These are busy times for Sandra Bernhard.
The veteran actress/comedienne not only kicks off a recurring role on ABC Family’s “Switched at Birth” next month, but will open her annual Joe’s Pub holiday standup showcase in a few weeks and will relive a past cinematic success with a BAM-sponsored Q&A.
On “Switched at Birth,” which returns for its third season Jan. 13, Bernhard plays Teresa Lubarsky, “this art teacher/artist character who’s a bit Marina Abramovic-like,” she says, alluding to the famous performance artist — “[and] who challenges Bay (Vanessa Marano’s character) quite a bit.” Bernhard cites the role “as a great entree back into episodic television.”
As for her Joe’s Pub shows — which kick off Dec. 26 and run through Dec. 31 — Bernhard says she always breaks in new material. “My audiences there expect it ‘hot off the presses’ and I try not to disappoint them,” she says.
Perhaps the most interesting event this month for Berhnard will be a Dec. 14 BAMcinematek screening of her 1990 film, “Without You I’m Nothing,” an adaptation of her hit, one-woman off-Broadway show — which will include a post-screening Q&A. “This BAM screening came out of the clear blue,” she says. “They contacted me about doing it and I couldn’t be more delighted. BAM is a great institution — and this confirms my belief that this is a great film that stands on its own.”
It’s ‘Fox’ news on ‘Live’
Norwegian comedy duo YLVIS, famous for their viral video sensation “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say)” — named YouTube’s top trending video of 2013 — visit Thursday’s “Live with Kelly and Michael” (9 a.m./Ch. 7) to chat with co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan and perform their hit song. “Live” had its strongest week in two years for the week ending Nov. 29, snaring 4.2 million total viewers, pulling a 3.1 household rating and earning a 1.8 in women 25-54. Somewhere, Barbara Warren (and Michael Gelman) smile.
Meanwhile, the sixth-season finale of FX’s “Sons of Anarchy” snared 5.2 million viewers in its original airing 10 p.m. Tuesday — the most-watched season finale in “Sons” history.
Last, but not least…
Marvin Scott will report live from Afghanistan for Ch. 11’s 10 p.m. newscast Dec. 16-20. He’s there with cameraman David Kimmel to focus on US troops stationed at Bagram Airfield . . . Sandra Lee visits Monday’s “Today Show” to discuss celebs at home for the holidays . . . “The Dan Patrick Show’s” self-styled “Danettes” are holding an “ugly sweater” competition through Dec. 23 to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer (su2c.org/danettesgetugly) . . . RIP: Don Mitchell, who played Mark Sanger opposite Raymond Burr on NBC’s original “Ironside” series, has died at the age of 70.