While FX continues to find both critical and popular success with its dramas, including “The Shield,” “Nip/Tuck” and “Rescue Me,” it’s had more trouble expanding into comedy. Of its three recent comedic launches, only one, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” made it to a second season, though not without some changes.
When that second season begins tonight at 10 p.m., Danny DeVito joins the cast as the father of Dennis and Dee, two of the four owners of a Philly bar where much of the show’s action takes place.
The addition of DeVito, the former “Taxi” star, and Anne Archer, who plays his ex-wife, is a blatant play for ratings on a show that struggled somewhat last year. “Sunny” averaged just 1.14 million total viewers. But it did perform better than fellow first-year comedy “Starved” last summer, which received harsh reviews from critics for its premise about friends with eating disorders. FX renewed "Sunny" and canceled "Starved."
Perhaps one of the problems with FX’s comedies is that, in trying to maintain the sharpness of the network’s dramas, they are a bit too edgy for laughs. In one episode last season, the guys attended a Planned Parenthood rally to pick up chicks, and another was entitled “The Gang Gets Racist.”
You need a light touch to carry off such potent humor, and sometimes “Sunny’s” approach is too heavy-handed. The addition of DeVito, whose penchant for over-the-top characters dates back to “Taxi,” may not help this problem, but viewership for the show may rise initially as his addition has gotten a lot of publicity.
Though its recent string of outings on parent network Fox didn’t draw big crowds, averaging less than a 2.0 in adults 18-49, it doubtless exposed the show to more people. The question is whether they liked what they saw enough to watch tonight.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws |
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THURSDAY, JUNE 29 |
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Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
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7 a.m. |
ABC |
"Good Morning America" (N) |
Orlando Bloom and contestants from ABC's "Master of Champions" are among today's guests. |
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8 p.m. |
CBS |
"Gameshow Marathon" (G) |
The two finalists square off in a game of “Family Feud,” with help from their real families. |
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8 p.m. |
ABC |
"Master of Champions" (R) |
If you're into acrobatics and lots of fire, this show's for you. |
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9 p.m. |
Fox |
"So You Think You Can Dance" (R) |
Two contestants from last night's competition are bounced. |
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9 p.m. |
National Geographic Channel |
"Science of Superman" (N) |
A special surrounding the release of “Superman Returns.” |
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10 p.m. |
NBC |
"Windfall" (D) |
For the sakes of their marriages, Cameron and Nina discuss the feelings they have for each other. |
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10 p.m. |
FX |
"It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (C) |
Second-season premiere. Danny DeVito joins the cast. |
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10 p.m. |
History Channel |
"American Eats" (N) |
Series premiere. Tonight's installment looks at the history of pizza in the U.S. |
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FRIDAY, JUNE 30 |
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Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
7 a.m. |
ABC |
"Good Morning America" (N) |
The Pussycat Dolls perform and Johnny Depp guests. |
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11 a.m. |
ESPN, Univision |
"World Cup Soccer" (S) |
The first of a pair of quarterfinal games today, from Berlin and Hamburg. |
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8 p.m. |
A&E |
"Biography" (N) |
Johnny Depp's gotta have some of the savviest PR people around. Gee, doesn’t he have a pirate movie opening soon? |
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9 p.m. |
Discovery |
"Dirty Jobs" (N) |
Following a guy whose job is to turn garbage into electricity. |
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10 p.m. |
FX |
"Rescue Me" (D) |
If you didn’t catch it Tuesday -- Marisa Tomei guest stars as Johnny's ex wife. |
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SATURDAY, JULY 1 |
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Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
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11 a.m. |
ABC, Univision |
"World Cup Soccer" (S) |
The first of two more quarterfinal matches today, from Gelsenkirchen and Frankfurt. |
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Noon |
NBC |
"Tennis" (S) |
Early-round play from Wimbledon. |
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3 p.m. |
ABC |
"PGA Golf" (S) |
Third-round coverage of the Buick Championship from Connecticut. |
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3 p.m. |
NBC |
"Golf" (S) |
The third round of the U.S. Women's Open from Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. |
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7:30 p.m. |
Fox |
"NASCAR Racing" (S) |
The Pepsi 400 from Daytona International Speedway. |
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10 p.m. |
ABC |
"The Evidence" (D) |
While investigating the murder of a club DJ, clues surrounding another murder attempt are uncovered. |
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SUNDAY, JULY 2 |
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Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
Noon |
NBC |
"Tennis" (S) |
More early-round coverage of Wimbledon, tennis' most prestigious tournament. |
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3 p.m. |
ABC |
"PGA Golf" (S) |
The final round of the Buick Championship, won last year by Brad Faxon. |
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3 p.m. |
NBC |
"Golf" (S) |
Coverage of the final round of the U.S. Open, won last year by Birdie Kim. |
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8 p.m. |
ESPN |
"Major League Baseball" (S) |
The subway series between the New York Mets and Yankees. |
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10 p.m. |
HBO |
"Entourage" (C) |
Meet Dom, the newest member of Vince's entourage. |
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10 p.m. |
USA |
"Dead Zone" (D) |
Three murderers try to track down Johnny, J.J. and a teenage acquaintance. |
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10:30 p.m. |
HBO |
"Lucky Louie" (C) |
Louie spends the money Kim was saving for a Fourth of July party. |
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A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show. |
