NBC Pulls ‘The Paper’ Linear Run, Gives ‘Stumble’ a Monday Showcase

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NBC is shaking up its programming schedule by ending the linear run of Peacock’s “The Paper” earlier than expected. Instead, starting on Jan. 5, NBC will be airing episodes of its new comedy “Stumble” in the Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET time slot, which was previously occupied by “The Paper” broadcast-friendly versions.

“Stumble” will continue to air new episodes on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. behind “Happy’s Place.” To give the show some extra exposure, NBC will also be airing repeats of “Stumble” on Mondays behind “St. Denis Medical,” starting with the pilot episode.

Although “The Paper” won’t have a full 10-episode run on Mondays, the remaining three episodes will be aired on Saturday, Jan. 3. The show has been available on Peacock since Sept. 4, where viewers can watch the entire Season 1. Additionally, NBC has already picked up an option for Season 2 of “The Paper,” ensuring that the show will return with more episodes in 2026 on the streaming platform.

NBC is hoping to build momentum for “Stumble” by airing it in the additional Monday slot through Feb. 2. The Monday 8:30 p.m. slot will eventually be taken over by the new comedy “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins,” premiering with an hour-long episode on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. ET.

“The Paper,” Peacock’s second most-watched comedy (after “Ted”), saw a significant increase in viewership during its NBC run, adding nearly 6 million viewers to its cross-platform reach. The decision to air a second run of “The Paper” on NBC was based on an internal study showing minimal duplication in viewership between NBC and Peacock audiences, as well as the opportunity to reach a younger demographic on the network.

“Stumble,” created by Jeff Astrof and Liz Astrof, is a comedy set in the world of junior college cheer squads. The series features a talented cast including Jenn Lyon, Taran Killam, and Kristin Chenoweth in a recurring role. Season 1 also includes guest appearances by Jeff Hiller, Ashlie Atkinson, and Dascha Polanco.

Critics have praised “Stumble” for its humor and unique take on junior college cheerleading. TV critic Aramide Tinubu from Variety described the show as a “hysterical mockumentary” that introduces viewers to a colorful cast of characters in the competitive cheerleading world.

With the Astrofs as executive producers and a talented team behind the scenes, “Stumble” has been picked up for 13 episodes in Season 1. The single-camera comedy promises to deliver laughs and entertainment to viewers as it continues to air on NBC and Peacock.