oz2013

Criminal Court Part 2 is in session for more laughs as Night Court enters into a second season. The characters start to get explored more, with Harry developing a budding romance with Billie (the new defense attorney) and Mac getting married to Quon Le (a long-time friend from Viet Nam). Ellen Foley proves to be a good addition to the cast and has strong chemistry with her co-stars. And some exciting guest stars are featured, including John Astin, Michael Richards, James Cromwell, and Lou Ferrigno. Additionally, future cast member Markie Post makes her first appearance as a guest star. The comedy is still a little cheesy and slapstick-ish, but it has a kind of quaint charm to it. It’s not without its problems, but Season 2 of Night Court is a lot of fun.

While it’s still full of laughs, Season 4 of Coach isn’t quite as lighthearted as past seasons. Things get serious for Coach Hayden Fox as he helps his daughter through her divorce and has his relationship with his fiancée tested when she's offered the opportunity to host a national news program in New York City. On the football side of things, the Screaming Eagles do fairly well; resulting in a thrilling two part bowl game episode which features Robert Prosky guest starring as Hayden’s former mentor. The writing’s also pretty good, but seems less ambitious and more generic than in previous seasons. Still, the comedy is quite funny and the characters drama is rather touching at time. Though not its strongest season, Coach: Season 4 is entertaining and fun to watch.

Hayden Fox faces his greatest challenge yet in Season 3 of Coach. This season Dauber finally graduates, Luther faces some demons from his past, and Hayden and Christine break up when their relationship reaches an impasse. The episodes are especially character driven, and do a good job at developing and enriching both the main and supporting cast. Yet, the comedy remains as hard hitting as ever. Even after three seasons Coach remains a smart and funny sitcom that the whole family can enjoy.

ABC’s hit sitcom Coach gets even better in season 2. Though most of the episodes take place in college football’s off-season, Coach Hayden Fox gets into a number of shenanigans as he starts up a rivalry with the women’s basketball coach, has to deal with a new university president from his past who has a vendetta against him, and he must come to terms with his daughter’s marriage. Guest stars Pam Stone and Robin Srasser make for great additions to the supporting cast, and they do a good job at delivering the comedy. And, a young Rob Schneider debuts in one of his first television roles. With season 2, Coach proves that it can deliver laughs both on and off the field.

Coach: Season 1 is an entertaining family sitcom that’s incredibly funny. The show follows head coach Hayden Fox of the Minnesota State Screaming Eagles as he struggles to lead the college football team to a winning season, and also to reconnect with his estranged daughter. Craig T. Nelson is perfectly cast as Coach Fox, and Jerry Van Dyke is hilarious as his comedic sidekick. And, despite following a lot of the usual sitcom tropes, the show has a lot of heart. Though it’s only a 13 episode season, Coach: Season 1 packs in plenty of laughs.

Coach’s fifth season takes on a matrimonial theme as Hayden and Christine finally tie the knot. After a prolonged engagement, Hayden and Christine finally set a date and spend the season planning for their wedding, but the fates seem to be against them as a series of mishaps keeps postponing their wedding. But in the meantime, Christine gets cast in a national coffee commercial, Hayden develops a new scheme to go after the Rizzendough fortune, and Luther takes a trip to Vegas to risk his life’s savings on a game of roulette. Craig T. Nelson takes on a larger behind-the-scenes role by becoming a reoccurring director, and a number celebrates cameo in the star-studded “Bachelor Party” episode. Additionally, the show addresses the very topical and controversial issue of steroid abuse in a very powerful special episode. With a good balance of character drama and comedy, Season 5 of Coach is one of the best of the series.

Season 1 of Family Ties is hilariously fun and can be enjoyed by all ages. NBC teams up with Gary David Goldberg to create this witty, socially conscious sitcom that follows former hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, who have settled down into a suburban life and struggle to raise their three children in the go-go ‘80s. Starring Michael J. Fox, Justine Bateman, Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter Birney, and Tina Yothers, the castings quite good; as are the performances (except for Yothers). The writing however, is rather uneven; as the storytelling is often loose ended and the political messages (which address such issues as sexual harassment, gun control, and freedom of the press) sometimes seem ham-fisted. Still, the comedy is well-done and delivers a lot of laughs. The first season of Family Ties has some problems, but overall it's terrifically entertaining and has a unique voice that sets it apart from the run-of-the-mill sitcom.

From creative visionaries Jim Henson and Frank Oz comes The Muppet Show, a family variety show that delivers a ton a laughs. Using a mixture of puppets and costumed performers, Season 1 features a number of fresh, hilarious sketch comedy segments; including Muppet Labs, Veterinarian’s Hospital, Talk Spot, Vendaface, and Talking Houses. Plus, there are two or three open spots each episode that showcase a special guest star. This season's list of guest stars is quite impressive, with such celebrities as Sandy Duncan, Harvey Korman, Paul Williams, Connie Stevens, and Vincent Price. And while they look a little rough and the voices aren't quite right, most of the core Muppet characters are here: Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie, Rowlf, Sam the Eagle, and Statler & Waldorf (to name a few). Though clearly a work in progress, Season 1 of The Muppet Show is extraordinarily entertaining and fun for all ages.