SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

More Stars for Netflix's No Good Deed; ID Premiering Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV; Remembering Carl Weathers

Netflix announced the additions of five recurring cast members joining No Good Deed, creator and executive producer Liz Feldman's upcoming dark comedy series. Matt Rogers (Fire Island, I Love That for You), Anna Maria Horsford (Amen, B Positive, The Wayans Bros.), Kate Moennig (The L Word, Ray Donovan), Linda Lavin (Being the Ricardos, Naked Singularity, Alice), and Wyatt Aubrey. No Good Deed is a half hour, dark comedy that follows three very different families vying to buy the very same 1920s Spanish style villa that they think will solve all their problems. But as the sellers have already discovered, sometimes the home of your dreams can be a total nightmare. Previously announced cast includes series regulars Lisa Kudrow, Ray Romano, Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson, Teyonah Parris, O-T Fagbenle, Abbi Jacobson, Poppy Liu and Dennis Leary.

Investigation Discovery, the leading true crime network, announced Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, a four-part docuseries that uncovers the toxic and dangerous culture behind some of the most iconic children's shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV pulls back the curtain on an empire, built by creator Dan Schneider, that had an undeniable grip on popular culture. Series such as All That and The Amanda Show, among others, were obsessively consumed by children across the country and defined comedy for a generation. But behind the upbeat onscreen presence on these shows with questionable jokes and over-the-top sketches, Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV reveals an insidious environment rife with allegations of abuse, sexism, racism, and inappropriate dynamics with its underage stars and crew. Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV will premiere across two nights on ID from 9PM-11PM ET/PT on Sunday, March 17 and Monday, March 18.

Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV features unprecedented access to key cast members, writers, and crew spanning Schneider's popular series at Nickelodeon. Former All That cast members Giovonnie Samuels, Kyle Sullivan, Bryan Hearne and Katrina Johnson and director Virgil Fabian pull back the curtain on the culture on set of the beloved teen sketch series. Writers Jenny Kilgen and Christy Stratton expose allegations of a toxic and sexist environment in The Amanda Show writer's room. Alexa Nikolas offers insight into being a part of Zoey 101. Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV will feature additional cast and crew from iCarly, Sam & Cat, Victorious, and other iconic series such as Marc Summers from the popular game show Double Dare. Poignantly, the series will also offer emotional testimony from parents of cast members who attempted to advocate for their children on these sets.

In four parts, the series will shine a spotlight on these emotional accounts, chronicling a pattern of gross, abusive, and manipulative behavior that unfolded across decades, as well as exclusive stories about child predators on set. These interviews, woven with archival footage (some of which has never been broadcast), scenes from the shows and social media commentary, will recontextualize many moments within these series that may have seemed silly or off when first aired but now carry a much darker undertone, offering a powerful reframing of these beloved shows.

Actor, director and football player Carl Weathers, who portrayed a fictionalized version of himself in Arrested Development and who starred as Coach Trainor in Brothers, has died. He died of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at his home in Los Angeles on February 2. Mr. Weathers was 76.

Weathers made his television acting debut as Calvin Brooks in the Good Times episode titled "The Nude", which aired on January 14, 1975. A woman, known in the projects as the "Wiggler" (Betty Bridges, the mother of Todd Bridges), asks J.J. (Jimmie Walker) to paint a nude portrait of her as a birthday gift for her husband Calvin. Calvin suspects his wife of cheating on him with J.J.

Some of his other early television guest appearances included Kung Fu (1975), S.W.A.T. (1975), The Six Million Dollar Man, Cannon, Switch, Bronk, McCloud, Most Wanted, Starsky & Hutch, Barnaby Jones, Serpico, Delvecchio, The Streets of San Francisco and Tales of the Unexpected.

Weathers starred as Fortune Dane in the short-lived 1986 ABC police drama Fortune Dane. He had a recurring role as Col. Brewster in nine episodes of the third season (1989-1990) of the CBS military drama Tour of Duty. He portrayed Sgt. Adam Beaudreaux in the 1991-1993 syndicated action crime drama Street Justice. He starred as Police Chief Hampton Forbes Police Chief Hampton Forbes in the sixth and seventh seasons (1993-1995) of In the Heat of the Night.

He portayed a fictionalized version of himself in four episodes of the Fox sitcom Arrested Development from 2004 through 2013. He serves as Tobias Fünke's (David Cross) acting coach.

He starred as Coach Trainor in the short-lived 2009 Fox sitcom Brothers. The series stars former NFL star Michael Strahan and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell as estranged brothers who are pressured to get along by their parents (played by Carl Weathers and C. C. H. Pounder) after Strahan's character moves back to his home town of Houston.

Weathers had a recurring role as Bolton "Beau" Miller in the first season of the science fiction drama Colony in 2016. He starred as State's Attorney Mark Jefferies in the 2017 NBC legal drama Chicago Justice. Some of his other television guest appearances included The Shield (2 episodes), Psych, Chicago Fire (2 episodes), Chicago P.D. (4 episodes) and Magnum, P.I. (2018).

He had a recurring role as Greef Karga in the Star Wars series The Mandalorian from 2019 through 2023. In 2021, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

Weathers directed two episodes of The Mandalorian. Some of his other directing credits included Renegade, Silk Stalkings (8 episodes), Pensacola: Wings of Gold (2 episodes), Strong Medicine, 18 Wheels of Jusice (3 episodes), Sheena (5 episodes), For the People, Hawaii Five-0 (2019), The Last O.G. (2 episodes), Law & Order, FBI and Chicago Med (2 episodes).

His film roles included boxer Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky films (1976–1985), Colonel Al Dillon in Predator (1987), Sgt. Jericho "Action" Jackson in Action Jackson (1988), Derick "Chubbs" Peterson in Happy Gilmore (1996), and Combat Carl in the Toy Story franchise.

Mr. Weathers was a talented and versatile actor. He was able to show his comedic side on Arrested Development and Brothers. We thank him for the laughs and entertainment he brought us on television and in films. He will be greatly missed.

We also remember actress, singer, and dancer Chita Rivera. She played Connie Richardson in The New Dick Van Dyke Show. She died in New York following a brief illness on January 30. Ms. Rivera was 91.

Rivera appeared as Connie Richardson in seven episodes of the third season (1973-1974) of the CBS sitcom The New Dick Van Dyke Show. Connie and Richard Richardson (Richard Dawson) are the neighbors of Dick (Dick Van Dyke) and Jenny Preston (Hope Lange). The cast in the third season included Dick Van Patten, Barry Gordon, Henry Darrow and Barbara Rush.

She guest starred as Lenore Portillo in the Will & Grace episode titled "Dance Cards and Greeting Cards", which aired on February 10, 2005. Lenore Portillo and Lucille (Michele Lee) are the lesbians who ended up dancing with Will and Jack.

Rivera had a recurring role as Melody Rambo in the ABC soap opera One Life to Live in 1982. Some of her other television guest appearances included The Maurice Chevalier Show, The Gary Moore Show, The Judy Garland Show, The Outer Limits (1964), The Carol Burnett Show and Johnny and the Sprites. In 2011, she guest starred as Gladys Franklin in the comedy web series Submissions Only. She provided the voice of The Witch for two episodes of Dora the Explorer in 2004 and 2019.

After making her Broadway debut as a dancer in Guys and Dolls (1950), she went on to originate roles in Broadway musicals such as Anita in West Side Story (1957), Velma Kelly in Chicago (1975), and the title role in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993). She was a ten-time Tony Award nominee, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical twice for her roles in The Rink (1984) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993).

Ms. Rivera was a Broadway legend. She received numerous accolades including two Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, and a Drama League Award. She won the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018. We thank her for her work on television and on Broadway. She will be deelpy missed.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: All That, Brothers, Good Times, iCarly, In the Heat of the Night, Investigation Discovery, Netflix, Nickelodeon, No Good Deed, Obits, Sam and Cat, Victorious, Zoey 101

More Details on Zoey 102; New Lifetime Movie Series Coming July 8

Paramount+ and Nickelodeon announced additional casting for Zoey 102, the all-new, full-length original movie based on characters from the hit live-action Nickelodeon series Zoey 101 as they reunite for a wedding. Joining the previously announced returning cast members are Dean Geyer (Glee), Owen Thiele (Theater Camp) and Thomas Lennon (Reno 911). First look images were also released for Zoey 102, which will premiere later this summer exclusively on Paramount+.

Over a decade after the iconic series ended, Zoey Brooks is still trying to figure out life and love, this time in her 20s. The Pacific Coast Academy (PCA) gang returns to Malibu for an over-the-top wedding turned high school reunion for the books. Jamie Lynn Spears returns as Zoey Brooks, who graduated alongside the first female class ever to be allowed into Pacific Coast Academy. Erin Sanders returns as Zoey’s best friend, Quinn Pensky. Sean Flynn returns as Zoey’s on again, off again love interest, Chase Matthews. Also returning are Matthew Underwood, as Logan Reese; Christopher Massey, as Michael Barret; Abby Wilde, as Stacey Dillsen; and Jack Salvatore, as Mark Del Figgalo. The wedding reunion includes new cast members: Thomas Lennon, as Zoey’s boss Kelly Kevyn; Owen Thiele as Zoey’s friend Archer March; and Dean Geyer, as charismatic actor Todd.

Lifetime reenters the V.C.-Verse with the new limited series V.C. Andrews' Dawn - inspired by the bestselling author's Dawn Cutler series of novels - setting the premiere for Saturday, July 8 at 8/7c with new movies every Saturday evening through July 29. Lifetime is the exclusive television home for movies and series from the library of V.C. Andrews, one of the most popular authors of all time. The network's most recent limited V.C. series, Flowers in the Attic: The Origin, was seen by 10.6 million total viewers and was ad-supported cable's #1 new scripted series in calendar year 2022.

Each part of the new four-chapter limited series focuses on one of Andrews' Dawn Cutler novels, including Dawn, Secrets of the Morning, Twilight's Child, and Midnight Whispers, and delves into the dark and twisted histories of the Cutler, Booth and Longchamp families. Brec Bassinger (Stargirl) takes on the title role of Dawn Longchamp and will be joined by Emmy winner Donna Mills (Nope) as Lillian Cutler. Also set to star in the new movie event are Joey McIntyre (New Kids on the Block) as Michael Sutton; Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives) as Ormand Longchamp; Khobe Clarke (Yellowjackets) as Jimmy Longchamp; and Emmy nominee Fran Drescher as Agnes Morris. Additional cast includes Jason Cermak as Dawn's father Randolph Cutler; Miranda Frigon as Dawn's mother, Laura Jean Cutler; Megan Best as Dawn's teenage daughter Christie; as well as Elyse Maloway (The Magicians) and Dane Schioler (Prom Pact) as Dawn's siblings Clara Jean and Philip Cutler. In addition, Corey Woods plays Dawn's boarding school roommate, Tricia; and Helena Marie plays Sally Longchamp, Dawn's adoptive mother.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: Lifetime, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, Zoey 101

Zoey 101 Movie Zoey 102 Coming Soon to Paramount+; Starz Picks Up Minx

Nickelodeon announced the start of production on Paramount+'s Zoey 102 (working title), a full-length original movie based on characters from the hit live-action Nickelodeon comedy series Zoey 101. The movie follows Pacific Coast Academy alumni as they reunite for a wedding in the present day. Production is underway in North Carolina, with a premiere slated for later this year exclusively on Paramount+. The movie will star Jamie Lynn Spears (Zoey Brooks), Erin Sanders (Quinn Pensky), Sean Flynn (Chase Matthews), Matthew Underwood (Logan Reese), Christopher Massey (Michael Barret), Abby Wilde (Stacey Dillsen) and Jack Salvatore (Mark Del Figgalo).

Zoey 102 (working title) is directed by Nancy Hower (Saturdays, So Help Me Todd, QuickDraw) and Monica Sherer & Madeline Whitby (Betch, Drama Club, All That) wrote the script. Jamie Lynn Spears serves as executive producer along with Alexis Fisher, Hower and Sherer & Whitby. The YA (young adult) movie Zoey 102 (working title) is based on characters from the iconic series Zoey 101, which debuted on Nickelodeon in January 2005, and quickly emerged as one of the top live-action kids' series on all of television. The series follows Zoey Brooks as she enrolls in Pacific Coast Academy, a school that previously only allowed boys to attend. Throughout the series, Zoey and her friends navigate life as teenagers in a boarding school. The original Nickelodeon series was created by Dan Schneider. Zoey 102 (working title) joins Paramount+'s growing lineup of YA content, including the service's hit iCarly series revival, which was renewed for a third season, as well as the recently released film Honor Society, starring Angourie Rice (Spider-Man: No Way Home, Mare of Easttown) and Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things). Both projects were also produced by Paramount’s Nickelodeon and Awesomeness Live-Action Studios.

STARZ announced it has picked up season one and two of the critically acclaimed comedy series Minx (formerly aired on HBO Max). STARZ will exclusively premiere the second season. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, Minx centers around Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), an earnest young feminist who joins forces with a low-rent publisher (Jake Johnson) to create the first erotic magazine for women. The cast also includes Idara Victor, Jessica Lowe, Lennon Parham, Michael Angarano and Oscar Montoya. As previously announced, Elizabeth Perkins joined season two as recurring character Constance. More details, including a premiere date, to come.

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

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Labels: HBO Max, Minx, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, Starz, Zoey 101