Fri-Yay: You're the Worst; Fox Fall Pilot Review: Ghosted - Premieres Sunday (Oct. 1)

Friday, September 29, 2017

Fri-Yay: You're the Worst; Fox Fall Pilot Review: Ghosted - Premieres Sunday (Oct. 1)

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

This week marks the official start of the fall TV season. In the past two weeks, I've highlighted two comedies that I feel have been particularly great, BoJack Horseman and The Good Place. That will continue this week with my final "fall spotlight" - this time for the sardonic romantic comedy You're the Worst. Spoilers through the fourth season of You're the Worst may follow.

Since its debut in 2014, You're the Worst has flipped romantic comedy tropes on its head. Its central couple - Jimmy and Gretchen - are self-described horrible people who don't believe in love or caring for other people. Yet over the course of the first season, we watched and rooted for these two as they fell in love, even as they continued to deny it (and, often times, as they continued to do terrible and self-destructure things that normally we wouldn't cheer for.) In the second season, You're the Worst showed Jimmy and Gretchen's newfound relationship as something unlike what we've seen on TV before - they were wild, kind of terrible, but incredibly entertaining to watch. Halfway through that season, You're the Worst began to address the issue of mental illness, revealing that Gretchen suffers from depression, leading to much of the chaotic and self-destructive behavior she showcases through-out the series. That revelation elevated You're the Worst from entertaining to a show genuinely interested in exploring the human condition and what it means to be in a relationship with someone and to accept them for who they are.

Now at the start of its fourth season, You're the Worst has broken up its central couple, and promises to tackle break-up tropes in classic off-kilter You're the Worst fashion. After the season premiere showed us what Jimmy and Gretchen were up to after the break-up, the show has stomped all over conventional TV break-up rules by having Gretchen refusing to leave Jimmy's bed (she paid rent in advance, after all) - squashing the "keep them apart" mentality that most TV shows follow. If it's anything like what the show has done in the past, it should be hilarious, dark and moving in its own wild and weird way.

So that's it for my spotlight on particularly great fall comedies. Next week, we'll dive into network TV's slate of sitcoms for the fall this year - the good, the bad and the ugly.

Ghosted

Ghosted - Sundays at 8:30PM ET/PT on Fox
Premieres Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 8:30PM ET/PT

by Pavan

Starring Craig Robinson and Adam Scott, Ghosted is a single-camera, live-action comedy about the partnership between two polar opposites – a cynical skeptic and a genius "true believer" in the paranormal – who are recruited by a secret government agency, known as The Bureau Underground, to save the human race. Also starring Ally Walker, Adeel Akhtar and Amber Stevens West, this heroic group of underdogs will look into "unexplained" activity in Los Angeles, as they attempt to uncover the truth and keep the earth rotating on its axis for at least one more day.

Cast Details:

Craig Robinson as Leroy Wright
Adam Scott as Max Jennifer
Adeel Akhtar as Barry Shaw
Amber Stevens West as Annie
Ally Walker as Captain Ava Lafrey

Craig Robinson (Leroy) is a comedian, actor and musician best known for his portrayal of Daryl Philban on The Office. He also has been seen in recurring roles on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Mr. Robot. On film, he starred in the Hot Tub Time Machine franchise, This Is the End, Knocked Up and Morris From America, for which he won a Sundance Film Festival Special Grand Jury prize for acting in 2016.

Adam Scott (Max) is best known for his role as Ben Wyatt on the network comedy Parks and Recreation. He also starred in the cable comedy Party Down. He most recently was featured in the cable series Big Little Lies, opposite Reese Witherspoon, and currently can be seen in the streaming action-comedy series Little Evil, in which he stars opposite Evangeline Lilly. On film, Scott notably was featured in the comedy Step Brothers. He appeared in Black Mass, opposite Johnny Depp and Joel Edgerton; and My Blind Brother, opposite Nick Kroll and Jenny Slate.

Adeel Akhtar (Barry) currently can be seen in the hit independent comedy The Big Sick. He also appears opposite Dame Judi Dench in director Stephen Frears' new film, Victoria and Adbul, released in September. Other feature credits include starring opposite Hugh Jackman in Joe Wright's Pan and opposite Sacha Baron Cohen in The Dictator.

Amber Stevens West (Annie) recently starred opposite Jerrod Carmichael, David Alan Grier and Loretta DeVine on the network comedy The Carmichael Show. She also starred on the comedy-drama series Greek and appeared in recurring roles on 90210 and Criminal Minds. On film, West starred opposite Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum in the hit comedy sequel 22 Jump Street.

Ally Walker (Ava) is perhaps best known for her role as Peter Gallagher's girlfriend in While You Were Sleeping. On television, she most recently appeared in recurring roles on the streaming series Longmire and the cable dramas Colony and Sons of Anarchy. She also starred on the network series The Protector and Profiler, and was a series regular on the cable drama Tell Me You Love Me.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (airs Sunday, October 1 at 8:30PM ET/PT)

When a key member of The Bureau Underground - a top secret government agency - goes missing, Leroy (Craig Robinson) a cynical former detective, and Max (Adam Scott) a genius "true believer" in the paranormal, are recruited to find him. The two polar opposites must work together to find the agent, while uncovering possible alien activity and chilling "unexplained" paranormal events in their own city of Los Angeles.

Analysis:

If you like science-fiction and comedy, you're in luck, because this show is a comedy that is a spoof of science-fiction. It's a buddy comedy that features Leroy and Max teaming up and bringing us some hilarious fun. It really works because both characters are like so different from each other, kind of like Larry and Balki from Perfect Strangers. This comedy is set in Los Angeles at fictional top secret government agency specializing in the paranormal. It sounds ridiculous but it makes for some good laughs. There isn't much of set-up for the pilot, so it is pretty fast-paced and gets right into it. I don't know if that is good or bad, or just confusing? This comedy has been called The X-Files: The Sitcom and I agree a bit with that because it sort of spoofs that series (and that series is coming back this season on Fox, too).

For the supporting cast, Amber Stevens West and Adeel Akhtar are really good in this. Amber was a late addition to this pilot, but she is worth it. She was great on The Carmichael Show and her other work such as on Greek and it's good to see her in anything. The star that shines the most in this is Craig Robinson. He hasn't had much luck in network comedies after The Office, so maybe this will be the one? It's a good pilot, but it's not all there yet. It will take some time to get this series established as this pilot speeds it up a little too much.

Conclusion:

It's a good pilot, but not great. It certainly has potential. It will be sandwiched between The Simpsons and Family Guy, and those viewers are the type of viewers that will want to watch this comedy. Ratings should be OK. I mean it can't get worse than Son of Zorn or Making History? This pilot is so far at least better than those two comedies that aired in this timeslot last season. It's outrageous, funny and unique...so you'll have to sample it to see if aliens are real. Just kidding, but it's fun to see if the paranormal does exist, even if it is being done in a comedy. Don't be a skeptic for this comedy, become a true believer!

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

Watchability: 3.5/5
Funniness: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5

Discuss the show after you watch it on Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 8:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

Fox Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Ghosted Photo Gallery

Preview:

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, May 22

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Kerry Washington joins “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons,’” the live sitcom special coming from late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and television icon Norman Lear. Washington is set to play Helen Willis in the special, airing live WEDNESDAY, MAY 22 (8:00-9:31 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. This historic event will take viewers down memory lane, recreating an original episode from each of the Emmy® Award-winning series “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons.” This legendary night of television will be hosted by Lear and Kimmel, directed by 10-time Emmy winner James Burrows and produced by Sony Pictures Television.

Previously announced stars include Woody Harrelson (Archie Bunker), Marisa Tomei (Edith Bunker), Jamie Foxx (George Jefferson), Wanda Sykes (Louise Jefferson), Ellie Kemper (Gloria Stivic), Will Ferrell (Tom Willis), Justina Machado (Florence Johnston), Ike Barinholtz (Meathead), Sean Hayes (Mr. Lorenzo), Amber Stevens West (Jenny Willis Jefferson), Jovan Adepo (Lionel Jefferson), Anthony Anderson (Uncle Henry), Stephen Tobolowsky (Mr. Bentley) and Jackée Harry (Diane Stockwell).

All About "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After the star-studded live sitcom special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons,’” “Nightline” will take a special look at the cultural and historical significance of the two iconic series. Participants in the live sitcom special along with modern-day comedians, television stars and journalists reminisce about each show’s groundbreaking impact and legacy.“Nightline” Presents “All About ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons’” airs WEDNESDAY, MAY 22 (9:31–10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network.

The prime-time special features interviews with “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons” creator Norman Lear; host and executive producer Jimmy Kimmel and stars Anthony Anderson, Ike Barinholtz, Jackée Harry, Ellie Kemper and Kerry Washington; comedians and actors Raven-Symoné, David Alan Grier, Lil’ Rel and John Amos; original “The Jeffersons” cast member Marla Gibbs; and journalists Deborah Roberts, Chris Connelly, Marc Lamont Hill and Joe Levy.

What We Do in the Shadows - "The Orgy" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Tensions run high as the vampires prepare to host the Biannual Vampire Orgy.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 20)

Wednesday, May 22

John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter) - Watch John and his daughter Ella Bleu on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kaitlyn Dever (Last Man Standing) - Kaitlyn appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. She also talks about Booksmart on the BUILD Series at 1pm.
John Lithgow (Trial & Error/Twenty Good Years/3rd Rock from the Sun) - John stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Beanie Feldstein (What We Do in the Shadows) - Beanie is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also talks about Booksmart on the BUILD Series at 1pm.
Elizabeth Banks (Scrubs/30 Rock) - Elizabeth visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Bradley Whitford (Happyish/Trophy Wife) - Bradley drops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Billy Ray Cyrus (Still the King) - Billy Ray appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Logan Browning (Dear White People/Meet the Browns) - Logan is a guest on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
Lisa Kudrow (Friends/The Comeback/Web Therapy) - Lisa stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Tracy Pollan (Family Ties) - Tracy appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) - Eric chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Kevin talks about The Secret Life of Pets 2 on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 10am hour and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Jenny Slate (Married/Parks and Recreation) and Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Jenny and Patton talk about The Secret Life of Pets 2 on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Ed Asner (Dead to Me/Center of the Universe/Thunder Alley/The Mary Tyler Moore Show) - Ed and his son Matt are guests on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.