Comedy Archives - Page 55 of 131

TCA: Bill Lawrence thinks FOX’s Surviving Jack “is gonna work”

January 13, 2014 StayTuned Staff

Bill Lawrence kept saying during the Television Critics Association press tour panel for FOX’s new Surviving Jack, “I think this show’s gonna work.” Often he was saying it for purposes of holding court, making sure silences never grew awkward, until it became something of a recurring gag similar to one you might see in a Lawrence-produced show like Scrubs or Cougar Town. But it was also, despite the silliness of the occasion, something he was obviously serious about. Surviving Jack is another autobiographical effort from co-creator Justin Halpern, who gave the world @#$% My Dad Says. Not that he’s proud […]

“Enlisted” on FOX an irreverent and endearing comedy

January 10, 2014 Barb Oates

It’s a family affair in Enlisted, FOX’s new military-based comedy that follows three bumbling brothers who are assigned to what they believe to be one of the lower echelons of their Florida army base — the Rear Detachment unit. Providing the brotherly banter and military mishaps with magnificent chemistry are Geoff Stults (Ben and Kate), Chris Lowell (The Help) and Parker Young (Suburgatory). The creator and executive producer of the series is Cougar Town’s Kevin Biegel, who was looking to do something “intensely personal,” so he tapped into his own relationships. “My relationship with my two younger brothers is the longest, […]

TCA: John Oliver gets HBO weekly comedy series

January 10, 2014 Barb Oates

A John Oliver HBO comedy series — brilliant idea! The comedian will give a fresh satirical look at politics and current events in a Sunday evening comedy series coming to HBO this spring. At the Television Critics Association 2014 Winter Press Tour in Pasadena a sprightly Oliver took the stage and gave credit to The Daily Show and Jon Stewart for landing him his new gig. “I think it was probably the main reason why I’m here now,” Oliver says. “It was a bizarre, exciting, and terrifying experience. … I set myself the achievable goal of just not destroying that […]

The Spoils of Babylon: Will Ferrell leads all-star cast in IFC’s absurdist soap opera

January 9, 2014 StayTuned Staff

The Spoils of Babylon premieres at 10 tonight on IFC. Never heard of Eric Jonrosh? Well, then, you’re missing out on one of the greatest literary minds the 20th century ever produced, a raconteur of prodigious wit that created unforgettable dramas that seared into the psyche and soul of America. At least that’s what The Spoils of Babylon, the wonderfully absurdist new comedy from IFC, would have you believe. Taking aim squarely at those overwrought, bloated miniseries that were staples of the 1980s (think The Thorn Birds, The Winds of War), the six-part — ahem — saga follows the twisted […]

Steve Franks on Psych Season 8

January 3, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

The fan-favorite mystery/comedy series Psych is USA Network’s longest-running series, and it continues that run when Psych Season 8 premieres Jan. 8 at 9pm ET/PT. When I spoke with Psych creator/writer/director/executive producer Steve Franks last month about the special Psych: The Musical, he also talked a little bit about Psych Season 8. How many episodes make up Psych Season 8? Can you talk about some of the episodes? Steve Franks: There are only 10 episodes, but some of my favorite stuff that we’ve ever done. … The first one that I did was born out of something I couldn’t do for […]

“7 Questions” With David Alan Basche of TV Land’s “The Exes”

December 17, 2013 StayTuned Staff

As the fastidious Stuart on TV Land’s hit sitcom The Exes, David Alan Basche gets to tap into his inner neat freak and serve as a nice counterpoint to his roommates, the energetic lothario Phil (Donald Faison) and formidable layabout Haskell (Wayne Knight). Having just started its third season, the comedy about three divorced men thrown together in an apartment owned by their divorce lawyer, Holly (Kristen Johnston), who happens to live across the hall, The Exes has proven to be a worthy addition to its stars lengthy resumes. This week’s holiday episode — airing at 10:30pm Wednesday on TV […]

Steve Franks talks “Psych The Musical”

December 14, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Given how often it has spoofed various film genres and conventions, it makes perfect sense that the hit USA Network mystery-comedy series Psych would take on musicals. And the cast and crew — including writer-director Steve Franks, who spoke to me about the project — accomplish this in a terrifically entertaining way with the special two-hour episode Psych The Musical. A stand-alone special (Season 8 of Psych will start up Jan. 8), Psych: The Musical retains the fun of the regular series, incorporating humor and mystery, and adding in enjoyable music. Explaining the genesis of the idea for Psych The […]

TBS’ 24 Hours of A Christmas Story 2013 celebrates film’s 30th anniversary

December 12, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Turner Networks will be airing the 17th annual edition of its popular holiday programming event, “24 Hours of A Christmas Story,” on Christmas Eve 2013 — Dec. 24 beginning at 8pm ET/PT on TBS. Although A Christmas Story is such a holiday classic that it seems like it has always been with us, the film actually is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It opened in theaters just before Thanksgiving 1983. Based on the short stories of famed humorist Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story follows the mischievous adventures of a young boy who longs for a special Christmas gift – […]

Joel McHale says Community Season 5 is “like Christmas and my birthday every day”

December 11, 2013 Ryan Berenz

Joel McHale says Community Season 5 is “like Christmas and my birthday every day”: NBC’s comedy Community returns for Season 5 with back-to-back new episodes Jan. 2. NBC’s much-loved but ratings-challenged comedy Community has often seemed more like a soap opera. After three seasons, the show’s creator and life force, Dan Harmon, was fired in May 2012. Disgruntled Chevy Chase left the cast in November 2012. The show stumbled through a shortened Season 4 under replacement showrunners. It somehow got renewed, and then Harmon was rehired for Season 5, which premieres on NBC Jan. 2 at 8pm ET/PT and airs […]

Kirstie Alley is back in all her sitcom glory in TV Land’s “Kirstie”

December 4, 2013 StayTuned Staff

When we’ve seen Kirstie Alley on TV in the past decade or so, it’s largely been as herself, or some exaggerated version thereof. Whether she’s poking fun at her weight issues in Fat Actress and Kirstie Alley’s Big Life, showing off her moves on Dancing With the Stars or getting caught up in some controversial Scientology-related news story, the focus hasn’t really been on her acting. That’s why the star is reveling in Kirstie, the new TV Land sitcom that signals a triumphant return to form, and shows she still knows her way around a joke. “It does feel like […]