Drew Barrymore will get to stay undead for a little bit longer. Netflix's horror-comedy Santa Clarita Diet has been renewed for a third season, the streaming giant announced recently. Barrymore stars as undead realtor Sheila, who has to deal with the stress of being a zombie, all while trying to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding her suddenly becoming a zombie. Timothy Olyphant (Justified), Liv Hewson (Dramaworld), and Skyler Gisondo (The Bill Engvall Show) also starred as Sheila's husband, daughter and neighbor, respectively. This was a correct prediction for the TV Ratings Guide.
What do you think of this news? Will you be tuning in to season 3 of Santa Clarita Diet? Let us know in the comments below!
The 2016-17 season has come to a close. The season saw many memorable shows come and go over its course. We said "hello" to such newbie success stories as This Is Us and American Housewife and "farewell" to long-running series like 2 Broke Girls and Bones. But the season wasn't just limited to a few success stories and a few sad farewells. The season brought a lot of shows across broadcast, streaming, and cable. Some were huge successes. Others have already been forgotten. I watched and enjoyed many of the shows from the season (some may say too many), but some really stood out. These are the twenty best shows of the 16-17 season, plus a few honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions- A Series of Unfortunate Events, Man With a Plan, Riverdale
I really enjoyed all three of these shows, but for one reason or another, they all fell short of this list. All three had something special about them, and I do truly enjoy them, but they didn't do quite enough to make it. That's not to say that they aren't good shows, though. A Series of Unfortunate Events saw numerous wonderful performances, Man With a Plan consistently made me laugh, and Riverdale constantly kept me hooked to the TV screen. All three could have easily made it on this list.
20- Velshi & Ruhle
The only unscripted program to make this list, this daily MSNBC series pairs business experts Ali Velshi and Stephanie Ruhle, who work absolutely perfectly together. The laid back personality of Velshi balances the fiery Ruhle, making them a match made in heaven. Another great thing when you have two news anchors working together daily is that they have chemistry, and these two certainly do. You can just tell that they're actually friends in real life, which makes for an enjoyable watch. They do wonderful interviews, with their interview with Brad Thomas going down as one of my favorite interviews of all time.
For a Good Episode, Try: N/A (Just watch it daily, guys!)
19- Imaginary Mary
Imaginary Mary is one of two new ABC sitcoms to star an adorable-yet-mischievous creature, and that adorable creature, Rachel Dratch's Mary, makes this show. Without Mary, this is just a run-of-the-mill family comedy (to quote Seinfeld, "Not that there's anything wrong with that). But with the addition of Mary, it flourishes into a wonderful fantasy sitcom that had enormous potential. The show only lasted for 9 episodes, but it did make an impact on me.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 8, "Last Dance With Mary"
18- Santa Clarita Diet
I'm a big fan of Drew Barrymore, so I was planning on trying this out no matter what. When I found out what the titular "Santa Clarita diet" actually was, I did get a bit turned off, as zombie movies and shows aren't really my thing. But this is so much more than the premise and so much more than its stars. The show itself, from its wonderfully wacky plots to the off-the-walls amazing writing, is what really shines here. It's ten episodes of pure joy (with some gross stuff thrown in there, as well) that I just couldn't stop watching. I don't think there's been a Netflix show that I binged so quickly.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 9, "The Book!"
17- Lethal Weapon
I seriously had my doubts about this show, as movie adaptations are traditionally terrible. But this one was not. Clayne Crawford delivered one of my favorite performances of the year, and he also had great chemistry with his onscreen partner Damon Wayans, the Murtaugh to his Riggs. It has a great blend of comedy and drama, and it has really interesting stories each week. I'm a procedural fan, but this show is much more than your average procedural. It has heart, laughs, and action, which makes for a darn good show.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 17, "A Problem Like Maria"
16- I'm Sorry
This gem is little-known, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. Quite the opposite actually. This was one of the shows that helped me survive the Summer 2017 broadcast hiatus, bringing the much-needed laughs weekly. I only decided to watch it the day it premiered, and I'd never even seen a promo, so I had no clue what to expect from it. Luckily, I watched it, and was surprised by how hilarious it actually was. It definitely brings the shock value, pulling that off better than just about any other new show this year. Star Andrea Savage is truly hilarious, and this is probably her best role yet.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 8, "Weekend Alone"
15- The Guest Book
I hadn't even heard of the Guest Book until a few days before it premiered, but with Raising Hope's Greg Garcia behind it, I just had to try it out. The semi-anthological concept of The Guest Book is truly a great one, executed perfectly. It's something that pretty much anyone who's ever stayed in a hotel has thought about, and while this show definitely takes hotel life to an extreme, it definitely makes you think. It's also welcomed many great guests throughout its fist season, with appearances by Office star Jenna Fisher, Mom's Jaime Pressly, Esteemed Character Actress Margo Martindale, and Trophy Wife's Michaela Watkins all standing out.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 8, "Story Eight"
14- Claws
I will admit that at first, Claws wasn't really my cup of tea. The Pilot wasn't really all too great, but starting with episode two, it just got better and better. It's one of those rare dramedies that has a real balance between the two. It's not just a drama with some jokes, and it's not just an hourlong comedy. It combines dramatic and comedic aspects with nearly perfect results, resulting in a wonderfully over-the-top show that left me wanting more each and every week. While the entire cast is spectacular, Niecy Nash (coming off a career-best role as Denise on Scream Queens) and Carrie Preston shine the absolute brightest here, with both delivering amazing performances week after week.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 9, "Ambrosia"
13- Andi Mack
I don't usually watch Disney Channel, and I actually didn't even watch this little gem until just before its second season debuted. I'd heard many good things about it, and luckily those things convinced me to give it a try. I was expecting a traditional cheesy Disney show, but what I got was a smart, sophisticated show that got me hooked immediately. I quickly consumed all twelve episodes of season one, and wanted more immediately. Lizzie McGuire creator Terri Minsky created this one as well, and I'd even say that this show is the superior of the two.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 7, "Dad Influence"
12- The Mick
Not even slightly family friendly, The Mick is one of TV's raunchiest and crudest shows, but with It's Always Sunny star Kaitlin Olson leading the cast, that's hardly a surprise. But what it lacks in family friendliness, it makes up for in the laughs it delivers. The entire Pemberton family is just as crazy as the titular character, providing for plenty of opportunities for the laughs. The show fits like a glove in the Fox comedy roster, which is most certainly a compliment.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 16, "The Implant"
11- This Is Us
One of America's newest obsessions, This Is Us is also one of my obsessions. The family dramedy is one of those tug-at-your-heartstrings shows that I just adore, and it's probably one of my favorite of the genre. The two timelines helps set it apart from the rest, sure, but it also helps add depth and background to the lives of these characters. It helps us connect with them on a deeper level, which is absolutely necessary in a show of this type. It's also had many episodes that just knock it out of the park, with the "Memphis" episode being one of the greatest episodes of TV I've seen in a very long time.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 16, "Memphis"
10- Speechless
I've always been a big fan of the ABC family comedy, so I was predisposed to liking this one from the start. I'm also a big fan of Minnie Driver and I enjoyed her previous effort at a family sitcom, NBC's About a Boy. But this show is different. As much as I enjoyed About a Boy, Speechless is certainly better. It's a family comedy with a nice twist, with the inclusion of a disabled character that was actually played by a disabled actor being much different than the norm. It's a twist that sets the show apart, and makes it a different and wonderful addition to the vast family comedy landscape.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 8, "R-a-y-c-Ray-Cation"
9- Downward Dog
Downward Dog has a premise that appeals to both animal lovers and comedy lovers alike. It's a sweet little show that had heart, humor, and, best of all, an adorable star. No, not Allison Tolman. I'm talking about Ned, the dog portraying the lovable and super emotional Martin. The premise of a girl (or woman, rather) andher relationship with her dog is a simple one, but it's one that works. So, so well.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 5, "Trashed"
I'm not traditionally a big fan of reboots, especially ones that reboot properties that are super iconic. One Day at a Time certainly qualifies as "super iconic," so I was skeptical that they'd be able to pull it off. Luckily, original series producer Norman Lear returned for this one, so that can't have hurt it. Rita Moreno delivers the performance of her lifetime here, and the rest of the cast is also great. It's also a very sweet, heartwarming show that's great for the entire family. It really has something for everyone.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 13, "Quinces"
7- When We Rise
I was always kinda iffy on this show, as it seemed like something that could be a huge snoozefest if not done correctly. Even after the release of promos, I wasn't even sure if I'd enjoy it. So I was in for a pleasant surprise when the show turned out to be excellent. The miniseries aspect of it worked so well, allowing the show to have a natural beginning, middle, and endpoint. The series featured two primary time periods, and I can honestly say that both were really strong. The show is also an important one, detailing the gay rights movement, a cause near and dear to many people's hearts (including my own)
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 6, "Part VI"
6- The Good Place
One of 2016-17's smartest and most innovative new shows is The Good Place, created by modern comedy god Mike Schur. The show truly is unlike anything else on television, and that's definitely a good thing. The cast, led by Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, truly is incredible, helping to bring these characters to life and make them more than just a bunch of weirdos. A show like this could have been a huge mess, but it's not. It's incredible.
For a Good Episode, Try: Literally all of them
Better Things is one of two FX series that made its way onto this list, and if you've watched it, it's not hard to see why. Starring creator and writer and director and producer Pamela Adlon, the series is probably one of the most honest and real shows on television, in addition to being one of the best. The entire cast here is great, with the young actresses playing the daughters of lead character Sam all delivering stellar performances.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 10, "Only Women Bleed"
4- American Housewife
The trailer for this show really did it no justice, and so I went into it with pretty low expectations. The show surprised me though, with a strong pilot and a wonderful second episode. The main character was equal parts sassy and hysterical. Mixon brought her great comedic talents that we saw on Mike & Molly to her role as Katie Otto to great success. She was the perfect choice to play Katie. Her family is also hilarious, with her daughter Anna-Kat providing the most funny moments. The show just works really well, and the recurring guest appearances from Kate Flannery's Crossing Guard Sandy certainly add a lot to the show.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 14, "Time for Love"
3- Trial & Error
John Lithgow (who I've loved for most of my life due to my grandfather's 3rd Rock obsession) was the only reason that I was really excited for this show, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect from it. From the first episode, I knew NBC really had something special going on with the show. It wasn't just Lithgow that impressed me. It was the whole show. From the entire cast (with its wonderful chemistry and great comedic timing) to the writing to the sets, this show showed it was one of broadcast's best. I love that serialized comedies are becoming more common, and this show had a great season-long story arc that wrapped up lovely (and very funnily) with that beyond-perfect season finale.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 13, "The Verdict"
2- Great News
The highest-ranking comedy on this list, Great News was by far my most anticipated midseason broadcast show. With Tina Fey involved and vibes of my all time fave 30 Rock, this was a show I needed. Throw in comedy legend Andrea Martin and some other funny faces like John Michael Higgins and Horatio Sanz, and you've got comic perfection (well, as close to it as it can possibly come). It was one of two incredible post-Voice Tuesday comedies, and it just won out the top comedy spot. It was very funny from Pilot to Finale, with some funny episodes that I enjoyed revisiting in the seemingly never-ending Summer break that thankfully came to an end a few weeks ago. Martin is the standout here, but the entire cast is immensely talented.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 7, "The Red Door"
1- Feud
While I loved every other show on this list, my choice for #1 was an easy one. It had to be Feud. From the fantastic, Emmy-worthy, performances to the wondrous storylines, nearly everything about Feud was perfect. I really can't think of anything about Feud that I can criticize, something I can do with every other show on this list. Jessica Lange was fantastic as always, but Judy Davis (who I'd honestly never heard of before this series), Jackie Hoffman and Susan Sarandon were fantastic as well. Add to that some fantastic writing and directing, and you've got one great show. The Oscar and finale episodes were truly standouts, but the whole show was perfect and needs to but watched. If you haven't yet watched it and you're still reading this, well, I have a friend for you. And that friend is named Amazon.
For a Good Episode, Try: Episode 5, "And the Winner Is... (The Oscars of 1963)"
What do you think of my list? What are your favorite 2016-17 newbies? Let me know in the comments and don't forget to vote in the poll below!
Written Digesting a Critical Masterpiece by Bridger Cunningham
Welcome to Santa Clarita, California, a majestic community located 35 miles northwest of Downtown LA. It possesses low(er) crime rates than the Boyle Heights hole in the county, new(er) homes crafted with Tuscan love from the last decade, and neighbors who fit the idyllic, muted, suffocating neutral colors.
Does this sound like a phony sales pitch and/or a suburban nightmare full of cookie cutters? Sounds about right. The opening 10 minutes depicted the greatest element of horror possessed by this series -- the mundane, status seeking locals everyone is bred to fear/aspire to become. That unruly horror bled like molecular acid as Drew Barrymore plastered a plush master bath in vomit with greater veracity than the Exorcist's pea-soup rebellion. Then the series began.
This crafted the idyllic, seductive and addictive series at the foundation.
Clever writing is essential as it creates the bedrock for the premise. And the actors labor the structure and beauty of the architecture. The beauty of the finished product is the producers are capitalizing on the cast's strengths and prior experience. Drew Barrymore is no stranger to science fiction, horror and seductive scandal. She beamed as the sweet spot in ET, followed by frightful turns as a horror child in Firestarter and Cat's Eye, a cult classic which her kitty vanquished the troll living in the crowned trim. Barrymore flirted with illicit seduction in Poison Ivy, flashed David Letterman, and became a hapless teenage opening slaughter in the launch of the Scream series.
The end product -- Barryomore scored a landmark role to be remembered by in the 2010's. Barrymore's Shiela Hammond is the ideal amalgamation of Barrymore's prior crafts. Sheila possesses a naivety (ET), seductiveness during her first kill (Poison Ivy) and battled a small rooster pest slighting her vitality (Cat's Eye). On display is irrationality during her second slaughter (Firestarter) demonstrated vulnerability fused with desperation. Lewd honesty with impulses came forth with a foul and direct vocalization (her Letterman stint), and Barrymore tugged at our heartstrings when her toe disintegrated in the tub, painting a horrific ending for a newly-established heroine (Scream). The end product as Sheila Hammond is a hot mess of Barrymore's prior roles blended into a lovable heroine in a storage locker blender.
Timothy Olyphant functions best as leading males pushed to the brink with slow-boiling tension, similar to his Santa Clarita alter Joel Hammond. Vexing between heroic and villain, Olyphant works best in heroic roles in period pieces like Deadwood and Justified, and greater in villainy in roles like Scream 2, Live Free or Die Hard and The Girl Next Door. Olyphant plays best as conflicted, and Joel is another card in the deck. Another cliche of a high-school athlete who married the hot chick, Joel is having a midlife crisis instigated at his true love "going through the change." Olyphant's Joel is poised to score greater character excavation than Barrymore's Sheila.
Next in the perfect casting order is Liv Hewson as she exhibits the same sass and confidence public Drew Barrymore shamelessly displayed in the 90's. Adding to the credibility is Hewson is blessed with similar attributes to Barrymore in the 90's with her defined jaw and choppy chic hairdo. Who better to pair with Hewson than Skyler Gisondo's Eric Bemis, a lovable green apple waiting to ripe into his prime. Possessing the same green-eyed attributes as Griffin O'Neal (minus the substance abuse and criminal scandals), Gisondo refreshingly displays the youthful male legacy with his right of passage as he learns to stand his ground after being run through like a sidewalk.
Additional casting delights include Ricardo Chavira as bullying deputy neighbor Dan Palmer, a fitting retread to his Desperate Housewives role as overgrown bear Carlos Solis. And what better to accent such suburban hell than Mary Elizabeth Ellis' perfectionist nightmare Lisa Palmer, whose duality possesses a greater tragedy than Sheila's own gruesome fate? Santa Clarita Diet is rich and rife with colors. Not the lovely primary colors or neutral tones of the backdrops. Chocolate reds depict the ugliness of a heroine's deterioration as she struggles to regain the former life she lovingly crafted. Nasty, olive greens paint vomit across a tainted life representing the point of no return as contaminated characters vomited an unidentified organ. And the ruby-red smoothies showcase the false veneer Barrymore's Sheila struggled to force to keep up appearances.
The casting and production present the greatest strengths, adding a trifecta of biting dialogue and clever quips. Where Santa Clarita Diet fails greatest, however, is pacing. Adopting a breakneck plot acceleration, it satisfies the appetites of viewers with limited attention spans. Like Sheila's body, it runs the risk of premature deterioration with limited survival beyond 4 seasons. If Santa Clarita diet strives for a limited run of 40 episodes, its pace is suitable. Beyond that, pacing has already accelerated too fast to make this series a durable favorite beyond that range. The greatest blunder that hastened decomposition was Nathan Fillion's blink-to-miss guest spot as weaseling realtor Gary West.
Declared "a bad person" in the intro of the 2nd episode, limited exploration merely left character stating Gary was bad news vs. Fillion's demonstrated range able to display villainy. Had Gary met his vicious ending in episode 3, pacing would have allowed viewers to see why he deserved to be disemboweled. All he did in one episode was steal a real estate listing and flirt with Barrymore's Sheila. That is a garden-variety realtor, not a villain to bust Sheila's zombie cherry to our intrigue.
The second villain dispensed too fast is Chavira's Dan Palmer. Yes, he was a bully via profession. Dan's death would have sufficed as the cliffhanger for the season and allotted more sympathetic undertones to establish and make a compelling, complex killing. Dan blackmailed Joel and somehow established a liking for his latest host. The fast pacing failed to capitalize on supporting characteristics depicting how Dan developed a power complex and had enough mileage to carry the season remains. Every great villain needs proper exploration including their rooting values. Santa Clarita Diet missed the mark in Chavira's range, properly explored through his 8-year run on Desperate Housewives.
The breakneck pacing dispensed DeObia Oparei faster than a takeout meal after two shameless episodes. Oparei's initial episode paced properly, followed by a forgettable flirtation with Sheila. Oparei and Barrymore established chemistry and may have carried a flirtatious arc a la season 2 of Dexter's Lila Tournay toying with the antihero Dexter. Instead, the accelerated deterioration turned this plot hook into a book end episode with unlimited potential squandered. The season wrapped with Sheila's voracious appetite turning on logic, leaving limited beauty and potential to exploring a longer Greek tragedy to explore. Her eyeball strung out of its socket, matching the digested effects of speeding through material which may have carried well into the second season.
Accelerated pacing proved to be the greatest plot flaw Santa Clarita Diet committed in similar nature to ABC's Revenge. But Olyphant and Barrymore's commitment to Joel and Sheila showcases the hook for viewers as a middle-aged couple attempting to keep love alive. No matter which plot wist the show sped through, viewers can invest in Joel and Sheila. Both depicted devotion and what made the couple tick through any given plot twist. What lies ahead for Santa Clarita Diet in 2018? Hopefully the writing leaves ample room to explore the plethora of talents, as this show combined glorious favorites like Desperate Housewives and Revenge with gruesome tragedies like Dexter to leave an intriguing entry to Netflix's already full and bloody plate.
Welcome to Santa Clarita, California, a majestic community located 35 miles northwest of Downtown LA. It possesses low(er) crime rates than the Boyle Heights hole in the county, new(er) homes crafted with Tuscan love from the last decade, and neighbors who fit the idyllic, muted, suffocating neutral colors. 
Timothy Olyphant functions best as leading males pushed to the brink with slow-boiling tension, similar to his Santa Clarita alter Joel Hammond. Vexing between heroic and villain, Olyphant works best in heroic roles in period pieces like Deadwood and Justified, and greater in villainy in roles like Scream 2, Live Free or Die Hard and The Girl Next Door. Olyphant plays best as conflicted, and Joel is another card in the deck. Another cliche of a high-school athlete who married the hot chick, Joel is having a midlife crisis instigated at his true love "going through the change." Olyphant's Joel is poised to score greater character excavation than Barrymore's Sheila.
Declared "a bad person" in the intro of the 2nd episode, limited exploration merely left character stating Gary was bad news vs. Fillion's demonstrated range able to display villainy. Had Gary met his vicious ending in episode 3, pacing would have allowed viewers to see why he deserved to be disemboweled. All he did in one episode was steal a real estate listing and flirt with Barrymore's Sheila. That is a garden-variety realtor, not a villain to bust Sheila's zombie cherry to our intrigue.