SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting's multicast network, is pleased to announce it has added WINK in Ft. Myers/Naples as its newest affiliate, bringing the network's reach to 134 stations across the country, which is 86% of US TV households. Now available on Fort Myers Broadcasting's WINK 11.2, the CBS affiliate in Ft. Myers/Naples, Antenna TV viewers can watch retro favorites such as: Johnny Carson, 227, Alice, Archie Bunker's Place, Barney Miller, Becker, Benson, Bewitched, The Burns and Allen Show, Coach, Dear John, Dennis the Menace, Family Ties, Father Knows Best, Gimme A Break!, Growing Pains, Hazel, Head of the Class, The Hogan Family, I Dream Of Jeannie, The Jack Benny Program, The Joey Bishop Show, Lotsa Luck!, Maude, McHale's Navy, Mork & Mindy, Murphy Brown, My Two Dads, The Partridge Family, The Paul Lynde Show, The Ropers, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Silver Spoons, Small Wonder, Soap, Three's a Crowd, Three's Company, Welcome Back, Kotter and Wings.

Antenna TV is not changing the schedule this spring besides adding a Sunday edition of Gimme a Break! from 12-1pm, replacing Small Wonder, which will be off the schedule for now this spring. Gimme a Break! will also continue to air weekdays at 5:30pm following 227.

NBC is bringing the funny this summer with new series Bring the Funny, as we first announced. The summer series premieres Tuesday, July 9 at 10:00pm ET/PT. Bring the Funny will feature the world's best comedic acts and will embrace every style of comedy performance in one competition. The series will feature the best of the best stand-ups, sketch troupes and comedic variety acts. From solo comics to musicians, magicians, puppeteers, YouTubers and more - anyone who can make audiences laugh will have the chance to receive the career-changing $250,000 prize package and see their name in lights in the "Bring the Funny" showcase. Judges are Saturday Night Live's longest-running cast member Kenan Thompson, cultural tastemaker Chrissy Teigen and comedy icon Jeff Foxworthy. Comedian Amanda Seales serves as host.

Antenna TV has released its first quarter 2019 schedule that begins on January 2. There will be no new series joining the lineup, but many series will have new time periods and a few shows will be on hiatus. Small Wonder returns, airing Sundays from 12-1pm. Taking a break in Q1 2019 will be Webster, What's Happening!!, What's Happening Now!! and Good Morning World. Among the series moving timeslots include Johnny Carson heading back to 10pm, while Three's Company moves back into late fringe at 11pm & 11:30pm (with an early morning encore from 5-6am). There are other late fringe and overnight changes including Coach and Murphy Brown from 12-1am. In the early evening, Archie Bunker's Place will double-up now from 7-8pm, while 227 and Maude also get two runs from 4:30-5:30pm and 6-7pm, respectively. Weekends will get the most changes to the schedule. Almost everything from 1pm and on has a new timeslot, including The Hogan Family from 1-2pm, Head of the Class from 2-3pm, Family Ties from 3-4pm and Silver Spoons from 4-5pm.

Saturday nights in primetime get '70s fever with Three's Company, Barney Miller and Soap from 7-10pm leading into 90-minute editions of Johnny Carson. The new Sunday primetime features Coach, My Two Dads and Growing Pains from 7-10pm. Early mornings on weekends will remain intact from 5-9am, but with Jack Benny Program now at 6:30am. Before this schedule starts, Antenna TV celebrates the end of 2018 with a New Year's Eve of The Paul Lynde Show from 6pm-3:30am. And Antenna TV rings in 2019 with a New Year's Kick-Off Coach marathon from 5am-4am. View the full Antenna TV Winter 2019 schedule.

Moving from Friday to Sunday night, High Maintenance returns for its nine-episode third season Sunday, Jan. 20 from 10:30-11:05 p.m. ET/PT. Created by Katja Blichfeld (who directs the season premiere) and Ben Sinclair, the critically acclaimed show uses The Guy, a marijuana dealer (played by Sinclair), to tell a variety of stories about New York lives, including his own. High Maintenance continues to paint a uniquely authentic portrait of New York with empathy and insight, telling amusing, surprising, sometimes moving and always poignant tales of denizens who are usually just faces on the crowded sidewalks of Brooklyn. The series is executive produced by Katja Blichfeld (Emmy(R)-winning casting director of 30 Rock), Ben Sinclair (Home Again, Sisters) and Russell Gregory.

This season, High Maintenance profiles everyday people whose stories of success, failure, love and loss intersect across New York, while delving deeper into personal life of The Guy, who is spending less time on his iconic bicycle and more time in "Steve RV," a set of wheels gifted to him last season. Featuring an intricate web of memorable returning characters and unforgettable new faces, the new episodes find New Yorkers exploring their relationship with the city, touching on such themes as death, parenthood, sexuality, fantasy, aging and more. Returning guest stars this season include: Amy Ryan, Gary Richardson, Arthur Meyer, Jen Harris, Micah Sherman and Abdullah Saeed. New guest stars this season include: Jemima Kirke, Margaret Cho, Guillermo Diaz, Rosie Perez, Kathleen Chalfant, Ken Leung and Annie Golden.

Effective next Monday (May 14), Antenna TV will shuffle their schedule around, with many timeslot changes. Primetime will now feature back-to-back episodes of Alice, Barney Miller and Coach every weeknight from 8-11pm, with Murphy Brown leading out at 11pm and Three's Company leading in at 7:30pm. Some of the new additions like Growing Pains, The Hogan Family, Head of the Class and Silver Spoons will move into weeknight late night beginning at 1:30am instead of late afternoons/early evening. Soap and Benson move from primetime to afternoons starting at 3:30pm. There are other changes to weekdays, mainly in the mornings and afternoons, with double shot episodes from 9am-3pm of sitcoms from the '50s and '60s. What's Happening!!, Gimme a Break!, Webster and 227 round out the changes to weekdays starting at 4:30pm. Weekends will see minor changes, with Small Wonder leaving the line-up and the additions of Silver Spoons, Family Ties, Growing Pains, The Hogan Family and Dear John in afternoons. View the full line-up.

Netflix announces Arrested Development Season 5 will launch May 29. In the aftermath of Cinco de Quatro, the Bluth family are all facing one question, that no one quite has the answer to; where is Lucille Two? As this Netflix (semi) original series returns on May 29, 2018, the Bluths are back together, and finally getting the award they think they deserve - for family of the year. A development which will help Lindsay as she begins her campaign for Congress, to become 'part of the problem'. But whatever happens, Michael will always come back to save the family. Probably. Visit VoteBluth.com for updates from the Bluth for Family of the Year campaign. The entire cast returns for the 5th season: David Cross as Tobias, Jason Bateman as Michael, Jeffrey Tambor as George Sr., Jessica Walter as Lucille, Michael Cera as George-Michael, Portia de Rossi as Lindsay, Tony Hale as Buster and Will Arnett as Gob.

Antenna TV is showing its St. Paddy's Day pride by airing 17-hours (fitting for March 17) of "green" with a 34-episode Green Acres marathon. Antenna TV's "St. Patrick's Day Green Acres Marathon" begins on the farm with Oliver & Lisa Douglas at 5am ET on Friday, March 17 and concludes at 10pm ET. Green Acres regularly airs on Antenna TV weekdays 8am ET/5am PT and Sundays 2pm ET/11am PT. Antenna TV's "St. Patrick's Day Green Acres Marathon" will air the following episodes:

5:00 AM Oliver Buys a Farm
5:30 AM Lisa's First Day on the Farm
6:00 AM My Husband the Rooster Renter
6:30 AM The Deputy
7:00 AM Ballad of Molly Turgiss
7:30 AM Never Look a Tractor in the Mouth
8:00 AM Wings Over Hooterville
8:30 AM Ugly Duckling
9:00 AM I Didn’t Raise a Pig to Be a Soldier
9:30 AM The Hooterville Image
10:00 AM Never Take Your wife to a Convention
10:30 AM The Computer Age
11:00 AM The Beverly Hillbillies
11:30 AM Music to Milk By
12:00 PM Getting Even With Haney
12:30 PM Love Comes to Arnold Ziffel
1:00 PM Haney's New Image
1:30 PM Flight to Nowhere
2:00 PM Guess Who's Not Going to the Luau
2:30 PM Agricultural Student
3:00 PM Old Mail Lady
3:30 PM How to Get From Hooterville to Pixly
4:00 PM Everywhere a Chick Chick
4:30 PM Prize in Each and Every Package
5:00 PM Oh' Promise Me
5:30 PM The Road
6:00 PM The Confrontation
6:30 PM The Cow Killer
7:00 PM Ralph's Nuptials
7:30 PM The Case of the Hooterville Refund Fraud
8:00 PM Oliver Goes Broke
8:30 PM Great Mayorality Campaign
9:00 PM Oliver's Double
9:30 PM The Spot Remover

Sitcom writer and producer Howard Leeds, who was one of the creators of The Facts of Life, Silver Spoons and Small Wonder, has died. He died on February 11 at his home in Los Angeles, California after a long-term illness. Mr. Leeds was 97.

Leeds worked as a writer for many sitcoms from the 1950s to 1980s, including Meet Millie, How to Marry a Millionaire, Bachelor Father, The Bob Cummings Show, Ensign O'Toole, Make Room for Daddy, McHale's Navy, My Three Sons, The Bill Dana Show, Bewitched, That Girl, The Doris Day Show, Julia, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, The Brady Bunch, Barney Miller and Grady. He received an Emmy nomination in 1956 for his work on the comedy/variety series The George Gobel Show.

He created his first sitcom The Queen and I in 1969. The short-lived CBS series starred Larry Storch, Billy DeWolfe, Carl Ballantine, Pat Morita, Barbara Stuart, Dave Morick, Liam Dunn and Dave Willock.

Leeds was a producer and story consultant for the 1964-1965 CBS sitcom My Living Doll. The series was about a lifelike adult android being cared for by a psychiatrist. It starred Bob Cummings, Julie Newmar, Jack Mullaney and Doris Dowling.

In 1979, he wrote "The Girls School" episode of Diff'rent Strokes with Ben Starr, Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon. The episode was for pilot for the spinoff The Facts of Life. Leeds worked as a writer on 33 episodes of Diff'rent Strokes from 1978-1984. He also served as a producer from 1979-1984.

He helped Martin Cohan and Ben Starr create the sitcom Silver Spoons in 1982. The series aired for four seasons on NBC before moving to first-run syndication for the fifth and final season. It starred Ricky Schroder, Joel Higgins, Erin Gray, Franklyn Seales, Jason Bateman (1982-1984), Corky Pigeon (1983-1985), Alfonso Ribeiro (1984-1987) and John Houseman. Leed provided the story for one episode.

Leeds was the creator and producer for the syndicated sitcom Small Wonder. The series aired for four seasons from 1985-1989. It starred Dick Christie, Marla Pennington, Jerry Supiran, Tiffany Brisette, Paul C. Scott and Emily Schulman. Leeds wrote one episode. He was also one of the writers of the theme song lyrics.

Some of his other producing credits included The Bill Dana Show, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, The Brady Bunch and Grady. He worked as a production executive for Reg Grundy Productions from 1976 to 1978.

Survivors include his wife Joan Hajny-Leeds, son John Hajny, daughter-in-law Kim Hajny and grandchildren Jenna and Erin Hajny.

Mr. Leeds worked on many memorable sitcoms during his career. We thank him for bringing us The Facts of Life, Silver Spoons and Small Wonder. He will be greatly missed.

Last summer we announced that Antenna TV had acquired many series for 2015. Now some of them are launching right now in January! In fact, the new Antenna TV January 2015 schedule starts today. Six of the eleven series they announced are joining the schedule. The series joining the line-up are Leave it to Beaver, Mr. Belvedere, Newhart, Doogie Howser M.D., Small Wonder and Evening Shade (one note is that Leave it to Beaver is returning to Antenna TV after airing on MeTV). So you'll have to wait later this year for the other series: The Jeffersons, Mork & Mindy, One Day at a Time, Family Ties, and Dear John. Anyway, back to the January 2015 schedule, as always there are a lot of time changes. Hazel is also returning to the schedule (airing weekdays 9-10am), while The Ropers and Three's a Crowd get regular weekend airings now (Saturdays 6-7pm and Sundays 12-1pm) instead of airing within the Three's Company rotation. Also returning to Antenna TV is The Three Stooges, airing Sundays 7-8am. As for the new series, Leave it to Beaver will air weekdays from 4-5pm, Saturdays 5-6pm and Sundays 2-3pm. Mr. Belvedere will air weekdays from 5-6pm, Saturdays 11pm-12am and Sundays 6-7pm. Newhart launches tonight with a special finale/pilot episode event, with the series finale airing first at 10pm, followed by the pilot episode at 10:30pm. The Bob Newhart '80s comedy will air weekdays 10-11pm and weekends 9-10pm. Doogie Howser M.D. will air late nights on weeknights from 2-3am, Saturdays 10-11pm and Sundays 7-8pm. Small Wonder and Evening Shade will only air on weekends, with Small Wonder on Saturdays 3-4pm and Sundays 5-6pm. Evening Shade is weekends from 8-9pm.

With all of these additions and returns, some series will be leaving the schedule. Expiring or on hiatus series are: Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bachelor Father, Diff'rent Strokes, Flipper, It Takes A Thief, Married...with Children, Partridge Family, Sanford And Son, The Nanny and Tooned In. The weekday morning schedule will consist of black and white sitcoms from 6am-5pm, while the '70s/'80s comedies take over from 5pm-3am. The Saturday primetime line-up features the new '80s additions, as does Sundays from 5pm-9pm. View and discuss the entire Antenna TV January 2015 schedule so you don't miss any of your favorites!

Actress Donna Douglas, best known for her role as Elly May Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies, has died. She died at Baton Rouge General Hospital in Zachary, Louisiana on January 1 from pancreatic cancer. Ms. Douglas was 82.

Douglas' early sitcom appearances included Bachelor Father, Hennesey, Pete and Gladys and Mister Ed. Some of her drama appearances included Tightrope, U.S. Marshal, Whirlybirds, Lock Up, The Detectives, Route 66, Thriller, Checkmate, 77 Sunset Strip, Surfside 6, Dr. Kildare and Twilight Zone. Her film credits included Career, Lover Come Back and Frankie and Johnny (with Elvis Presley).

Douglas was selected from among 500 young actresses for the role of Elly May Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies. The popular CBS sitcom ran for nine seasons and 274 episodes from 1962-1971. The series also starred Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Max Baer, Jr, Raymond Bailey and Nancy Kulp. Elly May was the only child of Jed and Rose Ellen Clampett. She was a tomboy who loved all kinds of critters. Douglas joined Ebsen and Culp in the 1981 CBS TV movie Return of the Beverly Hillbillies. She reunited with Ebsen and Baer in the 1993 CBS TV special The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies.

Some of her later television appearances included Night Gallery, Love, American Style, Adam-12, McMillan & Wife, Project U.F.O., The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and The Nanny. Following her acting career, she briefly worked as a real estate agent. She frequently performed as a gospel singer and was an inspirational speaker at many church groups, youth groups and schools. Douglas wrote several children's books and published a cookbook in 2013.

Survivors include her son, Danny P. Bourgeois, and a niece, Charlene Smith. Donna was a talented and beautiful actress. She seemed like a very sweet lady with all of her charity work. She always appeared to be appreciative of her fans. We will deeply miss her.

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

Antenna TV announced the addition of eleven classic series to the network's lineup for 2015! Antenna TV, which airs in 89 markets across the U.S. reaching 71% of TV households, will add Newhart, The Jeffersons, Mork & Mindy, One Day at a Time, Family Ties, Evening Shade, Leave it to Beaver, Doogie Howser MD, Mr. Belvedere, Dear John, and Small Wonder to its existing lineup in 2015. These series are coming from various studios, such as Sony Pictures Television, 20th Century Fox, CBS Paramount and NBC Universal. And these eleven series might not be all that are on the horizon! Sean Compton, President of Strategic Programming and Acquisitions, Tribune Media says, "We are excited to add these shows to the lineup and plan to announce more programming acquisitions for the network in the coming months." Perhaps series like The Facts of Life, Webster, Silver Spoons and What's Happening/What's Happening Now?

Newhart, The Jeffersons, Mork & Mindy, One Day at a Time, Family Ties, Evening Shade, Leave it to Beaver, Doogie Howser MD, Mr. Belvedere, Dear John and Small Wonder join Antenna TV's lineup of classic favorites: Three's Company, Too Close for Comfort, I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, Dennis the Menace, Father Knows Best, Bachelor Father, Hazel, The Partridge Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, Diff'rent Strokes, WKRP in Cincinnati, All in the Family, Good Times, The Three Stooges, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Jack Benny Program, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Gidget, The Flying Nun, It Takes a Thief and Antenna TV Theater, a movie block featuring MGM and Sony movies. More info on these eleven series' start dates and the potential other series coming soon will be announced closer to 2015. Stay with us for all things Antenna TV as always!

Amazon announced it will premiere all ten episodes of the highly-anticipated Jill Soloway dark comedy Transparent on Friday, September 26 exclusively on Prime Instant Video in the US and UK. Starring Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development), Judith Light (Who's the Boss?), Gaby Hoffmann (Girls), Amy Landecker (Louie) and Jay Duplass (Togetherness), Transparent follows the Pfeffermans--a Los Angeles family forced to deal with their long-held secrets together.

Written, directed and executive produced by Emmy-nominee and 2013 Sundance Best Director winner Soloway, Transparent is a ten episode, half-hour novelistic series that explores family, identity, sex, and love. The series stars Tambor as Maura, who has spent her life as Mort--the Pfefferman family patriarch. When she reintroduces herself to her family, everyone's secrets finally start to come out. This includes her ex-wife Shelly (played by Light), and their children--meandering Ali (played by Hoffmann), record producer Josh (played by Duplass), and sexually conflicted Sarah (played by Landecker). Each family member spins in a different direction as they begin to figure out who they are going to become. Amazon Prime members can watch the first episode of Transparent now via the Prime Instant Video apps for Amazon Fire TV, Kindle Fire tablets, Fire phone, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, as well as hundreds of other connected devices such as smart TVs--or customers can visit Amazon.com/PIV to watch online. Prime members can add Transparent to their Watchlist and easily access new episodes when they premiere on September 26.

Recurring guest stars in Transparent include Melora Hardin (The Office) as Tammy, Bradley Whitford (Trophy Wife, The West Wing) as Marcy, Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia) as Syd, Kathryn Hahn (Parks and Recreation) as Raquel, Alexandra Billings (Grey's Anatomy) as Maura's friend Davina, and Rob Huebel (Childrens Hospital) as Len. Guest starring roles include Michaela Watkins as Connie, Kiersey Clemons as Bianca, comedian Ian Harvie as Dale, and Cleo Anthony as Derek.