Friday, December 13, 2019
Fri-Yay: Hope for Sitcoms of the 2020s; Good Times Cast Announced for Next Live in Front of a Studio Audience

by Vincent
This year is winding down, which believe it or not, also means this decade is winding down! Next week, I'll do a retrospective on my favorite sitcoms of the 2010s. However, before I get to that, I'd like to offer what I want to see from sitcoms as we go into the 2020s. And one thing is clear to me: I just want sitcoms to be light, silly and funny again.
Don't get me wrong - I really love a lot of the social issue-focused sitcoms we have today. And I even love the dramedies that toe the line between comedy and drama. However, rewatching sitcoms from last decade like 30 Rock or Arrested Development has made me long for series that just simply have the goal of being funny, and are really, really good at it. I've been watching a lot of classic Simpsons lately, and I'm not sure there's anything on TV right now that can keep up with the joke-a-minute pace of a show like that. I don't need every series to be that way - but it feels like a while (maybe since 30 Rock or Happy Endings ended) that we've had a show at that level. I would love for that kind of sitcom to make a comeback as we enter another decade of sitcoms. In the meantime, though, I'll still enjoy all of the shows we do have and the things they do quite well.
Yesterday we gave you the All in the Family casting update, today we have the update for Good Times casting! Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times adds even more star power to the highly anticipated live sitcom holiday special airing on ABC, Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 8:00-9:32 p.m. EST. In this one-night-only event, an all-star lineup of talent will tackle the roles first portrayed in the iconic television sitcom Good Times, including Viola Davis and Andre Braugher as Florida Evans and James Evans, Jay Pharoah as J.J Evans, Asante Blackk as Michael Evans, Corinne Foxx as Thelma Evans and Tiffany Haddish recreating the role of Willona Woods. Jharrel Jerome is also confirmed to join the star-studded cast. Joining forces for a show-stopping musical performance will be ABC's Anthony Anderson and the legendary Patti LaBelle singing the show's classic theme song. This holiday-inspired live event produced by Sony Pictures Television will recreate installments of Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin's Emmy(R) Award-winning series All in the Family and groundbreaking sitcom Good Times, created by Mike Evans, Eric Monte and developed by Lear.
Previously announced cast members taking on the famed All in the Family roles include Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Ellie Kemper and Ike Barinholtz who are set to reprise their iconic roles as Archie and Edith Bunker, Gloria Stivic and Meathead, along with Kevin Bacon, Jesse Eisenberg and Justina Machado whose roles will be announced live.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Saturday, May 17
none scheduled
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 12)
Friday, May 16
- Lunell (Lopez) - Watch Luenell on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She will also be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:39am.
- Benito Skinner (Overcompensating) - Benito appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) and Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Do Not Disturb/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Mayan and Jerry are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Luke Kirby (Étoile) and Gideon Glick (Étoile/The Other Two) - Luke and Gideon talk about Étoile on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
- Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley talks about his new series Tucci in Italy with GMA co-anchor Michael Strahan on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm. He will also be on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - Howie talks about America's Got Talent on Live with Kelly and Mark (check your local listings) and on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your lcoal listings.
- Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows/Retired at 35/Stacked) - Marissa talks about her latest project Mama I'm a Big Girl Now on Sherri, so check your local listings.
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)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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