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We’ve all been there—rolling our eyes at the announcement of yet another spinoff trying to capitalize on a show we love. Let’s face it: most spinoffs feel like the TV equivalent of leftover pizza. It’s still okay, but it’s never quite as good as the original. But every now and then, something magical happens. A spinoff comes along that doesn’t just live up to its predecessor—it actually surpasses it.

A still from Tom and Jerry | Credits: Turner Entertainment

These rare gems take what worked in the original series and elevate it to new heights, sometimes becoming so successful that people forget they weren’t the original show to begin with! So grab your remote and get comfortable as we count down the top 10 spinoff shows that didn’t just escape their parent shows’ shadows but cast impressive shadows of their own.

10. Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer...

On Monday, February 17 at 8:00 p.m. Et/Pt, CBS will air an all-new primetime special produced by the team at “Entertainment Tonight,” titled “On TV: A Black History Month Special,” hosted by Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, the first ever Black co-hosting team for “Entertainment Tonight.”

The primetime special, which will also be available to stream Live and On Demand on Paramount+*, will feature interviews with several CBS stars, including the cast of “Beyond the Gates,” the first new network television soap opera to premiere in over 25 years.

Filmed on location from the sets of the CBS shows, the special will guide viewers through a celebration of Black excellence in television as the hosts shine a spotlight on Black actors who are forging a path in daytime and primetime television.

Daphnee Duplaix. Clifton Davis, Tamara Tunie, Karla Mosley

Quantrell Colbert/CBS

Those set to appear in the special include Tamara Tunie,...

To celebrate an artform that continues to be an inexhaustible source of joy after more than 70 years of media omnipresence, we've looked over the history of sitcoms and compiled a ranking of the 30 greatest of all time — with rankings based on a combination of sheer craftsmanship, influence and innovation, cultural iconicity, and, of course, density of laughs.

To make our lives easier, we followed a few ground rules: Straight, unambiguous sitcoms only; English-language only; live-action only. Otherwise, all is fair game here, from the format-defining to the format-breaking to everything in between.

Read more: The 113 Best Comedy Movies Ever

The Jeffersons

Originally a spin-off of "All in the Family," "The Jeffersons" was developed by Norman Lear (one of the greatest TV producers of all time) and ran on CBS like its parent show, but didn't take long to become fully its own thing. In addition to being one of the funniest,...

The longest-running sitcoms in television history come from several different decades and have different styles of humor but have all left a lasting legacy. Sitcoms have always been a staple of television, as even classic golden age TV was known for shows like Father Knows Best and Leave it to Beaver gave way to even more groundbreaking sitcoms like All in the Family and The Jeffersons. However, when it came to sitcoms, lasting for 15 or 20 seasons was never easy as humor is subjective and changes over time. Yet some have shown incredible lasting power over the years.

Though audiences tune into sitcoms for laughs, the longest-running sitcoms show the different ways the genre can connect with audiences. There are the classic easy-going sitcoms like The Love Boat, some that mix in drama, like M*A*S*H, animated classics like The Simpsons, and darker sitcoms like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

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Actress Marla Gibbs shared her favorite episode from her classic sitcom The Jeffersons—and the one she’d do over—in her new uInterview.

The Jeffersons, a spinoff of the smash hit show All in the Family, ran from 1975 to 1985 and followed an African American couple (played by Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley) who move to a luxury high-rise apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and adjust to their newfound affluence after being raised in a working-class neighborhood in Queens. Gibbs played the family’s maid, Florence, starting in 1975, beginning at the age of 44. Gibbs was nominated for an Emmy five times for her role.

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Gibbs reflected on her favorite episodes. “Of the 200 hundred shows, I don’t really have a favorite moment on The Jeffersons,” she told uInterview founder Erik Meers.

Two names in the Best Comedy Actress race are sure to be called for Emmy nominations when they’re announced on July 17: Ayo Edebiri and Jean Smart. While both “The Bear” and “Hacks” have both done extremely well at the Emmys and both women have taken home trophies for their performances, they’re getting in shape for their first battle against each other in this category.

Due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last year, Edebiri won her first Emmy at the top of this year instead of last September for the critically acclaimed first season of “The Bear,” in Best Comedy Supporting Actress. For the second season, she has been elevated to the lead actress race, where she is poised to win again. The HBO/Max series “Hacks,” meanwhile, became an immediate favorite of critics and awards bodies and garnered Smart back-to-back Emmy victories in 2021 and 2022.

Sign...

On June 6, the 2024 IndieWire Honors ceremony will celebrate 13 creators and stars responsible for some of the most stellar work of the TV season. Curated and selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, the event is a new edition of previous IndieWire Honors ceremonies, this time focused entirely on television. We’re showcasing their work with new interviews leading up to the Los Angeles celebration.

The 75th Primetime Emmys had Quinta Brunson in her feelings before she was even called to the stage to accept the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. “It was such a celebration of television,” the “Abbott Elementary” creator/star told IndieWire over Zoom. “I remember the beginning of the ceremony ran through a number of famous sitcoms, just things that have raised me and always inspired me to want to make a comedy myself, and make TV. And it was already emotional for me,...

"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...

Black women are consistently underestimated, disregarded, and overlooked in the entertainment industry, but I've been so inspired by Black stars' joy and self-love this awards season. From Quinta Brunson to Niecy Nash, our favorite actresses have already celebrated their well-deserved flowers - and I'll be watching the upcoming Grammys to see if that trend continues.

If you've missed all the bright points of this awards season, let me remind you of what's happened so far. During the Golden Globes on Jan. 7, we saw Ayo Edebiri take home her first major award as this year's best female actor in a television series for her work in "The Bear." Her acceptance speech made its way around social media for her relatable delivery - but mainly for her acknowledgment of her agents' and managers' assistants. Despite this being a momentous occasion in her career, she took the time to humbly thank and uplift...

Looked at one way, the 75th Emmy Awards on Monday night yielded the most predictable (read: boring) of ceremonies. Everything went according to form. “Succession” was expected to dominated the drama series categories. “The Bear” was supposed to preside over comedy series. “Beef” was thought to be a shoo-in among the limited series lineups. And that’s exactly what happened. However, looked at another way, Gold Derby voters accurately forecast the winners in 26 of the 27 categories, which is quite the feat. Still, meeting for a slugfest the morning after the Emmys, senior editors Marcus James Dixon, Daniel Montgomery and Denton Davidson and news and features editor Ray Richmond were officially underwhelmed, hoping for an upset or two but finding just one category that didn’t go according to form: Best Variety/Talk Series, where the outgoing “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” defied the Gold Derby odds. Watch their animated discussion above.

Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers is set in the last weeks of 1970 and, if attention is paid, you’ll see Da’Vine Joy Randolph pay homage to Isabel Sanford, particularly how the tv legend wore her hair when she played Louise “Weezy” Jefferson in the classic TV comedy The Jeffersons.

“I do this all the time with my characters,” Randolph tells me as she explains how she likes to distract herself from “Da’Vine,” and of how she has sacrificed much of her private life to her professional life.

In her portrait of Mary Lamb, the catering manager at an elite boys school, she felt like she was “walking this emotional, psychological tightrope,” because Mary’s only child has been killed fighting for his country in Vietnam.

It was a case of constant checks and balances because she didn’t want her Mary to be “whiny and cry. Didn’t...

Upon walking into the Governors Gala, statuette in hand and partner Jessica Betts on her arm, “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” star Niecy Nash-Betts, who gave the speech of the night upon accepting the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, joked “I fell short of saying ‘About damn time,’” upon being reminded this was her fifth nomination (and fourth show she’s been nominated for.)

Though that quip is true of her specific circumstance, it also sums up the vibe of the night. For many of the milestones that occurred at the 75th Primetime Emmys on Monday, January 16, it really felt like “about damn time.”

As the telecast walked the audience through television history, it was notable how well certain segments confronted some of the Television Academy’s shortcomings over the years. Hearing Trevor Noah is the first Black late night host to...

It was a big night for diversity at the 2023 Emmys with five of the 12 acting Emmys being awarded to performers of color, tying the record set at the 1991 ceremony.

The first two awards of the night made history with wins for The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri and Abbot Elementary’s Quinta Brunson, marking the first time that the supporting and lead comedy actress Emmys have both gone to Black women in the same year. The same was previously accomplished in the drama categories with Viola Davis and Uzo Aduba in...

Was it because of the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., or simply a sign of the times, that the 2023 Emmys was its most diverse ever?

As the awards show celebrated its 75th anniversary, five of the 12 acting Emmys handed out on Monday night — pushed four months to MLK Day as a result of the 2023 strikes — went to performers of color, tying the record set at the 1991 ceremony, when Lynn Whitfield, Madge Sinclair and Ruby Dee took home statuettes (and James Earl Jones took home two).

The show made history with its first two awards of the night, with wins for The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri and Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson marking the first time that the supporting and lead comedy actress Emmys both went to Black women in the same year. (The feat was previously accomplished in the drama races with Viola Davis and Uzo Aduba in 2015.) Brunson...

The 75th Emmy Awards were filled with plenty of memorable moments, from historic wins to emotional tributes and a long, sultry onstage kiss. Some of them included Ali Wong and Quinta Brunson wins’ serving as Emmy milestones, Elton John joining the very elusive Egot club, and Matty Matheson getting a kiss on the mouth from The Bear co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Below, The Hollywood Reporter highlights some of the night’s unforgettable moments.

Elton John Joins Egot Club

Elton John is the latest member of the Egot club, scoring his first Emmy for best variety special (live). The 2023 Emmy Awards win for the musician’s Farewell From Dodger Stadium special, which he secured during Monday night’s telecast, joins his Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. The Disney+ special chronicles the musician’s final North American show as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. The tour began in 2018 and was...

Two years ago, the hashtag #EmmysSoWhite began trending when the Television Academy failed to award any major acting trophies to people of color. The pendulum has swung, with this year’s ceremony awarding a record-breaking number of people of color across all major categories: drama, comedy, limited, reality and variety series — a first in the TV Academy’s history.

That said, there were some stark reminders of historical shortcomings throughout the evening, such as a “Martin” cast reunion. The beloved show failed to score a single Emmy nod during its five-season run.

One year after making history as the second Black woman to win for comedy writing, Quinta Brunson took the stage again for her performance as the lovable teacher Janine Teagues in “Abbott Elementary.” She became the second Black woman to win the category, following Isabel Sanford for “The Jeffersons” in 1981.

Ayo Edebiri was part of the historic night for FX’s “The Bear,...

Quinta Brunson has just made Emmys history — again. Last year, the creator, writer, executive producer, and star of the delightful elementary school-set sitcom "Abbott Elementary" broke records by becoming the first Black woman ever nominated for three different comedy categories at once. Tonight, she took home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy, and is the first Black woman to do so in over 40 years.

The last time the Emmys honored a Black woman in a lead comedic role was way back in 1981, when Isabel Sanford won the award for her role as Louise "Weezy" Mills Jefferson in the seminal series "The Jeffersons." With Ayo Edebiri winning Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for "The Bear," this is the first year both winners have been Black women. As with most records like this, Brunson and Edebiri's wins are both worth celebrating and a reminder of how abysmal a...

At the 2023 Emmy Awards, a night especially dedicated to celebrating the history of television, Quinta Brunson’s early win evoked a milestone set more than 40 years ago.

After earning the statuette for comedy series writing last year, the Abbott Elementary star won for best actress in a comedy series. The first and heretofore only Black winner in the category was Isabel Sanford, winning for her role in Norman Lear’s classic The Jeffersons in 1981.

Brunson’s win also puts her in the company of Tina Fey and Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Emmy-winning actresses who created and wrote for their own shows. She is the first Black woman to do so; Issa Rae was three times in the running for the feat, but Insecure ended before she could secure a win.

Brunson was also nominated this year for comedy guest actress (the win went to Judith Light for Poker Face) and as...

“Abbott Elementary” star and creator Quinta Brunson took home the Emmy for best actress in a comedy series on Monday night.

“I don’t even know why I’m so emotional. I think, like, the Carol Burnett of it all,” Brunson said, beginning to choke up at the top of her acceptance speech. Burnett, smiling at the remark, had presented the award — the second major prize of the evening.

“Thank you so much. I love making ‘Abbott Elementary’ so much. And I am so happy to be able to live my dream and act out comedy. I say that every time. I just love comedy so much. I’m so happy to be able to get this. I didn’t prepare anything, because I just didn’t think — oh god,” Brunson said, before continuing. “I love my mom, my dad, my sisters, my brothers, my entire family so much. I love my husband.

Abbott Elementary‘s Quinta Brunson just became the second Black actress to win an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Comedy.

She’s also the first in more than 40 years to win, after Isabel Sanford.

Accepting her trophy from presenter Carol Burnett, Brunson couldn’t hold back the tears.

“Oh man, thank you so much I don’t even know why I am so emotional, the Carol Burnett of it all,” she said. “I love making Abbott Elementary so much and I am so happy to be able to live my dream and act out comedy. I feel it every time. I love comedy so much. I’m so happy to get this. I didn’t prepare anything because I just didn’t think….I love my mom, my dad, my sisters, my brothers…”

Brunson won her first Emmy for the ABC comedy in 2022. She plays Janine...

Quinta Brunson has won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in “Abbott Elementary” Season 2, making her the second Black woman in history to receive the honor over 42 years after “The Jeffersons” star Isabel Sanford became the first.

As discouraging a time gap between wins as that is, Brunson’s beloved ABC sitcom about teachers at an underfunded school in Philadelphia has seemingly moved the needle forward for more Black talent to win in the comedy series categories. At the 2022 Primetime Emmys, Brunson earned her first Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, following “Master of None” writer-star Lena Waithe as the second Black woman to win the category. That same night her “Abbott Elementary” co-star Sheryl Lee Ralph became the second Black woman to win Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, 35 years after Jackeé Henry won for her work in “227.

The 2023 Primetime Emmy Awards were finally handed out … on January 15, 2024. Originally scheduled for last September, the awards were pushed back several months as a result of WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes against studios and streamers for better pay and protections against AI. The writers’ labor dispute was resolved on September 27, followed by the actors on November 9. So who won at these long overdue kudos? Scroll down for our live updating report explaining who won, who surprised, and what it all meant.

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Because of the delay, there may be some confusion as to what these Emmys were actually honoring. For instance, even though “The Bear” season two aired six months ago, these awards actually cover “The Bear” season one, which aired in the summer of 2022. And while Elizabeth Debicki just picked up Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards for “The Crown” season six,...

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...

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.

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2023 Emmy Predictions:

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Rachel Brosnahan, ‘Go Forward’.. photo: Philippe Antonello / ©Amazon /Courtesy Everett Collection

Weekly Commentary: Quinta Brunson is the front-runner to win her first acting Emmy for her charming turn as Janine Teagues, the optimistic 2nd-grade teacher from ABC’s hit mockumentary.

While television shows have long been a beloved source of entertainment, some TV comedies that were ahead of their time were underrated. Those usually bring laughter and joy into the lives of audiences worldwide. While some shows achieve instant fame and critical acclaim, there exists a treasure trove of comedic brilliance that, for one reason or another, did not receive the recognition they truly deserved during their original runs. These underappreciated TV comedies were ahead of their time, pushing the boundaries of humor, storytelling, and societal commentary in ways that were often groundbreaking and innovative.

From cult classics to short-lived wonders, the following 13 series defied conventional norms and challenged viewers with their unconventional humor, unique perspectives, and candid portrayal of real-life issues. These underrated shows stand as a testament to the power of the genre in shaping cultural conversations, humanizing societal challenges, and providing comfort and laughter during times of uncertainty.

“I am Black woman; hear me roar!”

The hilarity of Black women on television has been sorely missed and ignored by the Television Academy over multiple decades. However, this year’s slate of outstanding lead and supporting comedy actress seem to be the two spots preventing an #EmmysSoWhite moment from occurring.

Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Emmy predictions in all categories.

Quinta Brunson is the front-runner to win her first acting Emmy for her charming turn as Janine Teagues, the optimistic 2nd-grade teacher from ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.” With a beautiful sophomore season in the books and the added benefit of Jean Smart being out of the competition for “Hacks,” she seems perfectly aligned with the Emmy cosmos to land much-deserved recognition. The possible recognition would be long overdue for Black comedians on television.

Pasadena, CA – September 13: Actress Isabel Sanford attends the 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy...

Robin Thede ain’t here for any more Emmy snubs for the hilarious Black women from “A Black Lady Sketch Show.”

“We’re showing you the characters behind the characters,” she recently told Variety at a Q&a panel. “I love it. You see the full range of actors on the show. But I want to note that none of the show’s actors have ever been nominated for an Emmy, and they deserve it.”

Four seasons into the groundbreaking HBO series, the creative minds and strategists hope to change that.

Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Emmy predictions.

HBO confirms exclusively to Variety that the network will be submitting the six-episode Season 4 for 30 Emmy categories, notably outstanding scripted variety series and three main acting categories: Thede for lead comedy actress and Gabrielle Dennis and Skye Townsend for supporting comedy actress.

Acting nominees for various sketch comedies have...

With two-time Best Comedy Actress Emmy champ Jean Smart (“Hacks”) out of contention this year, “Abbott Elementary” star (and creator and writer) Quinta Brunson is in a solid position as the category’s frontrunner. After Rue McClanahan and Tina Fey, she would be the third actress to take this prize for her show’s second season after losing for its first. At age 33, she would also be the youngest Black woman to ever earn multiple nominations for this award and could close a four-decade gap between Black winners in the category.

To date, the only Black actress who has ever been honored by the TV academy for a lead comedic performance is Isabel Sanford, who triumphed in 1981 on her third of seven consecutive bids for “The Jeffersons.” She was preceded by just one other Black nominee – Diahann Carroll – and has since been followed by five more, including Brunson. Rounding out this group are Nell Carter,...

NBC network dominated the 35th annual Primetime Emmys, with a groundbreaking drama continuing a winning streak, a little-watched sitcom making its name known and another sitcom proving the network might have cancelled it too soon. Eddie Murphy and Joan Rivers hosted the event on September 25, 1983. Rivers claimed she had waited nine years for an invitation to the Emmys, and would be wearing every dress she owed (which ended up being nine), and Murphy was excited about his first nomination. Read on for our Emmys flashback 40 years ago to 1983.

Two years prior, a little police drama had debuted, changing television with its realism and continuing storylines involving the personal lives of the characters. “Hill Street Blues” not only dominated the Nielsen ratings, but it won numerous Emmys throughout its run. This year would mark its third of four consecutive Best Drama Series victories, winning over “Cagney & Lacey,” “Fame,” “Magnum, P.I.” and “St. Elsewhere.

With her Best Comedy Actress Emmy nomination for “Insecure” this year, Issa Rae has become only the third Black woman to be recognized in the category three times. This precedent was established by Isabel Sanford (“The Jeffersons”) in 1981 and then matched by Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”) in 2018. Ross’s third outing aligned with Rae’s first, making them the third pair of Black women to appear in the same comedy lead lineup after Sanford and Nell Carter and Sanford and Phylicia Rashad. Since “Insecure” wrapped its last season in December, Rae now has one more chance to nab an Emmy for playing Issa Dee.

Rae’s episode submission is “Reunited, Okay?!,” the fifth and final season premiere. Set against the backdrop of Issa’s 10-year college reunion, it follows her as she prepares for and participates in an alumni panel discussion while also struggling to navigate her strained relationship with her best friend,...

In 1954, Eve Arden made history as the first woman to win a lead acting Emmy for a specific comedy series. She achieved the honor for playing the titular character on “Our Miss Brooks,” who made her living as a high school teacher. While more than a quarter of all Best Comedy Actress-winning characters have been housewives, teaching has proven to be the category’s second most favorable occupation. After Arden, Bea Arthur (“The Golden Girls”) and Melissa McCarthy (“Mike & Molly”) took the 1988 and 2011 prizes, respectively, for portraying educators. Now, “Abbott Elementary” star and first-time Emmy nominee Quinta Brunson has a shot at becoming the fourth member of this group.

Brunson, who also created “Abbott Elementary,” entered the pilot, which aired on ABC in December, as her episode submission. The installment introduces her character, Philadelphia public school teacher Janine Teagues, an optimistic, conscientious molder of second grade minds. A scant budget...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provides inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.

To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Emmys Collective

Visit each category, per the individual awards show from The Emmys Hub

To see old predictions and commentary,...

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,...

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,...

“Abbott Elementary” creator and star Quinta Brunson made TV history Tuesday by becoming the first Black woman nominated for Emmys in acting, writing and outstanding comedy as her ABC show took home a slew of nominations.

“Abbott Elementary” scored seven Emmy nominations total, including comedy series, lead actress in a comedy and writing for a comedy series (for the “Pilot”). At 32, Brunson also became the youngest Black woman ever nominated in the comedy acting category.

“What an honor to be nominated by the Television Academy,” Brunson said. “Creating this show has been the greatest gift and to have it recognized in this way is the dream. It’s a joy we get to share with the amazing people who watched our first season. None of this would be possible without my incredible, supportive EP’s Justin Halpern, Randall Einhorn & Patrick Schumacker, our incredible writers room, our insanely talented cast, and...

Quinta Brunson has just made Emmy history with “Abbott Elementary.” Landing three nominations for outstanding comedy series, lead actress in a comedy and writing for a comedy series (for the “Pilot”), she is the first Black woman to earn three noms in the comedy categories in the same year. At 32, Brunson is also the youngest Black woman ever nominated in the comedy acting category.

Both lead actress in a comedy and writing for a comedy series have only had one Black woman winner each in the Emmys’ previous 74-year history — Isabel Sanford won in 1981 for her iconic role as Louise in CBS’ “The Jeffersons” and Lena Waithe alongside co-writer Aziz Ansari in 2017 for Netflix’s “Master of None.”

Read more: Variety’s Awards Circuit Emmys Predictions Hub

In 2020, we saw history made with the first two Black women nominated for both comedy series (as producers) and lead actress in a...

It was a night of record-making firsts and honoring legends from Hollywood’s Golden Era. John Forsythe and Marlo Thomas hosted the 34th Primetime Emmy Awards on ABC on September 19, 1982 — before cable TV and streaming services took over and network TV still ruled the small screen. Read on for our Emmys flashback 40 years ago to 1982.

One of the most celebrated dramas of all time set new records and dominated the acting categories. “Hill Street Blues” received 16 major nominations, breaking the two-decade record of 14 for “Playhouse 90” in 1959. It’s also the first series to receive nine acting noms in one ceremony. It would end the evening tied with “Fame” for the most wins with four, including Best Drama Series, a writing win (it received four out of the five bids in that category) and two acting trophies.

SEEEmmys flashback 20 years ago to 2002, when ‘Friends’ finally won and ‘The West Wing’ dominated...

If the Oscars were looking for a good mood with “Coda,” then the TV Academy might look to Philadelphia school teachers’ delightful and charming maneuvers with ABC’s hit show “Abbott Elementary,” which just had its season finale on April 12. Created, written and executive produced by it-girl Quinta Brunson, the mockumentary sitcom serves as a lovely reminder of the challenges that educators face daily, both in pre- and post-pandemic society, that undervalues their contributions and roles in the lives of our children. As broadcast television continues its struggles with viewership and overall presence in the awards races, the ABC comedy could be one of the freshman series that aces it with the Television Academy and its members.

With Brunson’s multiple duties on the show, she has three shots at possible nominations, including outstanding comedy series, lead actress in a comedy and outstanding writing for a comedy series. If recognized in all three,...

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...

Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Emmys ceremonies from film awards editor Clayton Davis. Following history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Emmy predictions are updated regularly with the current year's list of contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. The eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and is subject to change.

To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Emmys Collective

Visit each individual category, according to the awards show from The Emmys Hub

Link to film awards hub The Oscars Hub

Draft>>>Pre-season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season

2021 Emmys Predictions:

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Updated: Aug 19, 2021

Awards Prediction Commentary: Double nominated for her role of Annie Easton in the...

With diversity among key nominees at the 73rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards up 17% year over year, there is great potential for even more records to be shattered come the Sept. 19 ceremony.

Four of the six slots for lead drama actor went to Black actors, two of whom are former winners — Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”) and Billy Porter (“Pose”). If either of those two win, he would be only the second Black actor to repeat a victory in this category.

In the Emmys’ 73-year history there have only been two people of color who won back-to-back acting trophies in the same category (and both were men). In addition to Cosby, Charles S. Dutton picked up statues for “The Practice” in 2002 and “Without a Trace” in 2003, both in the guest drama actor category. After winning guest comedy actress last year for “Saturday Night Live,” Maya Rudolph can join that list...

Catherine O’Hara is no bébé, but she is now the second oldest Best Comedy Actress Emmy champ ever. The “Schitt’s Creek” star, who was the season-long favorite, won the prize on Sunday at 66 years young.

O’Hara edged out Bea Arthur for the No. 2 spot. Arthur was also 66 when she triumphed for “The Golden Girls” in 1988, but O’Hara has her beat when you get down to the days: She was 66 years, 6 months and 17 days old on Emmy night vs. Arthur’s 66 years, 3 months and 16 days. They don’t come close at all to the record holder in the category, which was formally established in 1966: Ruth Gordon was 82 years, 10 months and 11 days old when she prevailed for “Taxi” in 1979.

Gordon’s win does come with an asterisk. The acting and screenwriting legend — who was also born in the 19th century (1896) — was an unequivocal guest star on “Taxi,” having only...

Even before the final-round voting ballots have been sent out, the 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards have made history.

The nominees include the most Black performers ever nominated in a single year. Not only is the sheer number a record, but 2020’s nominee class includes some notable firsts: Nicole Byer is the first Black woman to be nominated in the reality host category for Netflix’s “Nailed It”; Maya Rudolph became the first Black performer — man or woman — to be nominated against herself, scoring two noms in the guest comedy actress race for NBC’s “The Good Place” and “Saturday Night Live.” And Dime Davis is the first Black woman to be nominated in the variety series directing category for her work on HBO’s “A Black Lady Sketch Show.”

And while history may be made again come ceremony night on Sept. 20 — for example, if Davis wins, she will be...

Moira Rose’s exact age is unknown — though she did play Liesl von Trapp at 50 — but we do know Catherine O’Hara‘s: She is 66 years young, and if she wins the Best Comedy Actress Emmy, as widely predicted, for “Schitt’s Creek,” she’d become the category’s second oldest champ ever.

Bea Arthur was also 66 when she prevailed for “The Golden Girls” in 1988, but when you get down to the days, O’Hara will be a tad older on Emmy night than Arthur was — 66 years, 6 months and 17 days vs. 66 years, 3 months and 16 days — so she’d get the solo No. 2 honor in the category, which was formally established in 1966 and has undergone various names. They have nothing on record holder Ruth Gordon, who was 82 years, 10 months and 11 days old when she won for “Taxi” in 1979. And if that’s not enough to blow your mind, the legendary star and screenwriter...

“Black Mirror’s” Emmy journey this season has had more twists than a “Black Mirror” episode. After getting permission to stay in the Best TV Movie category, despite its submission “Smithereens” being five minutes short of the new 75-minute requirement, the show was shunted to drama last week. That means instead of the limited/TV movie acting races, “Black Mirror’s” Season 5 stars can now choose to enter in drama lead, supporting or guest. And if any of them or Netflix are torn, take it from us: Go guest.

Current Emmy rules stipulate that performers who appear in less than 50 percent of a show’s season are eligible to compete in guest, but are not required to, so they can pick whatever category they want. But to put it bluntly, guest is arguably where all “Black Mirror” actors belong. The show is an anthology series with a different cast every episode.

The Jeffersons was a TV show created by Norman Lear that ran from January 18, 1975, to July 2, 1985. The All in the Family spin-off focused on the titular family after moving to Manhattan from Family's setting of Queens. It starred Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford as George and Louise Jefferson, with Mike Evans (and later Damon Evans) starring as their son Lionel. The show was unique because it used stellar writing and acting to tackle tough topics such as alcoholism, gentrification, and racism. It was also the first major sitcom to feature an interracial couple in major roles.

Related: 10 Things Fans Never Knew About The Jeffersons

The Jeffersons lasted for 11 seasons and 253 episodes. Here are the 10 best, according to IMDb.

Nearly two decades after he helped bring back the movie musical with Best Picture Oscar winner “Chicago,” director Rob Marshall has made Hollywood history again. By casting 19-year-old singer Halle Bailey as Ariel in his upcoming remake of the 1989 animated film “The Little Mermaid,” he’s about to give the big-screen its first black live-action Disney princess.

What took Hollywood’s casting agents so long to appreciate what’s always been right in front of them? We’ve seen one animated black Disney princess before, but Tiana in 2009’s “The Princess and the Frog” came only after other princesses of color — Chinese Mulan, Native American Pocahontas, and “Aladdin” Arabic heroine Jasmine — made their debuts.

Although black women have been a vital part of the American fabric since the first Independence Day, they continue to be far too under-represented and misrepresented on screen. For years, they were relegated to thankless maid and mammy roles,...

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?...

Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”) won Best Drama Actor in 2017, but then lost to Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”) in 2018. Rhys is out of the way this year, though, since “The Americans” has ended, so could Brown come back to win more gold? If he does, it would be a rare feat. Only two black actors in Primetime Emmy history have ever won multiple awards as a lead.

The first to do so was Bill Cosby, whose groundbreaking legacy on television now comes with a big fat asterisk. But long before his crimes were widely known he won Best Drama Actor three years in a row for “I Spy” (1966-68). It would take almost 40 years for another black actor to join that club, and it was a man Brown paid tribute to in his own acceptance speech in 2017: Andre Braugher.

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