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2 • March 6 - 12, 2016 TVWeek By Jacqueline Spendlove TV Media C hristmas break and then some! It's been almost three months since "The Last Man on Earth" closed off the first half of its soph- omore season, and it's time to get some answers. As of the episode that aired Sunday, Dec. 13, more than one character has either died or prob- ably died (it's a comedy, I swear!), and at least one astronaut (hint: the only astronaut) was last seen plummeting to Earth to almost- certain doom. Or maybe he survives? The improbable keeps happening in this unpredictable series, and, as I said, we need some answers. Here's hoping they're forthcoming when the post-apocalyptic comedy returns from hiatus Sunday, March 6, on Fox. Contrary to the show's title, Phil Miller (Will Forte, "Saturday Night Live"), the show's central char- acter, is not, in fact, the last man on Earth. The series opener sees him scouring the continent for other survivors of a virus that has wiped out most of humanity, and just after giving up, he meets the good-hearted (albeit profoundly irritating) Carol Pilbasian (Kristen Schaal, "Gravity Falls"). Not long into the first season, the pair is joined by fellow sur- vivors Melissa (January Jones, "Mad Men") and Todd (Mel Rodriguez, "Getting On"). More survivors continue to trickle into the fold, bringing the number as of the season 1 finale to seven — plus Phil's estranged astronaut brother, Mike (Jason Sudeikis, "We're the Millers," 2013), who's stranded out in space, unbe- knownst to anyone. If your thought is that the struggle to survive in a devas- tated world doesn't really sound like a comedic premise, you're not alone. The idea of a global pandemic or zombie apocalypse wiping out most of humanity has certainly been put to the screen before, but it's generally in a much more dramatic venue. That, of course, is part of the appeal of the hilarious "The Last Man on Earth," and what makes it stand out. "We're at a time where people are willing to embrace things that aren't just the same thing you've seen a million times," executive producer Chris Miller said in a De- tails magazine interview last year. "So it got a really good reception all around town, especially at Fox where — to their credit — you wouldn't expect a show like this to be on network television." The show has been generally well received by audiences and critics alike; viewership for the last three episodes to air sur- passed that of the season 2 pre- miere of 3.14 million. Though the show hasn't secured any award wins yet, it snagged four Emmy nods and three Critics' Choice nominations. With the emergence of new characters being more of a season 1 focus, the first half of the current season has followed the group as it tries — and often fails — to achieve some semblance of a working society. This includes some uncivilized and rather ar- chaic methods of punishment, the struggle for food and an overzeal- ous attempt to subdue a bull. Cover Story Will Forte and Kristen Schaal as seen in "The Last Man on Earth" Where there's a Will Will Forte's post-apocalyptic comedy returns from hiatus D - Danville V - Veedersburg H - Hoopeston O - Oakwood V - Veedersburg Ca - Cayuga Co - Covington W - Westville Communities listed Glory Days 2 x 2.5 Iron Tide Gallery 2 x 1.25 Big Boy 2 x 1.25 A/Crossroads Church 2 x 2.5 ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN Call Advertising at 446-9400 tv week