The Brady's Alice, Jefferson's Florence, and Benson

[January 28, 2004] 

The comical TV ad shows the hardworking domestics enjoying some much-needed down time. Also included are Marla Gibbs -- Florence of "The Jeffersons," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"'s Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell) and Shelly Morrison  (Rosario of "Will & Grace.")

You can find out what these the pop culture icons have been up to all these years on tonight's "Enertainment Tonight."  "I would have liked someone as smart as Benson," says Guillaume. "But not with that smart mouth. I don't know if I could handle that!"

But Davis, 76, who now resides in San Antonio, TX, doesn't think it would be such a bad thing to have her "Brady Bunch" character around. "I wished I had an Alice. Everybody I've ever met wished they had an Alice -- including Alice!"

Although all but Morrison have seen their series finales, the stars say that due to reruns, they feel their shows haven't really ended. "We have a whole new audience now," says Gibbs. "So we have children looking at us like we're new!"

"Geoffrey continues to be with me," says Marcell, who returned to London after his show was cancelled. "Because wherever I go in the world, people remember that character. He was a favorite, so I can never escape him -- thank god!"

For more on TV's favorite helping hands, watch tonight's ET!  See highlights [2½ minutes]

Jack Paar, 85, Former 'Tonight' Show Host, Dies

[January 27, 2004]

Born in 1918 in Canton, Ohio, Paar got his start in local radio. After a stint in the army entertaining troops with his parodies of WWII brass, Paar scored a summer-replacement gig in 1947 on the Jack Benny radio show.

For the next 10 years, he bounced between hosting duties on quiz and variety shows like "Up to Paar" and "The Morning Show" and the occasional stint as an actor. In 1951, Paar had a bit part as the boyfriend of young ingénue Marilyn Monroe in "Love Nest."

Paar had taken over the flagging NBC late-night slot in July 1957; Steve Allen had departed some months earlier. Allen's show was a variety show; Paar's a talk show. Paar helped pioneer the current format of late-night shows, inspiring the likes of Johnny Carson, David Letterman and Jay Leno and spawning countless imitators. The Paar-fronted show soon became so wildly popular that its name was changed to "The Jack Paar Tonight Show"

Mr. Paar's couch also became a launching pad for dozens of unknowns who would get national exposure on his show, among them Bill Cosby, Mike Nichols and Elaine May, Carol Burnett, Woody Allen, the Smothers Brothers and Godfrey Cambridge. "Everyone thinks Ed Sullivan discovered the Beatles," Mr. Paar once complained. "That's not true. I had them on before he did. I did it because I thought they were funny, not because I liked the music. I'm a Muzak kind of guy — my home's like living in an elevator." 

Johnny Carson took over "The Tonight Show'' in 1962. Paar had a prime-time talk show for three more seasons, then retired from television in 1965.  Paar wrote the memoir "I Kid You Not."

More Classic TV on DVD

Pre-order the five disc Jack Benny Collection for $25.48

Pre-order the five disc George Burns and Gracie Allen Collection

[January 25, 2004] The line-up on DVD is getting so much better than cable.  Some new titles have been announced since my last update.  Notable are some bargain titles from Koch Vision Entertainment.  On February 24th they will release five disc collections of The Jack Benny Show Collection and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Collection DVD.  These two titles are in addition to the previously announced Milton Berle Buick Hour Collection.  You should be forewarned that Koch doesn't have a very good track record with quality, and there are no episode titles yet in the product description, but you get 5 discs for $25.48.    Previously, Diamond Entertainment released "The Jack Benny Show" Collector's Edition, that includes 15 episodes on two discs, for under $10! (The product description omits the titles, which includes: - The Hillbilly Show - Burglars - Fred Allen Wants Jack’s Job - Humphrey Bogart - Liberace - Goldie, Fields and Glide - How Jack Met Mary - New Year's Eve Show: New Talent Contest - Jack's Hong Kong Suit - The Lunch Counter Murderers - Christmas Shopping - Jack Casts for His Life Story - Don Wilson's 27th Anniversary - 4 O'Clock in the Morning - Jack Rents His House  

Diamond also has a Burns and Allen DVD set with 11 episodes on 2 discs.  The Burns and Allen Collector's Edition includes: - Property Tax Assessor - Income Tax Man - Teenage Girl Spends the Weekend - Space Patrol Kids Visit - Free Trip to Hawaii - Gracie's Checking Account - Harry Morton's Private Secretary - The Beverly Hills Uplift - The Kleebob Card Game / First Episode - Divorce Attorney - Surprise Birthday Party .

[Note: Thanks to Brent Seguine for providing episode information and bringing these collections to my attention.]

	The complete H.R. Pufnstuf Series on Three Discs for just $27.97

H.R. Pufnstuf fans don't have to wait for TV Land to start airing it, Rhino (who does pretty good stuff) is releasing the entire series February 10th in a three disc set, priced at just $27.97.  The collection will include more than two hours of bonus features, with rare and never-before-seen footage including brand-new commentary with Sid & Marty Krofft, as well as exclusive interviews with Billie Hayes (Witchiepoo), Jack Wild (Jimmy) and TV historian Hal EricksonThis joins already released Kroft titles that include: Sigmund & The Sea Monsters Vol. 01,  Land of the Lost,  The World of Sid & Marty Krofft,   Bugaloos: Volume 1,  Lidsville, Vol. 1.

A&E isn't wasting any time releasing their special series "Barbarians" on DVD,  the two disc set will be out February 24th. A&E is also releasing the second season of "The New Avengers" on the 24th, sorry no pre-orders.  Fans of the classic B/W "Avengers" will be happy to know there are plans to release those episodes too, no date yet.

South Park Branches Out From Comedy Central

[January 25, 2004]

The deal is reported to be worth about $100 Million, making "South Park" the second biggest-grossing off-cable series ever, behind only HBO's "Sex & the City," which landed deals last September with TBS in basic cable and the Tribune Stations in syndication.

Some episodes will be withheld from the syndication package because they're just too raunchy for broadcast TV, others will be edited.  "South Park" is still Comedy Central's highest-rated series after completing 111 half-hours over seven seasons and has been renewed for two more 15-episode seasons through 2005.

Find "South Park" on DVD Here   Find "South Park" Merchandise Here

Growing Pains Movie Slated for May

[January 23, 2004]

The first "Growing Pains" reunion pic did boffo for ABC in November 2000, but it took three years and several scripts to figure out the sequel.

ABC ultimately went with a script by writers Christina Lynch and Loren Segan ("Noah's Ark"); Mark Bacino and Jim Green, who were behind the first movie, are back to produce in association with Warner Bros. TV.

The movie finds the Seaver kids (Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, Jeremy Miller, Ashley Johnson) up in arms after their parents (Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns) decide to sell the family house.

"It took us a while; we went through a few different versions of the story," said ABC movies and minis chief Quinn Taylor. "These writers, who I adore, really made it contemporary but stuck to the bones of the show."

Kerns, who has had a successful second career directing telepics and episodic television, will helm the project. "When we came to ABC, we told them that we wanted Joanna to direct and they said, 'absolutely,' " Bacino said. "Then we went to Joanna, and she said it would be a fun idea."

Taylor called the quick assembly of the project a "miracle." "The greenlight was a little sudden, and with this cast -- everyone has lives and careers -- to get them all back and, in this case very quickly, was not easy," he said. "We've got six careers to figure out, including Joanna's directing commitments."

Further complicating matters: Gold, currently seen on ABC's "Celebrity Mole: Yucatan," is pregnant -- although, coincidentally, her character had already been made pregnant in the script. "It's great that we were able to pull it off,"

Taylor said. "And they all adore that Joanna is directing. For them, it's a nice full circle." Movie will take place in Long Island, where the sitcom was set, but will be shot on a soundstage in New Orleans. Taylor said the telepic's act breaks will adhere to the different stages of selling a house -- putting it on market, accepting an offer, going into escrow, etc.

Narrative will follow kids Mike (Cameron), Ben (Miller), Carol (Gold) and Chrissy (Johnson) Seaver as they all harbor different reasons for trying to keep their parents from selling the house. Parents Jason (Thicke) and Maggie (Kerns) also have very different ideas of their lives post-home. Chelsea Noble also stars, as Mike's wife Kate. "It's all about communication -- no one will communicate with each other honestly," Taylor said.

Passings

Noble Willingham, an actor, died January 17th at the age of 72.  A veteran actor of TV and film, Willingham was best known for his role as barkeep C.D. Parker on the TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger," he also had the recurring role as Mr. Binford on "Home Improvement."   Willingham appeared in dozens of films including "Paper Moon," "Chinatown," "Good Morning, Vietnam,"  "City Slickers," "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," and the upcoming "Blind Horizon" with Val Kilmer.  In 2000 Willingham unsuccessfully ran for a congressional seat in eastern Texas as a Republican.  He died  of natural causes at his home in Palm Springs, California.

Robert Keeshan, an actor died January 16 at the age of 76. Bob Keeshan was  television's beloved "Captain Kangaroo"  on the CBS children's show. Keeshan welcomed generations of youngsters to the Captain's Treasure house for nearly three decades.  \

Long before "Sesame Street," Keeshan combined entertainment with education for young minds. With a program format that included music, casual conversations, puppets, laughter, and nature as learning tools, Keeshan was uncompromising in his standards for responsible children's programming and advertising. His approach represented a rejection of the commercial pressures of children's programming and he was know to frequently clash with members of his program and production staff. Prior to becoming "Captain Kangaroo," Keeshan was Clarabell the Clown on "Howdy Doody."  He left Doodyville over a dispute with Buffalo Bob Smith.  Keeshan  also wrote several children's books. After his retirement, he became an advocate for children's issues, and joined in the campaign to ban tobacco advertising. 

Donald Siegal, a composer/songwriter and lyricist died January 13th at the age of 53.  Siegal was best known for children's songs he wrote for the TV show "Captain Kangaroo", who worked with Jim Henson to write songs for popular characters like Kermit the Frog, Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird on "Sesame Street."   Siegal also wrote music for the 1978 NBC children's special "Alex and the Wonderful Doo-Wah Lamp" and on the Emmy Award-winning series "Unicorn Tales,"  Siegal died in Glendale, California of cancer.

Ann Miller, an actress/dancer died January 22, she was believed to be 81.  Miller starred in some of the top movie musicals of the 1940s and '50s but really hit her stride on stage in the 1980's.  Miller claimed to be able to tap a record 500 times a minute. She was known more for her speed and skill as a dancer than for her acting ability until she landed a major role opposite Fred Astaire in MGM's ''Easter Parade'' (1948). Miller went on to star in many other classic MGM musicals of the era. ' The end of the MGM era in the late '50s seemed to spell the end of Miller's career. But after 20 years of stage and TV work (including a memorable ad where she danced atop a giant can of soup), she enjoyed the comeback of a lifetime with the 1979 musical ''Sugar Babies,'' in which she starred with Mickey Rooney. The show ran for more than 1,200 performances on Broadway, followed by a hugely successful tour. Financially independent,  Miller was little seen in the last decade, except as parodied by Molly Shannon on ''Saturday Night Live.'' Her final screen role was as Coco Lenoix, the colorful Los Angeles landlady of aspiring starlet Naomi Watts in 2001's ''Mulholland Drive.'' Miller died of lung cancer at a Los Angeles hospital.

Dean Stuhlmueller (Dean Miller),  an actor/anchorman died of cancer January 13th, at age 79.  In 1950, a chance meeting on a train with an MGM executive turned Stuhlmueller's California vacation into an acting career, beginning with the movie "Skirts Ahoy."   Stuhlmueller, who adopted the stage name Dean Miller, went on to appear in several other features before appearing in "Dream Wife" (1953) and "Small Town Girl" (1953).  TV fans will remember Miller as Matt Henshaw on "December Bride," which ran from 1954-60.  After “December Bride,” Miller hosted television game shows and then starred in “Here’s Hollywood,” an NBC program that featured him interviewing celebrities such as Ronald Reagan, Nat King Cole, Vincent Price and Paul Newman.   In 1965he returned to his home state and bought WPLG, a small radio station in Sidney, Ohio.  He worked as an anchorman in Washington, then had an 18-month stint at a Miami TV station before becoming Detroit's channel 4’s anchorman in 1972. He anchored the evening newscasts until 1975.

Matt LeBlanc and Classic TV Stars on Pyramid

Host Donny Osmond talks to Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) on "Pyramid"

[January 17, 2004] Sony Pictures Television has pulled the plug on "Pyramid," announcing that this will be it's final season.  But that doesn't mean the show can't go out with a bang!

Charlie's Angels Still a Hot Topic

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[January 17, 2004] NBC presents "Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of ‘Charlie's Angels’" -- the story of how the sexy girls-with-guns television drama series began and ended its tumultuous first season. The television movie offers a behind-the-scenes-peek at the classic TV drama that has spawned two hit feature films.

 “Charlie’s Angels” became an instant cultural phenomenon and shot to the top of the Nielsen ratings after premiering on September 22, 1976. It made overnight stars of its original crime-fighting “Angels” -- Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. The trio even made the cover of Time magazine that fall when TV celebrities rarely graced the covers of newsmagazines.

"Behind The Camera: The Unauthorized Story of ‘Charlie's Angels’" stars Emmy Award winner Dan Castellaneta (“The Simpsons”) as Aaron Spelling, Dan Lauria as Fred Silverman, Wallace Langham who reprises his role from NBC’s “Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of ‘Three’s Company’” as Jay Bernstein, and relatively unknown actresses Tricia Helfer as Farah Fawcett-Majors, Christina Chambers as Jaclyn Smith and Lauren Stamile as Kate Jackson.

"'Charlie's Angels' was the original 'jiggle TV' show, and Farrah Fawcett was the original blonde bombshell of television," said writer-executive producer Matt Dorff ("Growing Up Brady," "Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story"). "It was extremely influential in empowering female characters in action-oriented hour dramas and beyond."

As the former head of VH1 movies, Michael G. Larkin (“Red Water”, “Murder in the Heartland”) was responsible for over a dozen pop-culture TV movies, including TV movies on The Monkees, Ricky Nelson and Meat Loaf. Larkin also said "The dramatic story behind the show's first season makes this a perfect fit with NBC's direction for movies. Love it or hate it, the impact of this show is still with us 27 years later.”

The main source consulted for the movie is the book “Charlie’s Angel’s Casebook” by Jack Condon and David Hofstede. Condon, who is considered to have the world’s largest collection of “Charlie’s Angels” memorabilia - topping off at more than 8,000 items - has interviewed all six “Angels” series actresses and counts several of the women as personal friends.

"Behind The Camera: The Unauthorized Story of ‘Charlie's Angels’"  will air Monday, March 8 on NBC  at 9:00PM.  The original "Charlie's Angels" series currently airs on HDnet.  ABC and Sony Pictures Television are developing a new take on "Charlie's Angels." ABC, execs confirmed they're developing a new take on "Charlie's Angels" with Sony Pictures Television, expected to be an action series modeled after Sony's successful feature adaptation of the franchise.

Isabel Sanford Gets Star on Walk on Fame

"Hollywood Walk of Fame: 2000 Sensational Stars, Star Makers and Legends" by Samantha Hart

[January 16, 2004] Isabel Sanford, best known as Louise Jefferson or "Weezie" on the CBS sitcom "The Jeffersons," moved on up to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Sanford, 86, was joined at the ceremony Thursday by about 300 fans, family members and friends, including "All in the Family" and "Jeffersons" creator Norman Lear and Marla Gibbs, who played the Jeffersons' maid Florence.  Full Details.
 

Get "The Jeffersons" on DVD: The Jeffersons - The Complete First Season The Jeffersons - The Complete Second Season

Tid-Bits

Buena Vista has cancelled the Emmy winning "Wayne Brady Show"  In it's place "The Tony Danza Show"  has been booked on TV stations in close to half the country on 11 station groups.

Sci Fi Channel has picked up the fifth and final season of  "Andromeda."

ABC has picked up six episodes of the Endemol USA contest "Deal or No Deal." A hit in territories including Australia, Holland, Italy and Argentina, "Deal or No Deal" is a tension-building quiz show that pits studio audience members against one another until a final victor is given a shot at winning $2 million.

ABC picked up a comedy pilot starring standup comedian Rodney Carrington. The sit-com is written by Ric Swatzlander ("8 Simple Rules") based on Carrington's real life.

Raymond's Last Season?  Fewer and Fewer Still Love Him

[January 16, 2004]

Now that NBC has given the official word that this is the last season for “Frasier,” the looming question is whether CBS’s “Everybody Loves Raymond” will be the next aged sitcom to go. The chances of that happening are looking a lot stronger based on two factors, the first being the star's desire to end the show after this season, its eighth.
  Full Details.

Friends Not Even Over Before Reunion

[January 13, 2004]

The article quotes an NBC spokesperson saying: "We knew it would be tough to get the 'Friends' stars together again once they'd gone their separate ways. So we put an offer on the table to persuade them to film the reunion right away." The show will be filmed right after shooting finishes on the last episode. 

Update: [January 14, 2003] An Associated Press story about the final episode  says that the stars shot down rumors that a reunion movie was already in the works but not without joking that they'd accept $4 million apiece for the honor. The cast members each earn $1 million per episode.  Full Details.

Bible Course Asks "What Would Andy Do?"

San Francisco Chronicle Interviews Alan Young of Mister Ed

Happy Days Reunion on Good Morning America

[January 12, 2004]

"Happy Days" fans can also look forward to TV Land airing a one hour retrospective special sometime this year, hosted and produced by Henry Winkler.

This is Frasier's Last Season

February TV DVD Releases

The "Gilligan's Island" first season includes commentary by creator Sherwood Schwartz, the rarely seen pilot,  Tropical Tidbits trivia,  "Gilligan's Island" Survival Guide "Before The Three-Hour Tour" and  featurette.  "What's Happening!!" is actually the second release of the first season, the first was a Time-Life edition.  "Little House on the Prairie" fans will enjoy the behind the scenes footage and insiders sharing their memories of season 4, which includes 22 episodes.

February 3 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius   Jet Fusion As Time Goes By   Complete Series 6 Doc   Season 1 The Fairly Oddparents   Superhero Spectacle Gilligan's Island   Season 1 Good Times   The 2nd Season Keeping Up Appearances   Seasons 3-5: L.A. Law   L.A. Law: The Movie The Muppet Show   Best of The Muppet Show: Volume 07 Red Dwarf   Series 3 & 4 Superman: The Animated Series   Last Son of Krypton Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends   Best Of Gordon The Thorn Birds (mini-series)   The Thorn Birds What's Happening!!   Complete 1st Season

February 10 Angel   The Complete 3rd Season Battlestar Galactica   Complete Series Franklin   Favorite Turtle Tales Lexx   Season 4 Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In   The Best Of - Vol. 2 Saturday Night Live   Mr. Bill's Disasterpiece Theater: Xena: Warrior Princess   Season 3 X-Men: Evolution   Season 2 Vol 2 February 24 Chappelle's Show   Season 1 Uncensored Cracker   Season 2 The Dick Van Dyke Show   Season 3 The Milton Berle Buick Hour   Milton Berle Collection Oz   Season 3 Prime Suspect   Prime Suspect 2 & 3 Queer as Folk   Season 3 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)   Set 1 Saturday Night Live   Various New Editions Star Trek: Voyager   Season 1 Transformers: Armada   Best Battles & Flashbacks

February 17 Bob & Rose   The Complete Series The Care Bears   Vol 1 & 2 Clifford the Big Red Dog   Team Clifford Rock N' Roll Clifford Little House on the Prairie   Season 4 Roswell   Season 1 Sitting Ducks   Season 1 Quack Pack Ultraman Tiga   Vol 2: Nowhere to Hide

Omitted from my January listings was "Daytime's Greatest Weddings"   Susan Lucci hosts a compilation featuring "All My Children's" most romantic couple doing what comes naturally: getting married. Hosts Jackie Zeman and Brad Maule look back at some of the "I do's" in "General Hospital's" history, with the nuptials of Luke and Laura. Finally, Erika Slezak will take you on a romantic journey of "One Life to Live's" wedding highlights, including Clint and Viki.

TV Land Moguls to Premiere April 21st

Hosted by television veteran Merv Griffin, each one hour installment chronicles the creative pioneers who indelibly influenced the television industry. The series is narrated by actor Adam Arkin. The announcement was made today by Larry W. Jones, Executive Vice President and General Manager, TV Land and Nick at Nite.

The documentary series is presented in six installments, with each installment focusing on a decade. The series highlights the creativity, innovation and business acumen that brought about significant contributions to the television industry as well as considerable personal wealth to the individual producers.

The first episode of TV Land Moguls will premiere on Wednesday, April 21 (9-10:00 PM, ET/PT), with subsequent installments airing on the ensuing Wednesdays at 9:00 PM, ET/PT. Immediately following each telecast TV Land will present a specially themed programming block representing the work of moguls seen in that evening's episode.

Among the roster of celebrated producers featured are Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Sheldon Leonard, Danny Thomas, Carl Reiner, Quinn Martin, Sherwood Schwartz, Norman Lear, Grant Tinker, Aaron Spelling, Garry Marshall, Stephen J. Cannell, Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner, Stephen Bochco, Dick Wolf, Rob Burnett, Darren Star, and Jerry Bruckheimer.

Along with rarely seen archival footage, the series also features interviews with many of the actors and actresses who starred in the television programs showcased, including Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Marlo Thomas, Efrem Zimabalist, Jr., Tony Randall, John Amos, Mary Kay Place, Jean Stapleton, Henry Winkler, Gavin McLeod, Alec Baldwin, Joan Van Ark, Ricardo Montalban, Betty White, James Garner, Robert Guillaume, Dennis Franz, Jimmy Smitts, Cameron Manheim, Jesse Martin, Jason Priestly, Sarah Jessica Parker, William Peterson, David Caruso and Anthony LaPaglia.

Following is a brief synopsis of each episode: The 50's: Television's Golden Age. Celebrated television icons Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Sheldon Leonard and Danny Thomas developed breakthrough television production and 3-camera filming before a live audience. They were instrumental in moving TV production to Los Angeles and brought quality, character driven sitcoms that were ratings winners.

The 60's: While Quinn Martin and Jack Webb brought gritty crime drama and feature film production quality to the television screen, Sherwood Schwartz and Paul Henning found success with zany sitcoms including "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Gilligan's Island."

The 70's - Part I: Because of their taste, style and tenacity, Grant Tinker ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Rhoda") and Norman Lear ("All in the Family," "The Jeffersons," "Maude," "Sanford & Son") changed the television landscape forever.

The 70's - Part II: Although dismissed by the critics, Aaron Spelling and his partner Leonard Goldberg had one of the most prolific and profitable production company's in the 70's -- from "Charlie's Angels" and "Starsky & Hutch" to "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island." Former advertising executive, Lee Rich's Lorimar Productions produces "The Waltons" and "Eight Is Enough," but it's "Dallas" that brings phenomenal ratings.

Garry Marshall strikes a chord with America's funny bone with hits like "The Odd Couple," "Happy Days," "Laverne & Shirley" and "Mork & Mindy."

The 80's: Stephen J. Cannell dominated network primetime with action-adventure hits like "Baretta," "Rockford Files," the "A-Team" and" Wiseguy." Stephen Bochco brought quirky, quality dramatic hits like "Hill Streeet Blues," "L.A. Law" and "N.Y.P.D. Blue." The decade also saw the outrageous sitcoms from Witt-Thomas-Harris Productions, including "Soap" and "Benson." Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner achieve the pinnacle of success with their groundbreaking comedy series, "The Cosby Show," "Roseanne" and "A Different World."

The 90's: Prolific writer/producer David E. Kelley dominates with "Chicago Hope," "Picket Fences," "Alley McBeal" and "The Practice." Dick Wolf's New York- based "Law & Order" franchise debuts. In addition to hosting and producing his own late night show, comedian David Letterman forms World Wide Pants and together with Rob Burnett produces "The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn," the dramatic series "Ed" and the hit sit-com "Everybody Loves Raymond." Darren Star collaborated with mogul Aaron Spelling to deliver the hit series "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place." He later goes on to produce HBO's phenomenally successful series, "Sex and The City."

Total and Oatmeal Crisp Cereals: Now Fortified With Donna Reed

"The King of Queens" DVD contains the 'Clothes Encounter' episode and bonus material featuring behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews. The "Mad About You" DVD contains the 'Coming Home' episode and bonus material featuring behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews. The "Barney Miller" DVD features 'The Tunnel' and 'Obituary' episodes. The 'Four on the Floor' and 'No More Parties' episodes are featured in "The Donna Reed Show" DVD.

Headlines

Full Details.

Michael J. Fox on "Scrubs" [By Lia Haberman E! Online]   He's not a doctor but Michael J. Fox will play one on TV. The TV vet returns to the small screen as a guest star on NBC's Scrubs next month playing a surgeon suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Full Details.

Seinfeld films 'Enthusiasm' cameo [By Lia Haberman New York (AP) E! Online ]  Jerry Seinfeld will do a "pop-in" on his old friend, Larry David, this season on Curb Your Enthusiasm. "But don't blink," David told Newsweek magazine for its Jan. 12 issue. He said the comedian, with whom he created Seinfeld, showed up on the set during an episode set in Manhattan and makes a brief cameo, but wouldn't elaborate. Full Details.

Three's Company Season Two on DVD  Anchor Bay is planning the "Three's Company" second season DVD for release in May, 2004. This 4 disc set will contain all 25 episodes from the second season as well as the second unaired pilot, all for a SRP of $39.95. There are more extras planned, but nothing is confirmed at this time. There's also word that we should expect the third season to be released before the end of the year.  Look for our own Pavan Patel's name in the credits, he's assisting in the research.  Visit his web site at: Jack's Bistro.

For General TV Headlines, Click Here  For Entertainment Headlines, Click Here

Coming to Sci-Fi

No regular schedule changes for Sci-Fi Channel in February 2004, but some VERY interesting short lived Sci-Fi series are popping-up in the Daytime Rotation (weekdays 11am-4pm). The noteworthy ones:
January 20: "Now and Again" (1999-2000 CBS series)
February 9: "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" (1979-81 NBC series)
February 16: "Planet of the Apes" (8:00AM -7:00PM -special President's Day marathon of the short-lived 14 episode 1974 CBS series)
February 19: "The Incredible Hulk" (1978-82 CBS series)
February 24: "Starman" (1986-87 ABC series)
February 25: "Strange World" (1999-2002 original series)
February 26: "Timecop" (1997-98 ABC series)
The other dates are the usual ones we always see: "Roswell," "Quantum Leap," "Star Trek," "The Outer Limits" (60s series and the new series), "Hercules," and "The Twilight Zone."

Passings

Helen Kleeb January 6, 1907 - December 28, 2003

[January 4, 2004]  Helen Kleeb, an actress, died December 28, 2003.  The venerable character actress who spent a career playing old ladies, who is best known for her recurring role as Miss Mamie Baldwin on "The Waltons" TV series, but who appeared in dozens of TV shows like "Dragnet," "Gunsmoke," "Bewitched" and "The Andy Griffith Show" and who had roles in movies like "The Manchurian Candidate", "Fitzwilly" and "Magnificent Obsession," died just short of her 97th birthday.

Charles Shannon,  a s comedian and actor, died December 21, 2003 after a stroke.  Shannon who appeared on MTV's "Austin Stories," but who is best known as writer for such programs as "The Man Show,"  "ESPN's Two Minute Drill," "Battlebots" and "Vibe", died in Sherman Oaks, CA, Shannon was  44.

Alan Bates,  British stage and screen actor died December 27, 2003 of cancer.  Bates  starred in a string of successful movies in the 1960's including "Zorba the Greek," "Georgie Girl," "Women In Love" and "The Entertainer," and nominated for an Oscar for his role in the 1969 film "The Fixer."  Look for Bates as Lentulas Agrippa in the TV mini series "Spartacus," to air later this year.  Alan Bates was 70.

Norman Burton, an actor died November 29, 2003 in a car accident. Burton, possibly best known as Felix Leiter, James Bond's sidekick in the 1971 film "Diamonds Are Forever,"  appeared in scores of other movies including "Planet of the Apes", "Escape From Planet of the Apes," "Towering Inferno" and "Save The Tiger," and who guest starred in numerous TV shows like "The Untouchables," "Bewitched," "The Rockford Files," and "Murder, She Wrote."  He was 79 years old.

Classic TV Stars on Stage

Richard Dreyfuss will star as conniving miser, Foxwell J. Sly. The involvement of Dreyfuss will mean the Oscar-winning actor's first Broadway turn since 1992's Death and the Maiden. In recent years, Dreyfuss has returned to the stage in a big way, acting in London (Prisoner of Second Avenue).

Scolari, known from the sitcoms "Bosom Buddies" and "Newhart," recently played opposite Harvey Fierstein for a brief time in Broadway's Hairspray. York is well-remembered for her dumb blonde turn in Broadway's Victor/Victoria, which many observers hailed as the best performance in that Julie Andrews musical.

Bronson Pinchot, known to television viewers from "Perfect Strangers," has recently been taking an occasional Shakespearean turn at the Delacorte in Central Park, most recently as Pistol in last summer's Henry V.

Irwin Corey's greatest fame came under the guise of "Prof. Irwin Corey," a wild-haired sham intellectual who boasts he is "The World's Foremost Authority." Corey has played the role in clubs and on television for decades. The 91-year-old actor has appeared in a scattering as Broadway shows, including the musical Flahooley and the Helen Hayes vehicle Mrs. McThing. His most recent Broadway credit was the 1974 Herb Gardner play Thieves.

Mary Tyler Moore has withdrawn from "Rose's Dilemma," the new Neil Simon play, that opened off-Broadway last week,  Reports say Ms Moore stormed off the stage.  Full Details.

Kaye Ballard and Georgia Engel, Mimi Hines, Darlene Love and Lee Meriwether were to star in "Nunsense: 20th Anniversary Tour" at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, and the producers canceled the show without explanation.  The Chicago Sun-Times has a nice interview with Kaye Ballard ("The Mothers-in-Law") Full Details.

Classic TV Stars in the News

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Beverly Hillbillies' Max Baer Jr. Still Faces Obstacles in His Plans to Open a Casino  [Sandi Wright - Reno Gazette-Journal 12/30/2003]  Plans for Baer’s $54 million project, to be called Jethro’s Beverly Hillbillies Mansion & Casino, include 240 hotel rooms, a theater, restaurants and a 200-foot-tall flaming oil derrick at its entrance along U.S. 395 at the Southgate shopping complex.   Full Details.

Tony Randall Will Turn 84 in February, His National Actors Theatre Turns 12... [Michael Kilian Chicago Tribune  NEW YORK] I am happy to report that two of this city's most engaging theatrical attractions are alive and kicking, despite the vicissitudes of time and the economics of the theater. One is the actor, impresario and prim half of TV's "Odd Couple," Tony Randall, who turns 84 in February and is the only actor I know of who has worked in romantic comedies with Marilyn Monroe ("Let's Make Love," 1960) and Renée Zellweger ("Down With Love," 2003). Full Details.