SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Remembering Legendary Sitcom Director James Burrows; The Audacity Season 2 Coming in 2027

Emmy-winning television director and producer James Burrows, who worked on Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends and Will & Grace, has died. He died on June 19. Mr. Burrows was 85.

Burrows's television career began in 1965 as a dialogue coach on the ABC sitcom O.K. Crackerby!, which starred Burl Ives and was created by Burrows's father, Abe. He started his directing career with The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1974. He directed four episodes from 1974 to 1976. Some of his other early sitcom directing credits included Phyllis (19 episodes), The Bob Newhart Show (11 episodes), The Tony Randall Show, Laverne & Shirley (8 episodes), Busting Loose (6 episodes), Rhoda (4 episodes), The Betty White Show (2 episodes) and Free Country (2 episodes).

He directed 75 episodes (Seasons 1-4) of the ABC sitcom Taxi from 1978 to 1982. He won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series in 1980 and 1981.

Burrows co-created Cheers with brothers Glen and Les Charles. He directed 236 of the 275 episodes of the 1982-1993 NBC sitcom. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions in association with Paramount Television. Nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series for all 11 of its seasons on the air, it earned 28 Primetime Emmy Awards from a record of 117 nominations. He won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series in 1983 and 1991. He was one of the creators and producers of the 1987 NBC sitcom The Tortellis, which was the first spin-off of Cheers.

He directed 32 episodes of the NBC sitcom Frasier from 1993 to 1997. In 1993, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the pilot "The Good Son." He directed four episodes of the 2023-2024 Paramount+ revival.

Burrows directed 15 episodes of the NBC sitcom Friends from 1994 to 1998. He received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the 1994 episode "The One with the Blackout" from Season 1.

He directed every episode of the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, both during its initial eight-year run (1998-2006) and its later three-year revival (2017-2020). He received twelve Primetime Emmy Award nominations for the series, which won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2000.

Burrows directed over 50 television pilots. Some of his other sitcom directing credits included The Associates (4 episodes), Best of the West (3 episodes), Dear John (2 episodes), Cafe Americain (3 episodes), Partners (1995-1996, 10 episodes), NewsRadio (7 episodes), 3rd Rock from the Sun (2 episodes), Men Behaving Badly (7 episodes), Fired Up (4 episodes), George & Leo (3 episodes), Caroline in the City (21 episodes), Union Square (8 episodes), Dharma & Greg (2 episodes), Two and a Half Men (2 episodes), The Class (19 episodes), Back to You (17 episodes), Gary Unmarried (36 episodes), Romantically Challenged (4 episodes), Partners (2012-2013, 12 episodes), The Millers (32 episodes), 2 Broke Girls (4 episodes), Mike & Molly (49 episodes), Crowded (9 episodes), Man with a Plan (9 episodes), Superior Donuts (8 episodes) and B Positive (3 episodes). He directed all 10 episodes of the Hulu sitcom Mid-Century Modern in 2025.

He executive produced the Emmy Award–winning ABC specials Live in Front of a Studio Audience, including Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons in 2019, All in the Family and Good Times in 2019, and The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes in 2021.

Some of his other producing credits included The Class, Back to You, Gary Unmarried, Romantically Challenged, Mike & Molly, Partners (2012-2013), The Millers, Crowded, Superior Donuts, Man with a Plan, Will & Grace and Mid-Century Modern.

Burrows had cameo appearances in several of the shows for which he directed. Some of his acting appearances included Rhoda, Phyllis, The Bob Newhart Show, Cheers, Friends and Will & Grace. He appeared as a fictionalized version of himself directing the show-within-a-show in 8 episodes of the 2005 HBO series The Comeback, as well as its subsequent seasons in 2014 and 2026.

NBC aired a special tribute on February 21, 2016, titled Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows featuring cast reunions from many of the series Burrows directed such as Cheers, Taxi, Friends, Frasier, The Big Bang Theory, Will & Grace, and Mike & Molly.

He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on December 17, 2003. He released his book, Directed by James Burrows: Five Decades of Stories from the Legendary Director of Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and More, in 2022.

Mr. Burrows directed over 1,000 episodes of television during his legendary career. He received numerous accolades, including 11 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Directors Guild of America Awards. He was honored with the Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. We thank him for his work on many sitcoms. He was one of the best to ever do it. He will be greatly missed.

We also remember actress Daveigh Chase. She starred as Joyce in Oliver Beene. She died on June 16 in Los Angeles from complications of bacterial meningitis and a severe blood infection that led to fatal sepsis. Ms. Chase was only 35.

Chase made her television debut in a 1998 episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Yes, Dear and Inside Schwartz in 2001.

She starred as Joyce in the 2003-2004 Fox sitcom Oliver Beene. Set in 1962 and 1963, the show chronicled the trials and tribulations of the 11-to-12-year-old Oliver Beene (played by Grant Rosenmeyer), in first person perspective. Joyce was his quirky friend. The cast included Grant Shaud, Wendy Makkena, Andrew Lawrence, Taylor Emerson, Amy Bruckner, Amanda Michalka, Maggie Grace (2004) and David Cross as the voice of future Oliver Beene.

Chase starred as Rhonda Volmer in the 2006-2011 HBO drama Big Love. Some of her other television guest appearances included Charmed, The Practice (2000), ER, The Lot, That's Life (2001), Touched by an Angel, Family Law, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Cold Case, Without a Trace and Mercy.

She provided the voice of Lilo Pelekai, an eccentric Hawaiian girl on the island of Kauaʻi who adopts Stitch as her pet dog, in the 2002 animated science fiction comedy-drama film Lilo & Stitch. She reprised the role of Lilo in the direct-to-video film Stitch! The Movie (2003) and the subsequent television series Lilo & Stitch: The Series, which aired on the Disney Channel from 2003 to 2006.

Chase starred as Samantha, the younger sister of Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal), in Donnie Darko (2001) and its sequel S. Darko (2009). She starred as Samara Morgan in the 2002 supernatural horror film The Ring. Her performance earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in 2003.

Ms. Chase was a talented actress. She appeared in more than 50 television series and films in her career, which spanned from 1998 to 2015. We thank her for her work on television and in films. She will be deeply missed.

AMC Global Media announced that production of the much anticipated eight-episode second season of The Audacity is underway in Vancouver, Canada, with the series returning to AMC and AMC+ in 2027. The satirical drama from Emmy(R) Award-winner Jonathan Glatzer (Succession, Bad Sisters, Better Call Saul) stars a powerhouse ensemble: Billy Magnussen, Sarah Goldberg, Zach Galifianakis, Lucy Punch, Simon Helberg, Meaghan Rath, Paul Adelstein, Everett Blunck, Thailey Roberge and Ava Marie Telek.

Additionally, Miriam Shor (Pluribus, American Fiction, Younger) is joining the cast in a heavily recurring role as Randy Flemming, a shrewd and unintimidated FBI Agent who enjoys the hunt like a cat relishes playing with a mouse while Jess McLeod (Normal, She's Nonbinary) has been upped to series regular for the new season, reprising their role as Harper, the brilliant, pink-haired Chief Technology Officer of the newly formed, data-mining startup P.I.N.A.T.A..

The Audacity is set inside the bubble of Silicon Valley and takes on the warped dreams, outsized egos, and ethical lapses of the self-styled inventors of the future. In a world of jaded billionaires, psychiatrist-gurus, bio-hacked tech bros, AI labs and disillusioned teens being optimized in elite private schools, an audacious data-mining CEO (Magnussen) strives to turn insight and influence into profit and power. A darkly comedic drama that confronts reality, privacy, and the delusions fueling our ever-changing world.

Magnussen stars as Duncan Park, Goldberg as Dr. JoAnne Felder, Galifianakis as Carl Bardolph, Punch as Lili Park-Hoffsteader, Helberg as Martin Phister, Rath as Anushka Bhattachera-Phister, Adelstein as Dr. Gary Felder, Blunck as Orson Stern, Roberge as Tess Phister and Telek as Jamison Park-Hoffsteader.

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

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Labels: AMC, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Obits, Taxi, Will & Grace

Beef Returns April 16 on Netflix; Remembering Jennifer Runyon of Charles in Charge

Every couple meets their match. Beef returns with a new cast and a new "beef," as a Gen-Z couple witnesses an alarming fight between their Millennial boss and his wife. Starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Cailee Spaeny, Charles Melton and guest starring Youn Yuh-jung and Song Kang-ho. Beef Season 2 premieres April 16, only on Netflix with 8 episodes.

In the comedy, newly-engaged Ashley Miller (Cailee Spaeny) and Austin Davis (Charles Melton), both lower-level staff at a country club, become entangled in the unraveling marriage of their General Manager, Joshua Martín (Oscar Isaac), and his wife, Lindsay Crane-Martín (Carey Mulligan). Through favors and coercion, both couples vie for the approval of the elitist club's billionaire owner, Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung), who struggles to manage her own scandal involving her second husband, Doctor Kim (Song Kang-ho).

Actress Jennifer Runyon, who starred as Gwendolyn Pierce in Charles in Charge, has died. She died of cancer on March 6. Ms. Runyon was 65.

Runyon starred as Gwendolyn Pierce in the first season (1984-1985) of the CBS sitcom Charles in Charge. The first season stars Scott Baio as Charles, a 19-year-old college student working as a live-in "nanny" for the Pembroke family in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Charles has a crush on fellow Copeland student Gwendolyn Pierce and spends quite a bit of his free time trying to court her, which never seems to work. The cast of the first season included Julie Cobb, James Widdoes, April Lerman, Jonathan Ward, Michael Pearlman, and Willie Aames.

Charles in Charge moved to first-run syndication in 1987. She returned in the second season in the episodes "Twice Upon a Time: Part 1" and "Twice Upon a Time: Part 2".

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included Who's the Boss?, Dear John, The Hogan Family, and Vinnie & Bobby.

She had a supporting role as Sally Frame in the NBC soap opera Another World from 1981 to 1983. She appeared as Marcia Grant in three episodes of the 1985 NBC miniseries Space. Some of other television guest appearances included Boone, The Fall Guy, The Master, Magnum, P.I. (1987), The Highwayman, Quantum Leap (2 episodes in 1989), Booker, Murder, She Wrote (2 episodes), and Beverly Hills, 90210.

Runyon portrayed Cindy Brady in the 1988 CBS made-for-television Christmas comedy-drama film A Very Brady Christmas. Susan Olsen, the original Cindy Brady, was not in this production due to a combination of salary negotiations and timing conflicting with her honeymoon. It was the second highest-rated television film of 1988.

She had a small part as a student being given an ESP test by Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) in Ghostbusters (1984). Some of her other film credits included To All a Goodnight (1980), Up the Creek (1984), The In Crowd (1988), 18 Again! (1988), and Carnosaur (1993).

Ms. Runyon was a talented and lovely actress. She was funny and memorable as Gwendolyn Pierce in Charles in Charge and as Fake/Christmas Cindy in A Very Brady Christmas. We thank her for her work on television and in films. She will be deeply missed.

We also remember actor Corey Parker. He starred in Flying Blind and Love Boat: The Next Wave. He had a recurring role as Josh in Will & Gace. He died from cancer in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 5. Mr. Parker was 60.

Parker starred as Neil Barash in the 1992-1993 Fox sitcom Flying Blind. The series revolves around an awkward recent college grad, Neil Barash, who meets and starts dating a beautiful libertine woman, Alicia (Téa Leoni), with a wild past. It also starred Cristine Rose (1992), Robert Bauer, Clea Lewis, Marcus Giamatti, Michael Tucci, and Charles Rocket (1993).

He starred as Joel Goodman in the short-lived 1994 ABC sitcom Blue Skies. Russell Evans (Matt Roth) and Joel Goodman operate the Blue Skies Trading Company, a mail-order business in Boston. The series also starred Julia Campbell, Stephen Tobolowsky, Richard Kind, and Adilah Barnes.

Parker starred as John Morgan in 1998-1999 UPN comedy series Love Boat: The Next Wave. It was a revival of the original run of the ABC series The Love Boat from 1977–1986. Set aboard the cruise ship Sun Princess, the series starred Robert Urich as Captain Jim Kennedy, a retired and divorced U.S. Navy officer with a teen-aged son, Danny (Kyle Howard). John Morgan is the ship's doctor. The series also starred Phil Morris, Stacey Travis (season 1), Randy Vasquez, Joan Severance, and Heidi Mark (season 2).

He had a recurring role as Josh, Grace Adler's (Debra Messing) boyfriend, in five episodes of the NBC sitcom Will & Grace in 2000. He guest starred on The New Leave it to Beaver in 1985.

Parker had a recurring role as Lee Owens in six episodes of the ABC drama Thirtysomething from 1989 to 1990. Some of his other television credits included The Best Times, The Bronx Zoo, Eddie Dodd (6 episodes), Touched by an Angel, Nashville, and Sun Records.

Some of his film credits included Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985), Willy/Milly (aka Something Special) (1986), Biloxi Blues (1988), Big Man on Campus (1989), How I Got into College (1989), and White Palace (1990).

Mr. Parker was a talented and versatile actor. He later became a respected on-set acting coach for major productions. We thank him for work on television and in films. He will be greatly missed.

Television writer and producer Bob Rosenfarb worked on Who's the Boss?, Head of the Class, and Step by Step. He died on March 3. Mr. Rosenfarb was 74.

Rosenfarb's sitcom writing credits included Archie Bunker's Place, All Is Forgiven, The Ellen Burstyn Show, The Golden Girls, Head of the Class (19 episodes), Free Spirit (2 episodes), Who's the Boss? (11 episodes), Step by Step (16 episodes), and 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd.

He worked as a producer on the last two seasons of Who's the Boss? from 1990 to 1992. He was an executive producer on six seasons of Step by Step from 1992 to 1998. He worked as a consulting producer on 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd from 2001 to 2002.

Mr. Rosenfarb wrote over 50 episodes of sitcoms during his career. We thank him for work on television. He will be sorely missed.

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:15 PM

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Labels: Beef, Charles in Charge, Netflix, Obits, Will & Grace

Remembering James Van Der Beek of Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23; The Way Home Returns for Final Season in April on Hallmark

Actor James Van Der Beek, who played a fictionalized version of himself on Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, has died. He died on February 11 in Austin, Texas, after a multi-year battle with colorectal cancer. Mr. Van Der Beek was only 48.

Van Der Beek's first television credit was as Paulie, a boy whom Clarissa (Melissa Joan Hart) attracts as her punk alter-ego Jade, in a 1993 episode of the Nickelodeon sitcom Clarissa Explains It All. He appeared as Stephen Anderson in three episodes of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in 1995. He guest starred as Ethan in a 1996 episode of the ABC sitcom Aliens in the Family.

He starred as Dawson Leery in the 1998-2003 The WB teen drama Dawson's Creek. The series, which aired for six seasons, is about the lives of a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, beginning in high school and continuing into college. Dawson Leery is an introspective 15-year-old who aspires to be a filmmaker just like his hero Steven Spielberg. Throughout the series he has romantic relationships with his childhood friend Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) and his neighbor Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams).

Van Der Beek played a fictionalized version of himself on the 2012-2013 ABC sitcom Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (also known as Apartment 23). Krysten Ritter stars as Chloe, an irresponsible party girl who searches for roommates by asking for rent up front and then behaving outrageously until they leave. He is a close friend of Chloe's who is desperate to revitalize his dwindling acting career. The cast included Dreama Walker, Liza Lapira, Michael Blaiklock, Eric André, and Ray Ford.

He starred as Will Stokes in the short-lived 2014 CBS sitcom Friends with Better Lives. The series follows six people who all think their friends have better lives. Will Stokes is a gynecologist who returns to the bachelor life after learning of his wife's infidelity. The series also starred Majandra Delfino, Zoe Lister-Jones, Brooklyn Decker, Rick Donald, and Kevin Connolly.

Van Der Beek had a recurring role as Simon Tremblay, one of Robin Scherbatsky's (Cobie Smulders) former boyfriends, in three episodes of How I Met Your Mother in 2008 and 2013. In 2017, he guest starred as Bo Johnson in an episode of Modern Family. He appeared as Charlie in two episodes of the Prime Video comedy Overcompensating in 2025.

In 2026, he will posthumously appear as Dean Wilson in the Legally Blonde prequel television series Elle. The Prime Video comedy series explores the high school years of teenage Elle Woods (originally portrayed by Reese Witherspoon), set to be portrayed by newcomer Lexi Minetree. Elle is scheduled to premiere on July 1, 2026.

He had a recurring role as Dr. Joe Briggs, the new Chief of the ICU, in 11 episodes of the NBC medical drama Mercy in 2010. He starred as Senior Field Agent Elijah Mundo in the 2015-2016 CBS police procedural drama CSI: Cyber. In 2018, he starred as Matt Bromley, Stan's (Evan Peters) kingpin boss, in the first season of the FX drama Pose. He voiced Boris Hauntley in the 2017-2021 Disney Junior animated series Vampirina.

Some of his other television guest appearances included Criminal Minds (2 episodes), Ugly Betty, One Tree Hill (4 episodes), Medium, The Forgotten, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Franklin & Bash, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Walker. He hosted Saturday Night Live on January 16, 1999. He was a contestant in the 28th season of Dancing with the Stars in 2019.

He starred as Jonathon "Mox" Moxon in the 1999 coming-of-age sports comedy-drama film Varsity Blues. In 2002, he portrayed Sean Bateman (younger brother of American Psycho protagonist Patrick Bateman) in Roger Avary's film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's The Rules of Attraction. Some of his other film credits included Angus (1995), Texas Rangers (2001), Formosa Betrayed (2009), Labor Day (2013), and Bad Hair (2020).

Mr. Van Der Beek was a talented and versatile actor. He was funny and memorable playing a fictionalizd version of himself on Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. He had great comedic timing and was a scene stealer. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment that he brought us during his career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Dawson's Creek and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 message boards. View photos in our galleries

We also remember actor Charles C. Stevenson Jr., who played the bartender Smitty on Will & Grace. He died on January 19 of natural causes in Camarillo, California. Mr. Stevenson Jr. was 95.

Stevenson Jr. had a recurring role as Smitty in 12 episodes of the NBC sitcom Will & Grace from 2002 to 2006 and the revival from 2017 to 2020. Smitty is a bartender who regularly serves Karen (Megan Mullally) at different establishments.

Some of his other sitcom appearances included Cheers, Dream On, Designing Women, Parker Lewis Can't Lose, The Jackie Thomas Show (3 episodes), Empty Nest, Hope & Gloria, Women of the House, The John Larroquette Show, Sister, Sister (1996), NewsRadio, Family Matters, Ellen, 3rd Rock from the Sun, For Your Love, The Jamie Foxx Show, Malibu, CA (1999), Everybody Loves Raymond, Boy Meets World, Spin City, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, Suddenly Susan (2 episodes), The Drew Carey Show (2 episodes), Scrubs, Less Than Perfect, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Rodney, My Wife and Kids, According to Jim, Out of Practice, Curb Your Enthusiasm, My Name Is Earl, Samantha Who?, The Office, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, The Middle (2 episodes), Instant Mom, Dads, and Bad Judge.

Mr. Stevenson Jr. appeared in more than 100 television series and films over his decades-long career. He was cast as reverends or ministers on screen so often that it prompted him to describe his job as mainly "marrying or burying people". We thank him for his work on television and in films. He will be sorely missed.

Fans of Hallmark Channel's critically acclaimed, hit series The Way Home get to jump back into the pond for more twists and turns of the Landry family's journey continues. The fourth and final season premieres on the network Sunday, April 19 (9:00 p.m. ET/PT), streams next day on Hallmark+.

Series stars Andie MacDowell (Maid, Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove), Chyler Leigh (Supergirl, Grey's Anatomy), Evan Willams (Blonde, Versailles), Sadie Laflamme-Snow (The Apprentice) and Spencer MacPherson (School Spirits) all reprise their roles, as do Julia Tomasone (Ghostwriter), Jordan Doww (Ganymede) and Devin Cecchetto (The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker), who joined the cast last season. With the Landry family's time travels taking them to 1925 in season four comes the introduction of Bianca Melchior (Wicked, Schmigadoon!) as young Fern Landry as well as Hallmark fan favorites Gabriel Hogan (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) as Grayson Goodwin and Dan Jeannotte (All I Need for Christmas, Good Witch) as Port Haven's new Temperance Inspector Cliff Kane.

New journeys and revelations await the Landry family across generations. At the beginning of season four, Alice (Laflamme-Snow) is about to graduate high school, Kat (Leigh) and Elliot (Williams) dream of the next steps for their relationship while Del (MacDowell) realizes she will soon be an empty-nester again. But Del, Kat, Alice and Elliot should know by now that no matter how hard they try to focus on the future, the past is never gone. As more mysteries are unearthed, the Port Haven of the past and the Landry family of generations before might just contain the answers they seek.

Posted by Todd -- SitcomsOnline.com at 12:15 PM

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Labels: Dawson's Creek, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, Friends with Better Lives, Hallmark Channel, Obits, Will & Grace

SitcomsOnline Digest: Prime Video and Netflix Order New Animated Series; MeTV Toons Lineup Released

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! We're in the summer slowdown of news, but it isn't that slow this week, as we have news of some new adult animated series, the lineup for MeTV Toons, and more. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

• Prime Video has ordered Kevin, an animated series from Aubrey Plaza and Joe Wengert. (Amazon Studios)
• Netflix has ordered the series Undervale, which Dan Harmon will serve as executive producer for. (Variety)
• The MeTV Toons lineup is out, and it looks pretty good for fans of classic cartoons. (TVLine)
• Max has renewed Hacks for a fourth season. (Variety)
• NBC is rebranding their FAST streaming channel TNBC to NBC Comedy Vault starting today, and will include Will & Grace in the lineup. (Cord Cutters News)
• Dick Van Dyke may be 98 years old, but he isn't quite ready to fully retire just yet. (Deadline)
• Saturday Night Live is the top-rated comedy in the 18-49 demographic for the fifth year in a row. (Deadline)
• Fewer and fewer kids are watching Cartoon Network, so now Adult Swim (which once started at 10 PM) is now starting at 5 PM. (Cord Cutters News)
• Maybe physical media isn't completely dead, as Friends is coming to 4K UltraHD Blu-ray in September. (SitcomsOnline)

WEEKLY PLANNER (JUNE 1 - JUNE 7)

• Catchy Comedy is making room for a binge of The Danny Thomas Show this weekend.
• The 51st Daytime Emmy Awards airs Friday on CBS.
• BUZZR is now airing the Bob Barker episodes of The Price is Right, though they are the same ones that can be seen on the 24/7 streaming channel.

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

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Labels: Dick Van Dyke, Friends, Hacks, Kevin, Saturday Night Live, SitcomsOnline Digest, Undervale, Will & Grace

September Is Anniversary Month on Hulu; Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween Returns for Its 25th Anniversary

This September, Hulu's cup runneth over with classic, milestone anniversaries from some of TV's fan favorite series including full seasons of The X-Files, Felicity, Frasier, Will & Grace, One Tree Hill and more.

FX's Sons of Anarchy - 15th Anniversary (September 3, 2008)
Sons of Anarchy is an adrenalized drama with darkly comedic undertones about a notorious outlaw motorcycle club intent on protecting their sheltered small town against encroaching drug dealers, corporate developers and overzealous law officers. The club is equally determined to protect their ruthless and illegally thriving arms business. Charlie Hunnam stars as Jackson 'Jax' Teller, a man whose love for the brotherhood is tested by his growing apprehension for its lawlessness. Katey Sagal stars as Gemma Teller Morrow, Jax's force-of-nature mother, who along with Ron Perlman as Clarance 'Clay' Morrow, Jax's stepfather and MC president, have their own darker vision for the club. An FX Networks Original Series.

The X-Files - 30th Anniversary (September 10, 1993)
The truth is out there. FBI agents Scully and Mulder seek it in this sci-fi phenomenon about their quest to explain the seemingly unexplainable. Their strange cases include UFO sightings, alien encounters and abductions, and just about everything else among the paranormal.

Frasier - 30th Anniversary (September 16, 1993)
Comedy series set in Seattle, WA, which chronicles the lives of an eloquently pompous radio show host Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), his brazen radio producer Roz (Peri Gilpin), his competitive, high-brow brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce), their crotchety father Martin (John Mahoney) and his quirky live-in nurse Daphne (Jane Leeves).

Will & Grace - 25th Anniversary (September 21, 1998)
Will and Grace are best friends and roommates. With pals Karen and Jack, it's all fair game for this outspoken foursome, from sex and dating to cutting cultural commentary.

NYPD Blue - 30th Anniversary (September 21, 1993)
Committed to reflecting reality, this series portrays the mature themes of life in the police department of New York City with an unprecedented combination of real life, real language and real dramas. Whether it's in the squad room or the bedroom, NYPD Blue will offer viewers the kind of realism more often associated with theatrical films than with network television.

One Tree Hill - 20th Anniversary (September 23, 2003)
In a small North Carolina town, two estranged half brothers carry on very different lives. Basketball prodigy Nathan Scott has inherited the throne of high school popularity once held by his father, Dan, while Lucas Scott, also a talented player, stays an outsider. Spending nights shooting hoops on a riverfront court, Lucas remains the son Dan never acknowledged. Now, Lucas' and Nathan's paths intersect for the first time.

Felicity - 25th Anniversary (September 23, 2003)
A young fresh out of high school girl, follows her high school crush to college in New York City to be near him.

Also celebrating this year...

The O.C. - 20th Anniversary (August 5, 2003)
In The O.C., the lives of a group of friends and families are forever changed when an outsider arrives to their affluent community of Newport Beach in Orange County, California. From Josh Schwartz, the executive producer of Gossip Girl and Chuck, the series became a pop-culture phenomenon with its mix of heart, humor, drama and romance.

Living Single - 30th Anniversary (August 22, 1993)
Khadijah James (Queen Latifah) has it all - a great job running her own trendy magazine and part ownership of a fancy brownstone. Sharing the ownership of their home is her endearingly naïve cousin Synclaire (Kim Coles) who's also Khadijah's assistant at the magazine. Their third roommate is a sarcastic, selfish fortune hunter Regine (Kim Fields). And even though she doesn't live in the brownstone, Khadijah's best friend, Maxine (Erika Alexander) - a tough, aggressive divorce attorney always searching for Mr. Right - spends more time here than she does in her own home. With love, laughter and a little bit of luck, four women in New York City on the threshold of the rest of their lives hilariously celebrate Living Single.

That's So Raven - 20th Anniversary (January 17, 2003)
Raven Baxter is a typical teenager who just happens to be psychic. The only problem is that Raven's sneak peeks into the future can make her (and her best friends Eddie and Chelsea) jump to the wrong conclusions. Somehow, they manage to create more comedic problems than they solve!

What's New on Hulu in September 2023

It's spooky season, witches! Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween programming event returns for its 25th anniversary with a spellbinding lineup of Halloween favorites that will keep viewers enchanted all month long.

From Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, hair-raising entertainment awaits with a collection of Halloween films ranging from timeless classics to contemporary gems. Reconnect with beloved movies, including Hocus Pocus, Monsters, Inc., the 30th anniversary of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Cruella and The Addams Family, and cozy up to the Freeform premieres of Encanto, ZOMBIES and ZOMBIES 2.

Last year's 31 Nights of Halloween programming levitated Freeform to the No. 1 ranking among primetime cable networks in entertainment across Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Women 18-49 (excludes news and sports).

So, grab your broomsticks, sweep your schedules, light your black-flame candle, and gather around the couch for a month's worth of opportunity to binge all of these devilishly delightful films. It's Halloween time!

Find the full schedule at freeform.com .

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

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Labels: 31 Nights of Halloween, Frasier, Freeform, Hulu, Living Single, That's So Raven, Will & Grace

ABC Holiday Specials 2022 Schedule; Remembering Sitcom Star Leslie Jordan of Hearts Afire, Will & Grace and Call Me Kat

ABC announced its holiday programming in anticipation of the most wonderful time of the year, which includes a lineup filled with merriment, beloved classics and uplifting new specials. Two dazzling specials featuring some of the biggest names in music will bring melodies in December: A Very Backstreet Christmas celebrates the holidays with The Backstreet Boys, and Finding Harmony is an uplifting story featuring EGOT winner John Legend and David Brown, founder of the Columbus-based Harmony Project in Ohio. Disney will kick off its 100th anniversary celebration during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023.

More highlights include Disney's new stop-motion holiday special, Mickey Saves Christmas; the return of CMA Country Christmas from Nashville; holiday-themed episodes of ABC's favorite comedies and game shows; and Wonderful World of Disney movies that families can enjoy, including a special airing of Home Alone on Christmas Eve and the broadcast premiere of Frozen II. ABC News is also set to air Love Actually: 20 Years Later - A Diane Sawyer/ABC News Special and The Year: 2022. A magical new season of The Great Christmas Light Fight also returns, along with news of a season 11 pickup for 2023. Additional movies, musicals and specials round out the holiday season on ABC - see the full lineup.

Emmy-winning actor, comedian, writer and singer Leslie Jordan, who starred as Lonnie Garr on Hearts Afire, as Beverley Leslie on Will & Grace and as Phil on Call Me Kat, has died. He died on October 24 after his car hit the side of a building at Cahuenga Boulevard and Romaine Street in Hollywood. He was believed to have experienced a medical episode that led to the crash. Mr. Jordan was 67.

Jordan's first sitcom starring role was as meddlesome mailman Truman Fipps on the short-lived 1989 CBS sitcom The People Next Door. The series also starred Jeffrey Jones, Mary Gross, Chance Quinn, Jaclyn Bernstein and Christina Pickles.

He played Emmet Lefebvre on the short-lived 1991 Fox sitcom Top of the Heap. Emmet Lefebre is the diminutive security guard at the Rolling Hills Country Club outside Chicago. The Married with Children spin-off also starred Joseph Bologna, Matt LeBlanc, Joey Lauren Adams and Rita Moreno.

Jordan starred as Lonnie Garr in 27 episodes of the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire from 1993 to 1995. Lonnie Garr is a big-talking but insecure printer at The Daily Beacon paper. The cast included John Ritter, Markie Post, Billy Bob Thornton, Justin Burnette (1992-1994), J. Skylar Testa (1994-1995), Clark Duke, Wendie Jo Sperber (1992-1993), Beth Broderick (1992-1993), George Gaynes (1992-1993), Edward Asner (1992-1993) and Conchata Ferrell (1993-1995).

He had a recurring role as Beverley Leslie in 17 episodes of the NBC sitcom Will & Grace from 2001 to 2006 and 2017 to 2020. Beverley Leslie is Karen Walker's (Megan Mullally) pretentious, sexually ambiguous rival. Jordan won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2006. The cast included Eric McCormack, Debra Messing and Sean Hayes.

Jordan starred as Sidney "Sid" Delacroix on the 2018-2019 Fox sitcom The Cool Kids. The series follows three male residents of the Shady Meadows Retirement Community who are forced to adapt to the arrival of a new, rebellious female occupant. It also starred David Alan Grier, Martin Mull and Vicki Lawrence.

He was starring as Phil on the Fox sitcom Call Me Kat, which is currently in its third season. Phil is a newly single gay man who works as the head baker at Kat's (Mayim Bialik) café. The cast includes Swoosie Kurtz, Kyla Pratt, Julian Grant, Cheyenne Jackson and Christopher Rivas.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Night Court, Annie McGuire, Murphy Brown, Newhart, Sugar and Spice, American Dreamer, Babes, Perfect Strangers, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, Getting By, Nurses, Coach, Weird Science, Wings, Arli$$, Ellen, Dharma & Greg, Caroline in the City, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Reba, George Lopez, Shake It Up, The Game, The Neighbors, Raising Hope, The Exes, Baby Daddy, K.C. Undercover and Life in Pieces.

Jordan starred as Asst. Public Defender Clifford Sizemore on the NBC police drama Reasonable Doubts from 1992 to 1993. He played Lemar Samuels on the 1992-1993 CBS police drama Bodies of Evidence. He played Dr. Benjamin Harris in two episodes of Ally McBeal and five episodes of Boston Public. In 2005, he played Bernard Ferrion in five episodes of Boston Legal. He had a recurring role as Jesse Jo in five episodes of Hidden Palms in 2007. He played several characters in recurring roles in the American Horror Story franchise.

Some of his drama guest appearances included The Fall Guy, The Wizard, Midnight Caller, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Charlie Grace, Star Trek: Voyager, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Pretender, Pacific Blue, Buddy Faro, Martial Law, Any Day Now, Nash Bridges, Monk, Ugly Betty, Privileged, Desperate Housewives and Fantasy Island (2021).

Mr. Jordan was a beloved actor, comedian and Instagram sensation. He made everything he appeared in much better. He was always a big scene stealer. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment that he brought us. He will be greatly missed.

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

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

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, ABC, Call Me Kat, Fox, Hearts Afire, Home Economics, Obits, The Conners, The Goldbergs, Will & Grace

COZI TV January 2021 Schedule; FX Orders Reservation Dogs

With the new year about 2 weeks away, it's time to reveal the COZI TV January 2021 schedule that will begin on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021! There will not be much of a change on weekdays, but some time shifting. Murder, She Wrote gets an additional hour every weekday morning at 6am (replacing Lassie), so it will air 6-9am (the 7am hour is subject to preemption by local affiliates). The rest of the day is pretty much intact from 9am-3am with series such as The Munsters and Charlie's Angels. The overnight lineup from 3am-5am will now have an hour each of Roseanne and Frasier to close out the night, instead of The Nanny and Here's Lucy. This means Here's Lucy is off of the schedule. Moving on to weekends, Hart to Hart will be off the schedule as Little House on the Prairie will now air Saturdays from 6-9am and Bionic Woman will come in to replace it Saturday nights 2-4am. And finally, late fringe on Sunday nights will get a makeover with The Nanny replacing The Office from 11pm-12am, Will & Grace replacing The Office from 12-1am, more Will & Grace replacing The Nanny from 1-2am, and The Office moves to 2-4am replacing Will & Grace.

FX has ordered Reservation Dogs, a half-hour comedy series from Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi. Reservation Dogs follows four Native teenagers in rural Oklahoma who spend their days committing crime... and fighting it. The pilot, written by Harjo (11/8/16, Barking Water, Four Sheets to the Wind) and Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows, Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok), was directed by Harjo and shot in Okmulgee, Okla. The series will be executive produced by Harjo, Waititi and Garrett Basch (What We Do in the Shadows, The Night Of). Reservation Dogs is produced by FX Productions. D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Creeped Out), Devery Jacobs (American Gods), Paulina Alexis (Beans) and Lane Factor. The pilot episode also features guest stars Tamara Podemski, Zahn McClarnon, Macon Blair, Kirk Fox, Matty Cardarople, Dallas Goldtooth, Lil Mike and Funny Bone. FX has ordered 8 episodes for air sometime in 2021.

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

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Labels: Cozi TV, Frasier, FX, Hart to Hart, Here's Lucy, Little House on the Prairie, Murder She Wrote, Reservation Dogs, Roseanne, The Office, Will & Grace

COZI TV's Leslie Jordan After Dark Week; TBS Slates Celeb Game Show with Mayim Bialik

COZI TV has announced it will be airing a Leslie Jordan After Dark special for one week, starting on Monday, June 15 during the usual 1 a.m. EST Will & Grace timeslot. COZI TV will air two episodes each night that features loveable guest star, Leslie Jordan. He played the outrageous socialite Beverley Leslie during the entirety of the Will & Grace series and won an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Comedy series for the role. Jordan's character is best known for his on-screen rivalry with frenemy Karen Walker, played by Megan Mullally.

The hit comedy series Will & Grace features actors Debra Messing as Grace Adler, Megan Mullally as Karen Walker, Eric McCormack as Will Truman and Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland. The series follows best friends Will and Grace as they navigate living together, while they deal with their eccentric friends Karen and Jack. The show originally aired on NBC starting in 1998, with the season eight finale coming in 2006. NBC brought the series back in 2017 and in April 2020 it completed its four-decade run, comprising 11 seasons, 246 episodes and earning 18 Emmy Awards. In 2017, COZI TV became the exclusive digital broadcast network of the first eight seasons.

The following Leslie Jordan episodes of Will & Grace will air on COZI TV starting on Monday, June 15 at 1:00 a.m. EST each night:

Monday, June 15
1:00 a.m.: Season 3/Episode 15 - My Uncle the Car
1:30 a.m.: Season 4/Episode 16 - A Chorus Lie

Tuesday, June 16
1:00 a.m.: Season 5/Episode 17 - Fagmalion Part 3: Bye Bye Beardy
1:30 a.m.: Season 6/Episode 3 - Home Court Disadvantage

Wednesday, June 17
1:00 a.m.: Season 6/Episode 24 - Oh, No, You Di-in't
1:30 a.m.: Season 7/Episode 16 - Dance Cards & Greeting Cards

Thursday, June 18

1:00 a.m.: Season 7/Episode 23 - Friends with Benefits
1:30 a.m.: Season 8/Episode 7 - Birds of a Feather Boa

Friday, June 19
1:00 a.m.: Season 8/Episode 11 - Bathroom Humor
1:30 a.m.: Season 8/Episode 17 - Cowboys and Iranians

TBS has announced Celebrity Show-Off, a unique talent competition series hosted by Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory), premiering on Tuesday, June 23 at 10:00pm ET/PT. Based on the popular Korean show My Little Television, and from the executive producer of The Masked Singer, the 10-episode remote series will turn TV and social media on their heads by transforming the variety format into an innovative experiment. Each week celebrities will be given the opportunity to see who can produce the most compelling content from the comfort of their own homes. Talent confirmed for the showcase include: Diplo, Ja Rule, Action Bronson, Gabi Butler, Dwight Howard, Travis Kelce, Nene Leakes, Jason Mraz, Kevin Smith, Tori Spelling, Bella Thorne, Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah Willis and others from every area of entertainment, sports and beyond.

In every episode of this of-the-moment variety show, five celebrities from the worlds of sports, music, comedy, TV, and film will face-off by creating quirky self-shot content that premieres online. The celebrity’s goal is to attract and engage the most online viewers to keep their digital shows "on the air" – and avoid being the channel that "goes dark." Each week, the stars will come together in an inventive high-tech virtual studio where they will screen and react to each other's content and find out who will remain in the competition. And in an innovative "twist," the lowest-performing celebrity will be replaced with a brand new surprise celebrity newcomer, adding a new layer of thrills as everyone vies for the largest internet following. The longer a celebrity stays in the competition, the more money they raise for their charity, with the last star on air earning an extra donation for their cause. 

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

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Labels: Cozi TV, TBS, The Big Bang Theory, Will & Grace

Fri-Yay: End of Modern Family is End of an Era; COZI TV Celebrates Will & Grace Finale with Marathon

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

On Wednesday night, Modern Family officially ended its 11-season run on ABC, a legendary run for a sitcom that was in many ways a landmark. The show is arguably the biggest and most successful single-camera sitcom of all time - only The Office has a case against it, which I'd say may have overtaken it due to its boom in popularity after its end thanks to its prevalence of Netflix (Modern Family, frustratingly, is still not available to stream in full on any major streaming site, although it plays often in syndication). Still, in terms of success and longevity during their network runs, Modern Family was able to appeal to a wide audience longer than any other single-camera sitcom. In some ways, its success already feels like the end of a bygone era of network TV. Because of streaming and audience fragmentation, network sitcoms just don't pull in the weekly audiences and have the same cultural spark that Modern Family did in its prime.

I also think Modern Family will register as a legendary sitcom for a few other reasons. The show depicted a fairly progressive view of families, and its success arguably has led to many, many successors depicting families that are a bit different than the typical nuclear family on TV. In fact, in some ways Modern Family became a victim of its own influence, in some ways. Because representation on TV has increased so much, Modern Family's "modern" family doesn't look as progressive as it did in 2009, but it's easy to forget that in 2009, the family sitcom was all but dead, its only relics on mainstream culture being shows from past eras that depicted very traditional American families. Modern Family not only made family sitcoms "cool" again in some ways, but it made them okay with depicting many other kind of families. That might be the norm now, but it certainly wasn't 11 years ago when the show premiered. Another part of the reason that a lot of people might not remember just how groundbreaking Modern Family was at first is also because, in many ways, the show became somewhat complacent through-out its run, forgoing the interesting, genuinely funny and heartwarming writing of the first several seasons with more stock sitcom plots. This is, of course, not atypical for long-running sitcoms, and although I wish Modern Family had remained fresh and funny for a little longer than it did, it still doesn't take away what the show accomplished. And the show's finale, while not groundbreaking TV, was a nice reminder of how funny the show could be. It's a fairly low-key finale (there is some change: Cam gets an offer to move to Missouri to coach a college football team, Phil and Claire kick the kids out of house, and Manny leaves home), but for the most part is was an episode without many bells and whistles. Life goes on for the Dunphys, even if things have changed. Modern Family might not be going out as one of the best sitcoms on TV, but it goes out leaving a reminder of why, at one time, it was.

In celebration of the upcoming series finale of NBC's Will & Grace, COZI TV announced a special "Celebrate! The Will & Grace Marathon," showcasing all season one episodes on Sunday, April 19 starting at 11:00 a.m. EST (check local listings). Wrapping up the marathon will be the original series finale from 2006, which has not been seen in syndication because of the new re-booted series storyline. This laugh-filled trip down memory lane will spotlight where it all began for Will, Grace, Jack and Karen before the show completes its four-decade run, comprising 11 seasons, 246 episodes and earning 18 Emmy Awards. In 2017, COZI TV became the exclusive digital broadcast network of the first eight seasons. The series finale will air on Thursday, April 23 at 9 p.m. EST on NBC. The hit comedy series Will & Grace features actors Debra Messing as Grace Adler, Megan Mullally as Karen Walker, Eric McCormack as Will Truman and Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland. The series follows best friends Will and Grace as they navigate living together, while they deal with their eccentric friends Karen and Jack. The show originally aired on NBC starting in 1998, with the season eight finale coming in 2006.

The following episodes from Will & Grace season one (and 2006 series finale) will air on COZI TV on Sunday, April 19 starting at 11:00 a.m.:

11:00 a.m.: The Pilot (Love & Marriage)
11:30 a.m.: A New Lease on Life
12:00 p.m.: Head Case
12:30 p.m.: Between a Rock and Harlin's Place
1:00 p.m.: Boo! Humbug
1:30 p.m.: William, Tell
2:00 p.m.: Where There's a Will, There's No Way
2:30 p.m.: The Buying Game
3:00 p.m.: The Truth About Will & Dogs
3:30 p.m.: Big Vent
4:00 p.m.: Will on Ice
4:30 p.m.: My Fair Maid-y
5:00 p.m.: The Unsinkable Mommy Adler
5:30 p.m.: Big Brother Is Coming: Part I
6:00 p.m.: Big Brother Is Coming: Part II
6:30 p.m.: Yours, Mine or Ours
7:00 p.m.: Secrets & Lays
7:30 p.m.: Grace, Replaced
8:00 p.m.: Will Works Out
8:30 p.m.: Saving Grace
9:00 p.m.: Alley Cats
9:30 p.m.: Object of My Rejection
10:00 p.m.: The Finale

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

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Labels: ABC, Cozi TV, Fri-Yay, Modern Family, NBC, Will & Grace

Fri-Yay: Review of One Day at a Time Season 4 Premiere; NBC Sets Will & Grace Finale Night and Special I Love Lucy Episode

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

In the midst of a global pandemic, we can at least still turn to sitcoms for comfort. The fourth season of One Day at a Time premiered this week on Pop TV (and simulcast on TV Land and Logo), which was notable not just because it's a great show but because it was the first episode following the sitcom's transition from streaming service to weekly television series. The fourth season premiere, "Checking Boxes," was the first time the show had to adjust to regular TV rules such as time limits and commercial breaks. It was also the opportunity for the show to draw in a new audience, which is probably why "Checking Boxes" felt very much like the show resetting itself mildly for any new viewers who may not have caught the show on Netflix. The episode's opening scene has special guest Ray Romano taking census information for the Alvarezes, which serves as a quick way to get all of the information needed about the family for anyone who is just now checking the series out. The scene is also a little sillier and broader than the show typically is, incorporating two meta jokes (one being the opening line that takes a shot at Netflix - Alex bemoans "there's nothing good on Netflix anymore" - and another is a play on Everybody Loves Raymond). Both are funny jokes, especially the Netflix crack, but it's a little odd for One Day at a Time, a very classic-style sitcom that has never really tipped its toes in meta, self-referential humor before. Still, it's likely a way to draw some attention for the show, which I'm totally fine with.

The rest of "Checking Boxes" is very much in line with typical One Day at a Time, as Penelope has the census worker causing a spiral and fret about ending up alone. It will take some time to get used to the placement of commercial breaks, as well as the much, much shorter theme song. But for the most part, everything else from One Day at a Time transfers perfectly from streaming to over-the-air TV. The characters are still the same, the writing is sharp with a dose of heart, and the acting is top-notch, with chemistry flowing endlessly through the cast. "Checking Boxes" isn't necessarily top-tier One Day at a Time, but it's a warm, friendly introduction for anyone just jumping on board now, and it's a great welcome back for a show that at one time seemed to be good as gone. It made me incredibly excited that this show is back, and interested to see where it goes from here.

Will & Grace, one of NBC's most beloved comedy series of all time, is set to air its series finale on Thursday, April 23 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Leading into the series finale episode, NBC will air a Will & Grace retrospective special, hosted by Eric McCormack at 8:30 p.m. (following the season finale of Brooklyn Nine-Nine at a special time of 8:00 p.m.) In the special, McCormack will show clips of past and present episodes that highlight the series' most iconic and memorable moments. The retrospective will also feature emotionally-charged reactions from Will & Grace superfans and celebrities who will share stories about what the show has meant to them. The special will cover the litany of guest stars who have appeared as well as the groundbreaking and TV history-making moments the show has created over the years, including the first male-to-male kiss on network television. Elton John and Norman Lear will also make special appearances.

In the season finale episode, "It's Time," with the apartment packed up, Will (Eric McCormack) is determined to not reminisce about his life in the city or his ex, McCoy (guest star Matt Bomer). Grace (Debra Messing), on the verge of giving birth, keeps having false alarms of going into labor. At the behest of Stan, Karen (Megan Mullally) goes to the top of the Statue of Liberty to get closure with her ex-husband. Jack's (Sean Hayes) dream of taking a bow on a Broadway stage becomes a very real possibility. Minnie Driver and Brian Jordan Alvarez guest star. The special I Love Lucy-inspired episode, titled "We Love Lucy," will air Thursday, April 9 at 9 p.m. The episode features stylized recreations of the classic "Vitameatavegamin," "Chocolate Factory" and "Grape-Stomping" scenes featured in I Love Lucy, with Grace, Karen and Jack each imagine themselves as, with Will as the Ricky to all of them. Lucie Arnaz and Leslie Jordan guest star.

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

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Labels: Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fri-Yay, I Love Lucy, Logo, NBC, Netflix, One Day at a Time, POP, TV Land, Will & Grace

Special Guest Hosts on Late Late Show; A Very COZI Christmas Marathon on COZI TV

A stellar line-up of Hollywood talent will help to make the holiday season bright when they guest-host The Late Late Show with James Corden Monday, Dec. 9 - Wednesday, Dec. 18 (12:37-1:37AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Some of the most respected names in music, film and television will fill in for host James Corden on the Emmy Award-winning series while he is in production on the upcoming film The Prom. Those taking a turn behind Corden's desk include 15-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and returning Grammy host Alicia Keys; three-time Grammy Award winner Chance the Rapper; Emmy-nominated actor and musician Jeff Goldblum; scene-stealing actor, producer and writer Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community); Oscar-nominated actress Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly); and multi-platinum recording artist Harry Styles, who previously guest-hosted the show in December 2017. Each will take on hosting duties for one night. Specific airdates will be announced shortly.

COZI TV invites their loyal fans to light up the tree, throw on an ugly sweater and snuggle up in front of the television for a special marathon filled with many of television's most beloved Christmas moments from The Office, Will & Grace and more. The national multicast network's A Very COZI Christmas marathon will kick off Monday, December 9 at 8:00 p.m. ET and continue select days through Christmas Eve (check local listings).

A Very COZI Christmas will include the two-hour COZI TV premiere of the Little House: Bless All the Dear Children television movie and several Roseanne holiday episodes (before its January 2020 premiere!). Viewers can also watch episodes from Murder She Wrote, Six Million Dollar Man and Highway to Heaven. For full lineup information, please visit COZITV.com for your local schedule.

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

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Labels: CBS, Cozi TV, Late Late Show, Little House on the Prairie, Murder She Wrote, The Office, The Six Million Dollar Man, Will & Grace

NBC Midseason 2020 Schedule; The CW Announces Midseason 2020 Lineup

With more new shows launching in 2020 than the fall, NBC's winter and spring slate fuels a long-term strategy and features a completely reimagined Little Big Shots as well as three new dramas and one new multi-camera comedy. January kicks off with the return of last season's breakout hit Manifest. Its midseason launch enables fans of the serialized drama to enjoy an interrupted run of Season 2's 13-episodes. Midseason will see the debut of a trio of dramas, beginning on Friday nights in January with crime thriller Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector at 8 p.m., based on the best-selling novel The Bone Collector. The series follows former NYPD detective and forensic genius Lincoln Rhyme (Grimm's Russell Hornsby) and his new partner, Amelia Sachs (Arielle Kebbel, Midnight Texas) in a cat-and-mouse game as they join forces to bring down a notorious serial killer.

Also in January, after tuning in Tuesday, Jan. 7 for a special two-hour Season 3 premiere of Ellen's Game of Games at 8 p.m., audiences will get a sneak peek at the premiere episode of new high-concept drama Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. The series premiere will be available to stream on the NBC App and Hulu following its on-air premiere preview. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist stars Jane Levy (Suburgatory) as a whip-smart computer coder who, following an unusual event, starts to hear the innermost thoughts of the people around her through songs, including her boss played by Lauren Graham (Parenthood) and her mom, played by Mary Steenburgen (The Last Man on Earth). On Sunday, Feb. 16 at 9 p.m., Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist makes its regular timeslot debut (with a re-airing of the pilot at 8 p.m.). Beginning in March, it will air between the all-new Little Big Shots with Melissa McCarthy and fan-favorite Good Girls, starring Christina Hendricks, Mae Whitman and Retta, making Sundays nights appointment television with a lineup of true leading ladies.

Rounding out the new midseason dramas is Council of Dads, centered on three men who step in to guide their best friend's family through all of life's triumphs and challenges. The new series will follow This Is Us on Tuesdays for two weeks before taking over its 9 p.m. timeslot when the show concludes its fourth season in March. On the comedy front, January marks the conclusion of hit series The Good Place, which will go out with a forkin' good time on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 8:30 p.m. The series finale gives fans an extra-long 90-minute block dedicated to the award-winning show, which includes an extended episode as well as a post-show special featuring the full cast and hosted by Seth Meyers. The series finale makes way for NBC's new Thursday night comedy line-up, including the debut of new family comedy Indebted on Feb. 6 at 9:30 p.m. The multi-camera comedy, which will have the iconic final season of Will & Grace as its lead in, stars Adam Pally (Happy Endings) and Abby Elliot (SNL) as a young couple whose lives get turned upside down by their boomerang parents, played by Fran Drescher (The Nanny) and Steven Weber (Wings).

Feb. 6 also brings the celebratory return of Brooklyn Nine-Nine with a one-hour season premiere at 8 p.m., pre-empting Superstore before airing in its regularly scheduled 8:30 p.m. time slot beginning Feb. 13. NBC's unmatched lineup of alternative hits continue to help power midseason, led by last season's #1 most-watched alternative series, America's Got Talent: The Champions, as well the breakout competition series Ellen's Game of Games, both returning to their winning timeslots on Monday Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 8 p.m., respectively. Families can also add a new favorite to their lineup: Melissa McCarthy joins as the host of Little Big Shots with a totally reimagined season from executive producer Ellen DeGeneres. The teaming of two of the funniest minds in Hollywood will celebrate the unique kids who inspire us all. The Voice returns to Mondays on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. for Cycle 18, adding multi-platinum and award-winning recording artist, actor and songwriter Nick Jonas to the coaching lineup along with fan favorites Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Blake Shelton. The Voice lands on the schedule once a week in midseason, making way for hit show Ellen's Game of Games to keep its prime spot on the schedule for a few extra months before The Voice moves back to twice weekly for the always-anticipated live shows over the cycle's final three weeks in May.

The CW Network announced dates for the debut of its new series Katy Keene, plus the returns of DC's Legends of Tomorrow and Roswell, New Mexico. A spinoff of the hit Riverdale, The CW's new midseason series Katy Keene, starring Lucy Hale, Ashleigh Murray, Jonny Beauchamp and Julia Chan, debuts Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 8:00pm ET/PT, followed by an original episode of Legacies at 9:00pm ET/PT. DC's Legends of Tomorrow officially kicks-off its fifth season on Tuesday, January 21 at 9:00pm ET/PT, following an original episode of Arrow at 8:00pm ET/PT. Arrow will conclude its eighth season with a two-hour event on Tuesday, January 28, beginning with a finale preview at 8:00-9:00pm ET/PT followed by the Arrow series finale at 9:00pm ET/PT.

Supernatural will move to Monday nights, making its new time period premiere on March 16 at 8:00pm ET/PT, paired with the second season return of Roswell, New Mexico at 9:00pm ET/PT. The week before, on Monday March 9, All American (8:00pm ET/PT) and Black Lightning (9:00pm ET/PT) will have their back-to-back season finales. Supernatural will wrap its historic 15-season journey on Monday, May 18. The premieres of the second season of In the Dark and the final season of The 100 will be announced at a later date.

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

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Labels: Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Indebted, NBC, Roswell, Supernatual, Superstore, The CW, The Good Place, This is Us, Will & Grace