New NBC Improv Comedy Show "Thank God You're Here" Debuts April 9; Grier Hosts | Playbill

Related Articles
News New NBC Improv Comedy Show "Thank God You're Here" Debuts April 9; Grier Hosts David Alan Grier — recent star of The Wiz — hosts the two-hour debut of NBC's new improvisational comedy series "Thank God You're Here" April 9.
//assets.playbill.com/editorial/7050c4cad343a16a79d5f8b15cac6b93-506A35D9045646199B9D8AD9AE17A435.jpg
David Alan Grier Photo by Aubrey Reuben

The broadcast network will premiere the new hour-long show at 9 PM with Grier as host and "The Kids in the Hall" alumni Dave Foley ("News Radio") as judge. Future airings are set for April 16 (at 9 PM) and April 18 (at 8 PM); all times ET (check local listings).

Stage alum Jason Alexander and Richard Kind — both veterans of The Producers — as well as Ana Gasteyer (Wicked), Fran Drescher (Some Girl(s)), Eddie Kay Thomas (Smelling a Rat) and Wendie Malick (Burleigh Grime$) will all appear in upcoming episodes of the show.

Jennifer Coolidge ("For Your Consideration"), Bryan Cranston ("Malcolm in the Middle"), Wayne Knight ("Seinfeld") and Joel McHale ("The Soup") guest in the first episode. Alexander, Jane Lynch ("For Your Consideration"), Brian Poeshn ("The Sarah Silverman Program") and Harland Williams ("Dumb & Dumber") line up for the second hour.

Also set to guest star are Tom Arnold ("Best Damn Sports Show"), Fred Willard ("Best in Show"), Nicole Sullivan ("Mad TV"), Angela Kinsey ("The Office"), Kurtwood Smith ("That 70's Show"), George Takei ("Star Trek"), Shannon Elizabeth ("American Pie"), Kevin Nealon ("Weeds"), Bill Bellamy ("Last Comic Standing"), Edie McClurg ("Ferris Bueller's Day Off") and comedians Paul Rodriguez, Tom Green, Chelsea Handler and Mo'Nique.

According to notes, "'Thank God You're Here' showcases the improv skills of a group of four brave actors each week, as they walk into the high wire act known as improv, into a live sketch without a net – or script, their only armor and motivation is an unforeseen and unexplained wardrobe change. The only thing the celebrity can count on when walking into the scenario is a desperate greeting from a fellow actor in the skit, proclaiming upon their arrival, 'Thank God You're Here!'" NBC ordered six one-hour episodes of the show from FremantleMedia North America (producers of "American Idol") based on that company's other versions of the show airing across the globe.

"Thank God You're Here" is currently produced by FremantleMedia in The Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Sweden, the U.K., Portugal, Belgium, Norway, Israel, Denmark and Australia — where it originated and currently plays in its third season.

Seen at La Jolla Playhouse last fall in The Wiz, host Grier appeared on Broadway in the lead role of Pseudolus in the revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. His Broadway debut came in the musical The First, as baseball great Jackie Robinson — which earned the actor a Tony nomination. He also played in the short-lived musical version of The Mambo Kings. The comedic actor is known for his roles on television in "In Living Color," "Life With Bonnie" and in the films "The Woodsman," "15 Minutes," "Return to Me," "Jumanji," "Boomerang" and "Bewitched."

To watch the first full episode online and for further information, visit the NBC website at nbc.com/TGYH.

 
RELATED:
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!