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*ABC had originally passed on a 90s spinoff of its 80s-set comedy “The Goldbergs” in May. But someone the network’s African American Entertainment President, Channing Dungey, had a change of heart.
The network announced Monday that “Schooled,” the Adam F. Goldberg-created spinoff will indeed air as an episode of the flagship series later this month, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The episode, titled “The Goldbergs: 1990-Something,” picks up where the Goldbergs leave off at William Penn Academy in the 1990s as former teacher and now head of the school John Glascott (Tim Meadows) leads a faculty with different views on how to mentor students. He recruits his tough-as-nails-sister Lucy (Nia Long) to join his staff and enrolls her teenage daughters Felicia (Rachel Crow) and Gigi (Summer Parker) as new students. Lucy is desperate to ensure they avoid the social pitfalls of high school and finds herself torn between Glascott’s nurturing and communicative approach to parenting and Coach Mellor’s (Bryan Callen) tough-guy belief that physical competition brings out the best in students. Even Beverly Goldberg (Wendi McLendon-Covey) comes to visit the school’s staff, despite all her kids having already graduated, and can’t help but meddle one last time.
According to THR, the spinoff narrowly missed the cut in May as ABC instead picked up comedies “Alex Inc.,” “The Mayor,” “Splitting Up Together” and the “Roseanne” reboot. Producers Sony Pictures Television shopped the project, with Hulu — which has SVOD rights — briefly considering a series pickup.
“I am beyond grateful that Channing and ABC has decided to give my Goldbergs spinoff show a chance,” showrunner Goldberg told THR. “Last spring, the ’90s spinoff tested higher than the Goldbergs pilot, so I certainly had high hopes for the project. [CBS’ recently renewed] ‘Young Sheldon’ has proven that fans are very loyal and will watch a spinoff, so we are hopeful that we make a real splash when it airs so we can begin the conversation again about getting this on the air.”
The Goldbergs’ 1990s episode is set to air Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
