It's 1990 something in this spin-off of The Goldbergs. Lainey Lewis (AJ Michalka) returns to William Penn Academy after failing to make it in the music world. Principal Glascott (Tim Meadows) gives her a job as the music teacher with a push from Beverly Goldberg. Coach Mellor (Bryan Callen) is still the PE teacher. C.B. is the cute try-hard teacher.
This is a solid single gal sitcom or at least it should be. There is a central issue with the single part, Lainey's relationship with Barry Goldberg. It complicates the show and the show's central relationship of Lainey with C.B. It muddies the waters in that Goldbergs fans love the Barry-Lainey coupling. It's a beauty and the beast story, and we would hope for them to live happily ever after. In the two shows, they do have their ups and downs. Outside of that, the show has most of the ingredients. Coach Mellor continues to be a great side character and mentor. Tim Meadows is a comedy veteran and I like Michalka as the lead. She has great comedic instincts and timing. She does need a best girlfriend on the show. Wilma does join the show in the second season and she eventually gets there but it's a long trip to get there. I do wonder if a Barry-Lainey show could have worked.
This is a solid single gal sitcom or at least it should be. There is a central issue with the single part, Lainey's relationship with Barry Goldberg. It complicates the show and the show's central relationship of Lainey with C.B. It muddies the waters in that Goldbergs fans love the Barry-Lainey coupling. It's a beauty and the beast story, and we would hope for them to live happily ever after. In the two shows, they do have their ups and downs. Outside of that, the show has most of the ingredients. Coach Mellor continues to be a great side character and mentor. Tim Meadows is a comedy veteran and I like Michalka as the lead. She has great comedic instincts and timing. She does need a best girlfriend on the show. Wilma does join the show in the second season and she eventually gets there but it's a long trip to get there. I do wonder if a Barry-Lainey show could have worked.