Fri-Yay: Modern Family Announces Next Season Will Be Its Last; The Kominsky Method Gets Three Veterans for Season 2

Friday, February 08, 2019

Fri-Yay: Modern Family Announces Next Season Will Be Its Last; The Kominsky Method Gets Three Veterans for Season 2

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

The end of yet another sitcom has been announced - Modern Family was renewed for an 11th and final season this week on ABC, with confirmation that the 2019-2020 TV season will be the final one for the landmark family comedy. It's yet another announced ending in a year that is seeing a lot of veteran comedies announcing their end. Just this year alone, we have The Big Bang Theory, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Broad City, You're the Worst and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend coming to an end. Next year, we already have the confirmed ending for Modern Family. There's quite a lot of sitcoms coming to their close within the next year or so - confirming that it's the end of an era for TV comedy.

As the decade draws to a close, it's not particularly surprising to see shows bowing out, but it certainly serves as proof that things are going to begin changing for sitcoms. The loss will be particularly felt by the end of Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory, arguably the two biggest sitcoms on network TV for the better part of this decade. As these two huge shows begin to wind down, there's really nothing in the works that immediately suggests it'll be taking their place as the commercial center of the sitcom universe. There are other hit sitcoms, to be sure - ABC still has a solid roster of family comedies (though the rest of their slate is beginning to age as well), CBS has Big Bang spin-off Young Sheldon pulling in big numbers, and of course there's The Conners still doing quite well. But nothing has burst onto the scene quite as much as those two shows did at their peak. Perhaps as we move deeper into the streaming age, huge, landmark sitcoms like these two on broadcast television might become a thing of the past, and sitcoms will become more and more niche-orientated. Time will tell - but until then, enjoy this last year of Modern Family while you can.

Jane Seymoud, Jacqueline Bisset and Paul Reiser

Jane Seymour, Jacqueline Bisset & Paul Reiser join Michael Douglas & Alan Arkin in season 2 of The Kominsky Method. The trio of actors will be joining Douglas and Arkin in the second season as recurring guest stars in multiple episodes. Jane Seymour plays Madelyn, a seventy-something, well-to-do woman who Norman (Arkin) had a mad love affair with in the Sixties before he met his wife. Fifty years later, they meet and start again. Jacqueline Bisset plays Gabrielle, Mindy's (Sarah Baker) mom and Sandy's (Douglas) French ex-wife who delights in still being able to push the buttons of her ex-husband. Ans Paul Reiser plays Martin, a sixty-something high school teacher who gets romantically involved with Sandy's (Douglas) daughter, Mindy (Baker).

The sun isn't setting yet on the once famous Sandy Kominsky and his longtime agent Norman Newlander. Academy Award(R) Winners Michael Douglas (Kominsky) and Alan Arkin (Newlander) continue their journey as two friends tackling life's inevitable curveballs as they navigate their later years in Los Angeles, a city that values youth and beauty. Both comedic and emotional, The Kominsky Method is a half-hour single camera comedy created by 8-time Emmy Award Nominee Chuck Lorre. Lorre, Al Higgins and Michael Douglas executive produce the series which is produced by Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, April 9

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Stuffed Monkey and an Ex-Girlfriend" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When CeeCee loses her favorite toy, Mandy and Meemaw (Annie Potts) take it as an opportunity to make some money. Meanwhile, Connor contemplates revisiting an old relationship.

Ghosts - "Michael Jackson Goes to HR" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Trevor lands himself in trouble when an inappropriate gift to a co‑worker forces him into an HR meeting only Jay can handle. Meanwhile, Pete unintentionally sparks drama with Alberta after casually mentioning a surprise visit to his ex.

Animal Control - "Scaredy Cats and Card Sharks" (Fox, 9:02PM ET/PT)
When Frank and Daisy lose $5,000 in union funds, they try to win the money back by gambling; Shred and Patel cover the late-night shift at the precinct.

Going Dutch - "The Heart Locker" (Fox, 9:32PM ET/PT)
After throwing out his back, the Colonel is ordered to bed rest; the base is sent to sweep for landmines at a local farm, where Major Shah suddenly finds himself in serious danger when he steps on one.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 6)

Thursday, April 9

Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Catch Kerry on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Riz Ahmed (Bait) - Riz is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Nathan Lane (Mid-Century Modern/Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Arsenio Hall (Arsenio) - Arsenio is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Jim Parsons (Young Sheldon/The Big Bang Theory) - Jim appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Judy Reyes (Scrubs) - Judy talks about Scrubs and High Potential on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Dany Levy (Big Mistakes/Schitt's Creek) - Dan talks about Big Mistakes on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Felicity Huffman (Sports Night) - Felicity dishes on Doc on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle/The Louie Show), Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle) and Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair/Malcolm in the Middle/Help Me Help You) - Bryan, Frankie and Jane talk about Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
John C. Reilly (Moonbase 8) - NBC's Today has "Head or Tails" with John in the 9am hour.
Billy Magnussen (The Franchise/Made for Love) - NBC's Today catches up with Billy in the 9am hour.
Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Tamron Hall has a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE with Terry and Rebecca King-Crews revealing for the first time Rebecca's health battle, so check your local listings.
Kenya Barris (blackAF) - Kenya talks about Prime's Jerry West: The Logo on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Juliette Lewis (Camping/I Married Dora) - Juliette tells Drew about her current run in Broadway show The Rocky Horror Show on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.