Here’s something you don’t see every day — a network comedy that’s actually funny. Only it’s not on any network. Peacock streams “Girls5eva,” a silly sendup of pop music, fame and women of a certain age.
Back in the late 1990s, Girls5eva were poised for superstardom, like dozens of other boy bands and Spice Girls imitators. After one hit, they disbanded and went their separate ways into where-are-they-now status.
But when a rapper named Lil Stinker samples their ancient track on his new hit, they are thrust once again into the spotlight. Jimmy Fallon invites them on “The Tonight Show,” and people start recognizing them on the street.
Sara Bareilles (“Waitress”) stars as Dawn, the sensible brunette. A long-married mother, she’s taken to falling asleep with her husband on the couch while watching Netflix. Busy Philipps (“Freaks and Geeks”) is Summer, the dumb blonde of the group, and she remains that way, propelled by the sunny optimism that has driven her to audition for “Real Housewives” five times. Gloria (Paula Pell, “SNL”) has strayed furthest from the band’s glory days. Heavy-set and glum, she’s become a dentist and has the distinction of being a party to the first gay divorce in New York state. Diva Wickie (Renee Elise Goldsberry, “Hamilton”) puts on a brave front as a huge success with her own fashion “fempire,” but all is not what it seems. Ashley (Ashley Park, “Emily in Paris”), the fifth 5, died in a bizarre accident but appears in flashbacks.
“Girls5eva” was created by Meredith Scardino. Tina Fey serves as an executive producer, and the series has the “30 Rock” torch. Bareilles’ Dawn serves as the sensible center of this cartoon. Over the course of its first season, “Girls” will explore the group’s awkward attempts at a comeback, the solidarity of their renewed faux sisterhood and reunions with turn-of-the-century boy bands who have aged as badly as you might expect.
The writing offers brisk, sharp and consistently clever takes on pop culture for viewers who grew up in the shadow of Y2K, hanging chads, 9/11, Blackberry devices and the Bush years. There’s a video of their follow-up single, launched on September 10, which walks right up to the line of bad taste — as does the portrayal of their superannuated and lecherous agent.
It’s smart, daring and silly at the same time. Far funnier than recent network comedies including “Young Rock,” “Call Your Mother” and “B Positive.”
— Dave Grohl hosts “From Cradle to Stage.” Streaming on Paramount+, it profiles rockers and their mothers.
— TCM launches its Classic Film Festival with a 60th anniversary screening of “West Side Story” (8 p.m., TV-PG). The festival includes dozens of short films profiling directors, producers and stars. Check listings. These offerings can also be found on HBO Max.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— On two helpings of “Manifest” (8 p.m., NBC): major concerns (8 p.m., TV-PG); a passenger unravels (9 p.m., TV-14).
— Jane Krakowski hosts “Name That Tune” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-PG).
— A new day on “Station 19” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
— Stretching exercises on “Last Man Standing” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-PG).
— Jackson’s dad offers advice on “Grey’s Anatomy” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
— New puppets appear on “Let’s Be Real” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— A med student’s death hits home on “Clarice” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
— A New Year’s Eve crisis on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14).
— A medical crisis for Cruz on “Rebel” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
— The 1977 musical “ABBA: The Movie” (2:15 p.m., TCM, TV-G) follows the Swedish pop stars on their tour of Australia.
SERIES NOTES
Cosmic conversations on “Young Sheldon” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Advice on “Walker” (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG) … Speeches for a good cause on “United States of Al” (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
A testimonial goes awry on “Mom” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … Inspiration on “Legacies” (9 p.m., CW, TV-PG) … A post-op future looms on “B Positive” (9:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
W. Kamau Bell is booked on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, TV-14) … Anthony Mackie and Terry Gross appear on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS, r) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Jessica Alba, Marc Maron and Sech on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Julianna Margulies, Daniel Dae Kim and Amythyst Kiah appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (11:35 p.m., ABC).
Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Ziwe, Foo Fighters and Mario Duplantier visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Alec Benjamin appears on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS).
