In Memoriam -- Nanette Fabray (1920-2018)

Written in Tribute of a Cheery Legend by Bridger Cunningham

The sitcom world has lost one of its stellar powers, as One Day at a Time's Nanette Fabray has passed away at the age of 97 on February 22.  Fabray starred on CBS' longstanding sitcom as Katherine Romano from 1979-84, incidentally alongside her real-life niece Shelly Fabares starred as (non-related) Francine Webster during that same time.  Born on October 27, 1920, Fabray polished onto the silver screen in 1939's The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex.  

During the rising trend of television programming in the 1950's, Fabray enjoyed a career renaissance after a 1953 appearance in Omnibus.  The actress enjoyed several appearances in the anthology style playhouse theaters before making several guest appearances  in television shows and movies.  After the playhouse anthology trend was briefly revived in the early 1970's by CBS' sitcom series Love, American Style, Fabray made several appearances before landing on One Day at a Time.  Initially a guest appearance, Fabray's performance was so well received that showrunners killed off the character's on-screen husband to enable more appearances and stories for Katherine Romano.  

One Day at a Time made a plethora of casting changes throughout its run, swinging the pendulum in Fabray's favor in 1982 as she was bumped to contract player for the last two seasons.  Following ODAAT's ending after 9 seasons, Fabray slowed down her career.  Her last role reunited her with niece Shelly Fabares again as she appeared on Coach as Mildred Armstrong, the mother of Fabares' character Christine.  Fabray is survived by a son and was predeceased in death by her second husband in 1973.

Do Not Resuscitate: Coach

Written Asking to Leave Football on The Weekends by Bridger Cunningham

Revivals are touted everywhere this decade!  Dallas, One Day at a Time, Full House, Roseanne, Murphy Brown, Will & Grace, Boy Meets World...  What is next?  "ABC announces it will be rebooting old sitcom treasures such as Work It, Super Fun Night and The Real O'Neal's."  TVRG, like so many other media outlets has a simple message -- "Knock it Off With the Reboots!"

The Original Hit Machine -- Coach (1989-97)

Debuting mid-season in the 1988-89 season behind newfound hit Roseanne, Coach found a welcome niche, following football coach Hayden Fox's (Craig T. Nelson) everyday life managing the fictitious Minnesota State University (and later, fictitious NFL team Orlando Breakers).  He was joined by assistant coach Luther Van Dam (Jerry Van Dyke) and dim Dauber Dybinski (Bill Fagerbakke), with his daughter Kelly (Clare Carey) and girlfriend Christine Armstrong (Shelley Fabares) rounding out the cast.  The series was  a commercial success, reaching 5th Place at its heights when it was not awkwardly scheduled on undesirable evenings such as Mondays. 

Reasons This Series Needs to Stay Cancelled

• 1. NBC already attempted a revival in 2015, cancelling the efforts early on. The premise would have followed Hayden's son Timothy receiving his first coaching gig. Most of the cast would have returned save for Shelley Fabares, with Christine having died.
• 2. Series original Jerry Van Dyke just passed away on January 5, 2018.  How lighthearted would the series be without Luther?
• 3. Shelley Fabares turns 74 this year and is hardly in any condition to take on a starring role due to a battle with autoimmune hepatitis.  Once again, the dynamic would have changed without Christine present.
• 4. The series explored nine seasons and a retooling the premise in Season 8, with the setting moving from Minnesota to Florida.  It also delivered a heralded wedding for Hayden and Christine, whose relationship was the focal point of the original series.
• 5. Although it was a top 20 favorite for most of its run, Coach's success hinged off its lead-in, Roseanne.  The series bounced around the lineup throughout its 9 seasons, demonstrating it was not as strong of a player as represented by the ratings.

Sometimes, cancelled is better.  If fans really want to get their fix of this hit series, they do not have to search too far, as high-channeled Antenna TV airs the series daily.

In Memoriam: Emmy-Nominated Sitcom Star Jerry Van Dyke Dies at 86

Written Celebrating the Achievements of a Sitcom Legend by Bridger Cunningham.

And now, the sitcom world mourns another dynamic presence.  Actor Jerry Van Dyke, younger brother of fellow sitcom star Dick Van Dyke, passed away January 5, 2018 after a long ailment.  The accredited actor was born on July 27, 1931 and had been in declining health due to a road accident two years prior.  Van Dyke's resume typecast leaned toward outlandish laughs, bolstering an impressive resume of  sitcom roles.  Take a peek at his lengthy list of starring roles:

The Dick Van Dyke Show (1962-65) -- Stacey Petrie.
My Mother The Car (1965-66) -- Dave Crabtree
Accidental Family (1967-68) -- Jerry Webster
Headmaster (1970) -- Jerry Brownell
Love, American Style (1970-71) -- Various Roles
13 Queens Boulevard (1979) -- Steven Winters
Coach (1989-97) -- Luther Van Dam
Teen Angel (1997-98) -- Jerry Beauchamp
You Wish (1997-98) -- Grandpa Max
Yes, Dear (2001-05) -- Big Jimmy Hughes
The Middle (2010-15) -- Tag Spence

Notice a trend in naming conventions for Jerry's roles?  He had not one, but four self-titled roles!  That includes anthology comedy skits on Love, American Style. Van Dyke's prominent entertainment name became an attraction method producers used to draw viewers in with his marquee.  Sadly, it couldn't save these clunkers from the ax.  Van Dyke held a plethora of sitcom roles of varying success with the good (Coach), the bad (You Wish) and just plain ugh! (My Mother The Car).  Van Dyke took a hiatus from the television world in the 1970's and 1980's, opting to enjoy a career entertaining via the casino circuit, which he spoke fondly of for the remains of his career.

Following Coach, Van Dyke became typecast as the zany, entertaining grandfathers.  Most recently, he portrayed Frankie Heck's father, Tag, on The Middle via various guest appearances.  Van Dyke's ailing health evidently limited his appearances on the series, which announced its final season last summer.

Jerry Van Dyke enjoyed an enriched, diverse career in the entertainment industry.  He is survived by his 2nd wife of 40 years, Shirley, a daughter, Jeri Lynn and a son Ronald.  He was predeceased by daughter Kelly Ann Van Dyke in 1991 following her tragic suicide at age 33.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Van_Dyke

Antenna TV -- 10 Old Sitcoms to Binge on in January 2018

Written in Nostalgic Library Wear by Bridger Cunningham

Can't afford Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime?  Load up your DVR's as Antenna TV offers up a plethora of older shows for your entertainment.  See what they're adding come January 18.  Not sure where to find Antenna TV in your area?  Their primary website can help locate the nearest affiliate: http://antennatv.tv/channel-finder/.  Most Antenna TV affiliates piggyback on your local affiliates on additional channels (Example: Digital Channel 8.3).  For those with access to local cable providers, the majority of providers showcase the channels in the upper ranges of your lineup from 75-99.  Enjoy hunting for a plethora of old shows.

Starting Tuesday, January 2, 2018

1:00PM: Alice (1976-85).  Do you enjoy the dry, sarcastic delivery Linda Lavin gives to the ever-dull 9JKL on CBS this season?  Come see the sitcom that put her on the map as Alice Hyatt, a single mother struggling to support her son and starts over at a roadside diner in Phoenix, Arizona.  Supporting cast members include Polly Holiday as coworker Flo, whose catchphrase was "You can kiss my grits!"  The series was a ratings winner for CBS in the same era which they joined the likenesses of One Day at a Time and The Jeffersons, all of which dominated the Nielsens for much of their durable runs of 9-11 years.

2:30PM: Head of the Class (1986-91).  Fresh off his last two seasons of One Day at a Time as Sam, Howard Hessman hit the books and delivered a modest run as Charlie Moore, a high school teacher delivering a reality check.  The series anchored ABC's then-middling Wednesday night comedy block.  Then, ABC managed to move another successful sitcom, Growing Pains, and Head of the Class became a ratings sensation.  Fans of the latter can catch up at 7PM as well!  The series had a strong run until Hessman departed in 1990 and was replaced by comedian Billy Connelly before it ended in 1991.



4:00PM: Gimme a Break! (1981-87).  In the era which Diff'rent Strokes diversified NBC's lineup, Nell Carter followed the trail as sassy housekeeper Nell Harper for a widowed police chief Carl Kanisky (Dolph Sweet) and his three well-meaning daughters.  Always a modest hit, the series experienced a personal loss when Sweet passed from cancer in May 1985.  The following season had Nell caring for his three daughters, following a directional change in its 6th and final season.  That season saw the three daughters exit, and Rosie O'Donnell and future Blossom star Joey Lawrence rounding out the cast.


5:30PM: Hogan Family (1986-91).  Initially a revival vehicle Valerie Harper titled "Valerie" in early 1986, the successful Monday sitcom experienced a professional setback when Harper was fired amidst a salary dispute.  After her self-titled character Valerie Hogan died on screen (similar to Kevin Can Wait's firing of Erinn hayes), the series was retooled "Valerie's Family" starring Sandy Duncan.  It made another title change to "The Hogan Family" in 1988, as it still delivered in the ratings following ALF.  It was cancelled in 1990 by NBC and revived by CBS for one more poorly-rated season with most of the cast intact.


6:00PM: Silver Spoons (1982-87).  Few can remember much about the series except it starred Ricky Schroder, who would achieve fame as an adult on NYPD Blue.  The premise was simple, as a single father discovering he has an over-responsible son.  Also rounding out the cast is Erin Grey as personal assistant and future stepmother, Kate.  Never a stellar ratings juggernaut, NBC cancelled the series in 1986 after soft Sunday deliveries.  However, the series found one more season of syndication success.  Bright spots also include appearances from Alfonso Ribiero, and Whitney Houston cameo too!


7:00PM: Growing Pains (1985-92).  One of the original three-kid sitcoms, Growing Pains enjoyed blockbuster ratings for its first six seasons.  Along the way, Kirk Cameron became a teen sensation as Mike Seaver, along with casting Leonardo Dicaprio late in the run.  Set against a psychologist father, Jason (Alan Thicke, whose son Robin blurs lines), moves his practice into his home so his newscaster wife, Maggie (Joanna Kearns) can pursue a career.  Behind the-scenes interference with Cameron's faith and an anorexia struggle for Gold challenged production of the 5th-7th seasons, but the show still fired on all cylinders to the end.


8:30PM: Soap (1977-81).  What was so racy about a sitcom lampooning daytime soaps?  Several affiliates refused to air the controversial pilot due to speculation of being too sexually suggestive.  In fairness, those standards 40 years ago were far stricter than the crassness of most CBS and FOX sitcoms in today's era.  Robert Guillaume passed this year aged 89, and what a better way to view his work in this show and at 9:00's Benson?  The series also paved the way for future sitcom success of Katherine Helmond (Who's the Boss?) and Richard Mulligan (Empty Nest).


9:00PM: Benson (1979-86).  Spun off from Soap as it was aging, Benson colonized the talents of Robert Guillaume as the self-titled butler on ABC Fridays.  The series focused on Benson DuBois' voice of reason for the well-to-do white political family who employed him.  Initially scheduled on ABC's then-plum Thursday schedule, the series was saddled with Friday scheduling for the remainder of its run.  However, it supported ABC to modest success through some ever-lean years, enduring 11 moves before ABC saddled it with the Saturday death slot for the remains of the early 1986 years.


10:00PM: Murphy Brown (1988-98).  Do you think politics is a nauseating presence in 2017?  Murphy Brown covered the political wranglings from the fictitious WFYI news station in New York.  A recovering alcoholic, Murphy Brown's (Candace Bergen) salty delivery carried the series through 3 political elections of Bush and Clinton variety.  The series also played off Vice President Dan Qualye's potshots for showcasing a single, unwed mother.  The controversy pushed the CBS Monday sitcom to the front of the Nielsens during the controversial 1992 election year, with her son Avery's birth anchoring the 4th season finale.

 11:00: Coach (1989-97).  Comfort food was a luxury many yearned for in the late 80's, and Poltergeist star Craig T. Nelson delivered it as a college football coach, Hayden Fox.  Adding to the delight was love interest Christine (Shelley Fabares, of One Day at a Time and The Donna Reed Show).  A modestly-rated series, ABC bounced it throughout its schedule, leading to glorious seasons as high as 5th place and a leaner delivery when scheduled on Mondays.  The popularity was so great, NBC considered reviving the series in 2015 and scrapped the plans.

Source: http://antennatv.tv/shows/

Coach CANCELLED by NBC

Thanks for letting me know, Hunter, that plans to revive the somewhat forgotten ABC 90s sitcom Coach have been scrapped by NBC. This leads me to speculate that they cannot find room for the show, opening up a strong possibility for at least one of Mr Robinson and The Carmichael Show to get renewed.

What are your thoughts on this surprise cancellation? Did NBC make the right or wrong decision? Let us know in the comments below!