Saturday, September 30, 2017
SitcomsOnline Digest: Relive (Most of) the 90s TGIF Lineup on Hulu; NBC Renews Marlon
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- Today may be Saturday, but you can relive all of the hits of the 90s TGIF lineup seven days a week now thanks to Hulu, as they've not only added the Warner Bros. TGIF series (although we wish they had also included the forgotten stepchild of the TGIF lineup Just the Ten of Us) but also added in a bonus by adding Boy Meets World, Dinosaurs, and the non-TGIF series Home Improvement. (Entertainment Weekly)
- NBC will be bringing Marlon back for a second season. (Deadline)
- Megyn Kelly made her debut on Today this week, and the reception has been poor from critics, viewers, and even her own guests, including Debra Messing of Will & Grace publicly stating that she regretted going on the series earlier in the week and didn't know the cast reunion would be during Megyn Kelly's hour. (Deadline)
- ABC World News Tonight has dethroned a twenty year streak that NBC Nightly News had for being the most watched, but then again, national broadcast news isn't watched nearly as much as it used to be. (LA Times)
- Tim Allen is still adamant that his political beliefs got Last Man Standing cancelled. (Chicago Tribune)
- Young Sheldon has already been picked up for a full season. (SitcomsOnline)
TUESDAY (OCTOBER 3) HOME MEDIA RELEASES
- 2 Broke Girls - The Complete Sixth Season (DVD, $24.98): The final season of the CBS series arrives on DVD in this release. Complete series also available.
FOLLOW ME
Pick of the Tweets: "Hello everybody. I am really happy to take this journey on social media and to communicate with everybody out there." (January 26, 2017)
Friday, September 29, 2017
Fri-Yay: You're the Worst; Fox Fall Pilot Review: Ghosted - Premieres Sunday (Oct. 1)
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 - 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:
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" (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:
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:
Preview:
Thursday, September 28, 2017
CBS Orders Full Season of Young Sheldon; 30 Rock, Parenthood and More Head to Hulu
CBS has given a full season order to new comedy series Young Sheldon, which premiered Monday night, Sept. 25. Young Sheldon was the most watched comedy premiere on any network since 2011, averaging 17.21m viewers, and 3.8 in adults 18-49, the highest rating for any new comedy since 2013. In addition, it retained 98% of its The Big Bang Theory viewer lead-in, 93% in adults 18-49 and 95% in adults 25-54, the best retention percentages for any new comedy following an original episode of The Big Bang Theory. Following its special Monday night broadcast this week, Young Sheldon now moves to its regular time period on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 8:30 PM, following The Big Bang Theory.
Young Sheldon stars Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Annie Potts, Montana Jordan, Raegan Revord and the voice of Jim Parsons. Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak are executive producers for Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Following a groundbreaking licensing agreement that marked the streaming debut of iconic series Will & Grace, Hulu and NBCUniversal Television and New Media Distribution today announced a new agreement that will make Hulu the exclusive SVOD home to all episodes of Emmy Award winning comedy series, 30 Rock, beginning October 1st, as well as add hundreds of episodes of shows for the whole family to Hulu. In addition to bringing the complete library of the critically acclaimed and Emmy Award-winning comedy series from creator and star Tina Fey - 30 Rock - to a new streaming home, the new deal includes a full suite of premium programming that will become available to stream on Hulu:
30 Rock. A three-time Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Comedy Series as well as a critical darling, 30 Rock comes from the brilliant mind of creator and star Tina Fey, whose character Liz Lemon is asked by her ultra corporate boss Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) to somehow make the fictional program "TGS with Tracy Jordan" a success. Working with an oddball staff, no budget and no sleep, Liz keeps up the good fight against long odds. Also starring Tracy Morgan, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander and Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock aired for seven seasons and arrives in its entirety on Hulu on October 1st.
Parenthood. The family favorite, hit drama series will stream in its entirety in early 2018 on Hulu. The critically-acclaimed series, which aired for six seasons, has remained popular with viewers since its finale. Parenthood is a one-hour drama from Award-winning executive producers Jason Katims, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. It follows the trials and tribulations of the very large, colorful and imperfect Braverman family and features stars including Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Craig T. Nelson, Bonnie Bedelia, Dax Shepard, Erika Christensen, Monica Potter, Sam Jaeger and Joy Bryant.
There's Johnny. Paul Reiser's highly-anticipated series, There's Johnny, will make its debut on Hulu. The deal marks the premiere for the NBCUniversal period comedy, set in the world of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson circa 1972, starring Tony Danza.
Made in Chelsea. The first 13 seasons of the BAFTA award-winning, reality television series from the UK will make their US SVOD debut on Hulu. Since its premiere, the hit series has captivated audiences in the UK and resulted in many spin-offs. Through the deal, the complete series will be made available to stream in the US on Hulu later this year.
Face Off. The first 10 seasons of SYFY's hit reality competition series, Face Off, will become available to stream on Hulu. The series will make its SVOD debut in early 2018. Face Off follows special effects make-up artists as they participate in elaborate challenges for a grand prize and the honor of being Hollywood's next great effects artist.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
NBC Fall Pilot Review: Will & Grace - Premieres Thursday (Sept. 28); Freeform Orders Pretty Little Liars Spin-off Pilot
Will & Grace - Thursdays at 9:00PM on NBC
Premieres Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 9:00PM ET/PT
Debra Messing as Grace Adler
Megan Mullally as Karen Walker
Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland
It goes without saying that all of the four cast members are best known for playing these exact same roles in the original run of Will & Grace, but they've also been doing other projects since then, and some have been known for other projects before the original series.
Sean Hayes (Jack) has appeared in series such as Sean Saves the World and The Millers, but it seems that neither was a good fit for him as Will & Grace was. However, he has been the man behind a successful production company, Hazy Mills, which has produced Grimm, Hot in Cleveland, and Hollywood Game Night.
The feel of this show, though, is very odd. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It has the feeling of that late 90s sitcom that aired on NBC back when NBC was the network to be in the world of sitcoms, when Friends-mania was taking over the network. What's interesting about the original series is that it was airing on NBC in that Friends era, and always living in the shadow of Friends. Friends even served as a lead-in for the original series. And once it lost that lead-in, people stopped caring about Will & Grace. It did continue on for two more seasons afterward, but by that time, it was more or less just floating on while NBC was focused on their future of single camera sitcoms (thanks to The Office).
There really isn't a lot to say about this series. It's Will & Grace, and it's the Will & Grace that fans (and probably even some new fans) have come to love in the original eight year run. It's really easy to be skeptical when a series has a reboot, reunion, or anything along those lines. Often they'll have very forced scripts to explain why they're all together again, they'll have missing key characters (and come up with a really stupid explanation of why that character is gone), they'll have new producers and writers that don't understand or even care to understand why fans liked the original series, and even kids that have grown up can ruin some of the original charm. None of that happens with this series. It's pretty much like a new season of an old show, that is able to do things it couldn't have done when it last aired in 2006. And if people don't recognize that things have changed, then they must have been in a coma for over a decade.
Obviously, the show still retains a lot of the LGBT themes. After all, what else would it be without those? A lot of things have changed since 2006 in terms of the LGBT community. For example, in 2004, one of the most "radical" presidential candidates (who lost his primary) was suggesting allowing gay couples to have civil unions to guarantee many rights associated with marriage, but not marriage because that's a step too far. And people couldn't believe somebody was saying something so radical, they thought civil unions were far fetched. In 2017, same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states, and a lot of people support it or just don't care one way or the other. Even just considering how those who are not part of the LGBT community perceive those in the LGBT community has changed significantly from 2006 to 2017. Consider this: this show debuted in 1998, just months after ABC canceled the once popular sitcom Ellen following a very challenging final season. Ellen (both in real life as well as the character) had come out as a lesbian in the fourth season of that series, and it resulted in a fifth season that people accused of pushing a "gay agenda," and ABC even started airing "parental advisories" before each episode to warn parents of "gay content." Concerned mothers all over the country were in panic that there was a sitcom on broadcast television that had a lesbian character as the star. Now, in 2017, those same concerned parents are watching and loving the talk show hosted by that same woman, which has aired for 15 seasons. So, to be clear, things have changed, and Will & Grace is returning at a time when the perception of it will likely be different, specifically while it may have originally been perceived as a sitcom for the LGBT community in 1998, it can be seen more as a regular sitcom that includes LGBT characters in 2017. That makes a huge difference.
Yet at the same time, while the anti-LGBT attitudes died down over a period of several years, there has also been some backlash against all of the LGBT (and other groups) progress in recent years. Some people have been sitting in silence for years while all of the progress has been made, then in the past few years, those people have learned how to use Facebook and they head to the comments sections of any given news article that talks about these issues. A lot of people have learned that not everybody is on the same page, no matter what we think. So, while a lot of those people probably won't be as interested in this series, the fact that they exist still makes this series all the more topical, perhaps even more so. That's something that is brought up in the very first episode of the series, where we learn that (not surprisingly) Karen is a huge Donald Trump supporter and invites Grace to the Oval Office for a potential opportunity to redecorate it, since the president described it as a "dump" (both in real life and the series, so they're writing in topical themes).
The series isn't purely political, though (neither was the original), and it backs away from those themes in the other two of the first three episodes. The second episode, for example, deals with the issues of dating much younger people (it's interesting to point out that Will's date in this episode is said to have been born in 1994, which means he would have been four years old when the original series debuted) as well as a B-plot that borrows a storyline of being stuck in a shower from a classic episode of The Lucy Show. It makes for a solid standard sitcom plot. But don't expect the series to be completely devoid of politics, as Michelle Obama is set to appear in one of the episodes (we're not sure when, but it certainly wasn't one of the first three that were available for review).
One nice thing about this series, of course, is that you know exactly what you're getting into before you watch it, especially if you've seen the original series. The pilot takes off running without confusion over who the characters are and why they exist. We don't need boring, forced, and slow-paced introductions. It is already built in after 194 episodes of the original series. Ultimately, the bottom line is, this show just picks up where it left off, but it isn't "for better or worse," it's almost exclusively "for better." It is important to point out one thing, though: while this series mostly picks up where the series left off, pretty much all of the events of the final episode are "forgotten" in this new series, because things happened in that final episode that would make picking things up where they truly left off almost impossible for this series.
Preview:
Freeform, Disney's young adult television and streaming network, has ordered a new drama pilot, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, from Warner Horizon Scripted Television. Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, is based on the popular book series The Perfectionists, written by Sara Shepard, who also penned the No. 1 New York Times bestselling book series Pretty Little Liars. Everything about the town of Beacon Heights seems perfect, from their top-tier college to their overachieving residents. But nothing in Beacon Heights is as it appears to be. The stress of needing to be perfect leads to the town's first murder. Behind every Perfectionist is a secret, a lie and a needed alibi. Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists is produced by Alloy Entertainment and Long Lake Media in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television. I. Marlene King wrote the pilot and serves as executive producer with Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo.
Pretty Little Liars stars Sasha Pieterse (Inherent Vice) and Janel Parrish (To All the Boys I've Loved Before and is currently starring in a production of Grease in Toronto) are set to reprise their original roles in the new pilot. In Pretty Little Liars, Pieterse played Alison DiLaurentis, the former queen bee whose mysterious disappearance rocked the small town of Rosewood. Parrish played Mona Vanderwaal, Hanna Marin's best friend, who was unmasked as the mysterious tormentor "A" at the end of the show's second season, and ultimately beat uber-villain, A.D., at her own game. Freeform's robust slate of scripted original series include fan-favorite comedy Young & Hungry; highly anticipated new comedies grown-ish and Alone Together, which are slated to premiere in 2018; along with scripted dramas including the summer breakout hit The Bold Type; supernatural thriller Beyond; Famous In Love starring Bella Thorne; critically acclaimed The Fosters; sci-fi phenomenon Shadowhunters; and the eagerly awaited series Marvel's Cloak & Dagger, coming in 2018.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
COZI TV Acquires Will & Grace; Spike TV Turns to Paramount Network on Jan. 18, 2018
COZI TV announced that it will be the exclusive digital broadcast network of the first eight seasons of the Emmy® award-winning series Will & Grace. Leading up to the premiere of the new season of Will & Grace on NBC on Thursday, September 28 at 9 PM, COZI TV will offer viewers the opportunity to recall every hilarious moment of the iconic series with a special showing of the first four episodes of season one on September 28 at 7 PM. The network will also kick-off a special weekend marathon presentation of all 22 episodes from season one on Saturday, September 30 at 9 AM. In addition, the original series will run on COZI TV Monday through Friday at 10 PM, beginning Monday, October 2 (check local listings). The hit comedy series Will & Grace features actors Debra Messing as Grace Adler, Megan Mullally as Karen Walker, Eric McCormack as Will Truman and Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland. The series follows best friends Will and Grace as they navigate living together, while they deal with their eccentric friends Karen and Jack. The show originally aired on NBC starting in 1998, with the season eight finale coming in 2006. Will & Grace rejoins the NBC lineup with all new episodes Thursday, September 28 at 9 PM.
The following episodes from Will & Grace season one will air on COZI TV on Thursday, September 28 at 7 PM. Audiences can watch an encore presentation at 10 PM (check local listings):
S1: Love & Marriage (7:00 PM)
S1: A New Lease on Life (7:30 PM)
S1: Head Case (8:00 PM)
S1: Between A Rock And A Harlin's Place (8:30 PM)
Season one episodes that will air in COZI TV's special Will & Grace Saturday, September 30 marathon are:
Love & Marriage (9 AM)
A New Lease on Life (9:30 AM)
Head Case (10:00 AM)
Between a Rock and Harlin's Place (10:30 AM)
Boo! Humbug (11:00 AM)
William, Tell (11:30 AM)
Where There's a Will, There's No Way (12:00 PM)
The Buying Game (12:30 AM)
The Truth About Will and Dogs (1:00 PM)
The Big Vent (1:30 PM)
Will on Ice (2:00 PM)
My Fair Maid-y (2:30 PM)
The Unsinkable Mommy Adler (3:00 PM)
Big Brother Is Coming Pt I (3:30 PM)
Big Brother Is Coming Pt II (4:00 PM)
Yours, Mine or Ours (4:30 PM)
Secrets & Lays (5:00 PM)
Grace, Replaced (5:30 PM)
Will Works Out (6:00 PM)
Saving Grace (6:30 PM)
Alley Cats (7:00PM)
Object of My Rejection (7:30 PM)
Paramount Network has set a date for its debut. The network will officially debut on Thursday, January 18 at 9:00pm ET/PT with a LIVE one-hour episode of Lip Sync Battle emanating from the Paramount lot in Hollywood. Details on this star-studded event will be announced in the coming weeks. Spike TV is being rebranded as Paramount Network, a premium entertainment destination that pushes the limits of story-telling with bold original scripted and non-scripted series. Inspired by over a century of cinema, Paramount Network is where today's brightest stars bring the experience of the big screen to every screen with stories that are immersive, inclusive, and deeply personal.
Later in January, Paramount Network will premiere the landmark six-part event series, WACO, with an award-winning cast including Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, John Leguizamo, and Melissa Benoist. On the heels of the 25th anniversary, the eye-opening and captivating series is based on the controversial and harrowing true story of the 1993 FBI siege of a religious sect that resulted in the deadly shoot out and fire. The new original scripted series coming to Paramount Network in the first part of 2018 includes Yellowstone, starring world-renowned actor and Oscar(R)-winner Kevin Costner and written and directed by critically-acclaimed, Oscar(R)-nominated screenwriter Taylor Sheridan; American Woman from award-winning producer John Wells, a single-camera comedy set in the 1970s amid the sexual revolution and the rise of feminism starring Alicia Silverstone and Mena Suvari; and Heathers an hour-long pitch-black comedy anthology set in the present day, based on the 1988 cult classic film of the same name.
Monday, September 25, 2017
CBS Fall Pilot Reviews: Young Sheldon and Me, Myself & I, Both Premiere Tonight (Sept. 25)
Young Sheldon - Thursdays at 8:30PM ET/PT on CBS
Special Premiere Monday, September 25, 2017 at 8:30PM ET/PT
by Vincent
Young Sheldon follows 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper, a once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science – but that isn't always helpful in East Texas, a land where church and football are king. And while the vulnerable, gifted and somewhat naïve Sheldon deals with the world, his very normal family must find a way to deal with him.
Cast Details:
Iain Armitage as Sheldon
Jim Parsons as Adult Sheldon (Voice)
Lance Barber as George Sr.
Montana Jordan as Georgie Jr.
Raegan Revord as Missy
Zoe Perry as Mary
Iain Armitage (Sheldon) is a young actor best known for his role on the popular HBO mini-series Big Little Lies. He has also appeared on Law & Order: SVU and in the film The Glass Castle.
Jim Parsons (voice of Adult Sheldon) is best known for his role as "Adult" Sheldon on the hit comedy The Big Bang Theory (which Young Sheldon is a prequel of). He also has a long-running Broadway career, recently starring in the play The Act of God.
Lance Barber (George Sr.) is a veteran TV actor who has appeared in many shows over the years, most notably as a cast member on HBO's cult hit The Comeback. He has also appeared in shows such as Faking It, black-ish and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Montana Jordan (Georgie Jr.) is a young, nascent actor – Young Sheldon will be his first major role.
Reagan Reyord (Missy) is a young actress who has guest starred on shows such as Modern Family, Grace and Frankie and Teachers.
Zoe Perry (Mary) is an actress with a long list of TV credits, including roles on Scandal, NCIS and The Family. She also portrayed Young Jackie on Roseanne.
Pilot Plot:
"Pilot" (Airs September 25 at 8:30PM ET)
The pilot episode revolved around 9-year-old Sheldon's first day at high school. His father, George, is struggling to find his way as a high school football coach and as father to a boy he doesn't understand. Sheldon's mother, Mary, fiercely protects and nurtures her son in a town where he just doesn't fit in. Sheldon's older brother, Georgie, does the best he can in high school, but it's tough to be cool when you're in the same classes with your odd 9-year-old brother. Sheldon's twin sister, Missy, sometimes resents all the attention Sheldon gets, but she also remains the one person who can reliably tell Sheldon the truth. All of these people help guide him through a difficult first day of school.
Analysis:
I’ll get this out of the way first: I'm not a fan of The Big Bang Theory. I've seen enough of it that I'm familiar with the characters and the concept, since it's such a hugely popular sitcom – I wanted to see what all of the hype was about, but unfortunately I generally find the show to be too over-the-top in its humor, and I find Parsons' portrayal of Sheldon to be kind of unbearable most of the time. So I can't say I went into Young Sheldon expecting to like it all that much. I expected it to be basically a carbon copy of its parent show, complete with obvious set-ups and punchlines and a complete lack of subtlety. I was surprised, then, that Young Sheldon is actually quite different from The Big Bang Theory in a lot of ways. First off, the show drops Big Bang's multi-camera and laugh track set-up for a single-camera Wonder Years vibe, complete with a narration by grown-up Parsons. The show is clearly trying for something very different than The Big Bang Theory. A lot of the time, it seems like it genuinely wants to be a heartfelt, borderline sad, even a little wistful story of a young boy whose gifted but struggles to fit into the town he lives in. And there are times when it succeeds! Most of those times involve the mother-son relationship between Sheldon and Mary, which actually feels genuine, thanks to strong performances from both Perry and Armitidge. At its best, Young Sheldon is a sweet and sad little show about a precocious little kid who's clearly going to leave his town and do great things, and a mom who's hanging onto him for as long as she can despite knowing that she's going to lose him eventually. Pepper in a surprisingly funny performance from Reyord as Sheldon's perpetually annoyed sister and Lance Barber doing a pretty good "over it all" dad role, and you'd have a decent little coming of age sitcom, one that could air alongside The Middle and The Goldbergs on ABC and no one would bat an eye.
Unfortunately, Young Sheldon often has to remember that, ultimately, it's a Big Bang Theory prequel. And say what you will about The Big Bang Theory, but the often mean-spirited and condescending tone of Adult Sheldon doesn't really fit in with the gentle, warm tone that Young Sheldon is going for. Every time Jim Parsons' narration ends a scene, or every time his holier-than-thou attitude comes through in the form of his younger self, any sweet vibes that Young Sheldon gives off are immediately shattered. The problem is, if you like The Big Bang Theory, you're probably going to be turned off by the fact that Young Sheldon is essentially nothing like its parent show most of the time, and will probably not want much to do with a low-key coming of age sitcom. If you dig that kind of vibe, then you'll probably be turned off by the grating catchphrase factory that the show wants to be when it's not that gentle coming of age sitcom. Young Sheldon feels towards between two shows right now, and while The Wonder Years for a new generation is the more appealing route, chances are it will wind up pandering to its Big Bang Theory origins more to survive the network television chopping block.
Conclusion:
There's a warm, bittersweet show about growing up in a place where you don't belong lurking inside of Young Sheldon, but it's obstructed by the show's need to pander to its parent show's audience, in full display whenever Parsons interrupts with one of his painfully unfunny and often mean-spirited voice-overs. If Young Sheldon ever dropped the Big Bang side of its occasion, it might have a chance at becoming a truly sweet little show, but considering it's, well, a Big Bang spin-off, the chances of that happening seems low. Still, there are glimmers of this show that are worthwhile, and it's a lot less cloying and more thoughtful than you'd expect a Big Bang Theory prequel to be. Plus, if you're a Big Bang superfan, it's a fun and sweet origin story for a character you've grown to love over the years.
Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):
Watchability: 3.5/5
Funniness: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
Discuss the show after you watch it on Monday, September 25, 2017 at 8:30PM ET/PT on our message board.
Related Links:
Preview:
Me, Myself & I - Mondays at 9:30PM ET/PT on CBS
Premieres Monday, September 25, 2017 at 9:30PM ET/PT
Skylar Gray as Young Abby
Christopher Paul Richards as Justin
Mandell Maughan as Maggie
Reylenn Caster as Young Nori Sterling
Sharon Lawrence as Eleanor Sterling
Skylar Gray (young Abby) is another (relative) newcomer to TV, though she has previously appeared in the series Married.
Christopher Paul Richards (Justin) is another young actor, who previously appeared in the Showtime series Billions.
Mandell Maughan (Maggie) has appeared in the Seeso original series Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, as well as episodes of The Young and the Restless, Ghost Whisperer, Sean Saves the World, and The Millers.
Reylynn Caster (young Nori Sterling) is yet another newcomer to acting, and has previously appeared on an episode of Speechless.
Sharon Lawrence (Eleanor Sterling) is best known for her role in NYPD Blue, and has also appeared in series such as Ladies Man, Fired Up, Drop Dead Diva, and others.
Something that slightly surprised me, though, is that this isn't exactly a laugh out loud goofball type of comedy, which was the first thing I expected when I saw that Bobby Moynihan and John Larroquette were involved. Looking back at a lot of the sitcoms that Saturday Night Live cast members went onto after leaving the series, the actors and actresses have had a tendency to play very goofy and offbeat characters (one very notable exception: Jane Curtin in Kate & Allie). That isn't to say that Alex, at any stage of his life is not a bit goofy or offbeat. But for the most part, he's just an average guy dealing with the quirks in his life. I think what's perhaps even odder is how hard it is to look at John Larroquette and not see Dan Fielding. Maybe in time, as we get used to these characters, we'll be able to separate them out. It took me a while to separate Ed O'Neill's two famous sitcom characters (Al Bundy and Jay Pritchett) from one another as well, but eventually they became two distinct people.
When I heard about the concept of this series, I immediately suspected it would be confusing, with all of the going back and forth in time. It would especially be confusing since we would have to deal with new groups of characters in each of those time periods, so that means a very large cast. But I can safely say after watching the pilot that they handle the transitions through time rather well, and often in a very clever manner. And as far as the large cast (which I imagine will get larger as the series goes on), it doesn't take much time to figure out what role the characters play in Alex's life. I don't think this will cause any problems or confusion at all.
Preview:
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 25, 2017)
For the week of September 25-29, 2017, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!
Sunday, September 24
- Kim Fields (The Facts of Life/Living Single) - Watch Kim on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
- Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory/Young Sheldon) - Watch Jim on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
- Jeremy Piven (Entourage/Ellen/The Larry Sanders Show) - Jeremy visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- America Ferrera (Superstore) - America appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory/8 Simple Rules) - Kaley chats on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Kristin Chenoweth (Kristin) - Kristin previews My Little Pony: The Movie on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings. She will also be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Jussie Smollett (On Our Own) - Jussie speaks about the series Empire on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings. He will also be on the AOL Build Show at 6pm.
- Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace, Jodie and Andrea are guests on Harry, so check your local listings.
- RonReaco Lee (Survivor's Remorse/Let's Stay Together/Sister, Sister) - RonReaco drops by The Real, so check your local listings.
- Melissa Fumero and Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Melissa and Stephanie are guests on Steve, so check your local listings.
- Zoe Perry (Young Sheldon) - Zoe opens up about the premiere of her new show Young Sheldon on People Now at 8:30am.
- Anne Heche (The Michael J. Fox Show/Save Me) and Mike Vogel (Grounded for Life) - Anne and Mike talk about The Brave on NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET. The will also be on the AOL Build Show at 1pm.
- Iain Armitage (Young Sheldon) - Iain is a guest on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
- Kristin Bell (The Good Place) - Kristin makes Carly's Spinach Pesto on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
- The Cast of Will & Grace - Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes are guests on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and on Megyn Kelly Today in the 9am hour.
- Damon Wayans (My Wife and Kids) - Damon appears on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
- Paulo Costanzo (Joey) - Paulo talks about Designated Survivor on the AOL Build Show at 11:15am.
- Josh Gad (1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh is a guest on the AOL Build Show at 3:30pm.
- Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Catch Andy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Brandon Micheal Hall (The Mayor) - Brandon appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Sofia Vergara (Modern Family/The Knights of Prosperity/Hot Properties) - Sofia is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Larry visits Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Adam Scott (Ghosted/Parks and Recreation) - Adam stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Jussie Smollett (On Our Own) - Jussie is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
- Katy Mixon (American Housewife/Mike & Molly/Eastbound & Down) - Katy appears on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Jane is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Anne Heche (The Michael J. Fox Show/Save Me) - Anne drops by The Wendy Williams Show at 2am on BET or on your local stations. She will also be on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
- Nia Long (Uncle Buck/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) - Nia appears on Steve, so check your local listings.
- John Carroll Lynch (The Drew Carey Show) - John is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela visits Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
- Arturo Castro (Broad City) - Arturo appears on the AOL Build Show at 4pm.
- Nicole Richie (Great News) - Watch Nicole on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC. She also talks about Great News on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Nick Kroll (The League/Cavemen) - Nick visits The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Sofia Vergara (Modern Family/The Knights of Prosperity/Hot Properties) - Sofia appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She will also be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. Finally, she will be on the AOL Build Show at 1pm.
- Craig Robinson (Ghosted/Mr. Robinson/The Office) - Craig is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Julie Klausner (Difficult People) - Julie stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- America Ferrera (Superstore) - America visits Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
- Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Andy appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/Sean Saves the World) - Sean drops by Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
- Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) - Eric is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen visits Harry, so check your local listings.
- Christina Milian (Grandfathered) - Christina is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.
- Kim Fields (The Facts of Life/Living Single) - Kim talks about A Question of Faith on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Jennifer Esposito (Spin City/Samantha Who?) - Jennifer talks about her latest cookbook Jennifer's Way Kitchen on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
- Jussie Smollet (On Our Own) - Jussie will be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Larry talks about Cur Your Enthusiasm on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Jane appears on NBC's Megyn Kelly Today at 9am.
- Malcolm-Jamal Warner (The Cosby Show/Malcolm & Eddie/Reed Between the Lines) - Malcolm-Jamal is a guest on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
- Kristin Chenoweth (Kristin) - Kristin stops by Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
- Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory/8 Simple Rules) - Catch Kaley on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Mark Feuerstein (9JKL/Good Morning, Miami) - Mark appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about 9JKL on the AOL Build Show at 12pm.
- Jeff Garlin (The Goldbergs/Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Jeff visits Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- John Carroll Lynch (The Drew Carey Show) - John is a guest on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
- Craig Robinson (Ghosted/Mr. Robinson/The Office) - Craig stops by Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm.
- Kyle MacLachlan (Sex and the City) - Kyle appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Rob Schneider (Real Rob/Rob) - Rob is a guest on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Adam Scott (Ghosted/Parks and Recreation) - Adam drops by Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo. He also chats about the series Ghosted on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Larry chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Bobby Moynihan (Me, Myself & I) and John Larroquette (Me, Myself & I/Night Court/The John Larroquette Show) - Bobby and John are guests on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Jamie visits The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley) - Kumail appears on Harry, so check your local listings.
- John Michael Higgins (Great News/Happily Divorced/Kath & Kim) - John is a guest on Steve, so check your local listings.
- Amy Ryan (The Office/The Naked Truth) - Amy talks about Abundant Acreage Available on the AOL Build Show at 3pm and on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
- Kristin Chenoweth (Kristin) - Kristin appears on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Horatio Sanz (Great News) - Horatio drops by Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
- Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm/Son of Zorn/Suburgatory) - Cheryl cooks with Clinton Kelly on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
- Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony is a guest on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am. He will also be on the AOL Build Show at 4pm.
- Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Jane talks about Our Souls at Night on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- America Ferrera (Superstore) - America talks about Superstore on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Jennifer Esposito (Spin City/Samantha Who?) - Jennifer talks about her latest cookbook Jennifer's Way Kitchen on the AOL Build Show at 1pm.
- Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Watch Will on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth) - Will stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC. He also talks about The Last Man on Earth on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry visits The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
- Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - Jerry drops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show) - Jennifer is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Chris Geere (You're the Worst) - Chris appears on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
- Kristin Chenoweth (Kristin) - Kristin chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Adam Scott (Ghosted/Parks and Recreation) and Craig Robinson (Ghosted/Mr. Robinson/The Office) - Adam and Craig are guests on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
- Jeremy Piven (Entourage/Ellen/The Larry Sanders Show) - Jeremy visits The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Mark Feuerstein (9JKL/Good Morning, Miami) - Mark stops by LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings. He will also be on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
- Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm/Son of Zorn/Suburgatory) - Cheryl appears on The Wendy Williams Show at 2am on BET or on your local stations.
- Jussie Smollet (On Our Own) - Jussie is a guest on Harry, so check your local listings.
- Sarah Wright Olsen (Marry Me) - Sarah drops by Steve, so check your local listings. She will also be on Access Hollywood LivE, so check your local listings.
- Jenny McCarthy (Two and a Half Men/Jenny) - Jenny and Donnie Wahlberg are guests on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
- Anne Heche (The Michael J. Fox Show/Save Me) - Anne dishes with Clinton Kelly on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
- Katy Mixon (American Housewife/Mike & Molly/Eastbound & Down) - Katy joins Carla Hall in the kitchen to create something delicious on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
- Queen Latifah (Living Single) - Queen Latifah is a guest on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
All listings are subject to change. Visit our blog and main site for daily updated listings. Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Sunday feature! We do listen!
Sitcoms Airing This Week
Sunday, September 24
The Simpsons - "The Great Phatsby" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mr. Burns seeks revenge against a musical mogul who conned him, with help from Homer, Bart, rapper Jazzy James and the mogul's ex-wife; the richest kid in town demonstrates interest in Lisa; Smithers embarks on a journey; Marge opens a shop.
Monday, September 25
The Big Bang Theory - "The Proposal Proposal" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Amy gives Sheldon an answer to his proposal while Howard and Bernadette struggle with some unexpected news. Laurie Metcalf returns as Sheldon’s mother, Mary; Riki Lindhome returns as Ramona; and Stephen Hawking returns as himself.
Young Sheldon - "Pilot" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
9-year-old Sheldon Cooper is a once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science but learns that isn’t always helpful growing up in East Texas, a land where church and football are king.
Kevin Can Wait - "Civil Ceremony" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Kendra and Chale must get married immediately when the Gables learn that he is about to be deported. As Kevin chases down Father Phillip (Jim Breuer) to officiate the ceremony, Vanessa helps Kendra put together the last-minute affair. Leah Remini joins the cast as Vanessa Cellucci, and Jim Breuer returns as Father Phillip.
Me, Myself & I - "Pilot" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Bobby Moynihan, Jack Dylan Grazer and John Larroquette star as Alex Riley in a new comedy about the defining moments in one man’s life over three distinct periods – as a 14-year-old in 1991, at age 40 in present day and at 65 in 2042.
People of Earth - "Game Night" (TBS, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Gerry and Yvonne host a group game night; Agent Foster meets a person from her past; Walsh, Jeff, Don and Kurt enact their mutiny against Eric.
Tuesday, September 26
The Mick - "The Hotel" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Mickey and the children are forced to deal with a downgrade in their living arrangement after their spending habits grow out of control; Jimmy decides to give Chip advice about some of the simplicities of living in a luxurious hotel.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine - "The Big House Pt. 1" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
While Jake and Rosa get used to their lives behind bars, Jake is forced to join a prison gang for protection and Rosa asks Holt and Terry for favors; Amy and Charles attempt to get their friends exonerated as quickly as possible.
In The Cut - "New Beginnings" (Bounce TV, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Jay is ready to take things to the next level with Cheryl but there is one problem, Kenny can't take the hint that it is time to move out.
Wednesday, September 27
The Goldbergs - "Weird Science" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Beverly and Murray move Erica into college where her roommate is also named Erica. Later, Beverly has a hard time letting go and ends up sleeping over in the dorm, much to Erica’s dismay. Meanwhile, Adam tries to give Barry the perfect girlfriend, even trying to build one like in the movie “Weird Science,” as he embarks into his senior year.
Speechless - "W-E-- WE'RE B-A-- BACK!" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
While JJ was at summer camp, Maya decided it’s time the family no longer use JJ’s disability as an excuse to let their lives fall through the cracks. Maya, Jimmy and Dylan make dramatic changes, but a smug Ray decides he will spend the summer watching his family likely failing at their attempts. When JJ comes home, Kenneth finds a love note in JJ’s luggage from Alexa (guest star Rose Crisman), a girl he met at camp, who wants to give JJ his first kiss. The family chucks their self-improvement projects and hits the road to find Alexa.
Modern Family - "Lake Life" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
In the season premiere, Jay forces the family to take their family vacation on a houseboat on a lake in an effort to create memories that will last long after he’s gone. Meanwhile, Mitchell runs into an old flame that opens some old wounds; Cam has to stay out of the sun at all costs; Phil and Claire try out some adventurous excursions; and the kids’ quest for a good time may not be as fun as they expected.
American Housewife - "Back to School" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Katie’s efforts to get more time for herself backfire when she is forced to mend fences with the Westport moms by volunteering to run the school’s spring gala. Meanwhile, Oliver proves to Katie that his passion for ballet is genuine, inspiring her to confront his belittling teacher and stick up for him. Taylor and Greg disagree over whether or not she needs to go to college while he teaches her how to drive.
You're the Worst - "Fog of War, Bro" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Gretchen has moved back into the house and plays mind games with Jimmy, sabotaging his first interview for the new book. Seeing an opportunity in Gretchen's return to the house, Edgar and Lindsay plot to get Jimmy and Gretchen back together.
Thursday, September 28
Superstore - "Grand Re-Opening" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Cloud 9 employees are rushing to finish re-building the store in time for its "Grand Re-Opening." Amy (America Ferrera) and Jonah (Ben Feldman) confront their awkward kiss; Glenn (Mark McKinney) discovers something about himself; Garrett (Colton Dunn) avoids Jonah; Mateo (Nico Santos) worries about the voicemail he left on Jeff's (recurring guest star Michael Bunin) phone; and Dina (Lauren Ash) meets her match in special guest star, Howie Mandel.
The Good Place - "Dance Dance Resolution" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Michael (Ted Danson) continues to work out the kinks in his grand plan. Meanwhile, Eleanor (Kristen Bell) stumbles across a secret.
Will & Grace - "11 Years Later" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
We pick up with Will (Eric McCormack), Grace (Debra Messing), Jack (Sean Hayes), and Karen (Megan Mullally) 11 years since we last saw them. Will and Grace both falter when their political beliefs are put to the test. Jack and Karen help Will and Grace hide their secret shame from each other, but the truth finally comes out.
Great News - "Boardroom Bitch" (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
"The Breakdown" gets a new boss, Diana St. Tropez (guest star Tina Fey), a tough business lady with big plans to bring their outdated news program into the 21st century. Katie (Briga Heelan) is thrilled since this is exactly the kind of strong, professional female role model she hoped for, but Carol (Andrea Martin) is immediately wary of this new influence in Katie's life. Meanwhile, Chuck (John Michael Higgins) has trouble adapting to Diana's idea for a new panel segment of screaming pundits.
The Guest Book - "Story Ten" (TBS, 10:00PM ET/PT)
The locals of the little mountain town must deal with the consequences of their actions over the past few months.
Better Things - "Robin" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Sam has a new friend.
Friday, September 29
Raven's Home - "Fear of a Clown" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A cool new kid arrives in the building, causing Booker and Levi to fight Nia and Tess for his attention.
Stuck in the Middle - "Stuck with a New Friend" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Harley befriends the new girl in school, but the friendship becomes strained when Ethan befriends her too.
Bizaardvark - "Promposal Problems" (Disney Channel, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Paige and Frankie become the promposal masters of Sierra High until a lofty promposal ask from Bernie jeopardizes their perfect record and their friendship.
Saturday, September 30
Will & Grace - "11 Years Later" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
We pick up with Will (Eric McCormack), Grace (Debra Messing), Jack (Sean Hayes), and Karen (Megan Mullally) 11 years since we last saw them. Will and Grace both falter when their political beliefs are put to the test. Jack and Karen help Will and Grace hide their secret shame from each other, but the truth finally comes out.
Superstore - "Grand Re-Opening" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Cloud 9 employees are rushing to finish re-building the store in time for its "Grand Re-Opening." Amy (America Ferrera) and Jonah (Ben Feldman) confront their awkward kiss; Glenn (Mark McKinney) discovers something about himself; Garrett (Colton Dunn) avoids Jonah; Mateo (Nico Santos) worries about the voicemail he left on Jeff's (recurring guest star Michael Bunin) phone; and Dina (Lauren Ash) meets her match in special guest star, Howie Mandel.
Henry Danger - "Balloons of Doom (Nickelodeon, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Dr. Minyak takes the Man Fans hostage, Captain Man and Kid Danger have to find a way to rescue them without Dr. Minyak seeing them move.
Game Shakers - "The Switch" (Nickelodeon, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Dub and the Game Shakers swap Bunny for Hudson, the Game Shakers quickly regret it and have to figure out how to get Hudson back.
Sunday, October 1
The Simpsons - "There Will Be Buds" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Homer gets roped into coaching the kids' lacrosse team with Milhouse's dad.
Bob's Burgers - "Brunchsquatch" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT)
Bob's Burgers begins serving brunch to compete with Jimmy Pesto, but it quickly turns to chaos; Tina, Gene, and Louise decide to help Mr. Fischoeder's brother.
The Simpsons - "The Serfsons" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
In a magical medieval world, Marge's mother is turned into an Ice Walker and Homer forces Lisa to use illegal magic to cure her; Lisa is kidnapped and Homer must lead a feudal uprising to save her.
Ghosted - "Pilot" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Leroy and Max are recruited to find a missing member of The Bureau Underground.
Family Guy - "Emmy-Winning Episode" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Peter embarks on a campaign to win an Emmy for Family Guy by making the show more like Emmy-winning shows.
The Last Man on Earth - " M.U.B.A.R." (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Pamela assimilates into the group as they all set sail for Mexico to avoiding the apocalyptic nuclear fallout.
Saturday, September 23, 2017
SitcomsOnline Digest: Roseanne Reboot Casts David and Darlene's Daughter; The CW Developing New Series Based Upon Sabrina Character
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB
- The role of David and Darlene's daughter for the Roseanne reboot has been cast, and it's sort of a surprising pick, as it is somebody who has experience playing a regular role as daughter in a far more dysfunctional family: Emma Kenney, who plays Debbie, on the Showtime series Shameless. (Deadline)
- We're not quite sure we can call this one a reboot, but a series based upon the character Sabrina (the teenage witch, of course) is in development at The CW, but even though it'll be based upon the same character that the popular sitcom that starred Melissa Joan Hart was based upon, it will be a much different series that is a dark drama. (Variety)
- Saturday Night Live has set the first few hosts of the new season, and Kumail Nanjiani is among them. (Variety)
- The ratings for the Emmy Awards were even worse this year than last year. (CNN)
- Jimmy Kimmel has been making headlines in the past week by doing something that is completely unexpected and out of the ordinary for his late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and that is taking a stance on a political issue… and he is hitting harder than any of the other ones. (Variety)
- Not only is Will & Grace coming back on NBC, you can also catch up on the original series now on Hulu. (SitcomsOnline)
HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
- We can't quite figure out what Sony is trying to do here, but it seems that the first four seasons of Rules of Engagement will be released in Rules of Engagement - Seasons 1-4 Collection (meaning it excludes the fifth and sixth seasons that were previously released, as well as the seventh that was never released).
- Warner Archive is going full steam ahead with The Jamie Foxx Show, with The Jamie Foxx Show - The Complete Fourth Season, set for an October 24 release.
TUESDAY (SEPTEMBER 26) HOME MEDIA RELEASES
- Coach - The Complete Series (DVD, $69.98): It took a long time for it to finally become a reality, but the entire series of the Craig T. Nelson sitcom finally arrives on DVD (most seasons for the very first time) in this collection from Mill Creek.
- Ned and Stacy - The Complete Series (DVD, $44.99): Shout! Factory brings all 44 episodes of this series to DVD in this collection.
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Pick of the Tweets: "Two Sheldons and a Mr. @billyeichner !! (pic)" (September 17, 2017)
Friday, September 22, 2017
Fri-Yay: The Good Place's Season Premiere; FXX to Air All Season One Episodes of The Mick on September 23
by Vincent
Last week, I gave a spotlight to a comedy that I would call one of the best shows on TV right now - BoJack Horseman. This week, I'd like to give a similar spotlight to a show that I feel may be equally as fantastic - The Good Place, which returned to NBC on Wednesday night for a second season. The Good Place is a high concept comedy about a woman named Eleanor who dies and ends up in the "good place" - only to quickly find out that it may not be where she belongs.
So much of The Good Place has to be seen rather than read - it's one of the most unique and fascinating shows to ever air on network television. In many ways, The Good Place is reinventing what the network sitcom could be. Granted, there are plenty of great, more traditional sitcoms on network television that are excellent, and I don't think the traditional sitcom format will go away or even needs to. But The Good Place offers something genuinely fresh, that neither a traditional network sitcom or traditional cable drama can offer. In many ways, it feels like a marriage of the two forms. It has the quirky and relatable characters of network sitcoms, along with the often hilarious and wide-reaching jokes. It also has the intricate storytelling and carefully mended serialization of a drama on par with a series like LOST or Breaking Bad - the kind of show that's so addicting and full of unexpected twists and turns that you can't help but keep watching. There have been few shows that have seamlessly blended the two types of television, or even attempted it - nevertheless done it as well as The Good Place.
In addition, The Good Place is the rare TV show that actually deals with rather big questions of ethics. Much of the first season revolved around ethical arguments that Eleanor attempted to learn to better fit into the world of The Good Place. As the season continued, those ethical arguments began to occur about the actual world the show was taking place in, and the rigid "good place, bad place" divide the show's afterlife forced humans into. Those questions become more apparent as the series enters its second season - all in a half-hour sitcom on NBC. Quite frankly, there's nothing quite like it.
Saturday is Binge Day! FXX will air all 17 episodes from Season One of The Mick on Saturday, September 23 beginning at 3:30PM to 12:00AM ET/PT.
Giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “dysfunctional family,” hit comedy The Mick returns for its second season with all-new outrageous shenanigans – from inadvertent kidnappings to minor crossbow injuries. The series stars Kaitlin Olson as MICKEY, an unapologetic degenerate stuck raising her spoiled niece (Sofia Black-D’Elia) and nephews (Thomas Barbusca, Jack Stanton) amid the lap of luxury in Greenwich, CT. Although constantly pulled between enjoying her lavish new lifestyle and trying to control three monstrous children who have unlimited lines of credit, Mickey is now in it for the long haul. With the help of her on-again, off-boyfriend (Scott MacArthur) and the kids’ live-in housekeeper (Carla Jimenez), she is determined to make it work, or, at the very least, black out during the parts that don’t.
Season Two of The Mick premieres on Fox at a new time on Tuesday, September 26 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT).
In "The Hotel," Mickey and the kids are forced to downgrade from their temporary residence at a hotel after their financial advisor cuts them off due to excessive spending. Mickey and Sabrina refuse to accept the decision and launder up a plan to prevent anyone from stopping their stride. Meanwhile, Jimmy teaches Chip that the tricks to living in a luxurious hotel can be simple.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Tuesday, October 15
none scheduled
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 14)
Tuesday, October 15
- Sabrina Carpenter (Girl Meets World) - Sabrina is a musical guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Jason Segel (Shrinking/How I Met Your Mother/Undeclared) - Jason appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Rachel Bloom (Reboot) and Jim Rash (Community/Help Me Help You/Thanks/Katie Joplin) - Rachel and Jim are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley talks about What I Ate in One Year (and Related Thoughts) on NBC's Today some time between 7-9am.
- Pamela Anderson (Stacked/Home Improvement) - Pamela talks about I Love You: Recipes from the Heart on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - NBC's Today catches up with Henry in the 10am hour. He also talks about his new children's book Detective Duck: The Case of the Missing Tadpole on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Kathy Bates (Disjointed) - Kathy talks about Matlock on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
- Melissa McCarthy (God's Favorite Idiot/Nobodies/Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) and Ben Falcone (God's Favorite Idiot/Nobodies/Joey) - Melissa and Ben are guests on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
- Gael GarcÃa Bernal (Mozart in the Jungle) - Gabriel and Diego Luna are telling Drew about their groundbreaking new show La Máquina, the first Spanish language original on Hulu, on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Alex Wolff (The Naked Brothers Band) - Alex tells Drews about his suspenseful campus drama The Line and opens up about having a famous sibling on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. He will also be onABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Tia Mowry (Family Reunion/The Game/Sister, Sister) - Tia talks about her new reality series Tia Mowry: My Next Act on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - The Ropers - The Complete Series (VEI)
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - Video Scrapbook
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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