Fri-Yay: Superstore Tackles the Pandemic in a Smart, Funny Way; Family Ties Cast to Reunite

Friday, November 06, 2020

Fri-Yay: Superstore Tackles the Pandemic in a Smart, Funny Way; Family Ties Cast to Reunite

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!

Superstore - Essential

by Vincent

Last week, NBC's Superstore returned for Season 6. It was a big premiere for the show for several reasons. Amy, the show's lead character played by America Ferrera, will be departing the show after the second episode, so the premiere partly serves as the beginning of her farewell. And, notably, the premiere was the show's first episode after production was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it addressed the pandemic's impact on its characters. And it did so brilliantly, putting together the best piece of media I've seen regarding the pandemic and one of the show's best episodes to date.

Superstore has always been a show not afraid to tackle big issues while also remaining funny and light-hearted, so it's not surprising that the show did such a great job tackling the issue of the virus. Additionally, given the show's setting in a retail store, the pandemic uniquely affects its characters, and it's sure to make us realize that. The characters are called "essential workers" but don't receive the same treatment from the public or their bosses as other essential workers do. The way the characters have to be at the front lines of the pandemic but don't get the tools to properly protect themselves is very real. And yet, the show still remained funny and managed to make some really funny jokes about the pandemic more successfully than I may have expected. I was very unsure about shows handling the pandemic, but if they can take Superstore's lead, they'll be making some really strong content.

Stars In The House

The Keatons are in the house! Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley announced that Meredith Baxter (Elyse Keaton), Michael Gross (Steven Keaton), Michael J. Fox (Alex P. Keaton), Tina Yothers (Jennifer Keaton), Marc Price (Irwin "Skippy" Handelman), and Scott Valentine (Nick Moore), will reunite on Stars in the House on Tuesday, November 10 at 8PM ET to discuss all things Family Ties, and reminisce about their time on one of the most beloved sitcoms in television history.

The reunion episode will stream exclusively on PEOPLE social platforms Facebook and Twitter, as well as on PeopleTV's Facebook and Twitter, and on the Stars In The House YouTube channel, and StarsInTheHouse.com, where fans may tune in to ask questions and donate to The Actors Fund for a chance to have their names read by the stars on air. Of course, there will be live music. Family Ties joins the incredible line-up of casts that Seth and James have brought together to sing, share stories, and raise money to help those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Night at the Museum, Scandal, Knots Landing, Melrose Place, Frasier, Glee, 30 Rock, Desperate Housewives, SCTV, White Collar, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Taxi, Fame, and Star Trek: Voyager.

Stars In The House airs new episodes Mondays-Saturdays at 8PM ET on its YouTube channel and StarsInTheHouse.com. For more information and to see upcoming guests, please visit starsinthehouse.com and follow @StarsInTheHouse, Seth (@SethRudetsky) and James (@JamesWesleyNYC) on Twitter and Instagram.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Tuesday, January 31

Night Court - "Dan v. Dating" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
With Abby's encouragement, Dan attempts to venture back into the dating world, but reigniting his love life proves more complicated than anticipated; Gurgs and Olivia search for a new office and find something they weren't expecting.

American Auto - "Most Hated CEO" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Ian and Sadie attempt to rehab Katherine's image from the pawl controversy by staging a phony video with Katherine's family and a visit to "Late Night with Seth Meyers."

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 30)

Tuesday, January 31

Pamela Anderson (Stacked/Home Improvement) - Catch Pamela on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Christ) - Terry is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Sally Field (Gidget/The Flying Nun/The Girl with Something Extra) - Sally will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Scott Caan (Entourage) - Scott appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
D. L. Hughley (The Hughleys/Double Rush) - D. L. guest hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm. He talks about taking over the responsibilities as guest host of The Daily Show on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Kal Penn (The Santa Clauses/Sunnyside/We Are Men) - Kal gives all the details about the upcoming ABC special Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Tia Mowry (Family Reunion/The Game/Sister, Sister) - Tia will be on The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri talks about her new talk show on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Jennifer Grey (Red Oaks/It's Like, You Know...) - Jennifer talks about her Lifetime film Gwen Shamblin on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on NBC's Today in the 10am hour..
Kyla Pratt (Call Me Kat/The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder/Let's Stay Together/One on One) - Kyla talks about the new Disney+ series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - Harry talks about AMC's Mayfair Witches on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Reyn Doi (That '90s Show) - Reyn will be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 8:50am.
Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew appears on NBC's Today some time between 7-9am.
Nathan Lane (Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!) - NBC's Today catches up with Nathan in the 9am hour.