Fri-Yay: Pop TV: The Next Home for Great Sitcoms?; The Tonight Show Gets 5 Sunday Specials and Premiere Week Live Episodes

Friday, August 09, 2019

Fri-Yay: Pop TV: The Next Home for Great Sitcoms?; The Tonight Show Gets 5 Sunday Specials and Premiere Week Live Episodes

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!

Pop TV - Florida Girls, Schitt's Creek, One Day at a Time

Pop TV - Florida Girls, Schitt's Creek, One Day at a Time

by Vincent

We live in the age of Peak TV, meaning that there's more television on more platforms than ever before. Yes, everyone is making original programming these days, from cable networks to streaming services and even to social media sites. That means great programming can come from some very unlikely places - and one of the biggest provider of quality sitcoms lately has been from Pop TV, formerly known as the TV Guide Network. Yes, the channel whose main purpose was once to tell you what was on the other channels may be on its way to becoming a home of great, high-quality sitcoms.

Right now, Pop TV's effort is spearheaded by Schitt's Creek, which is a family sitcom that has gradually become a fan favorite and accumulated a fan-base due to its quick wit, strong writing and excellent cast performances. The hype has been gradually building over the past few years, to the point that the series was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series this year. It's enough to make Pop TV powerful enough that people are certainly paying attention to it - and that may even increase with the acquisition of One Day at a Time, another fan and critically beloved series that will be airing on the network next fall. Additionally, Pop TV's Florida Girls is another series that has garnered critical attention this summer. The new comedy series, created by Laura Shinn, is a low-key comedy series about working class women in Florida, and yet it also has some of the snappiest comedy writing on television right now. It's another testament to the fact that great comedy could be found anywhere - even, and maybe especially, on the former TV Guide Network.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

In a late-night first, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is getting into the gridiron groove with five telecasts that will follow the fall's most exciting sports event, NBC's Sunday Night Football. The first post-Sunday Night Football show will air Sept. 8 at approx. 12:05am ET following a prime AFC match-up when the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Foxborough, Mass., to take on the World Champion New England Patriots (and late local news). On the west coat, the specials will air at 10:00pm PT. Guests for the first telecast will include Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan, who will share a clip of their new film, Just Mercy. In addition, Kelly Clarkson will appear to discuss her latest project, the daytime series The Kelly Clarkson Show, and singer Kane Brown will perform. The other four "Tonight Show" Sunday telecasts are Oct. 6, 20, 27 and Dec. 1. The Tonight Show will air all five nights following late local news. Check local listings for specific times/markets.

Additionally, the show will broadcast an entire week live on Sept. 23-27, which is the opening week of the new fall season. Fallon recently hosted two live shows from its home studio at 30 Rock after the first Democratic presidential primary debates on June 26 and 27. Prior to that, live telecasts aired following Super Bowl LII and Super Bowl XLIX.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, December 11

The Goldbergs - "It's a Wonderful Life" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Hoping to outdo the Kremp family, Beverly decides the Goldbergs must do an even better family holiday card, but Geoff is surprised he is not invited to be in the photo. Meanwhile, a pranking war with Barry and JTP quickly spirals out of control.

Schooled - "Beanie Babies" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
CB hopes getting Lainey a Beanie Baby for Christmas will show his true feelings for her, but it doesn’t go as planned. Meanwhile, Principal Glascott tries to convince Felicia that she needs to participate and sing a song in a Kwanza play he has written for the students.

Modern Family - "The Last Christmas" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Cameron is hoping to keep everyone happy for their annual Christmas dinner as he hides and prepares for his big interview for a head coaching position out of state. Meanwhile, Haley is excited to finally be reunited with wine; and Mitchell is suspicious of Cam’s holiday trip to visit his family in Missouri.

Single Parents - "Good Holidays to You" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Graham writes a letter to Santa asking for either a white Christmas or to meet his father, Angie goes on a mission to find snow in Southern California with the help of Will and Sophie. Meanwhile, after Rory, Emma and Amy find out that Poppy and Douglas are romantically involved, the kids use this knowledge to their advantage to guilt their parents into buying them more Christmas presents…

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 9)

Wednesday, December 11

Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Watch Kevin on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. He will also be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Keri Russell (Running Wilde) - Keri stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Nick Jonas (Jonas) - Nick visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation/The Office) - Rashida is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony guest hosts The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Giancarlo Esposito (Bakersfield P.D.) - Giancarlo drops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler (Guys with Kids/Entourage) - Jamie-Lynn is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer talks about his role on NCIS on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Robin Givens (Head of the Class) - Robin talks about OWN's Ambitions on Access Live, so check your local listings.
Andrea Barber (Fuller House/Full House) - Andrea reveals her struggles with anxiety and depression while playing D.J. Tanner’s best friend, Kimmy, on Full House on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
Patti LaBelle (Out All Night) - Patti shares her comfort food secrets and how to entertain without breaking a sweat on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.