Friday, September 11, 2020

Fri-Yay: Sister, Sister Soars on Netflix; ABC Comedies Returning October 21 for New Seasons

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!

Sister, Sister

by Vincent

This past week, the '90s family sitcom Sister, Sister joined the Netflix line-up. A lot of people began talking about the show on social media, prompting me to go back and watch the show over the holiday weekend. It had been a while since I'd seen a TGIF sitcom (granted Sister, Sister moved to The WB for most of its run, but it has the feel and makings of a TGIF sitcom) and I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I really enjoyed jumping back into the world of Sister, Sister. No, it isn't the most clever or acclaimed sitcom of all time, but it's really a great show to put on and relax and turn off your brain a bit. It's also the type of show that can easily be watched and understood by families and kids alike.

It feels in a lot of ways like a show such as Sister, Sister is just not made anymore - a show that can be enjoyed equally by kids and adults. Granted, there are family-friendly sitcoms on TV, but shows don't feel made for kids and adults the way a show like Sister, Sister did. The performances by the adults (particularly by Jackee Harry) are just as good as more "mature" sitcoms. It's easy to see why the series rocketed into the Netflix Top 10 this week. People have fond memories of the show, and for good reason. It may not be the best '90s sitcom, but it's certainly a fun show and hopefully Netflix can introduce it to a new generation.


The Conners

Delivering on the network’s commitment to being the broadcast destination for family comedy, ABC announced premiere dates for its Wednesday primetime comedy block. The Goldbergs, The Conners and black-ish will return Oct. 21, and American Housewife will join the comedy lineup on Oct. 28. Previously announced standalone black-ish Election event composed of two back-to-back episodes will air Sunday, Oct. 4 from 10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT. For the first time, ABC will air a fully animated black-ish episode as part of the event. Dates for network scripted dramas (such as Grey's Anatomy, The Good Doctor, Station 19) will be announced soon. Dates for unscripted series were previously announced, such as Dancing with the Stars, The Bachelorette, Shark Tank and ABC Fun & Games series. Most recently, ABC claimed 3 of the Top 4 comedies last season in Adults 18-49, Modern Family (1.6/8) – No. 1 (tie), The Conners (1.5/8) – No. 3 and The Goldbergs (1.3/6) – No. 4 (tie), as well as securing the No. 1 (tie) scripted summer broadcast show this year with United We Fall.

ABC's Wednesday scripted comedy series premiere dates are as follows (all times listed are Eastern/Pacific).

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21
8:00-9:00 p.m. The Goldbergs (premiering with two back-to-back episodes)
9:00-9:30 p.m. The Conners
9:30-10:00 p.m. black-ish

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28
8:30-9:00 p.m. American Housewife


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, November 4

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Vote" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Dave gathers everyone for a lengthy ballot-palooza party to discuss the merits of every candidate and prop on each of their election ballots. Also, Gemma is determined to run a tight ship as their local precinct captain when polls open at Walcott Academy. Kevin Pollak guest stars as Lamar.

Poppa's House - "Podcast" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
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.

What We Do in the Shadows - "Nandor's Army" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
The vampires go on a mission to New Hampshire to retrieve Nandor, who has lost his mind.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 4)

Monday, November 4

  • Allison Janney (Mom/Mr. Sunshine) - Watch Allison on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Keri Russell (Running Wilde/Daddy's Girls) - Keri is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • JB Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm/Blockbuster/The Millers/Bent/'Til Death) - JB appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Paul F. Tompkins (The Great North/BoJack Horseman/DAG) - Paul is a guest on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Zachary Quinto (Big Mouth/So Notorious) - Zachary stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10pm on Bravo.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Drew and Valerie are highlighting some extra special adoptable dogs with a local humane society. They're also hitting the headlines with Ross Mathews and trying out Dolly Parton's hack for the perfect baked potato on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Emily Osment (Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage/Young Sheldon/Young & Hungry/Hannah Montana) and Montana Jordan (Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage/Young Sheldon) - Emily and Montana are telling Drew about their hilarious Young Sheldon spinoff Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
  • Bellamy Young (The Other Black Girl/Scrubs) - Bellamy joins Sherri to tell her how she is helping her hometown of Asheville, NC in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Marcia Gay Harden (Trophy Wife) - Marcia discusses her children’s podcast, Snoriezzz, on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Brian Baumgartner (The Office) - NBC's Today catches up with Brian in the 9am hour.
  • Meg Donnelly (American Housewife) - Meg is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Friends - The Complete Series (4K UHD) Young Sheldon - The Complete Series Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - The Ropers - The Complete Series (VEI)
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - Video Scrapbook
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K UHD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

11/04 - Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas Schedule 2024; A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin at NJPAC
11/03 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of November 4, 2024)
11/02 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Simpsons Themed Monday Night Football Alternate Telecast in December; MeTV Planning for Christmas
11/01 - BET+ Renews Churchy for Season 2 and The Ms. Pat Show for Season 5; Remembering Teri Garr
10/31 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage Gets Full Season Order; Fox's Going Dutch Trailer
10/30 - Clifton Davis Joins CBS Daytime's Beyond the Gates; Ronny Chieng's 3rd Netflix Special
10/29 - The Simpsons Monday Night Football Disney+ Telecast; Prime Video Announces The Sticky
10/28 - Fortune Feimster Gets 3rd Netflix Special; Cruel Intentions Series for Prime Video
10/27 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 28, 2024)
10/26 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Matlock Renewed for Second Season; Happy's Place Off to a Solid Start
10/25 - Peacock's Based on a True Story Returns November 21; CBS to Honor Jerry Mathers at Awards Show
10/24 - Family Guy's Gift of the White Guy Holiday Special; Laid Arrives December 19 on Peacock
10/23 - Bad Sisters Season 2 Returns November 13; Trailer for Hulu's Interior Chinatown
10/22 - Goosebumps: The Vanishing Premieres January 10; Michelle Buteau Gets 2nd Netflix Special
10/21 - Fox Adds Martin Short to Grimsburg; Secret Level Cast Announced by Prime Video
10/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 21, 2024)
10/19 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Rick and Morty Renewed for Two More Seasons; A Look at Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Crossover
10/18 - Apple TV+ Renews Shrinking for Season 3; Guest Voices for Phineas and Ferb New Season
10/17 - Watson Premieres January 2025 on CBS; Anthony Jeselnik Gets 3rd Netflix Comedy Special
10/16 - Lifetime's It's a Wonderful Lifetime 2024 Schedule; YouTube Sitcom Gets Season 4
10/15 - Tom Papa Is Home Free on Netflix; Apple TV+ Reveals Season 2 Details for Silo
10/14 - ABC Halloween 2024 Schedule; Reba Creates Happy's Place Theme Song
10/13 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 14, 2024)
10/12 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Spinoff of The Big Bang Theory in the Works; Velma Canceled by Max
10/11 - Netflix Renews Nobody Wants This; Alicia Silverstone to Lead Acorn TV Series
10/10 - Max's The Sex Lives of College Girls Returns November 21; FETV Acquires Laramie
10/09 - HBO's Seth Meyers Special Debuts October 26; New Late Night Comedy Series Focuses on Crazy Florida
10/08 - Somebody Somewhere Returns for Final Season; Virgin River Season 6 Drops for Holiday Season
10/07 - Vice TV Announces Black Comedy in America Series; Netflix Stars Team Up for Netflix Movie
10/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 7, 2024)
10/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Cancels That '90s Show; Who's the Boss? Reboot Not Moving Forward at Freevee
10/04 - Family Guy Halloween Special: Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Cheater; What We Do in the Shadows Returns for Final Season