From the opening music, you understand there is a pall over this show. No, it's not a comedy, and the telling of jokes over the melancholy (borderline depressing) jazz riffs that begin each episode aptly explains exactly what this is. This is a glimpse into the hard life of comedians, and dammit, they aren't pulling any punches.
However there's something unexpected - because it's just hard to do - and that's to make it funny every week, and the writers of the show pull it off. In spades. That's no easy task, considering the crowded cast list. The show list 10 writers, not counting Jim Carrey, and in order to create the depth that this "dramedy" shoots for, I would expect no less. Even if I hadn't looked at the credits, it feels like a full staff of writers are involved. But that's just scratching the surface, because it also aspires to be a drama packed with everything from heartfelt, to love stories, to danger, and here's where it has its work cut out for it.
If I were to try and compare it to something, I would compare it to M.A.S.H. - now don't get me wrong, rarely does anything compare to that fantastic show, though I mean it in the way of attempting comedy of all sorts, from witty to silly, right next door to death and pain.
It does not fire on all cylinders. It could be better. I feel there are too many characters, and some of the stories are thin. After all, how well can you really flesh out 12 or 15 characters and make them all intricate, complete beings? Some story lines suffer and you might wish certain characters were explored more, and some you may really not want to know about at all. A few are just plain unlikable. However for balance, there are a few who really charm, and you just wish they had more screen time.
There are gems in this show. Some great moments, yet sometimes bogged down a bit by stories better left unexplored and actors better left off-screen.
Some overact, in my opinion, embarrassingly so. Specifically first billed Melissa Leo, who I keep hoping, now after watching 8 episodes, that she would tone it down a bit - or more than a bit. Yes, we all know what she's going for: brash, East coast, hard drinking, self- made, female-trailblazer, kick-ass club owner. We get it, but she insists on shoving her overblown personality down our throats in each episode. It gets tiresome. That being said, I have to say that I want very badly to like her, and in her more subtle moments, she just about pulls it off. She needs to stop being a caricature and start being a character.
Ari Graynor is the saving grace of this show, and the heart. She lights up a room when she enters it. Hell, she'd light up a room backing into it. As well, honorable mentions go to Michael Angarano, Erik Griffin, and even the sullen, sarcastic, fatalistic character "Bill Hobbs" played by Andrew Santino. There's good acting here.
Bottom line, I'm having a good time with this interesting concept of a comedy-drama, and although there are things I wish were a bit different (as well as a bit of a slower pace) I have found myself looking forward to each subsequent episode, because it's getting better and finding its stride.
I hope it stays around. I need to find out who makes it as a big comedian and who goes back to a life of mediocrity.
However there's something unexpected - because it's just hard to do - and that's to make it funny every week, and the writers of the show pull it off. In spades. That's no easy task, considering the crowded cast list. The show list 10 writers, not counting Jim Carrey, and in order to create the depth that this "dramedy" shoots for, I would expect no less. Even if I hadn't looked at the credits, it feels like a full staff of writers are involved. But that's just scratching the surface, because it also aspires to be a drama packed with everything from heartfelt, to love stories, to danger, and here's where it has its work cut out for it.
If I were to try and compare it to something, I would compare it to M.A.S.H. - now don't get me wrong, rarely does anything compare to that fantastic show, though I mean it in the way of attempting comedy of all sorts, from witty to silly, right next door to death and pain.
It does not fire on all cylinders. It could be better. I feel there are too many characters, and some of the stories are thin. After all, how well can you really flesh out 12 or 15 characters and make them all intricate, complete beings? Some story lines suffer and you might wish certain characters were explored more, and some you may really not want to know about at all. A few are just plain unlikable. However for balance, there are a few who really charm, and you just wish they had more screen time.
There are gems in this show. Some great moments, yet sometimes bogged down a bit by stories better left unexplored and actors better left off-screen.
Some overact, in my opinion, embarrassingly so. Specifically first billed Melissa Leo, who I keep hoping, now after watching 8 episodes, that she would tone it down a bit - or more than a bit. Yes, we all know what she's going for: brash, East coast, hard drinking, self- made, female-trailblazer, kick-ass club owner. We get it, but she insists on shoving her overblown personality down our throats in each episode. It gets tiresome. That being said, I have to say that I want very badly to like her, and in her more subtle moments, she just about pulls it off. She needs to stop being a caricature and start being a character.
Ari Graynor is the saving grace of this show, and the heart. She lights up a room when she enters it. Hell, she'd light up a room backing into it. As well, honorable mentions go to Michael Angarano, Erik Griffin, and even the sullen, sarcastic, fatalistic character "Bill Hobbs" played by Andrew Santino. There's good acting here.
Bottom line, I'm having a good time with this interesting concept of a comedy-drama, and although there are things I wish were a bit different (as well as a bit of a slower pace) I have found myself looking forward to each subsequent episode, because it's getting better and finding its stride.
I hope it stays around. I need to find out who makes it as a big comedian and who goes back to a life of mediocrity.