Fridays (1980)

"Fridays" emerged as an exhilarating beacon of comedy, swiftly capturing the attention of viewers following the departure of The Not-Ready-For-Primetime-Players from Saturday Night Live. Amidst SNL's struggle to find its footing with its new, largely unacknowledged cast, "Fridays" rose, delivering a unique blend of comedy sketches, often veering into the realm of the bizarre, particularly when the talents of Richards or David were involved. Airing after the local nightly news, usually at midnight EST, the show was not confined to the restrictions of primetime, allowing it to explore more audacious comedic territories. Their late-night slot provided a platform for the unconventional, a refuge for the quirky, and a stage for an eclectic mix of musical performances. These performances, with a distinct focus on new-wave and punk music, featured the likes of The Boomtown Rats, Split Enz, and The Clash, providing a refreshingly gritty alternative to SNL's musical offerings. However, the reality of the television industry struck when Nightline with Ted Koppel, initially a brief update on the Iranian Hostage Crisis, morphed into a permanent, full-hour fixture. This unforeseen change led to a misguided attempt to shift "Fridays" to an 8pm slot, and even more confusingly, on a different day. The transition was met with resistance from cast members like Melanie Chartoff and Brian Mahler, who stayed in character but voiced their dissent off script. Their concerns were justified when the loyal late-night audience struggled to adapt to the change, and the show was regretfully cancelled shortly afterwards. Yet, despite its premature end, "Fridays" remains a testament to the power of daring comedy and unforgettable performances, a glorious rebel in the realm of late-night television.

Fridays is a comedy show.

Fridays is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Plex, Plex Player, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV.

It is also possible to buy Fridays on Amazon Video and Google Play Movies.