SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Writer, director and producer Gary Menteer, who worked on Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Punky Brewster and Family Matters, has died. He died on January 18 at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California. Mr. Menteer was 76.

Menteer directed episodes of Laverne & Shirley, Punky Brewster, She's the Sheriff, Family Matters and Malcolm & Eddie. He worked as a choreographer on two episodes of Blansky's Beauties and the "Be My Valentine" episode of Happy Days.

His sitcom writing credits included Joanie Loves Chachi, Second Chance, Punky Brewster, On Our Own, Built to Last, Family Matters, Malcolm & Eddie and Eve.

He served as an executive producer for Family Matters from 1990 to 1998. His other producing credits included Blansky's Beauties, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Joanie Loves Chachi, Second Chance, Punky Brewster, On Our Own, and Malcolm & Eddie.

He shared two Emmy nominations for Punky Brewster for Outstanding Children's Program in 1985 and 1986. He was interviewed for the E! True Hollywood Story on Punky Brewster in 2006.

Menteer worked as an actor in his earlier days. He appeared in musical films such as Bye Bye Birdie, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Mary Poppins, Inside Daisy Clover, Finian's Rainbow, Hello, Dolly and Funny Lady. He performed in many musical variety shows such as The Judy Garland Show, The Danny Kaye Show, The Dean Martin Show and The Julie Andrews Hour.

Survivors include his husband, Joe Cvar, and his nephews and nieces David, Lisa, Diana, Lauri and Tara.

Mr. Menteer was a frequent collaborator of Garry Marshall. We thank him for the entertainment he brought us over the years. He will be greatly missed.

After Brett and Michelle nearly reached their breaking points, the season one finale of Togetherness saw Michelle kissing David while Brett was driving to Sacramento to declare his commitment to her. Season two reveals how the evening played out. Meanwhile, Michelle pushes ahead with her charter school plans as Brett looks for artistic inspiration. Following his big acting break, Alex returns from New Orleans reinvigorated. Tina presses herself to figure out what her life should look like. Through it all, this makeshift family continues to face the hilarity and anxieties of everyday life, while proving that they're truly at their best when they're together.

Created by Jay Duplass & Mark Duplass & Steve Zissis, the eight-episode sophomore season of comedy Togetherness debuts Sunday, Feb. 21 from 10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT, exclusively on HBO. Blending laughter and pathos, the comedy series follows four adults nearing 40, trying to balance both their relationships and their individual dreams. In addition to writer, director and producer Mark Duplass (The League), who stars as Brett Pierson, the cast of Togetherness includes Melanie Lynskey (Two and a Half Men) as Michelle Pierson, Amanda Peet (Sleeping with Other People) as Tina Morris, Steve Zissis (Baghead) as Alex Pappas and Abby Ryder Fortson (Transparent) as Sophie. Guest stars on the second season of Togetherness include Peter Gallagher (Covert Affairs) as Larry, John Ortiz (HBO's Luck) as David, Joshua Leonard (Bates Motel) as Dudley, Ginger Gonzaga (Ted) as Christy, Emily Althaus (Orange Is the New Black) as Natalie and Katie Aselton (The League) as Anna.

Miami Vice, the groundbreaking '80s NBC crime drama series starring Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, makes its debut on COZI TV on Sunday, March 1. Following a day-long Miami Vice marathon that Sunday from 1pm-5pm ET, the show will air regularly on COZI TV Monday-Friday at 11pm ET and Saturdays at 8pm and 9pm ET. The series originally ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989. COZI TV currently is airing Dragnet in the 11pm hour. We will let you know soon what other changes COZI TV will make as a result of the addition of Miami Vice.

Miami Vice was set in its namesake city of Miami and dealt with hardcore themes such as drug peddling and prostitution. Many well-known bands and artists of the time contributed their music and its exposure on the show was known to increase record sales. Meanwhile, the clothes worn on Miami Vice also had a significant influence on men’s fashion at the time. Don Johnson’s typical attire of European sport coat, T-shirt, white linen pants and sockless loafers became wildly popular. Even Crockett's perpetually unshaven appearance inspired a men's fashion trend, making the sporting of a small amount of beard stubble de rigueur. In an average episode, Crockett and Tubbs wore five to eight outfits, appearing in the pastel shades associated with the Art Deco style found throughout Miami.

HBO has picked up a second season of its new comedy Togetherness after just three airings. The series is currently in the middle of its premiere season airing Sundays at 9:30pm. The half-hour comedy is set to begin production on its second season this year in Los Angeles for debut in 2016. Togetherness follows two couples living under one roof on the fringes of Los Angeles. Brett and Michelle are struggling to rekindle the spark in their relationship, which has puttered out from the stresses of marriage and children. When Brett's friend Alex and Michelle's sister, Tina, move in with them, the foursome engage in a tragically comedic struggle to follow their personal dreams, while still remaining good friends, siblings and spouses to each other. The comedy stars Mark Duplass as Brett Pierson, Melanie Lynskey as Michelle Pierson and Amanda Peet as Tina Morris.