‘Nightcap’ Will Fill That ‘30 Rock’-Shaped Hole In Your Viewing Schedule

I consider myself to be fairly savvy when it comes to TV comedies. I’m the guy at the dinner party who’s like, “Yeah, Game of Thrones is fine, but have you streamed all three seasons of Playing House? Have you been keeping up with Freeform’s Alone Together? What are your thoughts on Comedy Central’s Corporate?”

Since I’m no longer invited anywhere, I have an abundance of free time to discover new shows that may have fallen by the wayside thanks to the #PeakTV era, like my new obsession Nightcap. Airing on Pop but now available to stream on Hulu, this unheralded gem follows a dysfunctional group of co-workers who work behind-the-scenes at an immensely unpopular late-night talk show (Nightcap with Jimmy). The leader of this ragtag collection of weirdos is head talent booker Staci Cole (series creator Ali Wentworth), who tries to maintain some semblance of sanity while attempting to manage her quirky staff along with the exaggerated egos of the show’s celebrity guests.

The show’s premise, kinetic energy, and razor-sharp pop-culture inspired wit draws obvious comparisons to beloved sitcom darling 30 Rock, which isn’t a bad thing. The jokes are crisp, the characters are well-defined, and the talented cast radiates laughs. Comedic chemistry can be fickle, but Nightcap has assembled one of the most explosively funny ensembles on TV. A relatively unknown mix of UCB-trained actors (Don Fanelli, Jeff Hiller) and theater standouts (Cherie Corinne Rice, Lauren Blumenfeld) the series does a tremendous job of making the behind-the-scenes absurdity of late-night television relatable to the general public.

Each episode features a number of celebrity guests scheduled to (often times reluctantly) appear on Nightcap with Jimmy. Some programs might have difficultly weaving these appearances into the series, but Nightcap makes it feel like an unforced, organic fit. It helps that the celebrities are 100% on board with the satirical nature of the show. Gwyneth Paltrow plays a kleptomaniac who’s never heard of any of her products from Goop. Jim Gaffigan drops by and attempts to hawk his new religious-inspired energy drink “Enerr-Jesus.” Michael J. Fox is convinced to be shot out of a cannon by his hero, the great Nippulini.

The celebrity appearances add to the absurdity of the wonderful world of Nightcap.

Nightcap is the type of series that can be enjoyed by anyone, but its unique comedic tone will specifically appeal to fans of sketch and improv comedy. Liz Lemon may be gone, but Staci Cole and her gang of eccentric misfits are here to fill the void in your viewing schedule.

Where to stream Nightcap