Friday, September 21, 2018
Fri-Yay: BoJack Horseman is as Delightfully Sad as Ever in Season 5; The Guest Book Returns Oct. 23 on TBS with More Guests
by Vincent
BoJack Horseman premiered its 5th season this past Friday on Netflix. If you've read anything I've written about the show in the past, you'll know that I'm a giant fan of the series, and feel it's consistently been both one of the funniest and most emotionally devastating shows on television. The show's balance of comedy and heart-wrenching drama has been incredible in its first four seasons, and that continues in a big way in its fifth season. The show hasn't missed a beat, and if anything, may be even deeper and darker in its brilliant fifth season.
BoJack has always somewhat used current events to guide its storylines (there have been prominent episodes about hot topics like abortion and sexual assault) and Season 5 is heavily influenced by the recent #MeToo movement. It makes absolute sense for BoJack to cover the topic, of course - after all, it takes place in Hollywood, and BoJack is someone with a shady past in regards to the topic of respecting women and sexual assault. (I won't spoil anything, but obviously, anyone who has seen any episode of BoJack knows he has done some horrible things over the course of the series.) This season of BoJack is one of the first expressions on the #MeToo movement, and frankly, it's hard for me to imagine any show doing much better. The show does an excellent job of posing difficult questions about redemption, forgiveness, and how much we should be willing to both tear people apart as well as forgive them for their misdeeds. As usual, BoJack presents complex shades of grey in this situation and offers gut-wrenching moments as well as big laughs. I feel like I say this almost every year, but...BoJack Horseman may quite honestly just be the very best show on TV. It's funny when it needs to be, and often gives me some huge laughs, but it's also deep and affecting, and has managed to craft characters I truly care about...even if a lot of the things they do make me wince. Sometimes, I have to even refrain from watching an episode because it's just...too much. But that's what makes it so great, and for BoJack Horseman, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Greg Garcia's anthology comedy series The Guest Book, which premiered as 2017's #1 new cable comedy, returns to TBS on Tuesday, October 23 at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) with back-to-back new episodes. Subsequent episodes will air on Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT). As planned with every new season of The Guest Book, season two features a new town, new series regulars, and new guest stars. In the small oceanside community of Mabel Beach, vacationers who stay at the Bare Feet Retreat record their confessions, alibis, and farewells in the cottage's guest book. They are hosted by town locals Bodhi, Nikki and Tommy, played by series regulars Jimmy Tatro (American Vandal), Kimiko Glenn (Orange Is the New Black), and Dan Beirne (Fargo).
Tommy and Nikki are a couple that manage Emmy Lou's Grill and Bare Feet Retreat. Bodhi is a handyman who often helps out at the grill and vacation home. Previously announced series regulars Carly Jibson (One Mississippi) and Eddie Steeples (My Name Is Earl) also star in season two. Jibson returns as Vivian, the scheming bikini bar owner, who accompanies Eddie (played by Eddie Steeples) from Mount Trace to the beach in search of a fresh start. Each episode of the season will feature different guest stars. Season two's stellar lineup of guest stars includes Pete Davidson (SNL), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Michael Kenneth Williams (The Wire), Matt Walsh (Veep), Lisa Rinna (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), Martha Plimpton (The Real O'Neals), Nat Faxon (Friends from College), Michael Rapaport (Atypical), Steve Zissis (Togetherness), Allison Tolman (Fargo), Oliver Hudson (Splitting Up Together), Sufe Bradshaw (Veep), Nadine Velazquez (My Name is Earl), Darrell Britt-Gibson (Barry), Adhir Kalyan (I Love Dick), Joey 'Coco' Diaz (I'm Dying Up Here), Matthew Moy (2 Broke Girls), Michael Cassidy (People of Earth), Kether Donohue (You're the Worst), Lexi Ainsworth (General Hospital), and Jon Bass (Miracle Workers), as well as Garret Dillahunt, Kellie Martin, Aloma Wright, Charlie Robinson, Lou Wilson, and Tipper Newton from season one of the series.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, October 30
Abbott Elementary - "Costume Contest" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
It’s Halloween at Abbott Elementary! Janine and Gregory proudly show off their couple’s costume, but it fails to translate. Meanwhile, Barbara faces pushback from parents concerned about hygiene and her beloved apple-bobbing tradition.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Saved by the Spell" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
On her first day of school, Billie uses magic to impress Roman's best friend; when a jealous Roman steals Billie's wand, he falls into the grasp of a wizard-hunting phantomus.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - "Something Wizard This Way Comes" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
On Halloween, Billie tells Roman about Pumpkin Belly, a ghoul who eats anyone whose house isn't spookily decorated; Justin, Milo and Giada defend the home from pranksters.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 28)
Wednesday, October 30
- Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Watch Sheryl on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Salma appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Kieran Culkin (Solar Opposites/Go Fish) - Kieran is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Emily Osment (Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage/Young Sheldon/Young & Hungry/Hannah Montana), Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) and Vinny Thomas (Platonic) - Emily, Tien and Vinny are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
- Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Keri talks about The Diplomat on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty talks about improvising scenes on the hit show The Bear and how he started his career in restaurants on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Anna Kendrick (Love Life) - Anna is chatting with Drew about directing her first film Woman of the Hour, the crazy serial killer case the movie is based on, finding boundaries in her life, turning 40 and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - Mayan discusses her sitcom Lopez vs Lopez on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Blair Underwood (Fatherhood/The New Adventures of Old Christine) - Blair is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
- Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows/Retired at 35/Stacked) - Marissa appears on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:05am.
- Melissa Peterman (Happy's Place/Young Sheldon/Baby Daddy/Working Class/Reba) - Melissa talks about NBC's Happy's Place on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
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 Ultra HD)
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)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (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