NBC Sitcoms 2013-14: Renewals and Cancelations

Renewals

Parks and Recreation

While this show is not the ratings success that The Office was or the Emmy favorite that was 30 Rock this remains NBC's most dependable sitcom.  Going into its seventh season this is the only show that could still be considered Must See TV even if ratings have never backed it up.  By the time sitcoms get to six seasons they usually experience a drop in quality, but Parks and Rec still feels fresh.  Everyone involved clearly loves being on this program and the writing is as sharp as ever.  The show survived the loss of Rashida Jones, Rob Lowe and the diminished role of Chris Pratt by increasing the importance of the dependable Retta, adding in the lively Billy Eichner and continuing to include memorable guest stars with the brilliant Sam Elliott being the best of the bunch.  The show is taking a big risk by jumping ahead seven years in the timeline, but then again this show has always been about big risks.  This show has always overcome its obstacles because it is clearly a project of passion for the artists and the audience.  Next season is its final one and it is good that it will end on its own terms, but that is not good for NBC who will essentially be starting fresh with comedy if their new shows continue to falter.  I am a little nervous because the series has not been scheduled for the fall.  It will most likely premiere mid-season (possibly to accommodate new movie star Chris Pratt?) or will replace an early cancelation (my money is on A to Z).

About a Boy

Extremely notable as NBC's first new sitcom to get a second season in two years.  NBC is no longer the home of comedy that it once was but this pleasant dramedy seems to be doing well on Tuesdays.  This is NBC's third Jason Katim's series based on a movie and his experience shows.  The kid is well cast, Minnie Driver is fun on a sitcom but the real reason to watch the show is David Walton.  Walton, who was a stand-out on New Girl and the failed NBC sitcom Bent, plays the type of man-child we have seen in a dozen other sitcoms.  Yet his distinct likability and sincerity makes him a great character to base a series around.  I am happy to see this continue.  Also notable for having a unique crossover with Katim's Parenthood.  Walton had a small cameo on that show this season while Dax Shepard had a similar cameo on this one, making for an interesting shared California universe.

Cancelations

Community

Never got to the six seasons and the movie that fans have been hoping for, well on NBC anyways.  It really is astonishing that this series made it to five seasons on network television.  It has always done horrible in ratings, has always been put on hiatuses and even had a change in show runner before hiring Dan Harmon back.  But for the five seasons we had we got a real special show and last season was one of its best.  Dan Harmon did a great job re-establishing the premises and making it more accessible.  The exit of Troy was meaningful and Pierce seems to mean more in death than he ever did in life.  The addition of Jonathan Banks has done wonders for the group dynamic.  The show was still funny, insightful and heartfelt.  I hope that a sixth season shows up on another network or online, but NBC unfortunately didn't have much more to gain from it.

Welcome to the Family

This was one of the earliest cancelations of the TV season and I am not quite sure why.  Like many modern sitcoms it is not laugh out loud funny, it is much more like a half hour dramedy.  But there is a pleasantness and likability that this had that was lacking in many other new shows.  This could have improved with a second season, as many shows with a decent foundation do.  The highlight was Ricardo Antonio Chavira who is deserving of a leading role, but Mike O'Malley, Mary McCormack and Justina Machado were also great in their roles.  The show did not reinvent the wheel, but not all sitcoms should.  I saw more potential here, but clearly most people did not.

Michael J. Fox Show

One of several new shows that did not service the star it was based around.  Much was made of Michael J. Fox's return to acting, but his titular show was a dud.  It definitely tried, but the talking heads segments did not fit the style of the show, the jokes weren't funny and the supporting characters didn't work.  Despite the good overall premise of a father with Parkinsons going back to work the individual episodes did not have much going on.  It was just a dull show.  NBC was banking on a lot with this as they beat out all of the other networks in a bidding war but it did not do anything for them.

Sean Saves the World

This was another one that I personally think was canceled too soon.  It was not brilliant by any means and never stood above the competition.  But unlike most modern multi-cam sitcoms this show understands how that format should work.  Sean Hayes is great at playing to a studio audience and his physicality brings a lot of energy that most modern sitcoms lack.  Thomas Lennon also is pitch perfect in his gimmicky character role, he finds loads of weird idiosyncrasies that are just entertaining.  This series was pleasant, balanced work comedy with home comedy and most notably dealt with homosexuality in an extremely progressive way.  Sean's sexuality is openly acknowledged but is never treated like a joke.  This show really could have improved had it received a second season, but not many people seemed to like it.

Growing Up Fisher

I only saw the first episode and it was good enough, but not good enough to keep me coming back.  The highlight is clearly J.K. Simmons who is perfect in a goofy dad role, but aside from him there was not much that stood out.  The Goldbergs and Surviving Jack were other new shows that were structured around a narrator recounting his childhood and this series just felt redundant.  It was probably always just meant to be a mid-season filler.

2013-2014 Network Sitcoms: The Best

And here are the eight best sitcoms this season.  Here are my lists of the eight worst and eight mid-range comedies.

8. Sean Saves the World (Season 1, NBC)

I am honestly surprised that I enjoyed this so much.  Critics have been hating on this series, but it is the perfect example of what a multi-camera sitcom can do.  There is a specific energy to this and the decent dialogue works well with the limited settings.  Sean Hayes' personality really sells this show and he is entertaining to watch.  Thomas Lennon also has a great character role that he makes the most out of.  It is not ground breaking, but it is fun to watch.  It is a type of show that has not been done well in far too long.  It is physical and broad but still honest and well set up.  I hope that it maintains quality and finds an audience.  Pleasantly surprised, would suggest that people keep an open mind.

7. The Mindy Project (Season 2, Fox)

One of two sitcoms that premiered last year to make it to a second season.  It had a strong first season but it was unfocused as the supporting cast kept changing.  The cast still has not settled but it has a comfortable focus on the hilarious Ike Barinholz and stand-out Chris Messina.  Of course this not an ensemble, it is a star vehicle for Mindy Kaling who is always a great romantic comedy lead.  She is relatable and able to look foolish while being smart and attractive.  The show seems to be finding its focus.  Kaling is a great writer and showrunner as well, it seems that she has found a way to make her show work.  It should only improv from here.  Also good guest work from James Franco and Bill Hader.

6. The Middle (Season 5, ABC)

It is easy to take this show for granted.  It is not the flashiest on television and does not garner much attention, but the quality has been incredibly consistent.  The family ensemble is one of the best on television.  All five leads have impeccable chemistry and can carry their own stories.  This season the show is working with the characters' growth.  It is always funny and very sweet.

5. New Girl (Season 3, Fox)

Last year season 2 of New Girl was must see TV.  Nick and Jess had the best unresolved sexual tension on television in years.  Now the characters are reacting to their new relationship.  The show's quality is continuing and I will definitely continue to keep up with it this season.

4. Trophy Wife (Season 1, ABC)

Despite the gimmick title this series plays its situation very sincere.  To the characters the young stepmom and two ex-wives is just part of the characters' lives.  The adults are perfectly cast with performers that can combine both comedy and drama effortlessly.  The show is also stronger because the three children can all act (something missing in many of this season's new shows).  The writing is very good and it is just entertaining.  A great new series.

3. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Season 1, Fox)

Michael Schur knows how to create a sitcom better than almost anyone working in TV today and he does it again with this new series.  Great ensemble across the board.  Special mention to Terry Crews, who gets to focus his massive energy differently as he is playing such a timid character.  Andre Braugher is definitely up for an Emmy with his character who really makes this series work.  Braugher plays it very seriously, but there is some subtle humor in his very intentional delivery along with believable drama and personal issues.  A very different performance among the traditional broad sitcom star.  However for me the stand-out is the scene stealing Chelsea Peretti who is always hilarious.

2. Modern Family (Season 5, ABC)

There is some backlash for this series since it consistently does so well at the Emmys.  But that is because the show is just always funny.  The characters all work and they have very real varied dynamics.  This season premiere is one of the best episodes of the show with great jokes such as Christopher Walk-in-Closet and Cam coaching a football team while dressed like George Washington.  Just a good show that you can always count on.

1. Parks and Recreation (Season 6, NBC)

At this point the series is pretty self-sufficient.  There are enough settings, running gags and side characters in place for the writers to draw from.  The main class is well developed that their character arcs seem very natural and they can interact believably with any character.  The show may suffer with Chris Pratt's partial absence and the upcoming departure of Rashida Jones and Robe Lowe.  But it is truly the best ensemble on television and looks like it is off to another great season.

2012-2013 Scott Comedy Emmys

I have a difficult time analyzing the Emmys.  Whereas for the Oscars I only need to see one movie at a time, to analyze the Emmys I would need to keep up with a lot of series.  I watch television differently than I watch movies.  I watch TV series casually and just watch what I enjoy, I don't keep up with what everybody seems to be watching I just watch what I watch.  Which are pretty much all comedies.  So out of the series from last season that I watched here are my picks for my personal comedy Emmys.  Just to spread the wealth I am naming shows and performances that were not nominated this season.  Just more fun that way.


Best Comedy Series
I thought that 1600 Penn had a great debut, especially considering the weaker first seasons of many other now critically loved series.  Had a great ensemble, some clever jokes that did not get too political and quite a bit of optimism despite the well constructed dysfunctional family.  Saturday Night Live was more consistent that usual with its balanced ensemble and a few well selected hosts.  There were many ups and downs in the final season of The Office but the moments that worked were among the best of the well loved series.  Most of all it was very ambitious.  Parks and Recreation remains the best ensemble of on television and even at its weakest it is still clever and entertaining.  New Girl really came into its own this season and was must see TV for many with some classic sitcom unresolved sexual tension that it put its own spin on.  However my favorite comedy series this season was the dramedy Parenthood which continued to balance all aspects of family life, including the more difficult and uncertain ones with a lot of fun moments.  It is the type of series you keep going back to, because you feel like a part of the family.

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

Personally I would nominate the Modern Family cast in leading categories.  They are an ensemble, but they all lead their own stories.  So I will put a good word in for the funny Eric Stonestreet who was the sole member of the main cast not nominated this year (although I do not think all six need to be nominated every single season).  Despite this being the weakest season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia the increasingly prolific Charlie Day still stood out with his unique energy and entertained.  I did not anticipate liking Josh Gad on 1600 Penn as I can find him insufferable, but he brought a lot of heart and wit to his role on the series.  He got a lot more subtle and varied than I expected while maintaing his annoying character persona.  Rainn Wilson really became the lead of The Office by the end of the season and his character arc was really the sweetest part of a very good season.  Dax Shepard remains surprising and a stand out on Parenthood.  But my favorite leading male performance would be his co-star Peter Krause who is so relatable and charming.  He balances strength and vulnerability and really leads the large cast.

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Jenna Elfman, who I normally don't care for, worked for me on 1600 Penn.  Patricia Heaton continues to do great work on The Middle (a series that I need to watch more of because I haven't seen enough episodes from last season to consider it in many other categories).  Kaitlin Olson still was a stand out on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  Her unique interpretation and delivery always impresses me.  While not every Pam development worked this season Jenna Fischer did some of her best work on The Office especially in the finale where she was very much the heart of Dunder Mifflin. Zooey Deschanel was a terrific lead for her improving series and is growing her character in interesting ways.  My vote for best actress not nominated goes to Mindy Kaling in the first season of The Mindy Project.  The show has been struggling with staying consistent in quality but she remains a fascinating, likable lead with her earnestness and ability to combine intelligence and naivete.

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Always the most difficult category for me to limit to six nominees, because there are so many great character actors on television.  Of course my thoughts always go to Parks and Recreation which is full of incredible actors who have never received a nomination.  The ensemble dark horse Nick Offerman was able to maintain his static characterization during big new character developments.  This was also the best season for Adam Scott who manages to stand out, despite being the most understated and normal citizens in Pawnee.  My favorite cast member on Saturday Night Live this season was actually Kenan Thompson who really came into his own after a decade on the series and the show is figuring out how to use him in lead and supporting roles.  Tracy Morgan brought his A-Game in many non-sequitirs on 30 Rock but also had some of the most heartfelt scenes in the powerful finale.  I am surprised at the lack of critical love towards the dependable Chris Messina on The Mindy Project who is such a fun sitcom character.  The highlight of last year though was the increasingly popular Jake Johnson with his work on New Girl where he brought excitement and emotion to every episode while still being hilarious and delivering some of the year's best jokes.



Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Saturday Night Live did not use all of its female cast members to its fullest potential, however for me Kate McKinnon and especially Vanessa Bayer stood out this year in every role they had.  How I Met Your Mother had its weakest season and I found it uncomfortable to watch at times.  However Cobie Smulders was the only cast member who consistently seemed fresh and invested, she still works on the show for me and doesn't seem too stupid like the rest of the great cast has unfortunately kind of become.  Rashida Jones, often cited as the most difficult Parks and Recreation character to get a handle on, did great work this season.  Not only in her attempts to get pregnant, but in her attempts at trying to hard to be an individual and convince herself that she is interesting.  No matter how bad an episode of The Office got in the past few seasons Ellie Kemper was always dependable and stayed hilarious.  This season her character's prominence expanded and she was able to stay at the emotional center of the series.  Again I have to go back to Parenthood.  Erika Christensen did her best work yet on the show, as she is the sibling who is often the least memorable.  But Monica Potter brought some real emotions to her difficult character arc and really deserves recognition.

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

One of the highlights this season of The Office was Bob Odenkirk's perfect send up of Michael Scott. Bruce Campbell was well cast on 1600 Penn as the president's brother where he had great chemistry with Bill Pullman.  On New Girl David Walton was an ideal suitor for Jess no matter how much we liked Nick.  Comedy veteran Rob Reiner also scored big laughs as Jess's father.  Ray Romano did some of his best work as an actor and really surprised in his recurring role on Parenthood.  I still have to go back to Seth MacFarlane who was one of the best Saturday Night Live hosts I have ever seen.  He worked perfectly with the cast and seemed just like an ensemble member.

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Collette Wolfe made every moment count on her small role in an episode of The Office and I actually was wishing she would join the cast, despite how incredibly large it was.  Often over looked comedic actress Kerri Kenney-Silver anchored the gang's outlandish behavior on the best episode this season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  No matter how many big stars that 30 Rock got and the Emmy's noticed one of the best side characters will always be Chloe Grace Moretz as Jack Donaghy's teenage arch nemesis.  Parker Posey had a perfect cameo on New Girl and I hope her shot girl character makes another appearance this season.  I loved Pamela Adlon's nosy neighbor on Parenthood.  But Tammy II had her finest hour this season on Parks and Recreation where the great Megan Mullally went all out and really deserved an Emmy.

2013-2014 Sitcoms: NBC

NBC did not have a great season comedy wise last year.  Their two biggest critical and commerical successes, 30 Rock and The Office both ended their runs (albeit on a high note).  And they had a total of seven cancelations (Animal Practice, Guys with Kids, The New Normal, Whitney, Up All Night, 1600 Penn, and Go On).  So this season has only two returning sitcoms.

Tuesdays

About a Boy
Jason Katims who developed TV adaptations of movies Friday Night Lights and Parenthood to critical success is now developing a series based on About a Boy.  David Walton plays the Hugh Grant character, Walton is recognizable from the short-lived Bent and an excellent stint on New Girl.  Minnie Driver is also part of the cast.  No trailer yet, but this seems to be more of a dramedy in a half hour format.

Growing Up Fisher
Formerly called The Family Guide, narrated by Jason Bateman and starring J.K. Simmons and Jenna Elfman (who replaced Parker Posey, who I personally think would have been a bigger draw as Elfman's last few sitcoms were very short-lived).  Don't have too much faith in this as it is developed by the producer behind Hank, Accidentally on Purpose, 'Til Death, Traffic Light, Bent, Up All Night and Guys with Kids.  As it is going up against Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC can see this being cancelled.

Thursdays

Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation, which has never done well with The Emmys or ratings, has always been extremely well liked and is now NBC's most veteran sitcom.  It leads the lineup that was formerly known as Must See TV and is a good lead in.  However it is going up against CBS's Big Bang Theory which was number 3 in the ratings last year.  Hopefully this series remains resilient and its Hulu and Netflix popularity can keep it going.  But with Chris Pratt being unavailable for part of the season and the recent announcement of Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe exiting, the ensemble dynamic will have to change.  I still have faith in my favorite sitcom, but this could very well be its final season.  Which six great seasons (alright five, as the first was mediocre) is pretty good.

Welcome to the Family
The first of three new series is a culture clash sitcom, but unlike the short-lived Rob the jokes do not seem to be just based around Hispanic stereotypes.  Mike O'Malley and Ricardo Chavira (a stand-out on Desperate Housewives) seem tailor made for their respective roles and I can see their chemistry making the series work.  I am excited for this one, it could get the Modern Family audience and could be decent competition for The Millers on CBS.

Sean Saves the World

This is NBC's sole multi-cam sitcom.  NBC is selling this around Sean Hayes return to the network, however if Matthew Perry's comeback only lasted a season it is safe to say that the return of a nineties star is not a huge draw.  This seems like a poor fit for Thursday nights and the trailer does not inspire much confidence.  A lot of the humor seems to go to the lowest denominator and the main joke is that Sean is gay.  Although it is going up against CBS's one Thursday night single cam comedy and this feels a lot like a Chuck Lorre series.  But then again Robin Williams is much more popular than Sean Hayes.  I can see this being replaced with Community or one of the Tuesday night series pretty early this season.

The Michael J. Fox Show

Thursday night ends with the much anticipated The Michael J. Fox Show.  There was a huge bidding war for this series and people are understandably looking forward to seeing Michael J. Fox act again.  There is a lot of goodwill towards the actor and everyone recognizes him from at least Back to the Future (let alone his other sitcom roles in Family Ties and Spin City).  This could make Thursdays Must See TV again, I can really see this doing for NBC what Modern Family did for ABC.  There is potential for failure, as evidenced by Go On, audiences may not want to see comedy based around dramatic material.  It is also going up against the long-running successful Two and a Half Men, however that series has to run out of steam one of these days.  I do foresee this being a critical hit and building good word of mouth.  Also this could be revolutionary in its portrayal of a main character with a disability.

Midseason

Community
Sometime this season will be the fifth season of the internet favorite Community.  As much as fans constantly victimize the show and fear its cancellation it is astonishing that it has made it to a fifth season as it has never had good ratings.  Show creator Dan Harmon returns as has a difficult job turning the series around after a less liked fourth season, the loss of Chevy Chase and the limited role of Donald Glover.  But I have faith in Harmon and am curious how creatively he deals with these obstacles.  My money is on this replacing Sean Saves the World around November.  But no matter how horribly it will inevitably do in ratings it will do well online.  Which with the success of Netflix original series is an audience that NBC needs to figure out how to replicate.