Posted in: A.P. Bio, NBC, Preview, streaming, TV | Tagged: a.p. bio, cable, Durbin, Glenn Howerton, Helen, Jack, nbc, patton oswalt, Paula Pell, peacock, preview, season 3, streaming, television, tv, whitlock high

"A.P. Bio" Season 3: Glenn Howerton Bringing Directing Skills to Whitlock High; Patton Oswalt Heaps Praise on Paula Pell [PREVIEW]

After what look like a final failing grade for the sitcom, A.P. Bio is back in session and the doors to Whitlock High School are set to open once again on Glenn Howerton (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Patton Oswalt's (Happy!) sitcom – except it's moved to a slightly different "home." Created by Mike O'Brien, the series will see a third-season transfer from NBC to NBCUniversal's new streaming service Peacock – making it the streamer's first half-hour original comedy order, more than a month after it was cancelled.

We were big fans of the series during its first season (though we have some thoughts on how it lost its way during season 2), so we're excited to see A.P. Bio shifting to a streamer that will afford them a little more room to stretch their creative muscles. Even more exciting? Two weeks after Oswalt gave us the official heads-up that work on the new season was underway, Allisyn Snyder tweeted an on-set image of Whitlock High's own Heather (our favorite) – back to work at her "desk" job.

Now we have two very cool updates from Howerton and Oswalt, beginning with Howerton's Instagram announcement that he's moving his directing skills from South Philly to the halls of Whitlock High, helming an episode written by Jess Lacher (Take My Wife):

Meanwhile, Oswalt is throwing some serious love in the direction of co-star Paula Pell – and in doing so, teasing us with promises of more Helen/Durbin madness still to come:

While the series wasn't exactly a "ratings juggernaut" for the network, it's said that a number of NBC executives are big supporters of the series. The show's strong digital presence was key in finalizing the decision to bring A.P. Bio to the streaming service – as was the online #SaveAPBio campaign:

"The pilot of the comedy, which originally aired in February 2018 to a 0.8 in the demo, now sits at a 5.6 after 100 days of delayed viewing. The series is also strong digitally with the 18-34 demo. Season one of the series was NBC's most digital-skewing show of the 2017-18 season, with 35 percent of its 18-49 audience coming from digital platforms. In season two, A.P. Bio generated 47 percent of its 35-day demo rating from digital platforms and ranked behind only Brooklyn Nine-Nine on its platforms."

Here's a look at O'Brien's official statement on the show's return – followed by his Twitter post:

"I'm so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the fans. The cast and I are thrilled that we get to make more and I'm excited to work with the NBCU streaming platform."

When disgraced Harvard philosophy scholar Jack Griffin (Glenn Howerton) loses out on his dream job, he is forced to return to Toledo, Ohio, and work as a high school Advanced Placement biology teacher. As he comes crashing in to Whitlock High School, Jack makes it absolutely clear he will not be teaching any biology. Realizing he has a room full of honor roll students at his disposal, Jack decides instead to use the kids for his own benefit. Eager to prove that he is still king of the castle, Principal Durbin (Patton Oswalt) struggles to control the force of nature that is Jack Griffin.

Howerton, Oswalt, and Snyder are joined by Lyric Lewis, Mary Sohn, Jean Villepique, Tom Bennett, Paula Pell, Charlie McCrackin, Jacob McCarthy, Aparna Brielle, Nick Peine, Eddie Leavy, Jacob Houston, Sari Arambulo, Tucker Albrizzi, and Spence Moore II.

A.P. Bio is written and executive produced by O'Brien, with Seth Meyers, Mike Shoemaker, Andrew Singer, and Lorne Michaels also serving as executive producers. Universal Television, Broadway Video, and Sethmaker Shoemeyers Productions produce.

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