NBC has made the surprising decision to conclude the linear airing of its comedy series "The Paper" ahead of schedule. Instead, from January 5, the network will showcase episodes of its new comedy "Stumble" in the 8:30 PM ET slot on Mondays, which was previously occupied by broadcasts of "The Paper" since November 10.
While new episodes of "Stumble" will still be aired on Fridays at 8:30 PM following "Happy’s Place," NBC aims to enhance the visibility of "Stumble" by airing repeats, starting with the pilot, on Mondays following "St. Denis Medical."
This change means that "The Paper" will not complete its anticipated ten-episode run on Monday nights; however, NBC plans to air the last three episodes on Saturday, January 3. For those who want to catch up, "The Paper" has been available on Peacock since September 4, allowing viewers to binge-watch the entire first season. Additionally, a second season of "The Paper" has already been confirmed, ensuring that fans can look forward to more episodes in 2026 on the streaming platform.
In an effort to boost interest in "Stumble," which will occupy the Monday slot until February 2 (except for a break on January 19 due to an NBA game), NBC is strategically placing this show in a coveted time slot. After "Stumble," the time slot will transition to a new comedy titled "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins," which is set to premiere with a special one-hour episode on February 23 at 8 PM ET, before settling into its regular 8:30 PM schedule starting March 2.
Regarding the performance of "The Paper," it stands as the second most popular comedy on Peacock, just behind "Ted," having attracted nearly six million viewers across platforms during its NBC airing. An internal report revealed that only about 4% of viewers on NBC overlap with those watching on Peacock, indicating that the two platforms reach distinct audiences. Notably, Peacock’s viewership skews younger, being approximately a decade less than that of NBC, which is part of the strategy to introduce "The Paper" to a new demographic.
"Stumble," created by Jeff Astrof and Liz Astrof, immerses viewers in the fiercely competitive atmosphere of junior college cheerleading squads. The cast features Jenn Lyon alongside Taran Killam, Ryan Pinkston, Jarrett Austin Brown, Anissa Borrego, Arianna Davis, Taylor Dunbar, and Georgie Murphy, with Kristin Chenoweth appearing as a recurring guest star. Season 1 also includes guest appearances from Jeff Hiller, Ashlie Atkinson, and Dascha Polanco.
The Astrofs serve as executive producers, joined by Dana Honor and Monica Aldama, known for her role in Netflix’s "Cheer." Jeff Blitz holds the dual role of director and executive producer for the series, which Universal TV has committed to producing for 13 episodes in its first season.
Aramide Tinubu, a critic for Variety, praised "Stumble," describing it as "a hysterical mockumentary set in the high-stakes world of junior college cheerleading. For fans of the 'Cheer' docuseries and Aldama's straightforward coaching style, this comedic twist offers a vibrant cast of characters and a protagonist whose determination to win borders on obsession."
As viewers anticipate these changes, one can't help but wonder: How will these strategic shifts impact the reception of both "The Paper" and "Stumble"? What are your thoughts on NBC's decision? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments!
