Fri-Yay: Ted Lasso and Mythic Quest Are Promising Comedies on Apple TV+; Paramount+ Announces Cast for The Game Revival

Friday, July 30, 2021

Fri-Yay: Ted Lasso and Mythic Quest Are Promising Comedies on Apple TV+; Paramount+ Announces Cast for The Game Revival

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!

Ted Lasso - Mythic Quest

by Vincent

I've talked before in this column about streaming services' difficulties finding strong comedies to serve as flagships for comedy on their services. Netflix has had many really great comedies, but lately their comedy slate has been dry after giving the ax to shows like BoJack Horseman, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and One Day at a Time. Hulu has had some solid dramedies like Remy and Shrill, but is still finding its footing with straight comedy series. Well, two of the most promising streaming sitcoms are Mythic Quest and Ted Lasso on Apple TV+.

Of the two shows, Mythic Quest (starring and created by Always Sunny's Rob McElhenney) is a more traditional sitcom. It focuses a group of video game developers, and while it has some very serious moments, it's more of a straight comedy. Ted Lasso (starring Jason Sudeikis) is a bit of an odder show buried also extremely compelling. If you haven't watched it yet, two seasons are now available on Apple TV+. I was hesitant about Apple TV+ and felt their early offerings were just okay, but they've really stepped up their game lately. If it holds, maybe they could be the solid comedy steaming service we've all wanted.

The Game - Adriyan Rae, Vaughn Hebron, Analisa Velez, Brittany Daniel and Pooch Hall

Paramount+, the streaming service from ViacomCBS, announced several new cast members joining the service's revival of the groundbreaking series The Game, including Adriyan Rae (Chicago Fire) as Brittany Pitts, the daughter of Jason and Kelly Pitts; Vaughn Hebron (Tyler Perry's The Oval) as Jamison Fields, an undrafted free agent; and Analisa Velez (Sneaky Pete) as Raquel Navarro, Brittany's best friend. Legacy players Brittany Daniel (Cheaper by the Dozen) and Pooch Hall (Ray Donovan) will make special appearances, reprising their roles as Kelly Pitts and Derwin Davis, respectively. The 10-episode first season of the new series will stream exclusively on Paramount+. Relocating from San Diego to Sin City, The Game returns with a mix of new players and original cast, including previously announced series regulars Wendy Raquel Robinson and Hosea Chanchez, to offer a modern-day examination of Black culture through the prism of pro football. The team will tackle racism, sexism, classism and more as they fight for fame, fortune, respect and love – all while trying to maintain their souls as they each play THE GAME.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, September 10

The Hospital - "Imposter Syndrome/Scrub Money" (BET, 11:00PM ET/PT)
The worst hospital in America, run by the worst doctors and nurses imaginable.

The Hospital - "Blood Type/Home Remedy Roulette" (BET, 11:30PM ET/PT)
The worst hospital in America, run by the worst doctors and nurses imaginable.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 8)

Wednesday, September 10

Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle/The Louie Show) - Watch Bryan on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Christopher Lloyd (Taxi/Stacked) - Christopher appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Stephen Curry (Mr. Throwback) - Stephen stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. He will also be on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am, in the 9am hour, and in the 10am hour.
Jennifer Aniston (Friends/Muddling Through/Ferris Bueller/Molloy) - Jennifer is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Josh Gad (Wolf Like Me/Avenue 5/The Comedians/1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He also talks about Paramount's Adulthood on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Sunita Mani (Government Cheese/No Activity/GLOW) - Sunita is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Lumi Pollack, Carmen Sanchez and Ruby Marino (Electric Bloom) - Lumi, Carmen and Ruby talk about Electric Bloom on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Christopher Gorham (2 Broke Girls/Out of Practice) - Christopher talks about Tempest on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Mark Duplass (Big Mouth/Togetherness/The Mindy Project/The League) - Mark talks about The Morning Show on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Christopher Guest (Family Tree/Morton & Hayes), Michael McKean (Laverne & Shirley), Harry Shearer (The Simpsons) and Rob Reiner (All in the Family/Morton & Hayes) - Christopher, Michael, Harry and Rob talk about Spinal Tap II: the End Continues on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Queen Latifah (Living Single) - NBC's Today catches up with Queen Latifah in the 10am hour.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - Valerie appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method) - Drew is chatting with father-son duo Michael and Cameron Douglas on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Fred Grandy, Ted Lange and Jill Whelan (The Love Boat) - Fred, Ted and Jill are guests on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.