SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

HBO Max has given a series order to And Just Like That..., a new chapter of the groundbreaking HBO series, Sex and the City, from executive producer Michael Patrick King and starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis. The new Max Original series is based on the book, Sex and the City, by Candice Bushnell and the original TV series created by Darren Star. The series will follow Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30's to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50's. The ten-episode, half-hour series is scheduled to begin production in New York late spring. Kim Catrall is the only one of the four original stars not attached to this project. No word if Kim Catrall will make any appearances or not, but she is not part of the regular cast. The original series ran on HBO from 1998-2004 and was followed by two feature films in 2008 and 2010, along with a prequel series on The CW called The Carrie Diaries from 2013-15. This series will be executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, and Michael Patrick King.

Nickelodeon has revealed the trailer and premiere date for the long-awaited season two debut of Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows, the beloved horror anthology series based on the '90s kids' cult classic. Season one of the revival aired in October 2019. Produced by ACE Entertainment, the six-part limited series will premiere on Friday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon, with new episodes airing every Friday night. Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows follows an all-new Midnight Society group of kids who learn of the terrifying curse cast over their small seaside town, and are haunted by a mysterious creature known as the Shadowman. In the just-released trailer, viewers are introduced to the new Midnight Society members and get a glimpse at the horrors that await them in the shadows. The new members of the Midnight Society are: Luke, played by Bryce Gheisar (The Astronauts, Wonder); Jai, played by Arjun Athalye; Hanna, played by Beatrice Kitsos (Child's Play, iZombie); Gabby, played by Malia Baker (The Baby-Sitters Club); Seth, played by Dominic Mariche (The Christmas Yule Blog, A Gift to Cherish); and Connor, played by Parker Queenan (Party of Five, Andi Mack).

One of the Nickelodeon's most iconic series from the '90s, the original Are You Afraid of the Dark? delivered riveting stories of horror to young audiences, all from a kid's perspective. Are You Afraid of the Dark? is owned by DHX and was created by D.J. MacHale and Ned Kandel, who are also executive producers on the project.

• Rashida Jones (BlackAF/Duncanville/Angie Tribeca/Unhitched/The Office) - Watch Rashida on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Bill Burr (F Is for Family/Townies) - Bill appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Chris Rock (Everybody Hates Chris) - Chris is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He will also be on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• John Goodman (The Conners/The Righteous Gemstones/Roseanne/Center of the Universe/Normal, Ohio) - John appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Rob Lowe (The Grinder/Parks and Recreation) - Rob will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Heather Graham (Scrubs/Emily's Reasons Why Not) - Heather appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Keke Palmer (Scream Queens/True Jackson, VP) - Keke is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.
• Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Craig Ferguson (The Drew Carey Show) - Craig talks about The Hustler on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.

• Kyra Sedgwick (Call Your Mother) - Catch Kyra on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Leslie Jordan (Call Me Kat/The Cool Kids/Will & Grace/Hearts Afire) - Leslie is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Brie Larson (United States of Tara/Raising Dad) - Brie appears on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Cheyenne Jackson (Call Me Kat/30 Rock) - Cheyenne will be on Watch What Happens: Live at 10pm on Bravo.
• Michael Chiklis (Daddio) - Michael appears on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Folake Olowofoyeku (Bob Hearts Abishola) - Folake is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Leslie Odom Jr. (Central Park/Big Day) - Leslie talks about One Night in Miami on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
• Brian Austin Green (Wedding Band/Freddie) - Brian talks about Fox's The Masked Dancer on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
• Bobby Moynihan (Mr. Mayor/Me, Myself & I) - Bobby talks about Mr. Mayor on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.

• Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle) - Watch Bryan on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Bobby Moynihan (Mr. Mayor/Me, Myself & I) - Bobby appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Rainn Wilson (Mom/The Office) - Rainn will be on A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Andrew is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Drew Carey (The Drew Carey Show/The Good Life) - Drew appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Kyra Sedgwick (Call Your Mother) - Kyra talks about Call Your Mother on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) - Sarah will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Jane Krakowski (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/30 Rock) - Jane talks about Name That Tune on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
• Folake Olowofoyeku (Bob Hearts Abishola) - Folake talks about Bob Hearts Abishola on CBS This Morning sometime between 7-9am.
• Regina King (The Boondocks/227) - Regina talks about One Night in Miami on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• Morris Chestnut (Nurse Jackie/Out All Night) - Morris talks about Fox's The Resident on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
• Sara Gilbert (The Conners/Roseanne/Bad Teacher/Welcome to New York) - Sara talks about The Conners on Access Daily, so check your local listings.

• Cristin Milioti (No Activity/A to Z/How I Met Your Mother) - Catch Cristin on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Jane Levy (Suburgatory) - Jane appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Connie Britton (Spin City/The Fighting Fitzgeralds/Lost at Home) - Connie is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo.
• Katy Mixon (American Housewife/Mike & Molly) - Katy talks about American Housewife on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Lisa Edelstein (The Kominsky Method/Almost Perfect) - Lisa appears on The Real, so check your local listings.
• Meagan Good (Mr. Robinson/Raising Dad/Cousin Skeeter) - Meagan talks about If Not Now, When? on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
• Rob Lowe (The Grinder/Parks and Recreation) - Rob chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) - Jim is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Mayim Bialik (Call Me Kat/The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.

• Cole Sprouse (The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody/Grace Under Fire) - Watch Cole on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Amy Poehler (Duncanville/Parks and Recreation) - Amy is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Jennifer Love Hewitt (Shaky Ground) - Jennifer appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Regina King (The Boondocks/227) - Regina talks about One Night in Miami on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
• Maureen McCormick (The Brady Bunch/The Brady Brides) - Maureen and Dan Vicky talk about about the nostalgic HGTV home renovation series Frozen in Time on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings. They will also be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
• Jenna Ortega (Stuck in the Middle) - Jenna talks about her uplifitng book It's All Love on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
• Malcolm-Jamal Warner (The Cosby Show/Here and Now/Malcolm & Eddie/Listen Up!) - Malcolm-Jamal talks about Fox's The Resident on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
• George Lopez (Lopez/Saint George/George Lopez) - George chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.

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!

Sitcoms Airing This Week

Sunday, January 10

The Simpsons - "Now Museum, Now You Don't" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Lisa stays home from school to explore the wonders of Western art; each family member takes on the persona of a famous artist.

Bob's Burgers - "Heartbreak Hotel-oween" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Louise's plan to get revenge on Halloween for a candy transgression hits a snag when the Belcher kids meet a mysterious elderly woman at a hotel; Linda and a very squeamish Bob donate blood at a vampire-themed blood mobile.

The Simpsons - "The 7 Beer Itch" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Marge and the kids take a seaside vacation, Homer is unwittingly tempted by a British femme fatale.

Family Guy - "Stewie's First Word" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Stewie finally says his first word, and it's a swearword; when Lois is shunned by the other moms, she tries to figure out where Stewie could have possibly learned it.

Bob's Burgers - "First Time Capsules at Wagstaff School" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tina is put in charge of the Wagstaff School time capsule project, but she makes an enemy when she rejects Tammy's submission; Bob teases Linda over her inability to whistle.

Family Guy - "The Talented Mr. Stewie" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Stewie breaks up with Rupert after learning that he used to belong to Chris; unable to get over his feelings of betrayal, Stewie decides to take action.

Mr. Mayor - "Pilot" (NBC, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Neil Bremer starts his first day as mayor of Los Angeles, where he faces new challenges on the job and at home.

Monday, January 11

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to Bowling" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With Calvin down a teammate for his annual bowling championship, Dave offers to fill in and soon finds his mediation skills put to the test when he meets the competition: Calvin’s arch-rivals, the Pink Ladies. Also, Gemma and Tina dare to face off against each other for the top ranking in an arcade game.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Sock Wife!" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bob’s past and present collide when his ex-wife, Lorraine (Nicole Sullivan), is admitted to Abishola’s hospital. Also, Christina recruits Kofo for a project to rename the sock colors.

Tuesday, January 12

none scheduled

Wednesday, January 13

The Goldbergs - "Bevy's Big Murder Mystery Party" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Inspired by his obsession, Adam helps Beverly plan a murder mystery party for the family. Meanwhile, Erica, tasked with declaring her major, bumps up against Barry’s cockiness as she considers going the pre-med route.

American Housewife - "Mother's Little Helper" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Katie’s mentor and dear friend Tami (Holly Robinson Peete) moves to Westport, Katie wastes no time introducing her to her “A Real Mother” vlog viewers. Meanwhile, Taylor discovers Greg has been keeping an entertaining secret.

The Conners - "A Cold Mom, a Brother Daddy and a Prison Baby" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Ben’s mom, Barb, arrives in town after an unexpected death and unveils shocking information from the past. Meanwhile, Becky and Emilio spend more time together.

Call Your Mother - "Pilot" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Series Premiere)
Jean, an empty-nester mom, wonders how she ended up alone while her children live their best lives thousands of miles away. She decides her place is with her family, and as she reinserts herself into their lives, her kids realize they might actually need her more than they thought.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Woman of the Night" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
CJ is forced to put his Aunt Ella in her place regarding how he runs his household.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "The Dirty Denial" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Plans to open the living facility come to a halt when Vinny receives disturbing news.

Thursday, January 14

Young Sheldon - "A Docent, A Little Lady and a Bouncer Named Dalton" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon gets a summer job at the local train museum. Also, George and Missy bond when Missy embarks on a new stage of womanhood, and Georgie discovers Mary’s guilty pleasure.

B Positive - "High Risk Factor" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Drew downloads a tracking app to keep an eye on Gina after he begins getting concerned about her reckless behavior.

Mom - "Pork Butt and a Mall Walker" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bonnie and Adam go on a double date with Jill and Andy (Will Sasso). Also, Tammy recruits Christy to mediate a sensitive situation with Marjorie.

The Unicorn - "Everyone's a Winner" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Wade has a bad date with Natalie’s friend’s mother, Natalie ends up paying the price. Also, Forrest finds unusual ways to fill his time during his unemployment, and Ben has a conflict with his daughter Sahai’s (Princess K. Mapp) basketball coach.

Call Me Kat - "Vacation" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Kat wins a free trip to Puerto Rico for herself and a friend, but she doesn't have anyone to go with her; after being left in charge of the cafe, Randi and Phil have trouble with the new register.

Last Man Standing - "High on the Corporate Ladder" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Mike reluctantly finds himself acting as Ryan's mentor when he is offered a big corporate job; Mandy and Kyle attempt to make Ed's bucket list dreams come true after finding a secret file on his computer.

Mr. Mayor - "Brentwood Trash" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Jayden interviews candidates for an opening on the team; Neil gets sidetracked during a town hall; Orly has a shocking realization.

Superstore - "Hair Care Products" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
After Cloud 9 changes its policy of locking up Black beauty products, the employees are forced to reckon with systemic racism in the store, with Garrett leading the charge; Glenn makes misguided attempts to right the store's wrongs.

Friday, January 15

none scheduled

Saturday, January 16

none scheduled

Sunday, January 17

The Simpsons - "The Road to Cincinnati" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Odd couple Skinner and Chalmers embark on an 800-mile car ride to Cincinnati to attend an administrator's convention.

Bob's Burgers - "Mommy Boy" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Linda joins a women's business group, Gene gets possessive of her time; Louise and Tina want to learn how to fight.

The Simpsons - "Sorry Not Sorry" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Lisa calls her teacher, Ms. Hoover, a hack and refuses to apologize; Lisa learns Ms. Hoover's private pain.

The Simpsons - "The Dad-Feelings Limited" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Comic book guy and his wife, Kumiko, debate having a baby; his origin story is revealed.

Bob's Burgers - "Yachty or Nice" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When the Belchers get an unexpected invitation to cater the Glencrest Yacht Club's holiday boat parade, Bob wonders if there's a catch; Louise has her eye on the present-loaded Santa Schooner.

Family Guy - "CutawayLand" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Peter and Lois accidentally set up a cutaway gag together, which somehow transports them into the cutaway itself.

Complete TV Listings

by Vincent

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll know I was and still am a huge champion of the Netflix (turned Pop TV) revival of One Day at a Time. The sitcom is, in my mind, still the golden standard of what a revival should be, utilizing the bones of Norman Lear's original sitcom to tell a story that is modern, diverse and very relevant to our times. It shows Norman Lear, after nearly 50 years of making sitcoms, still has an eye for sharp, cutting and relevant comedy. Unfortunately, Pop TV quietly canceled the sitcom in December, and a few weeks later it was announced that Sony would not be looking for an unprecedented home for the streaming series. In some ways, it's not a surprise. One Day at a Time's network Pop TV decided shortly after picking it up that it would be retiring from the scripted entertainment game, and the show's tryout on CBS drew very few viewers. The writing had been on the wall for a while, especially after Pop TV cut the fourth season short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and announced it would not be completing the rest of the season.

However, the fact that One Day at a Time could not find an audience is something that I find a little sad for the state of the sitcom in the year 2021. There is no reason a show like One Day at a Time, which deals with relevant and relatable topics and has a sense of humor that is both clever but also broad enough to reach wide audiences, couldn't exist in 2021. In a way, it shows the tough spot the sitcom is in right now. With streaming services looking more towards longer-form content, they are often forgetting that sitcoms can sometimes be their bread and butter. They're the shows that keep people coming back, as seen by the outcry when Netflix removed The Office (something I'll be covering in my column next week.) Hopefully, networks and streaming services realize the power of the sitcom soon and we don't end up with more shows like One Day at a Time, cut down well before their time.

On Saturday, January 9, starting at 3 p.m. COZI TV will air a three-hour special of Charlie's Angels in remembrance of the late Tanya Roberts, who passed away this week at the age of 65. The Saturday special will showcase the first three episodes of season five that introduced us to Roberts' character, Julie Rogers. Roberts appeared in Charlie's Angels for one season (1980-81), playing Private Detective Julie Rogers. She was the sixth actress to play one of the Angels, following in the footsteps of Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd and Shelley Hack.

Saturday, January 9 Tanya Roberts Special schedule (check local listings):
3:00 p.m.: Charlie's Angels, Angel in Hiding (Part 1)/Season 5
4:00 p.m.: Charlie's Angels, Angel in Hiding (Part 2)/Season 5
5:00 p.m.: Charlie's Angels, To See an Angel Die/Season 5

The new and highly-anticipated Punky Brewster sitcom will premiere on Peacock on Thursday, February 25, 2021. All ten episodes will drop at once. In this continuation of the iconic 80s sitcom about a bright young girl raised by a foster dad, Punky is now a single mother of three trying to get her life back on track when she meets Izzy, a young girl in the foster system who reminds Punky a lot of her younger self. Soleil Moon Frye (Punky) and Cherie Johnson (Cherie) will reprise their original roles. The series also stars Freddie Prinze Jr. (Travis, Punky's ex-husband), Quinn Copeland (Izzy), Noah Cottrell (Diego), Oliver De Los Santos (Daniel), and Lauren Lindsey Donzis (Hannah). All episodes of the original Punky Brewster, which ran for four season from 1984-88, are streaming now on Peacock. From UCP and Universal Television, divisions of Universal Studio Group, the new Punky Brewster is written and executive produced by Steve and Jim Armogida (School of Rock, Grounded For Life). Frye serves as executive producer alongside original series creator David Duclon (Punky Brewster, Family Matters, Silver Spoons) and Emmy-winning producer Jimmy Fox (The Arrangement, United Shades of America) of Main Event Media, an All3Media America company.

Adult animated comedy series Solar Opposites returns for a second season with 8 all-new episodes on March 26, only on Hulu. Co-created by Justin Roiland (Rick & Morty) and Mike McMahan (ex-writer's assistant on Rick & Morty), Solar Opposites centers around a team of four aliens who escape their exploding home world only to crash land into a move-in ready home in suburban America. They are evenly split on whether Earth is awful or awesome. Korvo (Justin Roiland) and Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone) only see the pollution, crass consumerism, and human frailty while Terry (Thomas Middleditch) and Jesse (Mary Mack) love humans and all their TV, junk food and fun stuff. Their mission: protect the Pupa, a living super computer that will one day evolve into its true form, consume them and terraform the Earth. On season two of Solar Opposites, the Solar Opposites take it bigger, funnier, and more opposite than ever before. The series stars Justin Roiland, Thomas Middleditch, Sean Giambrone and Mary Mack.

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

by Vincent

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

Cast Details:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pilot Plot:

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

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

Analysis:

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

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

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

Conclusion:

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

Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):

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

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

Related Links:

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

The MeTV Network will pay special tribute to the late Dawn Wells with six great Mary Ann episodes of Gilligan's Island this Sunday, January 10, starting at 2PM | 1C during the Gilligan's Island Three Hour Tour block. Sunday's episode lineup includes "How to be a Hero" and "The Matchmaker" as well as the memorable beauty pageant episode "Beauty Is as Beauty Does" and Mary Ann's turn as part of a musical girl group in "Don't Bug the Mosquitoes." And who could forget the time Mary Ann woke up thinking she was Ginger in "The Second Ginger Grant"?

Check out the full list of episodes and airtimes below:

Sunday, January 10, 2021
2PM | 1C — "How to Be a Hero"
The castaways attempt to make Gilligan feel like a hero.
2:30PM | 1:30C — "The Matchmaker"
Mrs. Howell decides to engineer a romance between Gilligan and Mary Ann.
3PM | 2C — "Beauty is as Beauty Does"
Gilligan suggests a beauty contest to decide who will become "Ms. Castaway."
3:30PM | 2:30C — "Don't Bug the Mosquitoes"
Mary Ann, Ginger and Lovey form a band called The Honeybees.
4PM | 3C — "The Postman Cometh"
The castaways hear on the radio that Mary Ann's boyfriend in Kansas is getting married.
4:30PM | 3:30C – "The Second Ginger Grant"
Mary Ann falls backwards while watching Ginger perform on stage, and when she awakens she thinks that she is Ginger.

This Thursday, The Waltons cast reunite on Stars in the House! Hosts Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley will reunite the cast for the January 7 episode of the Actors Fund benefit series on YouTube. Join Richard Thomas (John-Boy Walton), Michael Learned (Olivia Walton), Mary Beth McDonough (Erin Walton), Eric Scott (Ben Walton), Kami Cotler (Elizabeth Walton) and Judy Norton (Mary Ellen Walton) as they talk about their times on the hit series. Stars in the House previously reunited series such as Family Ties, One Day at a Time, Melrose Place, Scandal, Knots Landing, Desperate Housewives, Frasier, Caroline in the City, Dallas, Taxi and so many more!

Last week Lifetime had a week-long marathon for Rizzoli & Isles, now it will join the regular schedule that begins today (Monday, Jan. 4, 2021)! Lifetime is also adding The Closer and Major Crimes to the lineup. All three series are former long-running TNT original series lead by female stars (Angie Harmon, Sasha Alexander, Kyra Sedgwick and Mary McDonnell). The weekday schedule starts with back-to-back airings of Grey's Anatomy from 8-10am. The Closer follows with back-to-back airings from 10am-12pm. The Closer spin-off series Major Crimes follows from 12-3pm. Then Rizzoli & Isles follows with its block starting at 3pm and ending at various times during the week (Mondays & Tuesdays it ends at 4am, Wednesdays it ends at 7pm (original series follows) and Thursdays & Fridays at 8pm (movies follows). On Saturdays and Sunday, it is all wall-to-wall Lifetime movies.

Actress Tanya Roberts, who starred as Julie Rogers in Charlie's Angels and as Midge Pinciotti in That '70s Show, has died. She died on January 4 at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. On December 24, she collapsed suddenly after returning home from walking her dogs. Her exact cause of death has yet to be determined or disclosed. Ms. Roberts was 65.

Roberts' first television lead role was as Julie Rogers in the fifth and final season of the ABC detective drama Charlie's Angels from 1980 to 1981. Julie Rogers was a streetwise fighter and model from New York who used her fists more than her gun. Roberts was chosen in the summer of 1980 from some 2,000 candidates to replace Shelley Hack (1979-1980). The final season cast included Jacklyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, David Doyle and John Forsythe as the voice of Charles "Charlie" Townsend.

She played the supporting role of Midge Pinciotti in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show. She was a regular from seasons 1 to 3 (1998-2001) before making special guest appearances in seasons 6 and 7 (2004). Midge Pinciotti was Bob's (Don Stark) wife, Donna's (Laura Prepon) mother, and Kitty's (Debra Jo Rupp) best friend. Midge was the sexy mom whom Eric Forman (Topher Grace) and his male friends fantasize when coming of age. Her character was written out of the series after the third season after divorcing Bob and moving to California. She returned for five episodes as special guest appearances in seasons 6 and 7.

Some of her sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, Off Centre, Eve and Barbershop. Her voice credits included The Blues Brothers Animated Series, The Angry Beavers and Fillmore!.

She starred as Rebecca in the Cinemax erotic anthology series Hot Line from 1995 to 1996. Some of her drama guest appearances included Vega$, Fantasy Island, Burke's Law, Silk Stalkings and High Tide. She portrayed Velda, the secretary to private detective Mike Hammer, in the television movie Murder Me, Murder You in 1983, based on crime novelist Mickey Spillane’s iconic Mike Hammer private detective series. The two-part pilot spawned the syndicated television series Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.

Roberts starred as Bond girl Stacey Sutton in the 1983 film A View to a Kill. She played Kiri in the 1982 adventure fantasy film The Beastmaster. She starred as Sheena in the 1984 fantasy-adventure film Sheena. Some of her other film credits included Forced Entry (1975), Fingers (1978), Tourist Trap (1979), California Dreaming (1979), Racquet (1979), Hearts and Armour (1983), Body Slam (1986), Night Eyes (1990) and Inner Sanctum (1991).

Survivors include her long-time partner Lance O'Brien, and her sister Barbara Chase.

Ms. Roberts was a talented and beautiful actress. She was funny and memorable in her role as Midge in That '70s Show. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our That '70s Show and Charlie's Angels message boards. View photos in our galleries.

• Amy Poehler (Duncanville/Parks and Recreation) - Watch Amy on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Ricky Gervais (After Life/The Office) - Ricky appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Lisa Edelstein (Leap of Faith/Almost Perfect) - Lisa talks about 9-1-1: Lone Star on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Morris Chestnut (Nurse Jackie/Out All Night) - Morris will be on The Real, so check your local listings.
• Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Craig Robinson (Ghosted/Mr. Robinson/The Office) - Craig is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Gabourey Sidibe (Difficult People/The Big C) - Gabourey opens up about her life, love, and thriller film Antebellum on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
• Elizabeth Berkley (Saved by the Bell) - Elizabeth appears on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.

• Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) - Catch Jim on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Chelsea Handler (Are You There, Chelsea?) - Chelsea appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• James Marsden (Dead to Me/30 Rock) - James is a guest on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Lauren Ash (Superstore/Super Fun Night) - Lauren appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Ben Feldman (Superstore/A to Z/Living with Fran) - Ben is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Tracee will be on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Kelly Ripa (Hope & Faith) - Kelly is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Alison Brie (GLOW/Community) - Alison appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Joel McHale (Community/The Great Indoors) - Joel is a guest on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
• Mary Steenburgen (The Last Man on Earth/Ink) - Mary will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Gary Dourdan (A Different World/The Office (1995)) - Gary talks about Redemption Day on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Gabriel Igeslias (Mr. Iglesias/Cristela) - Gabriel talks about Mr. Iglesias on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
• Meagan Good (Mr. Robinson/Raising Dad/Cousin Skeeter) - Meagan talks about If Not Now, When? on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.

• Regina King (The Boondocks/227) - Watch Regina on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
• Don Cheadle (Black Monday/House of Lies/The Golden Palace) - Don appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Ted Danson (Mr. Mayor/The Good Place/Becker/Cheers) - Ted will be on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/Welcome to New York) - Jim appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Thomas Middleditch (B Positive/Silicon Valley) - Thomas is a guest on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
• Jane Krakowski (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/30 Rock) - Jane appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Tim Allen (Last Man Standing/Home Improvement) - Tim chats about Last Man Standing on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney appears on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
• S. Epatha Merkerson (Here and Now) - S. is a guest on The Real, so check your local listings.
• Mayim Bialik (Call Me Kat/The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim will be on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Bobby Moynihan (Mr. Mayor/Me, Myself & I) - Bobby appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Meagan Good (Mr. Robinson/Raising Dad/Cousin Skeeter) - Meagan talks about If Not Now, When? on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
• John Michael Higgins (Saved by the Bell/Great News/Happily Divorced/Kath & Kim) - John is a guest on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Jennie Garth (Mystery Girls/What I Like About You) and Tori Spelling (Mystery Girls/So Notorious) - Jennie and Tori talk about the 90210OMG podcast on Access Daily, so check your local listings.

• Ricky Gervais (After Life/The Office) - Catch Ricky on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Bill Hader (Barry) - Bill appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
• Rob Huebel (Medical Police/Transparent/Burning Love) - Rob is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program) - Sarah appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
• Jaime Pressly (Mom/Jennifer Falls/I Hate My Teenage Daughter/My Name Is Earl) - Jaime talks about Mom on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle) - Bryan is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep/The New Adventures of Old Christine/Watching Ellie/Seinfeld) - Julia will be on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
• Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri appears on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
• Mario Cantone (Sex and the City) - Mario will be on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
• Tim Allen (Last Man Standing/Home Improvement) - Tim is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Pete Holmes (Crashing) - Pete appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
• Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is making onion rings and a wedge salad on the side on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
• Mayim Bialik (Call Me Kat/The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim talks about Call Me Kat on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
• Meagan Good (Mr. Robinson/Raising Dad/Cousin Skeeter) - Meagan talks about If Not Now, When? on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
• Maureen McCormick (The Brady Bunch/The Brady Brides) - Maureen and Dan Vicky talk about about HGTV's Frozen in Time on Access Daily, so check your loca listings.

• Rob Lowe (The Grinder/Parks and Recreation) - Watch Rob on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
• Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - Andrew appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
• Jenny Slate (Married/Parks and Recreation/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Kathryn Hahn (Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathryn appears on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
• Francia Raisa (grown-ish) - Francia is a guest on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
• Holly Hunter (Mr. Mayor) - Holly discusses Mr. Mayor on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
• Tommy Davidson (Between Brothers) - Tommy will be on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
• Gabriel Igeslias (Mr. Iglesias/Cristela) - Gabriel appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
• Mayim Bialik (Call Me Kat/The Big Bang Theory/Blossom) - Mayim talks about Call Me Kat on Access Daily, so check your local listings.

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

Sitcoms Airing This Week

Sunday, January 3

Call Me Kat - "Plus One" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Series Premiere)
Kat's former crush and good friend returns to town.

The Great North - "Sexi Moose Adventure" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Series Premiere)
The family's plans to celebrate Judy's 16th birthday on the family fishing boat go awry after a moose breaks into the Tobins' home.

The Simpsons - "The Dad-Feelings Limited" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Comic book guy and his wife, Kumiko, debate having a baby; his origin story is revealed.

Last Man Standing - "Time Flies" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Season Premiere)
A series of time jumps finds Mike and Vanessa with two new grandchildren as well as Mandy and Kyle living with them; Vanessa and Mandy clash over Vanessa's "helpfulness"; Chuck desperately hopes it's last call on Ed's mixology happy hour.

Monday, January 4

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Turnaround" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Gemma’s troublemaking sister, Brittany (Deborah Baker Jr.), returns, claiming she’s turned over a new leaf, thanks to a surprising new business venture. Also, Dave finally convinces Calvin to accompany him to an escape room, where they both get more than they bargained for.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "A Tight Ass Is a Wonderful Thing" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Thanks to Abishola’s brutal Nigerian honesty, Bob finds himself in a feud with Kemi. Also, after Douglas makes a big mistake on the warehouse floor, Goodwin hates himself for looking the other way.

Tuesday, January 5

The Goldbergs - "Airplane!" (ABC, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Beverly surprises the family with an end-of-summer vacation to Miami with the flight down resembling the classic film, and Geoff accidentally spills to Erica the real reason for the trip.

Wednesday, January 6

Young Sheldon - "Pasadena" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sheldon visits CalTech for the very first time. Also, Georgie is furious when Mary listens in on a phone call with his girlfriend, and Meemaw tries to cheer up a jealous Missy.

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Vow Renewal" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
As Calvin and Tina near a milestone anniversary, Dave and Gemma decide to help the Butlers have the wedding they missed out on the first time around. Also, Malcolm and Marty prepare an unforgettable performance for their parents’ special occasion.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Ya' Hearrrd Me" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Ella finds that Malik and Lisa have deep-rooted issues; Ella reaches a new threshold with Curtis.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "A Dangerous Situation" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Cora tries to convince Mr. Brown to pitch in and help get Jeremy out of jail.

Thursday, January 7

Young Sheldon - "Graduation" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After graduating high school, Sheldon has a breakdown when he realizes he may not be ready for college. Also, Dale tries to make amends with Meemaw.

B Positive - "Joint Pain" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Drew goes through a rough divorce mediation with Julia, Gina gives him a surprise to boost his spirits.

Mom - "Wile E. Coyote and a Possessed Doll" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Christy tries to embrace positivity after having a meltdown. Also, Bonnie gets a glimpse of what Adam was like before his accident. Rainn Wilson returns as Bonnie’s therapist, Trevor.

The Unicorn - "The Wade Beneath My Wings" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Wade convinces Forrest to take his career advice, and the results are disastrous. Also, Ben lands a lucrative opportunity for his company, but Michelle is uncomfortable embracing their success.

Call Me Kat - "Double Date" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Kat's mom sets her daughter up on a blind date, but it happens to be the same night that Max asks her to be his karaoke partner; Kat's employee Randi confronts a customer who never tips.

Last Man Standing - "Dual Time" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Vanessa hires a home improvement repairman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Mike; Kyle and Ryan defend their favorite comic book writer to Mandy and Kristen; Mike struggles with an idea for his video blog.

Mr. Mayor - "Pilot" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Series Premiere)
Neil Bremer starts his first day as mayor of Los Angeles, where he faces new challenges on the job and at home.

Mr. Mayor - "Mayor's Day Out" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
After visiting a marijuana dispensary in support of his legalization plan, things go awry for Mayor Neil Bremer; Neil puts Mikaela in charge of the mayor's office for the day.

Friday, January 8

none scheduled

Saturday, January 9

none scheduled

Sunday, January 10

The Simpsons - "Now Museum, Now You Don't" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Lisa stays home from school to explore the wonders of Western art; each family member takes on the persona of a famous artist.

Bob's Burgers - "Heartbreak Hotel-oween" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Louise's plan to get revenge on Halloween for a candy transgression hits a snag when the Belcher kids meet a mysterious elderly woman at a hotel; Linda and a very squeamish Bob donate blood at a vampire-themed blood mobile.

The Simpsons - "The 7 Beer Itch" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Marge and the kids take a seaside vacation, Homer is unwittingly tempted by a British femme fatale.

Family Guy - "Stewie's First Word" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Stewie finally says his first word, and it's a swearword; when Lois is shunned by the other moms, she tries to figure out where Stewie could have possibly learned it.

Bob's Burgers - "First Time Capsules at Wagstaff School" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tina is put in charge of the Wagstaff School time capsule project, but she makes an enemy when she rejects Tammy's submission; Bob teases Linda over her inability to whistle.

Family Guy - "The Talented Mr. Stewie" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Stewie breaks up with Rupert after learning that he used to belong to Chris; unable to get over his feelings of betrayal, Stewie decides to take action.

Mr. Mayor - "Pilot" (NBC, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Neil Bremer starts his first day as mayor of Los Angeles, where he faces new challenges on the job and at home.

Complete TV Listings