NBC has announced that it’s chosen a show to get the post-Olympics slot. It goes to a struggling comedy, but the question is whether it’s too little, too late.
The news comes off the back of learning that the post-Super Bowl slot isn’t going to a TV series at all. Usually, the networks use the slot after the Super Bowl to push a new show to gain viewership, but that’s not happening on Sunday, Feb. 8. Instead, NBC will go straight back to Winter Olympic coverage, making it clear that sport is the future for the network.
However, the post-Olympic covering on Friday, Feb. 20 will go to a struggling comedy. It’s a sports-focused comedy as well.
NBC wants to boost the viewership for its cheerleading comedy Stumble
Stumble will get a special telecast on Friday, Feb. 20 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. It technically means that the show will return a little earlier than originally planned, as the network was holding off shows until after the Olympics end on Sunday, Feb. 22.
It’s just the latest attempt to boost the viewership of the struggling comedy — a comedy that deserves the viewership, by the way! NBC recently decided to pull The Paper in favor of Stumble reruns on Mondays after new episodes of St. Denis Medical. Then new episodes will air on Fridays in the usual timeslot after Happy’s Place.
So far, the pilot of the cheerleading comedy has racked up 10.2 million viewers across the multiple platforms, reported by Deadline.
Stumble is more than worth the watch
Even if you don’t like cheerleading, Stumble is a show to watch. It’s more than just a show about a bunch of not-quite-cheerleaders pushing for a championship. This is a show about finding your place and finding your friends and family.
Plus, it has one of the best relationships on TV. Courteney and Boon make it clear that respect and love will make a marriage work. They don’t always see eye-to-eye, and they can sometimes make mistakes, but they own up to it and listen to each other.
The mockumentary style of programming helps to bring us into the series as well, something that NBC has seen success with through The Office and St. Denis Medical. It’s also going that route with the new comedy The Fall the Rise of Reggie Dinkins, which just got a special premiere spot after the NFC Divisional Game between the Rams and Bears.
The question is whether Stumble can succeed with the post-Olympics slot. The post-Super Bowl slot would have been much better.
Stumble airs on Fridays at 8:30/7:30c on NBC with reruns on Mondays at the same time.