Heads up, faithful starved ‘Til Death fans. The Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher sitcom is back on Fox tonight (July 5) at 7pm ET, although only in repeats and without dearly departed next-door neighbors Jeff and Steph Woodcock.

First on the schedule during the summer run leading up to the comedy’s September 18 fourth-season premiere is “Joy Ride,” the second episode of the third season.

Joy decides to flirt with her co-worker when she assumes that Eddie’s snazzy new red convertible is competition and the result of a mid-life crisis. However, Eddie won’t be feeling too grand when Kenny completely tricks Eddie’s old car out after buying it.

Exactly nine months and three days have passed since the last fresh episode — or any episode — of ‘Til Death aired, so enjoy the series now that it’s back.

Any ‘Til Death fans out there? If so, have I got some wonderful news for you and you alone.

The Futon Critic reports the sitcom is returning to Fox for a summer run. Sure, the episodes will only be repeats, but that’s much better than the nothing fans have received since way back on October 8, 2008, when Brad Garrett and his co-stars Joely Fisher and J.B. Smoove were suddenly and swiftly yanked from the network’s lineup. Ratings may have had a little something to do with that.

So, if you’ve been missing the Starks and their new friend Kenny, mark your calendar for the encore return date Sunday, July 5. The series will air at 7pm ET at least throughout August, unless something else changes between now and then, which you never know when it comes to this show.

Season Four of ‘Til Death arrives this fall, where the show will air on Fridays at 8:30pm ET, immediately before — wait for it! — the science-fiction drama Dollhouse. Really.

I’m at a loss for words to sum up how unbelievably incompatible that matchup is, but at least the sitcom will be preceded by another comedy at 8pm, the newcomer Brothers.

It had to happen sooner or later, Woodcock fans.

Recent casting news indicates that actor Eddie Kaye Thomas, who played popular Jeff Woodcock on the Fox sitcom ‘Til Death for its first two seasons, has scored a role on HBO’s forthcoming comedy series How to Make It in America.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Thomas’ new job is a regular role, which should supplement his voice work as the character Barry on the Fox animated series American Dad! quite well.

The former ‘Til Death regular guest starred in the pilot for the HBO newcomer, which was titled simply How to Make It then and concerned two men in their twenties named Ben (Bryan Greenberg, October Road) and Cam (Victor Rasuk, ER) trying to make it big in New York.

Congrats to Thomas. May his latest non-animated comedy be an improvement over his last.

Here’s a stunner of sorts.

The Brad Garrett/Joely Fisher sitcom ‘Til Death has been off the air since October 8 of last year, with not a word about a return date. This caused many industry watchers to believe the likelihood of the show returning was slim to none, especially since just seven episodes of ‘Til Death have aired thus far during its current third season, three of which were holdovers from the writers strike-shortened second season.

Yet, Fox recently announced at the Television Critics Association Press Tour currently underway that the network has renewed the comedy for not just a fourth season, but a full fourth season with 22 episodes. Why, you ask, given its lengthy absence, not to mention poor average ratings of about 4 million total viewers, give or take a few thousand?

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It looks like Eddie Stark (Brad Garrett) has a brother on Fox’s ‘Til Death, and according to Entertainment Weekly, not only is he gay, but he’ll be played by Broadway regular Nathan Lane during a November Sweeps episode.

The installment is currently set to air November 18, and the entertainment site clarifies: “Garrett’s Eddie gets a visit from his bro, who’s in a bit of a funk because his life partner of many years has dumped him. The sibs end up bonding over their mutual dependence on their spouses.”

Sounds like typical ‘Til Death fodder that fans of the sitcom will enjoy. Now, all of those still missing the absent Woodcocks are another matter…

Original Air Date: September 17, 2008

While watching this episode of ‘Til Death, I couldn’t help but feel for all of the sitcom fans who’ve griped about the fact that Fox gave it another season yet canceled the Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton series Back to You. Like them and others, I believe the canceled show was actually the funnier show.

So, on this installment we have Eddie buying a sporty red convertible he can barely fit into when a young, attractive car saleswoman challenges his perception of himself by asking him if he’s 60 and if he’d like to look at more conservative vehicles. Joy logically assumes this atypical impulse purchase is the result of a midlife crisis, but Eddie assures her she’s wrong, wrong, wrong (as usual).

Joy confides in a female coworker about Eddie’s new obsession, and the colleague advises her to slash the car’s tires or take on a hot lover to combat Eddie’s sudden disinterest in his wife. Meanwhile, Kenny visits to get permission to buy Eddie’s castoff vehicle because his ex-wife just took away his old car.

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If Fox isn’t playing fast and loose again this week and switching episodes without warning, the next installment of ‘Til Death should be “Joy Ride,” which features more of new regular fixture J.B Smoove.

During the episode, Joy comes to believe her husband is suffering from a dreaded midlife crisis after Eddie takes his car into the shop for repairs and then decides to buy a brand-new red convertible instead. Smoove’s Kenny enters the picture when he purchases Eddie’s old vehicle and tricks it out big time.

Check out a few photos from the episode after the jump.

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There’s just one day left until the third-season premiere of ‘Til Death, an episode called “The Buffer.” It introduces new guest star Kym Whitley, who plays the ex-wife of the second newest arrival J.B. Smoove.

And, yes, for those wondering — Season One and Season Two regular cast members Eddie Kaye Thomas and Kat Foster really do appear to be gone for good. That’s too bad because they both made many contributions to the sitcom.

Check out the remaining cast in the photos after the jump from the season premiere.

Coming up this Wednesday, September 10, at 9pm EST is the third-season premiere of ‘Til Death. During the episode, we’ll finally get to meet the oft-mentioned but never shown ex-wife of new character Kenny. Her name is Tina, and she’s played by actress Kym Whitley (pictured with Brad Garrett in the photo), who was most recently seen in College Road Trip.

After Tina kicks Kenny out of his apartment, Eddie lets his “little” brother stay at the Stark home. The situation ends up becoming a dilemma for the tall one, however, because although he loves how nice his wife Joy is when Kenny’s around, the longer Kenny and his irritating habits stay, the harder Joy tries to get him back together with Tina.

Take a look at the new season of ‘Til Death in the FOX Fall Preview video after the jump, which features appearances by Joely Fisher and J.B. Smoove.

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Fox released its fall premiere schedule today, which means we now know when the two measly sitcoms on it will start airing new episodes. Try not to get too excited.

The 2008–2009 season will officially begin on Monday, September 1, with over-the-hill Prison Break opening its unnecessary fourth season with a two-hour episode. The entirely deserving forensic procedural Bones will then do the same, complete with a double episode, a couple of days later, on Wednesday, September 3.

The junior sitcom ‘Til Death and the newbie Do Not Disturb will show up a wekk later, at 9pm and 9:30pm EST, respectively, on Wednesday, September 10.

Finally, in case you care, the late-night, weekend sketch-comedy series MADtv kicks off its next season the following Saturday, September 13, at 11pm.