Fri-Yay: Never Have I Ever, Netflix's Best Sitcom; Ramy Gets Season 3 on Hulu

Friday, July 10, 2020

Fri-Yay: Never Have I Ever, Netflix's Best Sitcom; Ramy Gets Season 3 on Hulu

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

This past week, Netflix renewed Never Have I Ever for Season 2. If you weren't aware, Never Have I Ever is a teen sitcom on Netflix created by Mindy Kaling (previously known for her writing and starring role on The Office and for creating and starring in The Mindy Project.) Never Have I Ever is a refreshing and funny high school sitcom, the first really good example of the form in a while, and now that it's been renewed for a second season, I encourage everyone to check it out.

Never Have I Ever follows the trials and tribulations of an Indian American teenager Devi. The show follows some familiar high school beats (Devi tries to be cool, find romance, etc.) but also feels uniquely tailored in many ways to follow an Indian American's experience. Also, the show is just populated with a lot of really funny and likable characters, and has Kaling's sense of humor mixed with honesty that was apparent in her Office scripts and also, in spurts, on The Mindy Project. I'm a fan of Kaling's work, particularly on The Office, but I never felt The Mindy Project (both during its Fox run and its subsequent move to Hulu) quite lived up to her talents, constantly feeling torn between many different styles and voices and never quite finding the right groove for longer than a string of episodes. But Never Have I Ever is strong, consistent, funny and perfectly dramatic, and feels like just the right showcase for Kaling's talents. I highly recommend the series, which I'd rank as Netflix's best in quite some time, especially for anyone who enjoys a good coming of age tale.

Ramy

Hulu has renewed A24's Ramy, from Golden Globe-winner Ramy Youssef, for a 10-episode, third season. The second season debuted on Hulu on Friday, May 29. The series follows first-generation, Egyptian-American Ramy Hassan (Youssef) who is on a spiritual journey in his politically-divided New Jersey neighborhood. Ramy brings a new perspective to the screen as it explores the challenges of what it's like to be caught between a religious community who believes life is a moral test, and a millennial generation that doubts an afterlife even exists. In the second season, Ramy delves further into his spiritual journey, finding a new Muslim community and embracing a deeper commitment to his faith.

Ramy is written, executive-produced, created by and starring Ramy Youssef, executive produced by A24's Ravi Nandan, co-creators Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch, Jerrod Carmichael, Chris Storer, and produced by A24. The series stars Youssef, Hiam Abbass, Amr Waked, Laith Nakli, May Calamawy, Dave Merheje, Mohammed Amer and Steve Way. Season two also featured Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, October 23

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Fan Mail and Old-Timey Organ Music" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Georgie’s upset when Mandy’s new role as weekend weather girl gets her more attention from the men in town, and Connor turns to Jim for help when he’s asked to play the organ at the high school baseball game.

Ghosts - "Viking Wedding" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Sam and Jay try to impress their trendy city friends while a misplaced bookcase threatens Thor’s ability to deliver an important speech. Also, Isaac rallies the ghosts to help the couple navigate a tough customer service ordeal.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 20)

Thursday, October 23

Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) - Catch Jeremy on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. He also talks about Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This/Central Park/The Good Place) - Kristen appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Dave Franco (The Afterparty/Scrubs/Do Not Disturb) - Dave is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He also talks about Regretting You on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Ben Stiller (Arrested Development) - Ben stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about Stiller and Meara: Nothing Is Lost on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Garcelle Beauvais (The Other Black Girl/Survival of the Thickest/The Jamie Foxx Show/Merry Happy Whatever) - Andy Cohen interviews Garcelle on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo. She also talks about “Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Timothy Simons (Nobody Wants This/HouseBroken/Veep) and Jackie Tohn (Nobody Wants This/GLOW) - Timothy and Jackie talk about Nobody Wants This on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Laura Benanti (Life & Beth/Younger/The Detour/Go On/Starved) - NBC's Today catches up with Laura in the 9am hour.
Erika Alexander (Run the World/Living Single/The Cosby Show) - Erika discusses Season 3 of Invasion and her ReLiving Single podcast with Kim Coles on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam talks about his new HBO special An Intimate Evening with Adam Pally on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Allison Williams (Girls) - Allison joins Drew to talk about her new movie Regretting You on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Tamera Mowry-Housley (Sister, Sister/Roommates) - Tamera is a guest on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:10am.