Fri-Yay: How Much Do Live Ratings Still Mean?; Disney+ Gets Proud Family Revival Series

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.

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.

The Proud Family

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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, February 25

St. Denis Medical - "Some Famous Internet Guy" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When a famous musician's performance at the hospital is delayed, Joyce throws an impromptu talent show with the St. Denis staff; Alex attempts to connect with her daughter, Ella.

Night Court - "Abracadabra Alaka-Dan" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Harry's old magician's assistant appears in the courthouse and puts Dan and Abby in a tough position; Gurgs, Flobert and Julianne are determined to fire up Wyatt's lukewarm life.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of February 24)

Tuesday, February 25

Kate Hudson (Running Point) - Catch Kate on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also talks about Running Point on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am. Kate, Drew Tarver and Scott MacArthur will be on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls/Joey) - Jennifer appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Nick Kroll (Big Mouth/The League/Cavemen) - Nick is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Britt Lower (Ghosted/Man Seeking Woman/Big Lake) - Britt appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) - Kumail is a guest on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Wendi McLendon-Covey (St. Denis Medical/The Goldbergs/Rules of Engagement/Reno 911!) - Wendi appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
Jennifer Tilly (Out of Practice) - Jennifer stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
Keanu Reeves (Swedish Dicks) and Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - E! News has interviews with Keanu and Chris at 11pm on E!.
Simu Liu (Kim's Convenience) - NBC's Today catches up with Simu in the 9am hour.
Jay Ellis (Running Point/Insecure/The Game) - Jay talks about Running Point on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea talks about I'll Have What She's Having on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Brenda Song (Running Point/Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Brenda discusses Running Point on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie and Drew are talking all things moisturizers and hydration with board certified dermatologist and TikTok sensation Dr. Shereene Idriss on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Phil Dunster (Surface) - Phil talks about the new season of Surface on Apple TV+ on Sherri, so check your local listings.