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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!

by Vincent

Normally, this time of year is a big one for TV. It's Upfronts season, the time of the year when TV networks are deciding their line-ups for next year, and renewing and cancelling shows en masse to prepare those line-ups. In recent years, the shine of Upfronts had worn off slightly as networks slowly inch towards a new world with online media and year-round programming. Still, Upfronts remained a centerpiece of television. This year, though, is obviously different. Networks will not be trotting out their line-ups to rooms packed full of advertisers as usual. And renewal and cancellation might be on the back burner. There are lingering questions, mainly, what does TV look like for the foreseeable future? At this point, no one really knows, but here are some options I'm thinking about.

Status quo schedules - Signs are indicating networks are going to keep their schedules mostly status quo since there is so much uncertainly about the next TV season. As of now, there have been many renewals but generally few cancellations. CBS did just cancel a handful of marginal comedy performers such as Man With a Plan, Carol's Second Act and Broke as well as the drama series Tommy. But NBC, Fox, and ABC all have many shows still on the bubble, and it seems possible that more of those bubble or marginal shows will make it to an additional season than usual, since there's no guarantee any new pilots will be ready for series by the fall if production doesn't resume.

Thinking out of the box - Some TV shows are still finding creative ways to continue production amongst the pandemic. Talk shows are still airing, but remotely and without a studio audience. Saturday Night Live has been doing "SNL at Home" using remote sketches. Live performance shows American Idol and The Voice are also doing remote episodes. Parks and Recreation had a special remote reunion episode, and there is talk of other shows doing the same. Some shows are even getting more creative, with both Pop TV sitcom One Day at a Time and NBC drama The Blacklist announcing they will remotely be producing an animated episode of their shows. It's possible we will see an increase in "creative" episodes such as remote episodes centered around video chatting platforms (Modern Family actually did a FaceTime episode back in 2015) or animated specials before production can safely resume. Still, it's hard to imagine too many scripted shows being able to pull off such a drastic format change for more than a handful of one-off specials. I can't imagine too many people would be interested in entire seasons structured this way. But it could be a fun way to keep fans engaged while TV shows are away.

Scaled-back production - There has been talk of, after it is safe to resume production, scaling back production so it can safely begin a bit earlier. It's hard to know when it will be safe for prestige drama series to travel internationally again, or when you can have hundreds of actors and extras packed together in a room again. One video call with Warner employees discussed limiting scenes where actors are close together for a while (so no love scenes). It's hard to imagine many shows existing within these constraints (how can you do Superstore without having the store full of customers? etc.) but it may be a reality some have to face.

Plotlines about Coronavirus - It's inevitable that some shows will want to tackle one of the biggest international crises in history. Coronavirus is arguably the biggest world crisis since World War II, so that makes it the first in television's history. We will probably see storylines about this virus for years to come, some good and some maybe not so good. Brooklyn Nine-Nine creator Dan Goor discussed having his show tackle it when it returns, since its characters would be frontline essential workers. A show like Grey's Anatomy or Superstore seems poised to tackle it, too.

No matter what happens, this is a very interesting time for TV, and it will certainly stand out when people go back and marathon through shows of today and discover strange remote specials or entire seasons where the actors were socially distanced. We'll see if that's reality, but for now, at least we have TV shows of the past.

Speaking of the Coronavirus, Freeform has ordered the limited scripted series Love in the Time of Corona, from executive producers Joanna Johnson (Good Trouble, The Fosters, Hope & Faith), Christine Sacani (Good Trouble, The Fosters) and Anonymous Content's Robyn Meisinger. This four-part romantic comedy series is a funny and hopeful look at the search for love, sex and connection during this time of social distancing. The series will follow several interwoven stories with an ensemble of characters who are sheltering in their homes, some of whom are wondering if a hookup with a roommate can ever be casual, while another is kicking herself for deciding to isolate with an ex. It is a show that takes a fresh look at love that knows no bounds. The series will be filmed using remote technologies while utilizing talents' real living spaces as the backdrop to the stories. Love in the Time of Corona will premiere in August.

CBS announced the return of 23 series, renewing 80% of its top-rated lineup for the 2020-2021 broadcast season. The Network will announce its new series and 2020-2021 primetime schedule in the coming weeks as part of a virtual upfront (more below). The returning shows include top series NCIS, Young Sheldon, FBI: Most Wanted, Bob (Hearts) Abishola, and 60 Minutes. Among the additional renewals are the dramas All Rise, Blue Bloods, Bull, FBI, MacGyver, Magnum P.I., NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, S.W.A.T. and Seal Team; comedies The Neighborhood and The Unicorn; reality series Undercover Boss; and the law and justice program 48 Hours. They join the previously announced renewals of Evil, Mom, Survivor, The Amazing Race and Young Sheldon. It wasn't all good news as four series were canceled: comedies Man with a Plan, Carol's Second Act and Broke and drama Tommy.

On Tuesday, May 19 (instead of the original upfront date of May 13), ViacomCBS Upfront @Home will unveil the fall programming lineup of the CBS Television Network and original programming from CBS All Access, the premium subscription video-on-demand platform. CBS will also preview exciting opportunities from CBS Sports, including Super Bowl LV, and highlight the powerful and important work being done by CBS News. This will be the first virtual upfront of the season. NBC is slated to have a virtual upfront sometime in June (full details to come) but no word yet on ABC, Fox and The CW. In place of the original NBC upfront date on May 11, NBCUniversal will do a virtual State of the Marketplace conversation focusing on the One Platform initiative (it will not be an upfront presentation on the 11th, so no fall schedule that day, that will occur in a to be determined date in June).

This May, Comedy Central will be binge-releasing Robbie, an all-new, original, scripted comedy series from stand-up comedian and actor, Rory Scovel (I Feel Pretty, Rory Scovel Tries Stand Up For The First Time). During this unprecedented moment in history when Americans are spending the majority of their time at home, Comedy Central will be making the full season of Robbie available to binge-watch online and through the brand's various viewing platforms. The season premiere episode will first debut on Comedy Central's linear channel on Thursday, May 7 at 11:45 p.m. ET/PT, after an all-new episode of late-night franchise, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

Immediately following its linear premiere, Robbie will be available to watch in its entirety via Comedy Central's YouTube channel, cc.com, the Comedy Central App, Comedy Central Video on Demand, and Comedy Central Now (via Amazon, Apple, & Roku). Robbie is a half-hour scripted series starring Rory Scovel. Robbie is a small town youth league basketball coach living in his father's shadow, until he realizes he has a son of his own who can lead him to greatness. Robbie is written by Rory Scovel and Anthony King (Broad City, Silicon Valley). Co-starring with Rory are Beau Bridges, who plays his father, Sasheer Zamata and Mary Holland. Scovel, King, and Scott Moran are executive producers. Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Betsy Koch and Owen Burke are executive producers for Gary Sanchez Productions. 

CBS announced the spring premieres dates for two comedies. Man with a Plan will return for its fourth season Thursday, April 2 at 8:30 PM ET/PT, after The Unicorn completes its season run, and the new comedy Broke will debut the same night at 9:30 PM ET/PT, after Carol's Second Act completes its season order. Man with a Plan stars Golden Globe Award winner Matt LeBlanc in a comedy about an old-school guy confronting the modern challenges of parenting, marriage and family. Liza Snyder, Kevin Nealon, Stacy Keach, Grace Kaufman, Matthew McCann, Hala Finley, Matt Cook and Kali Rocha also star.

Broke stars Jaime Camil and Pauley Perrette in a comedy about a single suburban mother (Perrette) who's shocked when her estranged sister, her sister's outrageously wealthy, big-hearted, Latin husband (Camil), and her husband's fiercely loyal assistant/driver/friend land on her doorstep in need of a place to live after the couple's money dries up. Though class differences may separate the women, and the size of the house and the number of people living in it will test the limits of family ties, the familiar bond of sisterhood might be the catalyst they need to restore their relationship. Natasha Leggero, Izzy Diaz and Antonio Corbo also star.

Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens has amassed 3.8 million total viewers including replays, streaming and premiere simulcast on a total of seven Viacom networks. Including L+3 playback, the January 22 premiere of Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens is Comedy Central's best primetime series launch in more than three years, notching a 0.56 P18-49 rating and 818,000 total viewers on Comedy Central. Ratings for the Comedy Central premiere telecast jumped double and triple digits in all key demos for L+3 viewing, including +155% among Asian viewers 18-49 (1.32 L+3) and +100% among Women 18-49 (0.59 L+3). Golden Globe winner Awkwafina (The Farewell, Crazy Rich Asians) stars in the half-hour scripted comedy inspired by her real-life growing up in Queens, NY. Raised by her Dad (BD Wong) and Grandma (Lori Tan Chinn) alongside her cousin (Bowen Yang), Nora Lin leans on her family as she navigates life and young adulthood in outer borough-NYC. The series was recently renewed for a second season.

CBS announced season finale dates for its primetime comedies, dramas and unscripted series, including the one-hour series finale of The Big Bang Theory on Thursday, May 16 from 8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT. Without further adieu, here are the finale dates:

Monday, April 1
9:00-10:00 PM Magnum P.I. (1st Season Finale)

Thursday, April 11
9:30-10:00 PM Fam (1st Season Finale)

Sunday, April 14
8:00-9:00 PM God Friended Me (1st Season Finale)

Sunday, April 21
10:00-11:00 PM Madam Secretary (5th Season Finale)

Monday, April 22
8:00-8:30 PM The Neighborhood (1st Season Finale)

Monday, May 6
8:30-9:00 PM Man with a Plan (3rd Season Finale)

Thursday, May 9
9:00-9:30 PM Mom (6th Season Finale)

Friday, May 10
8:00-9:00 PM MacGyver (3rd Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM Blue Bloods (9th Season Finale)

Monday, May 13
10:00-11:00 PM Bull (3rd Season Finale)

Tuesday, May 14
9:00-10:00 PM FBI (1st Season Finale)

Wednesday, May 15
8:00-10:00 PM Survivor (38th Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM Survivor Live Reunion Show

Thursday, May 16
8:00-9:00 PM The Big Bang Theory (SERIES FINALE, 12th Season)
9:00-9:30 PM Young Sheldon (2nd Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM S.W.A.T. (2nd Season Finale)

Friday, May 17
10:00-11:00 PM Hawaii Five-0 (9th Season Finale)

Sunday, May 19
10:00-11:00 PM NCIS: Los Angeles (10th Season Finale)

Tuesday, May 21
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS (16th Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM NCIS: New Orleans (5th Season Finale)

Wednesday, May 22
10:00-11:00 PM Seal Team (2nd Season Finale)

Saturday, June 1
8:00-9:00 PM Ransom (3rd Season Finale)

Noted comedian, actor and REACH Media Syndicated Radio host, DL Hughley is bringing his own brand of comedy and commentary to TV One with his new nighttime talk show The DL Hughley Show, premiering Monday, March 18 at 11/10C PM. The show will air four nights a week, Monday through Thursday. Hughley is one of the most unapologetic voices of our time and does not shy away from controversy. The DL Hughley Show dives head first into hot topics of the day and dishes on the latest news, entertainment, pop culture and what's trending in social media. Always insightful and informative, Hughley and his co-host Jasmine Sanders use humor to deliver everything from hard news to lighter fare. Featuring stories relevant to a rapidly evolving African American community, the one-hour show, which is a hybrid of Hughley's existing radio show and fresh content created specifically for a nighttime audience, will offer everything from covering the day's major headlines and roundtable discussions to celebrity guest interviews and comedy bits.

Shot in a stylized studio, the look and feel of The DL Hughley Show is patterned after a traditional radio show, adapted for television and will be taped in-studio four days a week from Burbank, CA.

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!

by Vincent

Recently, I caught up with the most recent season of FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Always Sunny is currently the longest-running live action sitcom on TV, having just finished its 13th season. The show premiered in 2005, an age that seems so far long and feels extraordinarily different from the current era, and yet, Sunny still fits seamlessly into the current TV landscape. In its 13th season, the show still feels vital and relevant - sometimes, in new ways than it did previously.

The buzziest episode of the 13th season was the finale, in which long-closeted gay character Mac performs an elaborate dance sequence, expressing his feelings about his sexuality. It was, by far, the most emotional Sunny has ever gotten, and many fans were put off by it. Personally, I'm happy that Sunny keeps experimenting and innovating its own process, even 13 seasons in. It's part of why the show has lasted the test of time, and why 13 seasons in, I'm still not waiting for the end. Granted, there were some signs of wear within Sunny's 13th season - not every episode was a hit, and the show missed Dennis who was only in the season sporadically - but the show is still brave, often hilarious, and still truly giving it its all. It's not a show that's resting on its laurels for easy laughs, the way many long-running sitcoms do. It's really hard to find many sitcoms that have remained relevant and hilarious as long as Sunny has - and it's why it remains a special part of the sitcom landscape.

CBS announced the comedy portion of its winter 2019 scheduling moves, including the series premiere of Fam and the return of Man with a Plan. CBS will premiere the new comedy Fam on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 9:30PM, ET/PT after Murphy Brown completes its season order. Fam stars Nina Dobrev and Tone Bell in a comedy about a woman whose vision of a perfect life with her adoring fiancé and his wonderful parents is radically altered when her 16-year-old, out-of-control half-sister unexpectedly comes to live with her. As the family Clem (Dobrev) chose and the family she has blend, Clem realizes that this new happy fam may be the perfection she's always been seeking. Odessa Adlon, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Sheryl Lee Ralph also star.

Also, Man with a Plan will return for its third season on Monday, Feb. 4 at 8:30PM ET/PT after Happy Together completes its season run. Man with a Plan stars Golden Globe Award winner Matt LeBlanc in a comedy about an old-school guy confronting the modern challenges of parenting, marriage and family. Liza Snyder, Kevin Nealon, Stacy Keach, Grace Kaufman, Matthew McCann, Hala Finley, Matt Cook and Kali Rocha also star. The season premiere of Life in Pieces will be announced at a later date.

Splitting Up Together - Tuesdays at 9:30PM ET/PT on ABC
Premieres Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 9:30PM ET/PT

by Vincent

Lena and Martin were once madly in love. But, like many marriages, time and circumstance eventually took their toll and the romance disappeared. Finding themselves in a platonic marriage and acting more like a pair of camp counselors wrangling their kids than a couple hopelessly in love, they decide that everyone's lives would be better served if they got a divorce. Still wanting the best for their three kids and facing a daunting real estate market, the couple decides to "Bird Nest" instead. One parent will live in the house as the "on-duty" parent taking care of the kids, while the "off-duty" parent will live in the detached garage, doing whatever he or she pleases while switching off every other week. Could being apart ultimately lead to them getting back together?

Cast Details:

Jenna Fischer as Lena
Oliver Hudson as Martin
Bobby Lee as Arthur
Diane Farr as Maya
Lindsay Price as Camille

Jenna Fischer (Lena) is best known for her role as Pam Beesly on the long-running NBC sitcom The Office. She has also appeared in films such as Blades of Glory, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and Hall Pass.

Oliver Hudson (Martin) is an actor known for his role on the TV series Scream Queens, Nashville, and the long-running sitcom Rules of Engagement. He is also the brother of actress Kate Hudson and son of Goldie Hawn.

Bobby Lee (Arthur) is a comedian and actor known for his long-running stint on the sketch comedy series MADtv, and for his role in films such as Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Pineapple Express and The Dictator.

Diane Farr (Maya) is an actress best known for her roles in the hit shows NUMB3RS and Rescue Me, as well as guest appearances on series such as Modern Family, Private Practice and CSI.

Lindsay Price (Camille) is an American actress previously known for her roles on soap operas, from daytime soaps such as All My Children and The Bold and the Beautiful to the primetime soaps such as Beverly Hills 90210, Lipstick Jungle and Eastwick.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Airs Tuesday, March 27 at 9:30PM ET)

After breaking the news to their friends and family about their divorce, Lena has to deal with her son Mason's growing pains. Meanwhile, Martin, still feeling guilty about refusing to dance with Lena at their wedding, secretly tries to atone for his oversight and surprise his ex-wife with new moves.

Analysis:

The most interesting thing about Splitting Up Together is the creators behind it. The show was created and is executive produced by Emily Kapnek, and also has Ellen DeGeneres credited as an executive producer. Kapnek previously created cult favorite ABC sitcoms Suburgatory and Selfie. Suburgatory started off as a promising hit with lots of positive buzz (and ratings), but gradually faded and was quietly canceled after its third season. Selfie only lasted for half of a season, but it garnered a following in that short time and remains a popular brilliant but cancelled: cult hit. What's notable about both shows, though, is that they were able to garner followings based on their lovable, quirky characters and gradual yet effective warmth and ability to tug on the heartstrings. Both shows had big concepts (in the case of Suburgatory a suburban satire, in the case of Selfie a shallow millennial woman learning how to care about people), but quietly deconstructed those concepts to reveal the true human beings behind them. Splitting Up Together has a similarly big concept, and in these early episodes for review, it shows potential of moving past it and revealing the depths of its characters - but it doesn't quite get there yet.

Splitting Up Together's pilot episode is a little boring, frankly - it gets a lot of plot out of the way and is light on jokes, but clearly has the entire cast putting in their all. And the cast is very game for whatever comes their way, particularly Jenna Fischer, whose first major sitcom role since The Office finds her a lovable anchor of the series. Future episodes begin to allow her to have a little more fun, and as expected, she handles it with aplomb. If I have one major concern with the series, it's that these early episodes are clearly laying a path to get its central couple back together, and the show is far more interesting examining why their marriage doesn't work than when it's suggesting that they should get back together. It would be incredibly generic and predictable for this to turn into another "will they/won't they" series, and I hope the glimmers of something more interesting is the direction the series goes down in the future.

Final Thoughts:

Splitting Up Together has an excellent cast and team of creators behind it, and there is potential for it to live up to the name of those involved in its early episodes, even if much of the show's early goings are a bit bland and predictable. Hopefully, the show will follow Emily Kapnek's former ABC sitcoms and begin leaning into its more interesting, character-building side and utilize all of its talent to their best of their abilities.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

Discuss the show after you watch it on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 9:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

ABC.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

A.P. Bio Photo Gallery

Preview:

CBS has announced season finale dates for its primetime comedies, drama and unscripted series for spring 2018. See below!

Monday, April 16
10:00-11:00 PM SCORPION (4th Season Finale)

Wednesday, April 18
9:00-11:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS (2-Hour 13th Season Finale)

Friday, May 4
8:00-9:00 PM MACGYVER (2nd Season Finale)

Monday, May 7
8:00-8:30 PM KEVIN CAN WAIT (2nd Season Finale)

Tuesday, May 8
9:00-10:00 PM BULL (2nd Season Finale)

Thursday, May 10
8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY (11th Season Finale)
8:30-9:00 PM YOUNG SHELDON (1st Season Finale)
9:00-10:00 PM MOM (1-Hour 5th Season Finale)

Friday, May 11
10:00-11:00 PM BLUE BLOODS (8th Season Finale)

Monday, May 14
9:00-9:30 PM SUPERIOR DONUTS (2nd Season Finale)

Tuesday, May 15
9:00-11:00 PM NCIS: NEW ORLEANS (2-Hour 4th Season Finale)

Wednesday, May 16
9:00-10:00 PM SEAL TEAM (1st Season Finale)

Thursday, May 17
9:00-10:00 PM LIFE IN PIECES (1-Hour 3rd Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM S.W.A.T. (1st Season Finale)

Friday, May 18
9:00-10:00 PM HAWAII FIVE-0 (8th Season Finale)

Sunday, May 20
8:00-10:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES (2-Hour 9th Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM MADAM SECRETARY (4th Season Finale)

Monday, May 21
8:30-9:00 PM MAN WITH A PLAN (2nd Season Finale)
9:30-10:00 PM LIVING BIBLICALLY (1st Season Finale)

Tuesday, May 22
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS (15th Season Finale)

Wednesday, May 23
8:00-10:00 PM SURVIVOR (36th Season Finale)
10:00-11:00 PM SURVIVOR LIVE REUNION SHOW

CBS has given full season orders to Monday night second year comedies Man with a Plan and Superior Donuts. Both series will go from 13 episodes to 22 episodes. Man with a Plan stars Matt LeBlanc, Liza Snyder, Kevin Nealon, Stacy Keach, Grace Kaufman, Matthew McCann, Hala Finley and Matt Cook. Jeff and Jackie Filgo, Matt LeBlanc, Michael Rotenberg, Troy Zien and Gregg Mettler are executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Superior Donuts stars Judd Hirsch, Jermaine Fowler, Katey Sagal, David Koechner, Maz Jobrani, Rell Battle and Diane Guerrero. Bob Daily, Neil Goldman, Garrett Donovan, Mark Teitelbaum, John R. Montgomery, Michael Rotenberg, Josh Lieberman, Jermaine Fowler and Betsy Thomas are executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

Nicollette Sheridan (Desperate Housewives, Knots Landing) has been cast as Alexis Carrington in Dynasty on The CW. Alexis Carrington is the first wife of Blake Carrington and mother to Fallon and Steven. She will return unexpectedly to their world, challenging Blake's marriage to Cristal, seeking to reunite with her children, and fighting to claim what is hers.

Dynasty airs Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm ET/PT on The CW. Wealth, power, deception, and double-dealing... what does it take to build a dynasty? A modern re-imagining of the iconic primetime soap, centering on the powerful Carrington family as they defend their throne against the Colbys, new rivals and threats, and even each other. Dynasty stars Elizabeth Gillies (Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll), Nathalie Kelley (UnReal, The Vampire Diaries), James Mackay (The Leftovers), Sam Adegoke (Murder in the First), Robert Christopher Riley (Hit the Floor) and Rafael de la Fuente (Empire), with Alan Dale (Lost, Ugly Betty, The O.C.), and Grant Show (Devious Maids, Melrose Place).

CBS announced the comedy sitcom Man with a Plan starring Matt LeBlanc will premiere its second season Monday, Nov. 13 at 8:30PM, ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. Freshman comedy 9JKL moves to 9:30 PM, ET/PT on Nov. 6. Me, Myself, & I has been pulled from the lineup and CBS says it will return to the schedule at a later date (perhaps on Saturdays?). Man with a Plan stars Matt LeBlanc, Liza Snyder, Kevin Nealon, Stacy Keach, Grace Kaufman, Matthew McCann, Hala Finley and Matt Cook. Jeff and Jackie Filgo, Matt LeBlanc, Michael Rotenberg and Troy Zien are executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Here is the CBS Monday line-up now:

CBS Monday, Nov. 6
8:00-8:30 PM Kevin Can Wait
8:30-9:00 PM The Big Bang Theory (rebroadcast)
9:00-9:30 PM Superior Donuts
9:30-10:00 PM 9JKL (NTP)
10:00-11:00 PM Scorpion

CBS Monday, Effective Nov. 13
8:00-8:30 PM Kevin Can Wait
8:30-9:00 PM Man with a Plan (2nd Season Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM Superior Donuts
9:30-10:00 PM 9JKL
10:00-11:00 PM Scorpion

The nationally syndicated game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is gearing up for the month of November with a series of specialty weeks and celebrity contestants. Each contestant will take on the classic 14-question game opposite host Chris Harrison for the chance to win $1 million. Theme weeks include: Victories for Veterans week, Nov. 6 – 10 and Whiz Kids week, Nov. 13 – 17. There will also be three celebrity episodes starting Nov. 20:

Cameron Mathison, Nov. 20:
Actor and Entertainment Tonight correspondent Cameron Mathison plays for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, which advances the development of multiple myeloma treatments.

Sherri Shepherd, Nov. 23:
Actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd's winnings will go to the Summit View School, which is dedicated to educating young people with learning differences who possess average to superior intellectual capabilities. Sherri's game play continues into Nov. 24.

Ben Higgins, Nov. 30:
Ben Higgins of The Bachelor fame plays for Humanity and Hope United Foundation, which works to assist under-served villages in remote parts of Honduras.

CBS announced early renewals of 18 returning series for the 2017-2018 season (well, 16 actually since two were already previously announced). Additional returning series pick-ups for next season will be announced at a later date. The shows renewed to date include 6 comedies, 9 dramas, 1 reality series, 2 newsmagazines and a roster of hit programs across every night of the week. The Big Bang Theory and NCIS were already renewed earlier. The 16 series new pick-ups for 2017-18 season are NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, Bull, Kevin Can Wait, Blue Bloods, Hawaii Five-0, Scorpion, Survivor, Life in Pieces, Madam Secretary, MacGyver, Mom, Man with a Place, Superior Donuts, 48 Hours, and 60 Minutes. These renewals includes 5 freshman shows are part of the Network's early renewals, including Bull, Kevin Can Wait, MacGyver, Man with a Plan and Superior Donuts.

There were no news on series such as 2 Broke Girls, Criminal Minds, The Great Indoors, Pure Genius, The Odd Couple, Training Day, Code Black, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Elementary and The Amazing Race. A few of those will get renewed, but no word yet. So stay tuned!




It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of March 27-31, 2017, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!


Sunday, March 26, 2017

• Sanaa Lathan (Family Guy/The Cleveland Show/LateLine) - Catch Sanaa on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.

Monday, March 27, 2017

• Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - Watch Chris on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Richard Dreyfuss (Your Family or Mine) - Richard appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie/Malibu Country) and Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Lily and Jane are guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. They also chat with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Craig Ferguson (The Drew Carey Show) - Craig visits Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• Rachel Dratch (Imaginary Mary) - Rachel is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Pete Holmes (Crashing) - Pete stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Jenna Elfman (Imaginary Mary/1600 Penn/Accidentally on Purpose/Courting Alex/Dharma & Greg) - Jenna appears on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC. She will also be on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
• Ron Funches (Powerless/Undateable) - Ron is a guest on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• Kaitlin Olson (The Mick/It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - Kaitlin drops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs/Rules of Engagement/Reno 911!) - Wendi appears on a repeat of Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Lisa Kudrow (Friends/The Comeback) - Lisa is a guest on LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Mark Consuelos (Alpha House/Hope & Faith) - Mark guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Tahj Mowry, Derek Theler and Jean-Luc Bilodeau (Baby Daddy) - Tahj, Derek and Jean-Luc are guests on Harry, so check your local listings.
• Tika Sumpter (The Game) - Tika appears on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
• Vanessa Bell Calloway (Rhythm & Blues) - Vanessa is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie) - June talks about Grace and Frankie on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) and Ben Falcone (Joey) - Melissa and Ben talk TV Land's Nobodies on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• Brooklyn Decker (Grace and Frankie/Friends with Better Lives) - Brookyln stops by People Now at 8:30am.
• Marcia Gay Harden (Trophy Wife) - Marcia opens up about her favorite part of being in the 50 Shades movies on People Now at 8:30am.
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• Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Tracee dishes about her Golden Globe win on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show at 2am on BET or on your local stations.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

• Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) - Catch Alec on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother) - Jason is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Hank Azaria (The Simpsons/Free Agents/Herman's Head) - Hank visits The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Kate Walsh (Bad Judge/The Drew Carey Show) - Kate appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Cheryl Hines (Son of Zorn/Suburgatory/Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Cheryl is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Adam Pally (Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam drops by Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Judy Greer (Married/Mad Love/Miss Guided) - Judy appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Kevin James (Kevin Can Wait/The King of Queens) - Kevin is a guest on LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea drops by LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat) - Randall appears on LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Busy Philipps (Cougar Town) - Busy guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke reveals what it’s really like being a child star, plus, the truth behind her struggles with anxiety and depression on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
• Todd Grinnell (One Day at a Time/Four Kings) - Todd appears on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Richard Dreyfuss (Your Family or Mine) - Richard talks about Shots Fired on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• George Lopez (Lopez/George Lopez) - George chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Melissa Peterman (Baby Daddy/Reba) - Melissa share her recipe for Mexican pizza on People Now at 8:30am.
• Jenna Elfman (Imaginary Mary/1600 Penn/Accidentally on Purpose/Courting Alex/Dharma & Greg) and Rachel Dratch (Imaginary Mary) - Jenna and Rachel talk about Imaginary Mary on the AOL Build Show at 12:30pm.
• Sutton Foster (Younger) - Sutton talks about Younger on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show at 2am on BET or on your local stations.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

• Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Watch Andrew on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Emma Roberts (Scream Queens/Unfabulous) - Emma is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He will also be on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• Lisa Kudrow (Friends/The Comeback) - Lisa visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Paul F. Tompkins (DAG) - Paul is a guest on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• Milana Vayntrub (Other Space) - Milana appears on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Andy Daly (Review/Eastbound & Down) - Andy appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Christian Slater (Breaking In) - Christian guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Brooklyn Decker (Grace and Frankie/Friends with Better Lives) - Brooklyn is a guest on Harry, so check your local listings.
• NeNe Leakes (The New Normal) - NeNe guest co-hosts a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
• Jenna Elfman (Imaginary Mary/1600 Penn/Accidentally on Purpose/Courting Alex/Dharma & Greg) - Jenna will be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Craig Ferguson (The Drew Carey Show) - Craig is a guest on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• George Lopez (Lopez/George Lopez) - George discusses the second season of Lopez on the AOL Build Show at 5:30pm.

Thursday, March 30, 2017

• Matthew Perry (The Odd Couple/Go On/Mr. Sunshine/Friends) - Catch Matthew on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. He will also be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and the AOL Build Show at 4pm.
• Louis C.K. (Louie/Lucky Louie) - Louie appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Regina King (227) - Regina stops by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Marisa Tomei (A Different World) - Marissa is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Christine Baranski (Cybill/Happy Family/Welcome to New York) - Christine appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Kristen Schaal (The Last Man on Earth/Bob's Burgers/Flight of the Conchords) - Kristen visits Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation) - Adam drops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Brooklyn Decker (Grace and Frankie/Friends with Better Lives) - Brooklyn is a guest on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Wanda appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Christian Slater (Breaking In) - Christian guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Kristen Bell (The Good Place) - Kristen is a guest on a repeat of The Real, so check your listings.
• Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) and Lisa Kudrow (Friends/The Comeback) - Alec and Lisa talk about The Baby Boss on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Katey Sagal (Superior Donuts/Married with Children/8 Simple Rules) - Katey discusses her new book Grace Notes: My Recollections on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am. She will also be on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
• Zach Braff (Scrubs) - Zach will be on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
• Craig Ferguson (The Drew Carey Show) - Craig is a guest on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.

Friday, March 31, 2017

• America Ferrera (Superstore) - Watch America on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Joey McIntyre (The McCarthys) - Joey drops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth) - Will appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory/Roseanne) - Johnny is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Josh Gad (The Comedians/1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Sofia Vergara (Modern Family/The Knights of Prosperity/Hot Properties) - Sofia appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Jason George (Eve) - Jason is a guest on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
• Craig Ferguson (The Drew Carey Show) - Craig will be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• Katey Sagal (Superior Donuts/Married with Children/8 Simple Rules) - Katey chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. She will also be on the AOL Build Show at 2pm.
• Holly Robinson Peete (Hangin' with Mr. Cooper/For Your Love) - Holly is a guest on Steve Harvey, so check your local listings.
• Joey King (Bent) - Joey talks about her new movie Going in Style on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.

All listings are subject to change. Visit our blog and main site for daily updated listings. Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Friday feature! We do listen!

CBS announced full-season pickups for freshman sitcoms The Great Indoors and Man with a Plan, ordering six more episodes of both freshman comedies that premiered late in the fall, on Oct. 27 and Oct. 24, respectively. So, 19 episodes each for both sitcoms. CBS has now given full season episode orders to five of its new fall series. These comedies join the previously announced Bull, the season's #1 new program in total viewers; Kevin Can Wait, the season's #1 new comedy in total viewers; and MacGyver, Friday's #1 new series. In addition, CBS has ordered three more episodes of the sophomore medical drama Code Black, upping its total to 16 episodes. Man with a Plan stars Golden Globe Award winner Matt LeBlanc in a comedy about a contractor who starts spending more time with his kids when his wife goes back to work and discovers the truth every parent eventually realizes: their little angels are maniacs. And The Great Indoors stars Joel McHale in a comedy about a renowned adventure reporter for an outdoor magazine who must adapt to the times when he becomes the desk-bound boss to a group of millennials in the digital department of the publication. Jack has led a thrilling "outdoorsy" life exploring the edges of the earth while chronicling his adventures for Outdoor Limits.

HBO has renewed Divorce, Insecure and Westworld for second seasons. Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, the drama series Westworld is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin, exploring a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged. Westworld kicked off its ten-episode first season Oct. 2 on HBO, debuting hour-long episodes Sundays at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Created for television by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy, both of whom executive produce and write, with Nolan directing, the series is based on the 1973 film Westworld, written by Michael Crichton. The show stars Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Jimmi Simpson, Rodrigo Santoro, Shannon Woodward, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Ben Barnes, Simon Quarterman, Angela Sarafyan, Luke Hemsworth and Clifton Collins, Jr.

The comedy series Divorce follows Frances, who has suddenly begun to reassess her life and her strained relationship with her husband after more than a decade of marriage and two children. But she soon discovers that making a clean break and a fresh start is harder than she thought. Serving as an executive producer, Sarah Jessica Parker stars as Frances in the series, which is created by Sharon Horgan. Thomas Haden Church stars as Frances' husband, who is struggling to cope with their marriage falling apart. Divorce kicked off its ten-episode first season Oct. 9 on HBO, debuting half-hour episodes Sundays at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Next, created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, the comedy series Insecure explores the contemporary black female experience in an unclichéd and authentic way. Rae and Yvonne Orji stars as best friends who must deal with their own real-life flaws as they attempt to navigate different worlds and cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences. Insecure launched its eight-episode first season Oct. 9 on HBO, debuting half-hour episodes Sundays at 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Man with a Plan - Mondays at 8:30PM ET/PT on CBS
Premieres Monday, September 24, 2016 at 8:30PM ET/PT

by Todd

Man with a Plan stars Golden Globe Award winner Matt LeBlanc in a comedy about a contractor who starts spending more time with his kids when his wife goes back to work and discovers the truth all parents eventually realize: Their little angels are maniacs. Adam feels fully equipped to take on more parenting responsibilities while his self-assured wife, Andi, returns to the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom for 13 years. However, Adam is blindsided by how tough it is to wrangle three messy kids who can’t live without Wi-Fi. Their preteen daughter, Kate, is a master manipulator and initially thrilled that “Daddy Fun Times” is taking over, middle child Teddy can't seem to keep his hands out of his pants despite constant reminders, and their precious youngest, Emme, is nervous about starting kindergarten under the stern supervision of Mrs. Rodriguez. But with Andi's encouragement and advice from a couple of equally stressed parents, Marie and Lowell, Adam takes charge of his brood, lays down the law and discovers he's going to “nail” this job.

Cast Details:

Matt LeBlanc as Adam Burns
Liza Snyder as Andi Burns
Diana Maria Rivera as Mrs. Rodriguez
Jessica Chafin as Marie Faldonado
Matt Cook as Lowell
Kevin Nealon as Don Burns
Grace Kaufman as Kate Burns
Matthew McCann as Teddy Burns
Hala Finley as Emme Burns

Matt LeBlanc (Adam Burns) is best known for his role as the dim-witted womanizing actor Joey Tribbiani on the legendary, long-running series Friends. He received three consecutive Emmy nominations, two Golden Globe nominations and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. He continued portraying the character in the spin-off series Joey for two more years. He currently appears on the Showtime series Episodes, playing a fictional version of himself, for which he won a Golden Globe Award and four Emmy nominations.

Liza Snyder (Andi Burns) is best known for her portrayal of Christine Hughes in Yes, Dear. She reprised the role in a 2013 episode of Raising Hope. She was also a regular on the sitcom Jesse, which starred Christina Applegate. Her other credits include Murder, She Wrote, Sirens, Chicago Hope, Pacific Blue and House.

Diana Maria Rivera (Mrs. Rodriguez) starred as the mother-in-law of Rob Schneider's title character in the short-lived CBS sitcom ¡Rob!. She recently appeared in Telenovela and Saint George. Some of her sitcom guest appearances include The Drew Carey Show, The Hughleys, Everybody Loves Raymond, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Less Than Perfect and Girl Meets World.

Jessica Chafin (Marie Faldonado) is known for her recurring role as Coco Wexler on Zoey 101 and appearing in the films Spy and The Heat. Some of her sitcom guest appearances include New Girl, Episodes, You're the Worst, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Veep, 2 Broke Girls and Mike & Molly.

Matt Cook (Lowell) starred in the TBS sitcom Clipped. Some of his other credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Whitney, 2 Broke Girls, Austin & Ally, Mom, The Comeback and Jessie.

Kevin Nealon (Don Burns) is perhaps best known for his nine-year (1986-1995) stint as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. He received critical acclaim for his role as a stoned accountant and business advisor in the series Weeds. He starred in the short-lived sitcoms Champs and Hiller and Diller.

Grace Kaufman (Kate Burns) had a recurring role in the short-lived CBS sitcom Bad Teacher. She recently starred in the Michael Bay series The Last Ship. Her other credits include The Closer, Free Agents, Jessie and Lab Rats.

Matthew McCann's (Teddy Burns) television credits include several voice-over projects, including multiple characters in the animated series American Dad. He has been featured in numerous television commercials and radio spots.

Hala Finley's (Emme Burns) short film credits include Counter Parts, Grammy and Letters from a Father. She has appeared in several national print ads and recently filmed a commercial for Lexus.

Pilot Plot:

The first two episodes were available for review.

"Pilot" (Airs October 24 at 8:30PM ET)
Golden Globe Award winner Matt LeBlanc stars as Adam, a contractor who starts spending more time with his three kids when his wife, Andi, goes back to work and discovers the truth all parents eventually realize—their little angels are maniacs.

"Two Tickets to Paradise" (Airs October 31 at 8:30PM ET)
When Adam’s client offers him two highly coveted tickets to a Pittsburgh Steelers game, he must choose between taking his wife, Andi, or his brother, Don (Kevin Nealon).
Guest Star: Kali Rocha as Marcy Burns

Analysis:

Man with a Plan is a multi-camera sitcom from CBS Television Studios, Double Double Bonus Entertainment and 3 Arts Entertainment. Jeff Filgo, Jackie Filgo, Matt LeBlanc, Michael Rotenberg and Troy Zien are the executive producers. The "Pilot" episode was directed by multiple Emmy Award winner James Burrows. It was written by the husband-and-wife team of Jeff Filgo and Jackie Filgo (That '70s Show, The New Adventures of Old Christine).

In the "Pilot" episode, the family has a meeting where Andi announces she is going back to work at a hospital. Adam is in charge of taking the kids to school, picking them up and taking care of them. Adam and Andi take them to school where Andi tries to take a photo of them. Adams meets Mrs. Rodriguez, the lead kindergarten teacher at Emme's school. At the kindergarten-parent mingle, Adam is named the room parent. He meets Lowell, a stay-at-hime dad, and Marie Faldonado, the mother of Victor who is a classmate of Teddy. Andi talks to Adam on the phone about him being named the room mom. After picking up the kids at school, he sees how they act when they arrive home. Adam tells Andi that he wants out of the deal after they don't clean up after themselves. Adam sends the kids into the pantry while talking to Andi about finding a solution. Adam forgets something when he leaves the door. Adam comes up with a brilliant idea to get the kids off their iPads.

The second episode introduces the character of Don, Adam's older brother. They work together at a contracting job. Adam offers him tickets to go the Pittsburgh Steelers game after a client gives them to him. Adam teaches the kids how to play blackjack with cookies. Andi finds the tickets in Adam's back pocket. Don brings him a vintage 1976 Steelers jersey. Adam attends a meeting about bullying with the other parents. Don and Andi discuss the tickets dilemma. Adam talks to Don's wife, Marcy, about the tickets. Adam begs Don to unblock him. The couples decide who will attend the game.

The legendary James Burrows directs the first two episodes. The "Pilot" is fast paced and funny. There are quite a few characters to introduce, so they do a nice job with that. This sitcom is similar to Kevin James' Kevin Can Wait in that Matt LeBlanc is in every scene. It's very much a vehicle for a star like him. He's older, greyer and heavier than his Joey Tribbiani days, but he still brings the funny. His Adam character reminds me of Tony Danza's Tony Micelli character from Who's the Boss?. The show has a nice mix of Adam's family life at home, at his kid's school and at his contractor job. It's nice to see another sitcom set in the Pittsburgh area, joining others like Mr. Belvedere and Back to You.

Sitcom veterans Matt LeBlanc and Liza Snyder are paired together. They have some good chemistry in the first two episodes. It's interesting to note that Jenna Fischer was originally cast in the Andi role, but she reportedly had some chemistry issues with LeBlanc. They reshot the pilot. The rest of the supporting cast features solid comedy veterans in Diana Maria Rivera, Jessica Chafin, Matt Cook and Kevin Nealon. Kevin Nealon makes his debut in the second episode. The always funny Kali Rocha plays his wife, Marcy. I'm not sure if her role will be recurring, but it would be nice to see her in more episodes. The children are played by Grace Kaufman, Matthew McCann and Hala Finley. Their roles are pretty sizable in the first two episodes. They do a fine job with their lines and scenes.

Conclusion:

Matt LeBlanc brings back his comedy smart to TV in this funny family sitcom. He has been starring in Showtime's Episodes in recent years, but this is his first broadcast network comedy since Joey ended in 2006. The stay-at-home dad type of sitcom has been done before, but they are putting a fresh and unique spin on it. Man with a Plan reminds me of three other favorite sitcoms. Adam's character is reminiscent of Tony Micelli from Who's the Boss?, who did it all for his family. The family setup and contractor job is similar to According to Jim. The school scenes remind me of The New Adventures of Old Christine, which the series creators worked on for a season. This is a comedy which many families will be able to relate to.

Man with a Plan will after TV's #1 new comedy Kevin Can Wait on Monday nights. CBS has brought in big stars with their new comedies this fall. It will be interesting to see how they do without The Big Bang Theory as a lead-in, but their star power should help bring in viewers. CBS has built a solid comedy block on Mondays. LeBlanc's Friends co-star Matthew Perry is in The Odd Couple at 9:30pm. Friends fans should enjoy that lineup. The family sitcom has made a comeback in recent years. Man with a Plan looks to be a nice addition to fall schedule. It will be great to see Matt LeBlanc again on a weekly basis. If you enjoy family friendly comedy like Kevin Can Wait, this is a new series worth checking out. They form a good comedy pair.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

Watchability: 4/5
Funniness: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Discuss the show after you watch it on Monday, October 24, 2016 at 8:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

CBS.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Man with a Plan Photo Gallery

Preview:

It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of Oct. 24-28, 2016, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!


Saturday, October 22, 2016

• Jim J. Bullock (Too Close for Comfort) - Jim talks about touring the U.S. in Kinky Boots on Oprah: Where Are They Now? at 10pm ET/PT on OWN.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

• Patti LaBelle (Out All Night) - Catch Patti on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.

Monday, October 24, 2016

• Ricky Gervais (The Office) - Watch Ricky on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about Inferno on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Elijah Wood (Wilfred) - Elijah is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Ana Gasteyer (People of Earth/Lady Dynamite/Suburgatory) - Ana visits Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) - Nick stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Ron Howard (Happy Days/The Andy Griffith Show) - Ron appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Kate Micucci (Raising Hope/The Big Bang Theory) - Kate is a guest on a repeat of @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) - Zooey appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Michael Chiklis (Daddio) - Michael drops by Harry, so check your local listings.
• Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela appears on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Aya Cash (You're the Worst) - Aya talks about You're the Worst on the AOL Build ShoW at 2pm. She will also be on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 12:30pm ET.
• Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth) - Will is a guest on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Mary Steenburgen (The Last Man on Earth/Ink) - Mary talks about The Last Man on Earth on NBC's Today in the 10am hour. She will also be on the AOL Build Show at 12:30pm.
• Anna Camp (The Mindy Project) - Anna talks about Good Girls Revolt on People Now at 8:30am.
• James Brolin (Life in Pieces) - James is a guest on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Matt LeBlanc (Man with a Plan/Episodes/Joey/Friends) - Matt appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Nico Tortorella (Younger) - Nico guest co-hosts The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

• Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth) - Catch Will on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Matt LeBlanc (Man with a Plan/Episodes/Friends) - Matt is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) - Cobie appears on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Skylar Astin (Ground Floor) - Skylar is a guest on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Ron Howard (Happy Days/The Andy Griffith Show) - Ron drops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Mary Lynn Rajskub (How to Be a Gentleman/Veronica's Closet/The Larry Sanders Show) and David Koechner (Another Period/Hank/The Office) - Mary and David are guests on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun/Twenty Good Years) - John appears on LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens/Anything But Love) - Jamie Lee is a guest on Harry, so check your local listings.
• Erinn Hayes (Kevin Can Wait/Guys with Kids/Worst Week) - Erinn plays a celeb guessing game with Rach, who’s serving up no-fail make-your-own takeout, on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Mary Steenburgen (The Last Man on Earth/Ink) - Mary joins the Chew Crew on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Ana Gasteyer (People of Earth/Lady Dynamite/Suburgatory) - Ana will be on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 12:30pm ET. She will also be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• Cheryl Hines (Son of Zorn/Suburgatory/Curb Your Enthusiasm) - Cheryl is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) - Abbi will be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am. She will also be on the AOL Build Show 4pm.
• Don Rickles (C.P.O. Sharkey/Daddy Dearest) - Don is a guest on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
• Nico Tortorella (Younger) - Nico appears on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Nicole Byer (Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole is a guest on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

• Joel McHale (The Great Indoors/Community) - Watch Joel on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) - Abbi visits The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. She will also be on LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Colin Hanks (Life in Pieces) - Colin appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Colton Dunn (Superstore), Lauren Ash (Superstore/Super Fun Night and Nico Santos (Superstore) - Colton, Lauren and Nico are guests on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• Elijah Wood (Wilfred) - Elijah stops by Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth) - Will is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Donald Glover (Atlanta/Community) - Donald appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - See what happens when Dr. Oz visits the set of Dr. Ken on The Dr. Oz Show, so check your local listings.
• John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun/Twenty Good Years) - John talks about The Crown on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
• Boris Kodjoe (The Last Man on Earth/Second Time Around) - Boris joins the Chew Crew on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Issa Rae (Insecure) - Issa is a guest on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Colin Hanks (Life in Pieces) - Colin talks about Life in Pieces on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim is a guest on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Marisa Tomei (A Different World) - Marisa appears on Access Hollywood Live, so check your local listings.
• Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry is a guest on Steve Harvey, so check your local listings.
• Betsy Brandt (Life in Pieces/The Michael J. Fox Show) - Betsy talks about Life in PieceS on the AOL Build Show at 12pm.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

• Martin Short (Mulaney/The Martin Short Show) - Catch Martin on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds) - Mary-Louise visits The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• January Jones (The Last Man on Earth) - January appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Lauren Lapkus (Clipped/Are You There, Chelsea?) - Lauren is a guest on @midnight on Comedy Central at midnight.
• Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) - Abbi visits Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Ron Howard (Happy Days/The Andy Griffith Show) - Ron appears on Chelsea on Netflix. He also talks about Inferno on NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on the AOL Build Show at 2:30pm.
• Nathan Lane (Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!), John Goodman (Roseanne/Normal, Ohio) and John Slattery (Maggie) - They talk about Broadway's The Front Page on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Joel McHale (The Great Indoors/Community) - Joel guest co-hosts LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) - Miley is a guest on LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Eva Longoria (Telenovela) - Eva appears on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
• Angelique Cabral (Life in Pieces/Enlisted) - Angelique talks about Life in Pieces on the AOL Build Show at 11am.

Friday, October 28, 2016

• John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun/Twenty Good Years) - Watch John on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Drew Carey (The Drew Carey Show/The Good Life) - Drew visits on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about The Price is Right on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Kevin appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine?/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Ricky Gervais (The Office) - Ricky stops by LIVE! with Kelly, so check your listings.
• Colin Hanks (Life in Pieces) - Colin joins the Chew Crew on ABC's The Chew at 1pm ET/12pm PT/CT.
• Melissa Joan Hart (Melissa & Joey/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch/Clarissa Explains It All) - Melissa looks back at her earliest memories on Clarissa Explains It All – and says she was really bossy on People Now at 8:30am.
• Damon Wayans (My Wife and Kids) - Damon is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.

All listings are subject to change. Visit our blog and main site for daily updated listings. Leave us comments on our message board or Tweet/Facebook us to let us know what you think of this Friday feature! We do listen!