Friday, October 19, 2018
Fri-Yay: New Sitcoms - What's Working and What's Not?; Brockmire Season 3 Brings Out the Stars
by Vincent
We're about a month into the new TV season, so it's about time we're getting a pretty good idea of what new sitcoms are taking off and what aren't quite yet. Of the crop, there are a few sitcoms that seem to have gotten out of the gate pretty well to a strong start. Those shows are The Neighborhood, The Cool Kids and The Conners. Expectations were not high for The Neighborhood, which received poor reviews and was given the tough task of leading off a night that hasn't done particularly well in the past few years. However, the show has maintained a consistently solid 1.2 in the 18-49 demo and seems to be attracted a consistent, steady amount of viewers. It isn't an out-of-the-gate smash, but it's exceeding expectations, and CBS is likely pleased with its performance. On another page, The Conners had sky high expectations that its premiere last night may not have quite matched - its premiere number was lower than any Roseanne number last year, but it was still the highest-rated broadcast on ABC so far this season by a comfortable margin, and one of the highest rated numbers on network TV in general (only the This Is Us season premiere bested it.) Even if it loses half of its audience, it would be a lock for another season. The Cool Kids has also enjoyed a strong lead-in from Last Man Standing, and is doing quite well for a Friday night series.
There are also some shows not doing so well. NBC's I Feel Bad, despite fairly positive reviews, hasn't managed to attract much of audience, falling to a measly 0.6 in its most recent airing. Similarly, Fox's Rel is not doing a good job of maintaining the solid and steady Animation Domination line-up, falling even further from them than The Last Man on Earth did last year (which was cancelled due to low ratings.) These are the sitcoms that are certainly on watch.
The jury is still out on some other shows, like CBS's Happy Together (it has hovered just around the 0.9 mark in the demo, which is OK but doesn't leave it much wiggle room) and ABC's The Kids Are Alright (which premiered well but also lost a lot of The Conners' audience.) In a few months, we'll check back to see how the race has changed - and who's still in it.
IFC announced details and guest stars for Season 3 of Brockmire, the critically acclaimed comedy series starring Hank Azaria as Jim Brockmire, the garrulous, recently-sober baseball announcer who's climbing his way back to the major leagues. Produced by Funny or Die, Brockmire is currently in production in Atlanta and will return to IFC in spring 2019 with eight all-new episodes. Returning stars include Amanda Peet as Jules, Brockmire's ex-girlfriend, Tyrel Jackson Williams as Charles, Brockmire's entrepreneurial best friend and Becky Ann Baker as Jean Brockmire, his weathered and tough-love older sister. New guest stars appearing in Brockmire Season 3 include (in alphabetical order):
· Former Kansas City Royals baseball player and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee George Brett and Emmy(R)-winning renowned sportscaster Bob Costas will both appear as themselves.
· Richard Kind (Red Oaks, Spin City) as Gus, Brockmire's new producer with questionable leadership skills.
· Tony Award(R) and Golden Globe(R)-winner Linda Lavin (Alice) as Lorraine, Brockmire's estranged mother.
· Tawny Newsome (The Carmichael Show) as Gabby, a NCAA Champion softball player and Brockmire's new partner in the announcing booth.
· Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope) as Shirley, Brockmire's no-nonsense Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor in Florida.
· Academy Award(R)-winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) as Matt "The Bat" Hardesty, a former baseball player turned sports announcer with a brash personality and loyal fan base in Florida.
· Christine Woods (Hello Ladies) as Maggie, a self-assured oncology nurse who enters Brockmire's life in an unexpected way.
Brockmire follows Jim Brockmire, a famed major league baseball announcer who suffered a notorious public breakdown after stumbling upon his wife's infidelity - a breakdown so bad that "Brutal Brockmire" became a viral internet meme. Season 1 began a decade later, as Brockmire looked to reclaim his career and reputation by calling games for the Morristown Frackers, an underdog minor league baseball team. Despite finding happiness in Morristown alongside his girlfriend/team owner Jules, Season 2 began with a newly-single Brockmire calling games in New Orleans and living with his co-dependent friend Charles... while fully indulging in the city's booze-riddled sins. When a drug-fueled night of partying with a stranger ends with a near-death experience, Brockmire realizes it's time to get sober once and for all. Season 3 takes place one year after his stint in rehab, with Brockmire doing play-by-play in the radio booth for the major leagues in central Florida while maintaining his brazen and narcissistic tendencies, despite actually being on the wagon. When an opportunity arises for Jim and his new co-host Gabby to take over as lead broadcasters in Oakland, he must fight to change his ever-present amorality.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Thursday, May 26
Young Sheldon - "The Grand Chancellor and a Den of Sin" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon battles President Hagemeyer’s (Wendie Malick) mysterious boss over the university’s science requirements. Also, Mary discovers that Georgie is working at Meemaw’s illegal gambling room.
United States of Al - "College / Pohantoon" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Al struggles with the college class he is taking, Riley takes it upon himself to speak to his professor. Also, Art’s confidence is shaken when he learns Lois (Rachel Bay Jones) used to be married to a professional football star.
Ghosts - "Ghostwriter" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Sasappis offers to help Sam complete the B&B website so they can start taking reservations, they butt heads over the creative direction. Also, Pete bonds with Jay over basketball until Jay makes a new living friend, and Flower attempts to be Pete’s new basketball buddy. Gregory Zaragoza, father of series regular Román Zaragoza, guest stars as Sasappis’ father, Naxasi.
B Positive - "" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A therapist and newly divorced dad is looking for a kidney donor when he runs into a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past who offers her own kidney.
Welcome to Flatch - "Pyramid Schemme" / "Merry Flatchmas" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Kelly accidentally gets involved in a green juice pyramid scheme; Father Joe helps Shrub get into college; Kelly's father puts her in charge of the Flatch Christmas celebration, and disaster ensues.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 23)
Thursday, May 26
- Rose Byrne (Physical) - Catch Rose on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Jon Hamm (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) - Jon appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie/New Girl/Burning Love/Players) - June will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Glen Powell (Scream Queens) - Glen appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Jennifer Aniston (Friends/Muddling Through/Ferris Bueller/Molloy) - Jennifer is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect/Suddenly Susan) - Sherri guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
- Jenna Fischer (The Office/Splitting Up Together) and Angela Kinsey (The Office/The Hotwives of Orlando) - Jenna and Angela talk about their new book, The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There, on People in 10 at 8am.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (February-May)
02/08 - Last Man Standing - The Complete Ninth Season
02/22 - Everybody Hates Chris - The Complete Series (2022 Release)
02/22 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (2022 Release)
03/08 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Season Eight
03/08 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
03/15 - Head of the Class - The Complete Fourth Season
03/15 - The Proud Family - The Complete Original Series - Anniversary Collection
03/22 - The Honeymooners Specials - The Complete Collection
03/29 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-5 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
03/29 - Young Rock - Season One
04/05 - Up All Night - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
04/26 - The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room for Daddy) - The Complete Fourth Season
04/26 - Jackie Gleason TV Treasures - 70th Anniversary Collection (including Honeymooners Rarities)
05/03 - No Activity - Season Three
05/31 - Becker - The Complete Series (2022 Release)
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