Category Archives: Sitcoms
Have You Tried Turning “The IT Crowd” On?
The IT Crowd, like many other Britcoms, seemed to have ended before its time. The show had four series, which is longer than most fan favorite British television shows. It ended not because it was cancelled, but because the writers decided to end the show. This is nearly unheard of, especially in America.
The IT Crowd was the brainchild of Graham Linehan who also created other popular britcoms Black Books and Father Ted. It centers around the three members of the IT department of Reynholm Industries: Roy Trenneman played by Chris O’Dowd, Maurice Moss played by Richard Ayoade. and the relationship manager Jen Barber is played by Katherine Parkinson. They have to deal with outrageous situations such as their crazy boss’ antics, thwarting a German cannibal, and accidentally getting involved in a bank heist all while helping people with their computer problems.
‘Welcome to the Family’ is a Welcome Addition to the NBC Family
Now that summer has finally gone, fall is finally coming into high gear. What’s great about fall is the leaves start changing, the weather gets cooler, everyone becomes obsessed with pumpkin flavor and the new shows premiering this season. Airing October 3rd, NBC has a new comedy entitled Welcome to the Family, which can currently be watched on Hulu. This show is about how two families come together brought on by an unplanned pregnancy. Not only do these families collide, but there cultures do as well. Having a Caucasian family and a Latino family come together as one will certainly bring on the fireworks.
The Yoder family and the Hernandez family are at their children’s graduation. Dan, who is played by Glee’s Mike O’Malley, notices through his camera lens his daughter, Molly is texting at graduation. He points out to his wife, Caroline, that their daughter is texting in the middle of graduation. It’s sad to say how typical it is now; students are so use to relying on their phone that they can’t let them go. They need to be tweeting, updating their Facebook statuses or else they feel lost in the world. Not only wouldn’t they know what’s going on with everyone else, but it also kills time for them. Who wants to sit through the boring speeches when you’re just waiting for your diploma?
Molly’s boyfriend, Junior, is the valedictorian of his school and is Stanford bound. He begins to give a speech to his fellow classmates. As he continues to read the speech off his iPad, he notices a message from his girlfriend saying “I’m pregnant.” Everyone becomes confused as a long awkward silence lingers on in the gymnasium floor. So to break the awkward tension, Junior’s dad, Chuey Herndandez, is the first to stand and applaud his son for having a “short and sweet” speech.
Coming home from graduation, Molly just throws her graduation gown on the stairs and throws her diploma in the living room as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. She was happy to have skated by throughout her high school years. Her dad, Dan, says “Be careful with that, that’s our proof.” Molly doesn’t want to celebrate with her parents, so she decides to “bounce” and opts to spend time with her boyfriend. She asks her dad if he can return her cap and gown as if she doesn’t want to own up to her responsibility.
Molly’s parents are so happy that she graduated that they decided to make her room into a home gym. “She’s Arizona State’s problem now,” Dan says in glee. Clearly, he doesn’t know what’s about to come next.
Top Fall 2013 Comedy Picks
The excitement continues! You’ve already read about my top six picks for fall dramas, but lets not forget about the comedies. Out of the 57 shows that are coming out this season, here are my top found stand out comedy picks. (In no particular order as they are all equally awesome)
Super Fun Night (ABC)
This show follows the friendship between three girls, Kimmie Boubier a junior attorney, Helen-Alice and Marika. The three best friends have had the same Friday night plans of staying in for the past 13 years, but when Kimmie gets a promotion, it throws them for a loop they aren’t sure they’re ready for.
Why I’m Excited: The show stars Rebel Wilson and is based off of her own social encounters. She’s hysterical and smart. I have no doubt that anything she’s involved in while have me on the floor in tears of joy and awkward angst for hours. I love that women are really taking a lead in comedies this season. I love that her friends are seemingly relatable. I love that us introverts are getting a show that speaks for the times we’re forced out of our houses to go clubbing…Whatever clubbing is.
Watching Alan in ‘What’s Alan Watching?’
What’s Alan Watching?, a pilot produced by Eddie Murphy, originally ran on CBS in 1989. The show, though, never got picked up past the first episode. Sort of hard to believe, as it was the perfect recipe for an 80’s or 90’s television show: the dweeby, in this case younger, sibling has to deal with his jerk older brother (David Packer) and ditzy, self-centered sister played by a pre-The Nanny Fran Drescher, whose lack of “MAAA” shouts was a little jarring for me. For Alan Hoffstetter, the dweeb in What’s Alan Watching?, played by Corin Nemec, the only way to do that is through televsion.
‘Heat Vision and Jack’: Knowledge is Power… For Real!
The wonders of sharing footage and communicating with sapiens of similar tastes can be a blessing or a nuclear bomb for television nowadays. Forums of a show can be where creators get their most intimate feedback, and fan pages are where a show might be petitioned to return, sometimes to actual avail. But one of the more fascinating uses for TV fans on the internet is the ability to witness behind the scenes footage and features, things that never made it to the airwaves. This is the case for failed pilots like Conan O’Brien’s satirical crime show Lookwell, the clumsy American remake of Spaced that existed for all of five seconds, and possibly the buried pleasure of unaired pilots: Heat Vision and Jack.
Late to the “Arrested Development” Party? No Problem!
Netflix released the fourth season of Arrested Development on May 26. Now that the initial frenzy is over, it is fair to say that fans who waited seven years for a new season were disappointed. However, I was not one of those fans, which worked out in my favor.
To be honest, I was 12 when I saw first two episodes, which means I was way too young to understand the show. Instead of jumping on the bandwagon once all my friends were declaring it their favorite show, I waited because popularity doesn’t necessarily mean good. Well, my friends were right this time: Arrested Development is an excellent show, but I am happy its new to me.
So, Why am I glad I was late to the Bluth party?
1. I haven’t been annoyed at Fox for the last 7 years.
For some reason, Arrested Development fans are hardcore. Fans who became fans well after Fox canceled the show were annoyed that the show was cancelled. Until recently, half the time a fan brought up Arrested Development, it would be followed by a bitter swipe at Fox. Granted, most fans do not have an attachment to the show that parallels Buster and Lucille’s relationship. However, those that do were the most vocal and tainted even the most well adjusted fans view of Fox and its treatment of the show.
Weekly TV Update: June 3, 20013
This week we bring you stories from around the Internet that you might have missed.
Matt Smith leaves Doctor Who.
Jean Stapleton, who played Archie Bunker’s wife, Edith, on All in the Family, died on Friday.
Dan Harmon announces his return to Community.
The Sopranos tops the Writers Guild of America’s list of Best Written TV Series Ever.
John Oliver talks to The Hollywood Reporter about taking over The Daily Show for the summer. His first day is June 10.
In honor of Jean Stapleton, the All in the Family theme song is after the jump.
Margaret Thatcher on Yes, Minister
Yes, Minister is an excellent show. Real prime ministers are not sitcom writers or actors. What happens when you put the two together? Margaret Thatcher’s poor attempt at trying to appear approachable on what is said to have been her favorite show. Fortunately, the following sketch was never part of a real Yes, Minister episode.
After the jump is a sketch done for Comic Relief that has Minister Jim Hacker asking the British public to donate money.
Cool TV Video of the Day: Conan O’Brien and Adam West’s “Lookwell”
Adam West looking awesome, while eating a Popsicle.
Lookwell is exactly what you would expect when Conan O’Brien, TV Funhouse‘s Robert Smigel, and Adam West team up to produce a sitcom, which is totally not a bad thing. While the show did not make it passed the pilot, NBC aired Lookwell‘s only episode in July 1991 and the show was reran on the cable network Trio, which is now defunct.
Do We Really Need Jessica Simpson’s Semi-Autobiographical NBC Comedy?
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Jessica Simpson is set to star in a semi-autobiographical comedy for NBC. It also says that the currently unnamed magnum opus will be written by Robin and Nick Bakay, the geniuses behind Paul Blart: Mall Cop and the Fox sitcom ‘Til Death, which magically lasted 4 seasons.
While I like Jessica Simpson, she is best left to designing clothing and her series Fashion Star. The last time Jessica had a show where she played herself, she gave the world Newlyweds, which resulted in her divorce from Nick Lachey. There was also the “chicken or tuna” comment, which either proves she’s really stupid or just acts like it. Let’s give her the benefit of the doubt. It’s an act. She’s secretly a member of Mensa. It still does not excuse Producer Ben Silverman’s comment to The Hollywood Reporter: “We are thrilled to team up with the multitalented Jessica Simpson to bring this new sitcom to life on NBC as she is truly a modern-day Lucy with incredible comedic chops.”
Wait! What's A Dial? 