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!

Cobra Kai

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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Wednesday, March 18

Scrubs - "My Angel" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
J.D. ventures into the world of post-divorce dating with Turk’s guidance. Elliot gets creative when sourcing an organ for a beloved elderly patient, while the interns learn about the unspoken rules of the hospital.

Abbott Elementary - "Campaign" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Jacob and Ava team up for an initiative. Meanwhile, Melissa and Janine help Mr. Johnson get ready for the Janitor’s Ball.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "The Cocoon" (BET, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The assisted living family cares for Leah as she falls sick during her pregnancy; Phillip gains new clarity on his major for college.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Voltran" (BET, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Cora encourages the residents to live life to the fullest after experiencing the loss of a close friend; Sandra urges Philip to get out of his comfort zone due to his addiction to his video game.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 16)

Wednesday, March 18

  • Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback/No Good Deed/HouseBroken/Web Therapy/Friends/Mad About You) - Watch Lisa on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Kerry appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC. She also talks about Imperfect Women on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Riz Ahmed (Bait) - Riz is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Elijah Wood (Wilfred), Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones and Kathryn Newton (Gary Unmarried) - Elijah, Sarah and Kathryn talk about Ready or Not 2: Here I Come on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am. Elijah and Sarah will also be on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm. Kathryn will be on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me/Guys Like Us) - Linda talks about DTF St. Louis on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Tony Shalhoub (We Are Men/Stark Raving Mad/Wings) - Tony talks about Antigone (This Play I Read in High School) on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Nia Long (Uncle Buck/The Cleveland Show/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) - Nia co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD) St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

03/17 - Netflix Renews Free Bert for Season 2; The Neighborhood: A Farewell Special in April
03/16 - Color Theories by Julio Torres on HBO; Lifetime's Ripped from the Headlines Spring Slate with Two New Movies
03/15 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 16, 2026)
03/14 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Family Guy's Stewie Griffin Getting Spinoff; NBCUniversal Cancels Several Daytime Shows, Including Last of the Daytime "Trash Talk"
03/13 - NBC Summer 2026 Schedule; Malcolm in the Middle Revival Series Trailer
03/12 - Season 9 of Rick and Morty This May; Fox Entertainment Studios Lines Up Frankie Quiñones for Comedy Series
03/11 - Antenna TV's Hazel 65th Anniversary Marathon; Kountry Wayne Prime Video Comedy Special
03/10 - XO, Kitty Season 3 Trailer Released for April 2 Launch; The Drew Barrymore Show Talker Gets 2 Season Renewal
03/09 - Beef Returns April 16 on Netflix; Remembering Jennifer Runyon of Charles in Charge
03/08 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 9, 2026)
03/07 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Returns to Big Ratings; New Garfield Series Coming to Paramount+
03/06 - The Four Seasons Returns on May 28; More Details on I Suck at Girls
03/05 - COZI TV Pairs Up Al Bundy and Hondo at Last; ABC Renews Abbott Elementary for Season 6
03/04 - ABC's Scrubs Returns Big; Netflix's Little House on the Prairie Renewed for Season 2
03/03 - Prime Video's Kevin Premieres April 20; Fox Renews Best Medicine
03/02 - Running Point Returns April 23 on Netflix; A Different World Sequel Starts Production
03/01 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 2, 2026)
02/28 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Warner Now Set to Merge with Paramount, Not Netflix; X-Files Reboot Given Greenlight
02/27 - The Comeback Returns for Final Season on March 22; Animal Control Renewed for Season 5; Remembering Lauren Chapin of Father Knows Best and Robert Carradine of Lizzie McGuire
02/26 - AspireTV Gets First Ever Original Sitcom; Sullivan's Crossing Returns for Season 4 in April on The CW
02/25 - Scrubs Returns Tonight, Sneak Peek at Title Sequence; Stranger Things: Tales From '85 Reveals Odessa A'zion as Nikki Baxter
02/24 - Netflix's Wednesday Season 3 Adds to Cast; Wonder Pets: In the City Returns March 20
02/23 - Celebrities for ABC's Celebrity Jeopardy! All-Stars; Hallmark's Mistletoe Murders Renewed for Season 3
02/22 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of February 23, 2026)
02/21 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Hulu Orders New Adult Animated Comedy From Creator of Bluey; Casting News for Upcoming CBS Comedy Regency
02/20 - ABC Wednesday Comedies Find Valentine's Magic; Netflix Announces Dang!
02/19 - The Golden Girls Coming to MeTV in March; Adult Swim Announces My Two Cars
02/18 - Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special Coming to Disney+; Fox Spring 2026 Schedule and Finale Dates
02/17 - New Animated Comedy from Big Mouth Creators Coming May 22; Scottish Comedy Returns to Hulu February 25