Friday, June 21, 2019
Fri-Yay: The Amazing Superstore Season 4 Finale; Netflix Has Healing Powers
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
Now that Upfronts are over, and we have a better idea of the outlook of network sitcoms for the next year, I can take a moment to talk about how much I loved the Superstore finale. I know I talk about Superstore a lot, but I feel it's one of the best (maybe the very best?) example of a great, traditional comedy on the air right now, and I also don't feel it gets nearly enough attention for weaving traditional sitcom stories with relevant character work that feels cutting for our times.
The season finale, in which (spoiler alert if you aren't caught up with the show through the Season 4 finale, you Live+35 days viewers) Mateo's undocumented status is finally discovered, is a great example. In some ways, it's a typical "character has a secret" sitcom plot, with all of the characters struggling and failing to try to get Mateo out of the store and not captured by ICE agents. But then it ends in a very dark place - Mateo is, indeed, taken into detention by ICE agents. It's such a perfect example of how the series plays to conventional sitcom tropes, but then spins them on their head with a dark dose of the reality these characters are living. If you aren't watching Superstore, please catch up over the summer and see where this great, relevant sitcom is going when it returns in the fall for Season 5.
Netflix has ordered 8 episodes of The Healing Powers of Dude, a family live action (single-camera) comedy series co-created by Erica Spates and Sam Littenberg-Weisberg (Coop and Cami Ask the World, Victorious and Mystery Girls) with half of the episodes directed by Richie Keen (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Fist Fight, Teachers). When Noah, an 11-year-old boy with social anxiety disorder, has to start middle school, he turns to a mutt named Dude, a sarcastic emotional support dog who might need Noah as much as Noah needs him. The series stars Tom Everett Scott (That Thing You Do!), Larisa Oleynik (10 Things I Hate About You and The Secret World of Alex Mack), Laurel Emory (Heartstrings), Mauricio Lara (The Conners, Young Sheldon, Teachers), Sophie Jaewon Kim, Dude the Dog, and newcomer Jace Chapman.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Tuesday, October 20
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "The Status Quo" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Standing at a crossroads, Philip grapples with fear, revenge, and courage; with support from his community and justice within reach, he begins reclaiming his voice while danger still looms.
The Ms. Pat Show - "Nobody's Star" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Pat battles insecurity, Denise scrambles to hide her secret plus-one at Pat's big movie premiere, Janelle needs advice from Junebug and Terry seeks answers from his long-lost aunt.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 19)
Tuesday, October 20
- Amy Schumer (Life & Beth) Catch Amy on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) - Quinta appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Owen Thiele (Adults/Overcompensating/Dollface) - Owen is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Natasha Leggero (Broke/Dice/Another Period/Free Agents) and Jimmie Walker (Good Times/At Ease/Bustin' Loose) - Natasha and Jimmie will be on a repeat of Funny You Should Ask at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Jane Leeves (Hot in Cleveland/Frasier/Throb) - Jane talks about Daphne & Me: My Life on Frasier (And a Bit More) on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Connie Britton (Phony/SMILF/Lost at Home/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Spin City) and Sam Nivola (Phony) - Connie and Sam talk about Phony on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA3 at 1pm. Connie will also be on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Debi Mazar (The Pentaverate/Younger/Entourage/Working) and Romeo Miller (Romeo!) - Debi and Romeo talk about The Mob on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Katt Williams (The Tracy Morgan Show/My Wife and Kids) - Katt talks about Nine Lives, No Wives, and 69 Concubines on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Holland Taylor (Brothers/Two and a Half Men/The Naked Truth/The Powers That Be/Bosom Buddies) - Holland tells Drew about starring the hit new show Brothers on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Kathleen Munroe (Call Me Fitz) - Kathleen is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York.
- Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - Chris talks about The Terminal List on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 9am hour.
- Jackie Tohn (Nobody Wants This/GLOW) - Jackie talks about Nobody Wants This on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/20/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
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