Friday, June 25, 2021
Fri-Yay: Paramount+'s iCarly Revival Is Light-Hearted Fun for Millennial and Gen Z Viewers; HIMYM Director Joins HIMYF

by Vincent
Last week, Paramount+ debuted the first three episodes of the iCarly revival. The iCarly revival, which I've discussed previously, follows the cast of iCarly in present-day as twenty-something adults. The show "grew up" with the cast rather than continuing to be a show aimed at children and teens. Although it's still a family-friendly sitcom, it does have some (mild) swear words and alludes to things like drinking and sex, which obviously would be a no-no if the show continued to be on Nickelodeon. As a result, the 2021 version of iCarly is a pretty fun watch. It's not going to make any "best sitcom of all time" lists, but it's an enjoyable combination of a nostalgia trip and an actually fun 2020s sitcom, particularly if you're a younger millennial or older Gen Z viewer who grew up with the show.
iCarly's reboot is a little more interested in commenting on internet culture and the effects it can have than its predecessor, which makes sense given how the internet has changed drastically since the show's original run from 2007 through 2012. The internet has become a more central part of our lives since then, and has contributed to the rise and fall of many, many people in the time since the show ended. The show covers topics such as getting "canceled" and the difficulty of staying relevant as well as becoming a "meme." It also is very interested in commenting on internet trends and memes. At times, it can feel a little too much like pandering to its younger millenial/Gen Z audience. (The most notable example of this is when the show references the popular Miranda Cosgrove 'interesting' meme that anyone in iCarly's core demographic would be familiar with, even if technically that meme came from Drake & Josh and not iCarly.) But at other times, it actually makes some decent points about how the internet can make us feel a little empty. I don't want to oversell the show, because I don't actually think it's attempting to make many deeper points about the perils of fame or anything like, say, a Bo Burnham special would, but it does hit at those points occasionally. Still, for the most part, this is just a fun, breezy watch for anyone who grew up with iCarly, with enough actually funny and solid jokes to make it more than simply a nostalgia trip. It's the perfect easy summer afternoon watch, and while you might not get much out of it if you aren't in the target demo (I'd say anyone born between roughly 1992 and 2000), you'll definitely have fun with it if you are.
A familiar face is joining How I Met Your Father, but you won't see her on screen. Pam Fryman is a multi-camera force well-known for notably directing all but twelve episodes of the 9-season smash hit, How I Met Your Mother and now he returns to direct How I Met Your Father. Pam got her start in the business as a high school intern on The Mike Douglas Show. When given the chance to work on a show in Los Angeles, she jumped at the opportunity and worked her way into game shows, soap operas, and eventually primetime sitcoms. She won numerous Daytime Emmy(R) Awards and has been nominated for multiple DGA awards. Her resume includes seminal comedies of the past two decades including Frasier, Friends, King of Queens, Just Shoot Me, and Two and a Half Men. She most recently directed episodes of Carol's Second Act, One Day at a Time & Call Your Mother. In all, Pam Fryman has directed well over 500 episodes of television over the span of her amazing career.
The 10-episode comedy recently receiving a straight-to-series order from Hulu, produced by 20th Television. In the near future, Sophie (Hilary Duff) is telling her son the story of how she met his father: a story that catapults us back to the year 2021 where Sophie and her close-knit group of friends are in the midst of figuring out who they are, what they want out of life, and how to fall in love in the age of dating apps and limitless options. How I Met Your Father is written by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger. Executive producers include Aptaker, Berger, Carter Bays, Craig Thomas and Pam Fryman. Adam Londy will serve as co-executive producer, and Duff will serve as a producer. How I Met Your Father is a production of 20th Television. And finally, it was recently announced that Chris Lowell was cast as Jesse (character description: smart, a bit of an edge and cynical about love. He's an aspiring musician who works as an Uber driver to make ends meet and lives with his best friend Tom.)
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, March 26
The Conners - "It's Gonna Be a Great Day" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Darlene celebrates her promotion, hoping it will allow her to spend more time with Ben. Meanwhile, Jackie stumbles upon an opportunity to sue the pharmaceutical company responsible for Roseanne’s addiction, which sparks a family debate.
Abbott Elementary - "Music Class" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Barbara and Gregory are in over their heads when they find themselves in new roles at Abbott Elementary.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 24)
Wednesday, March 26
- Seth Rogen (The Studio/Platonic/Undeclared) - Watch Seth on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The Mick) - Kaitlin appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Anna Camp (Perfect Harmony/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Mindy Project) and Milana Vayntrub (Other Space) - Anna and Milana are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Steve Coogan (Happyish) - Steve appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Lunell (Lopez), Pete Davidson (Bupkis) and Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Luenell, Pete and Henry are guests on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney at 10pm on Netflix.
- Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle talks about Survival of the Thickest on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Krysten Ritter (Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Tamron Hall has a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE sitdown with actress/director/author Krysten Ritter who recently released her new thriller/mystery novel Retreat, so check your local listings.
- Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio/Bupkis) - Chase talks about The Studio on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - NBC's Today catches up with Kathryn in the 9am hour.
- Eva Longoria (Only Murders in the Building/Telenovela) - Eva talks about Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and 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)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
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