Friday, June 22, 2018

Fri-Yay: Shows to Catch Up on This Summer; The Conners Coming to ABC Tuesdays This Fall

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!

One Day at a Time

by Vincent

Summer has always been known as a slow time for the TV world, and although the advent of streaming has offset that somewhat, it still remains true in the broadcast and cable television world. When discussing TV sitcoms, there isn't a whole lot to look forward to if you've already finished the recent seasons of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Arrested Development. Granted, there are a few promising comedies debuting their new seasons this summer, which I'll get to in the coming weeks. But here's a list of shows that have been quietly killing it all year and are able to easily be streamed so you can catch up before they debut their new seasons in the fall or the winter.

One Day at a Time (Netflix original) - If you liked the way the Roseanne reboot focused on blue collar problems and economic struggles, then you need to check out the revamped One Day at a Time, which tackles many of the same issues flawlessly and without the baggage of Roseanne Barr's real-life persona. One Day at a Time re-imagines the 1970s sitcom for a 2010s audience, with a Cuban-American family at the helm. The performances of everyone in the cast, from veteran actors Rita Moreno and Justina Malachado to newcomer Isabella Gomez, kills it, and the show's portrayal of real struggles Americans face from financial struggles, mental illness and sexuality are portrayed incredibly.

Bob's Burgers (Fox, entire series available to stream on Hulu) - Bob's Burgers may be TV's most consistent series. Going into its ninth season, the tale of the Belchers has never missed a beat in being heartwarming, funny, and incredibly entertaining - it remains just as strong now as it was in its peak. Rumor has it that a movie is in the works for the series, so now is a good time to catch up with all of the show's delightful antics. But you don't even need that as an excuse - I guarantee this show's spunky sense of humor and big heart will brighten your day, and it's perfect for a summer afternoon binge session.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix original) - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt hasn't always been the most consistent series, but its heights have been fantastic, and the show's recent fourth season (or first half of it, anyway) may be the show's finest yet. Kimmy Schmidt deals with some dark subject matter but never feels overbearing, and manages to treat its characters rather serious trials and tribulations with the respect they deserve.

The Good Place (NBC, Season 1 available on Netflix, Season 2 coming soon) - The Good Place is my personal pick for best show on TV right now. It's funny, thoughtful and suspenseful - it satisfies every TV itch, from incredibly stories to amazing jokes to top-notch acting and writing. The show is entering its third season on NBC, and its pitch-perfect and surprising first season is available to binge on Netflix. The wildly inventive and original second season should also be available soon, so you'll have the opportunity to join the conversation when the series returns this fall.

Detroiters (available to stream via Comedy Central's website) - I'll write more in depth about the series next week, but Comedy Central's Detroiters is one of the most underrated shows on TV right now. Its outlandish sense of humor is weird, wild and funny and kind of unlike anything I've seen on TV before. The second season premiered this week, but you owe it to yourself to catch up with the first season, which had some of the most left-field jokes I've ever seen on a TV show before.


Sara Gilbert and John Goodman

The Conners (working title), a spinoff of the groundbreaking family comedy Roseanne, has been greenlit to series with an order of 10 episodes for fall 2018. After a sudden turn of events, the Conners are forced to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before. This iconic family - Dan, Jackie, Darlene, Becky and D.J. - grapples with parenthood, dating, an unexpected pregnancy, financial pressures, aging and in-laws in working-class America. Through it all, the fights, the coupon cutting, the hand-me-downs, the breakdowns - with love, humor and perseverance, the family prevails. The series, featuring John Goodman ("Dan"), Laurie Metcalf ("Jackie"), Sara Gilbert ("Darlene"), Lecy Goranson ("Becky") and Michael Fishman ("D.J.") as their beloved Conner characters, is set to air Tuesdays from 8:00-8:30 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Additional cast members and a premiere date will be announced later. Roseanne Barr will have no financial or creative involvement in the new series.

Tom Werner will executive produce, along with Sara Gilbert, Bruce Helford, Dave Caplan, Bruce Rasmussen and Tony Hernandez. Bruce Helford, Dave Caplan and Bruce Rasmussen are also writers. The series is from Tom Werner and Werner Entertainment. When ABC announced that they were canceling Roseanne thanks to Roseanne Barr's cruel comments, we suggested that they kill her off and retitle the series...and it looks like that is what is happening! The Hogan Family all over again?


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, November 27

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 24)

Thursday, November 27

  • Rhea Seehorn (Whitney/I'm with Her) - Catch Rhea on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Brie Larson (United States of Tara/Raising Dad) - Brie talks about Party People: A Cookbook for Creative Celebrations with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Ego Nwodim (Mr. Throwback) - Ego talks about life after Saturday Night Live and her new podcast Thanks Dad on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is sharing fast and frugal meals that anyone can make at home on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Melissa Joan Hart (Baby Daddy/Sabrina the Teenage Witch/Clarissa Explains It All) - Melissa is a guest on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

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) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

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)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season

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

11/27 - 2025 Thanksgiving TV Marathons
11/26 - ABC's Scrubs First Teaser During Dancing with the Stars Finale; Eva Green Joins Wednesday Season 3
11/25 - COZI TV Acquires Malcolm & Eddie and The Steve Harvey Show; 53rd International Emmy® Awards Winners
11/24 - Antenna TV's All-You-Can Eat Wings for Thanksgiving Marathon; Rewind TV's Serving Up the Seavers with a Thanksgiving Day Growing Pains Marathon
11/23 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 24, 2025)
11/22 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Disney+ Offers New Simpsons Streaming Channel; Final Eight Unaired Episodes of Joey on YouTube
11/21 - HBO Renews Comedies The Chair Company and I Love LA; Kelly and Mark to Host International Emmy® Awards
11/20 - The CW Midseason 2026 Schedule; Sarah Sherman HBO Max Special
11/19 - Tubi's Comedy Mo' Waffles Premieres December 19; 78th Emmy® Awards Set for September 14, 2026
11/18 - CBS Midseason 2026 Schedule; SNL Closes Out 2025 with 3 Episodes in December
11/17 - NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center Lineup; Prime Video Gets Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson for Sports Talk Show
11/16 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 17, 2025)
11/15 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Orders Pilot From Brooklyn Nine-Nine Team; FX Cancels English Teacher
11/14 - Disney's Hulu's Family Guy's Hallmark Channel's Lifetime's Familiar Holiday Movie; Mad Men Coming to HBO Max in 4K
11/13 - Antenna TV Re-Acquires One Day at a Time and Sanford and Son; Season 2 of the Wild Series It's Florida, Man
11/12 - Fox Midseason 2026 Schedule; Hulu's Tell Me Lies Season 3 Premiere Date
11/11 - Cast Announced for Netflix's A Different World Sequel; Hulu's Sebastian Maniscalco Special Trailer
11/10 - ABC's New Game Show The Greatest Average American; Prime Video Christmas Movie
11/09 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 10, 2025)
11/08 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox and Sony Developing Reimagined Bewitched; Samsung TV Plus Launching AFV Channel
11/07 - TBS and TNT Holiday Schedule; Hulu's Back 'Four' More Reasonable Doubt; Remembering Diane Ladd of Alice
11/06 - Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas 2025 Schedule; Single Drunk Female Star Gets Hulu Film
11/05 - ABC 2025 Holiday Specials; Netflix Renews Nobody Wants This for Season 3
11/04 - Fox's Best Medicine Premieres January 2026; Final Season of Bel-Air Trailer
11/03 - Apple TV Holiday Schedule; Another Week and Dancing with the Stars Rises Again
11/02 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 3, 2025)
11/01 - SitcomsOnline Digest: King of the Hill Renewed for Two More Seasons on Hulu; MTV Cancels Ridiculousness
10/31 - Hulu Renews King of the Hill for Seasons 16 and 17; FX Renews Adults for Season 2; Remembering June Lockhart
10/30 - ABC's The Golden Girls 40th Anniversary Special on November 11; NBC 2025 Holiday Specials
10/29 - ABC Midseason 2026 Schedule; Hulu Renews Only Murders in the Building for Season 6, Now in London
10/28 - Hulu Debuts Trailer for Original Holiday Film; Sidelined Returns for Sequel on Tubi
10/27 - Netflix Grabs Victorious Spinoff Hollywood Arts; Dancing with the Stars Up for 5th Straight Week