Fanatic Feed: Masters of Sex Finished, An Icon Lost and More
Carissa Pavlica
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Today Hollywood said goodbye to one of the most important entertainment executives of the 20th Century.
Grant Tinker, who helped usher in such great programming such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, St. Elsewhere, Family Ties and Hill Street Blues died at the age of 90.
Tinker, started as a trainee on NBC radio in 1949 and subsequently witnessed the birth of television. No matter where he was, his finger was on the pulse.
In the '50s he worked at McCAnn Erickson, as advertising was the place to influence TV (you remember them from Mad Men, right?).
He visited the pilot of Dick Van Dyke in 1961 and was married to star Mary Tyler Moore in 1962. They created MTM Enterprises and delivered Mary Tyler Moore Show for CBS, garnering 29 Emmy Awards over its run.
He and Moore split in 1981, and he left MTM Enterprises.
Later NBC needed his help and it was through him, as NBC Chairman that Cheers, The Golden Girls, Miami Vice and others helped the network become number one in the '80s.
In addition to sons Mark and John, who are active in the TV business themselves as producers and directors, Tinker is survived by his wife, Brooke Knapp, a sister, two other children from his first marriage to Ruth Byerly, Michael and Jodie, and 10 grandchildren.
Masters of Sex has been canceled at Showtime.
While there has been no comment as of yet from the network, word is they have opted not to move forward with a fifth season of the period drama starring Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan and based on Thomas Maier's biography of William Masters and Virginia Johnson.
Matt LeBlanc's Episodes will also be coming to an end in 2017, and the network closed the book on House of Lies and Penny Dreadful in 2016. Upcoming? Their big Twin Peaks revival.
Z Nation has been renewed for a fourth season.
The Syfy horror dramedy, currently airing its third season, has done remarkably well for a series some didn't take seriously in the wake of The Walking Dead.
At the beginning, the idea was to get the lone survivor of a zombie plague to viral lab to create a cure for mankind.
But now that survivor is intent on creating a future race on earth of human zombie hybrids, while another faction is dead set against it. Fun stuff!
Z Nation Season 4 will consist of 13 episodes and most likely air in the fall of 2017.
The Odd Couple Season 3 is not getting more episodes at CBS.
This is not a surprise, as the show has run for 13 episodes, essentially under the radar, for the past two seasons and has been renewed.
While there is no word of renewal or cancelation, not getting more episodes could mean pretty much anything for this show. It's never been a ratings winner, nor a buzz-generating sleeper.
It is what it is. Funny at times and at others, not so much. But it will remain this season, as it has been in the past, a 13-episode season.
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.
