Friday, August 11, 2017
Fri-Yay: Animated Sitcoms; School is Back in Session This Fall on TV Land's Teachers
by Vincent
Animated sitcoms have been a staple of the genre for many decades, at least since the days of shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones. Of course, the genre really came onto its own in the '90s, with classic series like The Simpsons and, later, South Park and Futurama paving the way for adult animation to be considered a viable and equally respectable genre of sitcom capable of achieving the same heights as live-action series. These days, plenty of TV's best, most interesting, and most innovative television can be found in the world of adult animation. From shows like Bojack Horseman to Bob's Burgers to Archer, animated sitcoms today are some of the funniest and most daring series in all of television. And one of those excellent animated shows, Rick and Morty, returned for its third season a few weeks ago, and is continuing its run as one of TV's best, smartest, and most fun shows.
Rick and Morty, like many Adult Swim shows, is a truly weird, sometimes dark, and incredibly unique show. It follows the science fiction adventures of the brilliant but slightly sociopathic time traveler Rick and his grandson Morty - think of it as a darker take on the Back to the Future franchise. However, while many Adult Swim shows are content to get by on their conceptual weirdness (which can lead to TV that's interesting but a little alienating), Rick and Morty grounds its out-of-this-world adventures with genuine human connection and empathy. Dan Harmon (the co-creator of the show, along with Justin Roiland) brings the same pathos he brought to Community to the series, which makes it feel like more than just a collection of weird science fiction concepts and violent humor. The show feels like it has something to say about the human condition - take, for example, a line from Morty in the show's first season, in an episode where Rick allows the family to watch TV that shows programs from other dimensions, Morty consults his distraught sister (who has just learned she may have ruined her parents' happiness after seeing their lives in a dimension where she wasn't born) with: "Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, we're all going to die, so just come watch TV." This line basically sums up Rick and Morty's worldview: even if our lives aren't effected by a mad time traveler grandpa, they're still full of chaos and unpredictability. So why not enjoy it while we can? Rick and Morty doesn't always get this philosophical, but it can - and even when it doesn't, it's still an incredibly great time. If you're looking for a new and interesting show that's just a little different from anything else on TV, I highly recommend Rick and Morty.
School is back in session this fall! Don't be late for class on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT, when TV Land's critical darling Teachers returns for the second half of season two. The first 10 episodes of the Grade-A comedy's second season, which The Hollywood Reporter hailed as "stronger and funnier than ever," aired earlier this year and hit multiple series high ratings. Teachers revolves around a group of elementary school teachers who are trying to mold the minds of America's youth, but don't have their own lives together at all. The series is created by and stars the improv group The Katydids – Caitlin Barlow, Katy Colloton, Cate Freedman, Kate Lambert, Katie O'Brien and Kathryn RenĂ©e Thomas. The second part of season two will see Ms. Bennigan (O'Brien) keep naively pursuing Hot Dad (guest star Ryan Caltagirone), Ms. Watson (Lambert) in an unexpected relationship, Mrs. Adler (Thomas) and Ms. Feldman (Freedman) dealing with a "serial pooper" around the school, Ms. Snap (Colloton) finding the school's forgotten library, Ms. Cannon (Barlow) discovering an artistic prodigy, and even an entire episode taking place in the 1940s. Teachers has already been renewed for a 20-episode third season to premiere in 2018.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, May 21
Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "The Talk" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
House of Payne is the hilarious comedy about Retired fire chief Curtis Payne and his lovely wife Ella.
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Dyna Woman" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Anastasia relives her childhood and springs into action to combat criminal activity; the family must prepare for the increase in crime.
The Ms. Pat Show - "The Guilt Trip" (BET, 10:30PM ET/PT)
When the family gets derailed on their way to Atlanta for Pat's big show, they wind up at an unusual resort where they all learn a powerful lesson about listening and learning from the past.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 19)
Wednesday, May 21
- Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Watch Henry on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Tina Fey (The Four Seasons/Only Murders in the Building/30 Rock) - Tina appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- John Krasinski (The Office) - E! News has an interview with John at 11pm on E!.
- Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Bad Teacher/Sex and the City) - Kristin talks about And Just Like That... on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - NBC's Today catches up with Howie in the 10am hour. He also talks about NBC's America's Got Talent on Access Hollywood with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - It's Drew's big 50th birthday show an entire show filled with surprises as Drew celebrates this big milestone on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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