RIP Bill Erwin, 1914-2010

Thirty years ago, in the 1980 film Somewhere In Time, Bill Erwin was already playing a very old man. The idea was, he was the current-day version of Arthur, the kid whom Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour knew at the turn of the century.

Some people just seem to make a career out of playing old people, and thus seem to live forever; remember the still-kicking Angela Lansbury playing Laurence Harvey's mother in The Manchurian Candidate 48 years ago? (even though she was only 3 years his senior?!)

Erwin is probably best remembered for his guest-starring spot on Seinfeld, as old man Sid Fields, Jerry's elder charge who ends up biting Kramer in a misunderstanding over his record album collection (remember those?) He continued to turn up on TV for more than another decade, a relic nearly of the Edwardian age who would always make me both laugh and marvel: he's still alive?!

In this 1993 clip, Erwin, who died last week at 96, was a mere lad of 79 -- and became part of the sitcom's extended cast of characters who will live on in syndication for a long time to come.

The Hopefully Continuing Adventures of Old Christine

Check out the video below from Entertainment Tonight, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame -- the first Seinfeld star to receive the honor. That show's creator, Larry David, speaks of Julia's immense talent, from the days when they met on Saturday Night Live, through Seinfeld and even Julia's appearances in this past season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

As for Julia's current show, CBS' Wednesday night sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine, the actress tells ET how lucky she is to have a workplace where she is always moved to laughter. The show moves me to laugh out loud, too -- which is why I hope CBS decides to renew it. At the moment, Christine is considered "on the bubble" for renewal or cancellation, as are many of its fellow CBS comedies like Gary Unmarried, Accidentally On Purpose and Rules of Engagement.

Rumor is, CBS' new comedy development from this pilot season -- including shows from Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre, How I Met Your Mother creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, and from Will & Grace creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, starring William Shatner, no less! -- is so strong that the network may be inspired to clean house of all its struggling half-hour shows. But the good news is, the rumor also has it that, just as in the past two seasons, ABC has stated its intentions of picking up Christine should it get cancelled at CBS.

We'll just have to wait until the networks' official fall schedule announcements during "upfront week;" ABC's presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, May 18, while CBS takes the stage at Carnegie Hall the next day.