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.