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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, August 20

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Golden Bachelor Live" (FXX and FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Host Jesse Palmer walks the audience through Frank's journey up until his final rose ceremony in the "Golden Bachelor" finale.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 18)

Wednesday, August 20

  • Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Andy Samberg (Digman!/Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Watch Andy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Harvey GuillĂ©n (What We Do in the Shadows/The Thundermans) - Harvey stops by Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Billy Crystal (The Comedians/Soap) - Billy is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Amy Sedaris (No Activity/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/Strangers with Candy) - Amy appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Pete Holmes (How We Roll/Crashing) and Echo Kellum (Grand Crew/Sean Saves the World/Ben and Kate) - Pete and Echo are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Ron Howard (Arrested Development/Happy Days/The Andy Griffith Show) - Ron talks about Eden on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) and Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Kumail and Michael talk about Broadway's Oh, Mary! on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Marsai Martin (black-ish) - Marsai appears on a repeat of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat/Victorious) - Ariana is joining Drew to chat all about her role in the iconic new musical Wicked on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (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)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

08/20 - Welcome Back, Kotter 50th Anniversary Marathon on Rewind TV; Apple TV+ Palm Royale Season 2 Premieres November 12
08/19 - Antenna TV's Archie Bunker's Place Labor Day Marathon; Larry the Cable Guy Prime Video Special
08/18 - Nobody Wants This Season 2 Premieres October 23; HGTV and Retta Continue Partnership
08/17 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 18, 2025)
08/16 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount Plans Retool of Cable Networks; King of the Hill Revival Scores Big Ratings
08/15 - Catchy Comedy Acquires Hot in Cleveland; Netflix's Animated Comedy Strip Law Premieres in 2026
08/14 - Dan Levy's Netflix Comedy Series Cast; Betty la Fea: La Historia ContinĂșa Season 2 Premieres Friday
08/13 - Remembering Danielle Spencer of What's Happening!!; Trailer for Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building
08/12 - Netflix's Comedy Kiss or Die Premieres September 9; Lori Harvey Joins Reasonable Doubt
08/11 - Roku Originals Books a Return Trip with Season 2 Renewal of Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross; Netflix's Fixed Trailer
08/10 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 11, 2025)
08/09 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Trailer Released for The Paper; ABC Gives Pilot Order to Do You Want Kids?
08/08 - Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Season 2 Premieres September 12; The Paper Trailer for Peacock
08/07 - Special Forces: World's Toughest Test Season 4 Celebs; Sweetpea Season 2 Stars
08/06 - Molly Shannon Joins Will Ferrell Golf Comedy Series; Netflix's Season 2 of My Life with the Walter Boys
08/05 - Disney+ Musical Comedy Electric Bloom Premieres; NBC Renews American Ninja Warrior for Season 18
08/04 - Remembering Loni Anderson of WKRP in Cincinnati; And Just Like That... to End After 3 Seasons
08/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 4, 2025)
08/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Family Guy Specials Coming to Hulu; Jimmy Kimmel Rooting for Emmy for Stephen Colbert
08/01 - Long Story Short Gets Season 2 Ahead of Premiere; Netflix's Wayward Premieres September 25
07/31 - Solar Opposites Final Season on Hulu; Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical
07/30 - FETV Acquires The Jeffersons, Uncut; BET+ Comedy Churchy Returns August 21, BET Greenlights Sketch Comedy Series
07/29 - NBC Fall 2025 Premiere Dates; Fox Fall 2025 Premiere Dates
07/28 - Events Planned for The Golden Girls 40th Anniversary; Family Guy Holiday Specials Return to Hulu
07/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 28, 2025)
07/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount/Skydance Merger Approved; CBS Orders New Comedy From Producers of Ghosts
07/25 - TV One Honors Malcolm-Jamal Warner; Comedy Central Season 3 of Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head; Remembering Kenneth Washington of Hogan's Heroes
07/24 - Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Premieres September 9; Apple TV+ Stick Renewed for Season 2
07/23 - Apple TV+ Ted Lasso Season 4 Details; NBC Orders Stumble to Series
07/22 - Remembering Malcolm-Jamal Warner of The Cosby Show and Malcolm & Eddie; Futurama Season 13 Drops September 15
07/21 - Hallmark Channel Acquires Gilmore Girls; Freida Pinto to Star in Netflix Series
07/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 21, 2025)