Fri-Yay: We're Up Schitt's Creek; Comedy Central Renews South Park for 3 More Seasons

Friday, September 13, 2019

Fri-Yay: We're Up Schitt's Creek; Comedy Central Renews South Park for 3 More Seasons

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

These days, it seems to be a trend that sitcoms want to be something a little bit more than a sitcom. Whether it's a twisty concept like The Good Place, an issues-based sitcom like One Day at a Time, or a comedy/drama hybrid like BoJack Horseman, there's a bit of a shortage of sitcoms that just make you...well, laugh, and that's it. And really, there's nothing wrong with that. I love all of the shows I mentioned to death. But lately I've been watching reruns of shows like 30 Rock and Happy Endings on Hulu, and it's made me miss the joke-centric sitcom, just a little bit. The shows I mentioned have plenty of great jokes - but it isn't necessarily the main focus, as it was with a show like 30 Rock. There’s a charm to a show that truly just wants to make you laugh.

Enter, then, Schitt's Creek. It's a show that's gone under appreciated in recent years, even by myself. I've heard how great it was for several years, but kept putting it off until this past summer, when I decided to finally give the show a try on Netflix. Frankly, it filled the joke-centric hole I had been missing recently. The show is seriously focused on the funny, and it pays off - without giving too much away, the series' electric cast makes its slightly low-concept premise (essentially, it's about a wealthy couple that finds themselves broke...or, up "Schitt's Creek") really pop due to the jokes and the cast chemistry. Schitt's Creek isn't the show I would go to if I was looking for something really deep or meaningful, or if I were looking for beautifully and artistically drawn characters. But if I'm looking for a show to just laugh? It's my go to sitcom right now. And apparently, lots of people agree. The show is up for an Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy next week. I've talked about the show a bit when discussing Pop TV's turnaround, but I hope this column has convinced you just how unique the show is in today's TV landscape.

South Park

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are extending the Emmy(R) and Peabody(R) Award-winning South Park by three seasons and 30 episodes in a new deal with Comedy Central, taking the longest-running primetime scripted series in cable though an unprecedented 26th season and at least 327 episodes. The 23rd season, during which the iconic series will surpass its milestone 300th episode, will premiere on September 25. Ahead of its launch, viewers can take the SPandMe test to find out which South Park characters are inside you. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, co-creators of the series, will continue to write, direct and edit every episode of South Park, as they have since the premiere of the series in 1997. Parker, Stone, Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II are the Executive Producers of the Emmy(R) and Peabody(R) Award-winning South Park. Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are Producers. Chris Brion is the Creative Director of South Park Digital Studios. South Park's website is southparkstudios.com.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, October 6

The Simpsons - "The Yellow Lotus" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT)
The Simpsons encounter death on vacation at a high-end resort.

Bob's Burgers - "Bully-ieve It or Not" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Belcher kids learn a secret about Zeke's past; Bob rekindles his feud with Jimmy Pesto.

The Simpsons - "The Yellow Lotus" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Simpsons encounter death on vacation at a high-end resort.

Universal Basic Guys - "Jaws of Life" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Jealous of the attention Tammy gets for saving the life of a choking stranger, Mark buys a Jaws of Life to efficiently save lives; Tammy's life is threatened when she rejects the advances of Paul, the stranger she saved.

Bob's Burgers - "Saving Favorite Drive-In" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
When the Belchers visit the local drive-in, Bob comes up with a plan to save the theater from closing; Linda accidentally insults another mom while on a group text chain; Louise and Gene hide from Tina after stealing some of her favorite candy.

Krapopolis - "Thor" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Tyrannis' little hunting mishap brings the Norse gods to Olympus; the family is forced to deal with the hunky Thor, the mischievous Loki, and some nasty bridge trolls.

The Conners - "Double Honeymoon and Seeing Double" (The CW, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
In an effort to save money, newlyweds Darlene and Ben, and Jackie and Neville head off on their joint honeymoon, where their cost-saving measures contribute to a tension-filled getaway.

The Conners - "Gas Pump, House Dump and Stew Volcano" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Darlene searches for a home that she and Becky can afford; after an attempt to boost business at the diner goes awry, Jackie finds herself apologizing to Ben and rethinking her future running the place.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 30)

Friday, October 4

Halle Berry (Living Dolls) - Watch Halle on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Will Ferrell (The Office) - Will and Harper Steele (Will & Harper) are guests on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This/Central Park/The Good Place) - Kristen appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) - Tien is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Sarah Paulson (Leap of Faith) - Sarah can be heard on The Morning Mash Up on SiriusXM.
George Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez/Lopez/Saint George/George Lopez) and Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - NBC's Today catches up with George and Mayan in the 10am hour.
Paul Scheer (Black Monday/Fresh Off the Boat/The League) - Paul is telling Drew all about his new memoir and answering questions from his wife June Diane Raphael on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy talks about the highly-anticipated premiere of Grotesquerie on FX on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Deon Cole (grown-ish/Angie Tribeca/black-ish) - Deon sits down to chat about his new comedy special and touring with Martin Lawrence on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Nathan Lane (Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!/One of the Boys) - Nathan chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Yvette Nicole Brown (Act Your Age/The Odd Couple/Community/The Big House) - Yvette guest co-hosts The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
John Stamos (UnPrisoned/Fuller House/Grandfathered/Jake in Progress/Full House/You, Again?) - John talks about his memoir If You Would Have Told Me on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Victoria Justice (Victorious/Zoey 101/) - Victoria discusses her film Depravity on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT and on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Paul Reiser (Mad About You/Red Oaks/Married/My Two Dads) - Paul is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:15am.