South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
What’s up with ‘American Housewife’?
Q: Could you give us some information on the change of the actress that plays the youngest daughter on the “American Housewife” show?
A: Julia Butters, who played Anna-Kat Otto through the comedy’s first four seasons, departed the show before the fifth season, reportedly to pursue other opportunities.
While that’s a phrase that is often used when people leave a show, in this case it’s true. Butters drew considerable and deserved praise for her performance in the movie “Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood,” and that really did open doors for her.
So now we have a new Anna-Kat, Giselle Eisenberg, who was very funny before this in the now-gone series “Life in Pieces.”
And this is not the only change at the show. Carly Hughes, who played Katie Otto’s “second breakfast” friend Angela, quit the series, telling Deadline.com there was a “toxic environment.”
Deadline’s report said Hughes’ complaint led to an investigation after which “American Housewife” “creator Sarah Dunn is no longer an active producer on the show, Mark J. Greenberg stepped down as line producer, and showrunners Rick Wiener and Kenny Schwartz underwent sensitivity training.”
Q: Do you know why Christy was not on “Mom” in the new season?
A: Anna Faris, who played Christy, has left the show — reportedly to pursue her other opportunities. There was some speculation that she and Allison Janney (as Christy’s mom, Bonnie) were not getting along, but her departure seems to have been amicable. In fact, the show left the door open for Faris’ return at times, since Christy’s absence was explained as her going off to law school at Georgetown. And the show has a solid ensemble remaining, thanks to the increased focus on the women’s sober group. You may remember that, earlier in the series, Christy’s children were part of the show; they disappeared as the series became more about the adult group.
Q: Is “New Amsterdam” returning or has it been, heaven forbid, canceled? If it is returning, when?
A: The series will return; in fact, NBC ordered three more seasons last spring. As for when, like many shows it was stalled by the pandemic. NBC has said it will be back in 2021.
But since we are updating some shows’ statuses, several series mentioned here have return dates scheduled. CBS’ Fridaynight lineup of “Blue Bloods,” “MacGyver” and “Magnum P.I.” will start new seasons Dec. 4. And Fox has unveiled January
2021 plans including “9-1-1” and “9-1-1: Lone Star” on Jan. 18, and “Prodigal Son” and “The Resident” on Jan.
12. “Last Man Standing,” meanwhile, will begin its ninth and final season with a special telecast Jan. 3 and its time-period return Jan. 7.
Do you have a question or comment about entertainment past, present and future? Write to Rich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfelsgmail.com. Letters may be edited.