Friday, June 25, 2021
Fri-Yay: Paramount+'s iCarly Revival Is Light-Hearted Fun for Millennial and Gen Z Viewers; HIMYM Director Joins HIMYF
![iCarly](https://www.sitcomsonline.com/photos/icarly625.jpg)
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
Saturday, September 7
Johnson - "Bahama Breeze" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Naomi is impressed with Omar's growth; Antionette makes Jarvis a proposal at a much-needed time; Greg reconnects with Jada; Omar, Keith and Jarvis hit the club.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 2)
Friday, September 6
- Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) - Watch Kumail on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Michael Keaton (Report to Murphy/Working Stiffs/All's Fair) - Michael appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Conner O'Malley (Shrill) - Conner is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Edie Falco (Bupkis/Nurse Jackie) - Edie talks about her film I'll Be Right There on NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Josh Gad (Wolf Like Me/Avenue 5/The Comedians/1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh is joining Drew and telling her about getting denied from his college's musical theater program and making his return to Broadway after eleven years with bestie Andrew Rannells on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Diane Farr (Splitting Together/Like Family/The Job) - Diane discusses the CBS drama series Fire Country on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/21 - Frasier (2023) - Season One
06/11 - The Jeffersons - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
06/11 - Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
07/05 - Letterkenny - Season 12 (Final Season)
07/30 - Ted Lasso - The Richmond Way (The Complete Series) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
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)
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