Fri-Yay: The Future of Superstore; Fox Launches Anidom Beyond Show

Friday, April 17, 2020

Fri-Yay: The Future of Superstore; Fox Launches Anidom Beyond Show

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

Earlier this year, it was announced that America Ferrera would be leaving NBC's Superstore after this season. Superstore, one of the best sitcoms on network TV, is arguably a strong ensemble comedy, but it still surprised and saddened me to hear the show would be losing what I'd argue is its "rock" character. Amy may not always be the most beloved or funnier character on the show, but she's very relatable, and the arc of the show has aligned very closely with the arc of her character, making her way from floor worker to store manager and romancing Jonah as it progressed. So this news was surprising to me, especially as it came on the heels of the announcement of a sixth season renewal for Superstore.

However, with the announcement that COVID-19 affected production for the end of Superstore's fifth season, it has been announced that America Ferrera will, indeed, return next season for a few episodes to wrap up her character, or at least it seems rumored to be the case. Still, it seems that Superstore fans will have to prepare for the show to continue without her in the long run. I do love Superstore, but the show also lost its original showrunner after Season 4, and while the difference isn't as noticeable as it was with shows like Community and Gilmore Girls, the current season does feel a little less stronger than Seasons 3 & 4 especially. Still, the show remains a delight, and I hope they can figure out a path going forward.

Anidom Beyond Show

Fox Entertainment and social broadcasting platform Caffeine are partnering to launch the Anidom Beyond Show, an all-new live and interactive program hosted by Emmy Award nominee Andy Richter and dedicated to Fox Network's iconic Sunday comedy block, Animation Domination. Premiering this Sunday, April 19, at 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT on Caffeine at caf.tv/AnimationOnFox, the hour-long program will feature episode re-caps and interviews with guests, including creators, producers, writers and casts of Fox's animated series The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, Bless the Harts, Duncanville and more. Scheduled to run for five weeks until the end of this broadcast season, the Anidom Beyond Show will also include real-time interaction between fans, Richter and his guests vis-vis Caffeine's user interface platform.

The Anidom Beyond Show will be co-produced remotely by Caffeine Studios and FOX Entertainment, with Caffeine overseeing physical production of the series. It will be exclusively available on Caffeine for 24 hours, after which it will be posted on Fox Now and FOX.com.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, January 15

Shifting Gears - "Accommodations" (ABC, 8:20PM ET/PT)
Matt joins Riley at Carter’s high school open house, where he’s unsettled to learn about the “accommodations” made for his grandson’s anxiety. Meanwhile, Riley reconnects with Caitlin, a former classmate, and sets her up with Gabriel.

Abbott Elementary - "Testing" (ABC, 8:50PM ET/PT)
Janine must rethink her lesson plans after her class performs poorly on a practice test, while Jacob struggles to engage a disinterested student. The district sends a new custodian to train under Mr. Johnson.

Poppa's House - "Podcast" (CBS, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)

Junior enlists Nina’s help to film a documentary of Poppa’s iconic career, but the direction of the film takes a detour when the radio station begins using AI promos with Poppa’s and Ivy’s voices.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 13)

Wednesday, January 15

Tim Allen (Shifting Gears/Last Man Standing/Home Improvement) - Watch Tim on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Nicole Byer (Grand Crew/Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down) - Adam appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about Severance on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Ben Stiller (Arrested Development) - Ben is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about Severance on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Pauline Chalamet (The Sex Lives of College Girls) - Pauline stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Denis Leary (Going Dutch/No Good Deed/Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/The Job) - NBC's Today catches up with Denis in the 10am hour. He chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke talks about One of Them Days on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am. She also co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The Mick) - Kaitlin talks about High Potential on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Gabriel Basso (The Big C) - Gabriel talks about The Night Agent on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Britt Lower (Ghosted/Man Seeking Woman/Big Lake) - NBC's Today catches up with Britt in the 9am hour.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Saved by the Bell/Nobodies/Truth Be Told/Saved by the Bell: The College Years) - NBC's Today catches up with Mark-Paul in the 10am hour.
Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - NBC's Today catches up with Andrew in the 10am hour.
Jennifer Lopez (South Central) - Jennifer talks about her film Unstoppable on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/The Ellen Show/Welcome to New York) - Jim talks about his Hulu comedy special Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny on a repeat Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Jay Pharoah (White Famous/Champaign ILL) - Jay talks about his new virtual reality series Soapstone Comedy Presents on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony discusses his Fox special The Real Full Monty on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Da'Vinchi (grown-ish) - Da'Vinchi is a guest on New York Livng on WPIX in New York at 10:30am.