Friday, February 22, 2019

Fri-Yay: The Other Two Is Our First Great New Comedy Series of 2019; Remembering Peter Tork of The Monkees, MeTV to Air Tribute on Sunday (Feb. 24)

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!

The Other Two

by Vincent

A few weeks ago, I talked briefly about The Other Two, a series that premiered on Comedy Central in January. The show is now five episodes into its debut season, so I wanted to look back at it and talk about all of the great stuff it's doing. Frankly, The Other Two is my pick for best new comedy series not just of 2019, but perhaps in several years. It gives me very similar feelings that shows like Broad City, BoJack Horseman and You're the Worst did when they premiered back in 2014 - this is a show that is fresh, new, and offers a great perspective, and could pave the way for the next era of great comedy.

The Other Two is a comedy centered around the two siblings of Chase Dreams, a viral teen sensation whose success stands in stark contrast to his older siblings. The show is funny, lively and has great performances from its entire cast, but it's also an interestingly structured series that's a little bit different than cable comedies of recent years. In some ways, The Other Two is more in line with a traditional sitcom than other recent Comedy Central series such as Corporate and the dearly departed Detroiters. It's not quite as visually inventive as Corporate, or as off-the-wall as Detroiters, going for a bit more of a broad audience. But that's part of what makes the show as special as it is.

The Other Two is going for strong relatability and familial situations that we can all look at and connect our own lives to. In some ways, The Other Two is a family sitcom through and through, and it certainly uses those beats often - and yet, its humor is very much in line with shows like Broad City or BoJack Horseman - self-deprecating, snarky, and creative. We've never really seen a series try to merge the world of a family sitcom with heartwarming values with the sardonic, edgy nature of a cable sitcom, and it's fascinating to see The Other Two straddling those two worlds so well. It's a series I'll definitely be keeping my eye on, and since the show has been a moderate ratings success that has already earned a second season, I'm interested to see if its influence will expand and set a tone for the next crop of cable comedies.


Peter Tork

Musician and actor Peter Tork, best known as the keyboardist and bass guitarist of The Monkees, has died. He died on February 21 at his home in Mansfield, Connecticut, from complications of adenoid cystic carcinoma. Mr. Tork was 77.

The Monkees were formed in Los Angeles in 1965 by Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider specifically for the sitcom The Monkees. Davy Jones had a long-term contract with Screen Gems to appear in television programs. He was shortlisted for the auditions and identified in advance as a potential star for the series. Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter ran an ad to cast the remainder of the band/cast members for the TV series on September 8-10, 1965. Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork were chosen out of 437 applicants. Tork was the last chosen and oldest member of the group.

The Monkees

The Monkees premiered on NBC on September 12, 1966. The series follows the adventures of four young men (The Monkees) trying to make a name for themselves as a rock 'n roll band. Tork played the lovable dummy, a persona he had developed as a folk singer in New York's Greenwich Village. Although the series ran for only 2 seasons (1966 to 1968) and 58 episodes, it remains hugely popular to this day. They received two Emmy Awards in 1967: Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy (James Frawley). Tork directed the episode Monkees Mind Their Manor in 1968.

The band was originally active from 1966 to 1971. They released six albums, four of which went to No. 1 on the Billboard chart. Some of their big hits included: (Theme From) The Monkees; Last Train to Clarksville; I'm a Believer; (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone; A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You; Pleasant Valley Sunday; Daydream Believer; and Valleri. In 1968, they appeared in the feature film Head. They appeared in the 1969 NBC TV special 33 1⁄3 Revolutions per Monkee. The band reunited in 1986 and toured intermittently with different lineups for a number of years. Tork, Dolenz and Jones appeared in The Brady Bunch Movie in 1995.

Peter Tork in Boy Meets World

Tork made guest appearances in several television series. He appeared as himself in a 1995 episode of Wings where he bids against Helen (Crystal Bernard) for the Monkeemobile. He played Topanga Lawrence's (Danielle Fishel) father, Jedidiah Lawrence, in two episodes of Boy Meets World in 1995. His other sitcom guest appearances included California Dreams and The King of Queens. He guest starred as Chris in two episodes of 7th Heaven in 1998 and 2001.

Mr. Tork was a man of many talents. It's sad that we've lost two of the four Monkees. We thank him for the great music and entertainment he brought us during his long career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our The Monkees message board. View photos in our galleries.

MeTV Remembering Peter Tork

MeTV Network pays tribute to the career of actor and musician Peter Tork with a special presentation of The Monkees airing on MeTV this Sunday, February 24, beginning at 5:00pm ET/PT through 6:00pm ET/PT.

Peter Tork will forever be remembered as the keyboardist and bass guitarist for The Monkees, the 60s pop/rock band that was formed specifically for the eponymous television show that originally aired from 1966 to 1968. Beloved for the TV show's comedy and music, The Monkees musical hits include I'm a Believer (featured in this MeTV tribute), Daydream Believer, Last Train to Clarksville and Pleasant Valley Sunday.

Tork got his start in the 1960s Greenwich Village folk music scene before landing the coveted role in the TV series that would bring him national stardom alongside fellow band members, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Davy Jones. Throughout the series, Tork would write some of their hit songs, including For Pete's Sake, used as the show's closing credits during the second season.

Tork's musical influence continued on even after the show, collaborating with George Harrison on his 1968 soundtrack album Wonderwall. In the late 1980s, The Monkees experienced a resurgence in popular culture and embarked on several reunion tours. After the 2012 death of Davy Jones, the surviving members released Good Times! in 2016 and earned their first Top 20 album in 25 years.

The schedule for MeTV's Tribute to Peter Tork includes:

Sunday, February 24, 2019 (All Times are Eastern/Pacific)

5:00- 5:30pm ET/PT - One Man Shy

A wealthy debutante hires the Monkees to play at her coming out party, where Peter falls instantly in love with her. The girl's rich suitor begins a campaign to show her what a bad boy Peter is and the Monkees reply with their own plot, to show what a fine person Peter is. Monkee music includes Valleri and I'm a Believer.

5:30- 6:00pm ET/PT - The Devil and Peter York

Based loosely on Stephen Vincent Benet's fantasy novel (and the Oscar-winning 1941 RKO movie it spawned) The Devil and Daniel Webster. At Mr. Zero's Pawn Shop, Peter falls in love with a golden harp. Learning Peter has no money, Zero produces a contract, which Peter signs. At the pad, Micky, Mike and Davy remind him that he can't play the harp and urge him to return it. Suddenly, Zero appears in a puff of smoke, and, at his command, Peter plays beautifully. Zero disappears and the boys are immediately booked into a harp act, which is an instant overnight success.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, September 11

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Some New York Nonsense" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Georgie struggles to balance life, work and family; Mandy worries for Georgie’s wellbeing; and Missy (Raegan Revord) gets into trouble at school.

Ghosts - "I Know What You Did Thirty-Seven Summers Ago" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Sam and Jay host a fundraiser for the mayor to earn a favor for Jay’s restaurant, they learn of his bizarre connection to one of Woodstone’s ghosts. Odessa Adlon returns as Stephanie, the ghost who died on her prom night.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 8)

Thursday, September 11

  • America Ferrera (Superstore) - Catch America on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She also talks about The Bus on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Melissa Rauch (Night Court/The Big Bang Theory), Jessica St. Clair (Avenue 5/Playing House/Best Friends Forever/In the Motherhood) and Nico Santos (Superstore) - Melissa, Jessica and Nico are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Rainn Wilson (The Office) - Rainn appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
  • Meagan Good (Cousin Skeeter/Raising Dad) - Meagan and Jonathan Majors talk about their much-talked-about romance, wedding, and the story behind their new fitness brand on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Zosia Mamet (Laid/Girls) - Zosia talks about Does This Make Me Funny? on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Karen Pittman (And Just Like That...) - Karen talks about The Morning Show on CBS Mornings Plus in the 9am hour.
  • Patti LaBelle (Out All Night) - Patti talks about The Queens Tour on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Dylan Sprouse (The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody/Grace Under Fire) - Dylan discusses his film Under Fire on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, 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

09/11 - Remembering Polly Holliday of Alice and Flo; Prime Video's Overcompensating Renewed for Season 2
09/10 - Netflix Renews Leanne for Season 2; Hazbin Hotel Returns October 29
09/09 - HBO Comedy The Chair Company; Trailer for Disney's Vampirina: Teenage Vampire
09/08 - The Paper Renewed for Season 2, NYC Event on Tuesday; Final Season of Bel-Air
09/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 8, 2025)
09/06 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Shifting Gears Picked Up for Three Additional Episodes; The Paper Renewed for Season Two
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