SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SitcomsOnline Digest: Law & Order: Organized Crime Ending After Five Seasons; Price Is Right to Get Live Primetime Episode in December

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's not a big news week this week, but we do have news of a cancellation of a Law & Order series, an update on CBS late night programming, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• You'd be forgiven if you have Law & Order fatigue and weren't aware that it was a series, but Law & Order: Organized Crime has, indeed, been a thing for five seasons, but there won't be a sixth. (Variety)
• CBS is planning the first ever live primetime edition of The Price Is Right for December, though Bill Cullen, who pretty much always did it live when he hosted the old version, might dispute it being the first. (Variety)
• Despite leasing the time slot out to reruns syndicated comedy slop from Byron Allen that you're probably not going to laugh at, CBS says they're exploring "other ideas" for the time slot beyond the upcoming season. (Entertainment Weekly)
• Nobody is shopping through TV anymore, and QVC is filing for bankruptcy because of it. (Deadline)
• Sid Krofft, who was half of the duo that made NBC Saturday mornings what they were in the 70s, has died at age 96. (Hollywood Reporter)
• You may have noticed media mergers are going wild lately, but it doesn't look like the merger between Nexstar and Tegna (which would create a local broadcast TV company that would reach 80% of the US) is going as planned. (NPR)
• FETV has acquired Car 54, Where Are You?, and will begin airing it on May 5. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (APRIL 11 - APRIL 17)

Abbott Elementary Post-Oscars Airing, Only Murders on ABC; Remembering Frances Sternhagen, Marty Krofft and Others We Recently Lost

ABC announced that The Oscars(R) will air live coast to coast on Sunday, March 10, in a new earlier timeslot (7:00-10:30 p.m. EDT/4:00-7:30 p.m. PDT). A 30-minute pre-show will lead into the live show (6:30-7:00 p.m. EDT/3:30-4:00 p.m. PDT), and immediately following, ABC will air an original episode of the Emmy(R) Award-winning comedy series Abbott Elementary. The telecast will also be rebroadcast in the Pacific Time zone in primetime after the live presentation. As previously announced, Emmy Award-winning late-night talk show host and producer Jimmy Kimmel will return to host the live show for the fourth time. Raj Kapoor will serve as showrunner and executive producer, with Molly McNearney and Katy Mullan serving as executive producers. Hamish Hamilton is set to direct the telecast. The 96th Oscars will be held at the Dolby(R) Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

ABC will head into the new year with the exclusive broadcast premiere of the Emmy Award-nominated Hulu Original comedy Only Murders in the Building. Season one of the critically acclaimed hit series starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez will air Tuesdays in January, with the first three episodes debuting on Tuesday, Jan. 2, following a new semifinal episode of Celebrity Jeopardy! (8:00-9:00 p.m. EST), returning in 2024 on its new night. The airdate schedule for the 10-episode season of Only Murders in the Building is as follows (all times listed are Eastern/Pacific):

· Tuesday, Jan. 2, 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Episodes 1-3)
· Tuesday, Jan. 9, 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Episodes 4-6)
· Tuesday, Jan. 16, 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Episodes 7-9)
· Tuesday, Jan. 23, 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Episode 10)

Recently renewed for a fourth season, Only Murders in the Building is the most-viewed Hulu Original comedy series ever. The show's first season hails from co-creators and writers Steve Martin and John Hoffman (Grace & Frankie, Looking). Martin and Hoffman executive produce along with Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Jamie Babbit, "This Is Us" creator Dan Fogelman and Jess Rosenthal. From the minds of Steve Martin, Dan Fogelman and John Hoffman comes a comedic murder-mystery series for the ages. Only Murders in the Building follows three strangers (Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez) who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one. When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. As they record a podcast of their own to document the case, the three unravel the complex secrets of the building, which stretch back years. Perhaps even more explosive are the lies they tell one another. Soon, the endangered trio comes to realize a killer might be living amongst them as they race to decipher the mounting clues before it's too late. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.

Tony Award-winning stage and screen actress Frances Sternhagen, who had recurring roles as Esther Clavin in Cheers and as Bunny MacDougal in Sex and the City, has died. She died at her home in New Rochelle, New York, on November 27. Ms. Sternhagen was 93.

Sternhagen starred as Millie Sprague in 7 episodes of the NBC sitcom Under One Roof in 1985. Millie and Ben Sprague (Harold Gould) were Spencer Winger's (Ross Harris) maternal grandparents. She was the mother of Doris Winger (Mimi Kennedy). The show was originally titled Spencer in 1984 and starred Chad Lowe as Spencer Winger. The cast included Ronny Cox, Amy Locane, Richard Sanders, Beverly Archer, Grant Heslov and Dean Cameron.

She had a recurring role as Esther Clavin in 7 episodes of the NBC sitcom Cheers from 1986 to 1993. Esther "Ma" Clavin is the mother of Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger). It is first mentioned in the third season that Cliff lives with her, for which the other barflies mocked him. One of Esther's pastimes is making pretzels in unintentionally unusual shapes, which Cliff brings them into the bar in "Second Time Around" (1986). Sternhagen received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for the role in 1991 and 1992.

Sternhagen had a recurring role as Bunny MacDougal in 10 episodes of the HBO romantic comedy-drama Sex and the City from 2000 to 2002. Bunny MacDougal is the overbearing mother of Dr. Trey MacDougal (Kyle MacLachlan), a manipulative sort who intrudes on Trey and Charlotte's (Kristin Davis) relationship and apartment on a regular basis. She received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for the role in 2002.

She provided the voice of Mrs. Bellamy for a 2002 episode of The Simpsons. She guest starred as Naomi in a 2004 episode of Becker.

Stenhagen starred as Charlotte Babineaux in the short-lived 1994 family drama The Family Home. She starred as Gina Williams in the 1991 CBS miniseries Stephen King's Golden Years. She had a recurring role as Millicent Carter, the grandmother of John Carter (Noah Wyle), in 21 episodes of the NBC medical drama ER from 1997 to 2003. She had a recurring role as Willie Ray Johnson in 15 episodes of the TNT police procedural from 2006 to 2012.

Some of her other television guest appearances included The Nurses, The Defenders, Profiles in Courage, For the People, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Law & Order (2 episodes), Tales from the Crypt, The Outer Limits (1995) and Parenthood (2012).

She worked for many years in soap operas. She played Toni Prentiss Davis on Love of Life, Jessie Reddin on The Secret Storm, Phyllis Corrigan on The Doctors (42 episodes) and Jane Overstreet in Another World. She is also recognized as Mrs. Marsh from a series of television commercials for Colgate toothpaste that aired in the 1970s.

Sternhagen gained acclaim for her extensive career on the Broadway stage. She made her debut in The Skin of Our Teeth (1955). She went on to receive two Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performances as various characters in Neil Simon's comedic play The Good Doctor (1973) and as Lavinia Penniman in Ruth and Augustus Goetz's dramatic play The Heiress (1995). Her other Tony-nominated roles were for The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window (1972), Equus (1975), Angel (1978), On Golden Pond (1979) and Morning's at Seven (2002).

She starred as Sheriff Buster's (Richard Farnsworth) wife Deputy Virginia in Rob Reiner's Misery (1990). Some of her other film credits included The Hospital (1971), Starting Over (1979), Outland (1981), Bright Lights, Big City (1988), Doc Hollywood (1991), Raising Cain (1992), See You in the Morning (1989), The Mist (2007), Julie & Julia (2009), Dolphin Tale (2011) and And So It Goes (2014).

Ms. Sternhagen was a talented and versatile character actress. Her guest appearances as Esther Clavin in Cheers were always funny and memorable. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us on television for over six decades. She will deeply missed.

Television creator, producer, writer and puppeteer Marty Krofft, who worked on H.R. Pufnstuf, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and Land of the Lost, has died. He died from kidney failure in Los Angeles, California, on November 25. Mr. Krofft was 86.

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

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

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

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

Marty and his brother Sid made many entertaining children's television and variety show programs in the 1970s and 1980s. The Kroffts received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys in 2018. In 2020, the Kroffts were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their contributions to television. Sid is still living at age 94. Marty will be greatly missed.

We also remember actress and model Janet Landgard. She had a recurring role as Karen Holmby on The Donna Reed Show. She died of brain cancer on November 6. Ms. Landgard was 75.

Landgard appeared as Karen Holmby in 11 episodes of the ABC sitcom The Donna Reed Show from 1963 to 1965. Karen Holmby is the girlfriend of Jeff Stone (Paul Petersen). She made her first guest appearance as Sabrina in the episode "All Women Are Dangerous." The series also starred Donna Reed, Carl Betz, Shelley Fabares and Patty Petersen.

She guest starred as Georgia Fleck in the 1963 My Three Sons episode "The Proposals." She starred with Burt Lancaster in the 1968 film The Swimmer. She also starred in 1970's Land Raiders with Telly Savalas and the 1974 film Moonchild with Victor Buono.

Ms. Landgard was seen in commercials on television and on magazine covers as a model. She was was interviewed for the behind-the-scenes documentary The Story of the Swimmer in 2014. She will be deeply missed.

Actor Evan Ellingson starred as Kyle Savage on Complete Savages. He died from an accidental fentanyl overdose in Fontana, California, on November 5. Mr. Ellingson was only 35.

Ellingson made his acting debut in the 2001 TV movie Living in Fear and as Young Luke Spencer in a 2001 episode of General Hospital. He had a recurring role as Young 10-year-old Christopher Titus in 10 episodes of the Fox sitcom Titus from 2001 to 2002.

He starred as Kyle Savage on the 2004-2005 ABC sitcom Complete Savages. The TGIF sitcom is about a single father named Nick Savage (Keith Carradine) struggling to raise his five unruly sons (Jack, Chris, Sam, Kyle, and T.J.) alone, following the abandonment of their mother 10 years previously. Kyle Savage is a rebellious teenager who is unruly and constantly causing chaos. The series also starred Shaun Sipos, Erik von Detten, Andrew Eiden, Jason Dolley and Vincent Ventresca.

Ellingson had a recurring role as Kyle Harmon, the son of Horatio Caine (David Caruso) and Julia Winston (Elizabeth Berkley), in 18 episodes of the CBS police procedural drama CSI: Miami from 2007 to 2010.

He guest starred in a 2005 episode of Bones. He had a recurring role as Josh Bauer, the nephew of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), in 10 episodes of the sixth season of the Fox drama 24 in 2007.

Ellingson starred as Jesse Fitzgerald in the 2009 film My Sister's Keeper. It also starred Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva, Jason Patric and Alec Baldwin.

Mr. Ellingson was a good young actor. Complete Savages was a funny show which should have had a longer run. He will be missed.

Actress Judy Nugent starred as Donna Ruggles on The Ruggles. She died from cancer at her Montana ranch, on October 26. Ms. Nugent was 83.

Nugent starred as Donna Ruggles on the 1949-1952 ABC sitcom The Ruggles. The series was broadcast live. Episodes were recorded on kinescope, and some of them survive in the UCLA Film and Television Archive. The star of the series is comedian Charlie Ruggles, playing a character with the same name. It also starred Irene Tedrow (1949), Erin O'Brien-Moore (1950-1952), Margaret Kerry, Tommy Bernard and Jimmy Hawkins.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included The Life of Riley, The Danny Thomas Show, The Ann Sothern Show, The Dennis O'Keefe Show, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and The Gertrude Berg Show.

She played Jet Maypen on the Walt Disney Presents: Annette serial on The Mickey Mouse Club in 1958. Some of her other television guest appearances included The Lone Ranger, Adventures of Superman, Annie Oakley, Lassie, The Thin Man, Sugarfoot, The Millionaire, 77 Sunset Strip, Rawhide and The Tall Man (5 episodes).

Some of her film credits included Magnificent Obsession (1954), Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm (1954) and There's Always Tomorrow (1956).

Ms. Nugent gave up acting after marrying actor Buck Taylor in 1961. The marriage produced a daughter, Tiffany, and three sons, Adam, Matthew and Cooper. We thank her for her work on television. She will be deeply missed.

Television writer Stephen Kandel wrote episodes of Gidget and Room 222. He died in his home on October 21. Mr. Kandel was 96.

Kandel wrote four episodes of the 1965-1966 ABC sitcom Gidget. He wrote four episodes of the ABC comedy-drama Room 222 from 1971 to 1973.

Some of his other writing credits included Sea Hunt, The Rogues, Batman, Star Trek, Iron Horse, I Spy, It Takes a Thief, Mission: Impossible, Mannix, The Magician, Medical Center, Harry O, Cannon, Hawaii Five-O, Wonder Woman, Hart to Hart, The New Mike Hammer and MacGyver.

He worked as a producer for Iron Horse, The New Mike Hammer and MacGyver (58 episodes from 1985-1988).

Mr. Kandel was a recipient of the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe award and the Writers Guild of America Humanities award. We thank him for his work on television. He will be greatly missed.

SitcomsOnline Digest: Shout! Factory Begins Streaming Service; Complete Series Sets for Cheers, What's Happening!!, and More

• Shout! Factory has (somewhat) quietly launched Shout! Factory TV, a new online streaming service featuring several classic movies and TV series, including Dennis the Menace, Father Knows Best, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Laverne & Shirley, and others. While many of these are already available on other streaming services, this service is ad-supported and free, and there is even a Roku app (although it has been reported that not all of the content can be found on the Roku app). (Shout! Factory TV)
• Annie Potts is looking to get back into a sitcom once again, and a pilot at ABC starring comedian Fortune Feimster and executive produced by Matt Hubbard, Tina Fey, and Robert Carlock could have her playing a southern belle (again). (Hollywood Reporter)
• Tomorrow night's SNL 40th Anniversary Special just got even bigger in the past few days, with NBC now giving it three and a half hours and will air 8-11:30 PM. (Deadline)
• Reboots of classic series have been big lately, but here is an interesting one: Amazon Studios is planning to reboot Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, with the help of Sid and Marty Krofft. (io9)
• Your hipster friends should (ironically) be thrilled to hear that Portlandia has been renewed for a sixth and seventh season. (SitcomsOnline)
• Weigel Broadcasting is now taking MeTV to the radio, with MeTV FM in Chicago. The radio station will air a classic hits (the new name for "oldies" as it has evolved to include the 80s) format. Technically, the station will be on the low-power TV channel 6, although audio from channel 6 can be heard on the FM dial on 87.7. (SitcomsOnline)

FOLLOW ME

H.R. Pufnstuf, Land of the Lost Head to MeTV Network; Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 25, 2013)

TV Land Updates June 2009 Schedule; TV Land July 2009 News; Susan Olsen's New Book and Website

The original TV Land June 2009 schedule that we gave you previously is now being changed due to the last minute changes that happened in May. So TV Land will not return Scrubs and 3rd Rock from the Sun after all in June. The changes that started in mid-May will continue in June (including off-the-clock programming) but two things: Married with Children is not on Thursdays because of She's Got the Look and the TV Land PRIME movie will return to Fridays at 10.
View the complete updated TV Land June 2009 schedule.

Moving on to TV Land July 2009, the schedule for June will spill into July as well...but with one thing removed: off-the-clock programming. It seems everything will be back to normal times starting the week of June 29, but of course that can change.
As for July highlights, season 2 of She's Got the Look continues to air Thursdays at 9pm on TV Land PRIME. They're back again... and this time the stakes are bigger and better as 12 gorgeous women 35-and-over grace TV Land PRIME in season 2 of the modeling competition series that's like no other...She's Got the Look! For one very lucky winner, a second chance for a supermodel career, a life changing contract with the world famous Wilhelmina Modeling Agency, and a spread in Self magazine awaits. Watch the nationwide search, follow the drama as the number of contestants dwindles, and root for your favorite to win it all. Join in on the fun on a new night and time starting Thursday June 11, 2009 at 9pm for eight straight weeks through July 30.
This 4th of July, spend your evening with Roseanne! It's the Roseanne "4th of July Feuds & Fireworks" marathon! Spend 4th of July with Roseanne and you'll get different types of fireworks on this 4th of July weekend. The fireworks begin Saturday, July 4 at 8pm to 6am and the same on Sunday, July 5.
For the first time ever, TV Land will broadcast a new AFI Life Achievment Award special. The 37th AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film, which will be presented to Michael Douglas at a gala tribute in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 11, 2009. The program will air Sunday, July 19, 2009 from 9pm-10:30pm on TV Land PRIME.
TV Land PRIME movies on Friday nights includes encores of National Lampoon's Vacation Movie, National Lampoon's European Vacation, Another 48 Hours, and Doc Hollywood. Meanwhile, TV Land will premiere the movie Born on the 4th of July on Friday, July 3 from 12pm-3pm with an encore on Sunday, July 5 from 9am-12pm. Other than all this, it is a quiet July for TV Land with no regular schedule changes...as of now, that is.
View more on TV Land July 2009.

Cindy Brady now has a website! Yes, The Brady Bunch kid is now on the internet. Susan Olsen announces the launch of a new website to promote her upcoming coffee table book, Love to Love You Bradys, which will be released in September by ECW Press (www.lovetoloveyoubradys.com). This new publication focuses on the rarely seen Brady Bunch Variety Hour and dares to ask: "How does America's favorite family end up in history's worst show?" It features over 80 exclusive interviews with cast, crew, and production staff including the Brady Bunch, Sherwood and Lloyd Schwartz, Sid and Marty Krofft, Bruce Vilanch, Rip Taylor, and Paul Shaffer. Susan's co-author is Ted Nichelson with art direction by 'Bradyologist' Lisa Sutton.

TV Land Makes Early Evening Changes; TV Land Announces Presenters and More for TV Land Awards

TV Land has announced some last minute schedule changes. The first one begins tonight, with Thursdays 10pm-12am now M*A*S*H instead of The Jeffersons. Now next week that won't happen since the already scheduled Married...with Children stunt is airing, but M*A*S*H will air tonight and April 30. The rest of the changes are to the weekday late afternoon/early evening line-up starting Tuesday, April 21, 2009. At 4pm ET/PT we get a second episode of Bonanza replacing two episodes of Green Acres. Bonanza will remain at 3pm as well. Then from 5-8pm we had three episodes each of Beverly Hillbillies and Hogan's Heroes, but now we have will some changes. In the 5pm hour we get two episodes of Hogan's Heroes replacing back-to-back Beverly Hillbillies. In the 6pm hour we now get Green Acres replacing one Hillbillies and one Hogan's Heroes. Then finally in the 7pm hour we get two episodes of Beverly Hillbillies replacing back-to-back Hogan's Heroes.
So nothing is replaced in the weekday schedule, but some time shifting, while Bonanza gets an extra episode and Hogan's and Hillbillies get an episode reduced.
See our TV Land April 2009 schedule and highlights, if you haven't seen it.

Sticking with TV Land, they announced that legendary producers Sid and Marty Krofft will receive the Pop Culture Award at the 2009 TV Land Awards, and Will Ferrell, star of the upcoming film Land of the Lost, Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives), Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live, Parks and Recreation), comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!), Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween) and TV talk show host and psychologist Dr. Phil will be among the presenters at the evening's celebration.
Additionally, music stars Cyndi Lauper and David Cassidy will perform in the tribute to Sid and Marty Krofft. The two-hour show, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will tape this Sunday (April 19) at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City and will air on TV Land during a special presentation of TV Land PRIME on Sunday, April 26th at 8PM ET/PT.
Medical drama ER has been added as an honoree at the 2009 TV Land Awards. ER, one of television's longest running dramas, will be presented with the Icon Award for the way that it changed television with its fast-paced steadi-cam shots as well as for its amazing and gritty storylines. The Icon Award is presented to a television program with immeasurable fame and longevity. The show transcends generations and is recognized by peers and fans around the world. Cast members Alex Kingston, Anthony Edwards, Linda Cardellini, Ellen Crawford, Laura Innes, Kellie Martin, Mekhi Phifer, Parminder Nagra, Shane West and Yvette Freeman will all be in attendance to accept the award.

Other stars scheduled to appear so far: Don Rickles, Julia Louis-Dreyfus; cast of Home Improvement Tim Allen, Zachary Ty Bryan, Debbe Dunning, Richard Karn, Patricia Richardson, Taran Noah Smith; cast of Knots Landing Lisa Hartman Black, Kevin Dobson, William DeVane, Constance McCashin, David Jacobs, Michele Lee, Don Murray, Donna Mills, Michelle Phillips, Ted Shackleford, Joan Van Ark; cast of Magnum P.I. Larry Manetti, Roger E. Mosley, Tom Selleck; cast of Married with Children Christina Applegate, David Faustino, Ted McGinley, Ed O'Neill, Katey Sagal; cast & crew of M*A*S*H Alan Alda, Allan Arbus, William Christopher, Larry Gelbart, Mike Farrell, Jeff Maxwell, Burt Metcalfe, Gene Reynolds, David Ogden Stiers, Loretta Swit, Kellye Nakahara Wallet; and cast & crew of Two and a Half Men Mark Burg, Jon Cryer, Conchata Ferrell, Angus T Jones, Chuck Lorre, Charlie Sheen, Holland Taylor.
TV Land previously announced additional honorees for this year's show including Don Rickles (Legend Award), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Legacy of Laughter Award), Married With Children (Innovator Award), M*A*S*H (Impact Award), Home Improvement (Fan Favorite Award), Magnum P.I. (Hero Award), Two and a Half Men (Future Classic Award) and Knots Landing (30th Anniversary Award).

New Book on The Brady Bunch Variety Hour Coming in September; Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America Airing This January on PBS

We have some special stories for today. So our weekly ratings report will return next week in its regular day, as we are still in repeat mode this past week. But the new stuff returns tonight and this coming week on TV, with CBS and ABC both all-new with their line-ups tonight and the premiere of a new NBC reality show. ABC is calling this week "Bring in the New Week!" And now heeeeeere's Todd with some special stories...

ECW PRESS SIGNS 'BRADY BUNCH' STAR SUSAN OLSEN FOR NEW COFFEE TABLE BOOK

Brady Bunch star Susan Olsen and ECW Press announced their joint collaboration for the coffee table book: Love to Love You Bradys: the bizarre story of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour which is scheduled to be released in September, 2009. Susan's co-author is Los Angeles writer Ted Nichelson and pop-culture maven Lisa Sutton will serve as art director and designer.
This colorful, glitter-filled retrospective will take a look back at the most disastrous offering in television history and explain how and why the rarely seen Variety Hour was conceived, produced, and ended up ranked in TV Guide's top five “Worst Shows of All-Time.” Behind the scenes, this production was chock full of very serious human conflict: drug addiction, sexuality, weight issues, religion, and heated power struggles - all ultimately shattering the Bradys' perfect image and forever scarring the legacy of TV's favorite family.
Originally airing as a 60-minute special, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour was produced by Sid and Marty Krofft and premiered on ABC on November 28, 1976. It featured the actors from The Brady Bunch sitcom singing and dancing their way through the disco era on stage above an enormous swimming pool populated by the enchanting Krofftette Water Follies. Largely derivative of the hit series The Donny and Marie Show, from the same production team, the success of this special led to a semi-regular series of which eight additional 60 minute episodes were produced and aired as monthly specials from January to May 1977. None of the installments were ever repeated on network television. Now a confirmed cult classic, the Variety Hour has been successfully parodied on such recent hit television series as The Simpsons, That 70's Show, The Family Guy, Tiny Toons, and The Gilmore Girls.
The book features hundreds of never-before-published photos and interviews with cast, crew, and production staff, including the Brady Bunch, Sherwood Schwartz, Sid and Marty Krofft, Bruce Vilanch, Paul Shaffer, and Rip Taylor.

CONTACT:
Ted Nichelson
http://www.bradyhour.com/email.html

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Did you hear the one about PBS airing a comedy series? It's no joke, but it is funny. In January 2009, PBS will present the series Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America, a six-hour comedy epic showcasing the most hilarious men, women, and moments in American entertainment and why they made us laugh. Hosted by America's favorite funnyman, Billy Crystal, the documentary explores the currents of American comedy throughout a century of social and political change, illuminating how comedy has tackled and poked fun at our political system, race relations, gender issues, and the prevailing American standards and taboos in everyday life.
Co-produced by Thirteen/WNET and Ghost Light Films, the series premieres nationally on January 14, 21, 28 at 8 p.m. and will repeat at 10 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings).
Melding performance, biography and history, Make 'Em Laugh features interviews with over 90 comedians, writers, producers, and historians including Judd Apatow, Roseanne Barr, Anne Beatts, the Smothers Brothers, Carol Burnett, Sid Caesar, George Carlin, Larry David, Will Ferrell, Leonard Maltin, Cheech Marin, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, Mort Sahl, Dick Van Dyke, and many, many more.
Each one-hour episode focuses on a distinct genre of American comedy – from the most ingenious physical schtick, to those fast-talking wiseguys, to the most incisive satire and parody – re-acquainting viewers with some of their favorite classics. Billy Crystal will introduce each episode and Amy Sedaris will narrate throughout.

Here is one episode that is devoted to sitcoms:
January 14, 9 p.m. (ET) Honey, I'm Home!: Breadwinners and Homemakers
The domestic comedy may be the most American of comic concepts. The moment that Burns and Allen admitted to their radio audience that they were a married couple, a tradition of laughter on the home front began. Groundbreaking television sitcoms like The Goldbergs, I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Dick Van Dyke Show, All in the Family, The Cosby Show, Roseanne, Seinfeld, and The Simpsons reflect the ongoing changes at home and in the workplace. Sitcoms continue to be a consistently humorous barometer of American gender roles and attitudes toward racism and politics.

Additionally, there is a seventh episode of the series that will air exclusively online on January 7. This episode will cover the growing phenomenon of Internet comedy. For more information on this episode, visit http://www.pbs.org/wnet/makeemlaugh/episodes/the-online-episode/episode-7-teh-internets/21/ .
For a listing of all episodes, visit http://www.pbs.org/wnet/makeemlaugh/about/ .
If you could use a laugh right now, check out the website for Make 'Em Laugh, http://www.pbs.org/wnet/makeemlaugh/, which is full of funny content including a promo video for the series featuring Jim Lehrer of PBS's Newshour.

Summer 2008 TCA Press Tour: Fox, Day 1; Happy Days Duo Reunite for Possible New Series; MySpace Adds Krofft Classics

The broadcast portion of the summer 2008 TCA press tour started Saturday with PBS, and among the series they announced were a revival of the classic '70s children's series The Electric Company, returning in January 2009 and a new children's series launching Sept. 1 called Sid the Science Kid. Also, of note from PBS was a comedy special coming in January 2009. Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America is a landmark six-part series that will chronicle the funniest moments in American entertainment, from the pratfalls that entertained immigrants in the early 1900s to the most biting satire and stand-up today, to illuminate how comedy has been a mirror of our changing society. Among those interviewed: Sid Caesar, George Carlin, Dick Gregory, Carl Reiner, Joan Rivers, Shelley Berman, the Smothers Brothers, Jonathan Winters, Mort Sahl, Steve Martin, Jason Alexander, Phyllis Diller, Cheech Marin, Bill Maher, Lily Tomlin, Lorne Michaels, and a Who's Who of other groundbreaking comic minds. Should be good.
Today and tomorrow Fox and Fox cable networks are up. Today it is all about the Fox broadcast network. The cast and crew of many hit Fox series and upcoming series will be on hand today on the panel. They started today with a Prison Break themed breakfast called Prison Break-fast. Then it was on to the panels with casts and crews of many Fox shows and entities: So You Think You Can Dance, Fringe, Fox News, Do Not Disturb, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 24, Secret Millionaire, and a panel featuring producers of Fox's animated series.
As of this writing nothing new was really learned. Fox did say the 250th episode of King of the Hill will air in May 2009 and Erica Ash, Matt Braunger, Eric Price and Lauren Pritchard have joined MADtv for its 14th season. Earlier, we found out that Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long and Kevin Michael Richardson were joining the animated Family Guy spin-off The Cleveland Show. Keep checking back in this spot for new updates or for sure in tomorrow's Fox day 2 notes.

Don Most and Anson Williams, who of course starred as Ralph Malph and Potsie on the long-running sitcom, Happy Days, have reunited to produce a potential new series, Take 2. In addition to executive producing the series, the pair also star in the pilot episode.
"Each episode of Take 2 is like a short independent film," says Williams, "and will reunite different iconic duos of the present and past, but in all-new stories, as completely different characters. They'll still have the established on-screen chemistry that audiences know and love -- but I think people will be stunned when they see just how different they can be." "I thought about Lemmon and Mathau or Tracy and Hepburn. The reason they worked together over and over again was because they had chemistry on-screen. In our favorite TV shows growing up, you saw that same kind of chemistry -- Ralph and Potsie, Will and Grace, Laverne and Shirley. Why not utilize that already established chemistry -- bring together these beloved stars - in these provocative scripts that Frederick Stroppel had written?"
We will have more information on this series should it go forward and get picked-up for a series. Best of luck to them! Read the full press release. Check out clips on YouTube.

Sid and Marty Krofft's classic '70s shows are now on MySpaceTV! H.R. Pufnstuf, Land of the Lost, Electra Woman & Dyna Girl, Lidsville, Sigmund & the Sea Monsters, Dr. Shrinker and The Bugaloos, will make their exclusive global home on the social-networking platform. The license extends to put condensed versions of Krofft-produced TV episodes as well as taped messages from the Kroffts themselves.
In addition to the condensed episodes, which they are calling "Kwikies," which run 3-5 minutes, the Kroffts are also making available highlight clips. MySpace subscribers will also make theme music from the shows available.
Too bad the whole episode won't be on MySpace, but it is better than nothing. Head on over to the Krofft section to watch these condensed episodes. This is similar to Sony's Minisode Network.

TV Rebels: Sid and Marty Krofft

The weekly Mini-DVD Review will be preempted today so we can bring you a special TV Rebels essay. As you all know, Solomon's Weekly Rant had its finale last week, so that is no more..but we will continue to have a mini-DVD review on Saturdays. Anyway, for today it is time for our monthly TV Rebels essay! We originally had special permission to publish the first 6 essays on TV shows and actors that will be featured in the upcoming book TV Rebels: 100 People and Programs That Shaped the Medium by authors Lou Orfanella and Oscar De Los Santos...now we have gotten rights to 6 additional essays, so we will be bringing you one each month until at least November! The book is in the works and will be released in 2009.

So without further adieu, we bring you the fifth essay of TV Rebels:

Sid and Marty Krofft: Psychedelic Saturday Mornings
by Lou Orfanella

Wacky witches. Talking flutes. Living hats. Land bound sea monsters. Rock and roll insects. Welcome to the world of puppeteers Sid and Marty Krofft, a place where Saturday morning children’s programming was more like a bad acid trip than a day with no school, cozy pajamas, sugary cereal, and endless cartoons.
The Krofft brothers first gained television recognition as costume designers for the 1968 NBC Saturday morning series The Banana Splits Adventure Hour. A production from the Hanna-Barbera animation studio, the program combined live action and animated segments, with the live action being a quartet of life-sized "animal" puppets who performed music and skits between the cartoons. A year later the Kroffts would break new Saturday morning ground with the first of a string of children’s shows that turned the genre upside down.
In September of 1969 NBC premiered the initial episode of H.R. Pufnstuf, a live action series with all of the colorful trappings and visually shocking images of an animated show. Dragon H.R. Pufnstuf is the mayor of Living Island. Young Jimmy, played by Jack Wild, fresh from a starring turn as the Artful Dodger in the Academy Award winning musical Oliver!, is whisked to the island in a storm where he, along with his magic talking flute Freddie is pursued by the evil Witchiepoo (Billie Hayes). Similarities to The Wizard of Oz may or may not be intentional, but at the very least, the Kroffts have drawn frequent accusations of embracing the drug culture of their era in their work, though they have denied such implications as often as Peter, Paul and Mary have done so with "Puff the Magic Dragon." Still for some the surreal inhabitants of Living Island conjure images of the opium that might have been derived from the poppy fields of Oz.
Names like Pufnstuf and Lidsville (a Krofft production for ABC in 1971 about a land where the inhabitants were all talking hats) have been pointed at as euphemisms for marijuana use. Addressing the contention, Marty Krofft says, "There might have been some double meanings there, but that's for the audience to figure out. But some people, they hear the name Pufnstuf and they're immediately thinking about pot. In a way, I think that's what they wanted it to be about" (Martindale 6). Add to the brothers' list of hits 1970's The Bugaloos about an insect rock and roll band, and 1973's Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (a sea monster befriended in captivity by two young boys) and the substance abuse accusations continued to fly. Sid Krofft adds, "A lot of people ask us if we were on drugs when we made these shows...Sometimes I tell them we were high-high on life-because life is the greatest drug there is. But we never, ever, did anything like that. These shows didn’t just come from smoking a little pot" (Martindale 6).
Largely what the Kroffts did was approach Saturday morning programming from a new creative angle. "What made the Kroffts' shows so unique was Their mix of colorful stage props, mesmerizing stories, enchanting musical scores, and a variety of fascinating live-action characters. Their costume designs that placed characters in full-body suits has been one of their most-recognized accomplishments" (Morgan 74).
Everything from PBS's Barney to the McDonaldland characters to stadium mascots may well have been inspired by the weird and way-out creations of Sid and Marty Krofft. Marty explains, "There were people in walk-around suits before Pufnstuf, before we got on, but I don't think anybody had done a whole shoe like that ever before...We were the first ones who took a live-action show and made like a living cartoon of it. That's what we did first" (Martindale 39).

Works Cited
Martindale, David. Pufnstuf & Other Stuff. Los Angeles: Renaissance Books, 1998.
Morgan, Bill and Greg Davis. Krofft-mania: Recapturing the magic of Saturday morning TV. Toy Trader. Feb. 2997: 74-77.