SitcomsOnline.com News Blog: About a Boy

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Saturday, January 10, 2015

SitcomsOnline Digest: About a Boy Episode Order Trimmed; Home Improvement Reunion on Last Man Standing; Maude Complete Series Set to Feature Unaired Episodes

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! The "holiday break" is over and everybody is back to doing the usual, and even though we never actually left you over the holiday break like many others did, we're able to give you more news about your favorite sitcoms and updates about series on DVD! Let's get going.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

NBC's About a Boy has had its season trimmed from 22 episodes down to 20 episodes, which is not exactly a positive sign for the future of the series. (Deadline)
In case you missed last night's episode of Last Man Standing, which featured a Home Improvement reunion (and another surprise at the end), you may want to check it out online. (ABC)
Friends recently debuted on Netflix, and some have been wondering why the episodes are shorter than the ones on the DVD sets. Consumerist explains why. (Consumerist)
We've seen quite often in the past year how remakes are the big thing, and now it looks like we could be seeing a remake of the classic miniseries Roots. (Entertainment Weekly)
It looks like Fox will be "flipping burgers" for a while longer, as they have renewed Bob's Burgers for a sixth season. (SitcomsOnline)
It's almost time for pilot season on amazon.com once again, where you can select which pilots you would like to see become a new series on the streaming service. (SitcomsOnline)

HOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

We're very excited about Shout! Factory's release of Maude - The Complete Series on DVD, but their press release mentioned something unique in the list of special features: two unaired episodes, "The Double Standard" and "Maude's New Friends." While episodes with those titles did indeed air, it turns out that there were earlier versions of those episodes that were taped and did not air (new "retooled" versions were put broadcast later), and those will be included on this set.
Shout! Factory has a trio of new seasons of series previously released as complete series sets coming up in April, beginning with Barney Miller - The Complete Seventh Season on April 7, The Jeffersons - The Complete Seventh Season on April 28, and Sgt. Bilko - The Complete Second Season on April 28.

JANUARY 13 HOME MEDIA RELEASES

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00OAIHHRC/ref=nosim/happydaysonline5-20

The Facts of Life - The Complete Series (DVD, $199.99): You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the complete series of The Facts of Life on DVD. The 26 disc set contains every episode of the series, along with a nice selection of special features.

FOLLOW ME

Who to Follow: Mindy Cohn (Twitter), "Actor. Storyteller. Enthusiast. Optimistic worrier. Compassionate critic. i want adventure in the great wide somewhere - i want it more than I can say."

Claim to Fame: With The Facts of Life arriving on DVD this week, we're featuring one of the stars of the series as our Follow Me this week. Unlike many actresses, Mindy Cohn quite literally got her start on that series. In fact, she was attending a school in California much like Eastland when she was discovered by producers of the show who were researching what such schools are like. Later, she made guest appearances in series such as Charles in Charge and 21 Jump Street, but along the way, she also earned a college degree in cultural anthropology. Lately, she has been playing the voice of Velma in the Scooby Doo franchise, and has also made guest appearances on various TV shows, including last season's final episode of The Middle.
Pick of the Tweets: "were we THIS young? um...yep! first day of rehearsal, season 2, " the facts of life" #throwbackthursdsy" (August 21, 2014)

Monday, December 15, 2014

NBC Midseason 2015 Schedule with One Big Happy, Undateable, etc; FX Orders Donald Glover Pilot

NBC has announced premiere dates for its burgeoning midseason schedule - dramas Allegiance, Night Shift, A.D. and Odyssey, event series The Slap, and comedies One Big Happy and Undateable. As previously announced, The Blacklist will return to the NBC schedule on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1, immediately following the game. The series then shifts to its new timeslot beginning Thursday, Feb. 5 at 9pm. The Blacklist will serve as a lead-in to the new spy thriller Allegiance from writer-director George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau). Allegiance will air Thursdays at 10pm also beginning Feb. 5. The eight-episode event series The Slap, written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Jon Robin Baitz and executive produced by the team of Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald (Gladiator, Men in Black) and director Lisa Cholodenko (The Kids Are All Right), will air Thursdays at 8pm beginning Feb. 12. The series stars Peter Sarsgaard, Uma Thurman, Thandie Newton and Zachary Quinto.

Summer drama The Night Shift, returns to NBC on Monday, Feb. 23 at 10pm following the two-hour season premiere of The Voice. It looks like State of Affairs will wrap its season on Feb. 16. The Night Shift - about the courageous and irreverent men and women at San Antonio Memorial Hospital - stars Eoin Macken, Ken Leung, Jill Flint, Robert Bailey Jr., Jeananne Goossen, JR Lemon, Brendan Fehr and Freddy Rodriguez. Also moving from summer to midseason is the comedy Undateable, from executive producers Bill Lawrence, Adam Sztykiel and Jeff Ingold. The sitcom is about a group of friends who are close to finding a relationship but just need a little help - will begin its second season on Tuesday, March 17 at 9pm following The Voice. The series stars Chris D'Elia, Brent Morin, Ron Funches, Rick Glassman, David Fynn, Bianca Kajlich and Bridgit Mendler. NBC's new comedy One Big Happy - from writer Liz Feldman and executive producer Ellen DeGeneres - launches Tuesday, March 17 at 9:30pm, immediately following Undateable. The sitcom stars Elisha Cuthbert. Marry Me and About a Boy will return later in the season. And finally, on Easter Sunday, April 5, at 9 and 10 p.m., respectively, NBC will debut two of its highly anticipated dramas - 12-hour mini-series A.D. and action drama Odyssey.

Donald Glover

FX Networks has ordered the comedy series pilot Atlanta created by and starring award-winning actor and writer Donald Glover (Community, 30 Rock). Glover serves as Executive Producer, along with Paul Simms (Girls, Flight of the Conchords, NewsRadio), and Dianne McGunigle of Schiff Company. The pilot will be produced by FX Productions. Atlanta revolves around two cousins on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene whose opposing views on art versus commerce, success and race will make their quest anything but easy. Glover will play "Earnest 'Earn' Marks," a college drop-out who reconnects with his long buried ambition and sets out to seize the life he imagined for himself when his estranged cousin becomes a sudden star.

Atlanta is the fourth comedy series pilot produced or ordered by FX Networks this year, adds to the growing roster of comedies series and projects that is unmatched by any network. FX is currently in production on the comedy series pilot Pariah, starring Bill Burr for Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton. In January FXX will launch Man Seeking Woman, starring Jay Baruchel from Simon Rich, Jonathan Krisel and Broadway Video, and in April FX will premiere The Comedians, starring Billy Crystal and Josh Gad, and next summer FX also launches Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, starring Denis Leary, Elizabeth Gillies and John Corbett. Earlier this year, FX ordered Baskets (2016), starring Zach Galifianakis from Galifianakis and Louis C.K. and directed by Jonathan Krisel, and the untitled Tracy Morgan project (TBD). Those new projects join the existing FX Networks comedy slate which includes Archer (FX), Louie (FX), Married (FX), It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FXX), The League (FXX), and You're the Worst (FXX).

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Three's Company, Too Close for Comfort Returning to Antenna TV; NBC Midseason Pilot Review: About a Boy - Premieres Saturday After the Olympics

Come and knock on our door! Three's Company and Too Close for Comfort will re-join Antenna TV's schedule beginning Monday, April 7, 2014. The sitcoms have not aired on the network since the end of December 2012 and have been reacquired from DLT Entertainment. The new multi-year year deal includes rights to the Three's Company spin-offs The Ropers and Three's a Crowd, which will be placed in the Three's Company rotation like before. Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting's multicast network, which airs on 84 affiliates across the U.S. reaching 70% of TV households, will add Too Close for Comfort to the lineup weekdays 9-10am ET and 1-2am ET, being paired with Three's Company airing 10-11am ET and 12-1am ET. On weekends, Three's Company will air Saturday 7-8pm ET and Sunday nights from 12-1am ET.

Three's Company and Too Close for Comfort join Antenna TV's lineup of classic favorites such as I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, Dennis the Menace, Father Knows Best, Bachelor Father, Hazel, The Partridge Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, Diff'rent Strokes, WKRP in Cincinnati, All in the Family, Good Times, The Three Stooges, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Jack Benny Program, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Gidget, The Flying Nun, It Takes a Thief and Antenna TV Theater, a movie block featuring MGM and Sony movies. We will have the full Antenna TV line-up starting April 7 once the network makes it official! Stay tuned!

About a Boy - Tuesdays at 9:00PM ET/PT on NBC
Special Premiere Saturday, February 22, 2014 following The Olympics at approx. 11:05PM ET/PT

by Vincent

Based on a film of the same name, About a Boy follows Will Freeman (David Walton) after being granted a life of free tie, free love, and freedom from financial woes after he writes a hit song. But when single mom Fiona (Minnie Driver) and her 11-year-old son Marcus (Benjamin Stockham) move next door, his life is turned upside down.

Cast Details:

David Walton as Will Freeman
Minnie Driver as Fiona Brewer
Benjamin Stockham as Marcus Brewer
Al Madrigal as Andy

David Walton (Will Freeman) starred in two past NBC comedies, Perfect Couples and Bent. He is also well-known as a recurring character on New Girl and for his guest appearances on shows such as The Loop and Happy Endings.

Minnie Driver (Fiona Brewer) is an Oscar-nominated film actress. She has an extensive list of film credits, including Good Will Hunting, which earned her the nomination. Other credits include Sleepers, Tarzan, Ella Enchanted, Hope Springs, The Phantom of the Opera, The Simpsons Movie, and Barney's Version.

Benjamin Stockham (Marcus Brewer) most recently starred in the NBC sitcom 1600 Penn. He also has appeared in shows such as Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, and Once Upon a Time.

Al Madrigal (Andy) is a stand-up comedian who has released several stand-up specials and has appeared on talk shows such as Conan, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He also starred in two CBS comedies – Welcome to the Captain and Gary Unmarried.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Saturday, February 22 at approx. 11:05PM ET/PT)

Will Freeman lives a charmed existence as the ultimate man-child. After writing a hit song, he was granted a life of free time, free love and freedom from financial woes. He's single, unemployed and loving it. So imagine his surprise when Fiona and her oddly charming 11-year-old son, Marcus, move in next door and disrupt his perfect world. When Marcus begins dropping by his home unannounced, Will's not so sure about being a kid's new best friend, until, of course, Will discovers that women find single dads irresistible. That changes everything and a deal is struck: Marcus will pretend to be Will's son and, in return, Marcus is allowed to chill at Will's house.

Analysis:

The word I can best use to describe About a Boy is "competent." This is a good thing – there's a surprising amount of times I'll watch a pilot and wonder if the people who made it have ever watched television before. But About a Boy comes from seasoned TV creator Jason Katims (creator of both Friday Night Lights and Parenthood), and his experience is clear. Everything in the About a Boy pilot is very well-calculated. The characters are clear in their intentions and personas, and the events flow smoothly and understandably. The dialogue is well-written, witty and natural in the way it often is on Katims' shows. Each character makes the journey you'd expect them to make in a pilot episode, and by the end of the episode, you have a pretty good sense of what this show is going to be from here on out, to the point where you could probably take a wild guess for what the next three episode summaries are going to be and not be all that far off. The show has a very clear sense of what it is and what it wants to be, which is often times not at all the case, even with a good pilot.

The question is whether it's all a bit too calculated. I think it's probably too soon to tell, but I'm getting a similar vibe from this show as I have from just about every other NBC comedy that's premiered in the past 3 years. The show is clearly trying to appeal to that magical "broad" demographic that NBC so desperately dreams about, from the accessible premise to the overly pleasing aesthetics to the fact that it all ends to the beat of a One Direction song. What tripped up potentially promising but similarly "broad audience" aimed shows like Up All Night, Go On and The Michael J. Fox Show was that they became so watered down that they stopped appealing to anyone and just became incredibly boring. The real "broad" comedies of television are many things, but they are very much not boring, and they usually have some distinguishable traits that make them appeal to strongly to broad audiences. NBC's newer comedies are just pure vanilla paste – they're fine and mostly enjoyable, but they're the kind of shows you watch and then never think about again. That's the worst thing a TV show can be.

It's not clear yet that About a Boy is going to go down this route, but it's hard to shake the feeling that it will given NBC's recent history, and given the show itself, which is...fine. It's not really funny at all, and at times it makes you wonder if this show wouldn't have worked better as a drama (a genre that Katims has mastered twice now), but it's enjoyable, it has a great cast that's doing predictably great work, and there's hints of potential there. But it's also not a show I can see myself thinking about again after I finish this review. That could change, but I wouldn't place any bets on it.

Conclusion:

About a Boy is a decent show with strong acting and dialogue and a potentially interesting premise. But there's nothing particularly special about it, and given NBC's recent history, it's hard to see the show overcoming its less interesting aspects and turning into something great. As of now, it's far from a must-watch, but there is some undeniable potential, and it would be nice to see the show overcome the NBC of it all and make use of its great cast.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

Watchability: 3.5/5
Funniness: 2.5/5
Overall: 3/5

Discuss the show after you watch it on Saturday, February 20, 2014 at approx. 11:05PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

NBC.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

About a Boy Photo Gallery

Preview: