Friday, March 04, 2022

Fri-Yay: How Do You Define a Hit in 2022?; Full Cast Announced for Blockbuster Video Comedy Series; Remembering Farrah Forke of Wings

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!

Abbott Elementary

by Vincent

This season, with a handful of unexpectedly popular shows on network television, I've been seeing a lot of articles touting ratings for new shows. For example, it often gets shared that Abbott Elementary is ABC's highest rated sitcom in years, outrating even the last few seasons of Modern Family after all platform data is in. The ratings that typically get shared include multiplatform delivery a month out (L+35/MP35 ratings) and seem to be the most common audience delivery used in network "fluff" pieces touting their shows' ratings. There are also a lot of articles quoting Hulu audience delivery. However, how relevant are these numbers? At one time, digital/streaming and DVR ratings were considered inferior to live broadcast ratings due to the fact that viewers could skip or watch less ads, making those views less profitable to advertisers.

However, linear live+same day broadcast ratings have gotten so low that it seems like perhaps the days of that being true are over. So what do networks use to determine what shows to renew and cancel? At one time, you could predict pretty easily what shows would be making the cut next year based on their ratings, which occasional "in between" shows (once called "bubble shows"). Now, though, it isn't as simple. There are so many factors to ratings, from digital/streaming numbers to live+SD numbers to DVR numbers to licensing agreements to critical acclaim to what company owns each show, that it's a bit of a mystery sometimes what shows make it and what shows don't. Ratings certainly aren't irrelevant, and they still make probably the bulk of the decisions. But much like with streaming series, predicting what shows will be renewed and what shows are cancelled is much less if an exact science than before. And networks are looking at broadcast series as streaming series as well.


Tyler Alvarez, Madeleine Arthur, JB Smoove, Olga Merediz and Kamaia Fairburn

Netflix's upcoming new comedy Blockbuster has started production and has added new cast members! Tyler Alvarez, Madeleine Arthur, and Olga Merediz join as series regulars, while JB Smoove and Kamaia Fairburn are recurring. They all join series stars Randall Park and Melissa Fumero in the new comedy series. Ten episodes have been ordered. An ensemble comedy that takes place in the last Blockbuster Video in America, that explores what it takes - and more specifically who it takes - for a small business to succeed against all odds.

Farrah Forke

Actress Farrah Forke, who starred as Alex Lambert on Wings, has died. She died of cancer at her home in Houston, Texas, on February 25. Ms. Forke was 54.

Wings

Forke starred as Alex Lambert on 35 episodes of the NBC sitcom Wings from 1992 to 1995. Alex Lambert is a helicopter pilot who moves to Nantucket to start her own helicopter tour business. She has a relationship with Brian Hackett (Steven Weber). Forke joined the series as a recurring cast member in the fourth season (1992-1993) before becoming a regular in the fifth season (1993-1994). She made a final guest appearance in the sixth season. The cast also included Tim Daly, Crystal Bernard, David Schramm, Rebecca Schull, Thomas Haden Church (1990-1995), Tony Shalhoub (1991-1997) and Amy Yasbeck (1994-1997).

Dweebs

She starred as Carey on the short-lived 1995 CBS sitcom Dweebs. Carey is an office manager for a Seattle computer software company called Cyberbyte. The series also starred Peter Scolari, Corey Feldman, David Kaufman, Stephen Tobolowsky and Adam Biesk.

Mr. Rhodes

Forke starred as Nikki Harkin on the short-lived 1996-1997 NBC sitcom Mr. Rhodes. Nikki Harkin is Tom Rhodes (Tom Rhodes) high school fantasy girl who is a guidance counselor at Harkin Academy, a small-town prep school. The series also starred Stephen Tobolowsky, Ron Glass, Jessica Stone, Shaun Weiss, Lindsay Sloane, Travis Wester and Alexandra Holden.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included A Whole New Ballgame, Ned and Stacey and Jenny.

Dean Cain, Farrah Forke and Teri Hatcher - Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

She had a recurring role as Mayson Drake, an attorney who considers Superman (Dean Cain) a vigilante, but holds a candle for Clark Kent (Dean Cain), on four episodes of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman from 1994 to 1995. Her other drama guest appearances included Fantasy Island (1998) and three episodes of Party of Five as Tracy in 1999.

Forke provided the voice of Big Barda / Barda Free on two episodes of Batman Beyond in 2000 and one episode of Justice League Unlimited in 2005. She provided a voice for a 1997 episode of Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man. She was the voice woman of several companies, including Cadillac and Arby's.

Her film credits included Disclosure (1994), Heat (1995), Ground Control (1998) and Hitman's Run (1999).

She is survived by her two sons, Chuck and Wit Forke; her mother and stepfather, Beverly and Chuck Talmage; her three sisters, Paige Inglis, Jennifer Sailor and Maggie Talmage; and her best friend, Mike Peterson.

Ms. Forke was funny and memorable as Alex Lambert on Wings. She later took a break from the acting community to raise her twin sons in Houston. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us on television. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Wings message board. View photos in our galleries.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, October 7

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 6)

Tuesday, October 7

  • Jennifer Lopez (South Central) - Catch Jennifer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Bill Engvall (The Bill Engvall Show) - Bill is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Andy Cohen interviews Adam on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 3:30am on Bravo.
  • Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect/Suddenly Susan) - Sherri talks about The Sunshine Queens on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm/Son of Zorn/Suburgatory) - Cheryl talks about Unscripted on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks) - Keanu and Alex Winter talk about Broadway's Waiting for Godot and the Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure Reunion on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • Jaleel White (Family Matters/Grown Ups) - Jaleel talks about Flip Side on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • John Corbett (And Just Like That.../Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/United States of Tara/Lucky/Sex and the City) - John talks about his film Soul on Fire on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

10/07 - The CW's TV We Love Docuseries; Happy's Place Season 2 Trailer
10/06 - Dancing with the Stars Surging in Viewership, Especially Among Younger Viewers; Remembering Kimberly Hébert Gregory of Vice Principals
10/05 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of October 6, 2025)
10/04 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Cancels The Great North; Everybody Loves Raymond Cast Set to Reunite for 30 Year Anniversary
10/03 - MeTV Acquires Everybody Loves Raymond; Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Trailer
10/02 - CBS Presents Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion; Apple TV+ Renews Peanuts Specials Through 2030
10/01 - The CW's Six Brand New Movies Starting November 16; Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special Details
09/30 - Sarah Sherman HBO Comedy Special in December; Huluween Programming for 2025
09/29 - Netflix Renews Haunted Hotel for Season 2; Christmas Comedy Series Sicilia Express
09/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 29, 2025)
09/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Cast Comes Together for First Table Read for Reboot; Monopoly Game Show Moving Ahead
09/26 - Netflix Adds to Cast for Running Point Season 2; Stiller & Meara Apple TV+ Documentary
09/25 - Adam Pally HBO Comedy Special; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Returns with Huge Ratings
09/24 - Weigel's Newest Diginet WEST Launches Monday, September 29; New Baywatch Coming to Fox in 2026-27
09/23 - DMV Trailer for CBS; Mo Amer Returns to Netflix
09/22 - SNL Season 51 Guests for First Episodes; Prime Video's Bat-Fam Series
09/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 22, 2025)
09/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Paper to Get Linear Run on NBC; Saturday Night Live Announces New Hosts
09/19 - NBC Schedules The Paper and Stumble in November; Remembering Patricia (Pat) Crowley of Please Don't Eat the Daisies
09/18 - UPtv Acquires The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Camp Rock 3 Coming Soon to Disney
09/17 - FETV Acquires The Munsters Effective September 29; Apple TV+ The Morning Show Renewed for Season 5
09/16 - Disney's SuperKitties Adds to Voice Cast; Netflix Renews The Hunting Wives for Season 2
09/15 - 77th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Letterman TV Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 15, 2025)
09/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount Looking to Merge with Warner Bros. Discovery; Samsung TV+ Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/12 - Emmy Awards to Create Special Moments; Ricky Gervais Netflix Animated Comedy Alley Cats Coming in 2026
09/11 - Remembering Polly Holliday of Alice and Flo; Prime Video's Overcompensating Renewed for Season 2
09/10 - Netflix Renews Leanne for Season 2; Hazbin Hotel Returns October 29
09/09 - HBO Comedy The Chair Company; Trailer for Disney's Vampirina: Teenage Vampire
09/08 - The Paper Renewed for Season 2, NYC Event on Tuesday; Final Season of Bel-Air
09/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 8, 2025)