Fri-Yay: Why NBC's Abby's Deserves a Chance; Netflix Orders Adult Animated Comedy Q-Force

Friday, April 12, 2019

Fri-Yay: Why NBC's Abby's Deserves a Chance; Netflix Orders Adult Animated Comedy Q-Force

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!

Abby's

by Vincent

This spring, NBC quietly premiered the newest Mike Schur sitcom Abby's. For as much clout as Schur has, Abby's hasn't gotten a whole lot of press, even though it hails from the genius behind The Good Place, Parks and Rec and Brooklyn 99. Some of that may be that it's a multi-camera, and multi-camera sitcoms don't typically appeal to the same kind of viewer that those shows do. Another reason could be that it's not a great show yet - but it shows potential to be one, and frankly, that's basically the same thing I'd say for the early episodes of the shows listed above, particularly Parks and Rec, which had a really rough first season but found itself in Season 2.

Abby's is a series about an "unlicensed bar" that takes places in titular character Abby's backyard, but it's basically just a hangout sitcom about a bunch of friends who like spending time with one another. In some ways, it feels a little like an updated Cheers (Abby's is definitely a place where "everybody knows your name"), but it also recalls early 2010s hang-out sitcoms like Cougar Town, Happy Endings and New Girl, a genre that feels like it's fallen out of favor a bit, as most comedies now are more high-concept, such as The Good Place, or workplace comedies, such as Superstore and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The hangout sitcom can sometimes be a little aimless, which is what has stopped Abby's from being great yet, but it's also the type of show that works better once you know the characters well - all of the hangout sitcoms I listed above, for example, really didn't become great until the back half of their first or their second seasons, once their characters were more established. Unfortunately, the ratings for Abby's have been disastrous, and a Season 2 seems unlikely - but you never know, stranger shows have been renewed, and Mike Schur is someone NBC likely wants to stay in business with. I'd like Abby's to stick around to figure itself out, so even though it's not quite great yet, I'd urge you to give it a chance.

Sean Hayes, Mike Schur and Gabe Liedman

Netflix teams with Sean Hayes, Mike Schur and Gabe Liedman for adult animated sitcom Q-Force, coming soon to the streaming service (no premiere date just yet). Netflix has ordered 10 half-hour episodes. Q-Force is a half-hour, animated comedy about a handsome secret agent and his team of fellow LGBTQ superspies. Constantly underestimated by their colleagues, the members of Q-Force have to prove themselves time and again as they embark on extraordinary professional (and personal) adventures. Showrunner/Writer/EP: Gabe Liedman (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, PEN 15). EP: Mike Schur (The Office, The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine). NWEPs: Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, David Miner

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, April 2

The Conners - "Fame, Flying Fists and Cold Feet" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Conners get a taste of fame when their family restaurant is featured in a reality TV show, which inspires Becky to become an influencer. Meanwhile, Jackie and Dan meet with a lawyer, and Darlene connects with someone at The Lobo Lounge.

Abbott Elementary - "Ava Fest: Tokyo Drift" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The Abbott teachers turn their open house into a carwash to help raise money for the school.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 31)

Wednesday, April 2

Adam DeVine (The Righteous Gemstones/Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin/Workaholics/Modern Family) - Watch Adam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) - Michael appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Sinners on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Hannah stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Rob Delaney (Bad Monkey/Catastrophe) - Rob appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Sasheer Zamata (Home Economics/Woke/Robbie) and Greta Titelman (Fantasmas/Search Party/Los Espookys) - Sasheer and Greta are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney at 10pm on Netflix.
Jennifer Lopez (South Central) and Jamie Foxx (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!/The Jamie Foxx Show) - E! News has interviews with Jennifer and Jamie at 11pm on E!.
Chris Perfetti (Abbott Elementary) - Chris talks about Abbott Elementary on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny talks about Dying for Sex with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Judy Greer (Kidding/Married/Mad Love/Miss Guided/Arrested Development) - NBC's Today catches up with Judy in the 9am hour.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Glen Powell (Scream Queens) and Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Bad Teacher/Sex and the City) - NBC's Today catches up with Glen and Kristin in the 10am hour.
Tasha Smith (Survival of the Thickest/Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse/The Tom Show/Boston Common) - Tasha, who stars in Netflix's Surival of the Thickest, joins Tamron Hall to discuss how she found her freedom by sharing her story on her own terms and learning to embrace self-love, so check your local listings.
Gabourey Sidibe (Difficult People/The Big C) - Gabourey talks about starring in the new Lifetime movie Give Me Back My Daughter on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Seth Rogen (The Studio/Platonic/Undeclared) - Seth is joining Drew to tell her all about his new show The Studio on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.