newsmakers

newsmakers

‘Y & R’ to memorialize soap star Cooper

NEW YORK

CBS says “The Young and the Restless” will broadcast a tribute to Jeanne Cooper, the veteran star of the daytime drama who died earlier this week. It is scheduled to air May 28.

The network says cast members, friends and family of the actress will gather next week to tape a celebration of her life. Interviews with Cooper from the show’s recent 40th anniversary and clips of her years on the show also will be included.

Cooper, who died Wednesday at 84, played grande dame Katherine Chancellor. She joined the soap six months after its March 1973 debut, staking claim to the title of its longest-tenured cast member.

The role earned her 11 Daytime Emmy nominations and a trophy for best actress in a drama series in 2008.

NBC bringing back cop drama ‘Ironside’

NEW YORK

NBC is announcing a new comedy for fall from “Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence and an updating of the ’70s cop drama “Ironside.”

The revived “Ironside” will star Blair Underwood as the paralyzed lawman who uses a wheelchair. That role was originally played by Raymond Burr.

Another new drama, “Chicago PD,” from producer Dick Wolf, will be a companion piece to “Chicago Fire,” which premiered this season.

The Lawrence-produced comedy, “Undateable,” stars Chris D’Elia (from the just-canceled NBC sitcom “Whitney”) as a ladies’ man who wants to help his friends who are not so successful with romance.

NBC also announced Friday it has axed “Go On,” a freshman comedy starring Matthew Perry, and its newsmagazine “Rock Center with Brian Williams.”

The network’s entire fall schedule will be unveiled Sunday.

Wire reports