Fri-Yay: The Good Place - The Most Innovative Sitcom; Netflix Shoots Hoops with Jake Johnson

Friday, October 05, 2018

Fri-Yay: The Good Place - The Most Innovative Sitcom; Netflix Shoots Hoops with Jake Johnson

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!

by Vincent

Last Thursday, The Good Place returned for its third season. Once again, it completely flipped its premise. SPOILERS for The Good Place Season 3 ahead, so if you haven't gotten there, you might want to stop reading, but...basically, The Good Place Season 3, at least so far, seems to be about the four main characters being given a second chance on Earth. This is completely different than the second season premise (the core four finding out they're in The Bad Place and trying to get into The Good Place) and of course, the original premise, about a woman who thinks she's in The Good Place by mistake. It's hard to think of a show that's changed its premise as drastically in three seasons as The Good Place - and even harder to think of one that's done it so well. The show is still as fresh and excellent as ever, making its innovations and changes even more impressive, and even more exciting to watch.

So where does The Good Place go from here? It's impossible to say, but personally, I'm wondering if we're going to eventually address the morality of the way the afterlife and demons actually treat people. For a show about morals and ethics, it's interesting how morally gray the show's actual afterlife is! Given that the actual demons seem to be taking more of a center stage this season (if the way the show ended is any indication), I wouldn't be surprised if we start to dig into that question. Or maybe not. I've given up trying to predict where this show is going, because I'm always wrong - but hey, that's the beauty of The Good Place. It keeps you guessing and guessing every week.

Jake Johnson

Netflix has gotten yet another series. Now an animated comedy with Jake Johnson. Hoops centers around a hot-headed, foul-mouthed high school basketball coach who thinks turning around his God-awful team will take him to the "big leagues." Jake Johnson (New Girl, BoJack Horseman, Spider Man: Into the Spider-verse) will voice the character of Coach Ben Hopkins. Netflix has ordered ten half-hour episodes from Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Ben Hoffman, Phil Lord & Chris Miller (The Lego Movie), Seth Cohen and Jake Johnson. 20th Century Fox Television is producing.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, August 5

United We Fall - "My Favorite Marta" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Jo steps in as a role model for her teenage niece, Marta, much to her strict father Chuy’s dismay. Bill plays matchmaker for Sandy who, under the influence of post-colonoscopy drugs, inadvertently professes her love for her first husband, Dave.

The Goldbergs - "Schmoopie's Big Adventure" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mother and son have a bonding experience when Beverly buys a bicycle for Adam just like the one from “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,” while Barry and Erica turn Murray’s furniture store into an after-hours lounge for college students.

The Conners - "Live From Lanford" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mark is watching the results of the primary for a school report with Harris who is apathetic to the electoral process and believes money’s influence in politics means real change is impossible. The rest of the Conners share their differing takes on why they all think everyone should vote, including their working-class perspective that you may have to vote for a candidate you don’t love but one that will “screw you the least.” All of this happens against the backdrop of romance when Louise (guest star Katey Sagal) gets an opportunity that might send her away from Lanford, prompting the family to interfere in Dan’s (John Goodman) complicated relationship with her by throwing Louise a surprise going-away party, creating major new tensions between Dan and his daughters.

American Housewife - "Senior Prank" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Against Greg’s better judgment, Katie pushes Taylor to lighten up and participate in her school’s senior prank. Meanwhile, Anna-Kat asks Oliver to give Franklin (Evan O’Toole) a makeover so he won’t embarrass himself at a classmate’s party.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 3)

Wednesday, August 5

Jamie Foxx (The Jamie Foxx Show) - Watch Jamie on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Seth Rogen (Undeclared) - Seth is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Gillian Jacobs (Love/Community) - Gillian appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
David Tennant (Final Space) - David is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Karen Gillan (Selfie) - Karen appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Carpoolers) - Jerry is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 10pm on Bravo. He also talks about The Secret: Dare to Dream on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Steven Weber (Indebted/Cursed/Wings) - Steven appears on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
Rob Riggle (Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy/Golan the Insatiable) - Rob is a guest on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
Lecy Goranson (The Conners/Roseanne) - Lecy talks about the season finale of The Conners on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Cedric Yarbrough (Carol's Second Act/Speechless/Reno 911!) - Cedric talks about the return of Reno 911! on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.