TV Talk: Billy Gardell ends ‘Bob (Hearts) Abishola,’ explores what’s next

BURBANK, Calif. — Swissvale native Billy Gardell has experience with ending a sitcom. He saw CBS’s “Mike & Molly” through 127 episodes to its conclusion in 2016 and now he’s saying farewell to CBS’s “Bob (Hearts) Abishola” (8:30 p.m. Monday, KDKA-TV), which ends its five-season run next week.

“I told everybody when we started — because I learned this with ‘Mike & Molly’ — spend your days gratefully,” Gardell said on the show’s Warner Bros. set during a February set visit as part of the Television Critics Association winter 2024 press tour. “This is not something that happens to everyone all the time. Be grateful when you’re here, stay in the moment and understand that in five years, there’s gonna be new sets and new faces and we’re not going to be here. … And because I’ve been through a finale before, I know what’s coming. There’s gonna be a lot of tears, and it’ll hit you in waves.”

In a follow-up phone interview April 30, Gardell said filming on the series finale wrapped about three weeks ago and he’s still in the stage of being grateful for the experience of making the show.

“It’s always emotional when you end the job – this crazy actor panic of, ‘I’m never going to work again!’ – and then you settle into thinking about the work you did,” Gardell said. “I’m very proud of this.”

The “Bob (Hearts) Abishola” finale is set seven years after the events of the penultimate episode that saw Kemi (Gina Yashere) marry Chukwuemeka (Tony Tambi). Abishola (Folake Olowofoyeku), a nurse when the series began, is now a doctor while sock salesman Bob (Gardell) has sold his company to a former employee.

Gardell said he appreciates several full-circle moments in the finale, including the final scene and a shorter, earlier scene where Abishola takes Bob’s blood pressure, a nod to when she cared for him as his nurse in the show’s pilot episode after Bob suffered a heart attack.

“It showed in a beautiful way that the love Bob found for Abishola helped get him healthy. My love for my family is what made me make such a health change,” Gardell said, acknowledging his substantial weight loss over the course of the series. “It’s the best case of art imitating life I’ve seen in my career.”

While “Bob (Hearts) Abishola” was never a critical darling, it was quietly revolutionary. It’s difficult to imagine another American sitcom that has done as deep a dive into a foreign culture, let alone an African culture (Abishola is a native of Nigeria).

“It was groundbreaking in that manner,” Gardell said. “It’s a good immigration story, which we don’t hear enough of. The beauty of going seven years into the future is Abishola fulfilled her American dream. That was powerful. This is still the greatest place on Earth where you can go from humble beginnings to whatever you want to be. That needs to be said. People like to think hope is dead, but I’m with Mister Rogers on this: ‘Look for the helpers.’”

While budget cuts required some cast members to miss episodes in the show’s final season, most return for the finale, including fellow Pittsburgh native Jonathan Adams (“Last Man Standing”), who had a recurring role for several years as Pastor Falade.

“When he came on board, I knew he was from Wilkinsburg, so I got him a Steelers hoodie to welcome him to the show,” Gardell said. “We were good from there on.”

Gardell said the final scene of the series (no spoilers) was actually the first scene to be filmed for the last episode. It was shot outside on the Warner Bros. backlot. When the cast later taped the rest of the episode on the show’s soundstage, Gardell and Olowofoyeku re-staged that last moment for the benefit of the studio audience.

“It took us two to three times to get going because we had tears in our eyes,” he said. “It was this very intimate moment with our crew and our fans. I will remember that forever.”

As for what comes next, Gardell plans some travel with his wife, Patty Gardell, who he says “has been beside me and behind me my entire career.” And he’s surprised himself that, with encouragement and support from comedian friends like fellow former Pittsburgher Steve Byrne as well as Jay Leno and Christopher Titus, Gardell has “been dabbling in a little bit of standup” comedy again.

“I need a creative outlet,” he said. “I’m curious to see what’s next. Maybe I’ll chase some dramatic stuff and if the right sitcom comes along, I might try to do a threepeat.”

So far, Gardell has no plans to bring his standup, which he characterizes as half-new and half-greatest hits, back to Pittsburgh.

“I wouldn’t dare come back to Pittsburgh until I’m spit and polished,” he said. “If I can work to get it back up to the next level, then I will bring it back to Pittsburgh.”

Channel surfing

NBC’s upcoming medical drama “Dr. Wolf,” starring Pittsburgh native Zachary Quinto, has been retitled “Brilliant Minds.” … In advance of the Summer Olympics (July 26), Peacock will raise the price of Peacock Premium (with ads) by $2 per month to $8; Premium Plus (with limited ads) will also rise $2 per month to $14. The changes take effect July 18 for new customers and Aug. 17 for existing customers. … “The Forsyte Saga,” most recently remade in 2002 starring Damian Lewis (the first one was from 1967), will get a third iteration that will also air on PBS’s “Masterpiece.” … Forecaster Rob Marciano has left ABC News following staffer complaints about his behavior. … NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” will end the season with Dua Lipa as host and musical guest on May 4, Maya Rudolph hosts with Vampire Weekend on May 11 and Jake Gyllenhaal hosts with Sabrina Carpenter on May 18.