SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Comedy Central's Drunk History and Corporate are both back with new episodes beginning Tuesday, January 15 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT respectively. Celebrating its 6th season premiere, Drunk History devotes a full episode to an Are You Afraid Of The Dark parody around Mary Shelley's creation of Frankenstein. The episode features A-list talent including, Evan Rachel Wood as Mary, Seth Rogen as Dr. Frankenstein, Elijah Wood as Percy Shelley, Jack McBrayer as Lord Byron and Will Ferrell as Frankenstein's Monster. The episode is narrated by Rich Fulcher.

Season two of the critically-acclaimed Corporate will feature its own lineup of star-studded guests with Kyra Sedgwick, Elizabeth Perkins, Kristen Schaal, Sasheer Zamata, Baron Vaughn and Andy Richter. Corporate stars series' creators/writers/executive producers Matt Ingebretson and Jake Weisman as two Junior Executives-in-Training at Hampton DeVille, a heartless, corporate hell-hole led by tyrannical CEO Christian DeVille (Lance Reddick) and his top lieutenants, sycophants John and Kate (Adam Lustick and Anne Dudek). As Matt and Jake navigate an ever-revolving series of disasters their only ally is Grace (Aparna Nancherla), a Hampton DeVille Human Resources rep who is beleaguered by both her job and her exhausting relationship with the very needy Matt and Jake. As previously announced, Comedy Central will debut the final season of Broad City on Thursday, January 24 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, followed by the series premiere of Comedy Central's brand new, half-hour scripted series The Other Two.

In more Comedy Central news, Jim Gaffigan is back on Comedy Central on Friday, November 23 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT in the network debut of Jim Gaffigan: Noble Ape, a special 90 minute event. In Noble Ape, Gaffigan gets personal as he discusses the medical crisis that hit his wife and family this year, which almost led to his retirement. Using his signature everyman humor to deal with the unthinkable, Gaffigan proves why the Wall Street Journal called him the "king of clean comedy." Noble Ape was recorded live at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, MA after a sold out North American Tour of theaters and arenas. A Comedy Dynamics original, it premiered on July 13 in theaters and on demand. Leading up to the on-air premiere, cc.com and the CC App will feature preview clips from the special. On Saturday, November 24, the full special will be available to stream in the CC App and on CC.com. Fans can follow Gaffigan on Twitter at @JimGaffigan and Comedy Central Stand-Up at @standup to join the social conversation around #NobleApe.

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! This week, we have news of The Jim Gaffigan Show not returning for a third season, an update on the new season of Nashville, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

TUESDAY (AUGUST 30) HOME MEDIA RELEASES

• Mom - The Third Season (DVD, $39.98): The third season of the CBS sitcom arrives on DVD in this release from Warner Archive.

Who to Follow: Katy Mixon (Twitter), "i get to play make believe for a livin'! blessed."

Claim to Fame: We've reached that time of the year where it is time to start thinking about the new fall season, and all of the series that may become the biggest new hit that we'll be watching for the next decade and reruns for decades beyond that, as well as the series that will quietly be shelved by November, burned off online, then completely forgotten. Of course, we don't quite know which ones will go which way, but this week we begin our theme of stars of the new series with Katy Mixon, who'll star in the upcoming ABC comedy American Housewife. This is far from her first sitcom experience, as she just came off of a regular role playing Victoria Flynn, Molly's sister, on the CBS comedy Mike & Molly. Other than that, she has appeared in a few movies and also had a few pilots in her past that weren't picked up, but she is hoping to find success in this latest entry on ABC.

This summer, TV Land is giving you a reason NOT to dread the end of the weekend! Beginning Sunday nights in June, The Jim Gaffigan Show and Impastor will return for their second seasons. With hilarious guest star turns and cameos by Jerry Seinfeld, Zachary Quinto, Alec Baldwin, Raven Symoné, John Mulaney, Macaulay Culkin, John Mulaney, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Judy Gold, Carrot Top, Gilbert Gottfried, Artie Lange, Nickelback, Perez Hilton, Tyler Oakley and many more, "one of summer TV's bright spots" (People), The Jim Gaffigan Show," will return for season two on (appropriately) Father's Day - Sunday, June 19 at 10:00pm ET/PT with two back-to-back episodes. The series is a fictionalized version of stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan's real life as he navigates fatherhood, his career and an incurable obsession with food, and this season will get even more inside Jim's head, looking at all his neuroses about being in the ever-critical limelight and his marriage to wife Jeannie (Ashley Williams) and children. The comedy also stars Michael Ian Black ("Wet Hot American Summer") as Jeannie's friend, Daniel, who not-so-subtly dislikes Jim, and Adam Goldberg (No Way Jose) as Jim's friend and fellow comedian, Dave. The show was co-created by Peter Tolan (Rescue Me) and executive producer Jim Gaffigan, and is also executive produced by Jeannie Gaffigan. Alex Murray and Sandy Wernick of Brillstein Entertainment Partners also executive produce. JAX Media's Tony Hernandez will executive produce for TV Land. The season will have 12 episodes.

On Impastor, which will return with two back-to-back episodes on Sunday, June 26th at 10:30pm ET/PT, we left Buddy Dobbs (Michael Rosenbaum, Smallville) in a cliffhanger season finale. His past had finally started to catch up with him when Damien, the man he owed money to, came calling. The series follows Buddy, a slacker with gambling debt as he tries to escape his old life, by assuming the identity of a gay pastor, Jonathan Barlow, who died while trying to save Buddy from jumping off a bridge. Buddy assumed Barlow's life and relocated to the small town of Ladner where he serves as the town pastor. With the new identity, he thought he could escape his old life, but he was wrong. Impastor also stars Sara Rue (Less Than Perfect), Mircea Monroe (Episodes), David Rasche (Sledge Hammer!), and Mike Kosinski (Second City). The show, which will have a 10-episode second season, is executive produced by Christopher Vane and Rosenbaum, along with Eric and Kim Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men) and Rob Greenberg (How I Met Your Mother).


It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of April 18-22, 2016, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!


Monday, April 18, 2016

• Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Watch Jesse on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer (Broad City) - Abbi and Ilana are guests on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• H. Jon Benjamin (Bob's Burgers) - H. Jon visits Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Office) - Ellie stops by Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm. She will also be on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Steve Carell (The Office) - Steve appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry is a guest on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore at 11:30pm on Comedy Central. He will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• Jurnee Smollett-Bell (On Our Own) - Jurnee drops by The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Blythe Danner (Adam's Rib/Tattingers) - Blythe talks about her miniseries Madoff on a repeat of The Meredith Vieira Show, so check your local listings.
• Tony Hale (Veep/Arrested Development) - Tony talks about Veep on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) - Tituss talks about Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• Queen Latifah (Living Single) - Queen Latifah chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men/The Famous Teddy Z) - Jon chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• George Lopez (Lopez/Saint George/George Lopez) - George teams with Michael Symon to make a sumptuous Eggplant Rollatini on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• John Ratzenberger (Cheers) - John is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Paul W. Downs (Broad City) - Paul appears on the AOL Build Show at 4pm.
• Danny DeVito (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Taxi) - Danny and his daughter Lucy talk about Curmudgeons on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Toks Olagundoye (The Neighbors) - Toks is a guest on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - Harry talks about Graves NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 12:30pm ET.
• Peter Facinelli (Nurse Jackie) - Peter is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

• Geena Davis (The Geena Davis Show/Buffalo Bill) - Catch Geena on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley) - Thomas appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Andrew visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Ilana Glazer and Paul W. Downs (Broad City) - Ilana and Paul are guests on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Kevin appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Nick Robinson (Melissa & Joey) - Nick is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Tony Hale (Veep/Arrested Development) - Tony visits Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo and The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore at 11:30pm on Comedy Central..
• Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move) - Jason previews the film The Family Fang on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• David Spade (Rules of Engagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me!) - David appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry bring his hilarity to the kitchen on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Laura San Giacomo (Just Shoot Me!) - Laura is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Tyler James Williams (Go On/Everybody Hates Chris) - Tyler talks about starring in the new show Replay launching April 19th on go90 on the AOL Build Show at 4:30pm.
• Colin Hanks (Life in Pieces) - Colin appears on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Garry Marshall (Creator of Happy Days/Laverne & Shirley/Mork & Mindy) - Garry is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

• Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley) - Catch Kumail on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Tina Fey (30 Rock) - Tina is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Matt Walsh (Veep/Outsourced) - Matt visits The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He will also be on the AOL Build Show at 2:15pm.
• Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Andrew appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Steve Agee (The Sarah Silverman Program) - Steve is a guest on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• Tyler Labine (Deadbeat/Animal Practice/Mad Love/Sons of Tucson) - Tyler appears on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• Danny DeVito (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Taxi) - Danny and his daughter Lucy talk about Curmudgeons on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• Anna Chlumsky (Veep) - Anna cooks up some fun with Mario Batali on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Seinfeld) - Julia is a guest on the AOL Build Show at 2:15pm.
• Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry/Animal Practice/Sparks) - Kym discusses a dating experiment on Steve Harvey, so check your local listings.
• Marlon Wayans (The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon is a guest on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - Harry appears on People Now.
• Tiffani Thiessen (Saved by the Bell/Saved by the Bell: The College Years) - Tiffani visits Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Wendie Malick (Hot in Cleveland/Just Shoot Me!) - Wendie is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

• Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Catch Tom on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He will also be on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
• Zoe Lister-Jones (Life in Pieces/Friends with Better Lives/Whitney) - Zoe is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Jerrod Carmichael (The Carmichael Show) - Jerrod appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Alice Wetterlund (Silicon Valley) - Alice is a guest on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• Zach Galifianakis (Baskets) - Zach appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Jillian Bell (Workaholics/Eastbound & Down) - Jillian is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Brie Larson (United States of Tara/Raising Dad) - Brie appears on a repeat of The Meredith Vieira Show, so check your local listings.
• Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Broooke talks about Flower Shop Mystery on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• The Cast of Silicon Valley) - Natalie Morales visits the set of HBO's Silicon Valley on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• Matt Walsh (Veep/Outsourced) - Matt talks about Veep on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• David Duchovny (Californication) - David unveils about his latest novel, a tragi-comedy about baseball pro Bucky Dent, on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Clark Gregg (The New Adventures of Old Christine) - Clark is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Reid Scott (Veep) - Reid appears on People Now.
• Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Office) - Ellie visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.

Friday, April 22, 2016

• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Seinfeld) - Watch Julia on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. She will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
• Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle) - Bryan appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Demi is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Lena Dunham (Girls) - Lena appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Rosie O'Donnell (Gimme a Break!) - Rosie is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke visits The Wendy Williams Show at 12am on BET or on your local stations.
• Cybill Shepherd (Cybill) - Cybill and the cast of Taxi Driver talk about its 40th Anniversary on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
• Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken is back to tickle your funny bone with a healthy dose of the best medicine – laughter - on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
• Louis CK (Louie) - Louis will be on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
• Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah makes Mother's Day pancakes on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Alfonso Ribeiro (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso talks about hosting America's Funniest Home Videos on NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on the AOL Build Show at 11:30am.
• Eddie Kaye Thomas ('Til Death/Off Centre) - Eddie is a guest on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 12:30pm ET.

All listings are subject to change. Visit our blog and main site for daily updated listings. Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Friday feature! We do listen!

Late last week Viacom Networks TV Land and CMT had their annual upfront presentation in New York City. Following a successful brand re-invention, TV Land continues to evolve and expand its roster of original scripted programming by partnering with A-list talent, producers and writers to become a destination for compelling, quality television. During the network's Upfront presentation at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, Keith Cox, TV Land's Executive Vice President, Development and Original Programming, announced an overall deal with entertainment icon Darren Star, the creator, executive producer and writer of the network's critically-acclaimed comedy Younger, keeping him on board to develop another project with the network. Cox also revealed that TV Land has renewed Teachers for a 20-episode second season after reaching an impressive average of 3.4 million viewers each week across all platforms (1 minute qualifier, average weekly reach).

TV Land also announced pilot orders for projects with prominent creative forces in the industry. The first is a fresh adaptation of the cult comedy hit The First Wives Club, to be written by Rebecca Addelman (New Girl) and executive produced by Jenny Bicks (Sex and the City), and the second is an untitled put pilot based on the life of Kyle Richards (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) with Emmy(R)-winning executive producers John Wells (Shameless, ER, The West Wing) and John Riggi (The Comeback, 30 Rock, Will & Grace). These join the previously announced pilot Nobodies, currently shooting in Los Angeles, executive produced by Emmy(R) winner Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone. TV Land's growing list of comedies include The Jim Gaffigan Show, premiering season two Wednesday, June 22 at 10pm ET/PT, and Impastor, premiering season two on Wednesday, July 13 at 10:30pm ET/PT. New series Lopez, executive produced by comedian George Lopez and Silicon Valley's John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky, premieres Wednesday, March 30 at 10pm ET/PT. Younger's second season, which hit series highs this week with Adults 18-49, Adults 25-39 and total viewers (L+3), airs its finale on Wednesday, March 23 at 10pm ET/PT and was recently renewed for a third season.

The event featured appearances by TV Land series stars Molly Bernard (Younger), Hilary Duff (Younger), Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show), Peter Hermann (Younger), George Lopez (Lopez), Debi Mazar (Younger), Miriam Shor (Younger), Nico Tortorella (Younger), and executive producers Alison Brie (Teachers) and Darren Star (Younger).

Moving on to CMT, they are doubling its impressive slate of original award-winning programming, music events and documentaries including a new annual music tent-pole event "Concert of the Summer," the first round of casting for Million Dollar Quartet (working title) and a second season order for I Love Kellie Pickler. CMT also revealed the premiere dates for Still The King, The Dude Perfect Show and NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed at the network's annual Upfront presentation held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. We'll cover the new comedy Still the King only here. The comedy Still the King debuts Sunday, June 12 at 9pm ET/PT, a few days after the 2016 CMT Music Awards. The series boasts an impressive ensemble cast with Billy Ray Cyrus, Joey Lauren Adams (Big Daddy, Mall Rats), Madison Iseman (Laid in America, Nickelodeon's Henry Danger), Lacey Chabert (Mean Girls, Party of Five), Leslie David Baker (The Office), Kevin Farley (The Waterboy), Travis Nicholson and Jon Sewell. Still the King follows Vernon (Cyrus), a scandal-ridden, washed-up, one-hit-wonder who crashes back into the life of his ex (Adams) and discovers he had a daughter (Iseman) he knew nothing about.

TV Land has given second season orders to its popular new comedy series The Jim Gaffigan Show and Impastor. Performing strongly in their first seasons, an average of 4.0 million viewers tuned into Gaffigan on premiere nights on TV Land and Nick at Nite, while Impastor attracted a weekly average of 2.8 million viewers.* In addition, both series saw impressive gains over channel prime average, with Gaffigan up +100% and Impastor up +29% among Adults 25-54.** The Jim Gaffigan Show and Impastor air on Wednesdays on TV Land at 10pm and 10:30pm ET/PT, respectively. TV Land will be showing a catch-up marathon of Impastor on Sunday night, September 6 at 1am ET/PT, featuring the first eight episodes, airing completely uncensored.

The Jim Gaffigan Show and Impastor are just two of the many existing series and additional projects in development for TV Land as part of the network's rebrand. The hit buzzy series Younger returns in January, along with the launch of Teachers from Chicago-based improv group The Katydids. TV Land recently announced a series pick-up order for Lopez, starring comedian and actor George Lopez, and greenlit pilot production of I Shudder starring Hamish Linklater and Megan Hilty. Other projects in development include an untitled John Wells/John Riggi/Warner Horizon Television project inspired by the life of Kyle Richards (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) and a script with executive producers Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone.

*Source: Nielsen, 3 telecasts per week, average P2+ Premiere night reach, 1 minute Qualifier, Most Current.
** Source: Nielsen, TVL Premieres Only vs Channel 8-11p Prime, 6/29 – 8/23/15, Most Current.

The Miss America Organization, Dick Clark Productions and ABC announced that actress, New York Times bestselling author, mathematician and education advocate Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years, Dancing with the Stars) will be a judge on the 2016 Miss America Competition. She joins previously announced celebrity judges including country star Brett Eldredge, author and wife of the late U.S. Navy SEAL "American Sniper" Chris Kyle, Taya Kyle, entrepreneur and businessman of ABC's Shark Tank, Kevin O'Leary, 2014 Paralympic snowboarding bronze medalist, Amy Purdy and television and recording star, Zendaya (K.C. Undercover). TV personality Chris Harrison (ABC's The Bachelor) will host alongside actress and entrepreneur Brooke Burke-Charvet (Dancing with the Stars), who returns as co-host. Nick Jonas will serve as the official music curator of the evening.The 2016 Miss America Competition returns to Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Sunday, September 13 from 9:00–11:00pm/ET on the ABC Television Network. The evening will be filled with glitz and glam as 52 women compete for the coveted crown and scholarship.

The premieres of TV Land's newest original series premieres boasted impressive numbers, with The Jim Gaffigan Show attracting a gross audience of 3.2 million total viewers on TV Land, Nick at Nite and Comedy Central, and Impastor attracting 1.7 million gross total viewers on TV Land and Nick at Nite (Live+3). The July 15 premiere for both shows, which kicked off at 10 pm on TV Land and Nick at Nite, reached 5.6 million viewers (L+3, 1 min. qualifier, P2+, 6 telecasts, Total US). Compared to channel prime average, The Jim Gaffigan Show premiere on TV Land was up 178%. The Jim Gaffigan Show ranked #5 on Nielsen's Twitter TV rankings for the night. An encore of the series premiere of The Jim Gaffigan Show was telecast on Comedy Central on July 16 and reached 1.1 million viewers (L+3, 1 min. qualifier, P2+, CMDY Cov. Area). The TV Land premiere of Impastor had a +21% increase over channel prime average.

Ah, the 1990s. Sideburns, frosted tips, slap bracelets, fanny packs and, of course, the launch of two shows that made television history -- Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place. In a Lifetime "throw back-to–back" weekend event, The Unauthorized Beverly Hills, 90210 Story premieres Saturday, October 3, at 8pm ET/PT and The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story follows on Saturday, October 10, at 8pm ET/PT. The movies are the latest in Lifetime's Unauthorized Story film franchise and revisit two of the decade's most iconic programs and reveal what transpired behind the scenes during the cast members' rise to fame. An international pop culture phenomenon, Beverly Hills, 90210 ruled the '90s television landscape and reigned as the top teen show for nearly a decade during which Jason Priestley, Luke Perry, Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling became household names. The Unauthorized Beverly Hills, 90210 Story reveals the roller coaster ride behind the show's first four seasons, highlighting the drama between cast members and producers both on and off-set as they journeyed together from near-cancelation to unparalled fame and success.

Launched in 1992 as a companion for Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place quickly became a giant television hit in its own right. Originally designed to be an authentic, grounded look at 20-something life in Los Angeles, the program soon became 90210's soapier, yet equally popular counterpart. The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story highlights the remarkable behind-the-scenes moments that shaped the series including early casting drama, Heather Locklear arriving to "save" Melrose Place, and the actors begging their writers for even wilder storylines to make them fan favorites.

TV Land is rebranding and recreating its look with a new logo and a complete overhaul of the network's brand identity to complement a slate of new, original programming. The rebrand debuted on the linear channel yesterday. The new look of the network reflects the three tenets of TV Land's reinvention: quality, cleverness, and truth. This new branding also strives to be more authentic, raw and emotive. With Darren Star's critically-acclaimed Younger – which just wrapped its first season with record growth numbers for the network – TV Land's brand reinvention began, moving towards original programming that is more serialized, takes more risks and reflects the life experiences of the Gen X viewer. That evolution continues with the network's new series premiering this summer – The Jim Gaffigan Show, starring comedian, actor and New York Times best-selling author Jim Gaffigan, and Impastor, a dark comedy starring Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville) and Sara Rue (Less Than Perfect) – and with season two of Younger, as well as the launch of Teachers from Chicago improv group The Katydids. TV Land also recently announced a script deal with Emmy®-winning producers John Wells and John Riggi for a single-camera period comedy project inspired by the life of Kyle Richards (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills).

Actor Dick Van Patten, who was best known for his role as patriarch Tom Bradford in Eight Is Enough, has died. He died on June 23 at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. The cause of death was listed as complications from diabetes. Mr. Van Patten was 86.

Van Patten's television career began with his role as Nels Hansen in the 1949-1956 CBS comedy-drama Mama. The series was about a Norwegian family of five living in San Francisco in the 1910s. It starred Peggy Wood, Judson Laure, Rosemary Rice, Iris Mann (1949), Robin Morgan (1950-1956) and Ruth Gates.

He starred as Sgt. Nelson Higgenbottom in the 1971-1972 NBC sitcom The Partners. The series was about a pair of bumbling detectives. It starred Don Adams, Rupert Crosse, John Doucette and Robert Karvelas. He later had a recurring role as a soap opera producer Max Mathias in the third season of The New Dick Van Dyke Show in 1973-1974. In 1975, he starred as Friar Tuck in the critically acclaimed but short-lived sitcom ABC sitcom When Things Were Rotten, which was created by Mel Brooks.

Van Patten starred as the father, Tom Bradford, in the 1977-1981 ABC comedy-drama Eight Is Enough. The series was about a newspaper columnist for the fictional Sacramento Register and his family with eight children. It starred Diana Hyland (season 1), Betty Buckley (seasons 2-5), Grant Goodeve, Lani O'Grady, Laurie Walters, Susan Richardson, Dianne Kay, Connie Needham, Willie Aames and Adam Rich. Two reunion movies were broadcast on NBC: An Eight Is Enough Reunion on October 18, 1987, and An Eight Is Enough Wedding on October 22, 1989.

Some of his many sitcom guest appearances included I Dream of Jeannie, Arnie, That Girl, Sanford and Son, The Doris Day Show, Love, American Style, The Love Boat, Maude, What's Happening!!, One Day at a Time, Happy Days, The Facts of Life, Growing Pains, Arrested Development and Hot in Cleveland. He starred as weatherman Floyd Graham in the CBS drama WIOU in 1990-1991.

Van Patten's film credits included Charly, Joe Kidd, Snowball Express and Soylent Green. He appeared in several films directed by Mel Brooks, including High Anxiety, Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. He was interviewed for American Masters – Mel Brooks: Make A Noise (2013) on June 6, 2012.

The Archive of American Television conducted an extensive interview with him on May 11, 2011.

Survivors include his wife Pat Van Patten, whom he was married to for more than 60 years, and three sons: Vincent, Nels and Jimmy.

Mr. Van Patten was a talented and versatile actor. Tom Bradford was one of the best TV dads. We thank him for the many hours of entertainment he brought us. He will be greatly missed.

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Following the success of its critically acclaimed hit series Younger, TV Land is adding two new comedy series to its summer lineup – The Jim Gaffigan Show and Impastor – debuting on Wednesday, July 15 at 10pm and 10:30pm ET/PT respectively. Fan favorite The Exes will also be returning on July 15 at 11pm ET/PT. The trio will replace Hot in Cleveland, The Soul Man and Instant Mom on the schedule from 10-11:30pm. The Jim Gaffigan Show stars and is inspired by the real life of comedian, actor and New York Times best-selling author Jim Gaffigan, chronicling one man's struggle in New York City to find a balance between fatherhood, stand-up comedy and an insatiable appetite. Also starring in the series is Ashley Williams as Jim's off-beat Catholic wife, Jeannie; Adam Goldberg as Jim's aggressively single comedian friend, Dave; and Michael Ian Black as Daniel, Jeannie's gay ex-boyfriend and confidante, who is also Jim's biggest critic. Tongayi Chirisa co-stars, playing Jim and Jeannie's endearing priest, Father Nicholas. Throughout the season, there will also be special celebrity cameos by Chris Rock, Steve Buscemi, Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, Lawrence O'Donnell, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Dave Attell, Hannibal Buress, Macaulay Culkin, Janeane Garofalo among others. The show is a single-camera comedy executive produced by writing team Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan.

Impastor is a single-camera dark comedy from Christopher Vane (Wings) starring Michael Rosenbaum as Buddy Dobbs, a slacker on the run from his gambling debt. Just when he's about to end his misery and jump off a bridge, a reverend shows up and talks him down. When the reverend slips off the bridge and falls to his death, he leaves Buddy with the unlikely opportunity to steal the man's identity and pose as the new gay pastor of a small, tight-knight town, leaving his bartender ex-girlfriend Leanne (Aimee Garcia) to clean up the huge mess he left behind. Buddy begins to settle into his new life as a pastor with the help of his preppy new assistant Dora (Sara Rue), alluring church treasurer Alexa (Mircea Monroe) and enthusiastic secretary Russell (Mike Kosinski) – but the church president, Alden Schmidt (David Rasche) senses that something isn't quite right. Curing sex crazed teenagers, stealing kids' weed and reading Bible scripture may not be a bad gig for Buddy after all. Only time will tell how long he can keep up the façade. Impastor is executive produced by Vane and Rosenbaum, along with Eric and Kim Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men) and Rob Greenberg (How I Met Your Mother).

This season on the multi-cam sitcom The Exes, everyone adjusts to Haskell's (Wayne Knight) new lifestyle now that he has money; Holly (Kristen Johnston) decides to only pursue men she's not interested in; Phil (Donald Faison) experiences the ups and downs of dating a movie star and Stuart (David Alan Basche) dabbles in the restaurant business. Plus, Nicki (Leah Remini) returns from an extravagant vacation with a surprising guest in tow. Kelly Stables also stars as Holly's scatter-brained but loveable assistant Eden. The Exes is executive produced by Mark Reisman (Frasier), along with Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis (Reba), and Franco Bario is co-executive producer.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network's hit drama The Haves and the Have Nots, starring John Schneider and Tika Sumpter, returns for its new summer season on Tuesday, June 30 at 9pm ET/PT. The popular comedy series Love Thy Neighbor from Tyler Perry, featuring ornery but loveable Mama Hattie (Patrice Lovely) and her Love Train Diner, returns Friday, June 26 at 9pm ET/PT with two back-to-back episodes. OWN's highest-rated series, The Haves and the Have Nots last season was primetime's #1 original cable series among African-American women and total viewers, regularly attracting more than three million viewers. Previously, Love Thy Neighbor averaged one million viewers and was the #1 original cable series in its time period for African American viewers.

Before his new comedy starts on TV Land, the network will be airing Jim Gaffigan's comedy specials. TV Land will start it off with Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed on Saturday, May 2 at 8pm. In the special, Jim Gaffigan's obsession with food comes to fruition as he tackles a cornucopia of new topics from seafood to donuts and Jim digs deep into other obsessions from underwear to weddings. On May 9, Jim Gaffigan: Beyond The Pale airs, where Jim Gaffigan delivers the stand-up performance of a lifetime as he takes the mic and rules the stage with his deadpan stand-up style, recalling his upbringing and sharing his fresh perspective from life on the comedy circuit. On May 16, Jim Gaffigan: King Baby airs. All Hail! He's pale, proud, and sexy as bacon: Jim Gaffigan is back by royal decree to take you past Hot Pockets, panda bears, and even further beyond the pale. Power hungry or just hungry the King has returned! His new TV Land comedy will premiere this July. Inspired by Gaffigan's real life, The Jim Gaffigan Show explores one man's (Gaffigan) struggle in New York City to find a balance between fatherhood, stand-up comedy and an insatiable appetite.

It's time for more fun and laughs! Lip Sync Battle is a ratings and multiplatform superstar for Spike TV. As a result, the network has announced it will pick up another 20 episodes of the highly-rated critically-acclaimed series, debuting in 2016. Through four episodes, Lip Sync Battle is the most-watched original series in network history, averaging 3 million viewers, and is the top-rated series in its timeslot in the coveted demographic of Adults 18-49 in all of cable. The series is a digital hit as well, amassing over 107 million video streams in three weeks, with the Anne Hathaway "Wrecking Ball" clip securing 14 million views alone. The series is hosted by LL Cool J and Chrissy Tiegen. The series has an original order of 18, so 20 more will be coming in 2016.

Some of the featured performers for the original 18 episodes include Emily Blunt, Anne Hathaway, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Justin Bieber, Queen Latifah, Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Mike Tyson, Terry Crews, Jimmy Fallon, Dwayne Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, John Krasinski, Meghan Trainor, Common and many more.

Production has begun in New York City on TV Land's newest sitcom The Jim Gaffigan Show, created by Peter Tolan and Jim Gaffigan. The show will shoot in iconic locations that have long been a part of the New York film and TV history like Katz's Delicatessen, Gotham Comedy Club and more to be announced. The single-camera comedy series is inspired by Gaffigan's real life and will chronicle one man's struggle in New York City to find a balance between fatherhood, stand-up comedy and an insatiable appetite. Ashley Williams (How I Met Your Mother) will co-star in The Jim Gaffigan Show as Jim's wife, Jeannie. Adam Goldberg (Fargo) will play Jim's best friend, Dave and Michael Ian Black (Ed) will play Daniel, Jeannie's meddling confidante.

The Jim Gaffigan Show, which will have an 11-episode first season, will premiere on TV Land this summer (tentatively on July 15 at 10). Fans who can't wait long enough for the show to premiere can get a sneak peek into production by taking a first look at the new crime drama-inspired promo. Like The Jim Gaffigan Show's Facebook page or follow its Twitter account @gaffiganshow. TV Land's other summer comedy plans as of now include Teachers (tentatively July 15 at 10:30pm), which revolves around six elementary school teachers who are trying to mold the minds and lives of America's youth, even though they don't really seem to have their own lives together at all and Impastor (tentatively June 9 at 10:30pm), which revolves around Buddy Dobbs (Michael Rosenbaum), a gambling, pot-smoking slacker on the run from a loan shark, who steals a man's identity and ends up posing as the new gay pastor in a small, tight-knit town. No word on when The Exes will return for its second half of the season, but all fingers are pointing towards Tuesday, June 9 at 10, paired with Impastor. The Wednesday slots are filled in early summer with Hot in Cleveland and The Soul Man (both which return March 18) until Gaffigan and Teachers takeover. Stay with us for continued updates.

Emmy-winning writer and actress Jenna McMahon, who co-created The Facts of Life and Mama's Family, has died. She died from heart failure at her home in Monterey, California on March 2. Ms. McMahon was 89.

McMahon's sitcom acting credits included Dennis the Menace, Love, American Style, The Bob Newhart Show, Welcome Back, Kotter and A New Kind of Family (which she also co-produced). Some of her other television guest appearances included This Man Dawson, Twilight Zone, Hollywood Talent Scouts, What's It All About, World? The Funny Side and 240-Robert.

McMahon and her partner Dick Clair were a very successful comedy writing team. Their writing credits included The Bob Newhart Show, Mary Tyler Moore, Maude, The Carol Burnett Show, Diff'rent Strokes, Flo, Soap, It's a Living and Mama's Family. They won three Emmy Awards for their work on The Carol Burnett Show in 1974, 1975 and 1978.

McMahon and Clair wrote the story for "The Girls School" episode of Diff'rent Strokes, which served as the pilot episode of The Facts of Life. The popular series starred Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon. It would run for nine seasons from 1979-1988 on NBC. The Facts of Life Reunion TV Movie aired on ABC in 2001.

They created the character of Eunice (Carol Burnett), the daughter of Mama (Vicki Lawrence) and wife of Ed (Harvey Korman) for The Carol Burnett Show's recurring comedy sketch "The Family." The success of the sketch led to the 1982 CBS TV movie Eunice and later the spin-off series Mama's Family. Mama's Family aired for two seasons on NBC from 1983-1984 before moving to first-run syndication for four seasons from 1986-1990.

McMahon, Clair and Stu Silver wrote the pilot episode for It's a Living in 1980. The show ran for two seasons on ABC from 1980-1982 before moving to first-run syndication for four seasons from 1985-1989. The cast included Ann Jillian, Gail Edwards, Barrie Youngfellow, Paul Kreppel, Marian Mercer, Crystal Bernard, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Richard Stahl.

Actor Windell Middlebrooks, who had recurring roles in The Suite Life on Deck and Scrubs, has died. He was found unconscious at his home in the San Fernando Valley in California and was pronounced dead on arrival at a Los Angeles hospital on March 9. Mr. Middlebrooks was only 36.

Middlebrooks had a recurring role as Kirby Morris, the ship's security guard, in The Suite Life on Deck. The series ran on the Disney Channel for three seasons from 2008-2011.

He had a recurring role as Captain Duncook in six episodes of the final season of Scrubs in 2009-2010. His other sitcom guest appearances included The Bernie Mac Show, All of Us, My Name Is Earl, Hannah Montana, Entourage, Parks and Recreation, Cougar Town, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Mighty Med.

Middlebrooks starred as Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Curtis Brumfield on the ABC drama Body of Proof for three seasons from 2011-2013. His drama guest appearances included Veronica Mars and ER. He was also well-known for his role as the deliveryman in the Miller High Life beer commercials.

Emmy-winning writer, producer and director Sam Simon, who co-created The Simpsons, has died. He died from complications from colorectal cancer at his home in Los Angeles on March 8. Mr. Simon was 59.

Simon's early sitcom writing credits included Best of the West, Barney Miller, Taxi and Cheers. He worked as the executive story editor on Taxi in 1981-1982 and as the showrunner/producer from 1982-1983. He also served as a producer on Cheers from 1984-1985. Simon worked as a creative consultant and writer for It's Garry Shandling's Show from 1987-1988.

He developed The Simpsons in 1989 with Matt Groening and James L. Brooks. Simon assembled the show's first writing team and co-wrote eight episodes. He left the show in 1993. Simon won nine Emmy Awards for his television work, including seven for The Simpsons.

Simon co-created The George Carlin Show, which aired for two seasons on Fox from 1994-1995. He also directed six episodes of the series. His other sitcom directing credits included Friends, Men Behaving Badly, Norm, The Michael Richards Show, The Drew Carey Show and Norm. He worked as a consulting producer on The Drew Carey Show from 1998-2003. Simon co-created the ABC sitcoms Sibs and Phenom.

We thank them for the entertainment they brought us. They will be greatly missed.