SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's February 29th, a date that we only see once every 4 years (and we won't see another February 29th on a Saturday until 2048), and this week, we're hearing about a star leaving Superstore, a new cast member for Carol's Second Act, and lots of NBC renewals. Let's get going!

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Emmy-winning actress Doris Roberts, who was best known for her role as Marie Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond, has died. She died peacefully in her sleep of natural causes on April 17 in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Roberts was 90.

Roberts' early television guest appearances included Starlight Theatre, Studio One in Hollywood, Suspense, Way Out, Look Up and Live, Naked City, Ben Casey, The Defenders, Medical Center, Baretta, The Streets of San Francisco and Family. Some of her early sitcom guest appearances included Mary Tyler Moore, Fay, Joe and Sons, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, All in the Family, Viva Valdez, Rhoda, Soap and Barney Miller.

Her first starring role was as Theresa Falco, the mother of Angie Falco (Donna Pescow), in Angie. The series ran for two seasons on ABC from 1979-1980. It also starred Robert Hays, Debralee Scott, Sharon Spelman, John Randolph, Diane Robin, Tammy Lauren and Tim Thomerson. Roberts also directed an episode of the series in 1980.

She starred as Loretta Davenport, a hairdresser who owned Loretta's House of Coiffures, in the short-lived 1981-1982 ABC sitcom Maggie. She played Doris Greenblatt, the knowing wife of Bert Greeenblatt (Ned Beatty), in the short-lived 1993 CBS sitcom The Boys. Some of her other 1980s and early 1990s sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, Alice, Mr. Belvedere, Full House, Empty Nest, The John Larroquette Show, Dream On and Step by Step.

Roberts starred as Marie Barone, the beloved mother of Ray (Ray Romano) and Robert (Brad Garrett) and the wife of Frank (Peter Boyle). The popular series ran for nine seasons and 210 episodes on CBS from 1996-2005. It also starred Patricia Heaton, Madylin Sweeeten, Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten, and Monica Horan. She was nominated for seven Emmy Awards and won four times for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Roberts also appeared as Marie Barone in a 1999 episode of The King of Queens.

She previously won an Emmy Award for a 1982 guest appearance on St. Elsewhere, playing a homeless woman named Cora. She starred as Mildred Krebs in Remington Steele from 1983-1987. Roberts received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the role in 1985. Her other Emmy nominations were for a guest appearance in a 1989 episode of Perfect Strangers and a 1991 role in the PBS series American Playhouse.

Roberts continued to make television guest appearances after Everybody Loves Raymond ended its run. She reunited with Patricia Heaton in three episodes of The Middle in 2010-2011 as Ms. Rinsky, Brick Heck's teacher. Her later sitcom guest appearances included Lizzie McGuire, Hot in Cleveland and Melissa & Joey. Some of her drama guest appearances included Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives.

The Archive of American Television conducted an extensive interview with her on April 26, 2005.

Survivors include her son Michael Cannata, daughter-in-law Jane and grandchildren Kelsey, Andrew and Devon.

Ms. Roberts was wonderful and funny in Everybody Loves Raymond. She was a real pro who made everything she appeared in much better. We thank her for the laughter she brought us. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Everybody Loves Raymond message board. View photos in our photo galleries.

Another series is coming to UP TV, the network dedicated to providing engaging entertainment for and about families. They have announced that they acquired the critically acclaimed fan favorite drama series Parenthood. The 2010-15 drama will premiere this Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, with five episodes starting at 8pm EDT, before settling into UP's weekly schedule on Monday nights with three episodes from 8pm to 11pm EDT. UP licensed all six seasons and 103 episodes of the series in an agreement with NBCUniversal Television and New Media Distribution. The new series is a significant addition to UP's already robust collection of original and popular hit family series, which includes Bringing Up Bates, Gilmore Girls, Supernanny, Family Ties, Growing Pains, 7th Heaven, Sister Sister, The Parkers, and the network's recently announced off-network rights to America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Parenthood is the story of the Bravermans – Sarah (Lauren Graham, Gilmore Girls), Adam (Peter Krause, The Catch), Crosby (Dax Shepard, CHiPS) and Julia (Erika Christensen, Wicked City) – four grown siblings sharing the headaches, heartaches and unexpected joys of being a parent. From Academy Award-winning executive producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, and writer/executive producer Jason Katims, comes this contemporary re-imagining of the international hit feature film. Focusing on the everyday challenges that modern families face while raising children and starting over, “Parenthood” grounds its drama and its comedy in the celebration of the beautiful mess of life. Parenthood also stars Craig T. Nelson (Coach), Monica Potter (Boston Legal), Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), Mae Whitman (The Duff) and Miles Heizer (ER).