cartoonist Henry Rush (Ted Knight) and his loving wife, Muriel (Nancy Dussault), have just hit upon a surefire plan to keep their maturing family intact. Daughters Jackie (Deborah Van Valkenburgh) and Sara (Lydia Cornell) may be all grown up, but that doesn't mean these proud parents are ready to sit back and watch them venture out into the big, bad world on their own. Not by a long shot! So when an apartment unexpectedly opens up in their San Francisco row house, logic dictates that they lease it to those that they want to hold dear-and, most importantly-near! But with a sexy blonde bombshell for one daughter and a smart and sassy brunette for the other, the Rushes might be getting far more than they bargained for. Never mind the wacky, ever-present social misfit that they soon have to contend with Monroe Ficus (Jim J. Bullock). Why, it's enough to drive any parent crazy! And though it may have once innocently seemed like a sound solution, this upstairs-downstairs living arrangement may quickly prove that for all involved it's far too easy to be, well, perhaps just a little...Too Close for Comfort!

Purchase Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series on DVD on Amazon.com or VEI.

In addition, another fellow '80s sitcom Check It Out! from DLT Entertainment will be out with a complete series DVD set from VEI with all 3 seasons (66 episodes) on April 8. Check It Out! takes viewers on a riotous romp through Cobbs, a supermarket where Howard Bannister, played by the iconic Don Adams, battles to maintain order amidst the chaos. Alongside him is Edna Moseley (Dinah Christie), his trusty sidekick and love interest, as they face the daily challenges brought on by a cast of quirky characters. From the endearing yet clueless stockboy to the consistently grumpy cashier, each member of the Cobbs team adds to the mayhem with their antics. Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the show delivers a relentless stream of slapstick comedy, witty one-liners, and an abundance of puns that keep the laughs rolling. Inspired by the British sitcom Tripper's Day from comedy writer Brian Cooke, Check It Out! brings its own unique flair to the supermarket setting. Cooke's expertise, honed from his work on US hits like Three's Company and Too Close For Comfort, lays the foundation for this uproarious comedy.

Purchase Check It Out! - The Complete Series on DVD on Amazon.com or VEI.

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

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Labels: Check It Out, Good Times, Netflix, Norman Lear, Three's Company, Too Close for Comfort, VEI

SitcomsOnline Digest: Remembering Norman Lear; Fox to Air M*A*S*H Retrospective

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we lost a sitcom producer icon, we're hearing about the cancellation of a series at ABC, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• The big news this week is that Norman Lear, who was working up until his death, has died at age 101. (CBS News)
• Norman Lear died this week, and many are wondering why his series are so hard to find on streaming media. Unfortunately, Sony declined to give many answers. (Deadline)
• Station 19 is coming to an end at ABC. (Deadline)
• Andrea Fay Friedman, who played the role of Corky's girlfriend Amanda on the series Life Goes On and also appeared in guest roles on other series, has died at age 53. (Variety)
• Fox is planning to air M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television, a two hour special of clips and interviews, on January 1. (Deadline)
• Prime Video has renewed Harlem for another season. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (DECEMBER 10 - DECEMBER 16)

• If you missed it last night, the CBS special Norman Lear: A Life on Television is available on Paramount+.
• MeTV is remembering Norman Lear on Sunday night with some episodes of All in the Family, Good Times, and Sanford & Son on Sunday night.
• Who's the Boss? is now available to watch on Hulu.
• Catchy Comedy is having a binge of The Dick Van Dyke Show this weekend, to honor his 98th birthday.

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

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Labels: Life Goes On, M*A*S*H, Norman Lear, SitcomsOnline Digest, Station 19, Who's the Boss?

CBS Norman Lear Tribute Special Tonight; Peacock Renews Twisted Metal

CBS announced the new entertainment special Norman Lear: A Life on Television, to air tonight - Friday, Dec. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs). Presented by Entertainment Tonight, this one-hour special features new interviews with stars of the long-running comedies Lear created, including Jimmie Walker from Good Times and Mackenzie Phillips from One Day at a Time, in addition to never-before-seen interviews from the ET vault. Also included with this new footage and interviews is an in-depth sit-down interview with Lear that ET host Kevin Frazier conducted when Lear celebrated his 100th birthday, in which he reflected on his lengthy, groundbreaking career.

Peacock's high-octane action-comedy Twisted Metal has been renewed for a second season. The series comes from Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. Twisted Metal premiered on July 27 getting off to a fast start, establishing itself as our most-binged original in its first week and currently ranks among Peacock's top three originals of all time as it continues to attract new viewers every week. Season one features executive producer and star Anthony Mackie (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Stephanie Beatriz (Encanto, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Joe Seanoa (AEW), with executive producer/star Will Arnett (Lego Masters, Murderville) and Thomas Haden Church (Sideways, Divorce, Spider-Man: No Way Home).

Twisted Metal is a half-hour live-action TV series based on the classic PlayStation game series, a high-octane action comedy, based on an original take by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick (Deadpool, Zombieland) and written by Michael Jonathan Smith (Cobra Kai). The first season is about a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a badass axe-wielding car thief, he'll face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck.

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

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Labels: CBS, Good Times, Norman Lear, One Day at a Time, Peacock, Twisted Metal

Remembering TV Legend Norman Lear; Critics Choice Awards Nominees

Emmy-winning producer and screenwriter Norman Lear, who created and produced All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons and One Day at a Time, has died. He died on December 5 at his home in Los Angeles from cardiac arrest, as a complication of heart failure. Mr. Lear was 101.

Lear developed the 1971-1979 CBS sitcom All in the Family. Based on the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, it was produced by Lear and Bud Yorkin. The series received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Series in 1971 and for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1972, 1973 and 1978. On February 16, 1991, CBS aired a 90-minute retrospective, All in the Family 20th Anniversary Special, hosted by Lear to commemorate the show's 20th anniversary.

His second big sitcom was Sanford and Son, which aired on NBC from 1972 to 1977. The series, which was based on the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, was about a Watts junk dealer and his son. It was a rating hit throughout its six-season run, finishing in the Nielsen top ten for five of those seasons.

Lear and Yorkin created the 1972-1978 CBS sitcom Maude. The show was the first spin-off of All in the Family, on which Bea Arthur had made two appearances as Maude, Edith Bunker's favorite cousin. Maude is generally considered to be based on Lear's wife Frances, something she herself confirmed, with Charlie Hauck serving as main producer and writer.

He developed and produced the 1974-1979 CBS sitcom Good Times. The spin-off of Maude was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans. It was television's first African American two-parent family sitcom. On December 18, 2019, ABC broadcast Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times, produced by Lear and Jimmy Kimmel. It won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special in 2020.

Lear developed the 1975-1985 CBS sitcom The Jeffersons. The show was launched as the second (and longest running) spin-off of All in the Family (after Maude), on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker. On May 22, 2019, ABC broadcast Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons, produced by Lear and Jimmy Kimmel. It won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special in 2019.

He developed and produced the 1975-1984 CBS sitcom One Day at a Time. It starred Bonnie Franklin as a divorced mother raising two teenage daughters, played by Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli, set in Indianapolis. He also executive produced the 2017-2020 Netflix remake of One Day at a Time, which starred Justina Machado and Rita Moreno as a Cuban-American family living in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Echo Park.

Some of Lear's other sitcom producing credits included Hot l Baltimore (1975), The Nancy Walker Show (1976), All That Glitters (1977), Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976-1977), A Year at the Top (1977), Fernwood 2 Night (or Fernwood Tonight (1977), America 2-Night (1978), In the Beginning (1978), Apple Pie (1978), Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986), The Baxters (1979-1981), Hanging In (1979), a.k.a. Pablo (1984), Sunday Dinner (1991), The Powers That Be (1992-1993) and 704 Hauser (1994). He developed The Dumplings (1976), All's Fair (1976-1977) and Sanford Arms (1977). He directed an episode of The Powers That Be in 1992 and an episode of 704 Hauser in 1994.

He directed, co-produced and co-wrote the 1971 satirical black comedy film Cold Turkey, which starred Dick Van Dyke and a long list of comedic actors. Some of his other film writing credits included Come Blow Your Horn (1963), Divorce American Style (1967) and The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968).

Mr. Lear was a TV legend and pioneer. He produced, wrote, created or developed over 100 shows. He received many awards, including six Primetime Emmys, two Peabody Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 1999, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017, and the Golden Globe Carol Burnett Award in 2021. We thank him for the many laughs and for the entertainment that he brought us during his legendary career. He will be greatly missed.

Antenna TV today announced that it will air a "Remembering Norman Lear: An Evening of Love and Laughter Marathon" on Wednesday, December 6 starting at 5pm Eastern. This special marathon celebrates Norman Lear, the legendary television producer behind popular sitcoms including All in the Family, Sanford and Son, and One Day at a Time, who died Tuesday at 101.

Antenna TV's "Remembering Norman Lear: An Evening of Love and Laughter Marathon" features curated episodes from One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Maude, and Archie Bunker's Place.

In recognition of Norman Lear's vast accomplishments and influence across television, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX and The CW will simulcast an on-air in memoriam card tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT honoring the late legendary TV writer and producer.

Catchy Comedy will remember television icon Norman Lear with a look back special hosted by Mr. Lear, The 200th Episode Celebration of All in the Family, airing Friday, December 8th at 8p ET | 5p PT.

Great Entertainment Television will honor the late Norman Lear this weekend with marathons of Good Times and Sanford and Son, starting at 10 am each day.

Saturday, December 9
10A - Sanford and Son, "Crossed Swords"
10:30A - Sanford and Son, "Sanford and Son and Sister Makes Three"
11A - Sanford and Son, "The Puerto Ricans Are Coming!"
11:30A - Sanford and Son, "A Visit From Lena Horne"
12p - Sanford and Son, "Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe"

Sunday, December 10
10A - Good Times, "Too Old Blues"
10:30A - Good Times, "Cousin Cleatus"
11A - Good Times, "A Matter of Mothers"
11:30A - Good Times, "That's Entertainment, Evans Style"
12P - Good Times, "The Dinner Party"

The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced the TV category nominees for the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards. The winners will be revealed at the star-studded Critics Choice Awards gala hosted by Chelsea Handler, which will broadcast LIVE on The CW on Sunday, January 14, 2024 (7:00 - 10:00 pm ET - delayed PT, check local listings). The Morning Show (Apple TV+) leads the television contenders for the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards with six nominations. In addition to Best Drama Series, the show earned several acting nominations including Best Actress in a Drama Series for both Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Billy Crudup was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, while Nicole Beharie and Karen Pittman both earned nods for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Succession (HBO | Max) followed with an impressive five nominations overall, including Best Drama Series. Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong are both nominated in the Best Actor in a Drama Series category, while Sarah Snook garnered a nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series and Matthew MacFadyen is up for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

A Small Light (National Geographic), Abbott Elementary (ABC), Beef (Netflix), Lessons In Chemistry (Apple TV+), Loki (Disney+), Reservation Dogs (FX), and The Bear (FX) tied with four nominations each. The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards will air live on The CW from 7:00 - 10:00 pm ET (delayed PT, check local listings). The Critics Choice Awards are bestowed annually to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Historically, they are the most accurate predictor of Academy Award nominations. The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards show will be executive-produced by Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment. The Critics Choice Awards are represented by Dan Black at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Full Comedy nominees are below:

BEST COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Barry (HBO | Max)
The Bear (FX)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Poker Face (Peacock)
Reservation Dogs (FX)
Shrinking (Apple TV+)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Bill Hader - Barry (HBO | Max)
Steve Martin - Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Kayvan Novak - What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Drew Tarver - The Other Two (HBO | Max)
Jeremy Allen White - The Bear (FX)
D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai - Reservation Dogs (FX)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Rachel Brosnahan - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Quinta Brunson - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Ayo Edebiri - The Bear (FX)
Bridget Everett - Somebody Somewhere (HBO | Max)
Devery Jacobs - Reservation Dogs (FX)
Natasha Lyonne - Poker Face (Peacock)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Phil Dunster - Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Harrison Ford - Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Harvey Guillén - What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
James Marsden - Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach - The Bear (FX)
Henry Winkler - Barry (HBO | Max)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Paulina Alexis - Reservation Dogs (FX)
Alex Borstein - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Janelle James - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Meryl Streep - Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Jessica Williams - Shrinking (Apple TV+)

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 2:00 PM

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, All in the Family, Antenna TV, Beef, Critics Choice Awards, Good Times, Maude, Netflix, Norman Lear, Obits, One Day at a Time, Reservation Dogs, Sanford and Son, The Bear, The CW, The Jeffersons

SitcomsOnline Digest: Emmy Awards Postponed to January; Norman Lear Celebrates 101st Birthday

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're seeing even more effects of the strikes going on, hearing of the death of a sitcom star, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• We could see this coming a month ago, but now, the Emmy Awards has officially been delayed until January (at least). (NPR)
• Norman Lear celebrated his 101st birthday this week. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Production of Days of Our Lives has been shutdown temporarily, but it has nothing to do with any strikes. (Deadline)
• The writers strike has, however, affected the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. (Yahoo!)
• Inga Swenson, known for her role of Gretchen on Benson, has died at age 90. (Variety)
• This is a little bit of a shocker here, the USA Network series Suits has broken a Nielsen streaming record for acquired programming, even outdoing series like The Office and Manifest when they were at their heights on streaming. (Deadline)
• NBCUniversal has announced some new FAST channels, though we're not quite sure how Major Dad fits into TNBC. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JULY 29 - AUGUST 4)

• Decades has a binge of The Flip Wilson Show weekend.
• The CW has some more international programming set to debut on Monday, including Run the Burbs and Bump.
• Big Brother returns for a new season on Wednesday, slightly later than usual (to fill some holes in the fall lineup presumably).

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

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Labels: Benson, Days of Our Lives, Emmys, FAST, Jeopardy, Norman Lear, SitcomsOnline Digest, Suits

SitcomsOnline Digest: Laverne Cox Comedy from Norman Lear Lands Freevee Series Order; Fox Looking Into Adult Animated Drama

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's feeling more like fall and the full-throated kickoff for the fall television season is almost here, but we're not there just yet (though a season premiere of one cable series is lingering out there this week). This week, we have news of a new Norman Lear comedy and some adult animated drama news for Fox. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Sure, he is 100 years old, but still, Norman Lear has a new sitcom coming to Freevee starring Laverne Cox and George Wallace. (TVLine)
• It's not clear how this would even pan out, but as Fox is in negotiations for keeping their animated hits on the air (something that is far less certain now that they are Disney properties and not owned by Fox), the network is looking into adult animated dramas. (Deadline)
• In advance of the premiere of the Quantum Leap reboot, a special drive-thru experience is coming to Los Angeles. (Deadline)
• Deadline has a look at season premiere dates. (Deadline)
• Fans of Days of Our Lives (or really any daytime soap opera) have been used to unscheduled preemptions for breaking news for all of TV history, so it was only fitting that the last two episodes of the series to air on NBC before the series moves to Peacock on Monday were disrupted due to the death of Queen Elizabeth (which, oddly enough, means that the series started while she was queen and more or less ended as soon as she died). (People)
• Bernard Shaw, who was the chief anchor for CNN when it debuted, has died. (CNN)
• It looks as if COZI is moving a little further away from the truly vintage classic TV roots that it started with (though still not diving too far off course), as they'll be adding Monk, Bones, and Las Vegas to their lineup. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (SEPTEMBER 10 - SEPTEMBER 16)

• It's a bird, it's a plane... it's a weekend binge of The Adventures of Superman on Decades.
• Season 4 of Atlanta arrives on FX on Thursday.

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

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Labels: Cozi TV, Days of Our Lives, Fox, Freevee, Norman Lear, Quantum Leap, SitcomsOnline Digest

SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Looking to Reduce Primetime Hours; Community Movie in the Works?

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week is a slow news week, but we are learning about a major broadcast network looking at abandoning the 10 PM hour, the cancellation of a MTV series, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• As streaming media continues to overshadow broadcast networks, NBC is looking at potentially giving up on 10 PM and returning the hour back to affiliates as early as fall 2023, and they may not be the only one. (Variety)
• Whatever Floribama Shore is (we're being slightly sarcastic), MTV is done with it, presumably because the MTV lineup doesn't have enough time slots to air Ridiculousness. (Deadline)
• The studio audience is returning to America's Funniest Home Videos this fall. (Deadline)
• Could we finally be getting to the conclusion of the "six seasons and a movie" for Community? (IGN)
• ABC is preparing for their celebration of Norman Lear's 100th birthday (which has actually already happened, but the special hasn't aired yet). (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2)

• Decades is doing a duo of binges this weekend, with Bridget Loves Bernie first then a marathon of the Barney Miller spinoff Fish.
• It's not exactly something we're all that interested in around here, but it does have a long history: the MTV Video Music Awards airs on Sunday.

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

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Labels: America's Funniest Home Videos, Community, Fish, NBC, Norman Lear, SitcomsOnline Digest

A-List Stars Join Norman Lear 100th Birthday ABC Special; Joe Pesci Joins Pete Davidson in Peacock Comedy

Jennifer Aniston, Jimmy Kimmel, Amy Poehler and Octavia Spencer are set to appear and celebrate the iconic television pioneer Norman Lear in the upcoming special, Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter, airing Thursday, Sept. 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC and available the next day on Hulu. Honoring the life and legacy of the remarkable storyteller, activist and philanthropist Norman Lear, the one-night-only celebration features intimate conversations, special performances and surprise reunions that pay homage to the man behind some of television’s greatest stories in celebration of his 100th birthday.

Norman Lear is a television and film writer/producer whose dynamic career in Hollywood has encompassed both the Golden Age and Streaming Era. He served as executive producer to the critically acclaimed reimagining of One Day at a Time, which ran for four seasons and was the first Netflix series to be renewed for network television (PopTV and CBS). Lear executive produces and co-hosts Live in Front of a Studio Audience..., alongside Jimmy Kimmel. The series set record ratings for ABC and won the Emmy® for Outstanding Variety Special for two consecutive years.

Peacock announced that Academy Award-winner Joe Pesci (Goodfellas, The Irishman) will star in the new Pete Davidson comedy series Bupkis as Davidson's grandfather, which is written, starring and executive produced by Davidson. Pesci will star alongside previously announced Emmy Award-winner Edie Falco, who will play Davidson's mom. This is Pesci's first television series. Bupkis, a half-hour live action comedy, is a heightened, fictionalized version of Pete Davidson's real life. The series will combine grounded storytelling with absurd elements from the unfiltered and completely original worldview for which Pete is well known. Lorne Michaels will executive produce for Broadway Video, Judah Miller (Showrunner) and Dave Sirus are writing and executive producing alongside executive producers Andrew Singer and Erin David. Jason Orley will direct and co-executive produce. Series comes from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Broadway Video.

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

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Labels: ABC, Bupkis, Norman Lear, Peacock

ABC to Present Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter; Remembering Tony Dow of Leave it to Beaver and Paul Sorvino

Honoring the life and legacy of the remarkable storyteller, activist and philanthropist Norman Lear, ABC will present a one-night-only celebration, Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter. The special will pay homage to the man behind some of television's greatest stories and will feature an impressive lineup of celebrity guests and musical performances to celebrate his 100th birthday, airing Thursday, September 22 from 9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT on ABC and available the next day on Hulu. Special guests and performers will be announced at a later date. Born in 1922 in New Haven, Connecticut, Lear attended Emerson College before flying 52 combat missions over Europe during World War II. Upon his return, he began a successful career writing and producing programs like The Colgate Comedy Hour and The Martha Raye Show — ultimately leading to Lear captivating 120 million viewers per week with his iconic shows of the 1970s and '80s - All in the Family, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Maude, One Day at a Time and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. He has won six Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe®.

Actor and director Tony Dow, who starred as Wally Cleaver on Leave it to Beaver, has died. He died on July 27 at his home in Topanga, California, of complications from liver cancer. Mr. Dow was 77.

Dow's career began when he went on a casting call and landed the role of Wally Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver. The classic family sitcom aired on CBS for one season from 1957 to 1958 before moving to ABC for five seasons from 1958 to 1963. A total of 234 episodes were produced over the six seasons. Wally is June (Barbara Billingsley) and Ward's (Hugh Beaumont) son and Beaver's (Jerry Mathers) older brother. His pals include Tooey Brown (Tiger Fafara), Chester Anderson (Buddy Hart), the awkward Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford (Frank Bank), and smart-aleck Eddie Haskell (Ken Osmond).

He reprised his role as Wally in the 1983 CBS reunion television movie Still the Beaver, which aired on March 19, 1983. The ratings success of the movie prompted the creation of the Disney Channel revival series Still the Beaver, which aired for one season from 1984 to 1985. The series was retitled The New Leave it to Beaver when it moved to WTBS for three additional seasons from 1986 to 1989. A total of 101 episodes (plus the movie) were produced over the four seasons. Dow wrote one episode and directed five episodes of the series. The cast included Barbara Billingsley, Jerry Mathers, Kipp Marcus, John Snee, Janice Kent, Kaleena Kiff, Ken Osmond, Eric Osmond, Christian Osmond, Ellen Maxted, Troy Davidson (1987-1989) and Frank Bank.

Dow played Ed Greene, the father of Patty Greene (Sarah Jessica Parker), in two episodes of Square Pegs in 1982. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included My Three Sons (1964), Love, American Style (1971), The Love Boat (2 episodes) and Charles in Charge.

He starred as Chet on the 1965-1966 ABC daytime soap opera Never Too Young. Some of his television drama guest appearances included Dr. Kildare, The Eleventh Hour, The Greatest Show on Earth, Mr. Novak (5 episodes), Lassie (3 episodes), Adam-12, Mod Squad, Emergency!, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Quincy, M.E. (1983), Knight Rider, The New Mike Hammer (1987), Murder, She Wrote (1987), Jesse Hawkes, Freddy's Nightmares (2 episodes) and Diagnosis Murder.

Dow parodied his Wally role in The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) with Jerry Zucker playing Beaver. He played Principal Pete Kinney in the 1983 NBC TV movie High School U.S.A., which starred Michael J. Fox, Nancy McKeon, Anthony Edwards, Crispin Glover, Todd Bridges, Dana Plato, Frank Bank, Ken Osmond and many other sitcom stars.

Some of his other sitcom directing credits included Get a Life, Harry and the Hendersons (6 episodes), Coach (13 episodes), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show (3 episodes) and Manhattan, AZ (3 episodes). His drama directing credits included The New Lassie (2 episodes), Swamp Thing (5 episodes), Babylon 5 (5 episodes), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Crusade (2 episodes) and Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family (3 episodes).

Dow served as the visual effects supervisor for Babylon 5. In 1996, he provided visual effects for the Fox television movie Doctor Who. He was a producer for The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space (1995) and It Came from Outer Space II (1996).

In addition to his wife Lauren Shulkind, survivors include a son from his first marriage, Christopher; a brother; and a granddaughter.

Mr. Dow was wonderful as Wally Cleaver. He was one of TV's best older brothers. In addition to acting, directing, producing and writing, he was also a sculptor, creating abstract bronze sculptures. We thank him for his work as an actor and director. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Leave it to Beaver message board. View photos in our galleries.

The MeTV Network will celebrate legendary actor Tony Dow with a special extended presentation of Leave it to Beaver episodes, airing Sunday, July 31 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm on MeTV. Featuring 10 episodes showcasing Tony Dow’s beloved character Wally Cleaver, MeTV's tribute will include the episodes "Wally's Job," "Wally's Car" and "Wally's Weekend Job." Leave it to Beaver currently airs on MeTV weekdays from 8:00 to 9:00am ET/PT.

Actor Paul Sorvino, who starred as NYPD Sergeant Phil Cerreta on Law & Order, has died. His first TV series starring role was on the short-lived 1975 sitcom We'll Get By. He died of natural causes at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, on July 25. Mr. Sorvino was 83.

Sorvino's first weekly television series starring role was as George Platt on the short-lived 1975 CBS sitcom We'll Get By. The series, which was created by Alan Alda, featured a typical middle-class New Jersey family, the Platts. George Platt worked as a lawyer. He and his wife, Liz (Mitzi Hoag), had three teenage children: Muff (Jerry Houser), Kenny (Willie Aames) and Andrea (Devon Scott).

He starred as Sergeant Bert D'Angelo on the short-lived 1976 ABC police drama Bert D'Angelo/Superstar. He played Detective Ike Porter on the 1987-1988 CBS police drama The Oldest Rookie. He starred as Sergeant Phil Cerreta in 31 episodes of the second and third seasons of the NBC police procedural and legal drama Law & Order from 1991 to 1992. From 2000 to 2002, he starred as Frank DeLucca on the CBS comedy-drama That's Life. He also directed two episodes of That's Life in 2001 and 2002. In 2017, he appeared as Nicolo Rizzuto Sr. on the Canadian crime drama Bad Blood. He played Frank Costello in the Epix crime drama Godfather of Harlem from 2019 to 2021.

Sorvino had a recurring role as Al Miller, the father of Bill Miller (Mark Addy), in four episodes of the CBS sitcom Still Standing from 2004 to 2006. He played Ben "Pop-Pop" Goldberg, the father of Murray Goldberg (Jeff Garlin), in a season two episode of The Goldbergs in 2014. The character was later played by Judd Hirsch. He guest starred as Jack Martino, the father of James "Jimmy" Martino (John Stamos), in a 2016 episode of Grandfathered.

He guest starred as David Addison Sr., the father of David Addison Jr. (Bruce Willis), in a 1986 episode of Moonlighting. Some of his other television drama guest appearances included The Streets of San Francisco, Murder, She Wrote (1989), Star Trek: The Next Generation, Jack & Bobby, Elementary and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.

Sorvino starred as Lucchese crime family caporegime Paulie Cicero (based on real life gangster Paul Vario) in Martin Scorsese's 1990 gangster film Goodfellas. Some of his other film credits included A Touch of Class (1973), Oh, God! (1977), Bloodbrothers (1978), Reds (1981), That Championship Season (1982), The Stuff (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), The Rocketeer (1991), Nixon (1995), Romeo + Juliet (1996) and The Cooler (2003).

Survivors include his wife, Dee Dee Benkie; three children from his first marriage, Mira, Amanda and Michael Sorvino; a brother; and five grandchildren.

Mr. Sorvino was a gifted actor. He often portrayed authority figures on both the criminal and the law enforcement sides of the law. We thank him for the entertainment that he brought us during his long career. He will be sorely missed.

Share your memories on our We'll Get By message board. View photos in our galleries.

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

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Labels: ABC, All in the Family, Good Times, Law and Order, Leave it to Beaver, Mary Hartman, Maude, Norman Lear, Obits, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons

Antenna TV's Summer Marathons Include Norman Lear's 100th Birthday Party; New Netflix Comedy From Cobra Kai Creators Sets Cast

Mark the calendar and settle in to watch these upcoming Antenna TV marathons airing in July and August. The Sunday Special will air two more specials this July and August. The Sunday Special: I Dream of Jeannie | Sunday, July 10, 8am – 8pm ET. 12-hour marathon of the best of Jeannie, Major Nelson, and Dr. Bellows. Featured episodes include "Secretary is Not a Toy," "The Greatest Invention in the World," "My Turned-on Master," and "Birds and Bees Do It. The Sunday Special: Barney Miller | Sunday, August 7, 8am – 8pm ET. It's a "best of" Barney and the 12th Precinct. The 12-hour marathon includes episodes titled "The Escape Artist", "Fear of Flying," "Hash," "Power Failure," and "Strip Joint."

Then Antenna TV will celebrate a living legend's 100th birthday! "Norman Lear's 100th Birthday Party" | Wednesday, July 27, 10am – 10pm ET. Celebrate the 100th birthday of television producer and writer Norman Lear with a 12-hour marathon featuring episodes from Lear-developed and created shows including Maude, Archie Bunker's Place, One Day at a Time and The Jeffersons. And finally it's a "Crossover Marathon" | all-day on Friday, August 19. Many of your favorite Antenna TV stars made cameo or guest star appearances on other Antenna TV shows including Linda Lavin of Alice on Barney Miller, Dick York of Bewitched on Father Knows Best, Carroll O'Connor of Archie Bunker's Place on That Girl and so many more. Tune in for these great summer marathons!

Shelley Hennig & Nick Zano will star in Netflix's Obliterated, an action-comedy from the creators of Cobra Kai that revolves around an elite special forces team. Hennig plays by the book CIA agent Ava Winters & Zano plays Chad McKnight, the head of a SEAL team with a wild reputation. 8 episodes have been ordered. Obliterated is a high octane action-comedy that tells the story of an elite special forces team who thwarts a deadly threat to Las Vegas. After their celebratory party, filled with booze, drugs and sex, the team discovers that the bomb they deactivated was a fake. The now intoxicated team has to fight through their impairments, overcome their personal issues, find the real bomb, and save the world.

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

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Labels: Alice, Antenna TV, Archie Bunker's Place, Barney Miller, Bewitched, Father Knows Best, I Dream of Jeannie, Maude, Netflix, Norman Lear, One Day at a Time, That Girl, The Jeffersons

SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at Upcoming Munsters Movie; Schmigadoon! Renewed for Second Season

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, finally have a (not at all surprising) fall lineup for Fox, we're learning of the renewal of an Apple TV+ series, and we're learning that everything old is new again. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• We have our first look at the upcoming Munsters movie from Rob Zombie. (Entertainment Weekly)
• Schmigadoon! has been renewed for a second season, and will have Titus Burgess in the cast for that new season as well. (AV Club)
• She'll be 90 next year, but Carol Burnett is about to be a regular in a new Apple TV+ series. (Deadline)
• Meanwhile, Norman Lear is almost 100, and showing no signs of slowing down either. (CNN)
• CBS has decided to bring back 1985 advertising campaign for their daytime lineup, complete with the original Robert Palmer song "Some Like it Hot." (AP News)
• Live PD is returning, with a new name and a new network. (Variety)
• The fall lineup for Fox has finally been renewed, with absolutely nothing even remotely surprising. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JUNE 11 - JUNE 17)

• The Tony Awards airs Sunday night on CBS.
• Antenna TV brings back the Sunday special tomorrow, with a marathon of Becker.
• The Decades binge this weekend is Police Story.
• The final season of Love, Victor arrives on Hulu on Wednesday.

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

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Labels: Carol Burnett, Live PD, Norman Lear, Schmigadoon!, SitcomsOnline Digest, The Munsters

SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Sequel Casts Prosecutor; Norman Lear to Executive Produce Fictional Gamergate Series

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we're getting more casting news on the reboot of Night Court, we're learning of a new project from (almost) 100 year old Norman Lear, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• The reboot/sequel of Night Court has a new prosecutor, whom we would imagine will be different from the role that John Larroquette (who will be in the new series as well) played on the original. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Norman Lear is going to turn 100 years old in a few months, and in what is the most bizarre and unexpected news story we could hear about a man about to turn 100, he is looking to get back in to the executive producer role for a series about Gamergate, of all things. (Deadline)
• It's been a very busy week with syndicated daytime shows getting cancelled, including Nick Cannon, The Good Dish (the Dr. Oz spinoff that just started after Dr. Oz left his own series), and Judge Jerry (which is notable as it will put an end to Jerry Springer's 31 year career in daytime TV, barring any comebacks). (TV Insider)
• It's better news for Judy Justice on IMDb TV, which has been renewed for a second season. (Deadline)
• Abbott Elementary is giving back to schools, in the form of a bus tour that will give free books to elementary school students. (Deadline)
• Conrad Janis, who played Mindy's father on Mork & Mindy, has died at 94. (People)
• Just like Estelle Getty moved her character Sophia to Empty Nest once The Golden Palace ended, Marcus Scribner is making a similar move as he moves from black-ish to grown-ish. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (MARCH 12 - MARCH 18)

• Three's Company is turning 45 years old, and Antenna TV is celebrating that anniversary with a 45 episode marathon on Tuesday.
• Decades has a binge of The White Shadow this weekend.
• Young Rock and Mr. Mayor return for new seasons on NBC on Tuesday.
• ALF is now available on Shout! TV, but unfortunately, it's still the edited episodes that we've been seeing in the United States for the past 20 years or so.

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

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, grown-ish, Mork & Mindy, Night Court, Norman Lear, SitcomsOnline Digest

Norman Lear Sets Two Series for IMDb TV; Nick Jonas to Pull Double Duty on SNL This Saturday

TV legend Norman Lear is still going strong at 98 years old. He has two series in development at IMDb Tv. The first is a comedy starring George Wallace and Laverne Cox called Clean Slate, which was originally developed for Peacock last year, but now IMDb will be developing it. In the series, old school car wash owner, Henry (George Wallace), is thrilled that his estranged child is returning to Alabama after 17 years. However, Henry has a lot of soul searching to do when the child he thought was a son returns as the determined, proud, trans woman, Desiree (Laverne Cox). The other project is drama series Loteria, which is based on the card game, follows two estranged teen siblings who set off on an adventure across Mexico to collect 16 magical Lotería cards, unearthing the power of their history and culture in the hope of reuniting their family. Both series are from Norman Lear's Act III Productions and Sony Pictures Television. Stay tuned for much more information on these series.

Nick Jonas will pull double duty when he takes the stage for his Saturday Night Live hosting debut and second solo musical guest appearance on Feb. 27. Jonas will perform his newly announced single, Spaceman, due out Feb 25. Spaceman arrives as Jonas returns as a coach on NBC's The Voice, which premieres March 1, and also appears in the upcoming Lionsgate film Chaos Walking, arriving March 5. Saturday Night Live is produced in association with Broadway Video. The creator and executive producer is Lorne Michaels.