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Young Rock - Tuesdays at 8:00PM ET/PT on NBC
Premieres Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 8:00PM ET/PT

by Vincent

Young Rock focuses on different chapters of Dwayne Johnson's life. From growing up in a strong and resilient family, to being surrounded by the wild characters of his professional wrestling family, to playing football at the University of Miami, the show will explore the crazy rollercoaster that has shaped Dwayne into the man he is today and the larger-than-life characters he's met along the way.

Cast Details:

Adrian Groulx as Dwayne Johnson, Age 10
Ana Tuisila as Lia Maivia
Bradley Constant as Dwayne Johnson, Age 15
Dwayne Johnson as Dwayne Johnson
Joseph Lee Anderson as Rocky Johnson
Stacey Leilua as Ata Johnson
Uli Latukefu as Dwayne Johnson, Age 18-20

Adrian Groulx (Dwayne Johnson, Age 10) is a young actor. Young Rock will be his first major starring role.

Ana Tuilsala (Lia Maivia) is an actress, known for Outrageous Fortune (2005), Samoan Wedding (2006) and now Young Rock (2021).

Bradley Constant (Dwayne Johnson, Age 15) is a young actor. Young Rock will be his first major starring role.

Dwayne Johnson (Dwyane Johnson) is a wrestler-turned actor who the show is based on, known for his many prolific roles in films such as the Fast & Furious movies, Jumanji, GI Joe, and many others.

Joseph Lee Anderson (Rocky Johnson) is an an actor known for his role on TV shows such as S.W.A.T., American Soul, and Timeless.

Stacey Leiula (Ata Johnson) is an actress from New Zealand. Young Rock will be her first US starring role. She is previously known for her role on the popular New Zealand TV series Shortland Street.

Uli Latukefu (Dwayne Johnson, Age 18-20) is an actor, best known for role in the film Alien: Covenant and the Netflix series Marco Polo.

Pilot Plot:

"Working the Gimmick" (Airs Tuesday, February 16 at 8:00PM ET)

As Dwayne Johnson runs for president in 2032, he reflects on his surreal life that's helped shape him into the man he is today. From growing up in a resilient family surrounded by wrestling icons, navigating rebellious teen years, to playing NCAA football at the U. This is how the boy became the man.

Analysis:

For a series that NBC is banking on appealing to wide, mainstream audiences starring a highly popular actor, Young Rock is a pretty odd show. It takes place between 4 entirely separate timelines, and also features an oddball sense of humor that you might not expect from a network sitcom starring The Rock, yet the show's cast (Johnson included) handles it well. The series is created by Nahnatchka Khan, who previously created Fresh Off the Boat and Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23. Fresh Off the Boat was another series that snuck in a lot of offball, off-the-wall humor into its family sitcom friendly premiere, so it doesn't surprise me to see Khan continuing that here. (Don't Trust the B was just a beautifully odd show all around, which is probably why it only lasted for two seasons). There are a lot of things about Young Rock that seemingly shouldn't work - there's just a lot going on here, and The Rock could ultimately prove to be a distraction, a way for a show to coast on its laurels and live off of its star power. Yet, there's some genuinely funny jokes here, and also some really interesting character work.

One of Young Rock's greatest assets is The Rock himself, as The Rock's likable presence translates well into a single-camera sitcom. He's a guy you want to root for, and that translates into all aged versions of The Rock. The actors playing Young Rock do a good job of capturing his energy. Additionally, the show does a really good job of painting its ensemble cast and turning Young Rock into a show that - underneath all the bells and whistles - is a family comedy. Khan continues her strong work on Fresh Off the Boat, creating a family dynamic that is relatable yet entertaining, filled with big and likable characters. The biggest question is if the "gimmick" (to borrow a word used often in Young Rock) of the show will ultimately distract from the solid family sitcom going on during the Young Rock days. The show's meat and potatoes is in its depiction of The Rock's younger days, and as good as The Rock is, the presence of "future" Rock in 2032 ultimately doesn't measure up to the really good stories being told about his childhood. If Young Rock wants to be as good as it can be, it'll spend as much time as it can in the past, only visiting the future when absolutely necessary.

Conclusion:

Young Rock is a lot of shows in one, but the best version of the show is the one that most heavily focuses on the sweet and well-drawn family dynamic of Young Rock's childhood. Granted, a show that doesn't star one of the most liked actors of our generation would likely not have a chance at being a hit, so it makes sense that the show wants to keep The Rock around and continue covering his "future" presidential run. However, if the show wants to be as good as it can, it'll use those not particularly interesting parts sparingly and focus on the strong family sitcom dynamics instead.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

Watchability: 4/5
Funniness: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5

Discuss the show after you watch it on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 8:00PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

NBC.com Official Site

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Young Rock Photo Gallery

Preview:

TBS announced that its newly re-imagined format of the iconic extreme obstacle course series, Wipeout will premiere on Thursday, April 1 at 9pm/8c. Hosted by multifaceted megastar John Cena (Fast & Furious, The Suicide Squad) and Nicole Byer (Nailed It!, Girl Code), with Camille Kostek (Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Model 2019) serving as field host, the all-new 20-hour series takes viewers on a white-knuckle ride, featuring new course elements that will push contestants' athleticism, endurance and determination to even greater extremes as they fight to win the grand cash prize. The new season of Wipeout will feature new format twists and elements that will push the athleticism and willpower of each contestant pairing to even greater extremes, all while delivering more than a few epic fails. Each game has been designed into three rounds and now features a jaw-dropping, three-stage, obstacle course consisting of multiple strategy and decision points designed to test the stamina of the competitors. The series' iconic big balls also make a return, bringing many laughs and surprises along the way for fans.

Following its debut as the #1 new series of the summer in 2008, Wipeout amassed an impressive following throughout its seven seasons on-air on ABC. The series has been formatted globally in 30+ territories including Argentina, Australia and the UK, and has inspired numerous spin-offs and specials.

Mr. Mayor - Thursdays at 8:00PM ET/PT on NBC
Premieres Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 8:00PM & 8:30PM ET/PT

by Vincent

Mr. Mayor follows a retired businessman who runs for mayor of Los Angeles to prove he's "still got it." Once he wins, he has to figure out what he stands for, gain the respect of his biggest critic and connect with his teenage daughter, all while trying to get anything right for America's second weirdest city.

Cast Details:

Ted Danson as Mayor Neil Bremer
Bobby Moynihan as Jayden Kwapis
Holly Hunter as Arpi Meskimen
Mike Cabellon as Tommy Tomás
Vella Lovell as Mikaela Shaw
Kyla Kennedy as Orly Bremer

Ted Danson (Mayor Neil Bremer) is a veteran sitcom actor known, of course, for his iconic role as Sam Malone on the classic NBC comedy Cheers. More recently, he was known as Michael on the critic and fan beloved sitcom The Good Place and his other TV work includes Becker, CSI, Damages and Help Me Help You.

Bobby Moynihan (Jayden Kwapis) is best known for being a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2008 to 2017. He is also known for his voice work on TV shows and films such as DuckTales, The Secret Life of Pets and Monsters University.

Holly Hunter (Arpi Meskimen) is an actress known for her roles in films such as The Incredibles, Raising Arizona, and Crash, as well as her role in TV shows Saving Grace and Succession.

Mike Cabellon (Tommy Tomás) is a comedian known for his role on shows such as Orange Is the New Black, Crashing, and High Maintenance.

Vella Lovell (Mikaela Shaw) is an actress best known as Heather on the fan beloved musical comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and for her guest roles on shows such as Younger and Girls.

Kyla Kennedy (Orly Bremer) is an actress best known for playing Dylan DiMeo on the ABC sitcom Speechless. She also starred in the television film Raising Izzie and the AMC horror series The Walking Dead.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Airs Thursday, January 7 at 8:00PM ET)

In the series premiere, Neil Bremer (Ted Danson) starts his first day as mayor of Los Angeles, where he faces new challenges on the job and at home. Also starring Holly Hunter, Bobby Moynihan, Mike Cabellon, Vella Lovell and Kyla Kenedy.

Analysis:

Mr. Mayor is one of the most anticipated new shows of the TV season, and not only because this is a TV season fairly light on new TV shows. The sitcom comes from the minds of Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, who have been some of the most respected modern comedy writers. They, of course, were the creators of the brilliant 30 Rock, which I'd rank among the best sitcoms of all time, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which I wouldn't rank quite as highly but was still an incredibly creative and hilarious show, and one of the funniest sitcoms of the streaming era. So Mr. Mayor has some pretty big shoes to fill. Unfortunately, at least in its first two episodes, Mr. Mayor doesn't seem able to do that, as it simply doesn't live up to the lofty expectations I had for a Fey/Carlock sitcom. Looked at as a regular broadcast sitcom, it's a solid example of the form, with a killer cast and a handful of funny lines. But whereas 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt felt like unique breaths of fresh air in their own rights, Mr. Mayor feels like a slightly above average NBC sitcom.

The biggest issue I have with Mr. Mayor is the the characters, at this point, simply feel too generic, lacking the funny specificity that made the characters of 30 Rock and Kimmy Schmidt so iconic. Danson's Mayor Brenner specifically is a problem, not due to any fault of his own, but he just doesn't really have much of a point of view other than "guy who is mayor who probably shouldn't be." I do think that part of this is because Mr. Mayor was initially envisioned as a 30 Rock spin-off with Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy in the place of Danson, and it feels like in these early episodes, the writers haven't quite figured out what makes Brenner tick yet. However, some of the other characters are also issues. Holly Hunter's Apri is too screechy and one-dimensional, recalling some of Kimmy Schmidt's most groan-worthy political satire. There is certainly room for satire of the social justice orientated crowd, but as was the issue on Kimmy Schmidt, the satire is just a bit too broad here, nothing more interesting than what you’d find in a Twitter thread. The best character so far is Bobby Moynihan's Jayden (he has the best line in either episode when he declares himself "the first Jayden, the original Jayden," referring to the fact that he's seemingly the only Jaden born before the '90s), who taps into that 30 Rock/Kimmy Schmidt specific weirdness the most. I'd like to see more of that kind of humor, as that's where Fey/Carlock really shine in their writing.

Luckily, if NBC gives it a chance, I think there's a lot of potential for Mr. Mayor to eventually work out its kinks and become a great sitcom. The cast is excellent, doing their best with mostly average material, and the concept certainly has promise. It would be fun to see the unique eye that Fey/Carlock had on NYC in their previous sitcoms be transported to LA. And it's important to note that sitcoms, even great ones, often don't come out of the gate swinging. 30 Rock's first few episodes were fairly average as well, and like Mr. Mayor, felt more like a generic broadcast sitcom than what the show would become. (Kimmy Schmidt was weird and proud pretty much right out of the gate, but that's probably why NBC had cold feet about it and sent it to Netflix.) The world could use some great new Fey/Carlock comedy, so hopefully Mr. Mayor sticks around long enough to discover what really makes it work.

Conclusion:

Mr. Mayor is a funny enough distraction during a season with less broadcast content than usual, even if it doesn't live up to the standards of its predecessors 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, at least not yet. There are hints of things that could eventually turn this into must-watch TV in the way those shows were, as long as the show can find a more original and funny pathways for humor with its characters than the first two episodes provide. Still, in a world desperately in need of some laughs, Mr. Mayor can provide those, even if it's not quite as many as I hoped for.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

Discuss the show after you watch it on Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 8:00PM & 8:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

NBC.com Official Site

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Mr. Mayor Photo Gallery

Preview:

The boys are back and...better than ever? Watch James Lafferty and Stephen Colletti in Everyone Is Doing Great, a new comedy series on January 13, only on Hulu. 8 episodes will premiere. Hulu released the first teaser of the comedy, which the former One Tree Hill cast members also wrote and produced. The series follows Seth Stewart (Colletti) and Jeremy Davis (Lafferty), who enjoyed relative success from Eternal, a hit television vampire drama, according to IMDb. Five years after their show has ended, they lean on each other as they struggle to reclaim their previous level of success and relevance, awkwardly navigating the perils of life and love amidst a humorously painful coming of age. The series also stars Alexandra Park (The Royals), as Andrea Cooper-Davis, Jeremy's wife who supports her husband both financially and emotionally.

Connecting... - Thursdays at 8:30PM ET/PT on NBC
Premieres Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 8:00PM ET/PT

by Vincent

Connecting... is a new socially distanced comedy about a group of friends staying connected through video chats, much as many groups of friends were doing (and in some cases, still are doing) at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The show is unique in that it is shot entirely remotely on iPhones, reflecting the extraordinary times that we live in.

Cast Details:

Ely Henry as Rufus
Jill Knox as Michelle
Keith Powell as Garrett
Otmara Marrero as Annie
Parvesh Cheena as Pradeep
Preacher Lawson as Ben
Shakina Nayfack as Ellis

Ely Henry (Rufus) is an actor best known for his supporting roles in films such as Mean Girls and Cheaper By the Dozen 2 and in TV series such as Suburgatory and Good Luck Charlie.

Jill Knox (Michelle) is an up and coming actress. She has previously appeared in shorts. Connecting... will be her first major starring role.

Keith Powell (Garrett) is an American actor best known for his role as Toofer on 30 Rock. He has also appeared in many other TV shows as a guest star, including Superstore, NCIS: Los Angeles and Grace and Frankie.

Otmarra Marreo (Annie) is an American actress known for her role on ABC's New York Undercover and Crackle's original series Start Up. She has also appeared on shows such as Ballers and Graceland.

Parvesh Cheena (Pradeep) is an American actor best known for his roles as Gupta in NBC's Outsourced and as Sunil Odhav on The CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

Preacher Lawson (Ben) is an American comedian best known as a contestant on America's Got Talent. He has his own BET+ comedy special.

Shakina Nayfack (Ellis) is an American actress and comedy writer best known for her work on the Hulu original comedy Difficult People, which she both wrote for and starred in as Lola.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Airs Thursday, October at 8:00PM ET)

As the friend group gathers at the start of quarantine for their new-normal virtual hang, Annie contemplates opening up to Ben about her feelings for him. Meanwhile, everyone worries about Jazmin, who's been MIA.

Analysis:

Connecting... is the type of show that we will look back on in 20 years and be immediately taken back into this moment in time. There have always been sitcoms tied to their time, but I don't think there's ever one that will be as tied to the time it aired as Connecting... The idea of a group of friends staying together over video chat due to a global pandemic is certainly the most 2020 concept for a show you could come up with, and in a few years when this pandemic is thankfully behind us, it’s all going to feel a little odd and certainly dated. In fact, since the lockdown measures of the spring have mostly been lifted, you could argue the concept already feels just slightly dated, as Zoom happy hours aren’t quite as needed as they were back in March or April. There are also references to things that are no longer true (a sports-obsessed character laments the lack of sports, which obviously is no longer the case, and it treats New York City as the COVID epicenter it was in April but no longer is.) And that sort of lies the problem with Connecting. It's more of an 8-part “special” than a sitcom, in a lot of ways, specifically designed for this current moment. As soon as this moment ends, it’s unlikely anyone will be reaching back for the show. And yet, for this moment in time, it’s a pretty solid and likable show, for what it is.

I’m not going to argue that Connecting... is necessarily a great show, but it is oddly appealing in some ways. It reminds me a lot of the “hangout” sitcoms that were popular in the early 2010s, along the lines of something like Cougar Town or Happy Endings. It’s not nearly as funny or well-made as those shows (and I did find myself comparing it unfavorably to the virtual Happy Endings reunion episode that had a similar premise), but watching characters and likable actors express some of the struggles we’ve been going through was oddly cathartic. I also have to give a lot of props to the actors. Acting and forming a character in a video chat is something that can’t be easy, but the actors do a really good job with it. I was particularly impressed with Shakina Nayfack, who gives her all into her character and really made her character come alive. (I also really related to her line that “sports give me something to constantly think about in the background, which is very therapeutic.” I have to say I had some identical thoughts during the sports drought of the spring.) It’s also impressive that the entire show was shot remotely on iPhones - the editing and production quality is impressive considering that. Additionally, the show does a good job of making light of our odd reality while not belittling it. A main character who is a healthcare worker goes on a heartwrenching but all too real rant, showing that the show is willing to deal with the pandemic seriously. Overall, Connecting... isn’t a show that I really expect to last beyond its initial episode order just because of the novelty of its premise, nor is it a show I expect to make the “best sitcoms ever” list anytime soon. But it’s a funny and likable time capsule, and in a world where we’re short on new content, it does the trick.

Conclusion:

Connecting... isn’t a great show, but it’s a pleasant and likable one that’s actually pretty impressive in the scope of its production. The cast of mostly generally green performers is likable and they do a good job doing the difficult task of forming a sitcom character without the benefit of being able to interact in person or play off each other in any physical way. It’s not a show you’ll be itching to watch for years to come, but it’s a likable enough capsule of this moment in time.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

Discuss the show after you watch it on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 8:00PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

NBC.com Official Site

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Connecting... Photo Gallery

Preview:

WarnerMedia comes together to celebrate the final season of The CW and Warner Bros. Television's Supernatural with two special marathons on TNT.

On October 6-8, TNT will air the first 13 episodes of Season 15, providing fans with the opportunity to catch up on the final season.

Additionally, on November 19 from 5:00am to 8:00pm ET/PT, TNT will host a 15-hour Supernatural marathon as a countdown to the two-hour series finale event, airing later that evening on The CW. This “best of” marathon will include one episode from each season along with interstitials featuring unique behind-the-scenes clips and anecdotes from the cast.

Indebted - Thursdays at 9:30PM ET/PT on NBC
Premieres Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 9:30PM ET/PT

by Todd

Young parents Dave and Rebecca are ready to reclaim their life after years of diapers and sleepless nights. However, things take an unexpected turn when Dave’s parents show up unannounced and broke, leaving Dave with no choice but to open the door to the two people who gave him everything. But these boomerang parents aren't great with boundaries and the question of who's parenting who quickly becomes blurred.

Cast Details:

Fran Drescher as Debbie
Abby Elliott as Rebecca
Adam Pally as Dave
Jessy Hodges as Joanna
Steven Weber as Stew

Fran Drescher (Debbie) is best known for her role as Fran Fine in The Nanny. She received two Emmy and two Golden Globe Award nominations for the role. She created, executive produced and starred on the TV Land sitcom Happily Divorced, which was inspired by her real-life relationship with her gay ex-husband, Peter Marc Jacobson. Her other sitcom starring roles include Living with Fran and Princesses.

Abby Elliott (Rebecca) is best known for being a cast member on Saturday Night Live for four seasons from 2008 to 2012. She starred as Brooke Von-Weber in the Bravo sitcom Odd Mom Out. She appeared as Jeanette Peterson in five episodes of How I Met Your Mother.

Adam Pally (Dave) is known for his roles as Max Blum in Happy Endings and as Dr. Peter Prentice in The Mindy Project. His other sitcom roles include Champaign ILL and Making History.

Jessy Hodges (Joanna) is best known as the role of Sophie Parker in the web series Anyone But Me. Some of her sitcom credits include Enlisted, Mike & Molly and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Steven Weber (Stew) is best known for his long-running role as Brian Hackett in NBC's Wings. He starred as Jack Nagle in Cursed (aka The Weber Show). Some of his sitcom guest appearances include Mom, Ballers, 2 Broke Girls and Will & Grace.

Pilot Plot:

"Everybody's Talking About the Pilot" (Airs Thursday, February 6 at 9:30PM ET)

Young parents Dave and Rebecca end up having to take care of Dave's parents who have mishandled their finances and need help to pay down a sizable debt.
Guest Stars: Asif Ali as Ravi, Anders Garrett as Asher, Margaux Heck as Hazel, Amanda Summer

Analysis:

Indebted is a multi-camera sitcom. It's a co-production between by Sony Pictures Television and Universal Television in association with Doug Robinson Productions. Dan Levy, who created the show, will write and executive produce. Doug Robinson and David Guarascio will executive produce. Adam Pally will co-executive produce.

This is an entertaining and enjoyable pilot episode. There's a lot of rapid fire type humor and funny situations. The premise is a bit of a twist on a typical sitcom formula. It's usually the younger couple moving in with their parents. This time it's the broke parents moving in with their son and his family. Fran Drescher has one of the funniest and most memorable quotes when she says: "We're here. We're broke. Get used to it." Another memorable scene is when Debbie and Stew make a fundraising video for Facebook. They unknowingly record a video with Rebecca undressing in the background. The video later becomes a viral hit. Adam Pally and Abby Elliott are a funny couple as well. She has some funny bleeped out profanity lines in the first few episodes. She is the daughter of the always funny Chris Elliott, so she has some good comedy genes. She reminds me of Kaley Cuoco (Penny) from The Big Bang Theory. The trailer and promos have done a good job and highlighting some of the funniest moments.

They have put together a nice cast with sitcom veterans. The cast has some developed some good chemistry in the first few episodes. Fran Drescher and Steven Weber play the parents, Debbie and Stew. Their son, Dave (Adam Pally), is married to Rebecca (Abby Elliott). They have a son, Asher (Anders Garrett) and a daughter named Hazel (Margaux Heck). They have pretty minor roles in the Pilot, but the Asher character has a more prominent role in an upcoming episode that involves him being in a gifted program. Dave's sister is Joanna. She works at a pet grooming business and is looking for a relationship with another woman. Another character stopping by bringing some good laughs is Ravi (Asif Ali), a friend and co-worker of Dave. They work in the home renovation business.

Conclusion:

Fran Drescher makes a welcome return to primetime broadcast network television. It doesn't seem like it's been over 20 years since The Nanny ended. The studio audience gives her a warm welcome when she first appears on screen. She has aged gracefully and still has her recognizable nasal voice and laugh, but her accent is somewhat different. It's also nice to see Steven Weber back on NBC. He's been a steady presence on television in recent years, but this is his first sitcom starring role in a while. He looks a lot like Billy Crystal with his beard. The rest of the cast is solid with some comedy veterans and relative newcomers. The series has all of the ingredients to become a success. They have assembled a talented, funny and likable cast. The writing is funny and fresh with many topical, pop culture, movie and TV references. It will be interesting to see how the characters are developed in upcoming episodes.

NBC will have some holes to fill on their schedule in the fall with the The Good Place and Will & Grace ending. It's always nice to see another traditional multi-camera sitcom on the air. They seem to have made a comeback in recent seasons. Indebted is more of an adult oriented comedy with some of the bleeped out profanity and other adult situations, so I think they made a good decision to put it in a later timeslot. There's some good potential for it to become a dependable hit. Meet NBC's newest family on Thursday nights at 9:30pm ET/8:30pm CT.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

Discuss the show after you watch it on Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 9:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

NBC.com Official Site

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Indebted Photo Gallery

Preview:

Written and produced by Vicky Jones, HBO's new half-hour comedy series Run, debuting Sunday, April 12 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, follows a woman whose humdrum life is thrown upside down when she receives a text from her college sweetheart inviting her to drop everything and meet him in New York to fulfill the pact they made 17 years earlier. The series will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms.

Starring Emmy(R) winner Merritt Wever (Godless, Nurse Jackie) and Domhnall Gleeson (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Ex Machina), Run is a romantic comedic thriller about a woman, Ruby Richardson (Wever) who walks away from her ordinary life in the suburbs to revisit her past with her college boyfriend, Billy Johnson (Gleeson), with whom she made a pact 17 years prior that if either one of them texted the word "RUN" and the other replied with the same, they would drop everything and meet in Grand Central Station and travel across America together.

Recurring guest stars for season one include Emmy(R), Golden Globe and SAG winner, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Solo: A Star Wars Story) as Laurel, a woman who Ruby and Billy meet on their journey; Rich Sommer (Mad Men) as Laurence, Ruby's husband; Tamara Podemski (Coroner) as police detective Babe Cloud and Archie Panjabi (HBO's upcoming I Know This Much Is True, The Good Wife) as Fiona, Billy's former PA.

Sunnyside - Thursdays at 9:30PM ET/PT on NBC
Premieres Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 9:30PM ET/PT

by Vincent

Sunnyside is a sitcom about a city councilman who lost his way amidst the power and glamour of politics. When his downward spiral got him busted for public intoxication (and downright stupidity), it was all caught on tape and ended his career. Now, Garrett's crashing with his sister, Mallory, and wondering where it all went wrong. That is, until he's hired by a diverse group of hopefuls who dream of becoming American citizens and believe he can help - giving him a new sense of purpose and a chance for redemption, as long as he remembers where he came from.

Cast Details:

Kal Penn as Garrett Modi
Diana Maria Riva as Griselda
Joel Kim Booster as Jim Hao
Kiran Deol as Mallory
Poppy Liu as Mei Lin
Moses Storm as Brady
Samba Schutte as Hakim

Kal Penn (Garrett) is known for playing Lawrence Kutner on the television program House, as well as the character Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar film series. He is also recognized for his performance in the film The Namesake and the ABC/Netflix drama Designated Survivor.

Diana Maria Riva (Griselda) is an actress known for her guest appearances on Murder One, Party of Five, The X Files, NYPD Blue, The Drew Carey Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, CSI, Less Than Perfect and Castle.

Joel Kim Booster (Jim) is a stand-up comedian known for his Comedy Central Presents special.

Moses Storm (Brady) is an actor known for his guest roles on This Is Us and Arrested Development.

Sambra Schutte, Kiran Duol, and Poppy Lui are new actors. Sunnyside will be their first major roles.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Airs Thursday, Sep. 26 at 9:30PM ET)

A former New York City Councilman finds his calling when he meets a group of immigrants in search of the American dream.

Analysis:

Sunnyside is another one of those shows where I'm more interested in the show's future than with the show's present. What I mean by that is that there is a lot here that I could see myself eventually loving, especially with Mike Schur at the helm and a cast led by Kal Penn and some very promising comic actors. The premise is also one that feels very appropriate for America in 2019, and could provide some moments of genuine meaning, and yet is also fun and light-hearted enough to be, well, a sitcom, and one that makes you laugh a lot. The cast and characters are a lot of fun, and I couldn't wait to see, by the end of the pilot, where this was going, and how it will develop.

The problem, then, is that the pilot is just...okay. Which isn't bad - the amount of comedy pilots that are truly great are far and few between, and most just offer a glimmer of hope, which Sunnyside does. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't hoping to laugh just a bit more at the pilot. The jokes are a little flimsy and feel half-baked - which, again, isn’t uncommon for a comedy pilot. Still, I won't say I wasn't expecting the pilot to be just a bit better than it was. Despite that, the seeds are absolutely there for this to be a great series - I just hope viewers give it a chance to arrive at where it's going, rather than being turned off by a decent-but-not-great pilot.

Conclusion:

I'm very confident that Sunnyside is going to eventually turn into a great, must-watch sitcom. It has very similar DNA and sensibility to shows like The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation, and in about five or six episodes, I'm sure it will be must-watch TV. All of the characters are fun, the premise is great, and the writing shows promise. The pilot isn't necessarily a must-see, and it leaves a lot to be desired in the laughs department, but the foundation is there for a great show. Let's hope it lives up to that potential.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

Watchability: 4/5
Funniness: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5

Discuss the show after you watch it on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 9:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

NBC.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Sunnyside Photo Gallery

Preview:

Carol's Second Act - Thursdays at 9:30PM ET/PT on CBS
Premieres Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 9:30PM ET/PT

by Todd

Emmy Award winner Patricia Heaton stars in new a comedy about a woman who embarks on a unique second act after raising her children, getting divorced and retiring from teaching: pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. At age 50, Carol is a medical intern and must sink or swim with peers who are half her age. It’s her enthusiasm, perspective and yes, even her age, that may be exactly what will make her second act a great success.

Cast Details:

Patricia Heaton as Carol Kenney
Ito Aghayere as Dr. Maya Jacobs
Jean-Luc Bilodeau as Daniel Kutcher
Sabrina Jalees as Lexie
Kyle MacLachlan as Dr. Stephen Frost
Ashley Tisdale as Jenny Kenney

Patricia Heaton (Carol Kenney) is a three-time Emmy winner who has played not one, but two beloved TV moms. She starred as Debra Barone in the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond from 1996-2005 and as Frances "Frankie" Heck in the ABC sitcom The Middle from 2009-2018. She twice won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Everybody Loves Raymond. Her other sitcom starring roles include the Fox sitcom Back to You and the ABC sitcom Room for Two.

Ito Aghayere's (Dr. Maya Jacobs) television guest appearances include Orange Is the New Black, The Knick, The Unforgettable, Forever, BrainDead, Elementary, The Blacklist, Master of None and Instinct.

Jean-Luc Bilodeau (Daniel Kutcher) starred as Ben Wheeler in the ABC Family/Freeform sitcom Baby Daddy. He made his starring debut as Josh Trager in the science fiction drama Kyle XY.

Sabrina Jalees (Lexie) has made guest appearances on Search Party, Transparent, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, Last Comic Standing, Adam Devine’s House Party and Best Week Ever.

Kyle MacLachlan (Dr. Stephen Frost) is best known for his role as Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks. Some of his other television credits include Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother, Portlandia, The Good Wife, Believe and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..

Ashley Tisdale (Jenny Kenney) starred as Maddie Fitzpatrick in the Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Her other starring credits include Hellcats and Clipped. She will appear in the upcoming Netflix comedy Merry Happy Whatever.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Airs Thursday, Sep. 26 at 9:30PM ET)

Carol Kenney enthusiastically begins her first day as an internal medicine intern, but has a rocky start when she disregards direct orders from her boss in order to help a patient. Also, Carol meets Dr. Frost, a senior attending physician who may be the ally Carol needs in her second act.

Carol's Second Act is a multi-camera sitcom from Halpern/Haskins Productions, FourBoys Entertainment, Kapital Entertainment and CBS Television Studios. Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins; Patricia Heaton, Adam Griffin, David Hunt and Rebecca Stay (Four Boys Entertainment); Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor (Kapital Entertainment); and Pamela Fryman (pilot only) are executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

Analysis:

This is one of the better pilot episodes that I've watched in recent seasons. There has been a lack of quality new multi-camera sitcoms the last few years. Carol's Second Act is an old school sitcom shot in front of a studio audience. The premise of the series is pretty basic. It's basically a sitcom version of Grey's Anatomy with a 50-year-old intern working with some younger interns. There are plenty of jokes and one-liners, with most of them about Carol's age or her short stature. They seem to have an endless supply of jokes about Carol being older, but I think they will eventually want to mix things up a little bit more in the future episodes. There is one good dramatic scene in the premiere episodes. All of the scenes in the first two episodes are at the hospital. It would be nice to see them elsewhere as a change of pace.

They have assembled a talented cast with a mix of TV veterans and some promising newcomers. This is set up to be very much a vehicle for Patricia Heaton. She's in nearly every scene. They do a nice job of giving the other cast members a good amount of lines and a chance to shine. Newcomer Ito Aghayere plays Dr. Maya Jacobs, the Chief Resident in charge of Carol and the other three interns. The scenes between Maya and Carol are very tense and funny. They are some of the highlights of the episode. Aghayere could be one of the breakout stars of the season.

The other interns with Carol include Jean-Luc Bilodeau as Daniel Kutcher, Sabrina Jalees as Lexie Gilani and Lucas Neff as Caleb Summers. They all do a solid job and have some good chemistry together. Kyle MacLachlan plays Dr. Steven Frost, the accomplished senior attending physician who finds Carol charming. He's mostly known for his work in dramas, but he shows he has some good comedy skills as well. Ashley Tisdale plays Carol's daughter, Jenny Kenney. She has just one brief scene at the end of the "Pilot" episode. She is a pharmaceutical rep who has an arrangement to have an office at the hospital, so we see more of her in the second episode. Bonnie Dennison was originally cast in the role, but maybe they decided to make it an expanded role. Cedric Yarbrough from Speechless appears in a few scenes of the "Pilot" before being introduced as the nurse Dennis in the second episode.

Conclusion:

Patricia Heaton makes a welcome return to CBS. It's a great TV moment when she first appears on screen. The audience gives her a big round of applause. She became a household name and won two Emmy Awards for her role as Debra Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond from 1996 to 2005. She had another good run for eight seasons as Frankie in The Middle. It's interesting that she plays a 50-year-old when she's really a very youthful looking 61 in real life. She has a lot of enthusiasm and energy. Whatever her secret is, she should try to bottle it. It would be pretty easy for her to slow down or retire, but she clearly loves to act and work. It's way too early to say that this sitcom will have a run of nine seasons like her other two major hits, but it's easy to envision her winning another Emmy or two for her hilarious role as Carol Kenney.

Carol's Second Act is one of the most promising new sitcoms of the season. It wouldn't be surprising if it's the highest rated new sitcom this fall. It has a strong and likable cast, funny writing and a great timeslot on CBS' rebuilt Thursday night lineup. The end of The Big Bang Theory leaves a big hole in their schedule, but they have a solid crop of new comedies. This may not be an immediate blockbuster hit, but it wouldn't be shocking if it's anchoring their comedy lineup in a season or two. They say laughter is the best medicine. This series delivers plenty of good, clean laughs. The doctor is in Thursday nights on CBS!

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

Discuss the show after you watch it on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 9:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

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Preview:

Perfect Harmony - Thursdays at 8:30PM ET/PT on NBC
Premieres Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 8:30PM ET/PT

by Vincent

Perfect Harmony is a comedy about finding inspiration in the most unlikely places. When former Princeton music professor Arthur Cochran unexpectedly stumbles into choir practice at a small-town church, he finds a group of singers that are out of tune in more ways than one. Despite the ultimate clash of sensibilities, Arthur and his newfound cohorts may just be the perfect mix of individuals to help each other reinvent and rediscover a little happiness, just when they all need it most.

Cast Details:

Bradley Whitford as Arthur Cochran
Anna Camp as Ginny
Will Greenberg as Wayne
Tymberlee Hill as Adams
Geno Segers as Shep
Rizwan Manji as Jax

Bradley Whitford (Arthur) is an actor best known for his portrayal of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman in the NBC political drama The West Wing. He is also known for many other roles, including Dan Stark in the Fox police buddy-comedy The Good Guys, antagonist Eric Gordon in the film Billy Madison, and Dean Armitage in the popular horror film Get Out. He also starred opposite Malin Akerman in the TV comedy Trophy Wife.

Anna Camp (Ginny) is an actress best known for her role as Aubrey Poson in the Pitch Perfect movie series. She is also known for her role as Sarah Newlin on HBO's True Blood and for recurring roles on Mad Men, The Good Wife and The Mindy Project.

Will Greenberg (Wayne) is an American actor, and Perfect Harmony will be his first major acting role.

Tymberlee Hill (Adams) is an American actress and comedian, best known for her roles on comedy programs such as Drunk History, The Hotwives and Search Party.

Geno Segers (Shep) is known for his roles as Chayton Littlestone on Cinemax's Banshee, Mason Makoola in the Disney XD television series Pair of Kings, and Kincaid on MTV's Teen Wolf.

Rizwan Manji (Jax) is an American actor known for his role on NBC's Outsourced and ABC's Better off Ted.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Airs Thursday, Sep. 26 at 8:30PM ET)

When former Princeton music professor Arthur Cochran unexpectedly stumbles into choir practice at a small-town church, he finds a group of singers that are out of tune in more ways than one. Despite the ultimate clash of sensibilities, Arthur and his newfound cohorts may just be the perfect mix of individuals to help each other reinvent and rediscover a little happiness, just when they all need it most.

Analysis:

Well, I'm just going to come out and say it: Perfect Harmony has a real odd premise. You have to give the show credit for just getting out there with such a unique premise and committing to it. After watching years and years of sitcom pilots that essentially follow the same formula - so many "see how this family is just a little quirky" or "this group of 20-somethings sure love to hang out with each other" - Perfect Harmony is at least something I haven't seen before: a sitcom about a church choir. It's an odd concept, one that I can't expect NBC to actually expect to draw a huge audience. Still, even with its odd premise, there are comparisons that immediately come to mind. In some ways, it feels a little like a more comedic, more adult version of Glee - it certainly has that same "people from different walks of life come together by the power of music" vibe. You could even make Pitch Perfect comparisons (which Perfect Harmony shares a major star with in Anna Camp.) Even Community comes to mind, with its "privileged jerk learns how to love through an unconventional group of oddballs" vibe. In fact, that's probably my biggest gripe with the series. For as seemingly strange as the concept is, the show itself feels kind of by-the-numbers and "been there, done that," which I didn't expect from a show about, well, a neighborhood church choir.

Perfect Harmony has an all-star cast, and they do their best, combined with the admittedly different premise, to make the show worth watching. And the show, frankly, isn't an unpleasant watch - the jokes are fun enough, it has a quick and zippy pace, and it's pleasant enough to pass the time. But it also feels content to basically be "Glee, but with church choirs," and the problem with that is that we've all already seen and gotten over Glee. Like what that show became, Perfect Harmony is a show that seems like it's a lot of gloss with not as much substance as it likes to think it has. It's sort of like junk food - it's not bad, and it'll satisfy you for a little, but then you realize you could be doing more with your time. I'd like nothing more than a weird church choir show to live up to its potential, but from what I've seen of Perfect Harmony, it seems content with being just "okay."

Conclusion:

Perfect Harmony is not a bad or unpleasant series, and if you're sitting down to watch Superstore and The Good Place live, it's just good enough to keep you from changing the channel in between the two shows. The cast is very enjoyable to watch, there are some very good jokes, and the show's overall vibe is light and fun. But it's also a show that feels like it could be more than just "kind of fun" with a weird premise and a great cast, and from what I've seen so far, there's not much indication that the show has much of a desire to find that potential.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

Discuss the show after you watch it on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 8:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

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Preview:

The Unicorn - Thursdays at 8:30PM ET/PT on CBS
Premieres Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 8:30PM ET/PT

by Todd

The Unicorn is a single-camera comedy about a tight-knit group of best friends and family who help Wade (Walton Goggins) embrace his "new normal" in the wake of the loss of his wife one year ago. As a sometimes ill-equipped but always devoted single parent to his two adolescent daughters, he is taking the major step of dating again. To Wade's amazement, he's a hot commodity with women, and his friends explain that he’s the perfect single guy – a "unicorn": employed, attractive and with a proven track record of commitment. With his daughters and best friends rooting him on and hoping he'll find happiness again, Wade and his healing heart are ready to try life... and love... again.

Cast Details:

Walton Goggins as Wade
Rob Corddry as Forrest
Michaela Watkins as Delia
Omar Benson Miller as Ben
Maya Lynne Robinson as Michelle
Ruby Jay as Grace
Makenzie Moss as Natalie
Devin Bright as Noah

Walton Goggins (Wade) stars as Baby Bill Freeman in HBO's The Righteous Gemstones. He earlier starred in the HBO comedy Vice Principals. He received an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Boyd Crowder on the Peabody Award-winning drama series Justified. His other starring roles include The Shield, Six and Deep State.

Rob Corddry (Forrest) currently stars as Joe Krutel in the HBO comedy-drama Ballers. He is a four-time Emmy Award winner for his work on the satirical comedy series Childrens Hospital, which he created, starred in and executive produced. Some of his other sitcom credits include The Winner, Community, Happy Endings, Ben and Kate and Speechless.

Michaela Watkins (Delia) is best known for starring on the Hulu series Casual and on the short-lived ABC sitcom Trophy Wife. Some of her sitcom guest appearances include The New Adventures of Old Christine, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Enlightened, New Girl, Modern Family, Married, Transparent and The Goldbergs.

Omar Benson Miller (Ben) currently stars as Charles Greane in the HBO comedy-drama Ballers. He was a regular on CSI: Miami as Walter Simmons. Some of his other television credits include The West Wing, Sex, Love & Secrets, Eleventh Hour. He was the voice of Raph in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Maya Lynne Robinson's (Michelle) appeared as Geena Williams-Conner in the first season of ABC's The Conners. Some of her other television credits include Nightwing: Escalation, Monogamy, HTMAST, Gurl and Mom.

Ruby Jay (Grace) had the leading role as Holly Hobbie in Holly Hobbie. Some of her other television credits include Grey's Anatomy, Modern Family and Fancy Nancy.

Makenzie Moss (Natalie) has made guest appearances in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, About a Boy, Blunt Talk and black-ish.

Devin Bright (Noah) has made guest appearances in Toddler vs. Toddler, Underground, Hap and Leonard and Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Airs Thursday, Sep. 26 at 8:30PM ET)

Walton Goggins stars in a comedy about a tight-knit group of best friends and family who helps Wade (Goggins) embrace his “new normal” in the wake of the loss of his wife one year ago.
Guest Stars: Natalie Ceballos as Tracy Wilvers, Bianca Kajlich as Danielle

The Unicorn is a single-camera comedy produced by CBS Television Studios and is executive produced by Bill Martin, Mike Schiff, Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor, Wendi Trilling, Peyton Reed and John Hamburg (pilot only). Hamburg directed the pilot from a script by Martin and Schiff. The series is based on the real-life experience of Grady Cooper, a friend of show creators Martin and Schiff.

Analysis:

The "Pilot" episode is well produced with a nice mix of comedy and poignant moments. It's very fast-paced with many different scenes and shooting locations. The funniest scene is when Wade makes his online dating profile and starts receiving responses. Another amusing thing are the dogs on the counters and tables. Maybe that's more common than it seems, but you don't see it very often on television. It's interesting that they originally wanted to make this a multi-camera sitcom in front of a studio audience instead of a single-camera comedy. The only real issue I have is how they edited it with too many quick cutaways and jump shots. It has more of a look and feel as a multi-camera sitcom. I think they just tried to cram in as much background story and explain the premise of "the unicorn" as they could in 22 minutes. Hopefully they will slow the pace down and have longer scenes in future episodes. Composer Gabriel Mann's upbeat music also stands out and enhances the episode.

The cast has many experienced TV veterans and several promising newcomers. Walton Goggins is a versatile and underappreciated actor who usually plays unlikable characters, so it's great to see him play a nice guy as a change of pace. Rob Corddry and Michaela Watkins have played a married couple before in the film In a World..., so they have great chemistry, comedic timing and expressions. Corddry's Ballers co-star Omar Benson Miller is solid in his role, as is relative newcomer Maya Lynne Robinson. Ruby Jay and Makenzie Moss look to have sizable roles as Wade's daughters. They are natural young actresses and could pass as real-life sisters. The lovely Natalie Ceballos and Bianca Kajlich from Rules of Engagement make notable guest appearances in the "Pilot" episode. Wade is quite the babe magnet. They have some other good guest stars in upcoming episodes such as Nicole Byer (as Michelle's sister), Christina Moore and Betsy Brandt. It's a bit unusual for comedies to get many recognizable guest stars so early in their first season.

Conclusion:

The Unicorn has the potential to be a sleeper hit of the season. It has all of the ingredients needed for success. They have a talented cast and crew, a nice blend of comedy and drama and a plum timeslot on the most-watched broadcast network. I wasn't initially a big fan of The Unicorn as a title for a series because I wasn't familiar with it being a term in the online dating world as describing the perfect single guy. The title makes it seem that being a good single father is a rare thing, but that's clearly not always the case. Many widowed fathers should be able to relate to the Wade character, which is played very well by the underrated Walton Goggins. Wade is somebody that will be easy to root for as the season progresses. Goggins usually plays unlikable psychopath characters, so it's great to seeing him in a likable, comedic role as a sweet, caring father.

CBS is giving people plenty of opportunities to sample The Unicorn with it being available for streaming early on CBS.com, the CBS mobile app, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and on Roku. They really couldn't ask for a better timeslot between Young Sheldon and Mom, the #2 and #3 rated comedies from last season. The Unicorn is a very funny, charming and heartwarming family comedy that viewers should enjoy once they discover it.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

Discuss the show after you watch it on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 8:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

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Preview:

Bob Hearts Abishola - Mondays at 8:30 PM ET/PT on CBS
Premieres Monday, September 23, 2019 at 8:30PM ET/PT

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Preview:

mixed-ish - Tuesdays at 9:00PM ET/PT on ABC
Premieres Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 9:00PM ET/PT

by Pavan

The black-ish franchise expands with its newest spinoff mixed-ish, coming to ABC this Tuesday. Rainbow Johnson recounts her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the '80s, and the dilemmas they face to acclimate in the suburbs while staying true to themselves. Bow's parents Paul and Alicia decide to move from a hippie commune to the suburbs to better provide for their family. As her parents struggle with the challenges of their new life, Bow and her siblings navigate a mainstream school in which they're perceived as neither black nor white. This family's experiences illuminate the challenges of finding one’s own identity when the rest of the world can't decide where you belong.

Cast Details:

Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Paul Johnson
Tika Sumpter as Alicia Johnson
Christina Anthony as Denise
Arica Himmel as Bow Johnson
Ethan William Childress as Johan Johnson
Mykal-Michelle Harris as Santamonica Johnson
Gary Cole as Harrison Johnson

Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Paul) made his television debut as Zack Morris in the popular teen sitcom Saved by the Bell. Since then, he has had an extensive and successful television career starring in a number of shows, including last season on The Passage and Pitch for Fox; ABC's Commander in Chief, alongside Geena Davis; the critically acclaimed ABC classic drama NYPD Blue; TNT's Raising the Bar; and TNT's Franklin & Bash with Breckin Meyer.

Tika Sumpter (Alicia) has established herself as one of Hollywood's rising talents. She most recently starred in David Lowery's The Old Man & The Gun, opposite Robert Redford, Danny Glover and Sissy Spacek; Tyler Perry's Nobody's Fool, opposite Tiffany Haddish; and the independent feature An Acceptable Loss, opposite Jamie Lee Curtis. Next, Sumpter will star in Paramount's Sonic the Hedgehog, alongside Jim Carrey and James Marsden. Sumpter is known for her work on OWN's highest-rated series The Haves and the Have Nots. She stars as Candace Young in the one-hour drama written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry. She can also be heard on the new hit TBS animated show Final Space with Fred Armisen. Her past television credits include the CW's Gossip Girl, BET's The Game and the Daytime Emmy Award-winning soap opera One Life to Live, which garnered her an NAACP Image Award nomination.



Conclusion:


Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

Watchability: 4/5
Funniness: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5

Discuss the show after you watch it on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 9:00PM ET/PT on our message board.

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Preview:

Bless This Mess - Tuesdays at 9:30PM ET/PT on ABC
Premieres Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 9:30PM ET/PT

by Vincent

Bless This Mess follows newlyweds Rio and Mike as they make the decision to move from big city New York to rural Nebraska. After dropping everything (including their jobs and overbearing mother-in-law) to make the move from skyscrapers to farmhouses, they soon realize that the simpler life isn't as easy as they planned. Rio and Mike must now learn how to weather the storm as they are faced with unexpected challenges in their new life as farmers.

Cast Details:

Dax Shepard as Mike
Lake Bell as Rio
Ed Begley, Jr. as Rudy
Pam Grier as Constance Terry

Dax Shephard (Mike) is an actor known for his work in the feature films such as Without a Paddle, Let's Go to Prison, Employee of the Month and CHiPS. He is also known for playing Crosby Braverman in the hit NBC drama series Parenthood.

Lake Bell (Rio) is an actress known for her roles in TV series such as Boston Legal, How to Make it in America and Children's Hospital, and in films such as Million Dollar Arm and No Strings Attached.

Ed Begley, Jr. (Rudy) is an actor recognized for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the television series St. Elsewhere, as well as in films such as Pineapple Express, Batman Forever and For Your Consideration.

Pam Grier (Constance) is an actress known for her roles in films such as The Big Bird Cage, Coffy and Jackie Brown, and for TV series such as This Is Us, The L Word and Law & Order: SVU.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Airs Tuesday, April 16 at 9:30PM ET)

In the pilot episode of Bless This Mess, newlyweds Rio and Mike decide to finally make the transition to small town living to escape the rat race of NYC. However, they quickly find that things are a bit more complicated than planned when they meet an interesting cast of characters, and find adjusting to Nebraska life may be different and more difficult than they thought.

Analysis:

Frankly, Bless This Mess is a series I have fairly low expectations about going in. Considering it was thrown onto the ABC schedule in late spring with only a 6 episode order, and given the show's hokey-seeming presence (seems an awful lot like Green Acres), I was expecting a show that would get a hard pass from me, personally. And yet, I found myself surprisingly charmed by Bless This Mess' aura. The show isn't hilarious yet, but it has a solid cast of characters and a lovable central couple, along with snappy writing and a true sense of heart that could make this a comedy to keep an eye on.

In a year that has been frankly low on worthwhile network sitcoms, Bless This Mess is the first show in a while I can say I think has a real, out-of-the-gate shot to be something worthwhile. This show, along with Abby's on NBC, has a scrappy charm that's been missing in new network comedies over the past year or so. For a while, network comedies were beginning to feel too focused on premise - I love The Good Place, but not every show needs to have as heavy-handed of a concept. Bless This Mess, though, is a show that could succeed based on its characters, not its (admittedly not very interesting) premise. This isn't too surprising. The show is partially produced by Liz Meriwether - aka, the mind behind New Girl. New Girl was another series with a not-so-great premise that wound up succeeding because of its focus on its excellent cast of characters. If Bless This Mess has a similar laser focus on its characters and focuses less on its somewhat silly premise, I wouldn't be surprised to see it taking a similar turn of events. The cast is giving it their all, and while the writing isn't quite there yet in these six episodes, I certainly see potential of what could be to come.

Conclusion:

Bless This Mess has a tired premise that threatens to sink it, but the show’s lovable cast of characters and snappy (if not yet great) writing makes it a show to keep an eye on. If ABC can give it a chance beyond its initial 6 episode order, this show has the potential to become a sweet and charming sitcom that could fit very nicely into ABC's sitcom landscape, and could make a worthwhile addition to the network comedy vault. Let's hope it's given the chance it needs to succeed, because it's been quite a while since a new network comedy took off and had a high level of quality.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

Discuss the show after you watch it on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 9:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

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Preview:

Hallmark Channel has ordered a seventh season of the network's original, primetime drama series When Calls the Heart, it was announced by series star Erin Krakow during the premiere of the network's Spring Fever movie, Bottled with Love. The series of course features Lori Loughlin, but with her recent legal trouble, she will not be on the series anymore. Hallmark made no mention of the actress in their release to the press for this seventh season.

Currently in its sixth season, the frontier drama When Calls the Heart's ratings momentum continues, with this season's debut episode ranking as the highest-rated premiere in the series' history. The program ranked as the #2 original scripted series of the week, only behind AMC's The Walking Dead, and marks the #3 original scripted series on cable in 2019-to-date. On a Live +3 basis, the program delivered a 2.9 Household rating, 3.1 million Total Viewers, and 449,000 Women 25-54. The episode reached over 3.6 million unduplicated total viewers.

Abby's - Thursdays at 9:30PM ET/PT on NBC
Premieres Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 9:30PM ET/PT

by Todd

From Michael Schur (The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation and Master of None) and Josh Malmuth (New Girl, Superstore) comes a hilarious new comedy about the best neighborhood bar in San Diego –– home to low prices, good company and, of course, Abby (Natalie Morales, BoJack Horseman, Girls, Parks and Recreation).

This unlicensed, makeshift establishment in Abby’s backyard is the perfect gathering place for locals to find camaraderie and sanctuary. To maintain the perfect bar ecosystem, all patrons must abide by a specific set of rules. This includes no cell phones (not even to look something up), understanding that earning a seat at the bar takes time to rise through the hierarchy and knowing that losing a challenge may have some unpleasant and unpalatable drink-related repercussions.

As bar owner, Abby has found her true calling, hosting friends and newcomers alike. No nonsense, Abby is ex-military, having served two tours as a Staff Sergeant in the Marines. Her world is shaken when new landlord Bill (Nelson Franklin, black-ish, Veep, New Girl), who recently inherited the house from his deceased aunt, unexpectedly shows up citing all kinds of reasons why the whole venture is illegal. Newly divorced, he is a cautious worrier and definite non-risk-taker who eventually warms to the place and agrees to let the bar remain open, provided Abby makes some changes.

The cast of regulars also includes Fred (Neil Flynn, The Middle, Scrubs), a fixture at the bar who is grateful for a place to enjoy a beer and conversation – and refuses to allow some bureaucratic busybody to disrupt his perfect refuge; Beth (Jessica Chaffin, Big Mouth, Search Party, Pitch Perfect 3), a harried mom living next door who can escape the madness of her home life while still keeping an eye on things from her perch atop a bar stool; Rosie (Kimia Behpoornia, Unicorn Store, Pop Rox), the bar manager who prides herself on having memorized all 162 rules and regulations; and James (Leonard Ouzts, Set It Up, Master of None), the gentle scaredy-cat of a bouncer who crumbles in the face of confrontation.

As any regular patron of Abby’s will attest to, hanging out there is a coveted honor. And once you’re in, you’re family.

Cast Details:

Natalie Morales as Abby
Neil Flynn as Fred
Nelson Franklin as Bill
Jessica Chaffin as Beth
Leonard Ouzts as James
Kimia Behpoornia as Rosie


Natalie Morales (Abby) starred as Claire Lacoste in the Fox comedy The Grinder. She had a recurring role as Lucy in Parks and Recreation. Some of her other credits include Santa Clarita Diet, Girls and Trophy Wife. She starred in the first season of White Collar.

Neil Flynn (Fred) is best known for his roles as Janitor in Scrubs and Mike Heck in The Middle. Some of his sitcom guest appearances include Seinfeld, The Drew Carey Show, Ellen, That '70s Sho Show, Norm, Joey, My Boys, Surviving Jack and Undateable.

Nelson Franklin (Bill) starred as Adam in the CBS sitcom The Millers. He starred in the short-lived Fox comedy Traffic Light. He's had recurring roles in black-ish, New Girl, Veep and The Office.

Jessica Chaffin (Beth) appeared as Marie Faldonado in the CBS sitcom Man with a Plan. She had a recurring role as Coco Wexler on Nickelodeon's Zoey 101. Some of her sitcom guest appearances include Search Party, Veep, Episodes, New Girl and 2 Broke Girls.

Leonard Ouzts (James) is a stand-up comedian who has made guest appearances in Master of None. His film credits include Set It Up and Like Father.

Kimia Behpoornia (Rosie) has made guest appearances in Adam Ruins Everything, After Hours, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Modern Family and Station 19.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Airs March 28 at 9:30PM ET)

Abby's (Natalie Morales) unlicensed backyard bar hits a major snag when new landlord Bill (Nelson Franklin), who recently inherited the house from his deceased aunt, shows up and proposes major changes.

Analysis:

Abby's is a multi-camera sitcom produced by Universal Television, Fremulon, Waila Inc. and 3 Arts Entertainment. The series is created by Josh Malmuth. The producers include Malmuth, Michael Schur, David Miner and Pamela Fryman. The "Pilot" episode is written by Josh Malmuth and directed by Pamela Fryman. Ten episodes have been ordered.

In the "Pilot" episode, we meet Abby, her co-workers and some of the regular bar patrons. Abby gives Fred a drink and calls him the Cal Ripken, Jr. of low grade alcohol. Fred wants to be compensated with free drinks. They discuss the pros and cons of keeping a dart board. Fred fact checks Abby that darts are British. Fred agrees to the challenge, but must accept a sugary, disgusting lime not beer when he loses the bet. Bill walks in and asks for Abby. He is Abby's new landlord since his Aunt Alice has passed away. Bill is told there is a vetting process before customers are able to take a seat the bar. Bill says the bar needs to be shut down. Abby gives him a tour of the bar. She tells him that it's more than a bar and that it's a community center. Bill tries to document everything, but Abby kicks away his phone. The gang talks about Abby's past. They show the 162 rules and regulations the bar has, including no cell phones. Abby begs Bill to keep the bar open. Bill suggests some changes to get a liquor license, have an emergency plan, get some business insurance and lose the grill. Fred, Beth and Rosie go inside Abby's house and tell her they need the bar. Abby tells Bill they will make some changes to keep the bar open.

Overall, the "Pilot" episode is fast paced and well produced. There are many funny one-liners from all of the characters. It provides a good introduction to the characters. More of the characters personal lives will be explored in future episodes. They have assembled a talented cast. There's a good mix of comedy veterans and relative newcomers. The cast already has some good chemistry in the first few episodes. It should be easy for them bring in good guest stars for future episodes. Since the show is set in San Diego, maybe the Padres new star Manny Machado will make an appearance.

One of the unique aspects of the series is that it's filmed completely outdoors in front of a live studio audience. This is a regular occurrence with many single-camera series these days with no audience, but it's the first time that it's been done for a multi-camera comedy. They did an excellent job with designing the backyard bar set. It looks like a real bar with the attention to detail and the strung up lights. The bulk of scenes are on the bar set, but they also show the kitchen inside Abby's house. I like how they show overhead shots of the bar set with the studio audience in bleachers during some of the transitions. One minor complaint is the near constant music in the background. It adds to the authenticity of the setting at a bar, but it makes the dialogue a little difficult to hear at times. There's a lot happening with audio when you add in the audience laughter.

Conclusion:

Abby's has the potential and ingredients to be a solid hit. The producers have a great track record with their other sitcoms. They have put together a strong and likable cast. Natalie Morales is very charming and funny as Abby in her first lead role. The always funny and reliable Neil Flynn makes a welcome return to NBC where he starred in Scrubs. The rest of the supporting cast is a nice mix of comedy veterans and newcomers who seem to enjoy working together. The writing is very funny with many rapid fire jokes. It's always nice to see another traditional multi-camera sitcom on the air, but this one has a fresh idea with it being shot outdoors in front of a live studio audience. I think we'll see others filmed outdoors if it has any success. Abby's is basically an outdoors version of Cheers, but that's not a bad thing. It serves up some good, clean laughs. It should fit in well with the rest of the NBC Thursday night comedies.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

Discuss the show after you watch it on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 9:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

NBC.com Official Site

TV.com

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Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Abby's Photo Gallery

Preview:

Fox is announcing summer premiere dates for returning series Beat Shazam, MasterChef and So You Think You Can Dance, as well as for new series Spin the Wheel. Air dates for Paradise Hotel and Miss USA® were previously announced. Beat Shazam keeps the jams coming with the Season Three premiere Monday, May 20 at 8:00PM ET/PT. Celebrating its milestone 10th season, MasterChef will air two nights per week, kicking off Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00 PM ET/PT and joining the Thursday lineup on Thursday, June 20 at 8:00 PM ET/PT. Hosted by Cat Deeley, the Emmy Award-winning So You Think You Can Dance returns with an all-new season on Monday, June 10 at 9:00PM ET/PT.

Brand-new high-stakes game show Spin the Wheel will debut Thursday, June 20 at 9:00 PM ET/P), following MasterChef's time-period premiere on the night. Executive-produced by four-time Emmy Award-winning actor and 10-time Grammy Award-winning musician Justin Timberlake, and hosted by actor, director, writer and comedian Dax Shepard, the show offers life-changing opportunities to win fortunes each episode with the spin of a massive, unpredictable wheel.

Fox in-season finales include: Gotham (Thursday, April 25, 8:00 PM ET/PT); The Orville (Thursday, April 25, 9:00PM ET/PT); The Resident (Monday, May 6, 8:00PM ET/PT); Empire (Wednesday, May 8, 8:00PM ET/PT); Star (Wednesday, May 8, 9:00 PM ET/PT); Last Man Standing (Friday, May 10, 8:00 PM ET/PT); The Cool Kids (Friday, May 10, 8:30 PM ET/PT); Proven Innocent (Friday, May 10, 9:00 PM ET/PT); The Simpsons (Sunday, May 12, 8:00PM ET/PT); Bob's Burgers (Sunday, May 12, 8:30PM ET/PT); Family Guy (Sunday, May 12, 9:00PM ET/PT); 9-1-1, at a special time (Monday, May 13, 8:00PM ET/PT); Mental Samurai (Tuesday, May 21, 9:00PM ET/PT); and MasterChef Junior, in a special two-hour episode (Tuesday, June 4, 8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).