As I get closer to the end of the year I find myself less and less interested in writing my daily reviews. I’m going to finish the year out, but more and more I am interested in moving on to the next phase of my life. I’m sure I’ll talk more about this at the end of the month, but suffice to say I am copping out yet again. Today I am just too lazy and too tired. It’s time for bed. But I shan’t leave you so lonely.
I reviewed the pilot of Playing House a couple of weeks ago. I really enjoyed it, but felt that there was plenty of room for improvement – this practically comes standard in the first episode of a sitcom. I didn’t revisit Playing House again until earlier today, at which point I proceeded to watch the rest of the first season in its entirety. TV’s a hell of a drug, man. This really isn’t too impressive a feat (the term “impressive” being entirely subjective in this situation). The first season of Playing House is only 10 half-hour episodes, so I only had to squeeze in nine 22 minuters – a little over three hours. I’ve binged a lot worse than that.
Think back – if you can – to that wild Spring of 2012. You were a year out of college, still not sure what you were doing with yourself (not that you have any wider conception of that two years later). You were still listening to Lonely Island’s “Jack Sparrow,” even though it had been out since graduation. But you’re pretty entrenched in the improv community. Not in any concrete way, really just as an observer. You find out two great UCB veterans, Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair, created and star in a brand new sitcom on NBC. Best Friends Forever, it’s called. Hell, you’ve heard of friends. Why not give the show a chance? So you do. For six episodes, before it is unceremoniously cancelled by the network (to be fair, it would be pretty awkward if networks ceremoniously cancelled shows). The show was good, not great, so you felt bad for its stars. Fast forward to present day. You are going about your business, still writing in a weird second person narrative that is pretty off-putting, when you find out the Parham/St. Clair combo has created a new show. This time for USA, a network where characters are welcome. This is a review of the first episode of that show.
Steven Cohen's 365 Days of Reviews 