(Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBC)
A sitcom from creator Josh Malmuth, who executive produces with Michael Schur, Abby’s stars Natalie Morales, Nelson Franklin, Neil Flynn, Jessica Chaffin, Kimia Behpoornia, and Leonard Ouzts. In one way, it’s the first of its kind — a multi-cam comedy, filmed outside, in front of a live audience. The story unfolds at Abby’s, an illicit neighborhood bar, run by a former Marine Staff Sergeant, out of her (rented) backyard. Abby (Morales) runs a tight ship, but her regulars including Beth (Chaffin), Fred (Flynn), Rosie (Behpoornnia), and James (Ouzts) like it that way. Everything is smooth sailing until her landlady dies and leaves the property to her uptight newly divorced nephew, Bill (Franklin). Now Bill and Abby have to come to a meeting of the minds, but Bill’s inclined to make things work, because the place is already starting to feel like home — only less lonely.
Airing on Thursday nights, the first season of Abby’s is currently averaging a 0.42 rating in the 18-49 demographic and just 1.74 million viewers. Seven episodes have aired thus far. Two installments air tonight.
Compared to the other scripted NBC TV shows of the 2018-19 season, Abby’s ranks 19th of 20 series in the demo and dead last in viewership.
Today, the Peacock Network also cancelled The Enemy Within and The Village TV shows.
What do you think? Do you like the Abby’s TV show on NBC? Would you have watched a second season of this barroom sitcom?
Sad for the nice people with good intentions, but this show just wasn’t funny. The beautiful Morales tried, but she may be better with non-comedy roles.