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

Friday, September 29, 2017

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

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

by Vincent

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

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

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

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

Ghosted

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

by Pavan

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

Cast Details:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pilot Plot:

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

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

Analysis:

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

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

Conclusion:

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

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

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

Related Links:

Fox Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Ghosted Photo Gallery

Preview:

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, February 24

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Getting Lucky" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Calvin and Dave join Lamar (Kevin Pollack) on a road trip to the casino. Also, Tina and Gemma babysit Daphne while Marty desperately tries to spend time with Courtney alone. Series star Tichina Arnold directs this episode.

Poppa's House - "Slumber Party" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Poppa dodges an invitation to a family slumber party, Junior attempts to change his mind by making him jealous of everyone attending. Charo guest stars as herself. Wendy Raquel Robinson returns as Catherine. Geoffrey Owens returns as J.J.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 24)

Monday, February 24

Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - Watch Chris on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Drew Carey (The Drew Carey Show/The Good Life) - Drew appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Woody Harrelson (Cheers) - Woody stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Wendell Pierce (The Odd Couple/The Michael J. Fox Show/The Weber/The Brian Benben Show/The Gregory Hines Show) - Wendell appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He talks about the latest season of Raising Kanan on Starz on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Sam Waterston (Grace and Frankie) - Sam makes a special appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Christian Slater (Breaking In) - Christian is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Zosia Mamet (Laid/Girls) - Zosia appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) and Essence Atkins (Poppa's House/Marlon/Mr. Box Office/Are We There Yet?/Half & Half/Smart Guy/Under One Roof) - Tichina and Essence are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS. Tichina appers on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Jon Hamm (Grimsburg/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) - Jon appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11pm on Bravo.
Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
Kate Hudson (Running Point) - E! News has an interview with Kate at 11pm on E!.
Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) - NBC's Today catches up with Eric in the 9am hour.
Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons and Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood/The Last O.G./The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - CBS Mornings has CBS deals with Anthony and Cedric sometime between 7-9am.
Clifton Davis (Amen/That's My Mama) - Nancy Giles goes behind the scenes of CBS' new series Beyond the Gates with actors Clifton Davis, Tamara Tunie, Daphnée Duplaix and Karla Mosley on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Hank Azaria (The Simpsons/Brockmire/Free Agents/Herman's Head) - Hank chats with the hosts and performs with the EZ Street Band on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso) - Phil talks about the new season of Ted Lasso on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Halle Berry (Living Dolls) - Halle is hitting the headlines with Drew and Ross and opening up about finding love again on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. Then, Halle is opening up about her experience with menopause and the new platform Respin she made to help women through it.
Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer and Freddy Rodriguez chat about their podcast Dos Amigos on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.