Throughout 2024, we will continue to update this In Memoriam photo gallery with notable celebrity deaths from film, television, theater and music. Major entertainment figures to be honored in the 2024 gallery are TV legends Bob Newhart and Phil Donahue, Oscar/Tony/Emmy winner Dame Maggie Smith, Emmy/Tony/Grammy winner James Earl Jones, music legend and Grammy/Tony/Emmy winner Quincy Jones, Oscar winner Louis Gossett, Jr., Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Gena Rowlands, Oscar nominee Teri Garr, director/producer Norman Jewison, broadway legend Chita Rivera, country music superstars Kris Kristofferson and Toby Keith and actors Dabney Coleman, Donald Sutherland and Carl Weathers.

Featured in the 2023 gallery were Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Tina Turner, Harry Belafonte, Jeff Beck, Robbie Robertson and David Crosby, Oscar and Tony winner Alan Arkin, Oscar/Emmy/Tony winner Glenda Jackson, Oscar and Grammy winner Burt Bacharach, Oscar winner William Friedkin, Grammy legend Tony Bennett,...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

"The Big Bang Theory" featured plenty of famous guest stars — like a bunch of "Star Trek" veterans, the late James Earl Jones, and Bob Newhart, just to name a few — but some celebrities either turned down the chance to be a part of Chuck Lorre's show or just missed the boat somehow. Macaulay Culkin was asked to play an unspecified lead role and said no, while Marisa Tomei elected not to play Penny (a role that ultimately went to Kaley Cuoco). According to Jessica Radloff's book "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series," pop star and actor Selena Gomez actually really wanted to appear on "The Big Bang Theory," but the show couldn't make it work with her schedule.

As executive producer Steve Molaro recalled, he noticed that Gomez posted on social...

Doc Severinsen was a snitch.

After a night off, Johnny Carson was back in his Tonight Show chair, and it didn’t take him long to notice something was off. A cigarette box that had been a mainstay on his desk for years was broken. “What the hell happened to this?” Carson asked the bandleader. “You know how long I’ve had this cigarette box? I brought this out from New York. What on earth?”

“Rickles!” came the shouts from offstage, either from the audience, stagehands or both. “Don Rickles,” Doc clarified in case Carson thought some other Rickles was the perpetrator.

Carson wasn’t happy. “What the hell did he do with it?” he wondered. “The wood is broken! That’s an heirloom!”

It was an easy explanation. He was screwing around with guest host Bob Newhart, banging Johnny’s desk and accidentally busting Carson’s box.

This indignity would not stand.

A whole bunch of iconic performers appeared on "The Big Bang Theory" throughout its twelve-season run; hell, the list of "Star Trek" veterans who popped up on Chuck Lorre's sitcom is a pretty hefty list all by itself. Most of the time, people like William Shatner or James Earl Jones simply played larger-than-life versions of themselves, but sometimes TV legends would show up to have a little fun ... like Bob Newhart, who was a repeat guest star on "The Big Bang Theory" as Sheldon Cooper's (Jim Parsons) childhood idol Professor Proton, also known as Arthur Jeffries.

Apparently, Newhart's first day on the set of "The Big Bang Theory" was seriously emotional for everyone involved ... especially Newhart himself, who found himself totally overwhelmed by the live audience's effusive reaction. As Jim Parsons told Parade, tears were shed.

"The night we taped the first scene he ever did with us,...

First impressions are everything — except when they’re not. While most sitcoms that struggle in their first season get the ax, there have been occasions when a network is so invested in the success of a star or a concept that they give it another shot after retooling things. Sometimes they ditch a few characters or switch the location; other times they go so far as to change the name of the show. Then they put it back out into the world and hope everyone forgets about the original incarnation.

Here are seven such shows that were retooled after (or during) their first season, with notably mixed results…

7 Ellen

Ellen DeGeneres’ mid-1990s ABC sitcom was a modest success. Its first season, though, was very different from those that would follow. For starters, it was called These Friends of Mine instead of Ellen. And a couple of those friends (played...

Last night, Nate Bargatze made his Saturday Night Live return less than a year after his first hosting gig, a surprisingly quick turnaround that puts him on the all-time list for fastest reappearance. The season’s sophomore effort was a big step up from last week’s sleepy Jean Smart episode, as well as a master class on the pros and cons of SNL recycling past successes. The show couldn’t resist repeating old wins last night — for better and for worse.

‘Washington’s Dream 2’: Better Than I Would Have Thought

“Washington’s Dream” might have been last season’s best sketch, largely because it was original and unexpected. Bargatze played the eponymous Founding Father as a leader with odd ideas about what he was fighting for. It was a great showcase for the comic’s understated delivery, casually laying out Washington’s bizarre vision like a page ripped...

We regret to inform any living rock legends that comedy icon Bob Newhart died peacefully in his Los Angeles home at the age of 94. Ten weeks ago.

Starting in the early 1960s, the Chicago-based stand-up Newhart worked his way up the ladder of TV comedy, launching his NBC variety show called The Bob Newhart Show in 1961 before beginning a sitcom by the same name in 1972. The second The Bob Newhart Show would carry Newhart’s career nearly through the end of the 1970s, then the comic and actor came back in 1982 with another sitcom, simply titled Newhart, which maintained his comforting, sarcastic, deadpan presence on TV for another eight years before it ended with the most iconic crossover episode in comedy history.

While Newhart was busy establishing himself as one of the most prolific and influential comedians of the second half of the 20th century, another Robert was doing something...

It’s understandable that most movie and TV fans remember Maggie Smith for her dynamic work in the “Harry Potter” films and “Downton Abbey.” More recent and far more widely seen in their time, they are worthy examples of her outstanding work.

But unknown to even some of the most knowledgeable cinephiles is most of her screen work before the 1980s beyond her two Oscar wins (Best Actress for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and Supporting Actress for “California Suite”). Her passing at 89 represents a chance to look back at not only roles that conveyed her later brilliance but also, in some cases, present a broader range than what became the standard — though always with nuance and distinctiveness — Maggie Smith role of later years.

When reviewing her film career until at least 2008, it’s critical to remember that she was first and foremost a stage actor. She joined Laurence Olivier...

When a series wraps up with an ending so great that people are still chatting about it today, it’s clear it did something right. Mad Men was one of the most acclaimed shows ever, pulling in huge ratings over its seven seasons. But is it the final episode? It was arguably one of the best conclusions ever, brilliantly blending fiction with reality.

Still from Mad Men (Credits: AMC)

But for this to work out perfectly, a lot of planning went into it. The best part? It all happened through a partnership with Coca-Cola, not a purchase as many people thought. The result was a scene that was super simple but nailed the essence of the protagonist and the advertising world flawlessly.

The Mad Men Finale Took A Lot Of Work Still from the Mad Men finale (Credits: AMC)

For anyone who hasn’t followed the series, Mad Men is...

There’s never been a stand-up special more aptly named than Ellen DeGeneres’ For Your Approval, which dropped today on Netflix. It’s one of the weirder stand-up shows in recent memory, half observational punchlines, half closing argument in a trial featuring DeGeneres as her own defense attorney. Neither half works on its own. Taken as a whole, it’s an exhausting mess.

Let’s get the comedy stuff out of the way first. DeGeneres came up in the business as an affable observational comic in the Jim Gaffigan/Bob Newhart mold, borrowing Newhart’s one-sided phone conversation technique for her popular bit about talking to God. She peppers For Your Approval with similar jokes about mundane topics like parallel parking, windshield wipers and the weird habits of chickens — the punchlines are professional but uninspired.

And they make no sense as bridges to what Ellen is really here to talk...

"The Big Bang Theory" was never a critics' darling, to the extent that reviewers were a bit stunned when they found themselves gradually won over by "Young Sheldon," but both series were massive Nielsen ratings hits that managed to attract loads of big-name guest stars. The former earned its nerd bona fides by landing appearances from "Star Trek" legends like Leonard Nimoy and LeVar Burton, while touching television immortality by casting sitcom god Bob Newhart as Professor Proton. As for "Young Sheldon," the producers happily welcomed Newhart back as the TV science host, and also brought on notable talents like Melanie Lynskey, Jason Alexander, and Lance Reddick.

So no matter how you feel about these ultra-mainstream shows, you've got to accept that there is no shame in playing the cameo game within "The Big Bang Theory" universe.

Now that we know CBS will be delving further into this geek-pandering realm...

While sometimes adding a new character is the worst thing that can happen to a sitcom (looking at you new kids and babies), other times it elevates a show to a whole new level of hilarity. Just imagine how much less trouble the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia gang would have gotten into without Frank Reynolds bankrolling them? Or how many fewer times the word “literally” would have been uttered on Parks and Recreation if Rob Lowe never joined the cast?

It’s literally frightening to imagine it. So instead, check out this list of great sitcom characters who didn’t arrive until their show’s second season.

4 Michael Harris on ‘Newhart’

After the success of The Bob Newhart Show, Bob Newhart’s second sitcom, Newhart struggled to find its footing in Season One. The show was about New Yorkers Dick and Joanna Louden (Newhart and Mary Frann) buying a quiet inn in Vermont,...

The Emmy Awards showed their annual In Memoriam this year, honoring those who died during the past year. Among the honorees this year are Bob Newhart, Richard Simmons, Shannen Doherty, Carl Weathers, Richard Lewis, Donald Sutherland, and James Earl Jones. However, many fans noticed Matthew Perry wasn’t honored.

There is a good reason for his omission from this year’s In Memoriam.

Why Wasn’t Matthew Perry In Emmy’s In Memoriam?

The In Memoriam had plenty of sad losses in the entertainment industry. However, when it finished, some fans wondered why Matthew Perry wasn’t in the listing. Perry died last October, so the ceremony falls within a year of his death.

YouTube/ABC News

This led people online to ask why Perry was “snubbed.”

“How do you forget Matthew Perry in your memorial of people that passed” “did I miss it or did the Emmy’s not show Matthew Perry?...

The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards may be over, but complaining about the Emmy Awards is only just beginning.

It’s not uncommon for awards ceremonies’ In Memoriam segments, which honor deceased members of the industry, to tick off viewers. Such as how this year’s Oscars ceremony controversially lumped together a bunch of illegible names in the final moments of the In Memoriam, and also featured a “distracting” interpretive dance number.

Last night’s Emmys’ In Memoriam paid homage to late TV stars like Bob Newhart, Richard Simmons and Shannen Doherty, but it also omitted some major names. Some were confused as to why Matthew Perry didn’t appear, forgetting that this was actually the second Emmy ceremony of the year. Perry was honored during the delayed 74th Emmys, which aired back in January.

But the Emmys are now taking heat for leaving out some notable figures, including Erica Ash,...

Just hours after John Oliver dropped an F-bomb at the Emmys for trying to play him off as he paid tribute to his dead dog, the Emmys producers are apologizing to the late-night host.

“I apologize to John and his family for playing the music — and the dog,” Jesse Collins told TheWrap in a Monday interview. “We turned it off at his request and turned it back on when he said he wanted to be played off.”

Collins, who executive produced the 76th annual ceremony alongside Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay, added that the producers didn’t know Oliver’s dog had passed when they started playing the music and don’t receive the acceptance speeches ahead of time, reiterating, “We did not know that the dog had passed.”

“John always gives us the fun moment,” Rouzan-Clay told TheWrap, adding that Oliver shared a similar moment with Anthony Anderson’s...

Emmy turned 76 this year, but her wrinkles still aren’t showing thanks to the tireless efforts of the production crew that helped put on this year’s awards show. (See the complete winners list.) After watching the ceremony on television all my life, I actually got to attend it this year and bore witness to “Hacks” and “Shōgun” winning the night’s biggest prizes. While seated in the Orchestra section of the Peacock Theater, I uncovered these five secrets about the 2024 Emmys that you wouldn’t know unless you were actually there.

TV Theme Songs

All of those classic tunes you heard while watching the ceremony on your screens was just the icing on the cake. During the commercials, attendees were treated to dozens more TV theme songs as the event was taking a break. In fact, when the show was dark, I heard everything from “Goosebumps” and “Home Improvement...

The In Memoriam segment on Sunday night’s Emmy telecast paid respects to Shannen Doherty, Chance Perdomo, Martin Mull, Richard Lewis and many more TV luminaries lost in the past eight months.

Shelley Duvall and Sctv cast member Joe Flaherty, however, were two notable omissions from the revamped annual fixture of the telecast.

Duvall, though perhaps best known for her film work with major directors including Robert Altman and Stanley Kubrick, had a long and substantial TV career and was a two-time Emmy nominee. She created and produced a number of enduring shows, including Faerie Tale Theatre and Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories. Duvall died in July at 75.

Flaherty died in April at 82. His absence from the Emmy segment was awkward given that one of his Sctv costars, Eugene Levy, co-hosted the telecast and another, Martin Short, was a nominee and presenter.

Related: Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2024: Photo...

Jelly Roll is hitting the stage.

The 39-year-old musician led the In Memoriam segment at the 2024 Emmy Awards on Sunday (September 15) at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Jelly Roll gave a moving performance of his ballad “I Am Not Okay” as the awards show honored stars that have passed away this past year, including Bob Newhart, James Earl Jones, and Shannen Doherty.

Keep reading to find out more…“I believe that music is therapeutic. I believe that music can heal,” Jelly Roll said before his performance. “I also believe that storytelling is just as cathartic. I hope that this song can act as a healing moment for those mourning the storytellers that we have lost this year. If you are feeling lost or alone tonight, I want you to know that it’s Ok to not always be Ok.”

The Emmys, hosted by Schitt’s Creek stars and real-life...

A night of nostalgia, a Baby Reindeer sweep and an incredible launching pad for the upcoming seasons of The Bear and Shōgun made up the 76th annual Primetime Emmys on Sunday.

While the Family Levy didn’t exactly rock the L.A.’s Peacock Theater as the first father-and-son hosts, breakout moments came courtesy of TV’s old guard and Jodie Foster’s first Emmy win.

Here are some of the great moments, surprises and snubs from tonight’s telecast on ABC.

Great moment when Eugene Levy made a crack about The Bear‘s record wins in the comedy category and how, well, it’s hardly a knee-slapping series. “In the true spirit of The Bear we will not be making any jokes.”

Surprise when Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez came out right after the Levy opening monologue and showed us how to really make...

Bob Newhart, James Earl Jones, Peter Marshall, Shannen Doherty, and more luminaries were honored during the heartfelt In Memoriam segment led by Jelly Roll at Sunday’s Emmy Awards. Jimmy Kimmel then hit the stage to crack a few jokes in honor of Newhart’s deadpan humor.

The country star started his heartstring-tugging performance with “I Am Not Okay,” his single about his struggles with mental health, by sharing a sweet message. “I believe that music is therapeutic. I believe that music can heal. I also believe that storytelling is just as cathartic,...

Jimmy Kimmel offered a sweet and emotional tribute to Bob Newhart during the Emmys, with a twist.

But the late-night host also managed to get a jibe in to his peer Jon Stewart, who beat him to win the Emmy for Talk Series with The Daily Show.

Kimmel came on after the In Memoriam section to laud Newhart, who died in July at the age of 94.

“[Bob] got his first Emmy nomination in 1962 and didn’t win one until 2013, 51 years later, which is a great lesson. And that lesson is Jon Stewart, you should be ashamed of yourself. You said you were retiring,” he joked.

When we remember the legends we’ve lost over the past year, one of whom I was very lucky to know, and that was Bob Newhart. Those of you who knew Bob personally know he’s exactly who you thought he was and hoped he’d be.

8:04pm Pt To close out the night, Catherine O’Hara comes out to present best comedy. After ripping up a fake envelope, she opens the real one and announces an absolute jawdropper of a result: Max’s Hacks, for its third season, has pulled off a massive upset over the second season of FX’s The Bear, the most-nominated comedy of the year and, this year, already the comedy with the most wins in a single season. It’s hard not to see this as a statement from TV Academy members that, as great as The Bear is — and it is truly great — this award is intended for shows that actually make people laugh, which season 2 of The Bear did not do much of, and which season 3, which was rolling out during voting for season 2, really did not do much of.

7:59pm Pt It’s so nice to see...

Gold Derby editor Ray Richmond is backstage in the Emmys 2024 press room, and he has exclusively uncovered the full ceremony rundown. The live event airs Sunday evening on ABC and is hosted by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy.

SEEWho will win Emmys: Check out our final odds in all 25 categories

Here is a summary of when each category will be announced and who the presenters are (keeping in mind that producers might change anything at the last minute):

Comedy Supporting Actor presented by Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, Martin Short

Drama Supporting Actor presented by Colin Farrell

Comedy Actor presented by George Lopez, Damon Wayans, Jesse Tyler Ferguson (tribute to dads)

Comedy Supporting Actress presented by Kaitlin Olson, Rob McElhenney

Drama Supporting Actress presented by Da’Vine Joy Randolph

Comedy Actress presented by Candice Bergen

Competition Program presented by Padma Lakshmi, Sam Richardson

Limited/Movie Supporting Actress presented by Kathy Bates,...

When it comes to the greatest endings that do its respective show justice, Breaking Bad‘s Felina is often the first one to cross fans’ minds, and for good reason. But similar wasn’t the case with Jerry Seinfeld’s Seinfeld, which is notable for its polarizing finale that wasn’t received well among its viewers when it first aired.

Jerry Seinfeld | Credit: Seinfeld/NBC

Similar to AMC’s Breaking Bad, Jon Hamm’s Mad Men was successful in giving fans a satisfying conclusion, and the Unfrosted star too holds it in very high regard.

Mad Men’s Finale Is Jerry Seinfeld’s Pick for the Greatest Finale Ever Person to Person | Credit: Mad Men/AMC

While the general consensus towards Seinfeld‘s finale has wormed up over the years, when it originally aired, the episode left a sour taste in fans’ mouths, as the main cast ended up in jail in the finale.

If you’re in the mood for a classic comedy, Prime Video is a great place to stream. You can get started with a 30-day Free trial, and there’s a lot to love.

30-Day Free Trial $8.99+ / month amazon.com

Classic Comedy Movies on Prime Video

Classic Comedy TV on Prime Video

Add More Comedy with Prime Video Channels

Classic Comedy Movies on Prime Video

For the purposes of this list, we’ll consider “classic comedies” as titles that came out at least 20 years ago.

Death Becomes Her The Big Lebowski Dr. Strangelove Heathers Swingers Galaxy Quest Fargo Billy Madison An American Werewolf in London Sweet Home Alabama Election Army of Darkness Overboard Dirty Rotten Scoundrels American Graffiti Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Bowfinger Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood CB4 Roxanne Sprung Duck Soup Wallace & Gromit: The...

We’re guessing Judd Apatow isn’t a Dr. Pepper fan. The “Knocked Up” filmmaker is attached to direct “Cola Wars,” a film about the battle for market share between Coca Cola and Pepsi to become America’s favorite soda, an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire.

Tag-teaming with him on the project is none other than Steven Spielberg, who will produce the film through his Amblin Entertainment production banner.

The individual adds that at this point, “Cola Wars” is in very early development stages, with Apatow and Spielberg joining based on a pitch that Sony acquired back in April.

The writers for the film are Ben Queen and Jason Shuman, who co-created and writes the Apple TV+ series “Acapulco” and was also a producer on the canceled HBO series “Winning Time.”

Few other details are available at this early stage of development, but Deadline, which first reported the news,...

Producers for the 76th annual Emmy Awards have been editing the special “In Memoriam” segment to be featured on Sunday’s ABC ceremony. Since the most recent ceremony was delayed until mid-January, there are only eight months of TV legends who have died instead of the typical 12 months.

We have assembled a list of people below who might be selected. Members of the academy’s TV Hall of Fame are host and producer Phil Donahue, anchor and journalist Robert MacNeil, lighting designer Bill Klages and actor and comedian Bob Newhart. Some of the previous Emmy winners and nominees include previous academy president Leo Chaloukian, actor Bill Cobbs, actor Dabney Coleman, actress Shelley Duvall, actor and writer Joe Flaherty, director Jerry Foley, actor Louis Gossett Jr., actor Bill Hayes, actor James Earl Jones, host Peter Marshall, actor and comedian Martin Mull, actress Gena Rowlands, actor James B. Sikking, actor Donald Sutherland and actor Carl Weathers.

Less than a year after Sam Richardson (“Ted Lasso”) won his first Best Comedy Guest Actor Emmy on his second consecutive try, Jon Bernthal (“The Bear”) is poised to do the same. Whereas the category’s 2023 lineup included an even mix of veteran and rookie nominees, Bernthal is the sole returning contender this time and has thus emerged as quite a strong frontrunner.

Bernthal currently faces opposition from fellow “The Bear” actors Bob Odenkirk and Will Poulter as well as Emmys newcomer Ryan Gosling (“Saturday Night Live”) and former TV movie acting nominee Matthew Broderick (“Only Murders in the Building”). Rounding out his list of challengers is Christopher Lloyd (“Hacks”), who poses a distinct threat in that he triumphed on all three of his previous Emmy bids.

In order to determine if this is truly Bernthal’s race to lose, let’s take a closer look at each nominee. Be...

The Big Bang Theory ended with a blast, leaving fans with twelve years of joy and memories to cherish. During its run, the show introduced audiences to some of the most unique characters in television, and there is no better example of this than Sheldon Cooper. With his peculiarity and all of his quirks, his insufferable personality made him a fan favorite for a reason.

Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory I Credit: CBS

During an interview, Jim Parsons revealed the reasoning behind why he decided to leave the show after its 12th season. While many fans were upset that the show had to end, his motivation behind it made it a lot better.

Jim Parsons Knew He Was About To Deal With A Great Loss

During an interview with David Tennant on his podcast, Jim Parsons talked about what pushed him to the decision that 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory...

Eugene Levy and his son Dan Levy continue to make Emmy history. Four years ago, their comedy series “Schitt’s Creek” won a staggering nine Emmys including best comedy series, actor, actress, supporting actors, writing and directing. Even before “Schitt’s Creek,” Eugene was no stranger to the Emmy universe, winning statutes in 1982 and 1983 as a writer on the beloved “Sctv.” In fact, Dan was just a month old when his dad received his second honor.

Eugene’s nominated this year for the 14th time for outstanding hosted nonfiction series or special for Apple TV +’ “The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy.” Now Eugene and Dan will be the first father and son to host the Emmys airing Sept. 15 on ABC. And here’s bit more history: the 77-year-old Eugene is the oldest Emmy host ever.

Having two hosts is nothing new for the Emmys. Back in 1952, the Emmys were hosted by the...

Johnny Galecki’s emotions hit a high note—literally and figuratively—when a scene from The Big Bang Theory pushed him to tears. It wasn’t an epic showdown or a heart-wrenching confession, but a practical joke that turned the set into a mini soap opera. The moment? A seemingly innocuous scene with Kaley Cuoco that took a turn for the tearful. Galecki found himself so unexpectedly moved that he couldn’t help but cry after the cameras stopped rolling. Talk about method acting!

Johnny Galecki from the series The Big Bang Theory | Warner Bros. Television

In a series known for its laughs and geeky charm, this behind-the-scenes moment proved that sometimes the most memorable scenes are those that stir the heart in ways the script never intended.

Johnny Galecki’s Unexpected Breakdown on The Big Bang Theory: How a Prank Turned Into Emotional Therapy Kaley Cuoco and Johnny...

Phil Donahue, the celebrated King of Daytime Talk who altered the direction of talk television as host of the syndicated “The Phil Donahue Show” and later the redubbed “Donahue” for nearly three decades, died Sunday evening (August 18) following a long and undisclosed illness. He was 88 and surrounded by family, including his wife of 44 years, the actor, producer, author and social activist Marlo Thomas.

From 1969 when his show was picked up for national syndication until leaving the air in 1996, Donahue presided as the unquestioned pioneer of a type of television discussion that for the first time incorporated studio audience interaction as an intrinsic part of the mix. That audience was predominantly packed with women whose opinions were taken seriously. Both “Phil Donahue” and “Donahue” were by design swathed in controversial, issue-driven topics. He was the first to give voice to gay rights activists, feminists and antiwar protestors as well as abortion rights advocates and opponents.

Bob Newhart had one of the most remarkable sitcom runs of all time, seamlessly transitioning from playing Bob (Hartley) on The Bob Newhart Show for six seasons to playing Dick Louden on Newhart for eight years. What did the shows have in common besides Newhart’s understated, stammering joke delivery? A conspicuous absence of smart-ass kids.

You heard that right, J.D. Vance. Bob Newhart made the conscious decision not to have children — on television anyway.

A childless couple was out of the ordinary for 1970s sitcom families. And it wasn’t because Bob and his on-screen wife Emily were having problems. “Somewhat radical for the time, they were shown sleeping in the same bed,” Newhart said in his memoir, I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!: And Other Things That Strike Me as Funny. “We were one of the first shows to suggest that Bob and Emily had a sex...

Some actors are so good they can consistently draw attention without even trying. But Carol Burnett might be the only living legend who can literally steal scenes in her sleep. The 91-year-old actor just received her 23rd Primetime Emmy nomination for her supporting work in the satirical comedy “Palm Royale” — for playing a character who spends a good part of the season in a coma.

Created by Abe Sylvia and set in 1969, “Palm Royale” casts Burnett as Norma Dellacorte, a beloved and feared grand dame of Florida society who has been bedridden since a pulmonary episode. Her caretaker becomes Maxine Simmons-Dellacorte (played by fellow Emmy nominee Kristen Wiig), the wife of Norma’s nephew, but can only communicate her disdain through a series or groans and gibberish. Yet Burnett makes her limited capacities a master class in acting.

While that might sound difficult, Burnett dismisses such ideas. “It wasn’t a challenge at all,...

The Big Bang Theory stands tall among the upper echelons of popular sitcoms that audiences have loved over the years. Along with Friends and How I Met Your Mother, the Jim Parsons-led show always managed to grab eyeballs and still finds new audiences. Parsons, Johnny Galecki, and Kaley Cuoco kicked off as the main leads from season 1.

A still from The Big Bang Theory | CBS

By season 3, supporting players such as Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg, Melissa Rauch, and Mayim Bialik became fan favorites. However, the three main leads continued to be the top earners from the show and the cast’s pay continued to be raised each season. Unfortunately, there was a huge pay gap between Bialik and other male supporting actors.

Mayim Bialik Was Paid Less Compared to The Male Supporting Actors On The Big Bang Theory

Mayim Bialik and Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory | CBS...

Dwayne Johnson/ The Rock has starred in some of the biggest movies ever made in Hollywood and is a bankable name that can draw audiences in. The actor has successfully juggled his career in professional wrestling and as an actor, earning immense respect from his peers in both industries. Johnson has amassed a huge network from his success throughout his life.

Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs in Fast Five | Universal Pictures

In addition to wrestling and acting, The Rock is also a savvy businessman and invests in many avenues including the professional minor league football league Ufl. Earlier this year, the actor made a lucrative deal with the army to help enlist new recruits through social media ads and military branding in Ufl player’s uniforms. However, the deal failed and it has actually caused the opposite effect.

The Rock’s Deal With The Army Failed Spectacularly Resulting In No...

The seed for In & Out, according to screenwriter Paul Rudnick, was planted during the 1994 Academy Awards when Tom Hanks, accepting the best actor Oscar for Philadelphia, thanked his high school drama teacher, who was gay. What if, Rudnick wondered, that teacher lived in a small Indiana town and wasn’t gay—or, more to the point, what if that teacher was gay and just didn’t realize it yet?

The comic tone of Frank Oz’s film recalls the 1993 episode of Seinfeld titled “The Outing,” in which Jerry is falsely labeled as gay in a college newspaper. That episode’s refrain, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that”—offered by the central characters as both a badge of liberal awareness and a declaration of their skittishness concerning the subject of gay sex—works as a comedic complement to the prestige orientation of something like Philadelphia. After all, the subject...

Movie, TV and music fans are remembering notable figures who have died since the start of 2024. “Beverly Hills 90210” star Shannen Doherty, “Bob Newhart Show” star Bob Newhart, “An Officer and a Gentleman” Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr., “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actor Richard Lewis, “Starsky and Hutch” star David Soul and “Honeymooners” star Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie, are among celebrities from the world of television who have died.

In film, cinephiles are remembering actor Donald Sutherland, producer Roger Corman, “Chinatown” screenwriter Robert Towne, “Moonstruck” director Norman Jewison and “The Shining” star Shelley Duvall.

Last year, the entertainment community said goodbye to celebrities including musicians Jimmy Buffett, Shane McGowan, Robbie Robertson and David Crosby, actors Andre Braugher and Matthew Perry, writer-producer Norman Lear and director William Friedkin.

Dwayne Johnson first garnered fame from his professional wrestling career, earning The Rock persona. He garnered further acclaim with his transition into the entertainment industry, cementing himself as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.

Dwayne Johnson as John Hartley in Red Notice | Netflix

However, the actor, who was synonymous with success and blockbuster movies seems to be grappling with problems, as a UFC challenger, Curtis Blaydes, turned down a significant role in his upcoming movie, The Smashing Machine.

Curtis Blaydes Turns Down a Major Role in Dwayne Johnson’s New Movie

In the glamour world of Hollywood, Dwayne Johnson is a prominent figure who is often seen as an invincible figure, tackling obstacles with ease. However, the reality is otherwise as the actor too faces moments of vulnerability and hardship.

Suggested“I get mistaken for him a lot”: Bob Newhart Once Revealed He Wanted Dwayne Johnson to Play...

Before starring as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory, the actor was mostly notable for playing a man raised by wolves in the hilarious 2003 Quiznos commercial. However, this changed following the success of Tbbt, which shot him to stardom and made him one of the biggest names in TV and was even offered an eight-figure salary to continue playing Sheldon.

But despite being one of the top names at the time, the actor feared talking about his sexuality during the sitcom’s initial years following the stigma surrounding LGBTQ+ people at the time.

Jim Parsons Initially Avoided Speaking About His Sexuality Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper | CBS.

The 2010s were a drastically different time for the LGBTQ+ community compared to recent times, and Jim Parsons feared that his sexuality would risk his job in The Big Bang Theory.

Suggested“The audience doesn’t know what the joke is”:...

Emanating from their studio in Cincinnati, Ohio, The History of Bad Ideas sees hosts Jason, Jeff and Blake talk about all things geeky on their podcast. Whether it’s rumours of the latest comic book movies, debating who really is the worst villain of all time, discussing the latest comic issues or just wondering about life in general, you are sure to have a fun time with them! In theory.

If you haven’t listened to the show before – why not? – you can check out previous episodes of The History of Bad Ideas podcast on iTunes and look out for new episodes here on Nerdly each and every week…

Episode 552: Richard and the Slippery Chairs!

The majority of the gang is back together as Jason and Blake return from their vacations and join Bryan and Jeff this week! The guys remember Bob Newhart, discuss Hulk Hogan’s platform for president,...

Few names (if any) loom larger over the world of comedy than Mel Brooks. Now, his eight-decade career will be the subject of an upcoming two-part HBO special from co-directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio.

The documentary project, which is being produced through Apatow Productions, will reunite the two men with editor Joe Beshenkovsky, who collaborated with them on their recent documentaries “The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling” and “George Carlin’s American Dream.”

“I went into comedy because of my love for Mel Brooks,” Apatow said in a statement announcing the documentary. “This project is the dream of a lifetime.”

While the film does not yet have a title or release date, Brooks’ remarkable career will offer no shortage of material to pull from. After launching his career in the 1950s on the storied writing staff of Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows” and collaborating with Carl Reiner on...

The late Bob Newhart, with his amazing comedy timing and roles, had entertained audiences for several decades. Now, with his recent passing, several interviews have resurfaced, painting the actor in his usual deadpan humor. One such chitchat revealed his surprising wish for Dwayne Johnson portraying him in a biopic.

Dwayne Johnson in a still from Central Intelligence || Warner Bros. Pictures

Newhart had added that the duo shared some very similar features, with people often mistaking him for the WWE legend. In a past interview, he had shed more light on this biopic choice of his and presented his trademark comedic self.

Bob Newhart Wanted Dwayne Johnson to Play Him in His Biopic

Bob Newhart recently passed away at the age of 94, as revealed by his publicist Jerry Digney. But while the actor is gone, his decades-long legacy lives on forever, marking some wonderful roles and shows. Newhart was a comedy legend,...

Bob Newhart lived a prolific career in the comedy industry until his death last week, July 18. He passed away peacefully at the age of 94 in his Los Angeles home after suffering from several illnesses. His publicist, Jerry Digney, confirmed the news.

Bob Newhart in The Big Bang Theory / CBS

He mainly worked in stand-up comedy shows, although fans would remember him for his stint as Arthur Jeffries in CBS’ The Big Bang Theory. He rarely accepted job offers over the past few years, except for this show. What made Newhart say yes to this beloved sitcom?

Why Bob Newhart Ultimately Joined The Big Bang Theory

In his interview with The Hollywood Reporter, actor and comedian Bob Newhart revealed he had been offered many opportunities to star in comedy series. Still, he turned them down for personal reasons.

I’ve been approached for other projects — some pilots — and that’s too much.

All hail the queen: Lucy Lawless will reprise her Spartacus role as Lucretia in the upcoming Starz sequel series Spartacus: House of Ashur, our sister site Deadline reports. (TVLine has reached out to Starz for comment.)

Lawless will guest-star in the premiere episode, with Lucretia “elevating” all that’s around her. Lawless debuted as Lucretia on Spartacus: Blood and Sand and then reprised the role in spinoffs Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Spartacus: Vengeance.

More from TVLineAccused: Patrick J. Adams, Jerrika Hinton Join Season 2 Cast of Fox Crime Anthology (Exclusive)Maura Tierney Joins Law & Order as Series Regular (Exclusive...

At The Streamable, we love to spotlight great deals on video streaming services. But as we head into the end of summer, we just discovered a deal on streaming audio that was too good not to share. You can grab 3 months of SiriusXM for Free.

How to Get SiriusXM for Free Click here to activate the deal. If you have a SiriusXM-capable radio in your car, you can fill in the Radio ID/Vin. Otherwise, click “No radio? Get a SiriusXM app subscription” Provide your information and you’re ready to go!

The in-car subscription includes many more channels. It also includes app access.

If you choose the app-only version, you could play it through your car’s stereo via your phone, but your data cap may feel the burn. We recommend the app version if you’ll have Wi-Fi access for most of your listening (or an unlimited...

At The Streamable, we love to spotlight great deals on video streaming services. But as we head into the end of summer, we just discovered a deal on streaming audio that was too good not to share. You can grab 3 months of SiriusXM for Free.

How to Get SiriusXM for Free Click here to activate the deal. If you have a SiriusXM-capable radio in your car, you can fill in the Radio ID/Vin. Otherwise, click “No radio? Get a SiriusXM app subscription” Provide your information and you’re ready to go!

The in-car subscription includes many more channels. It also includes app access.

If you choose the app-only version, you could play it through your car’s stereo via your phone, but your data cap may feel the burn. We recommend the app version if you’ll have Wi-Fi access for most of your listening (or an unlimited...

The late great Bob Newhart wasn’t just a legendary stand-up comedian, he was also, of course, a prodigious sitcom star, appearing in six seasons of The Bob Newhart Show, and eight seasons of Newhart. The latter famously gave us the most memorable sitcom finale of all time, not including the time Alf was captured by the U.S. government and presumably dissected in Area 51 off-screen.

Play

Less fondly-remembered is Newhart’s third foray into the sitcom world: the aptly-named 1992 series Bob.

Bob starred Newhart as Bob McKay, the creator of an old Batman-esque comic book superhero named Mad-Dog. In the first episode, McKay gets hired to work on a gritty ‘90s reboot in which the campy character has been reimagined as a brutal vigilante who literally murders his boy sidekick. Even Zack Snyder wouldn’t go that far.

To hype the sitcom, Marvel comics released a series of Mad-Dog comic books,...

Pat Sajak reportedly snubbed Ryan Seacrest. The Wheel of Fortune host feels as if he was forced into retirement. It wasn’t his plan, as previously assumed. Keep on reading to learn more.

Pat Sajak Is “Too Busy” To Mentor Ryan Seacrest

Pat Sajak has been enjoying retirement. He no longer has to film new episodes of Wheel of Fortune for the upcoming season.

He also has no interest in mentoring Ryan Seacrest even though the new host wants advice. Sources told Closer Weekly that Pat snubbed Ryan after they first met.

Ryan will take over the hosting duties in September. Pat wrapped up his long-running position in June. He wants to put those days past him. Pat has been enjoying time with his family.

“He’s too busy having fun with all this newfound free time he’s got,” an insider told Closer Weekly.

One insider noted that “Pat...

In the ever-evolving universe of The Big Bang Theory, where the laughs sometimes fizzled and the jokes fell flat, one pivotal choice stood out. While creator Chuck Lorre may have stumbled with some of the later series’ humor, he nailed a crucial detail that’d make even Christopher Nolan nod in approval.

Chuck Lorre | Image by Angela George, licensed under Cc By-sa 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This smart decision not only enhanced the show’s intellectual charm but also showcased Lorre’s commitment to delivering a genuine portrayal of scientific brilliance. What was this smart decision, though? Time to find out!

The Big Bang Theory: How Oppenheimer’s Advisors Applied Real Science Hollywood director Christopher Nolan | Image by BrokenSphere, licensed under Cc By-sa 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Forget Sheldon freaking out over a missing napkin! The Big Bang Theory might’ve gotten flack for later-season jokes, but here’s a fact that...