An Archive for TV news from August 2001

Kathleen Freeman, TV Actress Dies

[August 23, 2001] Versatile comedy actress Kathleen Freeman died today of lung cancer. Though her film career dates back to 1947's "Wild Harvest" she really hit her stride in the 1950s, spending more than 20 years playing gossips, teachers, housekeepers, and kvetches. On TV she Kathleen appeared in such shows as "Topper," "The Donna Reed Show," "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Hogan's Heroes," "The Lucy Show," "The Golden Girls," "Murphy Brown" and "Married ... With Children." She contributed hilarious cameos in films of the 1980s, appearing as an imperious nun in "The Blues Brothers" (1980), a foul-mouthed landlady in "Dragnet," and many others. Born in Chicago, Freeman made her stage debut at the age of 2 when she appeared with her parents in vaudeville. The family later moved to Los Angeles, and she graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Her comic turn as a rehearsal pianist in "Monty" not only nabbed the actress her first Tony Award nomination, it epitomized the wisecracking, no-nonsense, eternally perturbed persona she polished over a 50-year career in film, TV and onstage. As piano-player Jeanette Burmeister, she always brought down the house with her line, "If you want to be in show business, you should be spayed first." Kathleen gave her final performance in "The Full Monty" last Saturday.

"This will sound very corny and I'm sorry," Freeman said last year in an Associated Press interview, "but I have always had the sense I was put here to do this: I am somebody who is around to help the world laugh. I have always had that sense. Corny but absolutely true."

I will truly miss Kathleen Freeman.

Actress, Jane Greer (Twin Peaks) Dies

[August 24, 2001] Actress Jane Greer, a film noir star and former wife of bandleader Rudy Vallee, has died. She was 76. Greer, who as an icy brunette bested both Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas in 1947's noir classic "Out of the Past," died Friday of complications from cancer, said her son, Alex Lasker.

Bettejane Greer and her twin brother, Don, were born September 9, 1924, and grew up in Florida. Greer later said she was set on becoming an actress at 15, after awaking one morning to find the left side of her face was paralyzed. Months of facial exercises eventually cured her.

The native of Washington, D.C. and former beauty contestant and model caught the eye of Hollywood after appearing in Life magazine. She later signed with RKO, after studio head Howard Hughes became smitten with her.

While still a teen-ager, she married crooner Vallee in 1943. The two divorced in 1945.

Greer was best known for her role as the seductive Kathie Moffat in "Out of the Past," which cemented her reputation as a noir vixen.

In 1984, Greer appeared in "Against All Odds," a remake of "Out of the Past." In it, she played the mother of her original character. She later acted in David Lynch's TV series "Twin Peaks." She also participated in an Out of the Past parody on TV's "Saturday Night Live" with her original costar Robert Mitchum.

Greer is survived by her twin brother; sons Alex, Lawrence and Steve; and two grandchildren. Her common-law husband, acting coach Frank London, died in January. A private memorial service will be held September 9 on what would have been Greer's 77th birthday.

Special Stuff on TV Land From September 2001

TV Land in Labor:

On Monday, September 3rd (Labor Day), from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m., TV Land will bring you the ultimate in "labor" intensity, with episodes featuring three of television's most memorable "labor" episodes:
8:00 Get Smart #119
8:30 Get Smart #120
9:00 The Jeffersons #126
9:30 The Jeffersons #127
10:00 All in the Family #124
10:30 All in the Family #125

Everyone Loves TV Land:

September 7th, from 9 p.m. until midnight, six of your all-time favorites:
9:00 The Mary Tyler Moore Show #6
9:30 Leave It To Beaver #149
10:00 The Andy Griffith Show #79
10:30 The Dick Van Dyke Show #106
11:00 All in the Family #20
11:30 The Odd Couple #58

It All Connects" Week:

"It All Connects" Week
September 10th to 14th on TVLand:
Monday September 10th:
8:00PM Dick Van Dyke Show (Mary Tyler Moore)
8:30PM Mary Tyler Moore Show (Mary to Guest star John Ritter)
9:00PM Three's Company (John Ritter to Don Knotts)
9:30PM Andy Griffith (Don Knotts!)

Big Brother to Return Next Year

[August 23, 2001] Now that Big Brother 2's good ratings have erased the memory of last year's, CBS is "seriously considering" a third version next year, according to the New York Post.

"It's very possible," CBS president and CEO Les Moonves told the syndicated TV show Access Hollywood in an interview airing Friday. CBS is prepared to carry on the franchise now that this year's edition is drawing solid ratings, despite - or because of - several controversies. One housemate was expelled after holding a knife to a female roommate's neck, and other participants were discovered to have had criminal records.

"It's obviously been a very controversial show," Moonves said. "We've always talked about Big Brother being a summer experiment." This year's season finale airs Sept. 20.

Don't forget, for (almost) daily updates and other Big Brother Information, CLICK HERE

Take a TV Road Trip

[August 22, 2001] John Ritter ("Three's Company") has signed to host Travel Channel's "TV ROAD TRIP," a two-hour special scheduled to premiere in April 2002. In an unforgettable trip down television's memory lane, Ritter will join stars from some of America's most-loved television series as they visit the cities and sites where their shows were filmed. From Archie Bunker's home in Queens, NY, to the Cartwright's Ponderosa Ranch, from the Ewing's Southfork estate in Dallas, TX, to Mount Airy, NC, the real-life Mayberry from "The Andy Griffith Show," TV ROAD TRIP is the TV fan's ultimate vacation. Tour guides include: Ben Jones, Catherine Bach and James Best ("The Dukes of Hazzard"), Christopher Knight ("The Brady Bunch"), Ken Kercheval ("Dallas"), George Lindsey ("The Andy Griffith Show"), Mary McDonough ("The Waltons"), Noel Neill ("The Adventures of Superman"), Joyce Randolph ("The Honeymooners"), and Adam West ("Batman").

Also interviewed are Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr., who recount memories of their parents' (Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz of "I Love Lucy") love affair and talk about Lucy's love for her hometown of Jamestown, NY; and Kenny Kramer, the real life Kramer, who takes viewers on a tour of "Seinfeld" sites in New York City, including the real Tom's Restaurant and the original "Soup Nazi" cafe.

Holy Reruns! Batman is Coming to TV Land

[August 21, 2001] MS-NBC interviewed Adam West of "Batman" today in New York City. The interview was to promote the release of the new "Batman: The Movie" DVD now available from Morty's Mall. Adam West announced that "Batman" would begin airing on TV Land, but when? Conflicting information from West, could be this fall, could be April. Stay tuned to this Bat-Channel... The series was a ratings hit and ran from January 1966 to 1968. To read the whole store and see video of the interview CLICK HERE. To order the DVD for just $14.98 (a savings of 25%), CLICK HERE.

Family Ties Starts on Sunday September 23rd

[August 20, 2001] "Family Ties" joins the lineup with a 40 episode/5 day marathon starting Sunday September 23rd on Nick at Nite. "Family Ties" ran on NBC from 1982 thru 1989, and can be seen in syndication on WTBS until the move to Nick. Before "Family Ties," Michael J. Fox was in the short-lived series, "Leo and Me" and had been in two failed pilots. Until "Ties" came along, he was selling his sectional sofa, a section at a time and waiting tables to pay his rent.

Cheers on Tap for Fall

[August 20, 2001] “Cheers” will debut on Nick at Nite with a week-long marathon celebration beginning October 14th. The Marathon will include the first episode, and the hour long last episode. I know I've been critical of Nick at Nite and TV Land for cutting scenes from our TV classics, let me say something positive. I really like the promos they've been running. Great job, Nick at Nite!

Creator of "Rhoda" & Voice of Garfield dies at 64

Lorenzo Music, Emmy-winning writer and actor who played the oft drunk and oft heard but never seen doorman "Carlton" on the popular 1970s sitcom "Rhoda," died of bone cancer on Saturday, August 4, 2001. Music was a co-creator and a writer for "Rhoda," which was a spinoff of the original "Mary Tyler Moore Show." Music was heard in numerous episodes, usually with the preface, "This is Carlton, your doorman." Music was known for other vocal work, including the voice of Garfield the Cat in more than a dozen prime-time animated specials. Music was also the voice of the crash-test dummies on the buckle-your-seatbelt ad campaign. The Brooklyn-born Music won an Emmy in 1969 as a writer for "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour." After joining the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" as a junior writer, he teamed with David Davis to co-create and co-produce "The Bob Newhart Show." Music and his wife, Henrietta also wrote the theme music for the "Bob Newhart Show." Music is survived by his wife and four children. I suppose you would have preferred a better picture, Lorenzo never allowed his picture to be taken unless partially obscured.

Observation:

Have you seen the new Sprint PCS commercial with Charo?

Consider this, she'll be 60 next year.

Partridge Family:

Danny Bonaduce will serve as one of four hosts of "The Other Half," the testosterone answer to ABC's "The View" Coming this fall.

Fun Fact:

Carroll O'Connor tested for the role of The Skipper on "Gilligan's Island"

Christopher Hewett, 'Mr. Belvedere,' dies at 80

Christopher Hewett, the British-born stage actor best remembered as television's English butler, "Mr. Belvedere," died Friday, August 3. He was 80. Christopher, began his career at age 7 on a stage in Ireland. His nephew, Paul Hewett, said that he had been in declining health in recent months.

Although the stage was his first love, Hewett likely gained his greatest fame playing the endearing title role on television's "Mr. Belvedere" from 1985 to 1990.

As Lynn Belvedere, he was a one-time butler for England's royal family who moved to the United States and wound up working for a dysfunctional family.

Hewett also appeared in several movies, including "Pool of London" and "The Lavender Hill Mob," both in 1951, as well as the Mel Brooks film "The Producers," in 1968.

Alice is Not The Weakest Link

It was recently announced that the cast of "The Brady Bunch" reunited for the first time since the 1981 TV movie "The Brady Girls Get Married" for a special celebrity edition of "The Weakest Link." The episode has been taped and will air sometime in the fall and will feature all six Brady kids — Barry Williams (Greg), Christopher Knight (Peter), Mike Lookinland (Bobby), Maureen McCormick (Marcia), Eve Plumb (Jan) and Susan Olsen (Cindy) — will compete, according to Reuters News Service story. The young Bradys will be joined by their TV mom, Florence Henderson (Carol), and even Robbie Rist (cousin Oliver). But where's Alice? Ann B. Davis, 75, was invited, but declined. She officially retired in 1974, but has made many return guest appearances since. Ann now lives near San Antonio, Texas, where she is involved in prayer, bible study, and charity work.

Hallmark Channel Announces Bewitched Schedule and More

As I reported in July, Hallmark Media has acquired The Odyssey Channel. And I was quite pleased to announce that they would be running "Bewitched," but what episodes? On Monday, August 6th, they'll start airing the color episodes, which starts with episode 75, "Nobody's Perfect". So far it looks like they'll be shown in order. Ditto for their presentation of "I Dream of Jeannie," they'll be staring with "Happy Anniversary", Episode #31. Now we'll have to see how much they edit out. I'd like to see more classic TV. You can tell them what you want by clicking here. I have temporary weekday schedule if you like to check the line-up, click here.

CBS plans tributes to two of its leading ladies

CBS plans tributes to two of its leading ladies: A special marking the 50th anniversary of I Love Lucy and a reunion/highlight show celebrating The Carol Burnett Show. The 50th Anniversary of Lucy is October 15th, and also marks the date of it's jump from Nick at Nite to TV Land .

Disney Buys Fox Family Channel

The Walt Disney Co. on Monday, July 23rd clinched a $3 billion cash deal to buy the Fox Family cable television channels from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Ltd. and Saban Entertainment. Disney will gain a library of over 6,500 episodes of animated and live-action, children's adventures programs such as Saban's "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" to re-deploy across Disney's own cable TV assets like Toon Disney. ABC Family will continue to air programs from the Christian Broadcast Network, headed by Pat Robertson, the evangelist who controlled the Family Channel before selling it to Fox. The deal does not include the Fox Kids domestic programming block, currently aired on the Fox broadcast network. For Murdoch and News, the deal gives them much-needed cash in their attempt to acquire satellite TV provider Hughes. That deal, which the two have been negotiating for around a year, would give News Corp. Ltd. a U.S. satellite TV operation to complete a global satellite TV network.