The TV Column

Hilarious Mick debuts after NFL doubleheader

Kaitlin Olson (left) and Carla Jimenez star in the new Fox comedy The Mick. The sitcom will have a special premiere at 7 p.m. today.
Kaitlin Olson (left) and Carla Jimenez star in the new Fox comedy The Mick. The sitcom will have a special premiere at 7 p.m. today.

Welcome to 2017. Let's begin the new year with a laugh. We could use one.

Fans of Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) are in for a treat, but viewers offended by comedies where the girls are sexually active termagants and the younger kids spoiled and whiny, will have yet another sitcom about which to grouse.

The Mick, a new single-camera half-hour sitcom from Fox, will have a special premiere at 7 p.m. after today's NFL doubleheader, then return with a new episode at its regular time period at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Mick is the nickname for Olson's character, Mackenzie Murphy, known to friends and family as Mickey.

Note: Tonight's premiere will be followed by the two-part winter finale of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Tuesday's regular time will follow the new 7 p.m. time for New Girl and precede the 8 p.m. debut of the final season of Bones.

Olson was born for the role, basically an extension (with a bit more heart) of her "Sweet Dee" Reynolds character in Sunny. Mickey is a brazen hustler with a foul mouth and intimate familiarity with narcissistic debauchery. She comes from backwater Rhode Island and has spent her entire life actively avoiding responsibility.

Lacking any semblance of ambition, Mickey is constantly searching for the next easy score, but she does have her charms. She's bright and fun and tries to make the best of the woeful situation she stumbles into.

The adventure begins when Mickey heads to upscale Greenwich, Conn., to visit her estranged sister and billionaire brother-in-law. The intent is to hit them up for a "loan" to back her latest scheme.

When her sister and husband flee the country to avoid federal fraud charges, Mickey is left as guardian of their three high-maintenance and badly parented children.

Aunt Mickey is inappropriate and in charge.

Sofia Black D'Elia (The Night Of, Gossip Girl) plays rebellious 18-year-old (she's having sex, so it's important she be 18) Sabrina Pemberton. Thomas Barbusca (The New Normal, Grey's Anatomy) is the 13-year-old arrogant middle child, Chip, and newcomer Jack Stanton is the lovably nerdy, and somewhat fragile, 7-year-old Ben.

Naturally, the biggest problem is independent-minded Sabrina, who is not shy in causing lots of banging headboard noises from her bedroom.

Keeping everything real is housekeeper Alba (Carla Jimenez, Last Man Standing), and adding the requisite nosy neighbor factor is Susan Park as Liz.

Series writer Scott MacArthur has a recurring role as Jimmy, Mickey's degenerate on-again, off-again "guy." Mickey eschews the boyfriend label.

If Mickey can get her act together, she finally has the life of luxury she always wanted within reach. But nothing comes without a price. There isn't a maternal bone in her body, but the kids are in desperate need of adult control. Can Mickey pull it off?

That's the basis for humor. I've seen three episodes and found myself laughing out loud several times. And for the record, I don't particularly care for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Fair warning: The series is for adults, and is rated TV-14 for racy dialogue, coarse language and groin-kicking violence. If that's a deal-breaker, don't go there. There will be media watchdog outfits that will cite The Mick as just the latest example of how broadcast TV is becoming increasingly vulgar.

Masterchef Celebrity Showdown, 7-9 p.m. Monday on Fox. Chefs Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi invite celebrities into the kitchen to show off their skills for charity.

Taking the challenge are Trai Byers and Grace Gealey Byers from Empire; TV personalities NeNe and Gregg Leakes, Cheryl Hines (Son of Zorn), Kal Penn (Designated Survivor), NFL stars Ronde Barber and Tiki Barber, rock star twins Joel and Benji Madden, Anthony Anderson of black-ish, and Jordana Brewster from Lethal Weapon.

BINGE TIME

If you find yourself with extra time on your hands because of the holiday and in need of catching up, here's where to find six series from Syfy and USA before the new seasons arrive.

Syfy:

The Magicians. Season 1 is available on Netflix. Season 2 arrives Jan. 25.

The Expanse. Find Season 1 on Amazon Prime. Season 2 premieres Feb. 1.

USA Network:

Colony. Netflix has Season 1. Season 2 debuts Jan. 12.

Mr. Robot. Season 1 of the acclaimed series is available on Amazon Prime. Season 2 can be found on USANetwork.com and Video on Demand. Note: This is an uncensored TV-MA version of Season 2.

Suits. Season 6 is available on USANetwork.com and Video on Demand. Previous seasons are available on Amazon Prime. Season 6.5 will premiere Jan. 25.

Shooter. If you've fallen behind, all current episodes are on USANetwork.com and Video on Demand.

The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:

mstorey@arkansasonline.com

Style on 01/01/2017

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