Friday, February 23, 2018
Fri-Yay: What Show Could Use a Revival?; Trial & Error Adds Kristin Chenoweth for Season 2
by Vincent
With revival fever sweeping the networks, I figured I'd take this week's column to think about what shows I think could use a revival. Honestly, for the most part I don't think that most shows really need a revival, but there are certain sitcoms that I've been yearning for more, either because they were taken off the air too soon or just because I think they could work in today's TV climate. A few of those shows are:
Happy Endings - If there's one show I would genuinely love to see come back, it's this one. This was such a smart, rapid-fire and genuinely funny show with an immensely talented cast that deserved more than the three seasons it got on ABC. Its run as it is now is nearly perfect, and it's possible additional seasons would ruin that perfect track record (I'm looking at you, Arrested Development Season 4) but honestly? I don't care. If there's a chance for anything as non-stop hilarious as the first three seasons, I'm willing to take that risk.
Cheers - Cheers is one show whose premise could essentially be recycled over and over again - a bunch of people hang out at a bar. While it's pretty unlikely that the original cast could be reunited in any form, I think a Cheers: The Next Generation or something could actually work. What does the bar look like in the 2010s? What kind of people frequent it? Most revivals have featured the same cast members, but arguably the best one - One Day at a Time - has rebooted the concept entirely. I think this could really work with Cheers.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - It's pretty unlikely that Will Smith would ever consider this, but it'd be interesting to see a Fresh Prince where Will becomes something similar to what he is in real life, and takes on a streetwise kid the way his Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivan did when he was just starting. Essentially, it could be like Fuller House done right. (Unfortunately, it'd have to be without James Avery, who passed away a few years ago.)
Bewitched - A modern Bewitched could be genuinely kind of interesting, which is probably why there was a movie done in a similar vein in the 2000s. The movie, though, never took its concept seriously enough. Bewitched was, at times, a somewhat sly commentary on gender roles in the 1960s, so I'd be curious to see what it could do with modern topics like feminism and gender equality - of course, dressed up in a sparkly magic spell.
All in all, I'd rather see networks come up with original content rather than sputtering out endless remakes. But if they had to remake some of these shows, I wouldn't complain, as long as they were done right.
Did she or didn't she? Multi-talented Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth has been cast as Lavinia Peck-Foster in the second season of NBC's irreverent comedy series Trial & Error. Who is Lavinia Peck-Foster? The first lady of East Peck is a larger-than-life grand dame - at least in her own mind. She is an eccentric heiress known for her flamboyant outfits, large hats and hairless cat, Fluffy, who has not left the confines of Peck Gardens in ages. Lavinia calls on Josh Segal and Associates - the team that got off Owl Murderer Larry Henderson - to defend her after she was found with her husband, Edgar, stuffed into a suitcase in the back of her car. The premiere for the second season of Trial & Error will be announced at a later date, with 10 episodes ordered. The series stars John Lithgow, Nicholas D'Agosto, Sherri Shepherd, Jayma Mays, Steven Boyer and Krysta Rodriguez.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Tuesday, October 20
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "The Status Quo" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Standing at a crossroads, Philip grapples with fear, revenge, and courage; with support from his community and justice within reach, he begins reclaiming his voice while danger still looms.
The Ms. Pat Show - "Nobody's Star" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Pat battles insecurity, Denise scrambles to hide her secret plus-one at Pat's big movie premiere, Janelle needs advice from Junebug and Terry seeks answers from his long-lost aunt.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 19)
Tuesday, October 20
- Amy Schumer (Life & Beth) Catch Amy on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Quinta appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Owen Thiele (Adults/Overcompensating/Dollface) - Owen is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Natasha Leggero (Broke/Dice/Another Period/Free Agents) and Jimmie Walker (Good Times/At Ease/Bustin' Loose) - Natasha and Jimmie will be on a repeat of Funny You Should Ask at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Jane Leeves (Hot in Cleveland/Frasier/Throb) - Jane talks about Daphne & Me: My Life on Frasier (And a Bit More) on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Connie Britton (Phony/SMILF/Lost at Home/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Spin City) and Sam Nivola (Phony) - Connie and Sam talk about Phony on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA3 at 1pm. Connie will also be on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Debi Mazar (The Pentaverate/Younger/Entourage/Working) and Romeo Miller (Romeo!) - Debi and Romeo talk about The Mob on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Katt Williams (The Tracy Morgan Show/My Wife and Kids) - Katt talks about Nine Lives, No Wives, and 69 Concubines on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Holland Taylor (Brothers/Two and a Half Men/The Naked Truth/The Powers That Be/Bosom Buddies) - Holland tells Drew about starring the hit new show Brothers on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Kathleen Munroe (Call Me Fitz) - Kathleen is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York.
- Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - Chris talks about The Terminal List on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 9am hour.
- Jackie Tohn (Nobody Wants This/GLOW) - Jackie talks about Nobody Wants This on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/20/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete 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










Contact Us