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
Monday, November 25
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Commitment" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Marty and Courtney prepare for Daphne’s christening. Meanwhile, Malcolm is dating someone new and Tina is delighted to meet her.
Poppa's House - "Disciplinarian" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Junior and Nina’s son begins acting out, Poppa doles out parenting advice. Also, Poppa suspects Dr. Ivy Reed may be flirting with him.
What We Do in the Shadows - "P.I. Undercover: New York" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Colin and Nadja have a couples' night with an old friend, while Nandor and Laszlo battle the film crew that have invaded their neighborhood.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 25)
Monday, November 25
- Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory/8 Simple Rules/Ladies Man) - Watch Kaley on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also talks about Based on a True Story on NBC's Today some time between 7-9am and in the 10am hour.
- John Krasinski (The Office) - John is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/The Ellen Show/Welcome to New York) - Jim stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Allison Tolman (St. Denis Medical/Downward Dog) - Allison appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Vinny Thomas (Platonic) - Vinny is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Matt Rogers (No Good Deed/I Love That for You/Our Cartoon President) - NBC's Today catches up with Matt in the 9am hour.
- Kylie Cantrall (Gabby Duran & the Unsittables) - Kylie discusses Disney's exciting Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
- Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is whipping up the perfect Thanksgiving side that's a must have for your table on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry tells Sherri about his latest children's book, Detective Duck: The Case of the Missing Tadpole, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Dwayne Johnson (Young Rock) - Dwayne talks about Moana 2 on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Christina Milian (Grandfathered) - Christina talks about Netflix's Meet Me Next Christmas on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Jasmine Guy (A Different World) - Jasmine talks about BET's A Wesley South African Christmas on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- T.R. Knight (Charlie Lawrence) - T.R. talks about The Merchant of Venice on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.
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 UHD)
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)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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