Friday, July 06, 2018

Fri-Yay: GLOW Remains Delightful in Its 2nd Season; Ricky Gervais Gets After Life on Netflix

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!

GLOW

by Vincent

GLOW was one of the biggest delights of last summer, arriving in the doldrums of June to become one of the best and funniest shows of the year. With a stacked cast, an intriguing premise, excellent writing and lovable characters, it was the type of show I binged through immediately, wanting more. Now, a year later, I've finally gotten more - and it doesn't disappoint. Season 2 of GLOW is just as entertaining, fun to watch and genuinely great as the first season, and deepens its characters and world in excellent ways.

GLOW comes from the creator of Orange is the New Black, Jenji Kohan. That was obvious from the very first episode, as the show has a diverse group of female characters from very different backgrounds. But I felt the Orange connection even more strongly in Season 2, as the show delves into the backstory and personal lives of its characters even more than it did in Season 1. We really see these women for who they are beyond their stereotypical G.L.O.W characters, and it makes the show's world all the more rich and inviting. Add that to the fact that the show has largely figured out its comic rhythm, and you have an excellent, consistently strong season of television.

There are a couple of faults I found with the second season of the show - the first season was tightly structured around the filming of the G.L.O.W pilot and length everyone goes to in order to make sure it works. The second season loses a little bit of that structure by shifting to covering the show week-to-week, although in a way, that loose structure is what allows it to delve more deeply into its characters. The other major criticism I had of the season was that it focused a bit too much on Marc Maron's Sam and not enough on the ladies of GLOW, who are all incredibly interesting and deserve to be more of the center of attention. Maron is great as Sam, but his character is kind of prickly and not super likable, and not someone I've found myself sympathizing with very often. On the other hand, the women of GLOW, even when they're being unlikable, still find a way to work their way into your hearts. If GLOW gets a third season (and it seems to be do well for Netflix at least judging by the buzz around it that I've seen), I'd like to see the focus dialed even more on the cast and less on the male producers. But that's a minor gripe with an overall excellent season of television, and a great choice for summer TV marathoning.


Ricky Gervais - After Life

Casting is confirmed on After Life, the new Netflix original comedy series from Ricky Gervais. Production is also underway on After Life, a Netflix original series from Creator, Executive Producer and Director, Ricky Gervais. The series stars Ricky Gervais alongside Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey, Doctor Who), David Bradley (The Harry Potter series, Game of Thrones), Ashley Jensen (Extras), Tom Basden (Plebs, David Brent: Life On The Road), Tony Way (Edge of Tomorrow), David Earl (Cemetery Junction, Derek), Joe Wilkinson (Him and Her), Kerry Godliman (Derek), Mandeep Dhillon, Jo Hartley, Roisin Conaty and Diane Morgan (David Brent: Life On The Road). In the series, Tony (Ricky Gervais) had a perfect life. But after his wife Lisa suddenly dies, Tony changes. After contemplating taking his own life, he decides instead to live long enough to punish the world by saying and doing whatever he likes from now on. He thinks it's like a Super Power - not caring about himself or anyone else - but it turns out to be tricky when everyone is trying to save the nice guy they used to know. 6 episodes have been ordered, but no premiere date just yet. Stay tuned.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Saturday, September 6

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 1)

Friday, September 5

  • Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Watch Jesse on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Pete Davidson (Bupkis) - Pete appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Caitlin Reilly (Hacks) and Rickey Thompson (Foursome) - Caitlin and Rickey are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Charlie Sheen (Anger Management/Two and a Half Men) - Charlie discusses his new book The Book of Sheen on ABC's >Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Mariska Hargitay (Can't Hurry Love) - Mariska talks about My Mom Jayne on a repeat of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Ruby Cruz (The Sex Lives of College Girls) - Ruby talks about The Threesome on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Issa Rae (Insecure) - Issa talks about Seen & Heard on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Lamorne Morris (Woke/New Girl) - Drew is chatting with Emmy-winning Lamorne on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series 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)

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)

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

09/05 - Crutch Premieres November 3 on Paramount+; Trailer for Season 2 of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
09/04 - Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween 2025 Schedule; Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Cast
09/03 - Live Staged Reading of Three's Company Episode; Freeform Acquires According to Jim for October
09/02 - Hulu's Chad Powers Trailer; BET's The Hospital Premieres September 10
09/01 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2025 Include Archie Bunker's Place and George Lopez
08/31 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 1, 2025)
08/30 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Saturday Night Live Cast Changes Loom; NBC Renews Password for Third Season
08/29 - HBO's Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television; Adult Swim Slates Two Series for October
08/28 - NBC's Password Renewed for Season 3 for 2026; Pluto TV Streaming CBS Shows Ahead of Fall Season
08/27 - Hulu's Deli Boys Renewed for Season 2 with Fred Armisen; HBO's I Love LA Premieres November 2
08/26 - English Teacher Returns on FX for Season 2; Jesse Williams Prime Video Series Trailer
08/25 - Doc Season 2 Trailer for Fox; Remembering David Ketchum and Jerry Adler
08/24 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 25, 2025)
08/23 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Home Improvement Cast Members to Reunite on Shifting Gears; The Paper to Have Binge Drop
08/22 - Hulu's Futurama Season 13 Trailer; A Man on the Inside Returns November 20 on Netflix
08/21 - George Lopez Coming to COZI TV; The Morning Show Season 4 Trailer
08/20 - Welcome Back, Kotter 50th Anniversary Marathon on Rewind TV; Apple TV+ Palm Royale Season 2 Premieres November 12
08/19 - Antenna TV's Archie Bunker's Place Labor Day Marathon; Larry the Cable Guy Prime Video Special
08/18 - Nobody Wants This Season 2 Premieres October 23; HGTV and Retta Continue Partnership
08/17 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 18, 2025)
08/16 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount Plans Retool of Cable Networks; King of the Hill Revival Scores Big Ratings
08/15 - Catchy Comedy Acquires Hot in Cleveland; Netflix's Animated Comedy Strip Law Premieres in 2026
08/14 - Dan Levy's Netflix Comedy Series Cast; Betty la Fea: La Historia ContinĂșa Season 2 Premieres Friday
08/13 - Remembering Danielle Spencer of What's Happening!!; Trailer for Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building
08/12 - Netflix's Comedy Kiss or Die Premieres September 9; Lori Harvey Joins Reasonable Doubt
08/11 - Roku Originals Books a Return Trip with Season 2 Renewal of Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross; Netflix's Fixed Trailer
08/10 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 11, 2025)
08/09 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Trailer Released for The Paper; ABC Gives Pilot Order to Do You Want Kids?
08/08 - Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Season 2 Premieres September 12; The Paper Trailer for Peacock
08/07 - Special Forces: World's Toughest Test Season 4 Celebs; Sweetpea Season 2 Stars
08/06 - Molly Shannon Joins Will Ferrell Golf Comedy Series; Netflix's Season 2 of My Life with the Walter Boys
08/05 - Disney+ Musical Comedy Electric Bloom Premieres; NBC Renews American Ninja Warrior for Season 18