Photo courtesy Newsday
Photo courtesy The Atlantic
Tribute to Rob Reiner
Original Airdates: Mar. 6-9, 2026
TVC 727.1: Tony Figueroa and Donna Allen join Ed for an expanded edition of This Week in TV History that remembers Rob Reiner, the Emmy Award-winning actor and writer and Academy Award-nominated director and producer who died tragically on Dec. 14, 2025. Reiner was born on Mar. 6, 1947.
Our segment begins with Tony sharing a story about the circumstances that led him to spend a memorable afternoon with Reiner about thirty years ago.
Rob Reiner (left) and James Garner in “The No-Cut Contract,” an episode of The Rockford Files that originally aired in January 1976
Rob Reiner, The Smothers Brothers, and The Rockford Files
Original Airdates: Mar. 6-9, 2026
TVC 727.2: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss Rob Reiner’s experience as a staff writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (CBS, 1967-1969), as well as some of Reiner’s notable “non-Meathead” roles on television, including his guest appearances as Myrna’s boyfriend Sheldn on The Odd Couple in September 1974 (in the episode that also marked Penny Marshall’s final appearance as Myrna) and as second-rate pro football quarterback King Sturtevant in “The No-Cut Contract,” an episode of The Rockford Files that originally aired in January 1976. Rob Reiner was born on Mar. 6, 1947 as part of This Week in TV History.
Photo courtesy Embassy Pictures
Rob Reiner, Castle Rock, and Seinfeld
Original Airdates: Mar. 6-9, 2026
TVC 727.3: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss Rob Reiner’s production company, Castle Rock Entertainment, which produced, among other things, the long-running sitcom Seinfeld; the role that Reiner played in bringing Michael McKean and David L. Lander to the attention of Garry Marshall, which led to Marshall casting McKean and Lander as Lenny and Squiggy on Laverne & Shirley; and Reiner’s marriages to Penny Marshall and Michele Singer. Rob Reiner was born on Mar. 6, 1947 as part of This Week in TV History.
Rob Reiner: Extra Portion
Original Airdates: Mar. 6-9, 2026
TVC 727.3a: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss some of the lighter moments between Mike and Archie on All in the Family; why it was notable that many episodes of All in the Family took place on a Sunday; and how Rob Reiner created Norman Lear with recognizing that he could be funny on camera, even before his dad, Carl Reiner, did. Rob Reiner was born on Mar. 6, 1947 as part of This Week in TV History.
