After 17 years on the air, Montel Williams and his talk show have been cancelled. But fans can take heart as neither are leaving the airwaves for the foreseeable future.

The Montel Williams Show first hit the airwaves on September 30, 1991 in New York and a few other markets. It was picked up for syndication the following year. The show generally focuses on uncontroversial subjects, personal stories, and the readings of self-proclaimed psychic Sylvia Browne. The show was nominated for Daytime Emmys in both 2001 and 2002. A decorated member of naval intelligence, this was the first show for host Williams. He received a Daytime Emmy in 1996 and was nominated in 2002.

CBS Television Distribution has announced that the Montel show is ending its run after 17 years on the air. The syndicated talk show's fate was reportedly sealed when a number of FOX-owed stations decided against renewing the show for another year. Show production will continue through the rest of this season so new episodes should air for some time.

Though production is shutting down, the show isn't going away anytime soon. CBS is offering local stations a "Best of Montel" compilation series for the 2008-08 season. It will feature 52 weeks of "some of the most exciting episodes" pulled from the talk show's long run.

John Nogawski, president and COO of CBS TV Distribution, said, "We have been honored to have 'Montel' as a part of our family for the past 17 years, and we're very excited that 'Montel' will live on through these 'best of' episodes."

Of the cancellation, Williams was quoted as saying, "I can't say thank you enough to those who've welcomed me into their homes for the past 17 years. It has been both an honor and a joy." Stay tuned!

Freddie Moreno (Freddie Prinze Jr.) has the perfect single life -- until his sister Sofia (Jacqueline Obradors) and her daughter Zoey (Chloe Bridges), his widowed sister-in-law Allison (Madchen Amick), and his grandma (Jenny Gago) all move in. Could the place get any more crowded?

Anyway, on April 12, 2006, ABC aired the 22nd and final episode of Freddie entitled "Mother of All Grandfathers." In the previous episode, Chris (Brian Austin Green) used his share in Freddie's restaurant as collateral to finance his outrageous restaurant. Now that the venture's failed, it looks like Freddie will lose his business. His last resort is for Chris to ask his arrogant and wealthy grandfather Carl (guest Burt Reynolds) to pay off the debt. Will it work and, if so, at what price?

As you probably know, Star Trek was cancelled in 1969 after three seasons on NBC. The series' ratings had been low in primetime but, in 1970s syndication, became a runaway hit. This inspired a renewed interest in science fiction and local TV stations and started looking for sci-fi programming. Enter Space: 1999.

Space: 1999 is a British series that began running in the U.S. on October 17, 1975. The series premise was set up in the first episode, entitled "Breakaway." In the distant year of 1999, Earth has a space station on the moon called Moonbase Alpha. The locale is used for scientific research and to watch over a huge nuclear waste dump on the farside of the moon. When a massive thermonuclear explosion in the dump occurs, the moon is ripped from its orbit and sent hurtling through space. With Earth in the midst of devastation, the space station's 311 stranded crewmembers must resign themselves to search for a new home on some distant world.

The series was produced by Sylvia and Gerry Anderson, well known for other science fiction series like Thunderbirds and Fireball XL5. Space: 1999 stars Mission: Impossible veterans (and, at the time, married couple) Martin Landau as Moonbase Commander John Koenig and Barbara Bain as the head of the base's Medical Section, Doctor Helena Russell. The Fugitive's Barry Morse plays science adviser Professor Victor Bergman. Others in the diverse cast include Zienia Merton, Anton Phillips, Suzanne Roquette, Jeffery Kissoon, and Nick Tate. The tone and production values of the series' first season were heavily influenced by Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey movie.

The Andersons separated after the first season and Fred Freiberger was brought in when Sylvia left the show. Freiberger had produced the third season of Star Trek and went on to work on The Six Million Dollar Man.

As a result of the backstage changes, the second season of Space: 1999 moved towards a more traditional action format. Morse left the series in a salary dispute and most of the supporting castmembers were dumped. No on-screen explanation was offered for reason for the missing characters. A mention that Morse's character was the victim of a malfunctioning space suit was ultimately cut from season two's opening episode. Catherine Schell joined the cast as a shape-shifting alien named Maya and Tony Anholt played the new head of security, Tony Verdeschi.

Year one was very popular worldwide but season two wasn't nearly as successful. Many castmembers had expressed their unhappiness with the later scripts and Anholt had reportedly decided to leave after the second year. There were some plans for a third year but a decline in syndication sales killed it. As a result, the series wasn't given any kind of ending.

Over 20 years later, a seven minute film was created called Message From Moonbase Alpha. The short was filmed for the Space: 1999 Breakaway Convention in Los Angeles that was held on September 13, 1999 (the date of the show's moon explosion). The short was created for the one-time convention showing but was subsequently included on the DVD series megaset release.

Message was written by series writer Johnny Byrne. It features Zienia Merton in her series role as Sandra Benes delivering a final message from the moon residents. The "transmission" only briefly mentions some of the characters, but it does offer a bit of long-needed closure for fans who wondered whatever became of Moonbase Alpha and its staff. Stay tuned!

Over 20 years after Happy Days left primetime, Arthur Fonzarelli, aka "The Fonz," is headed back to his roots in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Happy Days premiered on January 15, 1974 on ABC and quickly became a cornerstone of the network's schedule. The series ran for 11 seasons and spawned a number of popular spin-offs like Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, and Joanie Loves Chachi, as well as a couple animated series. The sitcom initially focused on All-American, naive teenager Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard), his family and friends in 1950s Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Fonz, played by Henry Winkler, was a initially a minor character and hoodlum friend of Richie's who hung out at the local drive-in restaurant. He quickly became a breakout character and a series regular. As episodes passed, he became the show's most prominent and featured character. At one point, ABC even wanted to rename the show Fonzie's Happy Days to capitalize on the popularity. Producer and creator Garry Marshall, Winkler, and Howard all protested so it didn't happen.

Though Happy Days ended its run in 1984, city officials in Milwaukee want to capitalize on the show's longtime popularity.

Last year, the city's convention and visitors bureau, Visit Milwaukee, started a campaign to immortalize The Fonz in a bronze statue. The city had to raise $85,000 to produce the statue. To help raise the money, the group has been selling "Bronze the Fonz" t-shirts, with $10 from each sale going to fund the project. Other local vendors have gotten into the act as well, selling items like "thumbs-up" shaped cookies and hot fudge sundaes (a Fonz favorite).

When the campaign was announced, Winkler was flattered but a bit confused. In September, the actor/producer said, "It's an honor, but it is so bizarre to think there should be a statue." He continued, "If it helps the city, a city that has been so supportive and warm to me over the years, then I am so okay with it."

Now, just a few months later, the city has raised the funds they need and Winkler was on-hand for the announcement. He told reporters, "I can only say that I'm proud of Milwaukee. I'm proud of how it's grown. I'm proud to be an honorary citizen, and I'm overwhelmed that I'm going to bring my family here, and there will be a statue of a character that I love and that gave me the world." Both Marshall and Winkler have agreed to be present at the unveiling ceremony this fall and other series castmembers are expected to attend as well.

Though some local merchants and art gallery owners have been critical of the project, the city's convention and visitors bureau hopes that the dedication ceremony and statue will attract media attention and additional tourist traffic. The exact design is under wraps but Winkler has seen sketches and likes them.

In the past, cable channel TV Land has donated classic TV character statues at various locations across the country. They include Bob Newhart's Dr. Bob Hartley (The Bob Newhart Show) in Chicago; Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden (The Honeymooners) in New York; Mary Tyler Moore's Mary Richards (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) in Minneapolis; Andy Griffith's Sheriff Andy Taylor (The Andy Griffith Show) in Raleigh, North Carolina; and Elizabeth Montgomery's Samantha Stephens (Bewitched) in Salem, Massachusetts.

The cable channel doesn't have any plans to donate any more statues and is currently reevaluating the program. TV Land did however make a donation to the Bronze the Fonz statue fund, as did other large companies like AT&T and Miller Brewing.

Since the series didn't focus on a particular Milwaukee location, city officials are still try to decide where the statue will reside -- though a downtown location, along the Milwaukee River, is likely. There's been talk of installing a webcam so that anyone can see who's visitng the statue. Winkler likes the idea and wants to take it one step further. He joked, "I thought it would be so funny to set up some communication so I could then talk to the people: 'Get off my statue, you know. Be respectful!'"Stay tuned!

Sex and the City -- After being in development limbo for so many years, it's hard to believe that the movie is only a few months away. The poster for the reunion movie has just been released. Check out a larger version by clicking on the image at right.

Big Shots -- Series star Joshua Malina thinks that his ABC series isn't finished just yet. Of the show's fate, he told TV Guide, "It's a hot topic among the four of us. I'm doing an ABC promo shoot. I take that as hopeful. We're having so much fun together, it would be a shame to end. If I'm going to work, I'm going to laugh."

The Power of 10 -- CBS has pulled the Drew Carey-hosted game show effective immediately. Double episodes of The New Adventures of Old Christine will take its place on January 30th. Power of 10 has been struggling in the ratings opposite American Idol, Deal or No Deal, and Wife Swap. Carey however is set to return to CBS on Friday, February 22nd. The network has ordered six episodes of the primetime version of The Price is Right to take the place of Ghost Whisperer repeats.

Fraggle Rock -- A new book about the beloved Jim Henson program is coming to bookstores on September 30th. The coffee table book will showcase the art and magic of the series and will include hundreds of rare drawings, sketches, production photos, behind-the-scenes comments, and insights. Publication will approximately coincide with the DVD release of Fraggle Rock's final season.

Battlestar Galactica -- The writers strike may mean good news for the proposed Galactica prequel series, Caprica. The script for the show pilot has reportedly been finished for some time but seemed to have been in permanent limbo until now. Sci Fi Channel VP Mark Stern recently told TV Guide, "I just got a call from NBC-Universal. They want us to take another look at the project." Caprica takes place 50 years in the past and focuses on the Adama family and the creation of the cylons.

Evening Shade -- Burt Reynolds will present the Screen Actors Guild's Life Achievement Award to his former co-star Charles Durning. The two are longtime friends and were both nominated twice for their roles on the 1980s sitcom (Reynolds won once). The SAG Awards will take place this Sunday, January 27th, and will be telecast on TNT.

The Bob Newhart Show -- Services for Suzanne Pleshette were held yesterday in Los Angeles. The Insider interviewed some of the attendees including Billy Crystal and co-stars Bob Newhart, Marcia Wallace, and Peter Bonerz.

Who's the Boss was a successful series that ran for eight seasons on ABC, from September 20, 1984 until April 25, 1992. For most of the show's run, it was in the top 20 of the ratings. For many, it is the quintessential 1980s sitcom and is still very popular in syndication today.

The series told the story of a single Dad and former baseball pro, Tony Micelli (Tony Danza) who wanted to get his tomboy daughter, Samantha (Alyssa Milano), out of New York. He ends up taking a job with uptight ad executive Angela Bower (Judith Light). While she's at the office putting in long hours, he keeps the single mom's house running smoothly, watches out for Angela's son Jonathan (Danny Pintauro), and occasionally tries to rein-in Angela's mother, man-hungry Mona Robinson (Katherine Helmond). As time went on, Angela and Tony developed a romantic relationship. When the series ended, it looked like the two might be on the road to matrimony (an idea that Danza didn't like).

In 2004, Danza began hosting his own daytime talk show, The Tony Danza Show. It was a moderate success and lasted two seasons before being cancelled. One of the most memorable episodes of that series was a reunion of the cast of Who's the Boss, on November 8, 2005. Though it was extremely brief and informal, it's nice to see the actors play the characters once more in a short sketch (it's in the last segment). Take a look.

Last Friday, I was doing some research for a podcast and ended up watching 1991's The Bob Newhart Show 19th Anniversary Special. It essentially picked up where the famed Newhart finale left off and reunited the core group of The Bob Newhart Show (BNS) characters. I'm not ashamed to admit that I ended up watching it twice because it was just so good to watch the old clips and to see the characters together again. I wondered if there would ever be another reunion. On Saturday night, I learned that it wasn't to be.

Suzanne Pleshette began her career on stage and was cast for both her beauty and her throaty voice. In 1994, she recalled, "When I was four, I was answering the phone, and (the callers) thought I was my father. So I often got quirky roles because I was never the conventional ingenue."

She began her film career in the Jerry Lewis comedy The Geisha Boy and went on to roles in memorable films like Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, Support Your Local Gunfighter, The Shaggy D.A., The Ugly Dachshund, and Nevada Smith. She appeared in two movies with fellow teen idol Troy Donahue and they were married for eight months before divorcing. Pleshette had several roles on Broadway as well, including replacing Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker, opposite Patty Duke.

She retired from acting when she married her second husband, wealthy businessman Tom Gallagher, in 1968. After hanging around the house for six months, she recalled that he told her, "You're getting to be awfully boring. Go back to work." Thankfully, for all of us, she did.

During an early Tonight Show appearance, she reportedly told legendary Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper that, if she ever dissed her again, she'd knock Hopper off her chair. Host Johnny Carson got such a kick out of the brassy Pleshette that she became a frequent guest. Those appearances would lead to her most memorable role.

When the BNS was in development, the series creators/writers, David Davis and Lorenzo Music, were having a difficult time finding someone to play Newhart's wife. Newhart and Pleshette were both Tonight Show guests one night and their chemistry was immediately apparent.

Davis told TV Guide, "She was revealing her own frailties, talking freely about being over 30. She was bubble-headed but smart, loving toward her husband but relentless about his imperfections. We were trying to get away from the standard TV wife, and we knew that whoever we picked would have to be offbeat enough and strong enough to carry the show along with Newhart. We didn't dream Suzanne would accept the part."

Pleshette received Emmy nominations for her roles as Emily Hartley but, like everyone else on that classic show, never took the statue home.

When the show ended after a successful six seasons, Pleshette went on to perform in numerous television movies, most notably playing the "queen of mean," Leona Helmsley. She was a series regular on several subsequent programs but none were a big success. They include Suzanne Pleshette Is Maggie Briggs, The Boys Are Back, Bridges to Cross, Nightingales, and Good Morning, Miami.

When John Ritter died in 2003, Pleshette was called in to help keep 8 Simple Rules afloat by playing Katey Sagal's mother. Pleshette had known Ritter from his 1974 appearance on the BNS. She had always made a point of helping guest stars around the BNS set, making introductions and inviting them to the cast's weekly lunch date. Pleshette was gratified to know that stars like Ritter did the same when they got their own shows.

One of her most celebrated appearances was in the last episode of Newhart's second sitcom, Newhart. In that show's final moments, we learned that the entire series was actually a dream of Bob Hartley from BNS. Newhart's real-life wife, Virginia, came up with the idea for the famous finale at a party that Pleshette was also attending. Newhart immediately asked his friend if she would be willing to do it and she replied, "If I'm in Timbuktu, I'll fly home to do that."

The audience's reaction to seeing the old BNS bedroom set was huge and immediate. In a 1990 interview, Pleshette said, "And then they heard this mumble under the covers, and nobody does my octave, you know. And I think they suspected it might be me, but when that dark hair came up from under the covers, they stood and screamed."

The 1991 BNS reunion special picked up where the Newhart episode left off and reunited the core castmembers. The group had remained close over the years and got together for lunch dates.

In 2003, Newhart and Pleshette appeared onstage as the Hartleys for the CBS at 75 special. Bob awoke from another bad dream, this time about a California governor with a thick German accent. During the exchange, Pleshette asked about the Newhart show's old handyman (played by Tom Poston) whom she found rather sexy.

She had briefly dated Poston in the 1960s in New York and the two remained friends over the years. In 2000, Pleshette lost Gallagher to lung cancer. Poston had earlier lost his wife and called her to commiserate. The two ended up rekindling their romance, married in 2001, and became virtually inseparable. Friend Tim Conway commented, "They are a romantic duo. It's almost embarrassing. You have to put cold water on them." Their bliss was unfortunately much too short as Poston died in April 2007 of respiratory failure.

He left her a wealthy woman. Because he wasn't known for being a good tipper, she buried him with a $20 bill to tip the man at the pearly gates of heaven.

Pleshette was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006 and was sick when Poston passed away. The cancer was about the size of a speck of sand and she responded well to chemotherapy treatments.

In Summer 2007, she was hospitalized for a pulmonary infection and developed pneumonia. When she appeared for a reunion of the BNS cast in September, she arrived in a wheelchair. She had been released from the hospital just four days earlier and asked that her hands not be photographed because of the IV bruises. She happily proclaimed that she was cancer free and reunited with her old friends. It was unfortunately the final reunion of the group.

Surrounded by her family, Pleshette passed away on Saturday night from respiratory failure. She was scheduled to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 31, her 71st birthday. Friends hoped that she would make it to the ceremony but it wasn't to be. The event will likely still go on.

Newhart said of his bawdy friend, "Although she was quite sick, she was one of those people you thought would go on forever. If anyone could beat cancer, it was Suzy -- she was such an indomitable spirit."

Though she had a long and varied career, the beautiful Pleshette will always be best remembered as Bob Newhart's TV wife. In recalling the Hartleys' appearance on the Newhart finale, USA Today's Robert Bianco said, "They were together again. For those of us who loved them, they will be together forever." Amen.