Our latest Channel Surfing TV picks are all good for a laugh. A man gets a second shot at sports glory in Chad Powers. The teachers and staff in Abbott Elementary prepare for another school year. Then, a new season of Smiling Friends begins.
Redemption
Russ Holiday was a star collegiate football quarterback who had a promising career ahead of him. However, he lost his shine following a terrible blunder during the National Championship game. Eight years after that failure, he finds another shot in the spotlight.
In Chad Powers, Holiday pulls a Mrs. Doubtfire but with football. He disguises himself as the titular character who becomes a walk-on player at a small Southern university. Powers is based on a character former NFL player Eli Manning created for his show Eli’s Places.
The two-episode series premiere of Chad Powers releases Tuesday, September 30, on Hulu.
Molding the Minds of Tomorrow
It’s tough work being a teacher, especially at a school that is underfunded and mismanaged. Yet the crew in Abbott Elementary navigate the tricky conditions in order to better prepare their students for the future.
The new season sees a few changes as another school year begins. Janine takes on a much larger class than she is accustomed to. Melissa decides to switch grades and teach much older students. The teaching isn’t only in the classroom. Gregory helps Mr. Johnson learn how to ride a bike.
The season five premiere of Abbott Elementary airs Wednesday, October 1, on ABC.
Turning That Frown Upside Down
Smiling Friends follows the employees of a small company dedicated to bringing happiness into the world. In the new season, the team will finally collect all the spirit gems they need and will also have an epic showdown with a witch. The series is co-created by and stars Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel. It is produced by Williams Street, Adult Swim’s in-house production company.
Season three of Smiling Friends begins Sunday, October 5, on Adult Swim.
