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

Friday, June 25, 2021

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

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!

iCarly

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.

Pam Fryman

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

Monday, April 6

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to Gemma Johnson's Day Off" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Gemma reaches her limit at work, and when a car issue forces her to slow down, an unexpected break helps her rethink what she really wants next. Meanwhile, Marty and Malcolm’s plans are thrown off course when unexpected opportunities arise, and Dave embraces a new career path.

The Neighorhood - "A Farewell Special" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
CBS presents The Neighborhood: A Farewell Special, an Entertainment Tonight production, airing Monday, April 6 (8:30-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+. Hosted by Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier and filmed on location on The Neighborhood's stages, the special celebrates the acclaimed CBS comedy's final season, honoring eight seasons, 156 episodes, and eight unforgettable years of laughter, heart and community, leading up to the series finale on May 11.

This celebratory event features exclusive new interviews with the cast reflecting on their journey, revisiting early days on set, and looking back at the show's evolution and cultural impact. From its heartfelt exploration of friendship and family to its comedic take on life in a changing community, The Neighborhood has become a beloved part of CBS' comedy legacy.

The special includes never-before-seen footage and archival interviews from the ET Vault, offering fans a nostalgic look at the series' most iconic moments and the relationships built along the way. Viewers will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the emotional final days of production, including the cast and crew's last table read, intimate moments from the final tapings, and heartfelt goodbyes.

Additionally, The Neighborhood: A Farewell Special brings audiences inside the cast's final wrap party, capturing the laughter, speeches, memories, and surprises that marked the end of an era. To cap off the evening, fans will get an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming series finale, with the cast and producers sharing what viewers can expect as the Butlers and Johnsons say farewell to the neighborhood they've called home for nearly a decade.

The Neighorhood - "Welcome to New Horizons" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Dave’s silent auction wins lead to a classical concert outing with Gemma and the Butlers that quickly goes off the rails. Meanwhile, Malcolm’s ghostwriting gig takes a surprising turn when Tina encourages him to dive into reality TV for inspiration – sparking an unexpected obsession.

St. Denis Medical - "We Make Time" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When a doctor becomes a patient, his co-workers rally around him, whether he likes it or not; Matt and Serena need to talk.

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins - "The Loyalty Swamp" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Tobin's past comes back to haunt him; Reggie and Brina struggle to set a wedding date.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 6)

Monday, April 6

Jason Segel (Shrinking/How I Met Your Mother/Undeclared) - Watch Jason on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks) - Keanu is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about Outcome on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Melissa Gilbert (Stand by Your Man) - ABC's Good Morning America has George Stephanopoulos' exclusive interview with Melissa sometime between 7-9am.
Laurie Metcalf (Big Mistakes/The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/The Norm Show) - Laurie talks about Big Mistakes on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Kerry chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Mindy Kaling (Running Point/The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy talks about Mindy's Book Studio on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry and Rebecca King-Crews make an exclusive announcement on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am. Terry will also be on in the 9am hour.
Sterling K. Brown (Starved) and Ryan Michelle Bathe (First Wives Club/Retired at 35) - Sterling and his wife Ryan Michelle tell Sherri about the highly anticipated new season of Paradise now streaming on Hulu & Disney+ on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda talks season 2 of Your Friends & Neighbors and her new film Fantasy Life on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.