Fri-Yay: Viewers Discovering Cobra Kai Now on Netflix; ABC Announces Fall 2020 Drama Premiere Dates

Friday, September 18, 2020

Fri-Yay: Viewers Discovering Cobra Kai Now on Netflix; ABC Announces Fall 2020 Drama Premiere Dates

It's time for another edition of Fri-Yay! That means we will take a look back on some sitcom happenings in recent days or weeks or other fun sitcomy stuff. It's a sitcom lover's paradise! Happy Fri-Yay!

by Vincent

If you're looking for a light, airy watch that has some elements of a sitcom but also some of the more long-term plotting of a drama, I'd highly recommend Cobra Kai on Netflix. The series was previously a YouTube Red series, but was picked up by Netflix after YouTube Red let it go after 2 seasons. It's a continuation of the Karate Kid series, a "sequel" if you will, but in the form of a television series. If that doesn't sound appealing to you, then I would still recommend you try it anyway. I'm not a big fan of the Karate Kid movies myself, and yet I still found myself really invested in the show's world.

Cobra Kai has some of the most intricate character work I've seen on TV, and unlike many streaming series of recent times, it actually feels well-plotted and suited to its episode length. It's a quick watch (just two 10 episode seasons, less than 30 minutes per episode) but in those short episodes it manages to build a reliable world of characters even beyond the characters leftover from the Karate Kid movies. It's also actually pretty funny, with genuine moments of humor amongst the karate and world building. If you give it a try this weekend, it's the absolute perfect weekend binge watch.

Grey's Anatomy

ABC announced premiere dates for its scripted drama series slate, rounding out the network's fall schedule. Dates for unscripted and comedy series were previously announced, as we announced. The Good Doctor will kick-off the drama return on ABC, while drama staple Grey's Anatomy gets a two-hour return. For Life returns now in the Fall, rather than mid-season as previously slated (it is replacing the canceled Stumptown). ABC's drama scripted series premiere dates are as follows (all times listed are Eastern/Pacific). New shows are in bold. Note: Sunday drama The Rookie will be premiering later in the season (it hasn't started production yet on new episodes).

MONDAY, NOV. 2
10:00-11:00 p.m. The Good Doctor

THURSDAY, NOV. 12
8:00-9:00 p.m. Station 19
9:00-11:00 p.m. Grey's Anatomy (two-hour season premiere)

TUESDAY, NOV. 17
10:01-11:00 p.m. Big Sky (series premiere)

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 18
10:00-11:00 p.m. For Life

THURSDAY, NOV. 19
10:01-11:00 p.m. A Million Little Things

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Tuesday, August 3

The Goldbergs - "Alligator Schwartz" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Erica fears that Geoff has moved on from their breakup and started dating someone else. Meanwhile, Adam decides to find Dave Kim a date to prom, once he remembers his pact with Dave that they won’t go to prom if they both don’t have dates.

Home Economics - "Bounce Hospital Rental, $250" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Connor invites all the cousins over for an epic sleepover to cheer up his daughter, Gretchen. Meanwhile, Tom is determined to prove he can be a fun uncle too.

The Conners - "A Cold Mom, a Brother Daddy and a Prison Baby" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ben’s mom, Barb, arrives in town after an unexpected death and unveils shocking information from the past. Meanwhile, Becky and Emilio spend more time together.

black-ish - "Snitches Get Boundaries" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After one of Dre’s secrets with Pops is spilled to Ruby, he realizes that his relationships with each of his parents have changed since they got married and he no longer knows in whom to confide. Meanwhile, Bow surprises Jack and Diane with a brand-new car and tries to teach the twins how to drive.

Miracle Workers - "Oregon Trail: What Happens in Branchwater" (TBS, 10:30PM ET/PT)
The wagon train stops in the sinful town of Branchwater, luring Ezekiel into a night of debauchery and temptation; Benny finds his favorite saloon has transformed into an inauthentic tourist trap.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 2)

Tuesday, August 3

Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Christian Slater (Breaking In) - Catch Christian on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen/The Ellen Show) - Ellen is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Kristen Bell (The Good Place) and Dax Shepard (Bless This Mess) - Kristen and Dax chat with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
John Corbett (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/United States of Tara/Lucky/Sex and the City) - John appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Mr. Corman/3rd Rock from the Sun) - Joseph talks about his role in the new series Mr. Corman on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Kat Dennings (Dollface/2 Broke Girls/Raising Dad) - Kat appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Pooch Hall (The Game/Accidentally on Purpose) - Pooch is a guest on a repeat of The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Tisha Campell (Outmatched/Dr. Ken/My Wife and Kids/Martin) and Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - A repeat of Tamron Hall celebrates the power of friendships with actresses and childhood friends Tisha Campell and Tichina Arnold, who co-starred in the classic sitcom Martin and are now working on a new talk show, so check your local lisitngs.
Allison Janney (Mom/Mr. Sunshine) - Allison appears on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Laura Prepon (Are You There, Chelsea?/That '70s Show) - Laura talks about the joys and challenges of being a new mother of two, and makes a quick and easy Mediterranean salad on Access Daily, so check your local listings.