NEW SHOWS
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – “Old Lady House: A Situation Comedy” (A)
A brilliant deconstruction of multi-cam sitcoms and the type of network interference Sunny has been lucky to avoid by virtue of being on a a cable network. I forget just how funny the actresses who play Charlie and Mac’s moms are.
The Good Place
“Mindy St. Clair” (A)
“Michael’s Gambit” (A) / season finale
A rug-pulling (season? series?) finale that upends everything about the extremely detailed rules of the show. If this is all we get, this will go down as one of the all-time great one-season wonders, alongside Police Squad! and Freaks and Geeks. A true original that will be studied years from now. Even if we get another season, I’ll still marvel at these 13 episodes.
CURRENT SHOWS
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – “The Gang Goes to a Water Park” (B+)
Typical gang shenanigans, executed terrifically. Dennis’s heart almost grew three sizes during his time with a pre-teen scammer he takes under his wing. Plus, Frank tells everyone he has AIDS to skip the lines, then ends up bleeding in the wave pool. Disgustingly funny times.
This Is Us – “The Right Thing to Do” (B+)
Despite a groan-inducing fake-out at the beginning, this is the show in its groove: never astonishing, but quietly challenging in how it depicts normal people in difficult situations actually making the right call.