Friday, January 10, 2020

Fri-Yay: Top Sitcoms of the Decade, Part 2; PIX11 Celebrates 45th Anniversaries of The Jeffersons and Barney Miller

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!

Community

by Vincent

Last week, I went through my top sitcoms of the 2010s from #12 to #6. This week, I'll be doing the same thing, going through my top 5. So here are my top 5 sitcoms of the 2010s!

5. The Good Place (NBC, 2016 - present): Of all of the sitcoms this decade, I don't think any of them can claim to be quite as inventive as The Good Place, which somehow manages to be an excellent sitcom and sci-fi/fantasy series all in one. Without spoiling too much, this show asks some of the biggest questions I've ever seen asked about humanity on TV - all while managing to be a delightful and funny sitcom all the same with a lovable cast of characters.

4. Parks and Recreation (NBC, 2009 - 2015): Parks and Recreation will forever go down as one of the most lovable shows to ever be on TV. With an incredibly likable cast of characters and a beating heart and love for all of them, watching this show is like a dose of happiness. Pawnee and the Parks department is truly a place you want to keep coming back to, which is why Parks was one of the most lovable sitcoms of the 2010s.

3 Bob's Burgers (Fox, 2011 - present): Bob's Burgers has become such a staple of TV that it's hard to believe it only started less than 10 years ago. The Belchers practically feel like my family at this point, I know them and their antics so well, and after 10 seasons I still feel like everything they do is as funny and fresh as ever. Bob's Burgers is the very definition of a landmark TV show.

2. BoJack Horseman (Netflix, 2014 - present): BoJack Horseman is both a great comedy and a seriously depressing drama. It's one of the realest shows on TV, and it's also an animated sitcom about a talking horse in a world where animals and humans are on equal footing. It's a show of contradictions, but what makes BoJack shine is its upsettingly amazing ability to crush your heart in pieces, and then make you laugh a few minutes later. Few shows can accomplish what BoJack can.

1. Community (NBC and Yahoo!, 2009 - 2015): Community was perhaps one of the first true genre-bending sitcoms, fitting into a different genre (mystery, D&D, paintball action movie) whenever it felt like it. It became known for its ability to "break the fourth wall" and break the entire structure of the sitcom down whenever it pleased. But what kept the show running was its rock solid core of characters, a makeshift family of weirdos at a community college. What made Community truly special was how it was able to balance its weirdness with its heart, and that's what makes it not just my favorite sitcom of the decade, but one of my favorite sitcoms of all-time.


The Jeffersons and Barney Miller

This January, PIX11 will celebrate the 45th anniversaries of The Jeffersons and Barney Miller with marathons on the 18th and 25th during the station's "New York's Very Own" Sitcom Block which consists of NY specific retro sitcoms. On Saturdays, PIX11's "New York's Very Own" sitcom block features Good Times, Sanford and Son, All in the Family, Barney Miller, The Jeffersons and The Honeymooners. To celebrate the 45th anniversaries of The Jeffersons (Jan 18, 1975) and Barney Miller (Jan 23, 1975), PIX11 will air a mini-marathon of each show during the block. On Saturday, January 18, PIX11 will air a marathon of The Jeffersons from 7pm-10pm. On Saturday, January 25, the station will air a marathon of Barney Miller from 6pm-10pm.



Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Wednesday, May 31

Night Court - "Pilot" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Judge Abby Stone follows in the footsteps of her late father Harry Stone as she takes over the night shift of a Manhattan arraignment court; when a public defender is needed, Abby sees potential in former prosecutor Dan Fielding.

Night Court - "The Nighthawks" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Abby pushes Dan Fielding to embrace his new role as public defender; Neil gets on board with Abby's quest to improve the courtroom and quickly realizes why trying is for the birds.

Dave - "Looking for Love" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Dave's quest for love reaches a conclusion.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 29)

Wednesday, May 31

  • Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso/Shrinking) - Watch Brett on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Christopher Meloni (Happy/Surviving Jack/Misery Loves Company/The Fanelli Boys) - Christopher is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • D'Arcy Carden (The Good Place/Barry) - D'Arcy appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Rob Corddry (The Unicorn/Ballers/Childrens Hospital/The Winner) - Rob will be on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Hong Chau (A to Z) - Hong appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Jennifer Aniston (Friends/Muddling Through/Ferris Bueller/Molloy) - E! News has an interview with Jennifer at 11pm on E!.
  • Rose Byrne (Platonic/Physical) - Rose chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/It's a Living) - Sheryl Lee is a guest on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Jaime Camil (Schmigadoon!/Broke) - Jaime appears on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry joins Sherri to discuss hosting the new season of America’s Got Talent on NBC on Sherri, so check your local listings. He will also be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June)

Growing Pains - The Complete Series Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Twelve Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)

01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

05/31 - Amazon Freevee's Jury Duty Gets Special Release; Stars on Mars Fan Experience
05/30 - 75th Emmy Awards Nominations on July 12; Final Season of HBO's How to with John Wilson
05/29 - Memorial Day 2023 TV Sitcom Marathons
05/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 29, 2023)
05/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Wins 2022-2023 Ratings Game; Netflix Ends Sharing of Passwords
05/26 - Prime Video Renews Priyanka Chopra Series; Sex and the City 25th Anniversary Event in NYC
05/25 - Brady Bunch House on the Market; The Family Stallone Gets 2nd Season
05/24 - Antenna TV's Father Knows Best Father's Day Fest Marathon; Netflix Gets Glamorous This June
05/23 - CBS Summer 2023 Reality Schedule; Apple TV+ Announces Peanuts Programming
05/22 - More Details on Zoey 102; New Lifetime Movie Series Coming July 8
05/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 22, 2023)
05/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Showtime Looking to Bring Back Two Old Favorites; Disney+ Removing Content
05/19 - Futurama Triumphantly Returns July 24; Final Season of Physical Drops August 2; Primo Premieres May 19 on Amazon Freevee
05/18 - The CW Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Netflix Upfront 2023
05/17 - Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2023; Sarah Silverman HBO Special Premieres May 27
05/16 - ABC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; FX's Summer 2023 Slate
05/15 - FOX Announces 2023-24 Programming Slate; iCarly Season 3 Premieres June 1
05/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 15, 2023)
05/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Season Finale Brings Back a Familiar Face; Comedy Central Renews Digman! for Second Season
05/12 - NBC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Hulu Orders Deli Boys from Onyx Collective
05/11 - CBS Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; The CW Summer Lineup Has Comedies
05/10 - Minx Returns in July on STARZ; Never Have I Ever Final Episodes Premieres June 8, Trailer Drops
05/09 - The CW Acquires Son of a Critch; FX's The Bear Returns June 22
05/08 - NBC's Hot Wheels Gets Celeb Judges; Zooey Deschanel's Max Series Premieres May 23
05/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 8, 2023)
05/06 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Week of Writers' Strike Already Sees Early Casualties; Fox Cancels Call Me Kat
05/05 - BUZZR's Classic TV Moms Week; Fox's Stars on Mars Celebs Announced
05/04 - Dancing with the Stars Returning to ABC in Fall; Conan O'Brien Producing New Podcast Miniseries
05/03 - Roku 2023 NewFront; Peacock Schedules Kaley Cuoco Series
05/02 - COZI TV's Little House Mother's Day "Ma-A-Thon"; Human Resources Returns June 9 on Netflix
05/01 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Drops in July; IFC Dark Comedy SisterS Launching May 17