Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Fox’s cheeky animated standbys start new seasons
Sunday night is a favorite for many TV fans because it’s when the predominately animated comedy package airs on Fox. It’s all new stuff beginning tonight.
For those who’ve been away from Fox for a while, here’s a rundown on the lineup.
•"Bob’s Burgers", 6:30 p.m. Animated. Bob Belcher (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) is a third-generation restaurateur who runs Bob’s Burgers with his wife and their three children. Bob is a burger connoisseur; the rest of the family, not so much.
The rest of the Belcher clan includes his charming wife, Linda (John Roberts); their awkward oldest daughter, Tina (Dan Mintz); goofy middle child Gene (Eugene Mirman); and clever youngest daughter Louise (Kristen Schaal).
Tonight’s episode, “Flu-ouise,” kicks off Season 7. Louise gets the flu and has a wild, fever-induced dream.
The series is rated TV-PG DLV for dialogue, language and cartoon violence.
• "The Simpsons", 7 p.m. Tonight marks the beginning of Season 28 for this remarkable animated series. "The Simpsons" long ago entered the pantheon of American pop culture and shows no signs of slowing down.
The series follows the adventures of Homer (Dan Castellaneta) and Marge (Julie Kavner), and their kids, Bart (Nancy Cartwright), Lisa (Yeardley Smith) and Maggie (who doesn’t talk) in their hometown of Springfield.
The series has won 32 Emmy Awards and was the first animated series to win a Peabody.
Episodes this season will feature Mr. Burns (Harry Shearer) introducing a "Hunger Games" contest for Springfield’s children; Lisa’s imaginary best friend becoming jealous of Lisa’s real best friend; and Homer coaching the kids’ lacrosse team with Milhouse’s dad.
Guest voices will include Patton Oswalt, Drew Carey, Sarah Silverman, Allison Janney, Dan Rather, Lizzy Caplan and her "Masters of Sex" co-star Michael Sheen.
Tonight’s episode, “Monty Burns’ Fleeing Circus,” finds Springfield burning to the ground and Mr. Burns agreeing to fund the rebuilding on the condition he gets to put on a variety show.
The series is rated TV-PG because it really is subversive.
• "Son of Zorn", 7:30 p.m. Fox rolled out a sneak preview on Sept. 11, so this is actually the time slot premiere and the second episode for the animated/live action comedy.
Zorn (voiced by Jason Sudeikis) is the only animated character in the series and comes from the faraway animated Pacific island of Zephyria, where he is the conqueror of the tribes of Agon, decapitator of the dark herdsmen of Grith and the overlord of pain.
Zorn also has (stay with me) a live human ex-wife (Cheryl Hines) and 17-year-old son (Johnny Pemberton) who live in California. His former wild child ex is now settled down and engaged to Craig (Tim Meadows), but Zorn decides to fly to California and try to win back his family.
Hilarity ensues. Zorn has defeated glombeasts, wolf-bats and bloodthirsty arachnobots, but his greatest challenge may be suburbia.
• "Family Guy", 8 p.m. One critic describes this animated series as “sick, twisted and politically incorrect.” Fox labels it as a show with “razor-sharp humor and spot-on parodies that has reached cult status.”
The series follows the adventures of the Griffin family of Quahog, R.I. They include blissfully ignorant Peter (creator Seth MacFarlane), his wife, Lois (Alex Borstein), and their three children.
Eighteen-year-old Meg (Mila Kunis) is a social outcast, 13-yearold Chris (Seth Green) is awkward around girls, and youngest Stewie (MacFarlane) may only be a year old, but he’s an evil genius who is determined to kill his mother and destroy the world.
Then there’s the alcoholic talking dog Brian (MacFarlane).
In the forthcoming 15th season, guest voices will include Sean Penn, NBA champ Steph Curry, NFL champ Rob Gronkowski, Kyle Chandler, David Tennant and child actor Jacob Tremblay.
Note that "Family Guy" ups the rating a notch to TV-14. It has the same ratings DLV letters as above, but adds an “S” for sexual situations.
• "The Last Man on Earth", 8:30 p.m. It’s 2020 and some sort of global cataclysm has left Phil Miller (series creator Will Forte) the only human remaining on the planet. He wanders the country searching for others, to no avail, and finally settles back home in Tucson, Ariz.
Ah, but Phil isn’t really alone. Carol (Kristen Schaal) shows up and hilarity ensues.
Wait! There’s more.
Over the rest of Season 1, five more survivors arrive (including Arkansas’ favorite daughter, Mary Steenburgen) and postapocalyptic interpersonal complications arise. The gang eventually kicks Phil out because he’s annoying.
Season 2 found everyone relocated to Malibu, Calif. As the third season begins, armed intruders invade Malibu.
The live-action series is rated TV-14 for the usual reasons.