Laugh out loud

from The Brainerd Dispatch TV Week July 26th 2020

by Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal

Fox’s animated comedies renewed for future seasons

By Sarah Passingham TV Media

F ox heard that everyone is looking for a laugh these days, so it has renewed its “Animation Domination” block of shows for a new season.

The network was uniquely primed to handle the hurdles of the COVID-19 pandemic’s production shutdowns with already-completed reality and drama series on the slate for its upcoming fall 2020 schedule, and comedy fans can look forward to new episodes of “Bob’s Burgers,” “The Simpsons,” “Bless the Harts” and “Family Guy” in the near-ish future as well — they’ve all been renewed for the 2020-21 season.

shuffled, and the “Bob’s Burgers” movie was on the list, so fans of the show can look forward to what may very well be their first in-theatre experience of the year watching Bob, Linda, Tina, Gene and Louise Belcher get into some trouble in the family restaurant.

Speaking of Fox animation veterans, the network naturally renewed the longest-running American sitcom ever, “The Simpsons,” through its 32nd season back in 2019. This upcoming season will include the comedy’s 700th episode, an incredible milestone that’s like the cherry on top of yet another record that the series broke in Season 31. “The Simpsons” tops the list of American scripted prime-time series with the isodes. “The Simpsons” has been a major influence on popular culture since the first episode aired in 1989, but that doesn’t mean that there’s no room to grow in 2020.

The animation itself improves with time (I remember being a bit shocked when I saw the animation of the first iteration of “The Simpsons” as a short that my parents had recorded from TV on a VHS tape), and so do the characterizations of Springfield’s citizens. Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has been voiced by Hank Azaria (“Brockmire”) — a white, American man — since the inception of the character.

Apu has received criticism, though, as he is portrayed as a stereotype of a South Asian man, a lot more to look forward to for Apu.

When “The Simpsons” was renewed back in 2019, “Family Guy” was also promised a spot on Fox’s Sunday night lineup through its 19th season. The renewal isn’t that much of a surprise since not only has “Family Guy” been on the air for more than two decades, its creator, Seth MacFarlane (“The Orville”), is more powerful than ever, having signed a $200-million deal with NBC Universal this year. MacFarlane may be busy, but that won’t stop him from reprising his voice acting duties as Peter Griffin, the bumbling New England husband and father who constantly makes embarrassing situations even worse.

Fox has shown that the network

From the list, find each word and circle its letters in the puzzle to reveal a message relating to this week's theme

Fixings of Home

Bar Stool Basinet Bean Bag Bench Bookshelf Cabinet Canape Chaise

Longue Chesterfield Closet Couch Cradle Crib Daybed Desk

Fisherman’s Friends

Danny (Mays), a hardened London music executive, heads to the Cornwall coast for his colleague’s bachelor party. During a day out, the friends come across a group of singing fishermen, a sight so hilarious to Danny’s elitist boss, Troy (Clarke), that he tells Danny to sign the fishermen to a prank record

“Everyone deal. Danny finds himself taken aback by the talent and pure intentions of the fishermen he’s meant to bamboozle.

Director:ChrisFoggin.Stars:Daniel Mays,JamesPurefoy,NoelClarke, DavidHayman,DaveJohns,Sam Swainsbury,TuppenceMiddleton, RichardHainsworth.2019.112 mins.Comedy.

The Other Lamb

Born in a hidden, forest-dwelling cult, young Selah (Cassidy) is part of the all-female following that reveres the male leader they all refer to as Shepherd (Huisman). Every member of the cult stands as either a daughter or a wife of Shepherd’s, and as Selah comes of age, Shepherd’s behavior towards her begins to change, and she finds herself in situations that she was warned about by the other wives. Soon enough, Selah is openly questioning and rejecting the teachings and abuse Shepherd inflicts on the women, opening doors she might not be able to close.