Friday, September 13, 2019
Fri-Yay: We're Up Schitt's Creek; Comedy Central Renews South Park for 3 More Seasons

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.
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
Saturday, July 12
Mind Your Business - "Love Child" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Alfonso and Aaliyah's world is flipped upside down when their mother's secret love child comes into town, while Mia tries to figure out who is sending her gifts every hour on the hour.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 7)
Friday, July 11
- Aparna Nancherla (The Great North/Fairview/Corporate) and Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Aparna and Whitney are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Malachi Barton (Stuck in the Middle) and Meg Donnelly (American Housewife) - Malachi and Meg discuss Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires and perform on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am. They will also be on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Jean Smart (Hacks/Samantha Who?/Center of the Universe/In-Laws/Style & Substance/Designing Women) - Jean chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Patton talks about Black Coffee and Ice Water on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Margaret Cho (All-American Girl) and Joel Kim Booster (Loot/Shrill) - CBS News contributor Lisa Ling talks with Margaret and Joel on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Krysten Ritter (Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Tamron Hall (repeat) has a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE sitdown with actress/director/author Krysten Ritter who recently released her new thriller/mystery novel Retreat, so check your local listings.
- Maggie Q (Pivoting) - Maggie Q talks about Prime's Ballard on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Tisha Campbell (Act Your Age/Uncoupled/Outmatched/Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) and Wendy Raquel Robinson (Poppa's House/The Game/Here We Go Again/The Steve Harvey Show/Minor Adjustments) - Tisha and Wendy chat about their film Operation: Aunties on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings. They will also be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
- David Zayas (The Bear/Saint George) - David appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive
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