Had you asked me about comedic returns at the start of the 2026 TV schedule, I would have wagered all my wagerable funds on the idea that I’d be enjoying Larry David’s new HBO show way more than I’d be enjoying the Big Bang Theory follow-up Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. That would have been a fool’s gamble to say the least — also a pretty bizarre bet in general — because Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady and Zak Penn have crafted a spinoff that works better than the original series in many ways.
It doesn’t hurt that Stuart, which won over critics more than most network TV spinoffs tend to, has more in common with wackier comedies than its predecessor, to the point where The Simpsons (and American Dad, to a lesser extent) has popped into my head several times while watching Season 1 episodes, and only in positive ways. Let’s discuss.
