Fri-Yay: CBS’s Ghosts Is the Most Interesting New Comedy of the Year; Insecure to Hold Festival for Final Season

Friday, October 08, 2021

Fri-Yay: CBS’s Ghosts Is the Most Interesting New Comedy of the Year; Insecure to Hold Festival for Final Season

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!

Ghosts

by Vincent

Typically, CBS sitcoms and "critical acclaim" aren't really two things that go together. While CBS is known for their broad hits, they don't typically go for the critically adored or fan beloved angle, and don't stray too far from the tried and true formula. However, Ghosts, which premiereed last night, could be an exception. The show has solid Metacritic reviews - the best of any new sitcom this year and possibly even new series. It also has a very interesting premise, the kind you don't see much on broadcast TV anymore. In the premise, Samantha (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) believe that their dreams have come true in receiving a beautiful country house, only to find that it is falling apart and inhabited by a number of deceased previous residents.

It's no secret that the broadcast sitcom is having a tough time right now. With critical darlings and fan favorites like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Superstore coming to an end, and few new sitcoms making a splash, it's about time for a new show to make waves. Let's hope Ghosts is that sitcom.

Insecure Fest

In celebration of the final season of the hit comedy Insecure, HBO will host its fifth and final Insecure Fest block party for the series. On Saturday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m. PT in Los Angeles, Insecure Fest will be hosted by Crissle West and Francheska Medina of the InsecuriTEA Podcast. The event, inspired by key Insecure themes of music and community, will also include surprise musical performances. Insecure Fest will give attendees the chance to view an exclusive screening of the season 5 premiere episode and experience a retrospective photo installation that pays homage to the series. Throughout the day, food will be served by local Black-owned vendors including Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen - Slauson. Guests will also have the opportunity to experience an interactive preview of Insecure: The Come Up Game, a rap-based mobile game where users navigate the messy business of adulting with Issa, Molly, Kelli, Tiffany, Lawrence and Chad as their guides. Insecure: The Come Up Game, will debut in the App and Android Store during season 5. COVID protocols will be in place for festival attendees.

Starring NAACP Image Award winner and six-time Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award nominee Issa Rae, the series continues to follow our favorite characters as they evaluate their relationships, both new and old, in an effort to figure out who and what comes with them in this next phase of their lives. The fifth season also stars series regulars Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis, Natasha Rothwell, Amanda Seales, Kendrick Sampson and Courtney Taylor. The final season premieres exclusively on HBO on Sunday, Oct.24, at 10 p.m. ET/PT and will be available to stream on HBO Max.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, June 30

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Sting" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Calvin and Marty send Courtney on a mission to find out information about Fuse Box’s impressive new rival. Meanwhile, Malcolm attends an event for his creative writing program at USC, where he scores a meeting with a book agent, Lisa (Angelique Cabral).

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Your Own Medicine" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Dave’s disastrous attempt to dunk a basketball, Calvin takes care of his injured neighbor. Also, Gemma befriends a cool mom group while babysitting Daphne.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 30)

Monday, June 30

Don Johnson (Kenan) - Watch Don on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
George Clooney (Roseanne/The Facts of Life/ E/R (1984-1985) - George appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Christopher Sieber (It's All Relative/Two of a Kind) - Christopher is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Kel Mitchell (Game Shakers/Kenan & Kel) and Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple/Sean Saves the World/Reno 911!) - Kel and Thomas are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Evan Handler (And Just Like That...) - Evan talks about And Just Like That... on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
Hugh Jackman (Human Resources) - Hugh chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere/Nightcap) - Jeff talks about Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Amy Poehler (Duncanville/Parks and Recreation) - NBC's Today has Prompter Wars with Amy in the 10am hour.
Kevin Hart (Lil Kev/Die Hart/The Big House/Undeclared) - NBC's Today catches up with Kevin in the 10am hour.
Amy Schumer (Life & Beth), Jillian Bell (Bless the Harts/Idiotsitter/Eastbound & Down/Workaholics) and Brianne Howey (Dollface) - NBC's Today catches up with Amy, Jillian and Brianne on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/One Day at a Time) - Drew is introducing the newest Drew-crew member, Valerie Bertinelli on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. Plus, Valerie is making a shrimp and veggie cups recipe from her latest cookbook, Indulge.
Mario Cantone (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Mario talks about Max's And Just Like That... on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Edwin Lee Gibson (The Bear/Unprisoned) - Edwin is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:30am.