Tonight TBS’s comedic anthology series The Guest Book returns for a second season, with a reboot of sorts. As the second season opens, we learn that the ever-scheming Vivian (Carly Jibson, One Mississippi) lost her bar and has decided to make a fresh start to her life, leaving Mount Trace for a warmer climate. She is joined by food delivery guy Eddie (Eddie Steeples, My Name Is Earl), and the two end up in the small oceanside community of Mabel Beach. Vivian gets a job at the local diner, Emmy Lou’s Grill, which is run by Tommy (Dan Beirne, Fargo) and his pregnant fiancee Nikki (Kimiko Glenn, Orange Is the New Black). Tommy’s mother also owns a local vacation property, the Barefeet Retreat. Meanwhile, Eddie is back to delivering food, but sleeps on the beach, which is where he befriends local handyman Bodhi (Jimmy Tatro, American Vandal). Each episode features new guests checking into the Barefeet Retreat, and recounting their adventure in the property’s guest book. The series also follows the continuing story involving those who run and work at the diner and vacation home.
I wasn’t aware that the series was going to change to be changing to a new town and feature new regular characters each season, so I was a bit surprised and disappointed to not see Garret Dillahunt in tonight’s premiere. However, I really enjoyed the new characters and new setting. The series is just as fun as the first season, and I look forward to seeing what crazy guests and odd situations will arise this year. The series has an amazing lineup of guest stars for season two—Pete Davidson (SNL), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Michael Kenneth Williams (The Wire), Matt Walsh (Veep), Lisa Rinna (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), Martha Plimpton (The Real O’Neals), Nat Faxon (Friends from College), Michael Rapaport (Atypical), Steve Zissis (Togetherness), Allison Tolman (Fargo), Oliver Hudson (Splitting Up Together), Sufe Bradshaw (Veep), Nadine Velazquez (My Name is Earl), Darrell Britt-Gibson (Barry), Adhir Kalyan (I Love Dick), Joey ‘Coco’ Diaz (I’m Dying Up Here), Matthew Moy (2 Broke Girls), Michael Cassidy (People of Earth), Kether Donohue (You’re the Worst), Lexi Ainsworth (General Hospital), and Jon Bass (Miracle Workers), plus some of the regulars from first season will return!
In the first half of tonight’s two-episode premiere, “Finding Reality”, Tara and Derek rent Barefeet Retreat in an attempt to improve their marriage, which has been complicated by Derek’s addiction to VR. Then in “Under Cover”, Rob and Shelley rent Barefeet Retreat to lure in their next mark, a woman named Angel who is abusing every substance that can be abused; Vivian develops a crush on Bodhi; Nikki goes into labor.
Tonight I’ll also be watching/recording The Kids Are Alright, blackish, The Rookie, This Is Us, The Flash, Mayans M.C., and The Purge.
For additional suggestions on what to check out tonight, including The Rookie and FBI, check out the If We Controlled Your Remote… 10/23/18 post at TVisMyPacifier.com.
