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CBS announced that new comedy United States of Al, from award-winning executive producer Chuck Lorre and creators/writers David Goetsch and Maria Ferrari, will premiere Thursday, April 1 at 9:30 PM, ET/PT, after The Unicorn completes its second season. United States of Al stars Adhir Kalyan and Parker Young in a comedy about the friendship between Riley (Young), a Marine combat veteran struggling to readjust to civilian life in Ohio, and Awalmir ("Al") (Kalyan), the interpreter who served with his unit in Afghanistan and has just arrived to start a new life in America. Elizabeth Alderfer, Dean Norris, Kelli Goss and Farrah Mackenzie also star. David Goetsch & Maria Ferrari, Chuck Lorre, Reza Aslan, Mahyad Tousi and director Mark Cendrowski (pilot only) are executive producers for Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. United States of Al will join the CBS Thursday comedy line-up which has Young Sheldon, B Positive and Mom leading in.

Emmy and Oscar-winning actress Cloris Leachman, who starred as Phyllis Lindstrom in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Phyllis and as Beverly Ann Stickle in The Facts of Life, has died. She died on January 27 at her home in Encinitas, California. The cause of death was a stroke with reports that COVID-19 was a contributing factor. Ms. Leachman was 94.

Leachman's early television credits included Actor's Studio, Kraft Theatre, Bob and Ray, Suspense, Danger and The Philco Television Playhouse. She starred as Effie Perrine in the detective drama Charlie Wild, Private Detective from 1950 to 1952. She played Ruth Martin, Timmy's (Jon Provost) adoptive mother, in 28 episodes of the fourth season of Lassie from 1957 to 1958. Some of her other guest appearances from the 1950s and 1960s included Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Thriller, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, 77 Sunset Strip, Dr. Kildare, Perry Mason, The Virginian, Adam-12 and Mannix.

She played Phyllis Lindstrom, the downstairs landlady and snobbish friend of Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore), in 35 episodes of the CBS sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 to 1975 (and the final episode in 1977). Phyllis was a recurring character in the first two seasons. She was the mother of Bess (Lisa Gerritsen). Leachman won Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actress in Comedy in 1974 and for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Series in 1975. She also appeared as Phyllis in the one-hour episode Rhoda titled "Rhoda's Wedding" in 1974. The Mary Tyler Moore Show also starred Edward Asner, Ted Knight, Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper (1970-1974), Georgia Engel (1973-1977) and Betty White (1973-1977).

Leachman continued the role of Phyllis Lindstrom in the spin-off series Phyllis. The CBS sitcom ran for two seasons from 1975 to 1977. Phyllis and her daughter Bess Lindstrom moved from Minneapolis to San Francisco, after the death of her husband, Dr. Lars Lindstrom. Leachman won a Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1976, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1976. The series also starred Liz Torres (1975-1976), Richard Schaal (1975-1976), Jane Rose, Henry Jones, Judith Lowry, John Lawlor (1976-1977), Garn Stephens (1976-1977), Carmine Caridi (1976-1977), Burt Mustin (1976) and Craig Watson (1977).

She starred as Beverly Ann Stickle, Edna Garrett's (Charlotte Rae) sister, in the final two seasons of the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life from 1986 to 1988. The character of Beverly Ann had a similar personality to Leachman's previous Emmy-winning role as Phyllis Lindstrom. Beverly Ann later legally adopted Over Our Heads worker Andy Moffett (Mackenzie Astin). The cast in the final seasons included Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, Nancy McKeon, George Clooney (Seasons 7-8) and Sherrie Krenn (Season 9).

Leachman starred as Ms. Frick and Mrs. Edwina Nutt (in the pilot episode) in the short-lived 1989 NBC sitcom The Nutt House. Ms. Frick was the head of housekeeping at Nutt House, a once-prestigious New York City hotel. The Mel Brooks and Alan Spencer produced series also starred Harvey Korman, Mark Blankfield, Brian McNamara, Molly Hagan and Gregory Itzin.

She starred as Emily Collins, the wife of Walter Collins (Brian Keith), in the short-lived 1991-1992 NBC sitcom Walter and Emily. They were the parents of Matt Collins (Christopher McDonald) and grandparents of 11-year-old Zach (Matthew Lawrence). The cast included Edna Gross, Sandy Baron and Shelley Berman.

Leachman played Grammy Winthrop in the short-lived 1999 CBS sitcom Thanks. The program explores the trials and tribulations of the Winthrops, a 17th-century Puritan family, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The series also starred Tim Dalton, Kirsten Nelson, Erika Christensen, Amy Centner, Andrew Ducote, Jim Rash, Keith Szarabajka and Robert Machray.

She played the recurring role of Grandma Ida in 11 episodes of the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle from 2001 to 2006. Ida was Lois Wilkerson's (Jane Kaczmarek) tyrannical mother. Leachman won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2002 and 2006.

Leachman starred as Dot Richmond in the 2001-2002 CBS sitcom The Ellen Show. Dot Richmond was the eccentric mother of Ellen Richmond (Ellen DeGeneres). The series also starred Martin Mull, Jim Gaffigan, Emily Rutherford, Diane Delano and Kerri Kenney.

She starred as Barbara June "Maw Maw" Thompson in 2010 to 2014 Fox sitcom Raising Hope. She was Virginia's (Martha Plimpton) 84-year-old grandmother, Jimmy's (Lucas Neff) great-grandmother, and Hope's (Baylie and Rylie Cregut) great-great-grandmother. The series also starred Garret Dillahunt, Shannon Woodward and Gregg Binkley.

Leachman reunited with her The Mary Tyler Moore Show cast members Betty White, Mary Tyler Moore, Valerie Harper and Georgia Engel in a 2013 episode of the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included The Donna Reed Show, That Girl, The Love Boat, The Associates, Ferris Bueller, The Powers That Be, The Nanny, Maybe This Time, Norm, Love & Money, Happy Family, Two and a Half Men, The Office, Blue Mountain State, Kirstie, The Millers, Girl Meets World and Teachers. Some of her voice credits included The Simpsons, Phineas and Ferb, Bob's Burgers, Creative Galaxy, Justice League Action and Elena of Avalor.

She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ruth Popper, the jaded wife of a closeted schoolteacher in the 1950s, in the 1971 film The Last Picture Show. She appeared in the Mel Brooks' films Young Frankenstein (1974) as Frau Blücher, High Anxiety (1977) as Charlotte Diesel and History of the World, Part I (1981) as Madame Defarge. Some of her other film credits included Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), WUSA (1970), Yesterday (1981), The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), Now and Then (1995), Bad Santa (2003), Spanglish (2004), Mrs. Harris (2005) and New York, I Love You (2008).

Survivors include sons Adam, George Jr., Morgan, an actor; and a daughter, Dinah.

Ms. Leachman was a wonderful actress and a true comedy legend. During her career which spanned more than seven decades, she won eight Primetime Emmy Awards, an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Daytime Emmy Award. She made everything she appeared in much better. We thank her for the many laughs and hours of entertainment she brought us. She will be sorely missed.

Share your memories on our The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Phyllis and The Facts of Life message boards. View photos in our galleries.

This Saturday, Antenna TV will air a marathon of The Facts of Life episodes featuring actress and comedian Cloris Leachman. Leachman starred in the final two seasons of the sitcom as Beverly Ann Stickle, the sister of Mrs. Garrett.

"Remembering Cloris Leachman: The Facts of Life Marathon" airs Saturday, January 30 from Noon ET to 6 pm ET on Antenna TV. Visit www.antennatv.com for the channel finder.

We also remember veteran character actor Bruce Kirby. He appeared as Officer Kissel in Car 54, Where Are You?, starred in several short-lived sitcoms and made many sitcom guest appearances. He died in Los Angeles on January 24. Mr. Kirby was 95.

Kirby had a recurring role as Office Kissel in the 1961-1963 NBC sitcom Car 54, Where Are You?. The cast included Joe E. Ross, Fred Gwynne, Bea Pons, Paul Reed, Albert Henderson, Nipsey Russell, Joe Warren, Al Lewis, Hank Garrett and Charlotte Rae.

He starred as Capt. Harry Sedford in the short-lived 1976 ABC sitcom Holmes and Yoyo. The series follows Detective Alexander Holmes (Richard B. Schull) and his new android partner Yoyo (John Schuck), on their adventures and misadventures, as Holmes teaches Yoyo what it is like to be human, while trying to keep his quirky partner's true nature a secret from criminals and fellow cops.

Kirby starred as Al Brennan in the short-lived 1979 NBC sitcom Turnabout. Al Brennan was the boss of sportswriter Sam Alston (John Schuck). The series also starred Sharon Gless, Richard Stahl, Bobbi Jordan and James Sikking.

Some of his other sitcom guest appearances in the 1960s and 1970s included The Phil Silvers Show, The Patty Duke Show, I Dream of Jeannie, The Mothers-in-Law, Hogan's Heroes, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Coursthip of Eddie's Father, Room 222, The Doris Day Show, Me and the Chimp, The Bob Newhart Show, Chico and the Man, Operation Petticoat, Alice and Barney Miller.

Some of his 1980s and 1990s sitcom guest appearances included Park Place, Three's a Crowd, Night Court, Punky Brewster, Anything But Love (4 episodes as Leo Miller), Have Faith, It's Garry Shandling's Show, The Fanelli Boys, The Golden Girls, Madman of the People, Bless This House, The Single Guy, Murphy Brown and Caroline in the City. He appeared in a 2007 episode of Scrubs.

Kirby had several roles in the long-running series Columbo from 1973 to 1995, most notably as the gullible Sergeant George Kramer in six episodes. He starred as Inspector Schmidt in the 1981-1982 CBS police drama Shannon. He played District Attorney Bruce Rogoff in 13 episodes of L.A. Law from 1986 until 1991.

He was the father of actor Bruno Kirby (1949-2006). His other son, John Kirby, is an acting coach.

Mr. Kirby was a talented character actor. He was a familiar face in many sitcoms from the 1960s to the 1990s. He will be greatly missed.

CBS announced November primetime premiere dates for five more scripted series. The four dramas and one comedy span time periods on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Additional premiere dates will be announced shortly. The returning shows include drama FBI and spin-off FBI: Most Wanted on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 9-11pm; Monday 10pm drama Bull on Nov. 16; drama Seal Team on Wednesday, Nov. 25; and the comedy The Unicorn on Thursday, Nov. 12. These programs join the previously announced upcoming season premieres of NCIS, Young Sheldon, Mom, The Neighborhood, Bob ♥ Abishola, All Rise, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans and S.W.A.T., as well as 60 Minutes, 48 Hours and The Amazing Race, which have already debuted. Stay tuned for premiere dates for Evil, the entire Friday night lineup of MacGyver, Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods, and new drama The Equalizer.

This November, REELZ is premiering an all-new special! Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends premieres on Tuesday, November 24 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. She's an award winning sitcom star, movie star, producer and philanthropist. There are many levels to global superstar actress Jennifer Aniston who became a fan favorite on the 10-season hit TV series Friends before transitioning her career to star in successful movies and returning to TV on a popular streaming service (The Morning Show on Apple TV+). But the road to success did not come without challenges. Learn about her four failed TV series that preceded Friends. Explore her inner struggle to find lasting love with facing very public divorces from Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux. Aniston radiates a vulnerable warmth both on and off screen that keeps her fans loyal her popularity ever present as evident by her record setting introduction to Instagram in 2019 as the fastest person to amass 1 million followers. Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends is co-produced by Legacy Distribution & EntertainMe.

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.

The CBS Television Network announced that it has rewarded all five series from its top-rated freshman class with new production orders. The new drama Evil has been renewed for a second season in 2020-2021. Evil will conclude its 13-episode first season on Jan. 30, 2020. At the same time, the Network has given full-season first season orders to drama All Rise and the freshman comedies, Carol's Second Act, The Unicorn and Bob Hearts Abishola.

All Rise (Mondays 9-10pm) stars Simone Missick in a courthouse drama that follows the chaotic, hopeful and sometimes absurd lives of its judges, prosecutors and public defenders, as they work with bailiffs, clerks and cops to get justice for the people of Los Angeles amidst a flawed legal process. Among them is newly appointed Judge Lola Carmichael (Missick), a highly regarded and impressive deputy district attorney who doesn't intend to sit back on the bench in her new role, but instead leans in, immediately pushing the boundaries and challenging the expectations of what a judge can be. The series also stars Wilson Bethel, Marg Helgenberger, Jessica Camacho, J. Alex Brinson, Lindsay Mendez and Ruthie Ann Miles.

Bob Hearts Abishola (Mondays 8:30pm) is a love story about a middle-aged compression-sock businessman from Detroit who unexpectedly falls for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian immigrant, while recovering from a heart attack and sets his sights on winning her over. Undaunted by Abishola's lack of initial interest or the vast differences in their backgrounds, Bob is determined to win Abishola's heart, in this comedic examination of immigrant life in America. The series stars Billy Gardell, Folake Olowofoyeku, Christine Ebersole, Matt Jones, Maribeth Monroe, Vernee Watson, Shola Adewusi, Barry Shabaka Henley, Travis Wolfe, Jr. and Gina Yashere, who is also a co-creator, writer and producer.

Carol's Second Act (Thursdays 9:30pm) stars Emmy Award winner Patricia Heaton as 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. The series also stars Kyle MacLachlan, Ashley Tisdale, Ito Aghayere, Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Sabrina Jalees and Lucas Neff.

Evil (Thursdays 10-11pm) is a psychological mystery that examines the origins of evil along the dividing line between science and religion. The series focuses on a skeptical female psychologist who joins a priest-in-training and a contractor as they investigate the Church's backlog of unexplained mysteries, including supposed miracles, demonic possessions and hauntings. Their job is to assess if there is a logical explanation or if something truly supernatural is at work. The series stars Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Michael Emerson, Christine Lahti, Kurt Fuller, Brooklyn Shuck, Skylar Gray, Maddy Crocco and Dalya Knapp.

The Unicorn (Thursdays 8:30pm) is 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... a second time. The series also stars Rob Corddry, Michaela Watkins, Omar Miller, Maya Lynne Robinson, Ruby Jay, Makenzie Moss and Devin Bright.

Fox's drama, 9-1-1, expands its reach to the city of Austin, TX, with its first-ever new installment, 9-1-1: Lone Star, which debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 from 10:00-11:10 PM ET/7:00-8:10 PM PT live to all time zones, following the NFL NFC Championship Game, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 20 from 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT. Nearly 20 years ago, Owen Strand (Emmy Award nominee Rob Lowe, Parks and Recreation, The West Wing) was the lone survivor of his Manhattan firehouse on 9/11. In the wake of the attack, Owen had the unenviable task of rebuilding his station. After a similar tragedy happens to a firehouse in Austin, Owen, along with his troubled firefighter son, T.K. (Ronen Rubinstein, Dead of Summer), takes his progressive philosophies of life and firefighting down to Texas, where he helps them start anew. On the surface, Owen is all about big-city style and swagger, but underneath he struggles with a secret he hides from the world - one that could very well end his life. The series also stars Liv Tyler (The Leftovers), Sierra McClain (Mindhunter), Jim Parrack (The Deuce, True Blood), Natacha Karam (The Brave), Brian Michael Smith (Queen Sugar), newcomer Rafael Silva and Julian Works (American Crime).

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.

Related Links:

NBC.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Perfect Harmony Photo Gallery

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.

Related Links:

CBS.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

The Unicorn Photo Gallery

Preview:

CBS Fall Preview Show, hosted by new series' stars Patricia Heaton (Carol's Second Act); Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku (Bob ♥ Abishola); Mike Colter and Aasif Mandvi (Evil); Simone Missick (All Rise); and Walton Goggins (The Unicorn), is a primetime special highlighting the three comedies and two dramas that comprise the Network's five new fall programs. It will be broadcast Monday, Sept. 9 from 9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT on the CBS Television Network, and CBS All Access, CBS’ digital subscription video on demand and live-streaming service. Additionally, the special will be available on demand across multiple platforms through mid-October, providing viewers with convenient anytime access to information about the Network's new fall lineup.

The platforms featuring the special include CBS.com (https://www.cbs.com/shows/fall-preview/) and participating CBS stations' sites, as well as on demand via the Network's various cable, satellite, vMVPD and telco partners. In addition to the primetime run of the special on Sept. 9, CBS affiliates will have the opportunity to broadcast the special multiple times during their local airtime. Throughout the special, the stars will introduce their series and present select scenes from the shows' premiere episodes.

Walmart's streaming platform Vudu has launched the trailer for first original series Mr. Mom, which begins Thursday, Sept. 12. Based on the classic '80s hit film written by John Hughes and starring Michael Keaton, this series is a modern retelling of Mr. Mom. Megan (Andrea Anders) and Greg (Hayes MacArthur) are at a parenting crossroads. After five years raising their two kids at home, Megan has unexpectedly landed her dream job. Greg’s career is anything but a dream job, so after several failed attempts at securing childcare he abruptly quits in order to take his turn as the stay-at-home parent. He’s thrust headlong into a world of tantrums, diapers and cheese sticks, all while finally attempting to get his start-up off the ground. Megan quickly finds out just how much has changed as she reenters a workplace filled with overeager millennials and strange new terms like Slack and hot-desking. It’ll take all the patience these two parents can muster as they try to raise their kids, make ends meet, and find a little time for their marriage.

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

Believe it or not, but summer is coming to an end and in just a few weeks, the fall TV season will be upon us. I'll be spending the next few weeks looking at each network's sitcom slates and making some early judgement calls about how the TV season is going to go for these new and returning sitcoms. First, let's take a look at CBS!

Returning sitcoms: CBS is a network in search of their next big comedy hit, now that The Big Bang Theory has retired. The network will be banking on spin-off Young Sheldon (which has also proven to be a big hit much like its parent series, if not quite Big Bang-level) and Mom (which has never reached the level of previous Chuck Lorre successes Big Bang and Two and a Half Men but nevertheless remains a solid performer) to anchor its Thursday line-up in the 8:00 and 9:00 hours. On Monday, promising sophomore The Neighborhood, which didn't light the world on fire but did better than many expected to as a rookie last year, gets the nod to anchor a line-up full of newbies on Monday.

New sitcoms: CBS has three new sitcoms on the fall line-up - the most of any network this fall - which I previewed back in May during Upfronts time, but just to reiterate, we have Chuck Lorre's latest project Bob ♡ Abishola on Mondays (which centers around a man falling in love with his nurse), single-camera The Unicorn on Thursdays at 8:30 (which centers around a recently widowed man entering the dating scene), and Patricia Heaton-fronted Carol's Second Act at 9:30 (which centers around a woman in her 50s becoming a doctor). All of these sitcoms make some sense with their placement, and they seem fairly on brand for CBS's audience (though The Unicorn being single-camera is somewhat interesting.)

The bottom line: CBS comedy is definitely in a transitional state right now, but CBS is smart to be testing out so many new sitcoms, and even riskier choices like single-camera The Unicorn. Most of these sitcoms seem on brand, but the success of CBS comedy this year lies a lot on questions we don't know the answer to yet, like if Young Sheldon can hold up its strong ratings without its parent series, or if The Neighborhood will either grow or collapse in Season 2. With Mom entering its later years, it's time for some new blood to step up and take the CBS comedy crown. Perhaps it'll be one of CBS's new sitcoms they're trying - they certainly hope so.

E! Entertainment will make a big splash in the tiny state of Rhode Island with the half-hour reality sitcom Meet the Frasers, produced by MGM's Evolution Media, premiering in 2020. Following Rhode Island’s local celebrity couple, 28-year-old psychic medium Matt Fraser and his pageant queen girlfriend, 21-year-old Alexa Papigiotis, the docu-series will showcase their lives, careers, and their very involved extended families. As Cranston's emerging golden couple, the duo is recognized everywhere from their local Italian restaurant to the latest stop on Matt's coast to coast tour. It doesn't hurt that they're often seen in an SUV branded with Matt’s face and name. This twosome is climbing their way to the top, with the biggest challenge being the opinionated loved ones who want to have a say in everything they do.