SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

It's Sunday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of October 15-19, 2018, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!


Monday, October 15

• Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Watch Melissa on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. She also talks about Can You Ever Forgive Me? on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Judy Greer (Kidding/Married/Mad Love/Miss Guided) - Judy visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Jane Levy (Suburgatory) - Jane is a guest on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Heather Dubrow (Stark Raving Mad) - Heather stops by Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Anthony Atamanuik (The President Show) - Anthony appears on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project) - Ike drops by LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) - Kunal is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Office) - Ellie appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Busy Philipps (Vice Principals/Cougar Town) - Busy visits Access Live, so check your local listings. She will also be on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
• Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) - Alec gives Rach the hilarious scoop on Justin Bieber and his niece, Hailey Baldwin – and revealing if he and his wife, Hilaria, want to have baby #5 together on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Alyssa Milano (Who's the Boss?/Romantically Challenged) - Alyssa discusses the #MeToo movement one year later on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am. She will also be on ABC's GMA Day at 1pm.
• Nico Tortorella (Younger) - Nico appears on People Now at 12pm.
• Peyton List (Bunk'd/Jessie) and Ajiona Alexus (The Rickey Smiley Show) - Peyton and Ajiona are guests on Chatter on PeopleTV at 8pm.
• Tyle Labine (Deadbeat/Animal Practice/Sons of Tucson) - Tyler will be on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
• Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany appears on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• Nathan Fillion (Two Guys and a Girl) - Nathan talks about The Rookie on the BUILD Series at 2pm.

Tuesday, October 16

• John Krasinski (The Office) - Catch John on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Kevin Hart (The Big House/Undeclared) - Kevin appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) - Eric is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Kathryn Hahn (I Love Dick/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathryn stops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS. She will also be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela appears on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Melissa drops by Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah at 11pm. She also talks about Can You Ever Forgive Me? on the BUILD Series at 12pm.
• Jane Curtin (3rd Rock from the Sun/Kate & Allie) - Jane visits Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Laurence Fishburne (black-ish) - Laurence chats on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Nathan Fillion (Two Guys and a Girl) - Nathan talks about The Rookie on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Katy Mixon (American Housewife/Mike & Molly) - Katy is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.
• Sara Gilbert (The Conners/Roseanne/Bad Teacher/The Big Bang Theory and John Goodman (The Connners/Roseanne/The Trouble in Normal, Ohio) - Sara and John are guests on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• John Leguizamo (The Brothers Garcia) - John appears on ABC's GMA Day at 1pm.
• Heather Dubrow (Stark Raving Mad) - Heather is a guest on People Now at 12pm.
• Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace visits NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced/The Nanny/Living with Fran) - Fran talks about hosting Cancer Scchmancer's Master Class Health Summit on E!'s Daily Pop at 12pm.
• Analeigh Tipton (Manhattan Love Story) - Analeigh talks about her movie Better Start Running on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.

Wednesday, October 17

• Busy Philipps (Vice Principals/Cougar Town) - Watch Busy on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Molly Shannon (Divorce/Kath & Kim/Cracking Up) - Molly is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Constance Wu (Fresh Off the Boat) - Constance appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens/Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Jamie Lee visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Michael Fishman and Lecy Goranson (The Conners/Roseanne) - Michael and Lecy chat with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. Michael, Lecy and Maya Lynne Robinson will be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• John Goodman (The Conners/Roseanne/The Trouble in Normal, Ohio) - John stops by LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Maya Rudolph (Forever/Up All Night) - Maya is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Romeo Miller (Romeo!) - Romeo appears on The Real, so check your local listings.
• Geoffrey Owens (The Cosby Show) - Geoffrey drops by Steve, so check your local listings.
• Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood/The Last O.G./The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) and Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Cedric and Tichina are guests on Access Live, so check your local listings.

Thursday, October 18

• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Seinfeld) - Catch Julia on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Laura Benanti (The Detour/Go On/Starved) - Laura stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• John Mulaney (Mulaney) - John appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Meredith Hagner (Search Party/Men at Work) - Meredith is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Maya Rudolph (Forever/Up All Night) - Maya drops by The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Nick Kroll (The League/Cavemen) - Nick visits The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Sanaa Lathan (Family Guy/The Cleveland Show/LateLine) - Sanaa appears on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Busy Philipps (Vice Principals/Cougar Town) - Busy is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Stockard Channing (Out of Practice/The Stockard Channing Show/Stockard Channing in Just Friends) - Stockard visits Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Jenna Fischer (Splitting Up Together/The Office) - Jenna appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• John Stamos (Grandfathered/Jake in Progress/Full House) - John talks about You on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea stops by The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Michael Fishman and Maya Lynne Robinson (The Conners/Roseanne) - Michael and Maya Lynne are guests on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET. Michael and Lecy Goranson can be heard on The Morning Mash Up on SiriusXM.
• John Goodman (The Conners/Roseanne/The Trouble in Normal, Ohio) - John talks about The Big Lebowski reunion on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
• Bailee Madison (Trophy Wife) - Bailey talks about Hallmark Channel's Good Witch: Tale of Two Hearts on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.

Friday, October 19

• Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle) - Watch Bryan on on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Paul Shaffer (A Year at the Top) - Paul sits in with Cleto and The Cletones on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Nick Jonas (Jonas LA) - Nick appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Melissa makes a special appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory/8 Simple Rules) - Kaley is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Joel McHale (The Great Indoors/Community) - Joel appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Regina Hall (Grandfathered/Second Generation Wayans) - Regina visits The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela stops by The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Busy Philipps (Vice Principals/Cougar Town) - Busy drops by The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
• Chloe x Halle (grown-ish) - Chloe x Halle are guests on The Real, so check your local listings.
• Nicole Ari Parker (Second Time Around) - Nicole appears on Steve, so check your local listings.
• John Stamos (Grandfathered/Jake in Progress/Full House) - John talks about You on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on GMA Day at 1pm.
• Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens/Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Jamie Lee talks about Halloween on People Now at 12pm.
• Ashley Johnson (Growing Pains/Phenom/Maybe This Time) and Ennis Esmer (You Me Her/Red Oaks) - Ashley and Ennis talk about Blindspot on the BUILD Series at 1pm and on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
• Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace talks about her new children's book Candace Center Stage on E!'s Daily Pop at 12pm.

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

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Sitcoms Airing This Week

Sunday, October 14

The Simpsons - "Lisa Gets the Blues" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When the Simpsons' flight is rerouted to New Orleans, Lisa rediscovers her passion for jazz; Bart is intrigued by voodoo; Homer is intrigued by drinking.

The Cool Kids - "Pilot" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A group of three retirement home friends are determined to prove that there is still much for them to accomplish in life despite their age, which makes them feel as though they have little left to lose whether they succeed or not.

The Simpsons - "My Way or the Highway to Heaven" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
God and St. Peter contemplate what merits a soul getting into heaven, while citizens of Springfield remember their divine encounters.

Bob's Burgers - "Tweentrepreneurs" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Tina, Louise and Gene get a taste of business when they join the school's Tweentrepeneurs club; Bob and Linda find themselves outsmarted by a dine-and-dasher.

Family Guy - "Pal Stewie" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Stewie quickly befriends a boy his age, but is devastated when he realizes he isn't invited to his birthday party; Peter and Lois attend a self-empowerment seminar.

Rel - "One Night Stand" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Just when Rel thinks he can't move on from his ex-wife, he gets hit with a pleasant surprise; but after getting in over his head, he ends up taking advice from Brittany.

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Monday, October 15

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Spare Key" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Dave gives Calvin a spare key to the Johnsons’ house in case of an emergency and is pleasantly surprised when the gesture is reciprocated – or so he thinks.

Happy Together - "Let's Work It Out" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Cooper has to get in shape for an underwear ad, Jake and Claire are inspired to ditch their junk food and join his ultra-healthy lifestyle. With the help of Cooper and his trainer, Antoine (Anders Holm), Jake and Claire go on the most intense diet and exercise program of their lives.

Andi Mack - "Howling at the Moon Festival" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Friends and family gather to celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival, but Jonah's mishap may spoil the evening; Celia attempts to one-up her sister, Mei, by announcing a special event; Andi and Jonah have a heart-to-heart talk about their relationship.

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Tuesday, October 16

The Conners - "Keep on Truckin'" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
A sudden turn of events forces the Conners to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before.

The Kids Are Alright - "Pilot" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Lawrence, the prodigal eldest Cleary son, returns home from the seminary and breaks the news to his family that he’s dropping out for good, leaving Mike and Peggy upset and wondering why. Meanwhile, Timmy decides he wants to audition for a children’s theatre production but when Peggy finds out where it’s being held she forbids him from participating. Elsewhere, Eddie tries to keep his girlfriend a secret after Frank finds out and tries to blackmail him.

black-ish - "Gap Year" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
After dropping Junior off at college, Dre and Bow are beside themselves when they find him back at home announcing his decision to take a gap year. Meanwhile, Jack and Diane begin to question whether they should still be sharing a room.

Splitting Up Together - "Sign Language" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
The morning after Lena and Martin sleep together, Lena searches for signs that they are or aren’t meant to be a couple. Their relationship is put to the test after she organizes a romantic beach getaway and it becomes apparent what’s meant to be. Meanwhile, Arthur and Camille trail Lisa Apple, hoping to determine if she is pregnant with Martin’s baby. Elsewhere, Maya struggles to decide if she should tell her new boyfriend, Frank, about her pregnancy.

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Wednesday, October 17

The Goldbergs - "Hersheypark" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Adam discovers Beverly has been manipulating him with guilt letters when he tells his mother he doesn’t want her to chaperone the school trip to Hersheypark. Meanwhile, after attending Career Night, Geoff realizes he doesn’t want to be an eye doctor like his father.

American Housewife - "Enemies: An Otto Story" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Anna-Kat runs for the Green Chair position in the school election against Chloe Brown Mueller’s daughter, which results in Katie and Chloe turning their kids’ election into a feud of their own. Meanwhile, Greg becomes concerned that Taylor’s new friend Pierce (Milo Manheim) is trying to steal her away from Trip, causing Greg to intervene and scheme to prevent it.

Modern Family - "Torn Between Two Lovers" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Haley can’t seem to choose between her past and present relationships and is forced to make a decision. Meanwhile, Manny returns to college and dorm life while his girlfriend, Sherry, continues to stay at Jay and Gloria’s, and might be overstaying her welcome.

Single Parents - "Beyoncé Circa Lemonade" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After scolding Miggy for not being able to sleep-train baby Jack, Angie and Douglas engage in a competition to see who can sleep-train the baby in one night. While Angie and Douglas have the baby, Miggy takes over babysitting Graham, Rory, Sophie, Emma and Amy, which results in an impromptu kids’ party. Meanwhile, Poppy teaches Will how to take out his anger on the volleyball court.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Does a Clip Show" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
With nothing to do while their phones update to the latest software, the gang decides to reminisce on old times; as everyone misremembers events from their past, the gang's current reality becomes altered.

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Thursday, October 18

The Big Bang Theory - "The Planetarium Collision" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Amy doesn’t have time to work on super-asymmetry, Sheldon goes to great lengths to ensure she’s available to work with him even it if means accidentally sabotaging her career in the process. Also, Koothrappali doesn’t want Wolowitz to join him in hosting a show at the planetarium. Emmy Award winner Bob Newhart returns as Arthur Jeffries.

Young Sheldon - "A Research Study and Czechoslovakian Wedding Pastries" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Dr. Sturgis (Wallace Shawn) recommends Sheldon and Missy for a university research study on twins, and Mary is unhappy when the test results go to Sheldon’s head.

Mom - "Big Sauce and Coconut Water" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Christy is certain that Bonnie is in over her head when she invites a freshly paroled Tammy (Kristen Johnston) to stay with them.

Murphy Brown - "Three Shirts to the Wind" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Murphy and the team weigh the pros and cons of accepting the offer to have the first interview with a headline-grabbing former White House senior advisor (David Costabile) who wants to promote his divisive book and agenda on “Murphy in the Morning.” Also, Avery moderates a lively political discussion on his show with locals in Buffalo, N.Y.. Original series cast member Charles Kimbrough returns as Jim Dial in his first of three episodes, and Merle Dandridge guest stars as the team’s arrogant network boss, Diana Macomber.

Superstore - "Toxic Workplace" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Amy (America Ferrera) and Jonah (Ben Feldman) get combative to keep their new relationship hidden from their co-workers. Meanwhile, Glenn (Mark McKinney) spirals when he learns Kelly (Kelly Stables) wants to transfer to a new store, and Cheyenne (Nichole Bloom) struggles to organize a Cloud 9 carpool.

The Good Place - "Jeremy Bearimy" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The group explores the three main branches of ethical thought.

Will & Grace - "Tex and the City" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Will (Eric McCormack) and Jack (Sean Hayes) visit Jack’s grandson, Skip (guest star Samuel Faraci), in Texas to watch him perform at his church’s talent show. But when Jack learns Skip plans on singing “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend,” he becomes afraid for his grandson’s safety. Karen (Megan Mullally) tags along to check out the portion of the border wall she sponsored, only to discover that Beverley Leslie (guest star Leslie Jordan) has claimed it as his own. Back home, Grace (Debra Messing) and Noah (guest star David Schwimmer) try to figure out if something is wrong in their relationship because their numerous attempts to have sex have failed.

I Feel Bad - "I'm Vain A.F." (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
An upcoming launch party at GamePunch throws Emet’s vanity into overdrive. Intent on scrubbing a bad picture off the company website, Emet is dead set on redeeming herself and getting the perfect photo at this year’s party – that means getting her hair done, professional make-up and toning up a problem area: her husband.

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Friday, October 19

Fresh Off the Boat - "Workin' the 'Ween" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Honey and Marvin ask Jessica and Louis to be baby Maria’s godparents, and Jessica offers to babysit her on Halloween night. But the Huangs are in for a spooky evening when they agree to help wean the baby off of her pacifier. Meanwhile, Eddie is hired by mattress store owner Harv (George Wendt, “Cheers”) for a job to make some extra money so that he can buy himself a car and ends up having to work in the creepy store all by himself on Halloween.

Speechless - "I-N-- INTO THE W-O-- WOODS" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Maya’s Halloween becomes truly terrifying when JJ attends a rave in the woods. Ray joins Dylan’s Halloween heist determined to prove he’s more than a do-gooder. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Kenneth turn the DiMeo home into the neighborhood’s haunted house.

Last Man Standing - "Bride of Prankenstein" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mike and Chuck find the perfect target for a prank while working late on Halloween.

The Cool Kids - "Sid Comes Out" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Margaret tries to convince Sid to come out to his son; Hank refuses to admit he needs glasses.

Raven's Home - "Switch-or-Treat" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Booker and Raven's psychic powers cause them to switch bodies on Halloween; when their Aunt Maureen comes to warn them, she inadvertently switches bodies with Nia's crush, Miles.

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Saturday, October 20

Henry Danger - "Flabber Gassed" (Nickelodeon, 8:00PM ET/PT)
After acting too confident before a fight, Kid Danger and Captain Man are sprayed with Flabber Gas making them powerless to defeat a new villain in Swellview; Schwoz puts the heroes in Exo-Suits which Charlotte and Jasper control.

Knight Squad - "Fright Night" (Nickelodeon, 8:30PM ET/PT)
After the Princess defies her father's orders and attends the Party of Darkness, the Shadow Ghost appears and threatens to possess her, forcing the Phoenix Squad to fight to save their friend.

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Sunday, October 21

The Simpsons - "Flanders' Ladder" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bart is struck by lightning and is visited by ghosts seeking closure only he can provide.

Bob's Burgers - "The Wolf of Wharf Street" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
On Halloween night, Linda tries to impress the kids by taking them to look for a wolf that has been terrorizing the town; an injured and medicated Bob believes that Teddy has turned into a werewolf.

The Simpsons - Treehouse of Horror XXIX" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Homer wins an oyster-eating contest against the mythical Cthulhu; Springfield is overrun by plant body-snatchers; Lisa finally snaps; Mr. Burns opens a retirement home with some Jurassic upgrades.

Bob's Burgers - "Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
The kids set out for their regular Halloween shenanigans, but when everyone's candy bags start mysteriously disappearing, it's up to Tina, Louise and Gene to find the culprit.

Family Guy - "Big Trouble in Little Quahog" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
After Brian teases Stewie for being small, Stewie invents a shrinking machine that results in both of them shrinking to a microscopic size.

Rel - "Halloween" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Rel, Nat, Brittany and Dad get together to watch a scary zombie movie around Halloween night, the film sparks a lot of controversy amongst the group.

Complete TV Listings

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Fall is here and in full force, but there are yet still a few more fall season premieres to come... and we'll get those this week at ABC! Meanwhile, we've got news of a possible new sitcom for Patricia Heaton (you didn't think she was going away, did you?), another cast member leaving Shameless, and news of a rare sitcom release from VEI. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

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

Last week, I talked about one of my favorite sitcoms on network TV, The Good Place. The Good Place's timeslot partner, Superstore, is my other choice for "best sitcom on TV" and, frankly, one of the best shows on TV. In the show's fourth season premiere, it gave a perfect example of why. "Back to School" was one of the absolute best season premieres I've seen in some time. It combined a great Superstore story with current events seamlessly, while progressing the show's story arc. And most importantly, it was packed to the brim with great jokes just as well-crafted as the plot they were a part of. Superstore's Season 4 premiere was the type of episode I would show to someone as an example of what the show is capable of. And unlike The Good Place, Superstore succeeds not by running away from sitcom conventions, but from playing to them and bringing a fresh perspective to them.

In many ways, Superstore is an example of how the traditional sitcom format is still alive and well. It's hard to imagine the show having the same impact in any way that's not a weekly network sitcom. Spending so much time with the Cloud 9 crew is what allows us to relate to their life, and so much of Superstore is about relating to the well-crafted characters, as in many ways, the show intends them to stand in for the rest of America. Sure, plenty of shows covered the #MeToo movement, but only Superstore can bring it to the level of everyday Americans and capture the murky waters that they have to navigate each day, rather than viewing at it from a big, Hollywood level. Superstore isn't the only show that can cover hot topics, but it's truly one of the only shows that cares to cover these topics from the lens of normal, everyday Americans - which in some ways, makes its coverage of these topics feel more valid and more convincing. Also? Superstore is just really funny, with really lovable characters. The premiere ends in a bit of a plot twist that feels so earned and so genuinely thrilling. Ultimately, Superstore is a show that any sitcom fan should be watching - it's a traditional sitcom operating at the absolute top of its game, showing how excellent a sitcom truly can be.

As the Halloween season comes to a close, Freeform will continue to be the home for all holiday programming as the brand-new "Kickoff To Christmas" programming event starts on November 1. Adding a month full of holiday fun, the programming event will also include the premiere of the Freeform original film The Truth About Christmas, from MarVista Entertainment, airing Sunday, Nov. 25 from 9:00-11:00 p.m. EST/PST. In the film, Kali Hawk (New Girl) stars as Jillian, a successful political consultant confident in her ability to put a spin on anything, whose next big project is the upcoming mayoral campaign for her boyfriend George (Damon Dayoub, Freeform's Stitchers). On the way to meet George's family for the first time during the holidays, an unusual confrontation with a toy store Santa results in a drastic change in Jillian where she can’t stop herself from wildly spilling the truth. Ali Ghandour (Freeform's Alone Together) co-stars as George's brother Blake, who believes you should always be true to yourself but thinks Jillian just might be losing it. Jillian must find a way to make it stop before her holidays, her job and her relationship are ruined. View the full month's line-up of holiday magic!

SHOWTIME has ordered a second season of its comedy series Kidding, starring two time Golden Globe(R) winner and Emmy(R) nominee Jim Carrey in his first series regular role in more than two decades. Ordered for 10 episodes next season, Kidding is created by Dave Holstein (Weeds, Raising Hope). The first season of Kidding currently airs on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, with its season finale on November 11. Kidding centers on Jeff, aka Mr. Pickles (Carrey), an icon of children's television and a beacon of kindness and wisdom to America's impressionable young minds and the parents who grew up with him. But when this beloved personality's family begins to implode, Jeff finds no fairytale, fable or puppet will guide him through this crisis, which advances faster than his means to cope. The result: A kind man in a cruel world faces a slow leak of sanity as hilarious as it is heartbreaking. The series also stars Oscar(R), Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Catherine Keener (Get Out), Judy Greer (Married), Cole Allen and Juliet Morris. Throughout the season, Jeff begins to push back against the limits of the well-oiled machine that is "Mr. Pickles' Puppet Time," and of his executive producer, Seb (Langella). Seb fears Jeff's mental state could ruin the branding empire they've built, and thus begins preparing the show for a life after Jeff, while Deirdre (Keener), the head puppet maker, grapples with her own professional and personal issues, including with her daughter, played by Morris. Greer stars as Jeff's estranged wife, and their son is played by Allen. Guest stars include Justin Kirk (Weeds), Ginger Gonzaga (I'm Dying Up Here) and Tara Lipinski.

Turner's TBS has ordered the comedy game show Misery Index, a new unscripted series inspired by the outrageously entertaining card game Sh*t Happens. Critically acclaimed and in demand comedy troupe The Tenderloins — Brian "Q" Quinn, James "Murr" Murray, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano — creators and stars of truTV's Impractical Jokers, cable's #1 original comedy series, have joined the series to help infuse comic relief. The game will feature two teams — each consisting of one contestant and two Tenderloins. Teams will compete against each other by attempting to determine the ranking of hilarious and miserable real-life events — from getting fired to accidentally sexting your grandfather — on a scale of 1-100. The network is adding 10 episodes of the half-hour comedy to its successful lineup of unscripted programs including Snoop Dogg Presents The Joker's Wild and Drop the Mic, the top two new unscripted cable comedies of 2017.

Continuing to bulk up its slate of original summer programming, The CW Network has acquired the British action drama Bulletproof from Sky Vision and ordered second seasons of the legal drama Burden of Truth, starring Kristin Kreuk, and the fantasy-adventure series The Outpost; all are set to air in Summer 2019. The CW has also ordered new seasons of the hit magic series Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Masters of Illusion, and the classic improv comedy Whose Line Is It Anyway? for Summer 2019. Premiere dates and times will be announced later.

Mr Inbetween, the new Australian series created by and starring Scott Ryan as the criminal-for-hire "Ray Shoesmith", has been renewed for a second season by FX Networks and FOXTEL. The second season will premiere in 2019, broadcasting day-and-date on FX in the U.S. and FOXTEL, Australia's leading cable network. In Mr Inbetween, Ryan plays "Ray Shoesmith", a father, ex-husband, boyfriend and best friend: tough roles to juggle in the modern age. Even harder when you're a criminal for hire. The six-episode season, written by Ryan and directed by Nash Edgerton, stars Ryan, Damon Herriman, Justin Rosniak, Brooke Satchwell, Jackson Tozer, Nicholas Cassim, Chika Yasumura and Matt Nable. Mr Inbetween aired last night, Tuesday, October 9 on FX with the final two episodes of the first season at 11:14 p.m. ET/PT and concluding at 12:19 a.m.

CBS announced an all-star lineup of Drew Barrymore, RuPaul Charles, James Corden and Faith Hill for The World's Best, a new global talent competition series from two of the most prolific unscripted producers in television, Mike Darnell (American Idol and Ellen's Game of Games) and Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Voice). James Corden, Emmy Award-winning host of The Late Late Show with James Corden, will host The World's Best and serve as executive producer, while Golden Globe Award winner Drew Barrymore, Emmy Award winner RuPaul Charles and Grammy Award winner Faith Hill will serve as the three American judges. The 10-episode series will premiere in 2019 on CBS.

The World's Best is a first-of-its-kind global talent competition that features acts from every genre imaginable, from every corner of the planet. They not only have to impress the American judges, but will also need to impress the "wall of the world," featuring 50 experts from around the world and every field of entertainment to advance through the competition. Only one act will ultimately be crowned The World's Best.

Bravo Media's seductive scripted anthology Dirty John, starring Connie Britton and Eric Bana, premieres on Sunday, November 25 at 10pm ET/PT. Based on the articles and breakout true crime podcast with over 30 million downloads from Los Angeles Times reporter Christopher Goffard, the series tells the cautionary tale of how a whirlwind romance between Debra Newell (Britton) and the charismatic con-man John Meehan (Bana) spiraled into a frightening web of deception, denial and mental terror that nearly tore a family apart. Created by Alexandra Cunningham and directed by Jeffrey Reiner, the eight hour-long episodes are produced by Universal Cable Productions (UCP), in association with Los Angeles Times Studios and Atlas Entertainment. Debra Newell has a seemingly perfect life: she's successful, beautiful and lives in one of California's most desirable coastal cities, Newport Beach. The only thing missing is love. So when she finally meets charming and handsome doctor John Meehan, she's quickly swept into a whirlwind romance, much to the dismay of her daughters Terra (Julia Garner) and Veronica (Juno Temple). Their fast-tracked relationship creates tension between Debra and the girls, leaving them no choice but to investigate the stranger who has swept their mother off her feet. And with a fraught family history, the backstory of Debra and her mother Arlane (Jean Smart) provides insight into why she may have been so vulnerable to John in the first place. As Debra gets drawn deeper into his lies and sinister game of psychological manipulation, it results in horrific consequences for an entire family.

The anthology series, Dirty John, received a two season, straight to series order from Bravo Media. The second season will be a based on an all-new story. Cunningham and Reiner both serve as executive producers along with Richard Suckle and Charles Roven for Atlas Entertainment; Mark Herzog, Christopher G. Cowen and Chris Argentieri for Los Angeles Times Studios; and series stars Connie Britton and Eric Bana.

It's time for a round-up of everything from New York Comic Con! IFC comedy Stan Against Evil raises hell at New York Comic Con after official season three trailer is revealed. New Episodes premiere Wednesday, October 31 at 10PM on IFC. Bang out some spells and spring some trapped souls this Halloween with the premiere of IFC's horror-comedy Stan Against Evil. In the all-new official Season 3 trailer, unveiled at New York Comic Con, catch a glimpse of the nightmarish moths, possessed puppets and evil plumbers (yeah, you read that right) swiftly taking over the quaint New England town of Willard's Mill. In addition, Stan Against Evil is celebrating its Halloween premiere in two all-new promos, one paying homage to some'thing' strange and another highlighting the debut of this season's must-have trick-or-treat masks. IFC's original horror-comedy series Stan Against Evil stars John C. McGinley as Stan Miller, the curmudgeonly retired police sheriff of Willard's Mill, and Janet Varney as Evie Barrett, the current sheriff determined to wipe out the demons that plague their town of Willard's Mill. Deborah Baker Jr. and Nate Mooney return to co-star as Denise Miller, Stan's absent-minded, do-good daughter, and Deputy Leon Drinkwater, Evie's right-hand man, respectively. Season 3 premieres Wednesday, October 31 at 10PM on IFC with eight all-new episodes.

In a room of screaming fans during their New York Comic Con panel, Freeform announced that the sophomore season of the critically acclaimed mermaid drama Siren will premiere on THURSDAY, JAN. 24. Amazon Prime Video released an exclusive behind the scenes video of the highly-anticipated second season of Lore during the show's panel at New York Comic Con (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx2j_r51rm0&feature=youtu.be). The panel, held in Hammerstein Ballroom, featured executive producers Gale Anne Hurd and Howard T. Owens, podcast creator Aaron Mahnke, showrunner Sean Crouch, and cast members Josh Bowman, Thomas Kretschmann, Alicia Witt and Elie Haddad. Season two of the critically-acclaimed Prime Original series Lore, adapted from Aaron Mahnke's award-winning podcast of the same name, premieres Friday, October 19 and stars Josh Bowman, Doug Bradley, Thomas Kretschmann, Paula Malcomson, Maimie McCoy, Jürgen Prochnow, Emmett Scanlan and Alicia Witt. Lore explores the real-life frightening and disturbing tales that have given rise to our modern-day myths and legends. The six-episode second season will feature new tales from the podcast, as well as original stories not yet available in podcast form. The anthology series will continue to interweave rich archival and mixed media sequences to complement the narrative segments.

Fans of Riverdale will learn a little bit more about Jughead's family in season three, as his mother and sister shake things up with their own sneaky behavior. Gina Gershon (Bound) and newcomer Trinity Likins have been set for recurring roles as Gladys Jones and Jellybean "JB" Jones, respectively. They will debut on Riverdale during the Wednesday, December 12, 2018, episode at 8/7c on The CW. Season three of Riverdale premieres Wednesday, October 10, at 8/7c on The CW. And finally at New York Comic-Con, Star Trek: Discovery executive producer Alex Kurtzman revealed that the highly anticipated second season of the series will launch Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, exclusively on CBS All Access in the United States. During the panel with cast and executive producers at Madison Square Garden, the official season two New York Comic-Con trailer debuted, and fans were given a first look at Star Trek: Discovery's Spock, played by Ethan Peck; Number One, played by Rebecca Romijn; and Section 31's newest recruit, Philippa Georgiou, played by Michelle Yeoh.

It's Sunday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of October 8-12, 2018, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVRs (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!


Monday, October 8

• John Goodman (The Connners/Roseanne/The Trouble in Normal, Ohio) - Watch John on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Regina Hall (Grandfathered/Second Generation Wayans) - Regina appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony visits The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• Luis Guzman (How to Make It in America/Luis) - Luis stops by Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens/Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Jamie Lee chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. She also talks about Halloween on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on the BUILD Series at 1pm.
• Yvette Nicole Brown (The Mayor/The Odd Couple/Community) - Yvette guest co-hosts The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Geoffrey Owens (The Cosby Show) - Geoffrey is a guest on Access Live, so check your local listings.
• Diedrich Bader (American Housewife/The Drew Carey Show) - Diedrich stops by Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project) - Ike talks about The Oath on the BUILD Series at 10am. Tiffany Haddish interviews Ike on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Mädchen Amick (Freddie) - Mädchen appears on the BUILD Series at 2pm.
• Bobby Moynihan (Me, Myself & I) - Bobby is a guest on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany interviews Ike Barinholtz on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah will be on ABC's GMA Day at 1pm.
• Lena Dunham (Girls) - Lena talks about HBO's Camping on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.

Tuesday, October 9

• Romany Malco (Weeds) - Catch Romany on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation) - Ben appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela stops by Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Brett Gelman (Camping/Love/Married/Go On) - Brett is a guest on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Mädchen Amick (Freddie) - Mädchen drops by Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Yvette Nicole Brown (The Mayor/The Odd Couple/Community) - Yvette guest co-hosts The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony appears on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Jenna Fischer (Splitting Up Together/The Office) - Jenna is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Nicole Ari Parker (Second Time Around) - Nicole talks about Empire on the BUILD Series at 2pm.
• David Tennant (Camping) - David talks about HBO's Camping on the BUILD Series at 3pm.
• Nat and Alex Wolff (The Naked Brothers Band) - Nat and Alex talk about Stella's Last Weekend on the BUILD Series at 5pm.
• Christine Lahti (The Harvey Korman Show) - Christine talks about Broadway's Gloria on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
• Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Office) - Ellie will be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on GMA Day at 1pm.
• Justine Bateman (Family Ties) - Justine talks about her new book Fame: The Hijacking of Reality on NBC's Megyn Kelly Today at 9am.
• Tom Arnold (Roseanne/Tom/The Tom Show) - Tom talks about The Hunt for The Trump Tapes with Tom Arnold on E!'s Daily Pop at 12pm.
• Marcus Scribner (black-ish) - Marcus is a guest on People Now at 12pm.

Wednesday, October 10

• Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens/Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Watch Jamie Lee on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Iain Armitage (Young Sheldon) - Iain is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Romany Malco (Weeds) - Romany stops by Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Lena Dunham (Girls) - Lena visits Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Yvette Nicole Brown (The Mayor/The Odd Couple/Community) - Yvette guest co-hosts The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Ron Livingston (Loudermilk) - Ron appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda talks about The Romanoffs on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly/Samantha Who?) - Melissa drops by The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Tamela and David Mann (Mann and Wife/Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns) - Tamela and David are guests on The Real, so check your local listings.
• Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced/The Nanny/Living with Fran) - Fran appears on Access Live, so check your local listings. She will also be on People Now at 12pm.
• Nicole Ari Parker (Second Time Around) - Nicole is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Justine Batmean (Family Ties) - Justine talks about her book Fame: The Hijacking of Reality on the BUILD Series at 1pm.
• Raven-Symone (Raven's Home/That's So Raven/Hangin' with Mr. Cooper/The Cosby Show), Issac Ryan Brown and Navia Robinson (Raven's Home) - Raven-Symone, Isaac and Navia are guests on the BUILD Series at 3pm.
• Joe Morton (Grady) - Joe talks about God Friended Me on New York Live on WNBC in New York at 11:30am ET.
• Steve Carell (The Office) - Steve talks about Beautiful Boy on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Tony Danza (Taxi/Who's the Boss?/Hudson Street/The Tony Danza Show) - Tony talks about The Good Cop on ABC's GMA Day at 1pm.
• Kimberly Williams-Paisley (According to Jim) - Kimberly talks about Hallmark Movie and Mysteries Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence on E!'s Daily Pop at 12pm.
• Geoffrey Owens (The Cosby Show) - Geoffrey is a guest on People Now at 12pm.

Thursday, October 11

• Dakota Johnson (Ben and Kate) - Catch Dakota on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She will also be on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project) - Ike visits Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Michael Rapaport (Atypical/The War at Home) - Michael appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela stops by Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Raven-Symone (Raven's Home/That's So Raven/Hangin' with Mr. Cooper/The Cosby Show) - Raven-Symone chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Yvette Nicole Brown (The Mayor/The Odd Couple/Community) - Yvette guest co-hosts The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced/The Nanny/Living with Fran) - Fran appears on The Real, so check your local listings.
• Kimberly Williams-Paisley (According to Jim) - Kimberly talks about Hallmark Movie and Mysteries Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT. She will also be on Access Live, so check your local listings.
• Boris Kodjoe (The Last Man on Earth/Second Time Around) - Boris is a guest on Access Live, so check your local listings.
• Debra Messing (Will & Grace) - Debra dishes on the new season of Will & Grace – and she and Rach celebrate their 50th birthdays by smashing pinatas on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Steve Carell (Beautiful Boy) - Steve talks about Beautiful Boy on the BUILD Series at 11am.
• Laura Marano (Austin & Ally/Back to You) - Laura is a guest on People Now at 12pm.
and the BUILD Series at 3pm.
• Marcus Scribner (black-ish) - Marcus will be on ABC's GMA Day at 1pm.

Friday, October 12

• Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) - Watch Alec on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:34pm on NBC.
• John Krasinski (The Office) - John appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Yvonne Orji (Insecure) - Yvonne is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
• Kenan Thompson (Kenan & Kel) - Kenan appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) - Jameela is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Y'lan Noel (Insecure) - Y'lan is a guest on a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35am on NBC.
• Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Yvette Nicole Brown (The Mayor/The Odd Couple/Community) - Yvette guest co-hosts The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Grant Show (Accidentally on Purpose) - Grant appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Skyler Samuels (Scream Queens) - Skyler visits The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Marcus Scribner (black-ish) - Marcus stops by The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
• Tim Allen (Last Man Standing/Home Improvement) - Tim is a guest on Steve, so check your local listings.
• Boris Kodjoe (The Last Man on Earth/Second Time Around) - Boris talks about Station 19 on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Alfonso Ribeiro (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/In the House/Silver Spoons) - Alfonso shares stories about his pal Will Smith's bungee jump at the Grand Canyon on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Busy Philipps (Vice Principals/Cougar Town) - Busy talks about This Will Only Hurt a Little on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Nat and Alex Wolff (The Naked Brothers Band) - Nat and Alex talk about Stella's Last Weekend on People Now at 12pm.
• Miles Brown (black-ish) - Miles appears on Chatter on PeopleTV at 8pm.

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

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Sitcoms Airing This Week

Sunday, October 7

The Simpsons - "Heartbreak Hotel" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Marge and Homer's marriage is tested when they travel to a tropical island to compete on Marge's favorite reality competition show.

Bob's Burgers - "The Taking of Funtime One Two Three" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Louise, Tina and Gene devise a master plan to get the grand prize dune buggy at their local arcade; Teddy convinces Bob and Linda to take in a chicken by promising fresh eggs.

Family Guy - "Dead Dog Walking" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Brian's marriage to Jess is not what he envisioned; at Peter's suggestion, Brian lets himself go, causing Jess to make a surprising decision.

Rel - "Kids First Visit" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Rel's kids come to visit for the first time since the split, he, Dad, Nat and Jess bring the kids to a Family Fun Center in Chicago.

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Monday, October 8

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Repipe" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When a water pipe bursts at the Johnsons’ home, Calvin reluctantly agrees to help Dave repair the damage. Also, Gemma discovers a surprising secret about her new neighbor, Tina.

Happy Together - "Scrubbing" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Jake and Claire attempt to follow Cooper’s minimalist lifestyle by “scrubbing” their home of all their old and forgotten belongings. However, they find that letting go of the past is harder than it seems.

Henry Danger - "Danger Things" (Nickelodeon, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Piper is taken by a creature from another dimension, Captain Man and Kid Danger must rescue her from the evil science corporation that opened the portal.

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Tuesday, October 9

none scheduled

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Wednesday, October 10

The Goldbergs - "RAD!" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Erica thinks all of her singing dreams are going to come true when she lands a job at the new karaoke bar in town. But when she’s tasked with bringing in more customers, will Erica regret turning to Beverly for help? Meanwhile, Murray tries to teach Barry and Lainey how to be financially responsible adults.

American Housewife - "Cheaters Sometimes Win" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Katie’s mom, Kathryn (Wendie Malick), comes to town, Katie and Kathryn encourage the kids to make less than favorable decisions: Oliver cheats in shop class and Katie helps him try to get out of it, while Kathryn reassures Taylor that she doesn’t need to go to college.

Modern Family - "A Sketchy Area" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Phil stumbles into an exciting new career after dropping by Luke’s college; while Claire deals with her dad, Jay, and the merger of Pritchett’s Closets with a tech-savvy, hipper company. Meanwhile, Mitch’s new high-profile case as an assistant district attorney is marred by an unflattering courtroom sketch by the resident artist (Dan Levy).

Single Parents - "A Leash Is Not a Guinea Pig" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After seeing the way Douglas and the twins are barely affected by the death of their guinea pig, Pickle, Poppy encourages Douglas to stop repressing his and the twins’ feelings. After seeing how close Graham and Will are becoming, Angie gets jealous when Graham asks Will to go get a colonoscopy to check on his health, so Angie decides to get one herself.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Jimmy Buffett is in town and the positive vibes are alive at the bar; when Mac comes out of the women's bathroom, no one can leave until the bathroom situation is solved.

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Thursday, October 11

The Big Bang Theory - "The Tam Turbulence" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Sheldon won’t tell anyone why he’s never mentioned Tam (Robert Wu), his childhood best friend, Leonard takes matters into his own hands. Also, Bernadette and Penny take out Raj’s fiancée, Anu (Rati Gupta), for dinner to get the skinny on her. Jerry O’Connell returns as Sheldon’s brother, George.

Young Sheldon - "A Financial Secret and Fish Sauce" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When George Sr. asks Sheldon to keep a secret from Mary, the stress of not being honest drives Sheldon to hideout at Tam’s for his first sleepover.

Mom - "Ambulance Chasers and a Babbling Brook" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Christy’s demanding law professor (Constance Zimmer) leans on her a little too hard for support, and Bonnie’s plan to trick Adam into choosing a wedding venue backfires.

Murphy Brown - "#MurphyToo" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After Murphy attends a sexual harassment seminar for the “Murphy in the Morning” staff, she is surprised to find herself reeling from the long-repressed memory of her own #MeToo moment.

Superstore - "Baby Shower" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Jonah (Ben Feldman) helps Amy (America Ferrera) get creative to stock up on supplies for her new baby, while Glenn (Mark McKinney) & Jerusha (Kerri Kenney) take maternity pictures that inspire Dina (Lauren Ash) to have her own photo shoot – art-directed by Mateo (Nico Santos).

The Good Place - "The Snowplow" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
A surprising announcement from one of the humans threatens to dissolve the group.

Will & Grace - "Where in the World Is Karen Walker?" (NBC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Will (Eric McCormack), Grace (Debra Messing) and Jack (Sean Hayes) are upset when they discover they’ve been too preoccupied with the changes in their own lives: Will teaching law at Columbia, Grace running for president of the New York Interior Designers Society and Jack’s new relationship with Estefan (guest star Brian Jordan Alvarez) to even notice Karen (Megan Mullally) has not been seen in days – ever since her husband found out about her affair with Malcolm (guest star Alec Baldwin).

I Feel Bad - "My Kid Has to Grow Up" (NBC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
When Emet realizes she and David might be coddling Louie too much, she decides it’s time for him to grow up... only to learn he’s more mature than she thought. After some introspection of their own mother-son relationships, the guys at work go on a mom-cleanse.

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Friday, October 12

Fresh Off the Boat - "The Hand That Sits the Cradle" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Jessica offers to help out exhausted new mother Honey with Zuo Yue Zi – which means “Sitting the Month” taking care of her – Honey begins to realize that 30 days of having to abide by Jessica’s strict rules and dietary regimen could leave her more harried then she already is. Meanwhile, after watching “Pumping Iron,” Eddie and Emery attempt to put together a workout routine in order to buff themselves up; and Louis tries to bond more with Evan, who is a die-hard “mommy guy.”

Speechless - "L-O-N-- LONDON (Part 2)" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Maya must choose between asking her father for money to save their house and a lasting relationship with him. Ray strives to bond with his new British family, only to discover Dylan’s the one with a surprising connection. Meanwhile, JJ shows Kenneth a good time off-the-clock, and Jimmy inadvertently finds love.

Last Man Standing - "Giving Mike the Business" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Under the threat of a takeover, Mike and Ed disagree on the direction of Outdoor Man's future.

The Cool Kids - "A Date with Destiny" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Charlie and Hank create online dating profiles, Sid pretends to be an interested woman.

Raven's Home - "Raven's Home: Remix" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Booker sets out to land the lead role in the school's musical; when Nia discovers the part requires someone who is great at basketball and can rap -- two things Tess excels at -- she tries to convince Coach Spitz to let Tess audition for the role.

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Saturday, October 13

Henry Danger - "Rubber Duck" (Nickelodeon, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Ray accidentally destroys Henry's dad's prized remote control car, they throw a manicure/pedicure party to raise money to fix it.

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Sunday, October 14

The Simpsons - "Lisa Gets the Blues" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When the Simpsons' flight is rerouted to New Orleans, Lisa rediscovers her passion for jazz; Bart is intrigued by voodoo; Homer is intrigued by drinking.

The Cool Kids - "Pilot" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A group of three retirement home friends are determined to prove that there is still much for them to accomplish in life despite their age, which makes them feel as though they have little left to lose whether they succeed or not.

The Simpsons - "My Way or the Highway to Heaven" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
God and St. Peter contemplate what merits a soul getting into heaven, while citizens of Springfield remember their divine encounters.

Bob's Burgers - "Tweentrepreneurs" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Tina, Louise and Gene get a taste of business when they join the school's Tweentrepeneurs club; Bob and Linda find themselves outsmarted by a dine-and-dasher.

Family Guy - "Pal Stewie" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Stewie quickly befriends a boy his age, but is devastated when he realizes he isn't invited to his birthday party; Peter and Lois attend a self-empowerment seminar.

Rel - "One Night Stand" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Just when Rel thinks he can't move on from his ex-wife, he gets hit with a pleasant surprise; but after getting in over his head, he ends up taking advice from Brittany.

Complete TV Listings

Welcome to SitcomsOnline Digest! Now that the fall season has sort of set in (aside from The CW, which is just getting started this week), we're into a pattern of normalcy before the new shows start getting cancelled and midseason replacements pop up. But just because it's a new season doesn't mean networks aren't already looking toward next season, and CBS is doing just that. Plus, we have some news about the TV adaptation of Heathers, which will finally see the light of day following countless delays. Let's get going!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SITCOMSONLINE.COM AND AROUND THE WEB

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

Last Thursday, The Good Place returned for its third season. Once again, it completely flipped its premise. SPOILERS for The Good Place Season 3 ahead, so if you haven't gotten there, you might want to stop reading, but...basically, The Good Place Season 3, at least so far, seems to be about the four main characters being given a second chance on Earth. This is completely different than the second season premise (the core four finding out they're in The Bad Place and trying to get into The Good Place) and of course, the original premise, about a woman who thinks she's in The Good Place by mistake. It's hard to think of a show that's changed its premise as drastically in three seasons as The Good Place - and even harder to think of one that's done it so well. The show is still as fresh and excellent as ever, making its innovations and changes even more impressive, and even more exciting to watch.

So where does The Good Place go from here? It's impossible to say, but personally, I'm wondering if we're going to eventually address the morality of the way the afterlife and demons actually treat people. For a show about morals and ethics, it's interesting how morally gray the show's actual afterlife is! Given that the actual demons seem to be taking more of a center stage this season (if the way the show ended is any indication), I wouldn't be surprised if we start to dig into that question. Or maybe not. I've given up trying to predict where this show is going, because I'm always wrong - but hey, that's the beauty of The Good Place. It keeps you guessing and guessing every week.

Netflix has gotten yet another series. Now an animated comedy with Jake Johnson. Hoops centers around a hot-headed, foul-mouthed high school basketball coach who thinks turning around his God-awful team will take him to the "big leagues." Jake Johnson (New Girl, BoJack Horseman, Spider Man: Into the Spider-verse) will voice the character of Coach Ben Hopkins. Netflix has ordered ten half-hour episodes from Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Ben Hoffman, Phil Lord & Chris Miller (The Lego Movie), Seth Cohen and Jake Johnson. 20th Century Fox Television is producing.

This Halloween, Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting's multicast entertainment network is brewing up a BEWITCHING day with the twitchiest of witches and the sweetest of sorceresses. On Wednesday, October 31, Antenna TV will air "Witch-O-Ween Bewitched Marathon" from 5a to 4a ET. Treat yourself to an entire day of this comedy classic with 48 episodes of Bewitched.

On Halloween Eve, cast a spell with a Spellman... Sabrina Spellman, when Antenna TV airs "Spell-O-Ween Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Marathon" on Tuesday October 30, from 6p to 4a ET. After all, what's scarier than high school? Bewitched regularly airs on Antenna TV Weekdays 2p ET/11a PT, Weekdays 11:30a ET /8:30a PT, Saturdays 11p ET/8p PT and Sundays 1a ET/10p PT. Sabrina, the Teenage Witch regularly airs on Antenna TV on Weekends 1p ET / 10a PT.

After serving as an Executive Producer, Vince Vaughn will finally voice a character in the upcoming season of F is for Family. Colonel Chet Stevenson is Frank's new neighbor. He's a true man's man and a legendary Air Force fighter pilot who's spent the last few years in Vietnam before recently transferring back stateside to the local Air Force Base where Young Frank did his Air National Guard service. In short, Chet is everything Frank wishes he could have been. At a stressful time when he could really use a friend, the virile and outgoing Chet takes Frank under his wing and, with his new Vietnamese wife on his arm, Chet quickly becomes a major part of Frank's life and a huge force in the cul de sac.

From comedian Bill Burr and Emmy award-winner Michael Price, F is for Family transports viewers back to the 1970s, a time when political correctness, helicopter parenting and indoor smoking bans weren't part of anyone's vocabulary, let alone the norm.

This Halloween, TNT is bringing fans spooks, chills and thrills with an all-day Supernatural marathon, starting at 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., spanning four seasons of the most terrifying episodes from the fan-favorite series. From hauntings to ghosts, zombies and even Bloody Mary, TNT is your destination for getting into the Halloween spirit. In the series, Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) lost their mother to a mysterious and demonic supernatural force twenty-six years ago. Subsequently, their father John raised them to be soldiers. He taught them about the paranormal evil that lives in the dark corners and on the back roads of America ... and he taught them how to kill it.

The televangelist game will never be the same. John Goodman and Danny McBride are The Righteous Gemstones. HBO has ordered the pilot of The Righteous Gemstones to series. The televangelist family comedy about Jesse Gemstone, who arrogantly attempts to expand and modernize the global TV ministry that his father Eli created a long tradition of deviance, greed, and charitable work, all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The cast includes Adam Devine as Kelvin Gemstone, Cassidy Freeman as Amber Gemstone, Danny McBride as Jesse Gemstone, Edi Patterson as Judy Gemstone, John Goodman as Eli Gemstone, Tim Baltz as B.J. and Tony Cavalero as Keefe Chambers.

Actress, singer and series executive producer Raven-Symoné leads the multitalented Raven's Home cast in a dynamic musical episode, Raven's Home: Remix, about self-empowerment and self-expression. Directed by Paul Hoen and choreographed by Will "WilldaBeast" Adams, the episode premieres Friday, Oct. 12 from 8:00-8:30 p.m. EDT/PDT, on Disney Channel, in the DisneyNOW app and DisneyVOD. It features eight original songs and dance numbers performed by the cast: Raven-Symoné, Issac Ryan Brown, Navia Robinson, Jason Maybaum, Sky Katz and Anneliese van der Pol. The Raven's Home musical episode will usher in the series premiere of Coop & Cami Ask the World at 8:30 p.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel.

In Raven's Home: Remix, Booker sets out to land the starring role in the school's musical about a boy who loves playing basketball and performing hip-hop. When Raven has a vision of Booker receiving a standing ovation, she's convinced he's perfect for the role and encourages him to go for it. However, when Nia discovers the part requires someone who is great at basketball and can rap - two things Tess excels at - she tries to convince Coach Spitz to let Tess audition for the role. When he refuses because Tess is a girl, a determined Nia takes a stand to prove girls can do anything boys can do.

Series creator Laura Chinn (The Mick) will star alongside Laci Mosley (The Wedding Year), Melanie Field (Heathers) and Patty Guggenheim (Splitting Up Together, LA to Vegas) in Pop TV's newest scripted comedy, Florida Girls, which starts production in early October. Inspired by Chinn's real life growing up on the West Coast of Florida, the 10-episode series follows four women who are forced to confront their stagnant lives when their only ambitious friend moves away to follow her dreams. The series stars Laura Chinn. Chinn will star as Shelby, the follower. She's a total screw-up who tries to better herself because she saw someone else do it. Laci Mosley stars as Jayla, the self-absorbed one. She's vain and banks hard on her looks as she pursues her lifelong dream of having exorbitant wealth. Melanie Field stars as Kaitlin, the stunted one. She lives her life like she's still in high school and is the catalyst for all the year-round spring break insanity that Florida has to offer. And Patty Guggenheim plays Erica, the thief. She's that scrub friend who never has money and has no problem letting you pay, but will call you every day if you owe her five dollars.

Happy Together - Mondays at 8:30PM ET/PT on CBS
Premieres Monday, October 1, 2018 at 8:30PM ET/PT

by Vincent

Happy Together stars Damon Wayans Jr. and Amber Stevens West in a comedy about a 30-something happily married couple who begin to reconnect with their younger, cooler selves when Cooper, an exuberant young pop star drawn to their super-ordinary suburban life, unexpectedly moves in with them.

Cast Details:

Damon Wayans Jr. as Jake
Amber Stevens West as Claire
Felix Mallard as Cooper James
Chris Parnell as Wayne

Damon Wayans Jr. (Jake) is an American actor, comedian and writer most widely known for starring as Brad Williams in the ABC sitcom Happy Endings and as Coach in the Fox sitcom New Girl. He has also starred in films such as Big Hero 6 and Let's Be Cops.

Amber Stevens West (Claire) is an actress best known for her roles as Ashleigh Howard in the ABC Family series Greek, Maya in 22 Jump Street, and Maxine in the NBC sitcom, The Carmichael Show. Last season she starred in the sitcom Ghosted on Fox.

Felix Mallard (Cooper James) is best known for his role as Ben Kirk in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Happy Together will be his first starring role in the US.

Chris Parnell (Wayne) is a comedic actor best known for his role as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998 to 2006, his recurring role as Dr. Spaceman on 30 Rock, and his voice talents as Cyril Figgis on Archer and Jerry Smith on Rick and Morty. He has also co-starred on sitcoms such as Suburgatory and Miss Guided.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Airs Monday, Oct. 1 at 8:30PM ET)

Jake, an accountant, and his dream wife, Claire, a restaurant and bar designer, are very comfortably settled into their marriage, enjoying evenings together on the couch watching TV and scheduling time to change their outgoing voicemail message. Their tame routine gets a makeover when Jake's client, exuberant music superstar Cooper James, arrives on their doorstep looking for refuge from the paparazzi following a high-profile break-up with his girlfriend. Jake and Claire quickly discover there's no way they can keep up with their world-famous houseguest's effortlessly cool, fast-paced lifestyle. Cooper, however, enjoys Jake and Claire's more relaxed way of life, discovering that a touch of ordinary can be extraordinary for all three of them.

Analysis:

Happy Together is one of those shows that is completely held up by its cast. In the hands of just about anyone else, this show would likely be unwatchable - the writing isn't particularly strong, the concept is a little silly, and the characters are sort of broad archetypes. And yet, the show is pretty watchable, and even enjoyable at times. That's because its two leads - Damon Wayans Jr. and Amber Stevens West - give it their all. The writing may not be as smart as it was on the sitcoms both are likely best known for (Happy Endings and The Carmichael Show, both of which suffered cancellation after three seasons but became critical and fan favorites), but Happy Together is probably more likely to appeal to broad audiences and become a huge hit. Not saying it will, necessarily - CBS isn't exactly the hit sitcom factory it was 5-10 years ago - but it's possible. And if that's what it takes for these excellent actors to be introduced to the general population, then I'm fine with it.

Plus, I do think there is potential that Happy Together taps into its potential a bit and lives up to the promise of its leads. CBS sitcoms this decade often just stay on one track and don't rise to greatness, but that's not always the case - it wasn't with Mom, after all - and Wayans Jr. and Stevens West have such great, easy chemistry that even just serviceable writing could lead to a good show. Felix Mallard also does well at making a role that could be cloying into someone with some heart and understanding, and of course Chris Parnell is a comedic force no matter what he's doing. Again, yes, much of my praise is of the cast, but the writing and jokes aren't great but - hey, most new sitcoms aren't, and they aren’t bad enough that I find it unbelievable that things couldn’t get better. I really hope it does, because it would be a shame for a cast this good to be toiling in mediocrity, and this show has the potential to be much better than that.

Conclusion:

Happy Together is completely saved by its cast at this point, but the cast is giving it their all - if the writing and jokes could just improve a bit, this could be a show to keep an eye on. While it might not ever reinvent the wheel, it could at least become a solid, enjoyable little sitcom with some really talented cast members. Let's hope it can live up to that potential and do right by its talented stars.

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 Monday, October 1, 2018 at 8:30PM ET/PT on our message board.

Related Links:

CBS.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Happy Together Photo Gallery

Preview:

The Cool Kids - Fridays at 8:30PM ET/PT on Fox
Premiered Friday, September 28, 2018 at 8:30PM ET/PT

by Todd

From executive producer Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and starring Tony Award nominee David Alan Grier (The Carmichael Show, In Living Color), Emmy Award nominee Martin Mull (Veep, Roseanne), Emmy Award winner Vicki Lawrence (Mama’s Family, The Carol Burnett Show) and Emmy Award winner Leslie Jordan (Will and Grace, American Horror Story), The Cool Kids is a multi-camera comedy about a rowdy, rag-tag group of friends living in a retirement community who are willing to break every rule in order to have fun – because, at their age, what do they really have to lose?

Hank (Grier) is the leader of this motley crew, a gruff, opinionated, 21st century Archie Bunker who will go to any lengths to have a good time. His loyal, but less than helpful, friends include Charlie (Mull), a bumbling wanderer who constantly goes off on tangents about some bizarre, barely believable episode from his life; and Sid (Jordan), a fun-loving hedonist with a flair for the melodramatic. Complicating matters is Margaret (Lawrence), a brash, confident woman who forces her way into their group and refuses to leave because she’s not going to take crap from anyone – especially not these three.

But what unites them all is their shared belief that they’re not done yet – not by a long shot. Growing old with dignity is for chumps. These self-proclaimed “cool kids” are determined to make the third act of their lives the craziest one yet.

Cast Details:

David Alan Grier as Hank
Martin Mull as Charlie
Vicki Lawrence as Margaret
Leslie Jordan as Sid

David Alan Grier (Hank) is perhaps best known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color. He recently starred in the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show. Some of his previous sitcom starring roles include Bad Teacher, Life with Bonnie, DAG, Damon, The Preston Episodes and All Is Forgiven.

Martin Mull (Charlie) starred as Crawford Whittemore in the Fox sitcom Dads in 2003-04. Some of his previous starring and recurring roles include Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Fernwood 2 Night, America 2-Night, Domestic Life, Roseanne, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, The Ellen Show and Veep.

Vicki Lawrence (Margaret) is best known for her role as Thelma Harper/Mama in Mama's Family. She won an Emmy Award for her work on The Carol Burnett Show in 1976. Some of her sitcom guest appearances include The Love Boat, Laverne & Shirley, Major Dad, Roseanne, Yes, Dear, Hannah Montana and Great News.

Leslie Jordan (Sid) is best known for his roles as Lonnie Garr in Hearts Afire and as Beverly Leslie in Will & Grace. He won an Emmy Award for his work on Will & Grace in 2006. Some of his sitcom guest appearances include Night Court, Murphy Brown, Newhart, Dharma & Greg, Reba and Raising Hope.

Pilot Plot:

"Pilot" (Aired Friday, September 28 at 8:30PM ET)

A group of three retirement home friends are determined to prove that there is still much for them to accomplish in life despite their age.
Guest Cast: Artemis Pebdani as Allison, Jamie Farr as Dudley, Eduardo Franco as Delivery Clerk, Kat Purgal as Party Planner, Charlie Day as Chet the Handyman, Roger Vernon Burton as Phillips

Upcoming Episodes:

"Margaret Turns 65" (Airs Friday, October 5 at 8:30PM ET)
On her 65th birthday, Margaret doesn't feel like celebrating. However, Hank, Sid and Charlie insist on taking her out for a "good old-fashioned young person's night" at the local club, which leaves them all feeling older - and more hungover - than ever.

"A Date with Destiny" (Airs Friday, October 12 at 8:30PM ET)
Charlie and Hank create online dating profiles, and to boost their egos, Sid pretends to be an interested woman. Of course, the plan goes awry.

"The Cool Kids Rig an Election" (Airs Friday, October 19 at 8:30PM ET)
Tired of "Gorgeous George" and his reign as activities coordinator, Hank backs Charlie and Margaret backs Sid for the position in the upcoming election, and it instantly turns dirty.

Analysis:

The Cool Kids comes from the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia team. It's produced by 20th Century Fox Television, in association with FX Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment. Charlie Day, Patrick Walsh (Living Biblically, 2 Broke Girls) and Nick Frenkel (The Mick, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) are executive producers. Emmy Award winner Don Scardino (30 Rock, 2 Broke Girls) directed the pilot.

In the "Pilot" episode, we meet the members of the Shady Meadows retirement community. Hank, Charlie and Sid raise a toast at breakfast to honor their departed friend, Jerry. They talk about possible replacements. Hank suggests they honor his legacy with an empty seat at their table. Margaret arrives and takes the seat, but Hank says she can't sit there. Margaret asks who they are and if they are the cool kids. Margaret and Sid decide to arm wrestle for the seat. The guys talk about a service for Jerry. Hank wants to have a farewell party at the center. Sid has Jerry's credit card. A deliveryman rolls in a keg of beer. When he asks for a photo ID, the guys make a run for it. The staff member Allison confiscates the credit card. Sid later talks to Margaret and tells her there are ways that she can earn the seat through him. Margaret shares a story with Sid in her room. Hank attempts to auction off Jerry's seat. Hank says they should drive to the morgue to get Jerry. Hank drives the group before they are pulled over by a cop. Hank puts the vase with Jerry's cremated remains on a table before it falls to the ground and breaks. Margaret puts together a farewell party for Jerry. Hank tells Margaret she should take Jerry's seat on a probationary basis.

The "Pilot" episode is very well put together and entertaining. It provides a good introduction to the characters in a short period of time. The jokes are very rapid fire and are funny for the most part. The only part that I didn't care for is when Hank said that they should pretend to have Alzheimer's when they are pulled over by a cop. As anybody who has or had a loved one with that terrible disease, it's not something that should be joked about. Hopefully they tone down any jokes about losing memory, even though it's a reality of being older. The other jokes are somewhat cheesy and corny, but the delivery and performances by the cast often make them work.

The Cool Kids has assembled an all-star cast of comedy veterans. David Alan Grier has been the most visible on television in recent years. He's only 62 years old, so it's a little hard to buy him as a member of a retirement community. He's made to look older with gray/white hair and a beard. Martin Mull and Leslie Jordan have made regular sitcom appearances in recent years, so they have plenty of experience and bring some good laughs here. Vicki Lawrence has made some guest appearances, but this is her first sitcom starring role since Mama's Family. It's great to see her again in a starring role. She looks many years younger than her real age of 69, so she's another one that it's difficult to believe to be living at a retirement community. The cast has some great chemistry already, especially Grier and Lawrence. The "Pilot" episode has a couple notable guest appearances. Creator and producer Charlie Day plays Chet, the retirement community handyman. M*A*S*H star Jamie Farr makes a funny appearance as Dudley when Hank tries to auction off Jerry's seat.

Conclusion:

The Cool Kids has a very likable, talented and experienced cast. The chemistry between the cast is great already. It seems like they have been working together for years. The scenes between Grier and Lawrence are especially good. It's been far too long since Lawrence has starred in a sitcom, so she makes a welcome return. The cast really gives it their all. Charlie Day, the creator of the series, seems to have given them a lot of energy. The series is similar to The Golden Girls with three men and a woman instead of four women. There haven't been too many series that have focused on older characters, so this provides a good change of pace. It should especially appeal to older viewers, but I think younger generations can enjoy it also. Everybody can relate as either being older or knowing somebody who is older. This is a very watchable series with plenty of laugh out loud lines and moments. The ingredients of a great cast, funny writing and a unique premise are all here to be a sleeper hit this season.

They have a strong lead-in with Last Man Standing, which returned with strong ratings. They held a good portion of the audience, so it seems like it will have a decent chance of success as long as it stays in the same comfortable timeslot. Fox made a great decision to pair multi-camera sitcoms.

It should be fun to watch the further adventures of this rowdy, rag-tag group of friends living at the Shady Meadows retirement community. Jamie Farr makes a funny appearance in the episode when Hank tries to auction off the seat. I would like to see some other classic TV stars make guest appearances. It would be cool to see a Martin Mull and Fred Willard reunion on the series.

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

Discuss the show on our message board.

Related Links:

Fox Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

The Cool Kids Photo Gallery

Preview: