Sal Vulcano, the stand-up comedian who many fans know from his long-running prank show Impractical Jokers, is scared. Or at least, that’s what his jokes tell us. “A lot of my material is fear-based stuff, stories from my adult life and childhood,” he explains. Hence the name of his new comedy special, Terrified.
As Terrified cracks one million views on YouTube, Vulcano is back on his solo tour doing the comedy he loves. He recently talked to Cracked about his sitcom influences, the pros and cons of the comedy boom and the epic pranks he pulled as a seven-year-old.
“I was like the class clown guy. That’s what I was, I was voted Class Clown.”
“When I was young, my favorite show was The Jeffersons. I used to watch it with my grandparents, and I loved it so much. I used to memorize it. I remember in the third grade,...
As Terrified cracks one million views on YouTube, Vulcano is back on his solo tour doing the comedy he loves. He recently talked to Cracked about his sitcom influences, the pros and cons of the comedy boom and the epic pranks he pulled as a seven-year-old.
“I was like the class clown guy. That’s what I was, I was voted Class Clown.”
“When I was young, my favorite show was The Jeffersons. I used to watch it with my grandparents, and I loved it so much. I used to memorize it. I remember in the third grade,...
- 6/25/2024
- Cracked
Who is the best male TV star of all time? Our photo gallery above takes on the tough task of ranking the 50 greatest actors and performers. Agree or disagree with our choices?
With over 70 years of television to consider, we had to provide ourselves with a few rules to help simplify things. One of those was that every man in our gallery must have been an ongoing leading star at some point, preferably more often than not. That’s why you will not see such classic supporting actors as Art Carney, Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Peter Dinklage and more. We also do not include any news/sports anchors or journalists such as Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, Peter Jennings, Howard Cosell since they are not performers.
In order to place them in the rankings, we were looking at a combination of quality (top rated shows with the public or critics...
With over 70 years of television to consider, we had to provide ourselves with a few rules to help simplify things. One of those was that every man in our gallery must have been an ongoing leading star at some point, preferably more often than not. That’s why you will not see such classic supporting actors as Art Carney, Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Peter Dinklage and more. We also do not include any news/sports anchors or journalists such as Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, Peter Jennings, Howard Cosell since they are not performers.
In order to place them in the rankings, we were looking at a combination of quality (top rated shows with the public or critics...
- 6/4/2024
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Eight years before "Saturday Night Live" started stirring up trouble for NBC, "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" was the counterculture bane of CBS' programming existence. And unlike the surprisingly game gang at 30 Rockefeller Center, the suits at the Eye (that's the nickname for CBS' logo) could not be mollified by high ratings.
The enmity between CBS and Smothers was forged by a perfect confluence of time and content. When the variety show premiered on February 5, 1967, the United States was waging two very different wars on two geographically inconvenient fronts. The country had just entered its second year of full-on, boots-on-the-ground combat in Vietnam, and though a slim majority still supported the conflict, the nation's youth weren't keen on getting drafted to fight an enemy that didn't pose an immediate physical threat to America. This unease dovetailed with the unrest at home: anti-war protests, the ongoing Civil Rights Movement, and a...
The enmity between CBS and Smothers was forged by a perfect confluence of time and content. When the variety show premiered on February 5, 1967, the United States was waging two very different wars on two geographically inconvenient fronts. The country had just entered its second year of full-on, boots-on-the-ground combat in Vietnam, and though a slim majority still supported the conflict, the nation's youth weren't keen on getting drafted to fight an enemy that didn't pose an immediate physical threat to America. This unease dovetailed with the unrest at home: anti-war protests, the ongoing Civil Rights Movement, and a...
- 3/22/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
"All in the Family" might've been Norman Lear's finest half-hour as a sitcom producer, but I'm not sure he ever put a funnier show on the airwaves than "The Jeffersons." For 11 seasons, Sherman Hemsley's dry-cleaning magnate George Jefferson and Isabel Sanford's good-hearted Louise "Weezy" Jefferson led a stellar cast that delivered edgy-for-network-television laughs revolving around race, class, gender, and whatever happened to be grinding the hot-headed George's gears that particular week. It was the African-American answer to "All in the Family" (on which the characters of George and Weezy originated), and might actually be more shocking today for its fearless deployment of the n-word (particularly early in the series' run).
And if you're making a list of the most memorable theme songs in television history, "The Jeffersons" better be in the top five. Anyone who grew up watching the show in prime time or via syndication should...
And if you're making a list of the most memorable theme songs in television history, "The Jeffersons" better be in the top five. Anyone who grew up watching the show in prime time or via syndication should...
- 3/18/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
TV giant Norman Lear, who died Dec. 5 at 101, leaves behind arguably the single most valuable body of work ever committed to the medium. On seminal series like All in the Family, Maude and The Jeffersons, Lear dared to tackle issues then considered unthinkable sitcom fodder — rape, abortion, homosexuality, racism, alcoholism — with a genius’ eye and ear for capturing their moral complexities while poking at the foibles of the American working class. These six episodes, however, stand out among the rest for having actively moved the needle on public opinion — and in doing so elevated Lear’s work from mere entertainment to timeless agitprop art.
1. All in the Family — Season 8 — “Cousin Liz” — Original Air Date: Oct. 9, 1977
Lear’s magnum opus, All in the Family, tackled the most hot-button issues throughout its nine seasons, from rape to racism to the war in Vietnam. But one particularly resounding episode was “Cousin Liz,” in...
1. All in the Family — Season 8 — “Cousin Liz” — Original Air Date: Oct. 9, 1977
Lear’s magnum opus, All in the Family, tackled the most hot-button issues throughout its nine seasons, from rape to racism to the war in Vietnam. But one particularly resounding episode was “Cousin Liz,” in...
- 12/7/2023
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Norman Lear was a man of modest physical stature, standing a trim 5’7″ on a good day. In terms of his impact on television — comedy primarily, but the medium as a whole — he was a giant, who belongs on any Mt. Rushmore of showrunners. He dominated an entire decade of TV like no one before or since, with hit after hit that expanded the boundaries of what could be done with the old-fashioned multi-camera sitcom format (shot on a stage in front of a studio audience), and what kinds of stories and characters audiences would accept.
- 12/6/2023
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell, who was once a cast member of the VH1 reality series The Surreal Life, died Monday. He was just 56.
According to his manager who confirmed the news to TMZ, Harwell’s cause of death was liver failure caused by years of alcohol abuse. He died at his home in Boise, Idaho surrounded by friends and family.
More from TVLineJimmy Buffett's Cause of Death Was a Very Rare Skin CancerThe Late Jimmy Buffett Remembered by Hawaii Five-0 Boss, Blue Bloods Star: 'Never Without a Smile'Jimmy Buffett, 'Margaritaville' Singer and Hawaii Five-0 Guest Star, Dead at 76
Harwell...
According to his manager who confirmed the news to TMZ, Harwell’s cause of death was liver failure caused by years of alcohol abuse. He died at his home in Boise, Idaho surrounded by friends and family.
More from TVLineJimmy Buffett's Cause of Death Was a Very Rare Skin CancerThe Late Jimmy Buffett Remembered by Hawaii Five-0 Boss, Blue Bloods Star: 'Never Without a Smile'Jimmy Buffett, 'Margaritaville' Singer and Hawaii Five-0 Guest Star, Dead at 76
Harwell...
- 9/4/2023
- by Nick Caruso
- TVLine.com
Steve Harwell, who co-founded the band Smash Mouth in 1994, has died at the age of 56, band manager Robert Hayes confirmed. The musician, best known for hits like “All Star” and “I’m a Believer,” died at his home in Boise, Idaho, “surrounded by family and friends.”
Harwell had been in hospice care following medical complications. The cause of death was liver failure, Hayes told Rolling Stone.
Hayes said Harwell “passed peacefully and comfortably.” In a statement to Rolling Stone, he offered a lengthy tribute to the artist, who was a...
Harwell had been in hospice care following medical complications. The cause of death was liver failure, Hayes told Rolling Stone.
Hayes said Harwell “passed peacefully and comfortably.” In a statement to Rolling Stone, he offered a lengthy tribute to the artist, who was a...
- 9/4/2023
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
For just about every decade that there has been a sitcom on television, it’s been easy to identify those stars who shine bright as the current face of comedy. In the ’50s, it was Jackie Gleason and Lucille Ball. In the ’60s, it was Dick Van Dyke and Andy Griffith. The ’70s brought us Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore and Bea Arthur, followed by Sherman Hemsley, Bill Cosby and Michael J. Fox in the ’80s, Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne Barr and the cast of Friends in the ’90s, Charlie Sheen and Bernie Mac in the early aughts and Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jim Parsons in 2006 and beyond.
But ever since Veep and The Big Bang Theory went off the air in 2019, the spotlight has remained surprisingly vacant — the result of an expanding and ever-changing business in which multi-camera sitcoms have become vestiges of the past while contemporary comedies have...
But ever since Veep and The Big Bang Theory went off the air in 2019, the spotlight has remained surprisingly vacant — the result of an expanding and ever-changing business in which multi-camera sitcoms have become vestiges of the past while contemporary comedies have...
- 8/11/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Veteran stage and screen actor Gerald Castillo, who appeared in major TV series including “Saved By the Bell,” “General Hospital,” “Hill Street Blues,” “M*A*S*H” and “Dallas,” died May 4 at his home in Houston. He was 90.
Known for his work as Major Slater on “Saved by the Bell” and Judge Davis Wagner on “General Hospital,” Castillo developed a following for his roles in the two series.
Born in Chicago on Dec. 23, 1932, Gerald studied acting and stage direction at the Goodman Theater. Following his education, he acted on stages all across the nation, performing opposite Sherman Hemsley, Rita Moreno, Jessica Tandy, James Broderick and Jeanne Crain. After performing with Hemsley, “The Jeffersons” star convinced Castillo to pursue a film and TV career in Los Angeles.
Castillo then appeared in several feature films, including “Delta Force II,” “Kinjite,” “Death Wish IV,” “State of Emergency,” “Through Naked Eyes,” and “Above Suspicion.”
Castillo also guest starred in several TV series,...
Known for his work as Major Slater on “Saved by the Bell” and Judge Davis Wagner on “General Hospital,” Castillo developed a following for his roles in the two series.
Born in Chicago on Dec. 23, 1932, Gerald studied acting and stage direction at the Goodman Theater. Following his education, he acted on stages all across the nation, performing opposite Sherman Hemsley, Rita Moreno, Jessica Tandy, James Broderick and Jeanne Crain. After performing with Hemsley, “The Jeffersons” star convinced Castillo to pursue a film and TV career in Los Angeles.
Castillo then appeared in several feature films, including “Delta Force II,” “Kinjite,” “Death Wish IV,” “State of Emergency,” “Through Naked Eyes,” and “Above Suspicion.”
Castillo also guest starred in several TV series,...
- 5/24/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
Gerald Castillo, the veteran character actor who portrayed the father of Mario Lopez’s A.C. Slater on the NBC sitcom Saved by the Bell, has died. He was 90.
Castillo died May 4 in his home in Houston, his wife of 36 years, Dayna Quinn-Castillo, announced.
Castillo also played Det. Michael Benedict on NBC’s Hill Street Blues in 1987, Dr. Herrara on CBS’ Knots Landing in 1990 and Judge Davis Wagner on the ABC daytime soap General Hospital in 1992-94.
He showed up on many other shows throughout his career, from All in the Family, Barnaby Jones, M*A*S*H and Dynasty to Night Court, Dallas, Hunter and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
On the big screen, Castillo worked in Through Naked Eyes (1983), Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987), Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989), Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990), State of Emergency (1994) and Above Suspicion (1995). He often portrayed a tough guy.
Fans of Saved by the Bell know...
Castillo died May 4 in his home in Houston, his wife of 36 years, Dayna Quinn-Castillo, announced.
Castillo also played Det. Michael Benedict on NBC’s Hill Street Blues in 1987, Dr. Herrara on CBS’ Knots Landing in 1990 and Judge Davis Wagner on the ABC daytime soap General Hospital in 1992-94.
He showed up on many other shows throughout his career, from All in the Family, Barnaby Jones, M*A*S*H and Dynasty to Night Court, Dallas, Hunter and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
On the big screen, Castillo worked in Through Naked Eyes (1983), Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987), Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989), Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990), State of Emergency (1994) and Above Suspicion (1995). He often portrayed a tough guy.
Fans of Saved by the Bell know...
- 5/24/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Louise and George Jefferson were one of the most popular couples of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Played by Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley, the Jefferson couple came from the sitcom All in the Family. They launched their own successful TV show, The Jeffersons.
The sitcom worked so well partly due to the chemistry between Sanford and Hemsley. But did they date in real life?
An overview of ‘The Jeffersons’
The Jeffersons’ story began in All in the Family. They played the next-door neighbors of All in the Family‘s lead couple the Bunkers. The audience responded so well to the Jeffersons that All in the Family creator Norman Lear decided to give them their own show.
The Jeffersons follows the now-wealthy George, Louise, and their son Lionel as they move from Queens to Manhattan after becoming successful. George is presented as a cocky business owner. But his efforts...
The sitcom worked so well partly due to the chemistry between Sanford and Hemsley. But did they date in real life?
An overview of ‘The Jeffersons’
The Jeffersons’ story began in All in the Family. They played the next-door neighbors of All in the Family‘s lead couple the Bunkers. The audience responded so well to the Jeffersons that All in the Family creator Norman Lear decided to give them their own show.
The Jeffersons follows the now-wealthy George, Louise, and their son Lionel as they move from Queens to Manhattan after becoming successful. George is presented as a cocky business owner. But his efforts...
- 2/28/2023
- by Produced by Digital Editors
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
“The Young and The Restless” welcomes back an All-Star lineup of past cast members for the CBS soap’s 50th anniversary, the network said Thursday.
Beginning in mid-March, Genoa City will see the return of Michael Damian as rock star Danny Romalotti; Patty Weaver as his sister, Gina Roma, and Barbara Crampton as celebrity journalist Leanna Love; Tricia Cast as reformed bad girl Nina Webster; and Veronica Redd as the Abbott family’s surrogate mom, Mamie Johnson.
Damian made his Y&r debut in 1980 and left the show in 1998. He reprised his signature role from 2002-2004, 2008, and 2012-2013 and again in December 2022. The director, writer, and producer’s latest movie was the Lindsay Lohan Netflix holiday romcom “Falling for Christmas.” He reteams with Lohan on the upcoming “Irish Wish,” also for Netflix.
Also Read:
Quinn K. Redeker, Beloved Soap Star of ‘Days Of Our Lives’ and ‘The Young And The Restless,...
Beginning in mid-March, Genoa City will see the return of Michael Damian as rock star Danny Romalotti; Patty Weaver as his sister, Gina Roma, and Barbara Crampton as celebrity journalist Leanna Love; Tricia Cast as reformed bad girl Nina Webster; and Veronica Redd as the Abbott family’s surrogate mom, Mamie Johnson.
Damian made his Y&r debut in 1980 and left the show in 1998. He reprised his signature role from 2002-2004, 2008, and 2012-2013 and again in December 2022. The director, writer, and producer’s latest movie was the Lindsay Lohan Netflix holiday romcom “Falling for Christmas.” He reteams with Lohan on the upcoming “Irish Wish,” also for Netflix.
Also Read:
Quinn K. Redeker, Beloved Soap Star of ‘Days Of Our Lives’ and ‘The Young And The Restless,...
- 2/16/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
Roseanna Christiansen, who played the Southfork ranch maid Teresa on the final nine seasons of the original Dallas on CBS, died July 14 at Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, CA. She was 71. No cause of death was given.
Christiansen joined Dallas in 1982 for its sixth season, staying through the 14th and final season in 1991. She appeared in 112 episodes.
Hollywood & Media Deaths 2022: A Photo Gallery
Before her long stint on Dallas, she appeared on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons for three episodes. She again portrayed a maid during the show’s 1981 season. She was the replacement for Florence (Marla Gibbs), who left the show for the spinoff Checking In. Gibbs returned to the show when that venture lasted just four episodes.
Her character, Carmen, was hired by George (Sherman Hemsley) and Louise (Isabel Sanford) after Florence (Marla Gibbs) quit. In reality, Gibbs had exited to star in her own spinoff,...
Christiansen joined Dallas in 1982 for its sixth season, staying through the 14th and final season in 1991. She appeared in 112 episodes.
Hollywood & Media Deaths 2022: A Photo Gallery
Before her long stint on Dallas, she appeared on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons for three episodes. She again portrayed a maid during the show’s 1981 season. She was the replacement for Florence (Marla Gibbs), who left the show for the spinoff Checking In. Gibbs returned to the show when that venture lasted just four episodes.
Her character, Carmen, was hired by George (Sherman Hemsley) and Louise (Isabel Sanford) after Florence (Marla Gibbs) quit. In reality, Gibbs had exited to star in her own spinoff,...
- 8/6/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Roseanna Christiansen, who took care of the Ewing family’s sprawling Southfork ranch as the maid Teresa on the final nine seasons of the blockbuster CBS primetime soap opera Dallas, has died. She was 71.
Christiansen died July 14 at Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, California, her husband, Steven Rizzo, told The Hollywood Reporter. No cause of death was revealed.
Christiansen joined the David Jacobs-created series in 1982 for its sixth season and remained through the 14th and final season in 1991. She recurred on 112 episodes, with Tony Garcia as Raoul the butler giving her character a hand.
Right before Dallas, she played another maid on three 1981 episodes of another hit CBS show, The Jeffersons.
Her character, Carmen, was hired by George (Sherman Hemsley) and Louise (Isabel Sanford) after Florence (Marla Gibbs) quit. In reality, Gibbs had exited to star in her own spinoff, Checking in,...
Roseanna Christiansen, who took care of the Ewing family’s sprawling Southfork ranch as the maid Teresa on the final nine seasons of the blockbuster CBS primetime soap opera Dallas, has died. She was 71.
Christiansen died July 14 at Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, California, her husband, Steven Rizzo, told The Hollywood Reporter. No cause of death was revealed.
Christiansen joined the David Jacobs-created series in 1982 for its sixth season and remained through the 14th and final season in 1991. She recurred on 112 episodes, with Tony Garcia as Raoul the butler giving her character a hand.
Right before Dallas, she played another maid on three 1981 episodes of another hit CBS show, The Jeffersons.
Her character, Carmen, was hired by George (Sherman Hemsley) and Louise (Isabel Sanford) after Florence (Marla Gibbs) quit. In reality, Gibbs had exited to star in her own spinoff, Checking in,...
- 8/6/2022
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Channels
Paramount‘s free ad-supported streaming television (Fast) provider Pluto TV has launched four new channels in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television (Spt). The new channels will bring Spt content to Pluto TV across Europe and the U.K. Audiences in the U.K., Italy and Spain get a channel dedicated to classic sitcom “Married… with Children,” the classic Spt series which follows the misadventures of misanthropic women’s shoe salesman Al Bundy, played by Ed O’Neill. Viewers in the U.K. and Spain will get “The Nanny,” which follows cosmetic saleswoman Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) as she navigates her new job as a nanny for the three children of a Broadway producer.
Sitcom “The Jeffersons,” which follows the life and family of George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) as he decides to move to New York’s posh Upper East Side and adjusts to the unexpected pitfalls that his new address will bring him,...
Paramount‘s free ad-supported streaming television (Fast) provider Pluto TV has launched four new channels in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television (Spt). The new channels will bring Spt content to Pluto TV across Europe and the U.K. Audiences in the U.K., Italy and Spain get a channel dedicated to classic sitcom “Married… with Children,” the classic Spt series which follows the misadventures of misanthropic women’s shoe salesman Al Bundy, played by Ed O’Neill. Viewers in the U.K. and Spain will get “The Nanny,” which follows cosmetic saleswoman Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) as she navigates her new job as a nanny for the three children of a Broadway producer.
Sitcom “The Jeffersons,” which follows the life and family of George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) as he decides to move to New York’s posh Upper East Side and adjusts to the unexpected pitfalls that his new address will bring him,...
- 6/16/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Wazzup, Wazzup, Wazzup?!!
Cue that '90s nostalgia because BET+ is hitting us right in the heart with a long-awaited Martin: The Reunion, a special for the hit classic series.
It's been 30 years in the making!
Sadly we're down one key cast member after the tragic death of Tommy Ford. However, for the first time in three decades, the cast will come together to reminisce, relive some of their favorite moments, and commemorate one of the most pivotal and influential series in modern Black TV culture.
Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Tichina Arnold, and Carl Anthony Payne II will settle in on the iconic living room set of the series and relive some of their glory days with what was and remains a Black cultural juggernaut series.
Comedian Affion Crockett will host the 90-minute special, and it'll have some surprise guest appearances, special musical performances, and loads of behind-the-scenes commentary.
Anyone...
Cue that '90s nostalgia because BET+ is hitting us right in the heart with a long-awaited Martin: The Reunion, a special for the hit classic series.
It's been 30 years in the making!
Sadly we're down one key cast member after the tragic death of Tommy Ford. However, for the first time in three decades, the cast will come together to reminisce, relive some of their favorite moments, and commemorate one of the most pivotal and influential series in modern Black TV culture.
Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Tichina Arnold, and Carl Anthony Payne II will settle in on the iconic living room set of the series and relive some of their glory days with what was and remains a Black cultural juggernaut series.
Comedian Affion Crockett will host the 90-minute special, and it'll have some surprise guest appearances, special musical performances, and loads of behind-the-scenes commentary.
Anyone...
- 6/7/2022
- by Jasmine Blu
- TVfanatic
Who is the best male TV star of all time? Our photo gallery above takes on the tough task of ranking the 50 greatest actors and performers. Agree or disagree with our choices?
With over 70 years of television to consider, we had to provide ourselves with a few rules to help simplify things. One of those was that every man in our gallery must have been an ongoing leading star at some point, preferably more often than not. That’s why you will not see such classic supporting actors as Art Carney, Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Peter Dinklage and more. We also do not include any news/sports anchors or journalists such as Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, Peter Jennings, Howard Cosell since they are not performers.
In order to place them in the rankings, we were looking at a combination of quality (top rated shows with the public or critics...
With over 70 years of television to consider, we had to provide ourselves with a few rules to help simplify things. One of those was that every man in our gallery must have been an ongoing leading star at some point, preferably more often than not. That’s why you will not see such classic supporting actors as Art Carney, Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Peter Dinklage and more. We also do not include any news/sports anchors or journalists such as Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, Peter Jennings, Howard Cosell since they are not performers.
In order to place them in the rankings, we were looking at a combination of quality (top rated shows with the public or critics...
- 4/17/2022
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Consider this a holiday gift for fans of vintage TV shows, as the below classics all arrived on streaming this month. The Jeffersons You’re already humming the joyous theme song, aren’t you? Thanks to his successful dry-cleaning business, fiery George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley), spirited wife Weezy (Isabel Sanford), and hip son Lionel (Mike Evans and Damon Evans) moved on up from Queens to New York’s Upper East Side on CBS’s 1975–85 spinoff of All in the Family. Like its predecessor, the sitcom seamlessly blended humor with groundbreaking issues, like interracial romance. Seasons 1–11 available Sanford and Son (Credit: Everett Collection) Sanford and Son Widower Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) may have worked as a junk dealer, but this sitcom was comedy gold. Episodes of the 1972–77 series — NBC’s answer to issue-charged All in the Family, also from producer Norman Lear — centered around Fred’s clashes with levelheaded son Lamont...
- 12/26/2021
- TV Insider
Michaela Coel, Norman Lear and Steve McQueen were among the special achievement honorees at the third annual Aafca TV Honors on Saturday.
The event, presented by the African American Film Critics Association, was held virtually, with Emmy-nominee Yvette Nicole Brown hosting the award show.
Honorees including Wanda Sykes, Naomi Ackie and Omar Sy beamed in from home to accept their honors. The awards were presented by more than two dozen Aafca members, including Aafca president Gil Robertson, who highlighted what made each project impactful and each artist exceptional.
Breakout Creative Award recipient Coel mentioned the virtual nature of the ceremony in her speech, saying she looked forward to the day when she’s able to attend the ceremony in person and commune with the other Black artists who’ve inspired her.
“I made a story, which was filmed all the way across the pond, on my European continent, could be...
The event, presented by the African American Film Critics Association, was held virtually, with Emmy-nominee Yvette Nicole Brown hosting the award show.
Honorees including Wanda Sykes, Naomi Ackie and Omar Sy beamed in from home to accept their honors. The awards were presented by more than two dozen Aafca members, including Aafca president Gil Robertson, who highlighted what made each project impactful and each artist exceptional.
Breakout Creative Award recipient Coel mentioned the virtual nature of the ceremony in her speech, saying she looked forward to the day when she’s able to attend the ceremony in person and commune with the other Black artists who’ve inspired her.
“I made a story, which was filmed all the way across the pond, on my European continent, could be...
- 8/22/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
The African American Film Critics Association has scrapped its planned in-person ceremony for the 3rd annual Aafca TV Honors, and will instead now take place as a virtual event. The shift was made in light of the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in both Southern California and around the country due to the delta strain of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Aafca also announced on Monday that it would recognize legendary TV producer Norman Lear with the org’s Aafca TV Honors Legend Award. The virtual ceremony takes place on Saturday, Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. Pt. Yvette Nicole Brown will host the now-online affair, which had been previously slated for the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, with a 50 percent audience capacity.
“Norman Lear’s work has made such a tremendous impact that creators still feed off of it till this day,” said Aafca co-founder and president Gil Robertson. “This award recognizes Mr.
Meanwhile, Aafca also announced on Monday that it would recognize legendary TV producer Norman Lear with the org’s Aafca TV Honors Legend Award. The virtual ceremony takes place on Saturday, Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. Pt. Yvette Nicole Brown will host the now-online affair, which had been previously slated for the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, with a 50 percent audience capacity.
“Norman Lear’s work has made such a tremendous impact that creators still feed off of it till this day,” said Aafca co-founder and president Gil Robertson. “This award recognizes Mr.
- 8/9/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Television pioneer Norman Lear will be honored with the Legend Award by the African American Film Critics Association as part of its Special Achievement Honoree class during its annual TV Honors celebration.
The group celebrates Lear’s diverse and inclusive legacy which includes a vast library of TV hits spanning decades: Maude, All in the Family, One Day at a Time, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and Sanford and Son.
“As I reflect on the past 99 years of life, I think of all of the those who are responsible for helping me make it this far,” Lear said in a statement. “From the Tuskegee Airmen who flew by my side in WWII to the brilliant actors, writers, producers, and creators who made me laugh in places I didn’t know existed throughout my career.
“I’ve said it many times before – laughter adds time to your life. And being fortunate enough...
The group celebrates Lear’s diverse and inclusive legacy which includes a vast library of TV hits spanning decades: Maude, All in the Family, One Day at a Time, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and Sanford and Son.
“As I reflect on the past 99 years of life, I think of all of the those who are responsible for helping me make it this far,” Lear said in a statement. “From the Tuskegee Airmen who flew by my side in WWII to the brilliant actors, writers, producers, and creators who made me laugh in places I didn’t know existed throughout my career.
“I’ve said it many times before – laughter adds time to your life. And being fortunate enough...
- 8/9/2021
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Douglas Turner Ward, the director, actor and playwright who co-founded the landmark, influential Off Broadway Black theater group the Negro Ensemble Company, died Saturday, Feb. 20, at his home in New York City. He was 90.
His death was announced by his wife Diana Ward.
Ward had already begun a solid New York stage acting career in the 1950s and ’60s – including Off Broadway roles in The Iceman Cometh and on Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun – when, according to The New York Times, he wrote a 1966 editorial for that newspaper headlined “American Theater: For Whites Only?” The article called for the establishment of a Black repertory theater company. Turner wrote, “Not in the future…but now!”
A year later the Ford Foundation awarded a $434,000 grant to create the Negro Ensemble Company with Ward as artistic director, along with Robert Hooks and Gerald S. Krone in other leadership roles.
The Company...
His death was announced by his wife Diana Ward.
Ward had already begun a solid New York stage acting career in the 1950s and ’60s – including Off Broadway roles in The Iceman Cometh and on Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun – when, according to The New York Times, he wrote a 1966 editorial for that newspaper headlined “American Theater: For Whites Only?” The article called for the establishment of a Black repertory theater company. Turner wrote, “Not in the future…but now!”
A year later the Ford Foundation awarded a $434,000 grant to create the Negro Ensemble Company with Ward as artistic director, along with Robert Hooks and Gerald S. Krone in other leadership roles.
The Company...
- 2/23/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
“All in the Family” was notable for many things — including the fact that it spawned seven other TV series. The influential sitcom was controversial when it first aired on 50 years ago on Jan. 12, 1971, and it went on to confront numerous issues that hadn’t previously been portrayed on television. The show’s spin-off series continued to break boundaries with discussions of abortion, alcoholism and racism. The characters and mood set by “All in the Family” left a big mark on television history, including these seven spin-offs:
“Maude” (1972-78)
The title character, played by Bea Arthur, was a tall, ultra-liberal feminist who drove Archie crazy; she was introduced in as Edith’s cousin in two “All in the Family” episodes in the 1971-72 season.
The two-part season opener for “Maude” in 1973 dealt with the alcoholism of her husband Walter (Bill Macy). Variety said it “underscored that sitcoms this year are treading...
“Maude” (1972-78)
The title character, played by Bea Arthur, was a tall, ultra-liberal feminist who drove Archie crazy; she was introduced in as Edith’s cousin in two “All in the Family” episodes in the 1971-72 season.
The two-part season opener for “Maude” in 1973 dealt with the alcoholism of her husband Walter (Bill Macy). Variety said it “underscored that sitcoms this year are treading...
- 1/12/2021
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
The war of words between Howard Stern and his former friend, President Donald Trump, and the president’s son Donald Jr escalated last weekend when Junior retweeted a conservative missive that the SiriusXM broadcaster appeared in blackface and used the N-word multiple times in a pay-per-view New Year’s Eve special — in 1993.
Trump Jr has been jabbing at Stern since the radio host has spoken critically of his father’s slow response to the pandemic, and his polarizing comments in the wake of the George Floyd murder and subsequent protests. Stern in turn has jabbed back that Junior has had everything handed to him by his famous father, and has no notable accomplishments on his own. Then, Trump Jr retweeted the clip of the performance.
The clip was first posted by filmmaker Tariq Nasheed, and it was interspersed with Stern’s recent appearance on The View, where he claimed during...
Trump Jr has been jabbing at Stern since the radio host has spoken critically of his father’s slow response to the pandemic, and his polarizing comments in the wake of the George Floyd murder and subsequent protests. Stern in turn has jabbed back that Junior has had everything handed to him by his famous father, and has no notable accomplishments on his own. Then, Trump Jr retweeted the clip of the performance.
The clip was first posted by filmmaker Tariq Nasheed, and it was interspersed with Stern’s recent appearance on The View, where he claimed during...
- 6/15/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Marla Gibbs stole the show on ABC’s “Live in Front of Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons,” reprising her role as Florence, wisecracking maid to the Jeffersons. Gibbs earned five Emmy nominations for her original run on “The Jeffersons.”
Gibbs recently sat down with Gold Derby managing editor Chris Beachum to discuss how it felt to walk onto “The Jeffersons” set again, working with the new cast and her memories of working with Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley.
SEEHuge Emmy surprises next for ABC’s live ‘All in the Family/ Jeffersons’?
Gold Derby: Marla Gibbs, you returned as Florence on “The Jeffersons” live special a few weeks ago. How did you and Norman Lear and everybody keep that a surprise?
Marla Gibbs: I don’t know how they did it but they did it.
Gd: Were you allowed to even tell your friends and family?...
Gibbs recently sat down with Gold Derby managing editor Chris Beachum to discuss how it felt to walk onto “The Jeffersons” set again, working with the new cast and her memories of working with Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley.
SEEHuge Emmy surprises next for ABC’s live ‘All in the Family/ Jeffersons’?
Gold Derby: Marla Gibbs, you returned as Florence on “The Jeffersons” live special a few weeks ago. How did you and Norman Lear and everybody keep that a surprise?
Marla Gibbs: I don’t know how they did it but they did it.
Gd: Were you allowed to even tell your friends and family?...
- 7/8/2019
- by Kevin Jacobsen and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Wanda Sykes had a strong year on television this year, between “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and The Jeffersons,'” her Netflix comedy special “Not Normal” and her recurring role on “Black-ish.” She is a nine-time Emmy nominee, winning 20 years ago for writing on “The Chris Rock Show.”
Sykes recently spoke with Gold Derby managing editor Chris Beachum about how she got involved with “The Jeffersons” special, how she came up with material for “Not Normal” and her relationship with Anthony Anderson on “Black-ish.” Watch the exclusive video interview and read the complete transcript below.
SEEHuge Emmy surprises next for ABC’s live ‘All in the Family/ Jeffersons’?
Gold Derby: I wanna start with the “All in the Family,” “Jeffersons” live event. That was just here in May, two or three weeks ago. What was it like getting that phone call...
Sykes recently spoke with Gold Derby managing editor Chris Beachum about how she got involved with “The Jeffersons” special, how she came up with material for “Not Normal” and her relationship with Anthony Anderson on “Black-ish.” Watch the exclusive video interview and read the complete transcript below.
SEEHuge Emmy surprises next for ABC’s live ‘All in the Family/ Jeffersons’?
Gold Derby: I wanna start with the “All in the Family,” “Jeffersons” live event. That was just here in May, two or three weeks ago. What was it like getting that phone call...
- 7/3/2019
- by Kevin Jacobsen and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Marla Gibbs told a select group of friends and family she would be on the live special for ABC’s “The Jeffersons” in May, but they wouldn’t believe her since she wasn’t in any of the promotional materials. That’s because producers Norman Lear and Jimmy Kimmel wanted it to be a surprise to audiences when Gibbs reprised her classic role of Florence Johnston.
In our exclusive interview (watch the video above), she reveals, “When I read the script I said, ‘This is the same show I did word for word,’ and of course I remembered it all…. the moves and everything. It was the thing that changed my life, so you don’t forget it.”
SEEHuge Emmy surprises next for ABC’s live ‘All in the Family/ Jeffersons’?
The program “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” recreated one episode of “All in the Family” and another from “The Jeffersons,...
In our exclusive interview (watch the video above), she reveals, “When I read the script I said, ‘This is the same show I did word for word,’ and of course I remembered it all…. the moves and everything. It was the thing that changed my life, so you don’t forget it.”
SEEHuge Emmy surprises next for ABC’s live ‘All in the Family/ Jeffersons’?
The program “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” recreated one episode of “All in the Family” and another from “The Jeffersons,...
- 6/13/2019
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
“We all wanted to set in Archie’s chair!” exclaims Wanda Sykes about her recent starring appearance on the live version of “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons” for ABC. In our exclusive webchat (watch the video above), she adds, “I grew up watching those shows, so to me it was an incredible experience on that same set… the furniture, the swinging kitchen door. I teared up when I saw the house number on the porch of 704 Hauser Street.”
Sykes played the iconic character of Louise (“Weezie”) Jefferson opposite Jamie Foxx as George Jefferson (roles originated by Emmy winner Isabel Sanford and Emmy nominee Sherman Hemsley). The program “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” is eligible at the 2019 Emmy Awards as Best Variety Special (Live) and the performers are in the movie/limited series acting categories. ABC is going all out in its promotion to voters by offering...
Sykes played the iconic character of Louise (“Weezie”) Jefferson opposite Jamie Foxx as George Jefferson (roles originated by Emmy winner Isabel Sanford and Emmy nominee Sherman Hemsley). The program “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” is eligible at the 2019 Emmy Awards as Best Variety Special (Live) and the performers are in the movie/limited series acting categories. ABC is going all out in its promotion to voters by offering...
- 6/12/2019
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
May 22’s live re-creation of two classic Norman Lear sitcoms, “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” provided ABC with boffo ratings and mostly glowing reviews for its cast, especially Marisa Tomei as Edith Bunker and Wanda Sykes as a sassy Louise Jefferson.
The ladies who originated those roles in the ’70s, Jean Stapleton as so-called dingbat Edith and Isabel Sanford as her onetime African-American neighbor Louise won their share of Emmys. Stapleton collected three trophies for best comedy actress and Sanford made history by becoming the second black American actress to win a Primetime Emmy and the first to win as a lead actress in a comedy series. As for the Jefferson’s wisecracking maid, Florence, an 86-year-old Marla Gibbs — who was Emmy-nominated five times for her supporting role — simply took up where she left off.
Woody Harrelson, taking over for four-time Emmy winner Carroll O’Connor as bigoted Archie Bunker,...
The ladies who originated those roles in the ’70s, Jean Stapleton as so-called dingbat Edith and Isabel Sanford as her onetime African-American neighbor Louise won their share of Emmys. Stapleton collected three trophies for best comedy actress and Sanford made history by becoming the second black American actress to win a Primetime Emmy and the first to win as a lead actress in a comedy series. As for the Jefferson’s wisecracking maid, Florence, an 86-year-old Marla Gibbs — who was Emmy-nominated five times for her supporting role — simply took up where she left off.
Woody Harrelson, taking over for four-time Emmy winner Carroll O’Connor as bigoted Archie Bunker,...
- 5/28/2019
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Marla Gibbs never won an Emmy for playing Florence Johnston on “The Jeffersons” for 11 seasons. But now she may get her chance.
Sony Pictures TV is submitting the cast of Wednesday night’s ABC special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons'” for Emmy consideration — including Gibbs, who was a surprise, unannounced performer on the program, reprising her role as the Jeffersons’ maid.
“Live in Front of a Studio Audience” will compete in the outstanding variety special (live) race, which makes sense; the category is specifically for variety specials that are live, and the ABC event fits the bill.
But there is no category anymore for variety program performers, which poses a problem for events like “Live in Front of a Studio Audience.” Last year, NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” successfully entered several of its stars in...
Sony Pictures TV is submitting the cast of Wednesday night’s ABC special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons'” for Emmy consideration — including Gibbs, who was a surprise, unannounced performer on the program, reprising her role as the Jeffersons’ maid.
“Live in Front of a Studio Audience” will compete in the outstanding variety special (live) race, which makes sense; the category is specifically for variety specials that are live, and the ABC event fits the bill.
But there is no category anymore for variety program performers, which poses a problem for events like “Live in Front of a Studio Audience.” Last year, NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” successfully entered several of its stars in...
- 5/23/2019
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
In retrospect, it was only a matter of time before reboot and revival fever manifested as verbatim repeats — but if TV’s gonna go there, bringing back eerily timely shows like “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons” is the way to do it.
That Norman Lear’s comedies are timely, or at least prescient, is an established TV industry truism decades in the making. The family sitcoms he produced — including “All in the Family,” “Maude,” “The Jeffersons,” “One Day at a Time” and more — refused to live by the dictum that everyone should just get along and avoid topics like religion, money, and politics. In fact, most of the characters on shows he produced barreled headlong into the most contentious issues of the day, grappling with their differences by airing them out in hilarious, sometimes excruciating detail. That model of family sitcom has endured ever since; today’s TV shares its DNA,...
That Norman Lear’s comedies are timely, or at least prescient, is an established TV industry truism decades in the making. The family sitcoms he produced — including “All in the Family,” “Maude,” “The Jeffersons,” “One Day at a Time” and more — refused to live by the dictum that everyone should just get along and avoid topics like religion, money, and politics. In fact, most of the characters on shows he produced barreled headlong into the most contentious issues of the day, grappling with their differences by airing them out in hilarious, sometimes excruciating detail. That model of family sitcom has endured ever since; today’s TV shares its DNA,...
- 5/23/2019
- by Caroline Framke
- Variety Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: This review contains details of tonight’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons on ABC. So, don’t be a meathead and read more if you don’t want to know what happened.
“It’s live,” Jamie Foxx told a suddenly wide awake America tonight after flubbing a line on ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons.
“Everyone sitting at home just thought their TV just messed up,” the Oscar-winning actor with trained recovery skills, breaking his George Jefferson character as fellow cast members like Woody Harrelson’s Archie Bunker, Ellie Kemper, Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Anderson and Marisa Tomei’s Edith Bunker cracked up in the background.
We said anything could happen! #LiveInFrontOfAStudioAudience #TheJeffersons #AllintheFamily pic.twitter.com/d8lNCjUzD3
— ABC (@ABCNetwork) May 23, 2019
At that moment,...
“It’s live,” Jamie Foxx told a suddenly wide awake America tonight after flubbing a line on ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons.
“Everyone sitting at home just thought their TV just messed up,” the Oscar-winning actor with trained recovery skills, breaking his George Jefferson character as fellow cast members like Woody Harrelson’s Archie Bunker, Ellie Kemper, Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Anderson and Marisa Tomei’s Edith Bunker cracked up in the background.
We said anything could happen! #LiveInFrontOfAStudioAudience #TheJeffersons #AllintheFamily pic.twitter.com/d8lNCjUzD3
— ABC (@ABCNetwork) May 23, 2019
At that moment,...
- 5/23/2019
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Jamie Foxx had a hilarious slip up while playing George Jefferson on Jimmy Kimmel’s live re-creation of classic Norman Lear sitcoms “The Jeffersons” and “All In The Family.”
The 90-minute primetime special that aired Wednesday, May 22 on ABC re-created one episode each from “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,.” The all-star cast was led by Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei as Archie and Edith Bunker, and Foxx and Wanda Sykes as George and Louise Jefferson.
And understandably, since the whole production was filmed live in front of a studio audience, one or two mistakes were bound to happen.
Also Read: Jimmy Kimmel to Re-Create 'All in the Family,' 'The Jeffersons' Episodes Live
“Ever since I was a little boy, I would always beg my mother for a little brother. But you know we were broke, so all –” Foxx begins, before stuttering repeatedly on the last word.
The 90-minute primetime special that aired Wednesday, May 22 on ABC re-created one episode each from “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,.” The all-star cast was led by Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei as Archie and Edith Bunker, and Foxx and Wanda Sykes as George and Louise Jefferson.
And understandably, since the whole production was filmed live in front of a studio audience, one or two mistakes were bound to happen.
Also Read: Jimmy Kimmel to Re-Create 'All in the Family,' 'The Jeffersons' Episodes Live
“Ever since I was a little boy, I would always beg my mother for a little brother. But you know we were broke, so all –” Foxx begins, before stuttering repeatedly on the last word.
- 5/23/2019
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
In the second half of Wednesday’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons, the formidable tag team of Jamie Foxx and Wanda Sykes took center stage as George and Louise Jefferson, the movin’-on-upwardly-mobile couple played by Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford in the 1975-85 sitcom. How did they and their co-stars fare in their remake of the series’ premiere? Read on…
‘I Always Say There Are Two Things That Are No Fun Unless You Have Company — And The Other One Is Drinking Coffee’ | As “A Friend in Need” began,...
‘I Always Say There Are Two Things That Are No Fun Unless You Have Company — And The Other One Is Drinking Coffee’ | As “A Friend in Need” began,...
- 5/23/2019
- TVLine.com
It’s probably no surprise that Norman Lear has seen his relevancy rise even higher in recent years. Lear’s classic 1970s sitcoms, such as “All in the Family,” “Maude,” “Good Times” and “The Jeffersons,” feel just as applicable today as they did 40 years ago.
And that’s part of the motivation behind ABC’s Wednesday night special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons.'”
The special is a re-creation of two episodes, one from each series, as performed by contemporary stars — including Woody Harrelson as Archie Bunker, Marisa Tomei as Edith Bunker, Jamie Foxx as George Jefferson, and Wanda Sykes as Louise Jefferson.
The actual episodes used are under embargo, but there is a natural thread between the two shows, given that “The Jeffersons,” which ran from 1975 to 1985, is a spinoff of “All in the Family,” which aired from 1971 to 1979. For this special,...
And that’s part of the motivation behind ABC’s Wednesday night special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons.'”
The special is a re-creation of two episodes, one from each series, as performed by contemporary stars — including Woody Harrelson as Archie Bunker, Marisa Tomei as Edith Bunker, Jamie Foxx as George Jefferson, and Wanda Sykes as Louise Jefferson.
The actual episodes used are under embargo, but there is a natural thread between the two shows, given that “The Jeffersons,” which ran from 1975 to 1985, is a spinoff of “All in the Family,” which aired from 1971 to 1979. For this special,...
- 5/22/2019
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
In May 2017, Jimmy Kimmel and Justin Theroux announced they were teaming up to produce a live ABC special that would recreate classic sitcoms. Two years later, it’s finally happening. On Thursday, ABC announced that the 90-minute special will air on May 22 and will be a tribute to Norman Lear‘s seminal “All in the Family” and its spin-off “The Jeffersons.” The star-studded cast includes Woody Harrelson as Archie Bunker, Marisa Tomei as Edith Bunker and Jamie Foxx as George Jefferson. If this goes over well, watch out, Emmys.
While the special itself would be under the live variety special category, performers in live specials compete in the limited series/TV movie acting categories. And with a lot of fluidity in those races this year, these heavy hitters could definitely crash them. Tomei and Foxx are Oscar winners, while Harrelson is an Emmy champ and a three-time Oscar nominee. The...
While the special itself would be under the live variety special category, performers in live specials compete in the limited series/TV movie acting categories. And with a lot of fluidity in those races this year, these heavy hitters could definitely crash them. Tomei and Foxx are Oscar winners, while Harrelson is an Emmy champ and a three-time Oscar nominee. The...
- 4/21/2019
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
If the phrase “Woody Harrelson as Archie Bunker” is at all up your alley, you’ve come to the right place. ABC is staging one-night-only revivals of two iconic Norman Lear sitcoms, All in the Family and The Jeffersons, Jimmy Kimmel announced during his show on Thursday.
Airing Wednesday, May 22 at 8/7c, the 90-minute live event stars Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei as All in the Family‘s Archie and Edith Bunker (originally played by Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton), along with Ellie Kemper as Gloria Stivic (originally played by Sally Struthers).
The Jeffersons‘ portion of the special features...
Airing Wednesday, May 22 at 8/7c, the 90-minute live event stars Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei as All in the Family‘s Archie and Edith Bunker (originally played by Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton), along with Ellie Kemper as Gloria Stivic (originally played by Sally Struthers).
The Jeffersons‘ portion of the special features...
- 4/19/2019
- TVLine.com
The Jeffersons was all about an African-American couple that managed to move from Queens to Manhattan thanks to George’s dry-cleaning business and its overall success. The show was one that might have been dubbed controversial even today for its use of certain words and the subject material. The sad thing about this show is that upon its cancellation no one was even informed. Sherman Hemsley had to read about it in the newspaper and Isabel Sanford had to find out about it secondhand. It was a cheap way to go out to be honest, especially for a show that everyone
Whatever Happened to the Cast of “The Jeffersons?”...
Whatever Happened to the Cast of “The Jeffersons?”...
- 8/8/2018
- by Tom
- TVovermind.com
TV legend Norman Lear celebrated his 96th birthday this week at a star-studded event sponsored by Aarp. Gold Derby was on-hand at the Sunset Tower Hotel and snagged red carpet interviews with Lear and the stars of some of his most popular television shows: Adrienne Barbeau (“Maude”), Marla Gibbs (“The Jeffersons”), and Jimmie Walker (“Good Times”). Scroll down and click on any name below to be taken to their full interview.
The event, hosted by Wendie Malick, was part of Aarp’s inaugural TV for Grownups Honors. Egot recipient Rita Moreno, who stars in the Netflix reboot of Lear’s “One Day at a Time,” presented the legendary producer with the award. And also in attendance were John Amos, who played Walker’s father in Lear’s “Good Times,” Ed Begley Jr., Frances Fisher, Robert Forster, Michael McKean, Bob Saget and many more.
See 2018 Emmy slugfest: Why Best Comedy Series...
The event, hosted by Wendie Malick, was part of Aarp’s inaugural TV for Grownups Honors. Egot recipient Rita Moreno, who stars in the Netflix reboot of Lear’s “One Day at a Time,” presented the legendary producer with the award. And also in attendance were John Amos, who played Walker’s father in Lear’s “Good Times,” Ed Begley Jr., Frances Fisher, Robert Forster, Michael McKean, Bob Saget and many more.
See 2018 Emmy slugfest: Why Best Comedy Series...
- 7/27/2018
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Up, Up and Away (2000) Director: Robert Townsend Cast: Robert Townsend, Michael J. Pagan, Sherman Hemsley With the Incredibles back to fight crime before dinnertime this weekend, Awfully Good Movies celebrates in honor of Incredibles 2 by showcasing a lesser-known superhero family comedy in the Disney library: Up, Up And Away, directed by and starring Robert Townsend! But even though this is the same... Read More...
- 6/13/2018
- by Jesse Shade
- JoBlo.com
The Weinstein Company assets will be purchased by the Ron Burkle-backed Maria Contreras-Sweet, and all things Weinstein will be removed from whatever remains. After a nearly four-decade run, the legacy of the most successful specialized distributor in history comes down to the last five tumultuous months that mark an inglorious (if not inglourious) end.
The Weinsteins made its first big Oscar splash in 1990 with “My Left Foot,” but they’d already been around for some time. Long before I covered box office for IndieWire, I spent 30 years as a film buyer, booking for theaters — and was a first-hand witness to Harvey and Bob Weinstein’s rise. Here’s my perspective on how they grew from a small outlier to an indie powerhouse.
“Bob Weinstein on the line. He says he’s from Buffalo.”
Back in 1981, phone calls were announced by a receptionist. As a young film buyer for M&R Theaters,...
The Weinsteins made its first big Oscar splash in 1990 with “My Left Foot,” but they’d already been around for some time. Long before I covered box office for IndieWire, I spent 30 years as a film buyer, booking for theaters — and was a first-hand witness to Harvey and Bob Weinstein’s rise. Here’s my perspective on how they grew from a small outlier to an indie powerhouse.
“Bob Weinstein on the line. He says he’s from Buffalo.”
Back in 1981, phone calls were announced by a receptionist. As a young film buyer for M&R Theaters,...
- 3/6/2018
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Mr. Nanny (1993) Director: Michael Gottlieb Stars: Hulk Hogan, Sherman Hemsley, Austin Pendleton Last weekend gave us Ryan Reynolds guarding the body of Samuel L. Jackson in The Hitman's Bodyguard, so Awfully Good Movies is here to take a bullet for the one and only Hulk Hogan, as he guards two little troublemakers in 1993's Mr. Nanny! Yes, even after the failure of... Read More...
- 8/25/2017
- by Jesse Shade
- JoBlo.com
For the week of February 10th, your horror and sci-fi home entertainment choices are practically boundless, as we’ve got a bevy of great films being released (something that might be helpful for those of you still in search for a gift for your Valentine). Scream Factory is pulling double-duty with both of their dual Blu-ray releases, Love at First Bite/Once Bitten and Vampire’s Kiss/High Spirits, and the cult classic Nekromantik 2 is getting a high def upgrade as well.
Other notable titles to look forward to this Tuesday include Nightcrawler, Predestination, Fear Clinic, Z Nation: Season One and the Criterion release for the classic thriller Don’t Look Now.
Love at First Bite/Once Bitten (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)
Love At First Bite: George Hamilton is possibly the tannest vampire in screen history in 1979’s Love at First Bite. When Count Dracula (Hamilton) is forced...
Other notable titles to look forward to this Tuesday include Nightcrawler, Predestination, Fear Clinic, Z Nation: Season One and the Criterion release for the classic thriller Don’t Look Now.
Love at First Bite/Once Bitten (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)
Love At First Bite: George Hamilton is possibly the tannest vampire in screen history in 1979’s Love at First Bite. When Count Dracula (Hamilton) is forced...
- 2/10/2015
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Love can be complicated, especially when a relationship has supernatural elements. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Scream Factory is about to release two Blu-ray double features that celebrate love in various forms: the obsessive nature of Nicolas Cage’s Peter Loew in Vampire’s Kiss, the ghost/human coupling in High Spirits, the desperate seeking of companionship in Love at First Bite, and the wide-eyed puppy love of Jim Carrey’s Mark Kendall in Once Bitten.
These double bill Blu-rays are due out from Scream Factory on February 10th, and we have a batch of clips and trailers from the films that tease the pleasures and pains of paranormal romance and supernatural seduction.
High Spirits: “Daryl Hannah, Peter O’Toole, Steve Guttenberg, Beverly D’Angelo, Jennifer Tilly, Peter Gallagher and Liam Neeson star in this hilariously haunting comedy! When a castle-turned-hotel owned by Peter Plunkett (O...
These double bill Blu-rays are due out from Scream Factory on February 10th, and we have a batch of clips and trailers from the films that tease the pleasures and pains of paranormal romance and supernatural seduction.
High Spirits: “Daryl Hannah, Peter O’Toole, Steve Guttenberg, Beverly D’Angelo, Jennifer Tilly, Peter Gallagher and Liam Neeson star in this hilariously haunting comedy! When a castle-turned-hotel owned by Peter Plunkett (O...
- 2/5/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Actor Sherman Hemsley died in July 2012 of lung cancer at the age of 74, but he was not buried for four months thanks to a dispute between the business manager he lived with and a long-lost half-brother who each claimed the right to dispose of his remains. Hemsley, best known for his role as George Jefferson, was finally buried in El Paso, Tex., in November 2012, but the dispute continued for two years thereafter until late last week. A Texas appeals court has decided that it is best to leave Hemsley in the spot where he now
read more...
read more...
- 11/17/2014
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It was the booty call heard 'round the world. On the October 7 episode of The Mindy Project ("I Slipped"), Danny tried to get some action from his girlfriend Mindy’s back section, marking network comedy’s first attempt to talk about anal sex. “Well, I have to correct you there as I believe there was one pioneer before us who bravely tackled anal sex on broadcast TV, and that was an episode of Amen starring Sherman Hemsley,” Ike Barinholtz joked when Vulture sat down with the actor/writer/producer on the show’s L.A. set last Friday. “Actually, I don’t think it has ever been done before, probably with good reason. We’re proud to make history any way we can. In fact, we sent that episode straight to the Smithsonian. It will be running on a perpetual loop for eternity next to Archie Bunker’s chair.”“I...
- 10/23/2014
- by Carrie Bell
- Vulture
Sherman Hemsley might finally be buried, but a long-running dispute over who is entitled to the late actor's residuals survives and was the subject of a ruling on Monday by a California appeals court. The actor best known for playing George Jefferson on All in the Family and The Jeffersons, died of lung cancer at the age of 74 in July 2012. But Hemsley wasn't put in the ground until November thanks to a bizarre estate dispute arising from the emergence of a man who claimed to be Hemsley's brother. Yes, it took four months to bury Sherman Hemsley.
read more...
read more...
- 9/10/2013
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The final episode of Cheers was a big deal. Cheers was one of those terrific sitcoms that managed to beat the odds. Like M*A*S*H, it not only survived major cast changes, which can kill a show, but was strengthened by them. Cheers remained fresh throughout its run and ended on a high note.
When Cheers closed its doors the big announcement was that there would be a spinoff: Frasier. My first thought was that it would be a disaster. Cheers thrived on an ensemble cast that clicked so well that the power of the characters and their relationships with one another made the show. The bar and situations were secondary.
I couldn’t imagine a series called “Sam” or “Diane” or “Woody” working at all, much less a “Frasier.”
But it did. And it succeeded in the same way Cheers did. Frasier was less a Kelsey Grammar...
When Cheers closed its doors the big announcement was that there would be a spinoff: Frasier. My first thought was that it would be a disaster. Cheers thrived on an ensemble cast that clicked so well that the power of the characters and their relationships with one another made the show. The bar and situations were secondary.
I couldn’t imagine a series called “Sam” or “Diane” or “Woody” working at all, much less a “Frasier.”
But it did. And it succeeded in the same way Cheers did. Frasier was less a Kelsey Grammar...
- 5/29/2013
- by James Kirk
- Obsessed with Film
Comedian Phyllis Diller, actress Lupe Ontiveros and "The Jeffersons" star Sherman Hemsley were snubbed in the Oscars' time-restricted "In Memoriam" montage on Sunday night. And they didn't make the cut for an online slideshow, either. The 85th Academy Awards paid tribute to stars who died in the last year, but with the telecast limited to three-and-a-half hours, many names were omitted from the program. Since 1993, the segment has honored those contributors to cinema that died in the previous year, a group selected by a small committee of the Academy. While actors Andy Griffith...
- 2/26/2013
- by Alexander C. Kaufman
- The Wrap
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.