Fri-Yay: Superstore's Christmas Special; This Is It! One Day at a Time Returns for 2nd Year

Friday, December 08, 2017

Fri-Yay: Superstore's Christmas Special; This Is It! One Day at a Time Returns for 2nd Year

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!

Superstore - Christmas Eve

by Vincent

Streaming television has brought us a lot of good things, like the ability to watch episodes whenever we want and a lack of (or at least less) commercials. But one thing that is a bit unfortunate is that, because shows are no longer bound to network schedules, there are less of the classic holiday specials we used to get every year for sitcoms. Sure, there are occasional treats like the Bojack Horseman Halloween episode, but I still really miss the episodes where everything feels just a little more festive coming every year, when you just felt a little more festive.

Thankfully, some sitcoms still put together great holiday episodes, and this year's Superstore Christmas episode "Christmas Eve" is no exception. Superstore is having a great season, filled with its characters going through dark times and truly finding out who it is they want to be. "Christmas Eve" continues that trend as Amy attempts to send off a tough year by challenging her wild past (when she was known as "Crazy Amy", or "Cra-my.") Things especially spiral out of control when Amy finds out her ex-husband Adam has already moved on with someone else. As you might imagine in a sitcom holiday episode, the entire gang comes together for Amy, and the episode ends in a truly heartwarming way - the way a sitcom Christmas episode should.

"Christmas Eve" made me yearn for the days when network TV Christmas specials were a regular occurrence. Sure, they were a little cheesier than most episodes, and maybe not always as funny, but there was something special about seeing your favorite characters get a little festive, and even the most cynical sitcoms seemed just a little bit sweeter in their Christmas episodes. Sure, streaming is great, but I'd like to see some more cable and streaming shows drop holiday specials on us a little more often than they do. Until then, we'll hopefully still have great Christmas episodes like "Christmas Eve" to bring us some holiday cheer.

One Day at a Time

This is it! One Day at a Time returns with its much-anticipated second season Friday, January 26, exclusively on Netflix! Watch Justina Machado, Rita Moreno and the rest of the One Day family announce the Season 2 premiere date and pay hilarious homage to the original series with a frame-for-frame recreation the opening credits HERE. Afterward, enjoy the original One Day at a Time title sequence HERE and marvel at just how exact this reenactment really is.

A reimagining of the iconic Norman Lear's classic sitcom, One Day at a Time is an hilarious and heartfelt comedy that follows three generations of a Cuban-American family navigating the ups and downs of life. A newly-single mom and military veteran journeys through the triumphs and tribulations that come with raising two strong-willed, mega-millennial children, all the while enlisting the "help" of her old-school mother and her building manager-turned-invaluable confidant. Through an contemporary lens, One Day at a Time offers a glimpse at what life looks like, in good times and bad -- and how those around you somehow make it all worthwhile.

One Day at a Time stars Justina Machado, Rita Moreno, Stephen Tobolowsky, Todd Grinnell, Isabella Gomez and Marcel Ruiz. Norman Lear executive produces, with Gloria Calderon Kellett and Mike Royce executive producing and co-showrunning. Michael Garcia and Brent Miller also executive produce. One Day at a Time is produced by Sony Television Productions for Netflix.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, April 14

The Goldbergs - "Who's Afraid of Bree Bea?" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
After realizing there may be trouble in lovers’ paradise for Erica and Geoff, Beverly involves herself in their relationship as well as Barry and Joanne’s to make sure everyone stays together. Meanwhile, Adam and Brea are cast opposite of each other in the school play, but their excitement for one another’s success grows dim when one starts to outshine the other onstage.

Home Economics - "Mermaid Taffeta Wedding Dress, $1,999" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The Hayworth family is invited to the wedding of longtime family friend Spags. When Connor enlists Tom’s help to write and re-write a wedding toast, things take an unexpected turn between the brothers. Sarah realizes Denise is upset they never had a real wedding, while Marina meticulously plans her drinking schedule for a night out without the kids.

The Conners - "Regrets, Rehabs and Realtors" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Dan encounters a surprise visitor who shares some unsolicited advice, leaving him feeling guilty. Meanwhile, Darlene welcomes a new employee to Wellman Plastics.

Call Your Mother - "The Prime of Miss Jean Raines" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Before Sharon leaves town, she and Jean decide to plan a trip to Vegas. Meanwhile, Celia and Freddie have a serious conversation about whether or not they want kids.

United States of Al - "Pilot" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Marine veteran Riley, home at last after serving in Afghanistan, is happily reunited with his friend Awalmir, who goes by Al, the interpreter with his unit, after a long struggle to get him a visa to travel to the United States from Afghanistan.

United States of Al - "Repair/Tarmim" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Al uses his skills as a translator to try and repair the tense relationship between Riley and his estranged wife, Vanessa. Also, Lizzie is heartbroken when she is at a party and loses her late fiancé’s dog tags.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 12)

Wednesday, April 14

Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Watch Terry on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Allison Janney (Mom/Mr. Sunshine) - Allison appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Mary Lynn Rajskub (How to Be a Gentleman/Veronica's Closet/The Larry Sanders Show) - Mary is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Margaret Cho (All-Americna Girl) - Margaret will be on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Topher Grace (Home Economics/That '70s Show) - Topher chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Dylan McDermott (No Activity/LA to Vegas) - Dylan appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Jonh Corbett (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/United States of Tara) - John talks about Rebel on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Jason Biggs (Outmatched/Mad Love/Drexell's Class) - Jason will be on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Kyra Sedgwick (Call Your Mother) - Kyra appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Emma Kenney (The Conners/Roseanne) - Emma talks about Shameless on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Nicole Byer (Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole talks about Netflix's Nailed It and TBS' Wipeout on Access Daily, so check your local listings.