Nina Metz: Single in the city and how ‘Grand Crew’ and ‘How I Met Your Father’ are hoping to inject new energy in a tried-and-true sitcom format

From “Living Single” to “Friends,” the ‘90s ushered in a distinct genre of sitcom centering on the misadventures of youngish, mostly single pals in the big city. A pair of new shows, Hulu’s “How I Met Your Father” and NBC’s “Grand Crew,” are looking to revive the format for the 2020s with middling success, but there’s real potential here for each. Sometimes a comedy just needs time to find its footing; I hope both get the opportunity.

Let’s start with which has a higher profile if only because it’s a spinoff of “How I Met Your Mother,” which ran for nine seasons on CBS. Instead of each episode beginning with a the main character in the future (Kim Cattrall) talking with her son via video call. I’m not sure flipping the perspective is entirely successful — this time it’s the kid who’s the disembodied voice — but I’m happy to see Cattrall show up in anything that isn’t the dreadful “Sex and the City” sequel