Showing posts with label The Rookie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Rookie. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Peacock Renews The 'Burbs; ABC's Drama Hits Get 2026-27 Renewals

The 'Burbs

Peacock has renewed its hit comedy series The 'Burbs for a second season. Inspired by the 1989 horror-comedy film of the same name and set in present-day suburbia, The 'Burbs follows a young couple who have reluctantly relocated to the husband's childhood home. Their world is upended when a new neighbor moves in across the street, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood.

Series regulars: Keke Palmer, Jack Whitehall, Julia Duffy, Paula Pell, Mark Proksch, Kapil Talwalkar.


Will Trent and The Rookie

ABC has handed out renewals to two of its top hits...which is not a surprise at all, but more of a formality. Psst... did you hear the news? 👀 Will Trent returns for an all-new season! Spread the word — or Betty will. 🐾 You're going to want to buckle up for this one 😏 The Rookie will return for a new season!

Based on Karin Slaughter's New York Times bestselling Will Trent series, Special Agent Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta's overwhelmed foster care system. Now, Will uses his unique point of view in the pursuit of justice and has the highest clearance rate in the GBI. Will Trent stars Ramón Rodríguez as Will Trent, Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski, Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell, Jake McLaughlin as Michael Ormewood, Kevin Daniels as Franklin Wilks, with Sonja Sohn as Amanda Wagner.

John Nolan, once the oldest rookie in the LAPD, now uses his life experience, determination and sense of humor to keep up with rookies 20+ years his junior. John and the team must navigate the intense, unpredictable nature of their jobs and personal challenges, while uplifting the next generation of first responders. The Rookie stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey, Melissa O'Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez and Deric Augustine as Miles Penn.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins Gets Special Preview; ABC Midseason Changes for Monday and Tuesday Night Lineups

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins

To showcase its new midseason comedy, NBC will now offer a special premiere of The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins on Sunday, January 18 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT or immediately following coverage of the NFL playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears. The series will return on Monday, February 23 at 8 p.m. with an encore of the pilot and a new episode immediately following at 8:30 p.m. in its timeslot premiere. The series will continue its run in the 8:30 p.m. Monday timeslot the following week on March 2. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins also airs next day on Peacock.

Disgraced former football star Reggie Dinkins (Tracy Morgan) is on a mission to rehabilitate his image with the help of award-winning filmmaker Arthur Tobin (Daniel Radcliffe). In order to earn back the admiration of his fans and the respect of his family, Reggie will also have to confront the ghosts of his past. The cast includes Tracy Morgan, Daniel Radcliffe, Erika Alexander, Bobby Moynihan, Precious Way, and Jalyn Hall.




R.J. Decker

New drama series R.J. Decker will premiere Tuesday, March 3, at 10 p.m. on ABC, joining the Tuesday night powerhouse lineup alongside Will Trent and High Potential. All series stream next day on Hulu.

Scott Speedman stars as R.J. Decker, a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who starts over as a private investigator in the colorful-if-crime-filled world of South Florida. The series follows him tackling cases that range from slightly odd to outright bizarre with the help of his journalist ex, her police detective wife and a shadowy new benefactor — a woman from his past who could be his greatest ally ... or his one-way ticket back to prison.

R.J. Decker is inspired by the novel Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen. R.J. Decker stars Scott Speedman as R.J. Decker, Jaina Lee Ortiz as Emilia "Emi" Ochoa, Bevin Bru as Detective Melody "Mel" Abreau, Kevin Rankin as Aloysius "Wish" Aiken and Adelaide Clemens as Catherine Delacroix. R.J. Decker is produced by 20th Television, and is written and executive produced by Rob Doherty. Carl Hiaasen, Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman serve as executive producers. Paul McGuigan directs and executive produces. Scott Speedman serves as a producer.

With this addition, Season 8 of The Rookie shifts to Mondays at 10 p.m. starting Jan. 26, following the highly anticipated season premiere of American Idol. All episodes stream next day on Hulu. With this shift, the remaining 15 episodes of The Rookie will have a straight run with no interruptions. The Rookie Season 8 premiere scored 7.88 million Total Viewers after three days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms, rising over last season's premiere (+6% vs. 7.40 million on 1/7/25) and matching its best premiere performance in MP+3 since season two on 9/29/19. The Season 8 opener of The Rookie set a record with its biggest premiere for the series on streaming, based on seven days of views on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

ABC Midseason 2026 Schedule; Hulu Renews Only Murders in the Building for Season 6, Now in London

ABC Midseason 2026 Schedule

Following a phenomenal fall season of unprecedented success across the schedule, ABC announced its 2026 midseason premiere dates featuring a slate of hilarious comedies, thrilling dramas, and high-stakes unscripted series. America's Funniest Home Videos kicks off the week Sunday, January 4 at 7pm. Star and executive producer Ramón Rodríguez directs the Season 4 premiere of Will Trent Tuesday, January 6, followed by the midseason return of High Potential which continues to be a powerhouse, ranking as the No. 1 original broadcast series across platforms for the second season in a row among Adults 18-49, and the Season 8 premiere of The Rookie. Both Will Trent and The Rookie enjoyed tremendous ratings success last season, surging year over year and posting several new streaming highs. Both series consistently delivered over 10 million Total Viewers in multiplatform viewing.

Wednesday night comedies Shifting Gears and Emmy(R) Award-winning Abbott Elementary return for a night of laughs Wednesday, January 7, followed by the return of Shark Tank. The following day, ratings juggernaut dramas 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Nashville and Grey's Anatomy return to the Thursday night lineup on January 8. Rounding out the week, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Friday's most-watched newsmagazine, ABC News' "20/20," return to the schedule Friday, January 9. NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC returns for select Saturdays beginning January 24 (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks).

American Idol premieres its ninth season on ABC and 24th season overall with a new schedule, airing Mondays beginning January 26. Music superstars Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood return as judges alongside Emmy Award-winning host Ryan Seacrest. For the first time ever, American Idol will bring the iconic Hollywood Week round to Nashville. Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover will feature one round only as the hopefuls from all musical genres take the stage for a make-or-break performance, facing the biggest Hollywood Week cut in "Idol" history.

Premiering Wednesday, February 25, ABC is scrubbing back in for Sacred Heart Hospital with back-to-back episodes of comedy Scrubs starring Zach Braff, Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke. Ken Jennings-hosted Celebrity Jeopardy! returns for Season 4 with a brand-new All-Stars Tournament Friday, February 27, while the drama-filled season premiere of The Bachelorette starring The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul and hosted by Jesse Palmer kicks off on its new night, Sunday, March 22. As previously announced, new drama series RJ Decker (working title) starring Scott Speedman will debut in 2026. The premiere date will be announced at a later time. With this newest addition to the schedule, ABC ups its drama count to seven series, and 10 scripted series overall.


Only Murders in the Building

Hulu Original comedy series Only Murders in the Building, which hails from 20th Television, has been renewed for a sixth season consisting of 10 episodes. The series will film overseas for the first time, with the beloved crime-solving trio leaving New York City to investigate London's newest mystery.

Season five features a star-studded cast, including the return of multi-Oscar(R)/Emmy(R) winner Meryl Streep and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Richard Kind, Nathan Lane, Bobby Cannavale, Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Christoph Waltz, Téa Leoni, Keegan-Michael Key, Beanie Feldstein, Dianne Wiest, and Jermaine Fowler. They joined stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez and Michael Cyril Creighton. Season five is now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the US and on Disney+ internationally. Season five finale became available yesterday, October 28.

Friday, July 18, 2025

ABC Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to End in May 2026

Shifting Gears

ABC unveiled its fall 2025 premiere dates, showcasing a lineup of fan-favorite reality shows, heartwarming comedies and thrilling dramas, including the highly anticipated new series, 9-1-1: Nashville. Monday Night Football returns on most Mondays beginning September 8 (Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears). Breakout hit and last season's No. 1 new program, High Potential, returns for its second season Tuesday, September 16, following ballroom sensation Dancing with the Stars, which will celebrate its milestone 20th anniversary. The Golden Bachelor returns Wednesday, September 24, with a two-hour premiere featuring new leading man Mel Owens, followed by a new season of Shark Tank. The sophomore season of Shifting Gears and a new season of Emmy and Golden Globe(R) Award-winning comedy Abbott Elementary join Wednesday nights beginning October 1.

From executive producer Ryan Murphy, the newest iteration of the 9-1-1 universe, 9-1-1: Nashville, debuts Thursday, October 16, alongside principal series 9-1-1 and the longest-running primetime medical drama in television history, Grey's Anatomy. Ryan Seacrest hosts his inaugural season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune alongside the legendary Vanna White when the beloved game show premieres Friday, September 26, followed by new episodes of ABC News' 20/20. America's Funniest Home Videos returns Sunday, September 28, before The Wonderful World of Disney broadcast premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Additional movies to air this fall include the broadcast premieres of Elemental, Avatar: The Way of Water and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

As previously announced, new seasons of returning series American Idol, The Bachelor, Celebrity Jeopardy!, The Rookie and Will Trent will debut in 2026, as well as the recently picked up comedy series Scrubs. These premiere dates will be announced at a later date.


The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026 at the close of the 2025-26 broadcast season. Colbert announced the news during tonight's taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

Official statement: "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season. We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.

This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.

Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult. Stephen has taken CBS late night by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews with leaders in entertainment, politics, news and newsmakers across all areas. The show has been #1 in late night for nine straight seasons; Stephen's comedy resonates daily across digital and social media; and the broadcast is a staple of the nation's zeitgeist.

The accomplishments of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert are memorable and significant in performance, quality and stature. With much gratitude, we look forward to honoring Stephen and celebrating the show over the next 10 months alongside its millions of fans and viewers."

Friday, April 04, 2025

ABC 2025-26 Season Renewals for Scripted Series; New Season of Phineas and Ferb Returns June 5

Shifting Gears

ABC has renewed most of its hit scripted line-up. 9-1-1 for Season 9 (and the third on ABC), Grey's Anatomy for Season 22, The Rookie for Season 8, Shifting Gears for Season 2 and Will Trent for Season 4 all for the 2025-26 Season. These join the previosuly picked up High Potential for Season 2 and Abbott Elementary for Season 5. ABC has also picked up new drama 9-1-1: Nashville, while The Conners is ending. Still no word on a second season for Doctor Odyssey. Stay tuned, as ABC will still announce its unscripted pick-ups (Shark Tank, AFV, The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars, and more are all expected to return).


Phineas and Ferb

Disney Branded Television is rolling out the teal carpet for the highly anticipated return of the five-time Emmy® Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated Phineas and Ferb. The new season will premiere on Thursday, June 5, at 8 p.m. PDT/EDT on Disney Channel and Disney XD with two episodes, and the first episode will be available the same day on Disney Channel YouTube. The first 10 episodes of the season will premiere on Disney+ in the U.S. and select international markets on Friday, June 6, with additional markets to follow later this year. The episodes will also be available to stream on Disney Channel on Demand. A special sneak peek will debut on Monday, May 26, at 11:35 a.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Channel YouTube.

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

ABC Midseason 2025 Schedule; Jim Gaffigan Gets First Hulu Comedy Special

ABC Midseason 2025 Schedule

ABC announced its 2025 midseason premiere dates, featuring a slate of laugh-out-loud comedies, high-octane dramas and fan-favorite unscripted series. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition makes its long-awaited return to ABC with all the feels beginning Thursday, January 2. The new iteration, hosted by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, co-founders of the global lifestyle brand The Home Edit, will be followed by the exclusive broadcast premiere of season two of the Emmy® Award-nominated Hulu Original comedy Only Murders in the Building. Will Trent premieres Tuesday, January 7, followed by the midseason return of High Potential and a new season of The Rookie.

Tim Allen and Kat Dennings star in new comedy series Shifting Gears premiering Wednesday, January 8, followed by the highly anticipated Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover episode, which kicks off the Emmy Award-winning series’ midseason return. New episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy!, hosted by Ken Jennings, and What Would You Do? round out the evening. NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC returns for select Saturdays beginning January 25 (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors). On Monday, January 27, Grant Ellis begins his journey on The Bachelor, followed by the exclusive broadcast debut of season one of Hulu's most-watched unscripted season premiere this year, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. ABC News' Scamanda and Hulu's Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini will air beginning Thursday, January 30 from 9-11pm, before the fan-favorite drama series 9-1-1, Doctor Odyssey and Grey's Anatomy return to the iconic Thursday night lineup on March 6.

The search for a superstar begins when American Idol premieres Sunday, March 9, on ABC, with Carrie Underwood joining Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and host Ryan Seacrest a remarkable 20 years after she claimed the title. The $100,000 Pyramid has been renewed for season eight and will join the Sunday night lineup following Idol. The farewell season of The Conners will return in March 2025 with a night and time to be announced. And Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Press Your Luck will also return in the new year, but airdates to be announced at a later date (they both will air Holiday episodes this December, though).


Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny

It's Jim like you've never seen him before. In his new #Hularious stand-up special The Skinny, Jim Gaffigan weighs in on everything from teenagers to brunch to weight-loss medication - but he's never light on laughs. Considered one of the most prolific comedians working today, 7 time Grammy nominee Jim Gaffigan provides the skinny on everything from appetite suppressants to raising teenagers in Hulu's very first comedy special. Stream Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny November 22 on #Hulu and with #HuluOnDisneyPlus.

Thursday, July 11, 2024

ABC Fall 2024 Premiere Dates; Remembering Doug Sheehan of Day by Day and Clueless and Benji Gregory of ALF

Abbott Elementary

ABC announced premiere dates for the network's action-packed fall, featuring previously announced fan-favorite series, high-octane new dramas and The Bachelor franchise's newest iteration. This news comes on the heels of the network closing out the 2023-2024 season as No. 1 in entertainment among Adults 18-49 for the fifth consecutive season, marking the longest winning streak in over 10 years. Monday Night Football returns for select weeks beginning Sept. 9 (New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers). Then, on Monday, Oct. 7, beloved game shows join the lineup with Pat Sajak's final spin hosting Celebrity Wheel of Fortune leading into Elizabeth Banks-hosted Press Your Luck.

From Oscar®-nominated writer Drew Goddard and starring Kaitlin Olson, freshman crime procedural High Potential joins ballroom sensation Dancing with the Stars on Tuesdays, kicking off Sept. 17. The Golden Bachelorette makes its debut Wednesday, Sept. 18 with two-hour episodes for the first few weeks, with new leading lady Joan Vassos; and a new season of Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning comedy Abbott Elementary joins the night Oct. 9 at 9:30pm, followed by the ABC News Studios docuseries Scamanda. Then, from executive producer Ryan Murphy and starring Joshua Jackson and Don Johnson, highly anticipated new drama Doctor Odyssey debuts Thursday, Sept. 26 at 9pm, alongside 9-1-1 and the longest-running primetime medical drama in television history, Grey's Anatomy.

A new season of ABC News' 20/20 premieres Friday, Sept. 20, and season 16 of Shark Tank dives into the night starting Oct. 18. America’s Funniest Home Videos celebrates its monumental 35th season beginning Sunday, Sept. 29, before The Wonderful World of Disney world television premiere of the live-action The Little Mermaid. Additional films to debut this season include the world television premieres of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Haunted Mansion, as well as the broadcast premiere of Hocus Pocus 2. Airdates and additional movies to be announced at a later date. As previously announced, new seasons of returning dramas The Rookie and Will Trent will debut midseason (January), along with the celebratory farewell season of legacy comedy The Conners. Also returning midseason are American Idol, The Bachelor, Celebrity Jeopardy! and What Would You Do?, while Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, from executive producer Reese Witherspoon and hosted by world-renowned organizing duo Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin of The Home Edit, is also set to debut. These premiere dates will be announced at a later date.


Doug Sheehan

Actor Doug Sheehan, who starred as Brian Harper in Day by Day and as Mel Horowitz in Clueless, has died. He died at his home in Big Horn, Wyoming, on June 29. Mr. Sheehan was 75.

Day by Day

Sheehan starred as Brian Harper in the 1988-1989 NBC sitcom Day by Day. The show centers on Brian and Kate Harper (Linda Kelsey), a married couple with two successful careers (Brian as a stockbroker, Kate as a lawyer) and a teenage son named Ross (Christopher Daniel ("C.B.") Barnes). They open a daycare center in their home. The series also starred Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Courtney Thorne-Smith and Thora Birch.

Doug Sheehan - Clueless

He starred as Mel Horowitz in the UPN sitcom Clueless for seasons 2 and 3 (1997-1999). Mel Horowitz is Cher Horowitz's (Rachel Blanchard) rich, widowed lawyer. He replaced Michael Lerner, who played Mel Horowitz during the first season (1996-1997), which aired on ABC. The cast included Stacey Dash, Donald Adeosun Faison, Elisa Donovan, Sean Holland, David Lascher (season 1), Twink Caplan (season 1), Wallace Shawn (season 1), Heather Gottlieb (season 1) and Julie Brown.

Melissa Joan Hart and Doug Sheehan - Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Sheehan played Edward Spellman, Sabrina Spellman's (Melissa Joan Hart) father, in two episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Cheers, Alice, Dear John and Style & Substance.

His first major role was as Joe Kelly in the daytime soap opera General Hospital from 1979 to 1982. He was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the role in 1982.

He starred as journalist Ben Gibson in the CBS primetime soap opera Knots Landing from 1983 to 1987. Ben Gibson was the second husband of Valene Ewing (Joan Van Ark).

Some of his other television guest appearances Charlie's Angels (1978), Kaz, MacGyver (1990), Columbo (1993), Promised Land, Diagnosis: Murder, Passions (6 episodes as Mr. Davis) and That Was Then.

Mr. Sheehan was a talented and versatile actor. Day by Day is a funny show with a great cast, which should have had a longer run. It should be available on DVD or streaming. He will be greatly missed.

Benji Gregory

Actor Benji Gregory, who starred as Brian Tanner in ALF, has died. On June 13, Gregory and his service dog, Hans, were found dead inside a car at a Chase Bank parking lot in Peoria, Arizona. However, news of his death was not publicly disclosed until July 11, when the cause of his death was still under investigation. His sister Rebecca said he had suffered from depression, bipolar disorder and a sleep disorder and said he likely died of a heat stroke after falling asleep in his car. On September 13, 2024, the Maricopa County Medical Examiner revealed that Gregory died of both hepatic cirrhosis, with Gregory being revealed to have had a damaged liver, and heat exposure. The death was ruled accidental. Mr. Gregory was only 46.

ALF

He starred as Brian Tanner in the 1986-1990 NBC sitcom ALF. The title character, called ALF (an acronym for "Alien Life Form") but whose real name is Gordon Shumway, crash-lands in the garage of the suburban middle-class Tanner family. Brian Tanner is the middlest son of the Tanner family. He is nicknamed 'B' by the rest of the cast. The cast included Paul Fusco (performed and voiced ALF), Max Wright, Anne Scheeden, Liz Sheridan, John LaMotta, Josh Blake, Anne Meara (1987) and Jim J. Bullock (1989-1990).

Fenster Hall

Gregory appeared as an orphan named Dash in two episodes of Punky Brewster. The final episode in Season 1, titled "Fenster Hall" (aired March 31, 1985), was a failed attempt to create a spin-off of Punky Brewster.

He played Brian in a 1991 episode of Murphy Brown. Some of his other television guest appearances included The A-Team, T.J. Hooker, Amazing Stories and The Twilight Zone (1985). Some of his voice credits included Pound Puppies, Fantastic Max and Back to the Future: The Animated Series (as Biff Tannen Jr.).

He played Harry Carlson, Jr. in Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986). He supplied the voice of Edgar the Mole in the animated feature Once Upon a Forest (1993), which would be his final acting role.

Mr. Gregory was a good child actor. After leaving the acting industry, he served a stint in the U.S. Navy after graduating from school. He enlisted in 2003 and became an aerographer's mate. During his naval career he was assigned to the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). In 2005, he received an honorable medical discharge from the Navy. We thank him for his work on television and in films and for his service in the Navy. He will be sorely missed.

Jamie Kellner

We also remember television executive Jamie Kellner. He was a founding president of Fox Broadcasting and founded The WB network. He died from cancer on June 21 in Montecito, California. Mr. Kellner was 74.

Kellner was present at the establishment of the Fox Broadcasting Company and held the position as chairman of 20th Century Fox Television from 1986 to 1993. Among the shows that emerged during his seven years at Fox were The Simpsons, Married... with Children, Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000), Melrose Place and In Living Color.

He then spent seven years at the helm of The WB Television Network. He helped launch the new broadcast network in 1994. During his tenure, he began by championing urban sitcoms such as The Wayans Bros., The Parent 'Hood and Sister, Sister, but eventually steered the network in the direction of teen and family-oriented dramas. 7th Heaven, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, Dawson's Creek, Felicity and Charmed all premiered during his presidency.

Kellner was made head of Turner Broadcasting System in 2000, officially succeeding Ted Turner in March 2001. He was chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a division of Time Warner which includes TBS, TNT, and Cartoon Network from 2001 to 2003. He was the chairman of station ownership group ACME Communications, a post held from the company's founding until its folding in 2016.

We thank him for the television shows be brought us at Fox, The WB and Turner. He will be missed.

Jonathan Axelrod

Television producer and screenwriter Jonathan Axelrod worked on Dave's World. He died in Los Angeles on June 13. Mr. Axelrod was 74.

He was executive producer on the 1993-1997 CBS sitcom Dave's World. The series is based on the writing of Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry. The show focuses on the daily trials and tribulations of columnist Dave Barry (Harry Anderson) and his wife, Beth (DeLane Matthews), along with their sons, Tommy (Zane Carney) and Willie (Andrew Ducote).

Some of his other sitcom producing credits included Can't Hurry Love, Brother's Keeper, Movie Stars and Some of My Best Friends. He was one of the writers of the 1972 comedy film Every Little Crook and Nanny.

We thank him for his work on Dave's World and other sitcoms. He will be missed.

Susan Buckner

Actress Susan Buckner starred as Lucy Davis in When the Whistle Blows. She died on May 2 in Miami, Florida. Ms. Buckner was 72.

When the Whistle Blows

Buckner starred as Lucy Davis in the short-lived 1980 ABC sitcom When the Whistle Blows. The series revolves around a group of construction workers – four males (Norm, Buzz, Randy and Hunk) and one female (Lucy) – for the "Tri-State Construction Company" in Los Angeles and their search for fun both on and off the job. It was filmed single-camera style and without a laugh track. The cast included Doug Brown, Philip Brown, Tim Rossovich, Dolph Sweet, Alice Hirson, Gary Allen, Noble Willingham and Sue Ane Langdon.

She appeared as one of The Krofftettes who performed synchronised swimming routines on the 1976-1997 ABC variety show The Brady Bunch Hour.

Buckner played Kim Patterson in a 1979 episode of The Love Boat. Some of her other television guest appearances included Police Woman, Switch, Starsky & Hutch, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (3 episodes) and B.J. and the Bear.

She portrayed high school cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 summer blockbuster Grease, starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. She starred as Vicky Anderson in the 1981 slasher film Deadly Blessing.

Ms. Buckner was crowned Miss Washington in 1971 and in September went on to become a top ten finalist in the Miss America 1972 pageant. We thank her for her work on television and in films. She will be deeply missed.

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

ABC Renews The Rookie for Season 7; CBS Orders New Soap Opera The Gates

The Rookie

No surprise, ABC has renewed The Rookie for a seventh season. The drama airs Tuesday nights on ABC at 9pm. John Nolan, once the oldest rookie in the LAPD, has used his life experience, determination and sense of humor to keep up with rookies 20 years his junior. Nolan feels like it can't get much better, now that his life with Bailey is moving forward, and he has chosen his career path. However, he and his team must grapple with the aftermath of their recent assaults before they can move forward. The Rookie stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Melissa O'Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, Tru Valentino as Aaron Thorsen, and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez.


The Gates - Michele Val Jean and Sheila Ducksworth

CBS announced the series order for the new daytime drama The Gates for broadcast on the Network in January 2025. The specific time period, launch date and other series details will be announced at later dates. The Gates follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmy and WGA Awards for her work on The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital, will serve as writer and showrunner. Val Jean will also be an executive producer alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner. The Gates was developed from the joint venture between CBS Studios and the NAACP. The series will be produced by the CBS Studios/NAACP venture in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble.

Friday, November 17, 2023

ABC Winter 2024 Schedule; CBS Celebrates 98th Birthday of Dick Van Dyke

ABC Winter 2024

ABC announced its 2024 midseason premiere dates, featuring a robust lineup of high-stakes dramas, fan-favorite comedies, unparalleled unscripted series and groundbreaking news hours. Audiences will tune in starting Monday, Jan. 22, as Joey Graziadei begins his journey to find love when The Bachelor premieres, followed by an all-new eight-episode true-crime series of ABC News' 20/20 which explores some of the most shocking love crimes of all time. Fan-favorite comedies The Conners and Not Dead Yet debut Wednesday, Feb. 7, followed by a special one-hour premiere of the Emmy(R) Award-winning Abbott Elementary. Unscripted courtroom comedy series Judge Steve Harvey rounds out the Wednesday lineup.

The historic star-maker competition series American Idol premieres its seventh season on ABC Sunday, Feb. 18. ABC News' What Would You Do? makes its return to primetime, reintroducing the iconic hidden camera show to new and returning viewers. High-stakes dramas Will Trent, The Rookie and The Good Doctor return for new seasons on Tuesday, Feb. 20, while television's No. 1 broadcast drama 9-1-1 premieres Thursday, March 14, alongside the iconic dramas Grey's Anatomy and Station 19. Additional programming to be announced in the coming weeks. Shark Tank will continue to air original episodes on Fridays, as it has been doing all Fall. The previously announced series pickup of drama High Potential will now debut during the 2024-2025 broadcast season.


Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic

CBS presents Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic, an entertainment special honoring and celebrating the legendary career of the iconic actor and performer for his 98th birthday, Thursday, Dec. 21 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*.

GRAMMY(R), Emmy(R) and Tony(R) Award winner Van Dyke is one of the most beloved and legendary stars. He has inspired generations of performers and will be honored for his incredible contributions to the arts and entertainment. The tribute will travel back in time to the iconic set of The Dick Van Dyke Show and feature dazzling music and dance spectacles, heartfelt performances, special guests and a magical holiday number. The two-hour tribute event will also showcase songs and archival footage from the best of his nearly full century career encompassing Mary Poppins, Bye Bye Birdie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and more.

Tuesday, November 08, 2022

ABC Midseason 2023 Schedule; Fox 2023 Midseason Schedule

Not Dead Yet - Gina Rodriguez

ABC announced the 2022-2023 midseason premiere dates for two new drama series, a new comedy series and a new unscripted series as well as dates for fan-favorite returning series. A new Tuesday night block begins Tuesday, Jan. 3, with a crossover event when The Rookie returns on its new day at 8 p.m. EST, followed by The Rookie: Feds at 9 p.m. EST. Joining the night will be new crime drama Will Trent, starring Ramón Rodríguez in the title role and based on Karin Slaughter's wildly popular bestselling book series. Multiple Emmy(R) Award-winning comedy Abbott Elementary, starring and executive produced by Quinta Brunson, resumes class Wednesday, Jan. 4. Joining the series that night will be the winter premieres of Home Economics and Big Sky: Deadly Trails.

As previously announced, brand-new unscripted series The Parent Test will launch with a special series premiere following the highly anticipated debut of Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 15. The series will have its regular time period debut on Thursday, Jan. 5, after the return of Celebrity Jeopardy! hosted by Mayim Bialik; and the night will be capped off with high-octane quiz show The Chase. The following night, the Sharks plunge back into the Tank to make more great deals when Shark Tank returns Friday, Jan. 6. Everyone's favorite TV family comedies, The Conners and The Goldbergs, return with all-new episodes Wednesday, Jan. 11.

The search for love continues on an all-new season of The Bachelor, where Zach Shallcross will begin his journey on Monday, Jan. 23, joined by the winter premiere of The Good Doctor. Freshman comedy Not Dead Yet, starring and executive produced by Gina Rodriguez and adapted from the work of bestselling author Alexandra Potter, will kick off its two-episode premiere event on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 8:30 p.m. EST, then treat viewers to an all-new episode in its regular time period the same night at 9:30 p.m. EST. The series will be joined by the heartfelt premiere of A Million Little Things, which will begin its celebratory farewell season. Thrilling heist drama The Company You Keep, starring and executive produced by Milo Ventimiglia, debuts Sunday, Feb. 19, joining the return of America's Funniest Home Videos and iconic music competition series American Idol. And finally, Station 19 and Grey's Anatomy return with a winter premiere event on Thursday, Feb. 23, alongside the winter premiere of Alaska Daily, starring Hilary Swank as investigative reporter Eileen Fitzgerald. More dates will be announced at a later date including series such as The Wonder Years. View the full Winter dates schedule.


Fox is also announcing premiere dates for midseason including Fantasy Island (Monday, Jan. 2), Celebrity Name That Tune (Wednesday, Jan. 11), 9-1-1: Lone Star (Tuesday, Jan. 17), Next Level Chef (Sunday, Feb. 12) and Animal Control (Thursday, Feb. 16), joining Fall series making their Winter premieres, The Resident (Tuesday, Jan. 3), Hell's Kitchen (Thursday, Jan. 5), Welcome to Flatch (Thursday, Jan. 5) and Call Me Kat (Thursday, Jan. 5). As previously announced, all-new unscripted series Special Forces: World's Toughest Test will debut with a special two-hour event (Wednesday, Jan. 4), Alert will debut Sunday, Jan. 8 after NFL on Fox, and all-new crime thriller Accused will premiere Sunday, Jan. 22.

Animal Control

This winter, Fox beats the cold with a vacation to Fantasy Island, which returns for its second season on Monday, Jan. 2 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The series stars Roselyn Sánchez, Kiara Barnes and John Gabriel Rodriquez. Guest stars in Season Two include Teri Hatcher and James Denton in a Desperate Housewives reunion, which also features Andy Richter (Conan); Rachael Harris (Lucifer) and Cheryl Hines (I Can See Your Voice); Frankie J. Alvarez (Looking), Jai Rodriguez (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Uncoupled) and Izzy Diaz (Broke); singer/actress Marie Osmond, Kyla Pratt (Call Me Kat), Lynn Whitfield (Greenleaf) and Jason Priestley (BH90210); and Alexa Mansour (The Walking Dead: World Beyond), who will recur. From executive producers Jamie Foxx and John Eisendrath, all-new missing persons drama Alert debuts Sunday, Jan. 8 after NFL on Fox (8:00-9:00 PM ET/5:00-6:00 PM PT live to all time zones), followed by its time period premiere Monday, Jan. 9 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).

As previously announced, Fox's ultimate celebrity social experiment, Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, will make its series premiere, a two-hour special event, Wednesday, Jan. 4 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). The 16 celebrity recruits are Danny Amendola, Mel B, Hannah Brown, Tyler Florence, Kate Gosselin, Dwight Howard, Montell Jordan, Gus Kenworthy, Nastia Liukin, Carli Lloyd, Beverley Mitchell, Kenya Moore, Mike Piazza, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Anthony Scaramucci and Jamie Lynn Spears. Beloved one-hour musical game show Celebrity Name That Tune returns for Season Three on Wednesday, Jan. 11 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), followed by the time period premiere of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). Celebrity Name That Tune will feature competitions with Olympians, former WNBA, NBA and NFL athletes, WWE wrestlers, Emmy-nominated actors, Grammy nominated musicians, Broadway performers, former American Idol, and Glee stars as well as former Housewives, talk show hosts, comedians and more. Hit drama series 9-1-1: Lone Star, starring Rob Lowe and Gina Torres, is back for all-new rescues beginning Tuesday, Jan. 17 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). 9-1-1: As previously announced, the all-new crime thriller Accused, from Emmy Award-winning producer Howard Gordon, makes its debut Sunday, Jan. 22, followed by its time period premiere Tuesday, Jan. 24 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).

Gordon Ramsay's Next Level Chef returns for Season Two on Sunday, Feb. 12, following Super Bowl LVII. The series will have its time period premiere Thursday, Feb. 16 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The all-new single-camera workplace comedy, Animal Control, starring Emmy Award nominee Joel McHale (Community), will premiere Thursday, Feb. 16 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT), following the time period premiere of Next Level Chef. Please note, 9-1-1 and The Masked Singer will return this spring and additional schedule details to be announced. View the full Winter dates schedule.

Monday, August 29, 2022

ABC Fall Preview Special Airs Sept. 14; Acapulco Returns in October on Apple TV+

ABC Fall Preview Special

Ahead of the anticipated debut of ABC's fall programming slate, the network and ABC's marketing team invites viewers to enjoy a preview of its primetime lineup, featuring an early look at new drama series Alaska Daily starring Oscar® winner Hilary Swank, as well as the latest addition to The Rookie franchise led by Niecy Nash-Betts, The Rookie: Feds. Plus, audiences can get a taste of what's coming up on some of their returning favorites, including Grey's Anatomy, as Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital welcomes a new batch of interns; Bachelor in Paradise, which hits the beach for another romance-filled fall debut; and seven-time Emmy®-nominated Abbott Elementary, among many others. Hosted by the cast of Home Economics (Topher Grace, Caitlin McGee, Jimmy Tatro, Karla Souza and Sasheer Zamata) ahead of their season three return, the ABC Fall Preview Special is set to air Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 8:30-9:00 p.m. EDT on ABC.


Acapulco

Apple TV+ announced that the second season of the global hit comedy series Acapulco, starring and executive produced by SAG-Award winner Eugenio Derbez, will return on Friday, October 21, 2022. The two-episode season premiere will be followed by a new episode every Friday. Season two picks up right on the heels of season one, telling the story of twenty-something Máximo Gallardo, whose dream comes true when he scores the job of a lifetime as a cabana boy at the hottest resort in Acapulco, Las Colinas. In 1985, Máximo must contend with upheaval at the resort, unexpected problems at home and a new love interest who just might rival the girl of his dreams. Under Don Pablo's guidance, he sets his eyes on one day running the entire Las Colinas operation by becoming Diane’s right-hand man. Meanwhile, in present day, Older Máximo returns to Acapulco to make peace with the recent passing of Don Pablo, where he is forced to confront some unfinished business young Máximo left behind.

Joining Derbez ("Older Máximo") in the ten episode second season are returning stars Enrique Arrizon ("Máximo"), Fernando Carsa ("Memo"), Damián Alcázar ("Don Pablo"), Camila Perez ("Julia"), Chord Overstreet ("Chad"), Vanessa Bauche ("Nora"), Regina Reynoso ("Sara"), Raphael Alejandro ("Hugo"), Jessica Collins ("Diane"), Rafael Cebrián ("Hector") and Carlos Corona ("Esteban").

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Disney Brings American Housewife and More to Syndication; The Bob's Burgers Movie Will Stream on Hulu and HBO Max

American Housewife

Disney Media Entertainment and Distribution has announced that three series are making their off-net broadcast syndication debut this Fall. Comedy series American Housewife and dramas 9-1-1 and The Rookie will air on your local stations (Housewife and 9-1-1 have already been airing on cable in reruns). American Housewife will air five days a week (and also weekend runs) beginning Monday, September 12, while weekend plays of 9-1-1 and The Rookie will begin the weekend of September 17-18.

All five seasons of American Housewife has been sold to stations from broadcast groups including the CBS Television Stations (such as NY's WLNY-TV), Sinclair Broadcast Group, Weigel Broadcasting, Nexstar Media Group, E.W. Scripps Company, Hubbard Broadcasting, Hearst Communications, Gray Television, Bahakel Communications, Tegna Media, Lockwood Broadcast Group, Mission Broadcasting, Cox Media Group, Allen Media, Standard Media Group, NPG Broadcasting and American Spirit Media. Five seasons (and still going) of 9-1-1 will launch weekends on stations from broadcast groups including the ABC Owned Television Stations (such as NY's WABC), Nexstar Media Group, Gray Television, Cox Media Group, Hearst Communications, E.W. Scripps Company, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Tegna Media and Weigel Broadcasting. Four seasons (and still going) of The Rookie has been licensed for weekend runs to stations from broadcast groups including the ABC Owned Television Stations (such as NY's WABC), CBS Television Stations, Nexstar Media Group, Gray Television, Cox Media Group, Hearst Communications, E.W. Scripps Company, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tegna Media.


The Bob's Burgers Movie

20th Century Studios' The Bob's Burgers Movie will debut July 12 on both Hulu and HBO Max. It is also coming soon to Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ under the Star banner in all other territories on July 12 in Canada, July 13 in Europe, Middle East, Africa (except Poland), and July 20 in Latin America. The Bob's Burgers Movie is an animated, big-screen, musical comedy-mystery-adventure based on the long-running Emmy®-winning series. The story begins when a ruptured water main creates an enormous sinkhole right in front of Bob's Burgers, blocking the entrance indefinitely and ruining the Belchers' plans for a successful summer. While Bob and Linda struggle to keep the business afloat, the kids try to solve a mystery that could save their family's restaurant. As the dangers mount, these underdogs help each other find hope and fight to get back behind the counter, where they belong. The Bob's Burgers Movie showcases voice talent which includes Kristen Schaal, H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, Zach Galifianakis and Kevin Kline. The film is an animated, big-screen, musical comedy-mystery-adventure based on the long-running (and still airing) Fox Emmy®-winning series.

Friday, June 17, 2022

ABC Fall 2022 Premiere Dates; Remembering Philip Baker Hall, Lt. Bookman on Seinfeld

Abbott Elementary

ABC has set fall premiere dates for its new and returning series for the upcoming 2022-2023 season, including new female-led dramas Alaska Daily (formerly known as Alaska) and The Rookie: Feds as well as the newest primetime game show Celebrity Jeopardy! Return dates have also been set for critically acclaimed comedy breakout Abbott Elementary, and fan favorites Bachelor in Paradise and Grey's Anatomy. ABC's No. 1 comedy last season in Adults 18-49, Quinta Brunson-helmed Abbott Elementary, returns on its new night, Wednesday, Sept. 21 (9:00-9:31 p.m. EDT), joining network comedy staples The Conners (8:00-8:30 p.m. EDT), The Goldbergs (8:30-9:00 p.m. EDT) and Home Economics (9:31-10:00 p.m. EDT) for a laugh-filled evening. Then, Reba McEntire and Jensen Ackles step into the world of Big Sky on its new night, bringing with them a new mystery to unravel as the mercurial matriarch of an established local family and the new sheriff in town, respectively. The first-ever live episode of Shark Tank, featuring all six original Sharks, swims into the weekend Friday, Sept. 21. 23 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EDT). A new season of ABC News' 20/20 (9:01-11:00 p.m. EDT) follows.

Sundays on ABC are synonymous with family fun as Hollywood stars test their knowledge with the ultimate game of trivia on Celebrity Jeopardy! (8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT), debuting Sept. 25, and followed by the return of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT). The evening culminates with The Rookie (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), and AFV joins the Sunday lineup a week later on Oct. 2 (7:00-8:00 p.m. EDT). Summer may have ended, but romance awaits as Bachelor in Paradise turns up the heat on Tuesday, Sept. 27 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), followed by the debut of The Rookie spinoff series, The Rookie: Feds, starring Niecy Nash-Betts (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT). The search for love continues as BIP begins its two-night weekly run on Monday, Oct. 3 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), preceding the return of hit drama The Good Doctor, which hits 100 episodes this season. And finally, Alaska Daily (10:01-11:00 p.m. EDT), from Oscar®-winning writer Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) and starring two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank, joins Station 19 (8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT) and TV's longest-running primetime medical drama, Grey's Anatomy (9:00-10:01 p.m. EDT), on Thursday, Oct. 6. Additional premiere dates for the 2022-2023 season will be announced at a later date.


Philip Baker Hall

Character actor Philip Baker Hall, who played Lt. Joe Bookman on Seinfeld, has died. He died of emphysema at his home in Glendale, California, on June 12. Mr. Hall was 90.

Hall's early sitcom guest appearances included Good Times, M*A*S*H, It's a Living, Benson and Bagdad Cafe. He appeared as Dr. Harrison in the 1988 three-part Family Ties episode "Heartstrings," in which Steven Keaton has a heart attack and has to undergo heart surgery.

Philip Baker Hall as Lt. Joe Bookman on Seinfeld

He played Lt. Joe Bookman, a detective pursuing a long-overdue library book, in the Seinfeld episode "The Library." It aired in the third season on October 16, 1991. Jerry learns he has a library fine from 1971, for the then-controversial book Tropic of Cancer, and that the "case" has been turned over to the library investigations officer, Lt. Bookman. Hall reprised the role in "The Finale," which aired on May 14, 1998.

The Loop

Hall starred as Russ McDonald on the 2006-2007 Fox sitcom The Loop. The show starred Bret Harrison as Sam Sullivan, a young professional trying to balance the needs of his social life with the pressures of working at the corporate headquarters of TransAlliance Airways, a major U.S. airline. Russ McDonald is head executive of TransAlliance Airways and one of Sam's bosses. The series also starred Joy Osmanski, Amanda Loncar, Mimi Rogers, Sarah Mason (Sarah Wright) and Eric Christian Olsen.

Modern Family - Nolan Gould and Philip Baker Hall

He appeared as crotchety neighbor Walt Kleezak in three episodes of Modern Family in 2011 and 2012. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Nurses, Cheers, Bob, Empty Nest, The Good Life, Madman of the People, Life's Work, The John Larroquette Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Worst Week (2 episodes), Curb Your Enthusiam (2 episodes as Dr. Morrison), True Jackson, VP (2009), Childrens Hospital and Corporate.

Hall played Ed Meyers in 13 episodes of the ninth and final season (1989-1990) of the CBS prime time soap opera Falcon Crest. He starred as William Vaughn on the 1997-1998 CBS legal drama Michael Hayes. He played George Reese Greeley on the short-lived 2001 Fox prime time soap opera Pasadena. In 2016, he appeared as Old Jimmy Pritchad in five episodes of the Fox science fiction crime drama Second Chance. He had a recurring role as Zelman Katz on the 2020 Netflix thriller Messiah.

Some of his television drama guest appearances included Emergency!, The Waltons, McClain's Law, Quincy, M.E. (2 episodes), Cagney & Lacey, T.J. Hooker, Lottery, Hardcastle and McCormick, Miami Vice, Matlock, Murder, She Wrote (1991), L.A. Law, Equal Justice, Dark Justice, Civil Wars (3 episodes), Roswell, Chicago Hope, The Practice (4 episodes as Judge Joseph Vinocour), Millenium (2 episodes), L.A. Doctors, The Fugitive (2000), Without a Trace, Everwood, Monk, Boston Legal, The West Wing (2 episodes), Psych and Madam Secretary.

Hall starred in the Paul Thomas Anderson films Hard Eight (1996), Boogie Nights (1997) and Magnolia (1999). Some of his other film credits included Secret Honor (1984), Nothing in Common (1986), Midnight Run (1988), Say Anything... (1989), Ghostbusters II (1989), The Rock (1996), The Truman Show (1998), Rush Hour (1998), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), The Insider (1999), The Contender (2000), Dogville (2003), Bruce Almighty (2003), Duck (2005), Zodiac (2007), 50/50 (2011) and Argo (2012).

Survivors include his wife Holly Wolfle, four children, four grandchildren and a brother.

Philip Baker Hall as Lt. Joe Bookman on Seinfeld

Mr. Hall was a fantastic character actor. His guest appearance as Lt. Bookman on Seinfeld was one of the funniest and most memorable of the series. It led to many other jobs for him. He didn't start acting until he was 30 years old, but he had over 200 TV and film credits during his long career. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment he brought us. He will be greatly missed.

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

Thursday, March 31, 2022

CBS 2021-22 Season Finale Dates; ABC Renews Two Hit Dramas for 2022-23

Young Sheldon

CBS announced season finale dates for its original primetime comedies, dramas and unscripted series for the 2021-2022 broadcast season, including the series finale of Bull on Thursday, May 26 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Friday, April 8
8:00-9:00 PM UNDERCOVER BOSS (11th Season Finale)

Thursday, April 21
9:00-9:30 PM GHOSTS (First Season Finale)

Wednesday, May 4
10:00-11:00 PM GOOD SAM (First Season Finale)
Friday, May 6
9:00-10:00 PM MAGNUM P.I. (Fourth Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM BLUE BLOODS (12th Season Finale)

Sunday, May 15
8:00-9:00 PM THE EQUALIZER (Second Season Finale)

Wednesday, May 18
9:00-11:00 PM BEYOND THE EDGE (Two-Hour First Season Finale)

Thursday, May 19
8:00-8:30 PM YOUNG SHELDON (Fifth Season Finale)
8:30-9:00 PM UNITED STATES OF AL (Second Season Finale)

Sunday, May 22
9:00-10:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES (13th Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM S.W.A.T. (Fifth Season Finale)

Monday, May 23
8:00-8:30 PM THE NEIGHBORHOOD (Fourth Season Finale)
8:30-9:00 PM BOB ♥ ABISHOLA (Third Season Finale)
9:00-10:00 PM NCIS (19th Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM NCIS: HAWAI`I (First Season Finale)

Tuesday, May 24
8:00-9:00 PM FBI (Fourth Season Finale)
9:00-10:00 PM FBI: INTERNATIONAL (First Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM FBI: MOST WANTED (Third Season Finale)

Wednesday, May 25
8:00-11:00 PM SURVIVOR (Three-hour 42nd Edition Finale)

Thursday, May 26
10:00-11:00 PM BULL (Series Finale)


The Good Doctor and The Rookie

ABC has renewed hit dramas The Good Doctor and The Rookie for Season 6 and Season 5, respectively, to air next seasom (2022-23). They join previously renewed dramas Grey's Anatomy & Station 19 along with freshman breakout comedy Abbott Elementary. ABC will have a potential The Rookie spin-off series starring Niecy Nash next season after they test it with a backdoor pilot later this season during The Rookie.

The Good Doctor stars Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, Hill Harper, Richard Schiff, Christina Chang, Fiona Gubelmann, Will Yun Lee, Paige Spara, Noah Galvin and Bria Samone. The Rookie stars Nathan Fillion stars as John Nolan, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela, Richard T. Jones as Sgt. Wade Grey, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune and Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers.

Wednesday, February 09, 2022

Potential Backdoor Pilot for The Rookie Spinoff with Niecy Nash; HBO Max Renews South Side for Season 3

Niecy Nash

Niecy Nash (Reno 9-1-1, Claws) is set to guest star as Simone Clark in two embedded pilot episodes of the ABC police drama The Rookie from eOne and ABC Signature. Clark is a force of nature, the living embodiment of a dream deferred - and the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy. Her episodes set the stage for a potential untitled spinoff next season allowing the franchise to expand beyond the Los Angeles Police Department. The Rookie and the spinoff will exist in the same universe, allowing characters to move back and forth.

In the episode, Officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and the LA division of the FBI enlist the help of FBI trainee Simone Clark when one of her former students is suspected of terrorism following an explosion at a local power station. The Rookie airs Sundays (10:01-11:00 p.m. EST) on ABC and returns with all-new episodes on Feb. 27.


South Side

HBO Max has renewed South Side for a third season. The second season of the beloved, critically acclaimed comedy series premiered as a Max Original in November 2021. South Side follows two friends who just graduated from community college and are ready to take over the world, but until they do, they're stuck working at Rent-T-Own. Shot on location in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, the show offers an authentic look into what life on the South Side is all about. The series stars Sashir Salahuddin, Sultan Salahuddin, Kareme Young, Quincy Young, Chandra Russell, Zuri Salahuddin, Nefetari Spencer and Diallo Riddle.

Thursday, April 29, 2021

ABC Revises Summer Premieres and Finales, Announces Drama Finale Dates; IMDb TV Gets Greg Garcia Comedy

The Celebrity Dating Game

ABC has revised premiere dates for some of its Summer Fun & Games series. Press Your Luck and The $100,000 Pyramid will now both premiere two weeks earlier on Wednesday, May 26 from 8-10pm, rather than Wed. June 9. Card Sharks will now premiere a week later on Wednesday, June 16 at 10pm, rather than the previously planned June 9. And finally, The Ultimate Surfer will now premiere a week later on Monday, August 23 at 10pm rather than Aug. 16. The series will air for a month on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10pm following Bachelor in Paradise, which premieres a week earlier on Aug. 16. The Celebrity Dating Game, which still premieres June 14, will now have its season finale on Aug. 16 at 10pm. The Bachelorette finale is likely a three-hour event on Aug. 9.

ABC has also announced its drama finales. The Rookie has its season finale on Sunday, May 16 at 10pm, while Big Sky wraps its first season on Tuesday, May 18 at 10pm. The rest of the dramas will wrap in June. Station 19 and Grey's Anatomy will end their seasons on Thursday, June 3 from 8-10pm, while Rebel will wrap a week later on June 10 with a two-hour finale. The Good Doctor will end its 20 episode season on Monday, June 7 at 10pm following The Bachelorette premiere. And finally, A Million Little Things will have its season finale from 9-11pm on Wednesday, June 9. We already announced that ABC's Tuesday and Wednesday comedies will have their finales on May 18 and May 19. Reality wise, Pooch Perfect, Shark Tank, AFV and American Idol will all wrap between May 18-23. And finally, ABC is bringing more Disney magical moments into homes with the return of The Wonderful World of Disney film series on Monday nights from 8-10pm beginning May 3. Throughout the entire month, ABC will air iconic titles currently available to stream on Disney+, beginning with the broadcast debuts of both Disney and Pixar's Finding Dory and Academy Award(R)-nominated Disney and Pixar's Incredibles 2, followed by Walt Disney Animation Studios' Tangled and The Princess and the Frog, and Academy Award-winning Disney and Pixar's Monsters, Inc.


Garret Dillahunt, Philip Garcia and Illeana Douglas

IMDb TV, Amazon's premium free streaming service, announced it has ordered Sprung, a new single-camera comedy series from Emmy Award-winning writer Greg Garcia. Starring Garret Dillahunt, Sprung centers on an unlikely group of formerly incarcerated people, who band together to use their criminal expertise for good. From Amazon Studios, Sprung follows Jack (Dillahunt), a convicted criminal who is determined to change course and reclaim his lost years after serving over two decades in prison. With no place to live post-release, and a global pandemic bringing the world to a virtual standstill, Jack moves in with his former cellmate Rooster (Phillip Garcia), Rooster's mom Barb (Illeana Douglas), and Jack's former prison girlfriend Gloria. Bound by their marred past and unusual living circumstances, they decide to start righting some of society's wrongs, targeting those people selfishly taking advantage of others during the pandemic. Starting May 1, Garcia's Emmy Award-winning series My Name is Earl joins the extensive and always updating library of hit movies and television shows on IMDb TV.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

ABC Gets Full Seasons of mixed-ish and More; The Facts of Life Stars Ready to Light Up Lifetime on Christmas

mixed-ish

ABC's hit fall series mixed-ish and Stumptown have been given full-season orders, while The Rookie received a spring season pickup. ABC's mixed-ish is the No. 1 new comedy of the season in Adults 18-49. The new ABC comedy grows to a 1.80 rating with Adults 18-49 across all platforms in L+7. Stumptown is the No. 1 playback gainer for a new series this season in Total Viewers, soaring by nearly +4.0 million viewers after seven days to double its Live + Same Day average (+99%). Through its first three episodes, the new ABC drama is averaging 9.7 million Total Viewers and a 2.18 rating with Adults 18-49 across all platforms in L+7. Season to date, The Rookie is improving its new Sunday time slot for ABC by triple digits in Total Viewers (+214%) and Adults 18-49 (+175%), marking ABC's most-watched series in the time slot in four years. A big gainer in delayed viewing, The Rookie more than doubles its Live + Same Day Total Viewer average (+103%) and Adult 18-49 rating (+117%) after seven days of TV playback.


You Light Up My Christmas - Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields and Mindy Cohn

Lifetime's It's a Wonderful Lifetime slate just sleighed the holidays even more with a special surprise! Premiering December 1 at 8pm ET/PT, You Light Up My Christmas from executive producer and star Kim Fields, brings back together the wonderful actresses of the beloved sitcom The Facts of Life, with Fields, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon sharing the screen once again for special appearances. Inspired by true events, You Light Up My Christmas is the story of Emma (Fields), who returns to her hometown built around her family's pioneer Christmas Light Factory two weeks before Christmas. However, upon Emma's return, she discovers the lights have gone dim in the once festive town, prompting her to reconnect with an old flame (Adrian Holmes) to set their hearts and the town ablaze with light again. You Light Up My Christmas is produced by Johnson Production Group. Tim Johnson, Kim Fields and Art Rutter serve as executive producers.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

ABC Sets Reunions of Cheers, The Drew Carey Show, Girlfriends, Charmed, Castle and More; NBC Renews Titan Games for Season 2

Rhea Perlman, Kirstie Alley, George Wendt and John Ratzenberger

Cast members and creative teams from iconic television series and films reunite on ABC prime time in "Cast from the Past Week," beginning Monday, Oct. 7. Featured will be actors and behind-the-scenes talent from Blues Brothers 2000, Castle, Charmed, Cheers, Crazy Rich Asians, The Drew Carey Show, Girlfriends, House, Think Like a Man and Wet Hot American Summer as they reunite with former castmates on ABC dramas and comedies in an unforgettable week-long event. The following are details about participating shows; all times are EDT:

MONDAY, OCT. 7
10PM The Good Doctor – Robert Sean Leonard (House) checks into The Good Doctor. Both series were created by executive producer David Shore.

TUESDAY, OCT. 8
8PM The Conners – This episode reunites John Goodman and Dan Aykroyd (Blues Brothers 2000) as poker buddies.
8:30PM Bless this Mess – Michael Ian Black is reunited with Wet Hot American Summer's Lake Bell when he guest stars.
9:30PM black-ishGirlfriends stars Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones and Persia White reunite with Tracee Ellis Ross.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9
8PM The Goldbergs – Stars of the iconic '80s hit comedy Cheers Kirstie Alley, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger and George Wendt reunite.
9:30PM Single Parents – Adam Brody, Leighton Meester's real-life husband and former co-star (Life Partners, The Oranges), returns as Angie's ex-boyfriend Derek.

THURSDAY, OCT. 10
8PM Grey's AnatomyCharmed stars Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs are reunited with executive producers Krista Vernoff and Andy Reaser, who were writers on Charmed.
9PM A Million Little Things – Jerry Ferrara guest stars and is reunited with Think Like a Man castmate Romany Malco.

FRIDAY, OCT. 11
8PM American Housewife – Westport rocks as Drew Carey, Ryan Stiles and Kathy Kinney guest star in an episode that reunites them with Diedrich Bader.
8:30PM Fresh off the Boat – Ken Jeong (Crazy Rich Asians) returns as Louis's brother Gene and to ABC Friday (previously on Dr. Ken).

SUNDAY, OCT. 13
10PM The RookieCastle alums Seamus Deaver and Jon Huertas guest star and reunite with Nathan Fillion.


The Titan Games

NBC has renewed the epic athletic competition series The Titan Games for a second season. In its first season, The Titan Games scored a 1.7 rating in adults 18-49 with 6.0 million viewers overall in "live plus seven day" Nielsens, and those figures grew to a 2.6 in 18-49 and 8.6 million viewers after 35 days of digital and linear delayed viewing. The Titan Games improved NBC's Thursday 8 p.m. timeslot by 19% or 1.2 million persons in total viewers versus NBC's results in the timeslot one year earlier.

Inspired by Johnson's desire to motivate global audiences to reach their potential for greatness, The Titan Games gives men and women across the country the opportunity to step inside the Titan arena and achieve the impossible. Competitors push their bodies to the limit by battling opponents in unforgiving head-to-head challenges, designed by Johnson. Winners advance to the ultimate challenge of Mt. Olympus, the consummate athletic test of speed, strength, agility and endurance. The Titan Games not only tests the competitors' physical strength, but also their mental and emotional fortitude.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, August 21

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 17)

Friday, August 21

  • Rosie O'Donnell (SMILF/Stand by Your Man/Gimme a Break!) - Rosie guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Jean Smart (Hacks/Samantha Who?/Center of the Universe/In-Laws/Style & Substance/Designing Women) - Watch Jean on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Nick Kroll (Mating Season/Big Mouth/The League/Cavemen) - Nick is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Sally Field (Gidget/The Flying Nun/The Girl with Something Extra) - Sally talks about Remarkably Bright Creatures on a repeat of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD) The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray) The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray) Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/29/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

08/20 - Apple TV's Bad Monkey Season 2 Drops December 2; Hulu's Jamie Foxx Comedy Special
08/19 - The CW Mondays This Fall; Lifetime's Powerful September Movie Events
08/18 - Hollywood Arts Premieres October 15 on Netflix; Remembering Hayden Panettiere
08/17 - Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Renewed for Season 2; Randall Park Joins Minimum Wage
08/16 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 17, 2026)
08/15 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Saved for a Second Season; Netflix Renews Seinfeld Rights
08/14 - Hulu's Trailer for Chad Powers Season 2; Freeform's Coven Academy Premieres October 1
08/13 - Trailer for Season 2 of FXX's Adults; Trailer for Season 2 of Peacock's The Paper
08/12 - Brandy to Sing Theme Song for A Different World; Damon Wayans Reuniting with David Alan Grier on St. Denis Medical
08/11 - Peacock's Dig Premieres November 23; Disney+ and Hulu Announce Video Podcasts for Boy Mets World, Scrubs, and Desperate Housewives
08/10 - Conan O'Brien Must Go Season 3; Disney's Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story
08/09 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 10, 2026)
08/08 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Joe Dirt Animated Series in the Works at Fox; First Look at The Varnell Hill Show
08/07 - Disney's Big City Greens Brings Out the Guest Stars; The New SuperKitty Premieres Today
08/06 - The Varnell Hill Show Coming to Paramount+ on September 1; Hallmark's 3rd Installment of Holiday Touchdown
08/05 - Colin from Accounts Final Season Premieres September 10; The X-Files: I Want to Believe Gets Director's Cut on Disney+ & Hulu
08/04 - Amazon MGM Studios Orders Improvised Sitcom; The CW Renews Game Shows for Season 3
08/03 - CBS Announces Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen 20th Anniversary Special; Hulu to Debut Exclusive Bob's Burgers Holiday Short
08/02 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 3, 2026)
08/01 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Clueless Sequel Series Starring Alicia Silverstone Ordered at Paramount+; Tubi Removing Some Warner Animated Series
07/31 - Netflix's Leanne Season 2 Trailer; Paramount+ Greenlights Clueless Event Series Starring Alicia Silverstone
07/30 - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 Premieres August 17 on FXX, FX and Hulu; Chad Powers Season 2 Premieres September 3 on Hulu
07/29 - Ted Lasso Returns to the Pitch August 5 on Apple TV; Hulu Unveils Futurama Season 14 Trailer and Announces Three XXXL-Sized Specials
07/28 - ABC Fall 2026 Premiere Dates; CBS Fall 2026 Premiere Dates
07/27 - Netflix's Tires Season 3 Debuts August 13; Family Guy Halloween and Holiday Specials Return Exclusively to Hulu This Year
07/26 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 27, 2026)
07/25 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount and Warner Merger on Hold; Paramount+ Cancels Crutch
07/24 - Hulu's Desperate Housewives Wisteria Lane Block Party; Whitmer Thomas HBO Comedy Special
07/23 - Fox's Stewie Announces Voice Cast; Clash of the Thundermans Premiere Date and Details, with Ariel Winter Joining the Cast
07/22 - Nirvanna the Band the Show on Hulu & Hulu on Disney+; Netflix's Untold Returns August 25
07/21 - First Look at Netflix's A Different World; Great American Family's 6th Annual Christmas Slate Begins in October with Laura Vandervoort Movie
07/20 - Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Official Podcast; All-Star Cast for Elizabeth Banks Apple TV Comedy