Friday, September 01, 2017

Fri-Yay: Returning Fall Sitcoms; The 2017 NBC Primetime Preview

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!

Supeerstore

by Vincent

It's been a long summer for sitcom fans. Granted, summer isn't as desolate as it used to be, and we had great shows like Insecure and Rick & Morty to entertain us over the hot summer days, but it'll still be a relief when the fall season arrives and we have a handful of our favorite shows back. Here's a short list of returning shows that I'm particularly excited about this fall that I'd recommend catching up on if you haven't checked them out yet! If you're planning on watching any of these shows but haven't yet, be warned there may be mild spoilers for some of them below.

You're the Worst - This sardonic romantic comedy series returns for its fourth season on September 6. You're the Worst has done an excellent job through-out its three seasons of taking down romantic comedy tropes and satirizing them while still keeping us invested in in its highly flawed lead couple. The show's fourth season will supposedly revolve around the couple's break up and aftermath, so it should be interested to see how the series deals with common break-up tropes and applies them to its zany world.

Bojack Horseman - This dark animated comedy returns with its entire fourth season on Netflix on Friday, September 8. Bojack Horseman has been one of TV's consistently funniest and most engaging comedies (it was actually my #1 favorite show of 2016), so I'm incredibly eager to see the show's latest batch of episodes. The third season ended on a heartbreaking note, with BoJack losing his former TV co-star Sarah Lynn and alienating nearly all of his friends and colleagues. Given how deep the show has gotten with BoJack's loneliness before, and how it still manages to weave in fun and silly jokes and gags about its strange human-animal world, the fourth season should certainly prove to be a hilarious and heartbreaking ride.

The Good Place - Last season, The Good Place became one of the most successful and funniest high-concept network TV sitcoms in years, revolving around a woman named Eleanor who has died and accidentally been sent to heaven (or "the good place") when she really belongs in hell ("the bad place."). The show then created a warm and winning portrayal of the afterlife with a Parks and Rec-ian array of supporting characters (it was created by Mike Schur, who also created Parks and Rec), but what really made The Good Place especially special was the way it weaved an intricate, well thought out plot-line that consistently bended and turned in unexpected ways, the likes of which haven't been seen on network TV since LOST. The show returns on September 20, and while I won't spoil the first season's final twist, let's just say I've been eagerly anticipating the show's next move since the moment it ended its season.

Superstore - The Good Place's timeslot companion Superstore may not be quite as high-concept, but its low-concept workplace vibe has quietly become one of TV's most consistently rewarding half-hours. Superstore picks right up where previous NBC workplace comedies like The Office and 30 Rock left off in creating a warm and funny world of characters with their own quirks and personalities that clash in interesting ways. Season 2 saw the show experimenting with relationships and character pairings in ways that paid off really well emotionally, so the show's third season should hopefully pick up right where it left off - although if you've seen the second season finale, you know that might be easier said than done given the events that went down.

"ABC Funny" sitcoms - It's hard to spotlight just one ABC family sitcom that deserves your attention, because nearly all of them have been doing great work, from the constant boundary pushing and racial examinations of black-ish to the combination of refreshing immigrant stories with surreal humor of Fresh Off the Boat to the always heartfelt and interesting look into lower middle class life on The Middle. The Middle in particular is a show I'll be really interested in watching this year, as the series is finally coming to an end after nine consistently strong seasons. But at this point, ABC can basically do no wrong with their family sitcoms - sure, maybe Modern Family is getting a little long in the tooth, but ABC has really crafted together a line-up for the ages over its now two nights of family-friendly comedy.


NBC is unwrapping its fall lineup with The 2017 NBC Primetime Preview, which will be hosted by the cast of Great News and includes a special appearance by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey. The half-hour show will begin its run on Sept. 1 and continue through Oct. 8. It is expected to air more than 300 times across a wide horizon of NBCUniversal media platforms and on over 240 participating NBC broadcast affiliates and owned television stations. In addition, the special will run on many stations' D2 channels, NBCU cable channels, NBC.com, station websites and social media pages, as well as sales and marketing events across the country.

NBC

The 2017 NBC Primetime Preview will take a peek at the network's new fall offerings, including the return of the landmark comedy series Will & Grace (premiering Sept. 28 at 9 p.m.), producer Dick Wolf's event series Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders (premiering Sept. 26 at 10 p.m.) and the powerful new drama The Brave (premiering Sept. 25 at 10 p.m.), which focuses on America's elite undercover military heroes. Other series to be featured in the special include last season's #1 new series, This Is Us, which earned 10 Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series; The Voice, featuring coaches Jennifer Hudson, Miley Cyrus, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton for the upcoming season; Superstore, the popular workplace comedy entering its third season; The Good Place, one of last season's most critically acclaimed new comedies; Great News, the hot second-year comedy from executive producers Tracey Wigfield, Tina Fey and Robert Carlock; and Sunday Night Football, the #1-rated show on broadcast television.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, August 8

Happy's Place - "Don't Sweat It" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bobbie asks Isabella to move in with her, but when Isabella sees that Bobbie likes to address conflict head on, Isabella decides it might not be the best idea.

Happy's Place - "Dear Jack" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Bobbie catches Isabella doing a slow-fade breakup with her long-distance boyfriend, she convinces her to send a Dear John letter; Steve brings in a review praising Chef Emmett's cooking and acknowledging the tavern's bartender, "Abby."

Electric Bloom - "How It All Came Out in the Wash" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Jade and Posey experience opposite feelings about their first crushes. Meanwhile, Tulip discovers an exciting new talent.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 4)

Friday, August 8

  • Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Renée Rapp (The Sex Lives of College Girls) - Renée appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Pamela Anderson (Stacked/Home Improvement) - Pamela is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Marc Maron (GLOW/Maron) - Marc appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Gillian Jacobs (Love/Community) and Paul F. Tompkins (The Great North/BoJack Horseman/DAG) - Gillian and Paul are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Steve Buscemi (Miracle Workers) - Steve talks about Wednesday on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Kelsey Grammer (Frasier/Partners/Hank/Back to You/Cheers) - Kelsey talks about his book Karen: A Brother Remembers on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Katie Lowes (How We Roll) - Katie is a guest on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • The Jonas Brothers (Jonas/Jonas LA) - The Jonas Brothers perform in the Citi Concert Series on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • Christopher Lloyd (Taxi/Stacked) - NBC's Today catches up with Christopher in the 9am hour.
  • Matt Rogers (No Good Deed/I Love That for You) - Matt co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Tony Hale (Veep/Arrested Development) - Tony talks about Sketch on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Oliver Hudson (Splitting Up Together/Rules of Engagement/My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star) - Oliver is a guest on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie appears on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) - Jack talks about HGTV's Zillow Gone Wild on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (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)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

08/08 - Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Season 2 Premieres September 12; The Paper Trailer for Peacock
08/07 - Special Forces: World's Toughest Test Season 4 Celebs; Sweetpea Season 2 Stars
08/06 - Molly Shannon Joins Will Ferrell Golf Comedy Series; Netflix's Season 2 of My Life with the Walter Boys
08/05 - Disney+ Musical Comedy Electric Bloom Premieres; NBC Renews American Ninja Warrior for Season 18
08/04 - Remembering Loni Anderson of WKRP in Cincinnati; And Just Like That... to End After 3 Seasons
08/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 4, 2025)
08/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Family Guy Specials Coming to Hulu; Jimmy Kimmel Rooting for Emmy for Stephen Colbert
08/01 - Long Story Short Gets Season 2 Ahead of Premiere; Netflix's Wayward Premieres September 25
07/31 - Solar Opposites Final Season on Hulu; Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical
07/30 - FETV Acquires The Jeffersons, Uncut; BET+ Comedy Churchy Returns August 21, BET Greenlights Sketch Comedy Series
07/29 - NBC Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; Fox Fall 2025 Premiere Dates
07/28 - Events Planned for The Golden Girls 40th Anniversary; Family Guy Holiday Specials Return to Hulu
07/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 28, 2025)
07/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount/Skydance Merger Approved; CBS Orders New Comedy From Producers of Ghosts
07/25 - TV One Honors Malcolm-Jamal Warner; Comedy Central Season 3 of Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head; Remembering Kenneth Washington of Hogan's Heroes
07/24 - Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Premieres September 9; Apple TV+ Stick Renewed for Season 2
07/23 - Apple TV+ Ted Lasso Season 4 Details; NBC Orders Stumble to Series
07/22 - Remembering Malcolm-Jamal Warner of The Cosby Show and Malcolm & Eddie; Futurama Season 13 Drops September 15
07/21 - Hallmark Channel Acquires Gilmore Girls; Freida Pinto to Star in Netflix Series
07/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 21, 2025)
07/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Cancels The Late Show; Gilmore Girls Headed to Hallmark
07/18 - ABC Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to End in May 2026
07/17 - Netflix's Geek Girl Season 2 Starts Production; The CW Picks Up Sullivan's Crossing for Season 4
07/16 - Antenna TV's Still Dreaming of Jeannie 60th Anniversary Marathon; 77th Primetime Emmy Nominations
07/15 - Shark Tank Season 17 Guest Sharks; Tubi YA Comedy Film with Paris Berelc
07/14 - CBS Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; HBO and Larry David Team Up Again
07/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 14, 2025)
07/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Reboot Headed to ABC; New King of the Hill Trailer Released
07/11 - The Office Spinoff The Paper Premieres September 4; Upload Season 4 Returns August 25
07/10 - The Big Bang Theory's Stuart Spinoff Ordered by HBO Max; Long Story Short Premieres August 22 on Netflix
07/09 - New Girl Summer on Hulu; Vir Das Gets Brand New Netflix Special
07/08 - Tubi Comedy Series Demascus Premieres in August; LEGO Masters Jr. Lines Up Celebs for 4-Week Event