Friday, February 28, 2020
Fri-Yay: How Much Do Live Ratings Still Mean?; Disney+ Gets Proud Family Revival Series
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
As we enter the mid stretch of yet another network TV season, I realized I hadn't checked ratings nearly as much this season as I had in the past. It's not as if I'm not watching shows on network TV anymore, but it seemed to me like live ratings were just getting so much lower that it was hard to really pay them any real attention to them. And sure enough, when I checked, the numbers had gotten so low, particularly in the 18-49 demo, that it was somewhat comical. Ratings that would've been cause for immediate cancellation even just 2 or 3 years ago are now some of the best ratings on network TV. At this point, so few people are sitting down and watching live television that it's hard to even think of anyone in my life who does watch it, other than for sports and live events.
by Vincent
As we enter the mid stretch of yet another network TV season, I realized I hadn't checked ratings nearly as much this season as I had in the past. It's not as if I'm not watching shows on network TV anymore, but it seemed to me like live ratings were just getting so much lower that it was hard to really pay them any real attention to them. And sure enough, when I checked, the numbers had gotten so low, particularly in the 18-49 demo, that it was somewhat comical. Ratings that would've been cause for immediate cancellation even just 2 or 3 years ago are now some of the best ratings on network TV. At this point, so few people are sitting down and watching live television that it's hard to even think of anyone in my life who does watch it, other than for sports and live events.
So how much do these ratings still mean? Truly, they do still have some significance - truly awful live ratings is what got shows like NBC's Sunnyside cancelled - but more and more I see networks citing live plus on demand ratings and Live+7 ratings (calculated after 7 days of DVR usage). Part of this is likely because it makes the numbers sound better from a PR standpoint - but I'd like to also think that some of it is simply because networks realize they need to make money another way, because live ratings simply aren't measuring how most people are watching TV anymore. Hopefully, it makes beloved but little watched series (which describes far more shows today than it did 10 years ago) make it past first year cancellation.
Disney+ has ordered the long-anticipated revival of the groundbreaking animated series The Proud Family which, 18 years after its Disney Channel premiere, is still beloved for its characters, stories and multilayered humor and for its messages about inclusion and cultural diversity in a smart, modern way. The new animated family sitcom The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is currently in production at Disney Television Animation with Academy Award-winning creator/executive producer Bruce W. Smith and executive producer Ralph Farquhar, who led the original series, at the helm, reuniting them with Calvin Brown, Jr. who is co-executive producer and story editor. All previous seasons of The Proud Family are currently available on Disney+.
Picking up the story of its central character Penny Proud, the new series will also include her madcap family: parents Oscar and Trudy, twin siblings BeBe and CeCe, and her grandmother Suga Mama (and Puff!). Of course, it would not be The Proud Family without Penny's loyal crew Dijonay Jones, LaCienega Boulevardez and Zoey Howzer, among others. Reprising their voice roles are: Kyla Pratt as Penny Proud, Tommy Davidson as Oscar Proud, Paula Jai Parker as Trudy Proud, Jo Marie Payton as Suga Mama, Karen Malina White as Dijonay Jones, Soleil Moon Frye as Zoey Howzer and Alisa Reyes as LaCienega Boulevardez. Cedric the Entertainer will also return as Uncle Bobby Proud.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Sunday, September 20
Last Man Standing - "Girls Rock" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mike and Vanessa each try to influence Jen's career path; Kristin uses her pregnancy to her advantage with Outdoor Man customers.
Duncanville - "Judge Annie" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When their local swimming pool is overcrowded due to a heat wave, Annie and Jack share their old swimming spot with the kids; Annie gets her own public access court show.
The Simpsons - "The Fat Blue Line" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
During the San Castellanta street festival, much of the town finds their wallets have been pickpocketed; after the state investigator puts the wrong man in jail, Chief Wiggum sets out to catch the real criminal and show he's still up for police work.
Bless the Harts - "Can't Get There From Here" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When money gets tight, Jenny takes on an undesirable second job to help fund Violet's art school tuition; Wayne comes up with an entirely different plan to make money.
Bob's Burgers - "Just the Trip" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The family takes an unexpected road trip with Nat the limo driver.
Family Guy - "Coma Guy" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With a newfound love for rocking out to Van Halen, Peter has a car accident and falls into a coma.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 14)
Friday, September 18
- David Spade (Rules of Engagement/8 Simple Rules/Just Shoot Me!) - David guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Dan Levy (Schitt's Creek) - Dan appears on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- John Cleese (Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)) - John will be on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Glenn Howerton (A.P. Bio/It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The Mindy Project/That '80s Show) - Glenn is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle) - Bryan appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen will be on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - Sean is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
- Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany appears on repeats of The Wendy Williams Show and The Real, so check your local listings.
- Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) and Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - The Kelly Clarkson Show has the most uplifting moments featuring Tracee and Olivia, so check your local listings.
- Gabourey Sidibe (Difficult People/The Big C) and Kiersey Clemons (Angie Tribeca/Transparent) - Gabourey and Kiersey talk about Antebellum on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Jason Schwartzman (Bored to Death) - Jason talks about Fargo on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (June/July/August/September)
06/02 - Work in Progress - Season 1
06/09 - Head of the Class - The Complete First Season (WBShop.com)
06/09 - How to Be a Gentleman - The Complete Series
06/09 - Letterkenny - Seasons 3 & 4
06/09 - Modern Family - The Eleventh and Final Season
06/09 - No Activity - Season 1
06/09 - Superior Donuts - Season Two
06/23 - Bob's Burgers - The Complete 10th Season
06/23 - Fresh Off the Boat - The Complete Sixth and Final Season
06/23 - Last Man Standing - The Complete Seventh Season
06/23 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Third Season (Blu-ray)
06/30 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Season Seven
07/07 - Will & Grace - The Revival - Season Three - The Farewell Season
07/21 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Tenth Season
07/21 - The Thundermans - Season 1 / Season 2 / Season 3 / Season 4
07/21 - The Unicorn - Season One
07/28 - The Thundermans - Season 1-4 Bundle
08/04 - Last Man Standing - The Complete Eighth Season
08/04 - The Neighborhood - Season One
08/11 - Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens - Season 1
08/11 - Final Space - The First and Second Seasons (Blu-ray)
09/01 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Third Season (Blu-ray)
09/29 - The Bob Newhart Show - The Complete Series (2020 Release)
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