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

Friday, September 12

Vampirina: Teenage Vampire - "First Year to Watch" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
As Vee arrives at Wilson Hall, she learns that performing arts boarding school might have more challenges than she thought; Demi vows to protect Vee from Van Helsings.

Vampirina: Teenage Vampire - "First Day of School" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Vee's plans to have an amazing first day of school are threatened by a dire warning from the Vampire Council; Demi continues his search for Van Helsings.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 8)

Friday, September 12

Regina King (The Boondocks/Leap of Faith/227) - Watch Regina on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Michael Chiklis (Daddio) - Michael is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) - Kumail is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Domhnall Gleeson (The Paper) - Domhnall appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Emily Osment (Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage/Young Sheldon/Young & Hungry/Hannah Montana), Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) and Vinny Thomas (Platonic) - Emily, Tien and Vinny are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken talks about 99 to Beat on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Michael talks about Broadway's Oh, Mary! and Shrinking on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Zosia Mamet (Laid/Girls) - Zosia talks about Does This Make Me Funny? on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Emeril Lagasse (Emeril) - Sunny Anderson gets a big surprise from Drew – cooking with the legendary Emeril Lagasse on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Jennifer Aniston (Friends/Muddling Through/Ferris Bueller/Molloy) - Drew is chatting with Jennifer about the new season of The Morning Show, her kids cookbook, Cook with Clydeo, and her haircare line on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Hannah Pilkes (Leanne) - Hannah is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.
Charlie Sheen (Anger Management/Two and a Half Men/Spin City) - Real Time with Bill Maher features a one-on-one interview with Charlie Sheen, actor and subject of the new two-part documentary aka Charlie Sheen on Netflix, and author of the new book The Book of Sheen: A Memoir at 10pm on HBO.