SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

SitcomsOnline Digest: Desperate Housewives Creator Has Prequel Idea; Finale Date Set for The Talk

 Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! It's a very slow holiday news week, but we have a few highlights for you. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry has an idea for a prequel to the series, but it is nowhere near being a series at the moment. (Variety)
• A date for the final episode of The Talk has been set. (TV Series Finale)
• Game show host Chuck Woolery has died. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Actor Earl Holliman, who had a career that spanned over six decades and appeared in many TV series, has died. (Deadline)
• Though it still isn't quite the ratings that a hit broadcast network series would get decades ago, Abbott Elementary is continuing to prove to be a big hit across multiple platforms. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 6)

• Catchy Comedy has a binge of The Danny Thomas Show this weekend.
• Pop Culture Jeopardy! arrives Wednesday on Prime Video.
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will be airing Friday on NBC, a change from the past 60 years in which it has aired on CBS.

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

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Labels: Desperate Housewives, Make Room for Daddy, SitcomsOnline Digest, The Danny Thomas Show, The Talk

Hallmark Original Series Sets Cast; Remembering Pat Carroll, Roger E. Mosley and Vin Scully

Chyler Leigh (Supergirl, Grey's Anatomy) has been cast in The Way Home, the network's new, original primetime series slated to begin production later this month for a 2023 premiere on Hallmark Channel. Leigh plays Kat Landry, who moved away from her small, Canadian farm town of Port Haven many years ago following a family tragedy, and remains estranged from her mother Del (Andie MacDowell) to this day. With her marriage coming to an end and having just been laid off from her job, Kat decides to return home after receiving an unexpected letter from Del urging her to come back. Although her 15-year-old daughter Alice is none-too-thrilled, Kat and her daughter arrive at her family's farm, though the reunion isn't what Kat had envisioned. As the three generations of women slowly work on finding their footing as a family, they embark on an enlightening - and surprising - journey none of them could have imagined.

Emmy-winning actress Pat Carroll, who starred as Bunny Halper on The Danny Thomas Show, has died. She died of pneumonia at her home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on July 30. Ms. Carroll was 95.

Carroll made her television debut on the CBS variety show/sitcom The Red Buttons Show in 1953. She appeared in 45 episodes of the NBC sketch comedy series Caesar's Hour from 1954 to 1957. In 1957, she won the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Performance by an Actress for playing various roles. She appeared on The Saturday Night Revue in 1954. She was a regular on the game show Keep Talking from 1958 to 1960.

She starred as Bunny Halper in 40 episodes of The Danny Thomas Show on CBS from 1961 to 1964. Bunny Halper is the wife of Charley Halper (Sid Melton), the owner of the Copa Club where Danny Williams (Danny Thomas) frequently performed. The cast from seasons 9 to 11 included Danny Thomas, Marjorie Lord, Rusty Hamer, Angela Williams and Amanda Randolph.

Carroll starred as Rita Simon on the short-lived 1971-1972 ABC sitcom Getting Together. It starred Bobby Sherman and Wes Stern as Bobby Conway and Lionel Poindexter, a songwriting duo. Jennifer Conway (Susan Neher) is Bobby's 12-year-old sister. Rita is the motherly landlady at an antique shop. Officer Rudy Colcheck (Jack Burns) is her policeman boyfriend.

She portrayed Pearl Markowitz, the mother of Lenny Markowitz (Adam Arkin), on the 1977 CBS sitcom Busting Loose. The series centers on a young man in New York City who has moved out of his parents' house to live on his own for the first time. The cast included Barbara Rhoades, Jack Kruschen, Danny Goldman, Steve Nathan, Greg Antonacci, Paul Sylvan, Paul B. Price, Ralph Wilcox and Louise Williams.

Carroll starred as Gussie Holt, the bubbly mother of Sheriff Hildy Granger (Suzanne Somers), on the 1987-1989 first-run syndicated sitcom She's the Sheriff. The cast included George Wyner, Nicky Rose, Taliesin Jaffe, Lou Richards, Guich Kooch and Leonard Lightfoot.

She starred as Hope Stinson on The Ted Knight Show in first-run syndication from 1986 to 1987. Too Close for Comfort was retitled to The Ted Knight Show for the sixth and final season. Hope is the co-owner the local weekly newspaper, the Bugler. The cast included Ted Knight, Nancy Dussault, Jim J. Bullock (as Jm J. Bullock) and Lisa Antille.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included The Dennis Day Show, The Mickey Rooney Show, The Ann Sothern Show, Please Don't Eat the Daisies, Arnie, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, My Three Sons, Love, American Style (2 episodes), Calucci's Department, Laverne & Shirley (as Lily Feeney, Shirley's mother), Good Heavens, C.P.O. Sharkey, The Love Boat, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, Evening Shade and Designing Women.

She appeared as Rebecca Chadwick in three episodes of ER in 2005. Some of her other drama guest appearances included Police Story, Police Woman, Flying High, Trapper John, M.D. (1985) and Crazy Like a Fox

Carroll was also known for her voice-over work. She portrayed the sea witch Ursula in Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989). Some of her television animated series credits included Galaxy High School, Foofur and Pound Puppies.

Survivors include daughters Kerry Karsian, Tara Karsian and granddaughter Evan Karsian-McCormick.

Ms. Carroll was a talented and funny actress. She had more than 100 television and film credits. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment that she brought us during her long career. She will be deeply missed.

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

Actor Roger E. Mosley, who was best known for his role as the helicopter pilot Theodore "T.C." Calvin on Magnum, P.I., has died. On August 4, he was involved in a car accident in Lynwood, California, becoming paralyzed from the shoulders down. He died three days later on August 7 from his injuries at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Mosley was 83.

Mosley starred as Theodore "T.C." Calvin on the crime drama Magnum, P.I., which aired on CBS from 1980 to 1988. Theodore "T.C." Calvin runs a one-person local helicopter charter and tour van service called "Island Hoppers", and often finds himself persuaded by Magnum (Tom Selleck) to fly him during various cases. Mosley directed an episode in 1984 and wrote an episode in 1986.

He starred as Michael Kirkland on the short-lived 1990-1991 CBS sitcom You Take the Kids. The series starred Nell Carter, who also performed the theme song "Nobody's Got It Easy". Nell's husband Michael worked as a school bus driver while Nell gave piano lessons at the family home for extra money. It also starred Dante Beze, Caryn Ward, Marlon Taylor, Trent Cameron and Leila Danette.

Mosley had a recurring role as Coach Ricketts in 10 episodes of the first season (1992-1993) of the ABC sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. He is the coach of the Oakbridge Penguins boys' basketball team. The cast of the first season included Mark Curry, Holly Robinson (Peete), Dawnn Lewis, Omar Gooding, Marquise Wilson, George Lemore and Christopher Carter.

He starred as Milton 'Milt' Johnson on the second season (1999-2000) of the Showtime comedy Rude Awakening. The cast included Sherilyn Fenn, Lynn Redgrave, Jonathan Penner and Rain Pryor.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Sanford and Son, That's My Mama, The Love Boat, Night Court (2 episodes), The Sinbad Show, In the House and Arli$$.

He appeared as John Booky, T.C.'s (Stephen Hill) barber, in two episodes of the Magnum, P.I. reboot in 2019 and 2021. Some of his other television drama guest appearances included Cannon, Night Gallery (2 episodes), The Streets of San Francisco, Kung Fu, Kojak, McCloud, Baretta, The Rookies, Delvecchio, The Rockford Files, Starsky and Hutch (2 episodes), RoboCop (1994), Walker, Texas Ranger (2000), The District and Las Vegas.

Some of his film credits included Hit Man (1972), The Mack (1973), Sweet Jesus, Preacherman (1973), Terminal Island (1974), McQ (1974), Leadbelly (1976), The Greatest (1977), Semi-Tough (1977), Heart Condition (1990), Unlawful Entry (1992) and Pentathlon (1994).

Survivors include his wife, Antoinette (“Toni”) — they were together for nearly 60 years — son Brandonn; daughter Ch-a; grandson Austin; and Rahsan, among his many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Mosley was a solid and dependable actor. He was likable and memorable as T.C. on Magnum, P.I.. Though he was a certified helicopter pilot, he was not allowed to do his own stunts. We thank him for the entertainment that he brought us on television. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Magnum, P.I. message board. View photos in our galleries.

Hall of Fame sportscaster Vin Scully was best known for his 67 seasons calling games for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers, beginning in 1950 (when the franchise was located in Brooklyn) and ending in 2016. He died on August 2 at his home in Hidden Hills, California. Mr. Scully was 94.

Scully was the uncredited narrator for the 1966-1967 NBC sitcom Occasional Wife. The lead character was Peter Christopher (Michael Callan), a bachelor who enjoyed the single life, but was blocked from professional advancement by not having a wife. Christopher asked a young hat check girl, Greta Patterson (Patricia Harty), to pose as his wife at company functions. Scully commented on the increasingly complicated problems created by the arrangement between Peter and Greta.

His voice as an announcer was heard in episodes of Mister Ed, The Joey Bishop Show and Brooklyn Bridge. Some of his other television voice credits included General Electric Theater, Michael Shayne, The New Breed, Alcoa Premiere, The Fugitive, Highway to Heaven and The X-Files.

He served as the host for the NBC game show It Takes Two in 1969-1970. He hosted The Vin Scully Show, a weekday afternoon talk-variety show on CBS in 1973. In 1977, he hosted the prime-time Challenge of the Sexes for CBS.

Survivors include his children, Kevin, Todd, Erin, Kelly and Catherine; 21 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Mr. Scully was one of the best baseball announcers of all time. He had so many memorable calls over the years. He was a true professional and a great storyteller. He will be sorely missed.

Share your memories on our message board.

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

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Labels: Grey's Anatomy, Hallmark Channel, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Magnum, Obits, She's the Sheriff, The Danny Thomas Show, Too Close for Comfort

Miami Vice New Year's Marathon on El Rey Network; Remembering Marjorie Lord from Make Room for Daddy

Countdown to New Year's Eve with El Rey Network and this 2002 remake of the classic series, hosted by Forest Whitaker and featuring tales of suspense, fantasy, science fiction and horror during 24 hours of The Twilight Zone, creeping into your home airing Thursday, December 31 at 6:00AM ET/PT – Friday, January 1 at 6:00AM ET/PT. Then kick off the New Year with a trip to the Magic City during a 14 hour marathon of the '80s drama Miami Vice airing Friday, January 1 from 6:00AM ET/PT –8:00PM ET/PT featuring break out performances by powerhouse guest stars, including: Bruce Willis, Liam Neeson, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Bay, Steve Buscemi, Benicio Del Toro, Chris Rock, and Julia Roberts. Then finish the night off with three kick-ass, back-to-back airings of Roadhouse, to get your first Patrick Swayze fix of 2016 from 8:00PM ET/PT – 3:30AM ET/PT.

Actress Marjorie Lord, who was best known for her role as Kathy "Clancey" Williams in Make Room for Daddy (aka The Danny Thomas Show), has died. She died on November 28 at her home in Beverly Hills, California of natural causes. Ms. Lord was 97.

Lord's early television guest appearances included Public Prosecutor, Racket Squad, The Adventures of Kit Carson, China Smith, Ramar of the Jungle, Big Town, Hopalong Cassidy, Fireside Theatre (8 episodes), The Lone Wolf, The Ford Television Theatre, Cavalcade of America, The Lone Ranger, The Loretta Young Show and Wagon Train.

Jean Hagen, who played Danny Thomas' first wife Margaret Williams in Make Room for Daddy, was written out of the show as having died. In 1957, Lord appeared in four episodes as Kathy O'Hara, a young Irish nurse, who was hired to take care of an ill Rusty (Rusty Hamer). The characters were married off-screen. The series was re-titled The Danny Thomas Show at the start of the fourth season when it moved from ABC to CBS. She appeared in the show until it ended in 1964.

Lord appeared in two hour-long reunion specials on NBC: The Danny Thomas TV Family Reunion in 1965 and Make More Room for Daddy, which aired as an episode of The Danny Thomas Hour in November 1967. ABC aired Make Room for Granddaddy for a single season in 1970-1971.

Some of her other television guest appearances included The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (as Kathy Williams), The Joey Bishop Show (as Kathy Williams), Love, American Style, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat and Sweet Surrender. Her film credits included Sherlock Holmes in Washington, Chain Gang, Mexican Manhunt, Down Laredo Way, Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! and The Pirate.

Survivors include her daughter, actress Anne Archer, her son, Gregg Archer, grandson Tommy Davis, four other grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Ms. Lord was a wonderful actress. She always seemed very appreciative of her fans. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Make Room for Daddy/The Danny Thomas Show message board. View photos in our galleries.

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

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Labels: El Rey Network, Make Room for Daddy, Miami Vice, Obits, The Danny Thomas Show