Fri-Yay: The Return of Superstore; Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition Premieres April 21

Friday, March 08, 2019

Fri-Yay: The Return of Superstore; Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition Premieres April 21

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

This week, Superstore returns to the NBC Thursday line-up after a long hiatus. I've talked about this show a lot, but I just wanted to once again give a shout-out to what I believe is the best comedy series on television right now. Superstore is a seriously thoughtful sitcom in the midst of another excellent season, and it frankly deserves way more attention that it's currently getting.

So what makes Superstore so good? What I really love about the series is the way it grounds itself in the world of Cloud 9, and the way it has populated that world in a way that is ripe with thoughtful characterization and a lived-in universe not unlike previously great workplace sitcoms like Parks and Recreation or The Office. Just as Pawnee and Dunder-Mufflin felt like their own, real places on those shows, Cloud 9 feels like one on Superstore, as the series has devoted so much time to creating a lovable world of characters. Additionally, the cast's performance is incredible - from leads America Ferrera and Ben Feldman to every member of the supporting cast and even to bit players, everyone is giving it their all, in a way everyone on a great ensemble series does.

Superstore is a super special show. It's going to make a great companion to Brooklyn Nine-Nine - there's nowhere else on TV you'll find a better block of comedy in one night. And yet, Superstore doesn't seem to get the attention that Brooklyn 99 does. While Superstore is already renewed for a fifth season, I'd really like people to start taking more notice in just how absolutely fantastic the show is.

Worst Cooks in America

Anne Burrell and Tyler Florence are back to lead a new star-studded cast of cooking-challenged celebrities through culinary boot camp in the return of Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition on Sunday, April 21st at 9pm (all times ET/PT) on Food Network. In the seven-episode season, Anne and Tyler each lead a team of stars through a series of high-pressure cooking drills where only the most-improved recruit left standing is awarded $25,000 for the charity of their choice and bragging rights for their chef mentor. This season's celebrity recruits are: Jim J. Bullock (Too Close for Comfort), Morgan Fairchild (Falcon Crest), Tonya Harding (Dancing with the Stars), Jonathan Lipnicki (Stuart Little), Taryn Manning (Orange is the New Black), Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty), Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry) and Jimmie Walker (Good Times).

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, May 21

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Funky Chili and Friends Who Take Their Clothes Off" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy and Jim butt heads when they take over the store for a sick Georgie and Ruben. Meanwhile, Audrey panics when Connor rekindles an old flame.

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A New Beau and Someone Else's Mom’s House" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Georgie and Mandy take matters into their own hands when Mary starts warming up to Fagenbacher (Matthew Letscher). Also, Audrey struggles to cope with Connor’s absence.

Ghosts - "Up the Creek" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When Woodstone’s future is put in jeopardy, Sam and Jay join forces with the ghosts to protect the mansion by securing its place in history.

Ghosts - "Across the Pond" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
A trip abroad could determine Woodstone’s fate. Meanwhile, a major career opportunity takes Sam out of town, leaving others to step in and help with the ghosts.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 18)

Thursday, May 21

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert - Watch the series finale of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Jake Johnson (Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed/Minx/New Girl) - Jake appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Andrew is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Maya Rudolph (Loot/Bless the Harts/Forever/Up All Night) - Maya appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) and Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Andy Cohen interviews Keke and Brooke on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9pm on Bravo.
Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
LaKeith Stanfield (Atlanta) - LaKeith chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Laurie Metcalf (Big Mistakes/The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/The Norm Show) - Laure discusses Death of a Salesman on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Niecy Nash (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy is Sherri's special guest on the final Sherri show, so check your local listings.
Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle stops by for a very special Sherri's Laugh Lounge on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Cafe Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - The Drew Barrymore Show has a little bit extra from Drew-crewers Ross Mathews, Sunny Anderson and Valerie sharing their tips in the kitchen with knife skills 101, so check your local listings.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) and Nick Jonas (Jonas) - Paul and Nick can be heard on the Morning Mash Up on SiriusXM.
Judith Light (Who's the Boss?/Phenom/Transparent) - Judith talks about AMC+'s The Terror: Devil in Silver on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts) - Utkarsh talks about Ghosts on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.