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…

Last Monday, Emmy-winning ’til Death star Brad Garrett launched his first ever online relationship series called Dating Brad Garrett. Brought to netizens by Sony Pictures Television and launching fresh material each Monday, the reality webisode production follows the comedian as he goes on dates with real, everyday women who were enterprising and/or daring enough to send in videotapes expressing their interest in hooking up with him.

In true reality TV fashion, the premiere currently available at video-sharing destinations like Crackle and Hulu is a casting special highlighting some of the women who were rejected or accepted. The Crackle website is especially loaded with resources, including videos about the top finalists, the judges, and Garrett himself. For added insight into what Dating Brad Garrett involves, read the following Q&A featuring the entertainer’s responses to some burning questions posed to him recently.

How did the show Dating Brad Garrett come about?

BRAD GARRETT: Actually, it’s important for people to understand that this isn’t Brad Garrett looking for love. This is Brad Garrett really making a window around what it’s like when a guy going through a semi-midlife crisis is out there in the playing field of the single world. That’s really what this is.

These are real participants. It has been a very humbling process. The Website has been up and running for a couple months, and out of all the women in the country who felt they might possibly want to go out with me, only 27 women uploaded their video.

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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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Tonight at 9pm EST, sitcom fans will welcome back three-time Emmy winner Brad Garrett (Eddie Stark) and his co-star Joely Fisher (Joy Stark) for a third season of their "old married folks" sitcom ’til Death.

True, their on-screen next-door neighbors Jeff and Steph Woodcock are no longer in the ‘hood following the departure of actors Eddie Kaye Thomas and Kat Foster after two seasons to pursue other projects. That’s why there’s a new guy around the way in the form of Eddie’s new best bud Kenny, played by fellow standup comic J.B. Smoove.

Garrett recently took some time out of his busy schedule to discuss the Fox sitcom, his upcoming online series Dating Brad Garrett, which premieres next week on September 15, and his already infamous rectal exam on live TV during last Friday’s multi-network Stand Up to Cancer broadcast.

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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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Following the unexpected passing of actor Stanley Kamel earlier this year, Monk fans knew the dreaded day would come when the series would have to deal with the aftermath of losing both the talented actor and his roundly loved character on the show, Dr. Charles Kroger. The July 18 seventh-season premiere, “Mr. Monk Buys a House,” wastes no time addressing the situation with a plot that deftly and directly acknowledges Kamel’s departure while opening the season on a very high and promising note. Oh, and the funny’s still there, too, in a big way.

The title says it all when it comes to the main premise of the episode. In a familiar agitated state, this time because of Chopin music only he can hear his young neighbor playing incessantly, ace detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) decides to buy a house that seems perfect in all but one respect — it was the site of a recent murder. However, not even a tragedy that terrible is capable of lessening Monk’s attraction to the home’s spotless interiors and soundproofing.

Since Monk is Monk, perfect is never perfect enough, though, right? So, off he heads to the hardware store one day to buy what’s needed to make the house even more perfect. That’s where he bumps into handyman Honest Jake, played by effective guest star Brad Garrett (‘Til Death), whom he later calls when another aspect of the house inevitably starts bothering him. Bad idea, to say the least.

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My fellow Monksters, don’t forget that the seventh season of USA’s Emmy-winning Tony Shalhoub dramedy Monk premieres this Friday night, July 18, at 9pm EST sharp.

Thanks to USA’s generosity, I’ve already watched the kick-off episode, “Mr. Monk Buys a House,” which features a guest-star appearance by ‘Til Death’s Brad Garrett. Equally wonderful is the très cool giveaway I’ve got coming up before the Big Day.

After you check out the trailer following the jump for the upcoming season, make sure to also stay tuned for an advance review of the premiere and that contest I just mentioned. Two people will have a chance to get very, very lucky!

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