the rambling thoughts of a young filmmaker and the discoveries he makes through film, life, and everything in-between...
Showing posts with label Damon Wayans Jr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Damon Wayans Jr. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 07, 2014
2003 - New Girl: season three
I can think of few shows that have ever made me laugh out loud as much as New Girl. It's a show that has such a natural and spontaneous energy that's lacking in the majority of television and comedy in general. It's big, broad, and silly at times by my oh my does it work. And it's not without it's heart - the beauty of this show is just how fucked up and flawed each of it's characters are. Every single one of them is damaged and looking for something to make them whole, and that's the secret of great television.
This season dealt largely with Nick and Jess trying to have a relationship and (SPOILER ALERT) ultimately failing at it. I was a bit surprised that they short-changed that storyline, but at the same time any fan of the show knows that that's a door that isn't closed by any means, and this is the way extending it and keeping it fresh. I dig it, and I have absolute faith in the talent of the creative team. Sign me up, coach. AND SPEAKING OF COACH! Damon Wayans Jr makes a much welcomed return as Coach, who we haven't seen since the pilot. I was so happy to see them extend his stay past his initial four episode arc, and even to the point of making him a regular for next season: yes please!
If you've never seen this show and you're a fan of smart comedy, you deserve it to yourself to give it a shot. It's one of my favorites - and probably the best network comedy series going at the moment.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
1951 - Happy Endings: season one
I've come to this show a bit late (and just learned it was cancelled after season three). It's a show about (or at least this first season is) a group of friends examining their lives and relationships as they get closer to thirty and try to figure out if they're still working. It's a simple premise that gives the show a lot of room. The show has that kind of rapid fire comedy that works really well for me. It's got a distinct comedic rhythm, even if that rhythm potentially flies in the face of character logic/continuity from time to time. It's a barrage of jokes that hit a lot more than they miss, and they miss very rarely for me - and if so it's intentional and commented upon.
The strength and magic of this show is it's cast. With the exception of Zachary Knighton, who I find is "fine" in his part, but pales when pitted against the rest of the stand-out ensemble whose comedic timing is like watching an elegant dance. I was already a fan of Elisha Cuthbert and Damon Wayans Jr, and they excel here, but the cast members I wasn't familiar with really blew me away. Eliza Coupe, Casey Wilson, and Adam Pally are magnetic here.
I don't think this is a perfect show, and I'm not super surprised it didn't last given that plot lines sometimes feel a bit repetitious. But the thing that keeps you coming back is the terrific chemistry of the cast - and this one is strong than most. It's on Netflix. Give it a go!
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