Episodic Review: American Dad! 150th Episode - "Lost in Space" Airing Sunday on Fox; Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 6, 2013)

Friday, May 03, 2013

Episodic Review: American Dad! 150th Episode - "Lost in Space" Airing Sunday on Fox; Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 6, 2013)

On the next...American Dad!:
By: Skees

Fox's Sunday night animated comedy that centers on the Smith family airs Sundays at 9:30pm and we have just watched the 150th episode that airs Sunday (May 5). In the episode, "Lost In Space?," we pick up with Jeff on the alien spaceship, where he is a slave, alongside a myriad of other creatures that have been abducted across the galaxy by the evil Emperor Zing (voiced by a fantastic Michael McKean). Although Jeff is a relatively minor character in our show’s universe - when compared to the main cast – he is very deeply beloved by our fans. I wanted to do this episode so we could get a more fully realized glimpse into Jeff as a character. And Jeff being held prisoner on a hostile alien ship gave us a great crucible to test his mettle. Director Chris Bennett takes us on a fastidiously detailed and mind-blowing visual odyssey. Louisville rock band, Wax Fang, helps create the emotional tone of the piece by providing an outstanding, nearly wall-to-wall score.

In this special 150th episode, we begin the episode with a "previously on..." clip, but this won't make sense to viewers unless they've been watching throughout the season. To (briefly) explain the back-story, the story begins with the February episode "Naked to the Limit, One More Time." In this episode, Roger had Jeff abducted by aliens and sent to his home planet after Jeff decides to let others know about the family alien. Since that time, Jeff has been gone into outer space and we haven't seen much of him. That is, until now, where we get an entire Jeff episode. Not only do we get to learn where he is, but what has happened to him since his abduction and how (or if) he'll make it back home safely. Now a slave on his new planet (a place full of Rogers), his only hope to get out of it and make it back home is to prove his true love for Hayley. The question is, can he do it before it is too late?

When I noticed that this was the 150th episode, I expected something big. Unfortunately, I feel that this episode just went deep in the other direction. Not only was this a Jeff episode, but we didn't even get to see the rest of the characters in this episode except briefly in the flashback at the beginning. I like Jeff's character, but to do a whole episode about him and completely ignore ALL of the regular characters (literally, don't expect to find Stan, Francine, Hayley, Steve, Roger, or anybody else that you know in this episode) makes this one of those episodes that I believe I will find less than memorable in the future. The humor in the episode was all science-fiction based humor, which I can tolerate in some series, but that doesn't provide me with what I expect in this series. While this episode isn't a complete disaster, it really doesn't feel like an episode of the series as we know it, and that took some of the enjoyment out of watching it. C

It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of May 6-10, 2013, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, May 6, 2013

John Krasinski (The Office) - Watch John on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about The Office series finale on NBC's Today between 7-9am.
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) - Edie visits Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jim Rash (Community) - Jim appears on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
Jenna Fischer (The Office) - Jenna stops by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls) - Kat is part of the guest panel on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
Max Greenfield (New Girl) - Max drops by LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) - Eric chats on Katie, so check your local listings.
Sherri Shepherd (Less Than Perfect/Sherri) - Sherri is a guest on Joy Behar: Say Anything! at 9pm on Current. She also guest co-hosts Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
David Alan Grier (Life with Bonnie/DAG) - David will be on NBC's Today in the 10-11am hour.
Jim Gaffigan (My Boys/Welcome to New York) - Jim chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) - Catch Zooey on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS. She will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
Jim Gaffigan (My Boys/Welcome to New York) - Jim is a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
Ken Jeong (Community) - Ken appears on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
John Krasinski (The Office) - John continues to make the rounds on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy drops by Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart at 11pm. She will also be on Katie, so check your local listings.
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) - Edie appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS. She will also be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Maya Rudolph (Up All Night) - Tune in to see Maya on Katie, so check your local listings.
Marilu Henner (Taxi) - Marilu is a guest on Joy Behar: Say Anything! at 9pm on Current. She will also be on NBC's Today in the 10-11am hour.
Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Life) - Nia stops by The Jeff Probst Show, so check your local listings.
Hilary Duff (Lizzie McGuire) - Hilary visits Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
George Lopez (George Lopez) - George talks about I'm Not Gonna Lie on NBC's Today between 7-9am. He will also be on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy guest co-hosts The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother/Free Spirit) - Watch Alyson on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
Craig Ferguson (The Drew Carey Show) - Craig appears on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC. He will also be on Katie, so check your local listings.
Zach Braff (Scrubs) - Zach is a guest on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) - Simon visits Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Brad Garrett (How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)/'Til Death/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Brad stops by The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Melissa Peterman (Baby Daddy/Reba) - Melissa discusses her marriage, parenting skills and a new game show she hosts called Bet on Your Baby on Marie at 12pm on Hallmark Channel.
Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) - Stylist Brad Goreski gives a viewer a makeover and a chance to meet actress Zooey on Katie, so check your local listings.
Kym Whitley (Sparks/The Parkers/Animal Practice) - Kym gives a tour of the Modern Family home on Katie, so check your local listings.
Patricia Heaton (The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Patricia chats on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Bob Saget (How I Met Your Mother/Full House) - Watch Bob on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) - Sarah stops by The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) - Edie is part of the guest panel on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Doogie Howser, M.D.) - Neil appears on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.
Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Life) - Nia talks about the gift of finding her daughter through the foster care system, the adoption process and the joys that motherhood brings on Marie at 12pm on Hallmark Channel.
George Lopez (George Lopez) - George visits Katie, so check your local listings.
Niecy Nash (The Soul Man/Reno 911!) - Niecy chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. She will also be on Joy Behar: Say Anything! at 9pm on Current.
Brandy Norwood (The Game/Moesha) - Brandy guest co-hosts Anderson Live, so check your local listings.
Craig Robinson (The Office) - Craig is a guest on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Sherri Shepherd (Less Than Perfect/Sherri) - Catch Sherri on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC. She will also be on Steve Harvey, so check your local listings.
Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother/Free Spirit) - Alyson appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show/Cosby) - Phylicia is a guest on Tavis Smiley on PBS, but check listings for time. She will also be on Katie, so check your local listings.
Niecy Nash (The Soul Man/Reno 911!) - Niecy joins Mario Batali and Michael Symon to prepare a magnificent meal and talk about her new book, It's Hard to Fight Naked, on The Chew on ABC at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
Patricia Heaton (The Middle/Back to You/Everybody Loves Raymond) - Tune in to see Patricia on Katie, so check your local listings.
Cheryl Hines (Suburgatory/Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Cheryl stops by Katie, so check your local listings.
Florence Henderson (The Brady Bunch) - Florence appears on Katie, so check your local listings.

Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Friday feature! We do listen!

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, October 13

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the new Normals" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Johnsons and Butlers face big changes and unexpected challenges as Tina discovers a new passion, Malcolm navigates work and family boundaries and Courtney takes a major step with Marty. Meanwhile, Dave’s tech experiment backfires and Gemma’s parenting plan goes awry.

DMV - "Pilot" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
East Hollywood Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driving examiner Colette pines for her coworker Noa while enduring teasing from colleagues Gregg, Vic and Ceci. Also, new manager Barb rallies the crew to save their branch from government shutdown.

TV We Love - "I Love Lucy" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A deep dive into "I Love Lucy," widely regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time; exploring the groundbreaking partnership of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, whose comedic brilliance and bold business moves forever changed television.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 13)

Monday, October 13

Kat Dennings (Shifting Gears/Dollface/2 Broke Girls/Raising Dad) - Watch Kat on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building/Mulaney/I'm a Big Girl Now/The Associates) and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - Steve, Martin and Selena are guests on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks) - Keanu and Alex Winter are guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) - Jason appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Laverne Cox (Clean Slate) - Andy Cohen intervews Laverne on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
Patricia Arquette (High Desert) - Patricia talks about Murdaugh: Death in the Family on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Bradley Whitford (Perfect Harmony/Trophy Wife) - Bradley talks about The Diplomat on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Colin Hanks (Life in Pieces) - Colin chats with the hosts about John Candy: I Like Me on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City/The Michael J. Fox Show) - Michael discusses his new book Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Ayo Edebiri (Big Mouth/The Bear) - Co-host Gayle King sits down with Ayo and Julia Roberts on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Tim Meadows (DMV/Schooled/No Activity/Son of Zorn/Mr. Box Office/The Bill Engvall Show) - Tim talks about DMV on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
Brian Baumgartner (The Office) - Brian talks about the We Need A Fourth podcast on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect/Suddenly Susan) - Sherri talks about The Sunshine Queens on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Jaleel White (Family Matters/Grown Ups) - Jaleel joins Sherri to talk about the new season of his hit game show Flip Side on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Vanessa Lachey (Truth Be Told/Dads) - Vanessa and Nick Lachey talk about Netflix's Love is Blind on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Cristela Alonzo (Cristela) - Cristela talks about Netflix's Stay Classy on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is showing Drew how to make the perfect pumpkin spice meatballs on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.