Fri-Yay: Cobra Kai Continues to Be a Delight; Fox Announces Premiere Date for Welcome to Flatch, Hulu to Release First 7 Episodes on Same Day

Friday, January 14, 2022

Fri-Yay: Cobra Kai Continues to Be a Delight; Fox Announces Premiere Date for Welcome to Flatch, Hulu to Release First 7 Episodes on Same Day

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

Cobra Kai continues to be one of my most strange loves. The show is extremely cheesy in almost every way. The characters are exaggerated, the situations are unbelievable, and the whole world of the show seems captivated by... teenagers doing karate. And yet, much like the movies it is based on, Cobra Kai's cheesy and goofy dedication to itself is what makes it so delightful.

In a world where every show wants to be an important event, Cobra Kai being dedicated to being silly is actually a breath of fresh air. It's such an easy watch, the type of show where you just turn off your brain and enjoy. While it's not a sitcom in the traditional sense, it really feels like one in the way it has a cast of characters in a crazy and exaggerated world. Plus, it's funny! Every episode gets a few laughs out of me. In its own weird way, Cobra Kai might just be the funniest show on TV right now.

Welcome to Flatch

All-new single-cam docu-com Welcome to Flatch premieres on linear television on Thursday, March 17 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on Fox. That same day, Fox also will unlock the first seven episodes of the series across non-linear platforms, including Hulu, Fox Now and On Demand, so you can binge most of the series before Fox even airs the first episode that day. Inspired by BBC Studios' BAFTA-winning BBC format, This Country, Welcome to Flatch is a half-hour comedy written and executive-produced by Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jenny Bicks (Sex and the City, The Greatest Showman) and directed and executive-produced by DGA Award winner and Emmy Award nominee Paul Feig (The Office, Bridesmaids), who also wrote two episodes.

When a documentary crew sets out to explore the lives of residents in a small American town - their dreams, their concerns - they stumble upon the midwestern town of Flatch, which is made up of many eccentric personalities. It's a place you want to visit and maybe even stay. If there was a decent motel. Which there is not. The documentary crew finds worthy subjects in cousins and best friends KELLY MALLET (newcomer Holmes) and LLOYD "SHRUB" MALLET (Sam Straley, "The Kids Are Alright") who let the documentary crew in on their lives and local current events. JOSEPH "FATHER JOE" BINGHOFFER (Seann William Scott, "Lethal Weapon," "American Pie" franchise) is the local minister who also attempts to guide Kelly and Shrub. He moved to Flatch with his former girlfriend, CHERYL PETERSON (Aya Cash, You're The Worst), who is the editor of the local newspaper, "The Flatch Patriot." Other Flatch residents include MICKEY ST. JEAN (newcomer Justin Linville), who relentlessly attempts to become Shrub's best friend; Kelly's frenemy, NADINE GARCIA-PARNEY (Taylor Ortega, Succession), who runs the Flatch Historical Society; and MANDY MATTHEWS (newcomer Krystal Smith), a magnetic force of nature who lives life on her own terms. The first seven episodes of Welcome to Flatch will be released on Hulu, Fox Now and On Demand on Thursday, March 17 at 12:01 AM.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, January 27

Young Sheldon - "A Lot of Band-Aids and the Cooper Surrender" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Sheldon makes friends with his dorm neighbors. Also, George Sr. learns his job is in jeopardy.

United States of Al - "Hunt / Shikar" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Riley, upset that Freddy taught Hazel how to ride a bike while he was deployed, attempts to teach her something new to make up for it. Also, Ariana invites Al to a fundraiser involving spin bikes, where he becomes competitive with Ariana’s handsome cycling instructor, and Art introduces Lois to his favorite secret pastime.

B Positive - "Dagobah, a Room and a Chimney Sweep" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT)
A therapist and newly divorced dad is looking for a kidney donor when he runs into a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past who offers her own kidney.

B Positive - "A Boss, a Bear Claw and a Defibrillator" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
A therapist and newly divorced dad is looking for a kidney donor when he runs into a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past who offers her own kidney.

Call Me Kat - "Call Me Forty" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Oscar attempts multiple surprises to celebrate Kat's 40th birthday, including meeting his mother; Max tries to figure out why he continually strikes out with women.

Pivoting - "Hell on Wheels" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Sarah dips her toes into the dating pool and enlists Amy and Jodie's help in vetting a woman whom she ran across on a dating app; Amy's maternal instincts are tested when she learns Luke isn't fitting in with other kids.

grown-ish - "It Was Good Until It Wasn't" (Freeform, 10:00PM ET/PT)
The gang copes with the fallout of the explosive events that took place at the luau; Aaron deals with the accountability of his actions at the party; Zoey turns to Pops and Ruby for advice; Ana and Vivek keep a secret under wraps.

Single Drunk Female - "I'm Sorry, But…" (Freeform, 10:30PM ET/PT)
Sam tries to win over Brit by making an amends at her birthday party. Unfortunately, Sam wasn't invited, and neglects Felicia. Meanwhile, when Sam's probation officer stops by, Carol struggles to explain Sam's "situation" to her friends.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 24)

Thursday, January 27

Kevin James (The Crew/Kevin Can Wait/The King of Queens) - Catch Kevin on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Ilana Glazer (The Afterparty/Broad City) - Ilana appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Oliver Hudson (Splitting Up Together/Rules of Engagement/My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star) - Oliver and his sister Kate are guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kean will be on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
David Cross (Arrested Development/Running Wilde/Oliver Beene) - David appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Cynthia Nixon (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City) - Cynthia is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 10:30pm on Bravo.
Tom Selleck (The Closer) - Tom talks about Blue Bloods on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri guest hosts The Wendy Williams Show.
Yvette Nicole Brown (The Mayor/The Odd Couple/Community) - Yvette appears on The Real, so check your local listings.
Julie Bowen (Modern Family) - Julie is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Valerie is talking all about her new memoir and cooking up her mom’s upside-down cake on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Ana Gasteyer (American Auto/People of Earth/Subutagory) - Ana talks about American Auto on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley talks about AMC's La Fortuna on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
Halle Berry (Living Dolls) - Halle talks about Moonfall on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Trevor Jackson (grown-ish) - Trevor talks about grown-ish on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.