Fri-Yay: The Good Place Nearing the End; TBS Orders More Misery Index

Friday, December 06, 2019

Fri-Yay: The Good Place Nearing the End; TBS Orders More Misery Index

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

This week, I'd like to give a special shout out to the 4th and final season of The Good Place. I was able to catch up with the excellent series this past weekend, and I was reminded of just how inventive, funny and lovable it is. I'm really going to miss it when it's gone after Jan. 30, but I'm also glad it gets to go out on its own terms on a high note. And so far, this season has been a really high note.

To be fair, the season got off to somewhat of a rough start, at least in terms of Good Place standards. It wasn't a bad stretch of episodes by any means, but it was a little repetitive and "just okay." It felt like the show was repeating some of the same beats from Season 1, and although the characters were still funny, the new characters left something to be desired. And yet, I should've known there was a plan all along. Around the 5th episode, things really started to pick up, and now, the entire world of the show has yet again been busted open. It's incredible just how often the show successfully pulls the rug out from under us at this point. I won't spoil the plot details here, but the show is going to some really exciting and intense places. As we enter the last few episodes of the series, I'm comfortable calling The Good Place one of the shows of the decade. If it sticks the landing, it'll cement its place as that. So far, it really looks like it's going to.

Misery Index

TBS is ordering another dose of misery with a second season of the outrageously entertaining comedy game show The Misery Index hosted by Jameela Jamil (The Good Place). Currently in its first season, the original series is a top-five new cable comedy and has reached nearly 28 million viewers across linear, VOD, and digital platforms. Inspired by the card game Sh*t Happens, The Misery Index is the only game show where contestants can make a fortune out of other people's mis-fortune. Teams compete against each other by attempting to rate hilarious and miserable real-life events based on the "misery index," a ranking system created by a team of therapists. Jameela Jamil will return as host along with stars of truTV's Impractical Jokers, comedy troupe The Tenderloins – Brian "Q" Quinn, James "Murr Murray, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano – as panelists.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, April 9

Young Sheldon - "A Slump, a Cross and Roadside Gravel" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon and Georgie mine for platinum in roadside gravel. Also, Mary is concerned when Missy misuses religion to help with a batting slump.

Man with a Plan - "Adam's Big Little Lie" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Adam promises not to lie to Andi again but finds himself in a tough spot when he has to cover for Joe.

Mom - "Hot Butter and Toxic Narcissism" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Christy regrets fleeing the scene after hitting a parked car. Also, Bonnie’s therapist, Trevor (Rainn Wilson), offers tools to help her better communicate with Adam.

Broke - "Jobs" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Jackie encourages Javier and Elizabeth to get jobs so they can contribute financially to the household, Javier gets work as a ride share driver, with Luis’ help, and Elizabeth is employed as a personal shopper. Also, Jackie worries Sammy will get hurt by becoming so close with his uncle Javier.

Last Man Standing - "Garage Band" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A car restoration article throws Mike, Chuck, and Ed into the spotlight, while leaving Joe feeling unappreciated; Ryan overreacts after taking Kyle's psych test.

Last Man Standing - "A Bedtime Story" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mike tries to avoid hurting Vanessa's feelings due to her snoring; Mandy goes overboard preparing for the arrival of Kristin and Ryan's new baby.

Superstore - "" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine - "Valloweaster" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The squad competes in an effort to determine who is the greatest human/genius.

Will & Grace - "We Love Lucy" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Will claims living with Grace is like Ricky living with Lucy. When Karen and Jack hear this, they each claim that they are the Lucy of the group. Grace, Karen, and Jack each imagine themselves as Lucy (during “Vitameatavegamin,” “Chocolate Factory,” and “Grape-Stomping”), with Will as the Ricky to all of them. Lucie Arnaz and Leslie Jordan guest star.

Indebted - "Everybody's Talking About King and Queens" (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Debbie decides to become a certified life coach to help her and Stew get out of debt and immediately make waves in Dave and Rebecca’s lives. Stew rejects Joanna’s help while trying to come up with a great new as-seen-on-TV product.

Better Things - "High Man. Bye Man" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Sam goes to the weed store and visits her brother; Frankie and Sam eat ice cream.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 6)

Thursday, April 9

Don Cheadle (Black Monday/House of Lies/The Golden Palace) - Catch Don on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC.
Regina Hall (Black Monday/Grandfathered) - Regina appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12:05am on ABC. She will also be on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Jane is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Abby Elliott (Indebted/Odd Mom Out) and Adam Pally (Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Abby and Adam are guests on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig will be on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
Casey Wilson (Marry Me/The Hotwives/Happy Endings) - Casey appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
Danielle Schneider (The Hotwives) - Danielle is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
Victor Rasuk (How to Make It in America) - Victor previews the new series The Baker and the Beauty on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
David Spade (Rules of Engagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me!) - David appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Rob Lowe (The Grinder/Parks and Recreation) - Rob is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Kim Fields (The Facts of Life/Living Single) - Kim appears on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Christine Baranski (Happy Family/Welcome to New York/Cybill) - Christine will be on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
Tim Robbins (The Brink) - Tim is a guest on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Busy Philipps (Vice Principals/Cougar Town) - Busy appears on a repeat of Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Daniella Monet (Baby Daddy/Victorious/Listen Up!) - Daniella cooks lentil soup on a repeat of Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.