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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, January 22

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Will and a Dead Man’s Wife" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Georgie’s not ready for his mother to start dating again. Meanwhile, Jim and Audrey struggle to make their wills.

Ghosts - "Kyle" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Sam and Jay’s relationship is tested when Kyle (Ben Feldman), a handsome living who shares Sam’s ability to see ghosts, arrives at Woodstone B&B.

Animal Control - "Dragons and Dognappers" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Rob Gronkowski returns and asks the team for help rehoming a zebra; Emily and Shred's first date goes awry when they unexpectedly run into Daisy and Patel on their night out; Frank must defend Templeton when Templeton is accused of dognapping.

Going Dutch - "Farmer's Mark-tet Offensive" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
After a messy breakup, the Colonel and Katja find themselves going to war between the town and the base; Capt. Maggie tries to de-escalate the tension between the two ex-lovers and negotiate a truce.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 19)

Thursday, January 22

Mike Epps (The Upshaws/Uncle Buck/Survivor's Remorse) - Catch Mike on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. NBC's Today catches up with Anthony in the 10am hour.
Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - Sean is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Jessica Williams (Shrinking/Love Life/Just for Kicks) - Jessica talks about Shrinking on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Michael talks about Shrinking on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
Craig Robinson (Killing It/Ghosted/Mr. Robinson/The Office/Lucky) - Craig talks about Broadway' All Out on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Deon Cole (grown-ish/Angie Tribeca/black-ish) - Deon joins Sherri to discuss hosting this year's NAACP Image Awards on BET on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Heidi Gardner (Shrinking) - Heidi tells Sherri about her star turn in the new Broadway comedy All Out: Comedy About Ambition on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Kyle MacLachlan (Carol's Second Act/Sex and the City) - Kyle tells Drew about the latest season of his thrilling hit show Fallout and plays a round of memory bank dishing on his biggest moments and roles revealing which Sex and the City character he identifies most with on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Jackson White (Mrs. Fletcher) - Jackson tells Drew about the newest season of the hit show Tell Me Lies, how he started dating co-star Grace Van Patten, growing up on set with his actress mom and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - Howie talks about Netflix's Best Guess Live on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.