Friday, January 17, 2020
Fri-Yay: Sitcoms in 2020; Peacock Streaming Services Programming Update

by Vincent
As we enter a new decade, it's reasonable to ask: what direction are sitcoms headed in? The last few years of the 2010s saw the end of many long-running and beloved comedy series. This year we will see more sitcoms ending, such as The Good Place, BoJack Horseman and Modern Family. It might be the end of an era in many ways, but here’s a few notable events coming up this year that I'm looking forward to.
1. The finales of BoJack Horseman and The Good Place. As sad as I am to lose two of my favorite shows on TV, if there's any shoes that I think could pull off an amazing ending, it's these two. These shows are not only extremely funny, but their plotting and character development was out of this world. I'm really interested to see where they go next.
2. One Day at a Time's debut on Pop TV. We've seen plenty of examples of TV sitcoms going to streaming services - but this will be the first time seeing the reverse happening. One Day at a Time always felt a little out of place on Netflix and more like it would be at home on old-fashioned TV anyway - let's see if it’s still the extremely funny, thoughtful and lovable series when it moves to cable this March.
3. AP Bio's move to NBC's Peacock (more news on this below). I liked but didn't love AP Bio on NBC, and felt like it never quite lived up to its potential. I'm interested to see if the series can take off to the level I know it’s capable of on its new home without as much network influence. It hasn't always worked that way when sitcoms move to streaming networks, but maybe this will work out for the show.
4. The new Ted Danson series being directed by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock on NBC. As a 30 Rock super fan I'm really excited for this, especially given how good Danson was on The Good Place.
These are just some of the most exciting sitcom events I'm pumped for this year. I'm really interested to see what else this year has in store for sitcoms!
At a Comcast investor presentation held in the iconic Studio 8H of 30 Rock, NBCUniversal unveiled Peacock, a free premium ad-supported streaming service with subscription tiers offering more than 600 movies and 400 series, as well as compelling live and on-demand content across news, sports, late night, and reality. From world-class originals and treasured hits, to blockbuster films and streaming channels, Peacock will offer consumers everything fans love to watch, all in one place. Xfinity X1 and Flex customers will have early bird access to Peacock Premium starting April 15. And beginning July 15, taking full advantage of the massive promotional opportunity of the Tokyo Olympics, Peacock Free and Peacock Premium will be available nationally on popular web, mobile and connected-TV devices. The company expects to reach 30-35 million active accounts by 2024.
Taking a different strategic approach, the company announced a tiered offering that gives consumers broad access to Peacock across web, mobile and connected-TV devices:
· Peacock Free: This free, ad-supported option will provide fans everywhere with more than 7,500 hours of programming. Peacock Free includes next day access to current seasons of freshman broadcast series, complete classic series, popular movies, curated daily news and sports programming including the Olympics, Spanish-language content, select episodes of marquee Peacock originals and tent-pole series, as well as curated Peacock streaming genre channels such as "SNL Vault," "Family Movie Night" and "Olympic Profiles."
· Peacock Premium: Bundled at no additional cost to 24 million Comcast and Cox subscribers, this ad-supported option will additionally include full season Peacock originals and tent-pole series, next day access to current seasons of returning broadcast series, early access to late night talk shows, and additional sports - such as the Premier League - totaling more than 15,000 hours of content. Also available for $4.99 per month on all popular connected mobile and web devices for non-bundled customers.
Peacock will stream the ratings juggernaut brands from Dick Wolf's Wolf Entertainment, including Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med. These dramas are consistently among the top-rated shows on television and among the most-streamed shows across platforms. Peacock will also stream Paramount Network hit series Yellowstone, the record-breaking drama, licensed from ViacomCBS. Yellowstone is co-created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, and is co-produced by David Glasser's 101 Studios. Additionally, Two and a Half Men and The George Lopez Show from Warner Brothers were announced. As previously announced, Peacock will offer some of the most popular NBC and classic TV series of all time, including 30 Rock, The A-Team, Battlestar Galactica, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Cheers, Covert Affairs, Crossing Jordan, Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, Friday Night Lights, House, Jeff Foxworthy Show, King of Queens, Leave it to Beaver, Magnum P.I., Married... With Children, Miami Vice, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Parenthood, Psych, Roseanne, Saturday Night Live, Saved by the Bell, Superstore and Will & Grace. Peacock will feature a library of top kids shows that range from new friends to characters beloved for generations including Care Bears, Curious George library, He-Man & Masters of the Universe, Punky Brewster (Animated), Sabrina the Teenage Witch, She-Ra and Woody Woodpecker.
Additional newly announced Peacock originals include Tina Fey-produced original series Girls5Eva, about a one-hit-wonder girl group from the 90's that reunites to give their pop star dreams one more shot; international series from NBCUniversal International Studios, including drama thriller The Capture, fresh off its rating success on the BBC in the UK, and comedy Lady Parts, launching on Channel 4 in the U.K., as well as three highly anticipated new comedies from Sky Studios: Intelligence starring David Schwimmer, Code 404 and Hitmen; a racing series from Dale Earnhardt Jr.; and a behind-the-scenes documentary series that follows USA Basketball superstars on their journey to Tokyo, produced in partnership with the NBA. Previously announced Peacock scripted originals include comedies such as Rutherford Falls, Saved by the Bell, A.P. Bio, Punky Brewster and the movie spinoff Psych 2: Lassie Come Home, as well as dramas Dr. Death, Battlestar Galactica, Brave New World, Angelyne and Armas de Mujer.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Monday, April 19
The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Hero" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Dave earns Calvin’s respect when he thwarts a robbery at the barbershop, until the recognition goes to his head and he starts exaggerating the truth. Also, Marty invites an anxious Gemma to give his new stress-busting hobby a try.
Bob Hearts Abishola - "A Tough Old Bird" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Bob and Abishola try to help a sad and volatile Kemi who, after being dumped by Chukwuemeka, struggles with the possibility that her happiest days might be behind her.
Breeders - "No Choice" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Ally is under huge pressure, but no one seems to want to listen to her; Jim and Jackie are excited about a possible move to the coast and, much to Paul's surprise, so is he.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 19)
Monday, April 19
- Michael Strahan (Brothers) - Watch Michael on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Ron Funches (Hoops/Final Space/Powerless/Undateable) - Ron is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick will be on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
- Ted Danson (Mr. Mayor/The Good Place/Help Me Help You/Becker/Cheers) - Ted appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Debi Mazar (Younger/Entourage/Working) - Debi talks about the final season of Younger on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
- Olivia Holt (I Didn't Do It/Kickin' It) - Olivia will be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Michelle Buteau (First Wives Club) - Michelle appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.
- John Stamos (Fuller House/Grandfathered/Jake in Progress/Full House/You Again?) - John will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Cristin Milioti (Made for Love/A to Z/How I Met Your Mother) - Cristin appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry and his wife Rebecca discuss their memoir detailing secrets of their marriage, Stronger Together, on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years) - Danica discusses her new Hallmark Channel movie Matchmaker Mysteries: The Art of the Kill on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 11am ET/PT.
- Ed Helms (Rutherford Falls/The Office) - Ed talks about Peacock's Rutherford Falls on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-April)
01/22 - Corporate - Season 2
01/22 - Corporate - Season 3
02/02 - Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In - The Complete Series (2021 Retail Release)
02/16 - Fam - The Complete Series
02/23 - Betty White's Pet Set - The Complete Series
03/02 - Blue Mountain State - The Complete Series
03/02 - Happy Together - The Complete Series
03/02 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-4 (DVD) (Blu-ray)
04/20 - 'Til Death - The Complete Series
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