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"The Big Bang Theory" co-creator Chuck Lorre has quite a few impressive accomplishments under his belt. He's contributed to several award-winning shows, working as a young writer on shows like "Roseanne" and "Charles in Charge" before moving into co-creating and executive producing hits like "Dharma & Greg," "Two and a Half Men," and "The Big Bang Theory." He's a television industry titan who has become one of the greats in sitcom history, but he also has a very surprising credit as well -- he was the writer of the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" theme song. That's right, the impossibly catchy theme song from the 1987 CBS cartoon series came courtesy of the same man who introduced the world to Sheldon Cooper and popularized the phrase "Bazinga!"

The story behind the creation of the "Ninja Turtles" theme song is almost as magical as a bunch of turtles getting turned into ninja...

It has been over a decade since Jenna Elfman has starred in a multi-camera television comedy series, but she’s back for the ABC show Shifting Gears!

JustJared.com is exclusively premiering a clip from Jenna‘s first episode of Shifting Gears, showing her character Eve’s first encounter with Tim Allen‘s Matt.

Tim stars as the widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop who is confronted with his most unexpected and challenging project yet when his estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), and her adolescent children come crashing back into his life.

Jenna is joining the first season as a recurring guest star, playing Eve Drake, “a spirited choreographer and owner of the dance studio across from Parker Customs.” Jenna is best known for starring in the beloved ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg.

In this exclusive clip from the February 26 episode, Matt confronts Eve about the picnic table in their shared space.

The official cause of death for “General Hospital” star Leslie Charleson (Monica Quartermaine) has been determined by the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner.

According to a report recently filed by the medical examiner, Charleson passed away on January 12, 2025, aged 79, after suffering from sequelae of blunt head trauma, or what is also known as traumatic brain injury (Tbi) with the manner of death being classified as an accident.

Other significant medical conditions listed included Charleson’s history of asthma, arthritis, atrial fibrillation, as well as normal pressure hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the brain), the latter of which can cause brain injury, with such symptoms as memory loss, difficulty with walking, and bladder issues, among other matters.

On the day of her death, Variety reported the actress had “suffered several falls that prevented her from getting around. Although it impeded her mobility and resulted in her need for a walker, it never got her spirit down.

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"The Big Bang Theory" wrapped up its 12-season run in the spring of 2019 — and according to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter shortly after it aired, showrunner and creator Chuck Lorre was extremely anxious about getting the finale right ... largely because he felt he hadn't done that with a previous project, the popular TV series "Dharma & Greg."

In an expansive chat with Mikey O'Connell, the interviewer began a question — "With 'The Big Bang Theory, how important was it for you to ..." only for Lorre to immediately respond. "To land the plane safely? It meant a lot — to be there from our very clumsy beginnings, to when we actually figured out how to do it and sustain it, to end with what I think is a wonderful [episode]," he replied. "I know what it's like to leave too soon. I...

Very sad news this week out of the television world:

Leslie Charleson, the longest-tenured cast member on General Hospital, has passed away. She was 79 years old.

A four-time Emmy Award nominee, Charleson was best known for having portrayed the character of Dr. Monica Quartermaine on the soap opera, a role she began playing way back in 1977.

Leslie Charleson is dead at the age of 79. May she rest in peace. (ABC)

General Hospital Executive Producer Frank Valentini confirmed Charleson’s passing on the show’s official Instagram page on Sunday, January 12.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” he began, continuing as follows:

“Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily chats,...

Best known for her legendary portrayal of Monica Quartermaine on the ABC drama series “General Hospital,” actress Leslie Charleson died Sunday morning following a long illness. She was 79 years old.

In a statement, “General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini said, “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson.” He added, “Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on ‘General Hospital’ alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaine family, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set.”

“On behalf of everyone at ‘General Hospital,’ my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time,” Valentini concluded.

Born February 22, 1945 in Kansas City, Missouri, Charleson made her television debut in 1964 on the soap opera “A Flame in the Wind,...

Gh Leslie Charleson Dead At 79

General Hospital spoilers and updates report Leslie Charleson, who played the iconic Monica Quartermaine since 1977 passed away after a long illness at 79. Gh Executive Producer Frank Valentini made the announcement Sunday, January 12.

General Hospital Spoilers: Valentini’s Announcement

Frank Valentini announced: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson”. “Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on ‘General Hospital’ alone”. “And, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew.”

“I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set. On behalf of everyone at ‘General Hospital,’ my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”

Gh Spoilers: Leslie Had Been Ill For Some Time

The cherished actress, who became part of the soap in...

Leslie Charleson, who played Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital for nearly 50 years, has died. She was 79.

Charleson’s death was announced Sunday on the Instagram account of the ABC daytime drama series. The announcement was attributed to General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” Valentini’s statement read. “Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set. On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”

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A post shared by General Hospital (@generalhospitalabc)

A cause of death was not given,...

Leslie Charleson has sadly died.

The actress, best known for her role as Dr Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital, passed away on Sunday morning (January 12) after battling an illness, Variety reports.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini shared in a statement. “Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set. On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”

In addition to General Hospital, Leslie has also appeared on shows like Friends, Dharma & Greg, Cannon and Happy Days, and she also starred...

General Hospital star, Leslie Charleson has sadly passed away at the age of 79. She is best known for her role as Monica Quartermaine which she took over in 1977. So, what is known about her death so far? Keep reading for further details.

General Hospital Leslie Charleson Dead At 79

Leslie Charleson has sadly passed away at the age of 79. The General Hospital legend has been absent from the show for some time now. Fans have wondered if she would make a big comeback when Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) returned in March 2024. Yet, it seemed that she would be supporting her television son from the sidelines. Unfortunately, on Sunday, January 12th, EP Frank Valentini shared a message on Facebook that Leslie had passed. He was clearly heartbroken to have to break this news to her dedicated fans:

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague,...

General Hospital has lost its longest-serving cast member: Leslie Charleson, who had played Dr. Monica Quartermaine since 1977, has died at the age of 79.

Gh executive producer Frank Valentini confirmed the news of Charleson’s passing on Instagram on Jan. 12; see his message below.

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Update (2/13): The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has reported the cause of death as sequelae (or,...

Soap Opera icon Leslie Charleson, who for decades played Monica Quartermaine on “General Hospital,” died Sunday morning after a long illness. She was 79.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” “General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini announced. “Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on ‘General Hospital’ alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set. On behalf of everyone at ‘General Hospital,’ my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”

The beloved actress, who joined the soap in 1977, has had some health ups and downs over the past few years, which has limited her time on the ABC soap, on which she hadn’t appeared since December 2023. In recent years,...

Since its end in 1997, "Married... with Children" has maintained a legacy as one of the strangest and longest-running television shows of its kind. The Fox sitcom was, on its face, a standard multi-camera sitcom about a dysfunctional family and the colorfully zany characters that breezed in and out of their suburban enclosure. At the same time, it bucked contemporary genre conventions, daring to push the boundaries of acceptable behavior for sitcom protagonists while leaning into the surrealist subgenre -- which, relative to the tamer landscape of TV back in the late '80s and '90s, surely must've surprised some audiences.

And yet, as odd and abrasive as the show could be, the series was reliably anchored by a powerhouse cast of comedic actors at the top of their game. This included Ed O'Neill, Katey Sagal, and Christina Applegate, all three of whom have been receptive to revive the series...

Streaming has not been kind to Chuck Lorre’s vanity cards. The mega producer has been using his production company logo (which is flashed for a second at the end of each episode) for decades to share essays, make jokes and write diatribes about the world around him. But for his Max series “Bookie,” Lorre has decided to just write one card for the show’s entire Season 2 run.

“The reason is no one, not even my family and friends, bothers to read them. It’s not surprising,” Lorre wrote in the card. “Max actively dissaudes viewers from reading end credits, let alone sticking around to read the mischievous word salad that is a classic Chuck Lorre vanity card.”

Lorre’s referring to the now-standard practice by most streamers of shuffling viewers to the next episode of a show, or another series, as closing credits start to roll — shrinking to...

A new addition is revving up excitement for Shifting Gears, as a major player joins the cast of the ABC multi-camera comedy in a recurring role. Starring Tim Allen as Matt, the widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop, Shifting Gears is actually more about mending broken family ties than fixing cars. The series follows Matt as his estranged daughter Riley (Kat Dennings) and her two teenage kids move in, upending his life and pushing him toward a heartfelt reconciliation. Shifting Gears also features Seann William Scott, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, Maxwell Simkins, and Barrett Margolis in major roles.

Deadline has recently shared that Jenna Elfman will join the cast of Shifting Gears. Best known for her Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated turn in Dharma & Greg, Elfman will play Eve Drake, a vivacious choreographer and owner of the dance studio located across from Matt's shop. The series, helmed by 2 Broke Girls showrunner Michelle Nader,...

Two seasons in, and “Bookie” still feels like a surprising line on creator Chuck Lorre’s IMDb page. It’s precisely because the Max dramedy differs so drastically from the work he’s typically known for that the executive producer is so passionate about the sports betting comedy he co-created with Nick Bakay.

“For many years, I’ve wanted to do something that I’m not familiar with. I wanted to do something where I was uncomfortable and I did not have the skills necessary, but I could learn them or I could find people who knew them and rely on them to make these things work,” Lorre told TheWrap. “‘Bookie’, from day one, was a stretch for me, but it was something I sought out. I didn’t want to keep doing something that I was comfortable with. I wanted to do something that frightened me.”

Sebastian Maniscalco’s...

Jenna Elfman is coming home to ABC — and returning to her sitcom roots.

The Dharma & Greg (and Imaginary Mary) star is set to recur opposite Tim Allen on the upcoming ABC comedy Shifting Gears, our sister site Deadline reports.

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The half-hour comedy stars the Home Improvement and Last Man Standing vet as Matt,...

Exclusive: Jenna Elfman, best known for her starring role in the 1997 ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg, is returning to the network with a recurring role on another multi-camera comedy series, the upcoming Shifting Gears, headlined by fellow ABC sitcom star Tim Allen. It is produced by the same studio, 20th Television.

Shifting Gears stars Tim Allen as Matt, the stubborn, widowed owner of Parker Customs, a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter (Kat Dennings) and her kids move into his house, the real restoration begins.

Elfman will play Eve Drake, a spirited choreographer and owner of the dance studio across from Parker Customs. The role is a good fit for Elfman who is a classically trained ballerina and began her career as a professional dancer, appearing in music videos by Depeche Mode and Anthrax and dancing on the 1991 Academy Awards live broadcast. Elfman also did some “interpretive...

Did you miss the 1980s? Have you only heard about the golden age of primetime soaps? Do you know who shot Jr? Are you familiar with The Abby Scale (Abby being a 10)? What was the Moldovan wedding massacre? If not, it’s time to find out. And if you do understand all the above references, well, it’s time to relive the big hair, the big shoulder pads, and the big personalities of primetime soaps’ greatest decade. We start with the show that never got the acclaim and buzz of its sister soaps, but it was worth watching then, and it is definitely worth watching now that all seasons are available on Amazon Prime — Falcon Crest!

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History Lesson

Falcon Crest ran on CBS from 1981 to 1990, and it stood out from the start in numerous ways. To begin with,...

Disney vet Alexandra Weinberger has joined Amazon MGM Studios in the newly created role of chief of YA and comedy ongoing series.

Three years ago, Amazon MGM Studios (then just Amazon Studios) organized its leadership team to focus on three areas: development, series, and IP and talent management. In her new position, Weinberger will head up a team that will take oversight of some of Amazon MGM Studios’ first-season YA and comedy shows — at Prime Video, the list of applicable upcoming titles includes “Cruel Intentions,” “We Were Liars,” “Motorheads,” “Off Campus,” “Every Year After,” “Overcompensating” and more — as they enter into their second seasons.

As head of YA and comedy series, Weinberger will report directly to Amazon MGM Studios head of co-prod television and ongoing series Laura Lancaster.

Most recently, Weinberger was a producer and creative consultant on the Dear Media podcast “Coming in Hot.” Prior to that, she worked...

Amazon MGM Studios has named Alexandra Weinberger as its new head of ongoing young adult and comedy series.

Weinberger, who previously worked at Disney for 21 years in a variety of leadership roles, will oversee Prime Video’s slate of YA and comedy titles, such as “Cruel Intentions,” “We Were Liars,” “Motorheads,” “Off Campus,” “Every Year,” “After,” “Overcompensating” and more — taking on many of these shows as they enter their second seasons.

She will report to Amazon’s head of co-prod television and ongoing series Laura Lancaster.

At Disney’s ABC Studios, Weinberger was a senior executive for current programming, where she exclusively oversaw Shonda Rhimes/Shondaland-created series “Private Practice,” “Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Station 19,” as well as Greg Berlanti Productions series like “Brothers and Sisters,” “Dirty Sexy Money” and “Eli Stone.”

Prior to that, she led comedy series development and current for Touchstone Television, overseeing series such as “Scrubs” and “My Wife & Kids.

Longtime Disney executive Alexandra (Alex) Weinberger has joined Amazon MGM Studios as head, YA and comedy, ongoing series. In the newly created position, she will report to Laura Lancaster, head of co-prod television and ongoing series.

Weinberger’s team will take over those of Prime Video’s slate of freshman young adult and comedy series that go to a second season. The slate includes Cruel Intentions, We Were Liars, Motorheads, Off Campus, Every Year After and Overcompensating.

Most recently, Weinberger worked as a producer and creative consultant on the Dear Media female empowerment podcast Coming in Hot.

Weinberger previously worked at Disney for 21 years. At ABC Studios, she was an executive in current programming and oversaw Shonda Rhimes/Shondaland series Private Practice, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, and Station 19, as well as Greg Berlanti Productions series such as Brothers and Sisters, Dirty Sexy Money, and Eli Stone.

Prior to that, Weinberger...

After hitting it big in the late 90s, thanks to Dharma & Greg‘s unexpected success, which earned her a Golden Globe win, Jenna Elfman’s presence in showbiz dwindled out in the years that followed. While the actress has starred in several sitcoms since, those releases weren’t able to replicate the buzz of Dharma & Greg, which lasted for five seasons.

Dharma & Greg | Credit: ABC

Another major factor has been the actress’ devotion to Scientology and her personal life. Moreover, it seems Elfman is quite contained with her life outside of showbiz.

Jenna Elfman Spoke Highly of Her Affiliation With Scientology Jenna Elfman | Credit: Dharma & Greg/ABC

Since being introduced to Scientology in the mid-90s, courtesy of Bodhi Elfman, with whom she had been married for the past three decades at this point, Jenna Elfman has been quite vocal about her stance on Scientology.

Related Tom Cruise...

“The One with the Blackout,” the seventh episode of “Friends’” inaugural season, was notable for several reasons. It first introduced viewers to both the gang’s miserly broomstick-waving neighbor Mr. Heckles and Ross’ first rival for Rachel’s affections, Italian stallion Paolo. It apparently added the term ‘friend zone’ to the English lexicon as a result. And, as its title suggests, it formed part of an ingenious marketing strategy in which three NBC sitcoms were deliberately plunged into darkness.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this month (November 3), Blackout Thursday was the brainwave of Dan Holm, a promotional producer also responsible for the term ‘Must See TV.’ Alongside the comedy that would prove to be the network’s most successful, the programming stunt also included one of the many forgettable one-seasoners that failed to ride its coattails, the Dabney Coleman-starring “Madman of the People,” and the 12-time Emmy-winning “Mad About You.

Alan Rachins has sadly died.

The actor, best known for his work on L.A. Law and Dharma & Greg, died Saturday (November 2), his wife Joanna Frank confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

Keep reading to find out more…

The actor passed away at the age of 82 in his sleep of heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Alan was known for playing attorney Douglas Brackman Jr. for all eight of the L.A. Law seasons from 1986 to 1994, then reprised the role in 2002’s made-for-tv L.A. Law: The Movie. He earned a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the 1988 Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as a Golden Globe nomination.

He also famously portrayed Larry, the father of Jenna Elfman’s Dharma, on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg, which ran for five seasons from 1997 to 2002.

He also appeared on Dallas, The Golden Girls, Diagnosis Murder, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman...

Alan Rachins, an actor known for his work on the series “L.A. Law” and “Dharma & Greg,” died early Saturday morning. He was 82.

Rachins died in his sleep of heart failure, his manager Mark Teitelbaum confirmed to Variety.

Rachins played lawyer Douglas Brackman Jr. on NBC’s “L.A. Law” for its entire eight-season run from 1986 to 1984, as well as in the 2002 made-for-tv film, “L.A. Law: The Movie.” He received nominations for a Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe in 1988 for his performance as Douglas.

“In the pilot episode, there was nothing of the more flamboyant or bizarre side of Douglas; he was going to be the hard-line office manager, the penny pincher,” Rachins said in a 1990 interview with The New York Times. “It was kind of limited, and I didn’t know where it was going. But quickly it developed a lot more color and flamboyance.”

After “L.A. Law,” Rachins portrayed Larry Finkelstein,...

Alan Rachins, who played lawyer Douglas Brackman for 13 seasons on “L.A. Law” and Jenna Elfman’s father Larry Finklestein on “Dharma & Greg,” died Saturday of heart failure. He was 82 years old.

Rachins’ manager, Mark Teitelbaum, shared the news of his death with TheWrap.

The actor’s additional credits include “Stargate Sg-1,” “Showgirls,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” While he was well known for his television and film roles, Rachins began his career on Broadway in 1967 in “After the Rain.” He worked in theatrical productions for years until the 1970s and returned to the stage in a two-person play after five seasons on “Dharma & Greg.”

In a 2003 interview with New Jersey Stage he admitted the shift was a big step for him. “Well, this is big in the sense that this is the other extreme because we are on the stage at all times. We’ve got a lot to do.

Alan Rachins was born on October 3, 1942 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and passed away on November 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. The American actor is dead at age 82 from heart failure, according to our sister site The Hollywood Reporter. May his memory be a blessing.

Rachins had over 75 acting credits to his name, including on the TV shows “L.A. Law” (1986-94) as Douglas Brackman, “Dharma and Greg” (1997-2002) as Larry Finkelstein, and “Stargate Sg-1” (1997) as Colonel Kennedy, and in the movie “Showgirls” (1995) as Tony Moss.

SEECelebrity Deaths 2024: In Memoriam Gallery

The actor received awards nominations at the Emmys and Golden Globes for his role on “L.A. Law,” losing to Larry Drake (“L.A. Law”) and Rutger Hauer (“Escape from Sobibor”), respectively. He took on the character of managing partner Douglas Brackman Jr. for all eight seasons between 1986 and 1994, plus in the 2002 TV movie reunion, for a total of 172 episodes.

Younger audiences may...

Alan Rachins, the actor known for his roles on L.A. Law and Dharma & Greg, has died. He was 82.

The Golden Globe and Emmy nominee died early Saturday morning after experiencing heart failure in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, his wife Joanna Frank told The Hollywood Reporter.

In addition to his performance as Douglas Brackman on the NBC series L.A. Law, which ran from 1986 to 1994 and earned him Golden Globe and Emmy nominations, Rachins was known for playing Dharma’s (Jenna Elfman) hippy father Larry on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg, which ran for five seasons from 1997 to 2002.

Rachins also appeared in such films as Thunder Run (1986), North (1994) and Showgirls (1995), as well as shows like The Golden Girls, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Stargate Sg-1 and Rizzoli & Isles.

Born Oct. 3, 1942 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Rachins moved to New York to study acting, where he...

Alan Rachins, best known for his work on L.A. Law and Dharma & Greg, died Saturday, the actor’s wife Joanna Frank confirms to The Hollywood Reporter. Rachins was 82.

According to Frank, with whom Rachins also shared the screen on several occasions, her husband died in his sleep of heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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On NBC’s L.A. Law, Rachins played attorney Douglas Brackman Jr.

Alan Rachins, who spent 13 seasons on television portraying the boorish law partner Douglas Brackman Jr. on L.A. Law and the hippie father of Jenna Elfman’s character on Dharma & Greg, died Saturday. He was 82.

Rachins died in his sleep of heart failure in the early morning hours at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his wife, actress Joanna Frank, told The Hollywood Reporter.

He and Frank married in 1978 after they met in an acting class. She recurred as Sheila Brackman, his feuding spouse, on L.A. Law, and they played a married couple in Always (1985), written and directed by indie auteur Henry Jaglom.

In what some might call a kinky coincidence, Rachins was one of the disrobing castmembers in the original stage production of Oh! Calcutta and appeared as Tony Moss, the cruel, toupeed director of the topless dance revue at the Stardust Casino, in Paul Verhoeven’s...

When you're a performer on a major sitcom, you're probably saddled with some rules and restrictions about what you can and cannot do while you're not filming. Apparently, the creator and showrunner of "The Big Bang Theory" — sitcom legend Chuck Lorre — insisted that nobody make major changes to their hair during the run of the series for continuity purposes, which makes sense; all of the main characters established their individual looks pretty early on in the series, so it stands to reason that they'd all look roughly the same. Still, in precisely one episode, Parsons and his co-stars Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, and Kunal Nayyar — who play Leonard Hofstadter, Howard Wolowitz, and Raj Koothrappali, in that order — were allowed to sport beards.

In the season 3 premiere "The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation," Leonard, Howard, Raj, and Sheldon return from an expedition to the North Pole where they were conducting research on magnetics,...

There are a few things that even casual fans know about "The Big Bang Theory." For one, it's a show about "nerds." Sheldon Cooper, played by Jim Parsons, says "Bazinga!" a lot. Also, the elevator in the building where most of the main characters live is broken for most of the series. So why is that? According to the showrunners, it all came down to the way they wanted to stage the show's "action," so to speak.

During a 2020 appearance at WonderCon, a fan asked about the elevator and whether co-creators Bill Prady and Chuck Lorre ever "considered" fixing it. "That's a great question," panel moderator Wil Wheaton said, before executive producer Steve Holland weighed in: "The elevator being broken actually serves a really important purpose on the show."

"So, one of the things you need is a place for characters to 'walk and talk,'" Prady said in response to Holland.

The new ABC comedy sitcom Shifting Gears, starring Tim Allen, will feature a 2 Broke Girls reunion for Kat Dennings. ABC's comedy slate is going through a bit of change. Even though Abbott Elementary season 4 is going strong, with a debut set for October 9, the network is losing The Conners which will be entering its seventh and final season. But the comedy block will be getting a boost from three veterans of the genre.

Deadline reports that Michelle Nader is the new showrunner of the multi-cam comedy Shifting Gears, taking over for writers and executive producers Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully following their exits in July. Nader, a veteran television writer and producer, previously worked with Dennings on 2 Broke Girls and the short-lived Hulu series Dollface. Production on the ABC show is set to begin in November.

What To Know About Shifting Gears & Its New Showrunner It's A...

Once upon a time, there was a sitcom called "Rhoda." It was a spinoff of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," and was an instant smash. How instant? Early in the first season, Rhoda got married, and the episode was watched by over 52 million television viewers. It was the highest-rated episode of television in the 1970s until the premiere of "Roots" in 1977, and served as a bit of a sitcom laboratory for James L. Brooks and Allan Burns. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was groundbreaking in its own right, but, at least early in the series, Brooks and his writers were a little looser on "Rhoda."

One of their most brilliant ideas was to introduce a regular character who is heard but never seen. "The Andy Griffith Show" had done this on occasion with Barney Fife's beloved Juanita Beasley, but "Rhoda" turned the alcoholic Carlton the Doorman into something of a sensation.

In the season 8 premiere of "The Big Bang Theory," Kaley Cuoco's character Penny debuted a shocking haircut ... and apparently, the actor sort of regretted it in the first place.

For the previous seven seasons, Penny was known for her flowing blonde locks — and as Cuoco revealed in Jessica Radloff's oral history "'The Big Bang Theory:' The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series" (via Us Weekly), she didn't necessarily tell anyone about the big chop. I"I just f**king cut my hair off and didn't tell anyone," Cuoco said. "I did it for an independent film called 'Burning Bodhi,' and basically showed up to our 'Big Bang' wrap party with short hair."

Not only did Cuoco need to cut her hair for "Burning Bodhi," a 2015 film that co-starred Sasha Pieterse ("Pretty Little Liars") and Meghann Fahy ("The White Lotus), but she was...

Television history is littered with failed sitcoms headlined by comedians that audiences seem to love — in the right show. Turn up in a stinker, however, and the shows are gone in a blink. Matthew Perry was great in Friends, but no one wanted Mr. Sunshine. Audiences adored McLean Stevenson in M*A*S*H but said goodbye to Hello Larry. Jon Cryer scored with Two and Half Men but was booted from his Extended Family this year.

Here are four more comedy stars who flopped multiple times while trying to get sitcoms off the ground…

1 Jason Bateman

Bateman received two well-deserved Emmy nominations for his performance as Michael Bluth in Arrested Development, recognition that came decades after his breakthrough as a Tiger Beat cover boy in Silver Spoons and The Hogan Family. In between, however, he starred in several sitcom flops that lasted a year or less, including It’s Your Move...

The Disney Plus streaming app on a smartphone. Disney is set to shut down its TV Everywhere apps in favor of Disney Plus and Hulu next month. (Photo by Mika Baumeister via Unsplash)

The Walt Disney Company will shut down most of its smartphone and smart TV apps that are associated with its broadcast and cable networks in September.

The move will impact “TV Everywhere” apps like FX Now, ABC, Disney Now, Nat Geo TV and Freeform that require a cable, satellite or streaming cable-like subscription to use. Those apps allowed customers to watch on-demand episodes and movies that aired across Disney-owned networks, as well as live east and west coast feeds of Freeform, FX, Fxx and National Geographic, as well as their local ABC station or affiliate if available.

Customers are being notified that their access to these apps will end on September 23, at which point they’ve been...

Mitzi McCall, the trailblazing comedian, actress and half of the comedy duo McCall and Brill, died Thursday in Burbank. She was 93.

Born on Sept. 9, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her comedic talents were evident early in life, leading to a distinguished career that spanned over seven decades. She emerged as a prominent voice in the male-dominated comedy world, paving the way for future generations of female comedians.

McCall’s legacy is perhaps most enduringly marked by her work with her husband, actor and comedian Charlie Brill, as part of the comedy duo “McCall and Brill.” The pair became television staples, gracing numerous variety shows, including a memorable appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” during The Beatles’ American debut in 1964 — a moment that has since become television history.

Mitzi’s career began in the late 1940s with a stage debut at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in “Strange Bedfellows” in 1948. In the early 1950s, she...

Comedian and actress Mitzi McCall of comedy duo McCall and Brill died Thursday at 93 years old, according to a statement from her representative. She died in Burbank at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, surrounded by loved ones.

McCall began in the 1950s and made a name for herself on the comedy scene. She was best known for her work as a team with her husband, Charlie Brill. They became mainstays on the era’s variety shows, including “The Ed Sullivan Show” — and were even on the episodes where The Beatles made their American debut.

“Mitzi McCall’s life was a testament to the power of laughter, and her influence on the world of comedy will be remembered for years to come,” the statement from her representative reads. “Her legacy will live on through the countless laughs she inspired and the doors she opened for future generations.”

She appeared on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In...

Mitzi McCall, whose five-decade resume in entertainment included 11 films, 14 TV shows and many animated series voice-overs, died August 8 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank at age 93. No details on cause were immediately available.

Her husband and comedy partner, Charlie Brill, confirmed her death in a Facebook post. “I lost my Mitzi last night. Rest in peace my one and only love…Rest in peace and laughter.”

McCall and Brill appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, better known as the U.S. television debut of The Beatles; the pair’s act can be seen on the DVD of the Beatles’ appearance on the show. They were interviewed in 2005 for Public Radio International’s “Big Break” episode of This American Life regarding their Beatles-Sullivan experience, including a dressing room encounter with John Lennon.

McCall started her entertainment career on the Kiddie Castle program on Kdka-tv in Pittsburgh.

aThe Disney Plus streaming app on a smartphone. (Photo by Mika Baumeister via Unsplash)

The Walt Disney Company is looking at different ways to make its direct-to-consumer streaming apps more “sticky” with subscribers, and is considering the launch of “pop-up” content streams based around some of its intellectual property, according to a report.

This week, the Wall Street Journal said executives and developers at Disney have discussed linear content streams that offer shows like “The Simpsons” and movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a way to reach streamers who want a “lean-back” experience akin to traditional broadcast or cable TV channels.

The idea would not be entirely new for Disney: Last year, The Desk was first to reveal the existence of around two dozen free, ad-supported content streams within Disney’s ABC app for phones, tablets and smart TVs, which offer re-runs of shows like “General Hospital,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition...

The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik has opened up about one very significant rule while working with Chuck Lorre on the popular sitcom. The actress took on the role of Amy Farrah Fowler starting in Season 3 and recently reprised her role alongside Jim Parsons in Young Sheldon.

A still from The Big Bang Theory | CBS

Her time working on the Emmy-winning TV series helped her gain many insights into comedy. One crucial lesson was a key rule that showrunner Chuck Lorre adhered to was to always prioritize the audience’s perception of what’s funny.

Mayim Bialik Reveals Chuck Lorre’s Golden Rule for Comedy Success

One of the many names behind the success of hit shows like The Big Bang Theory, Dharma & Greg, and Cybill, has been Chuck Lorre, who is also known as the ‘King of Sitcoms.’ And actress Mayim Bialik has revealed the secret behind his success.

Leanne Morgan’s current tour is called Just Getting Started, and the 58-year-old comedian is living up to that with a comedy series and two more specials at Netflix. The streamer has given a 16-episode order to an untitled multi-cam sitcom, headlined by Morgan in her TV acting debut and executive produced by top comedy showrunner Chuck Lorre. Additionally, Netflix has picked up two more stand-up specials from Morgan following the success of her first one, the 2023 Leanne Morgan: I’m Every Woman.

Co-created by Morgan, Lorre and Susan McMartin, the Untitled Leanne Morgan Project will follow Leanne whose life is upended when her husband of 33 years leaves her for another woman. Starting over when you’re a grandmother and in menopause isn’t exactly what she had in mind, but with the help of her family, she will navigate this new chapter with grace, dignity and jello salad.

"The Love Boat" holds a fascinating place in pop culture history. While most of the shows with reruns playing in heavy rotation today were in some way groundbreaking upon their initial release, "The Love Boat" is a novelty the likes of which modern TV rarely – if ever – tries to emulate. An anthology-like rom-com set aboard a cruise ship, "The Love Boat" featured a revolving door of guest stars and little connective tissue to speak of aside from the cast playing the crew aboard the ship.

The deeply '70s series earned high ratings for much of its run, yet was considered pretty silly even at the time of its release. John J. O'Connor called it a "dreadful porridge of a conception" in The New York Times, while the Orlando Sentinel's Noel Holston said it needed "sharper writing, better casting, more original situations, an end to the indefatigable laugh track or,...

Jack Axelrod, the actor who played the role of Victor Jerome on General Hospital, has died. He was 93.

Multiple reports indicate that Axelrod died on Nov. 28 of natural causes in Los Angeles.

Axelrod was featured on the ABC soap for 40 episodes between 1987 and 1989. He had previously made guest appearances in Kojak (1977), Hill Street Blues (1984), Dallas (1983), The Judge (1986), Dynasty (1987), Outlaws (1987) and Night Court (1989).

“I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with him in his last years, as he had no immediate family,” representative Jennifer Garland said in a statement to EW. “We spent much time outdoors, where Jack loved to sketch, read news articles, and recite Shakespearean sonnets.”

Following his stint on General Hospital, Axelrod went on to play Arnie Zimmer on three episodes of Knots Landing between 1989 and 1990. Guest appearances would follow on shows like Murphy Brown (1992), Everybody Loves Raymond (1999), Boys Meets World (1999), Good vs Evil (1999), Jack & Jill...

Jack Axelrod, an actor whose screen career lasted for nearly a half century, has died. He was 93 years old. Axelrod’s rep said that the actor died of natural causes in Los Angeles on November 28, as The Hollywood Reporter announced on Friday. The earliest entry in Axelrod’s filmography is his role as Arroyo in the 1971 Woody Allen comedy film Bananas. During the 1970s and 1980s, he had small roles in the TV shows Kojak, Hill Street Blues, Dynasty, Night Court, and Knots Landing. He also starred as mob boss Victor Jerome on the ABC soap General Hospital between 1987 and 1989. As the 20th century wrapped up, Axelrod guest-starred on Murphy Brown, Everybody Loves Raymond, Boy Meets World, and Dharma & Greg. In the new millennium, TV viewers saw him on Alias, Frasier, Malcolm in the Middle, Scrubs, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Gale Adler/ABC/Courtesy: Everett Collection In Seasons 3 and 4 of Grey’s Anatomy,...

Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for “The Crown” Season 6, streaming on Netflix now.

The final episodes of “The Crown” have dropped and, as Netflix boss Ted Sarandos pointed out at the premiere of Season 5, that means Google searches will be going up, since many fans like to fact-check scenes from Peter Morgan’s royal drama while they watch.

“This is the story of Queen Elizabeth. This is the story of the royal family. Peter has told and dramatised these stories, some very memorable, some forgotten, judging by the Google activity that happens every time we drop a new season,” said Sarandos at the premiere last November.

Annie Sulzberger, who is head of research on the show, said that if fans spot discrepancies between real events and those on “The Crown,” those are intentional. “This is a drama, and dramatists have to look at history differently,” she told Variety. “These are not inaccuracies.

Susan Sullivan is on the mend.

After sharing a cryptic photo of herself in a hospital gown earlier this week, the Falcon Crest and Castle vet revealed Tuesday on X (formerly known as Twitter) that she recently underwent surgery to treat lung cancer.

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“Thanks for all the lovely comments and concerns,” Sullivan, 80, wrote. “I had lung cancer. The surgery was successful. The healing process is a struggle.”

Sullivan alarmed fans on Monday when she...

James Cameron’s Titanic counted on the presence of an actor who also appeared in another movie based on the sinking of the Titanic. The tragedy of the Rms Titanic has been the subject of various movies, documentaries, books, and more, and perhaps the most famous and successful retelling of it is James Cameron’s 1997 movie, Titanic. Although based on the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, Cameron’s movie focuses on a fictional love story mixed with characters based on real-life passengers of the ship and stories about what happened on that horrible night.

Titanic tells the story of Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a third-class passenger, and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet), a first-class passenger, who fell in love onboard the title ship. Jack and Rose defended their romance from those who looked down on them, and they also did their best to stay safe during and after the ship sank,...