Marg: Try Suburgatory

I realised the other day that Suburgatory came back from its end of winter hiatus last week, and I hadn't noticed. When I did remember, I began wondering about the show: "Did I care if it ever came back?" "Does it have legs in the long run?" "Am I the only person watching it anyway?"


There are some shows that really hook you in their first season - highlights include New Girl for me right now - I look forward to seeing every new episode, I recommend it to people, I watch it with my boyfriend, and I talk about it at length with my best friends. New Girl has had a real energy straight out the gate, and it is an energy that I participate in.


Some of the best comedies on television however, had much slower starts. Parks and Recreation stands out as a show that didn't find its feet until its second season. The American version of the Office was the same, the list is actually a long one.


After watching the latest Suburgatory episode on Demand a few nights ago, I am now pretty convinced that as long as it gets picked up for a 2nd season, it will be one of those slow-to-buzz buzzed about shows after all. My ponderings were mostly wrong - I do care that it is back (and am actively looking forward to tonight's episode), and it does have a couple of season's worth of legs!


I might be the only person watching it though.


In case you're not, here's what you need to know: Jeremy Sisto plays George, who has a teenage daughter, Tessa (Jane Levy). She's pretty smart and wry, I like her. They used to live in New York City, but in an attempt to keep her away from teen-boners, George moves them to the fictional suburban town of Chatswin. And basically... this town is a candy coloured cartoon. The show started out about hard-edged New Yorkers as fish out of water, but not really anymore. It has become more of an ode to Chatwin, with it's weird residents and insane social rules. Chatswin is sort of like a rich version of P&R's Pawnee - things are bizarre there, and they are hilarious.


With hints of Springfield, Suburgatory has already introduced a variety of townspeople who you delight in seeing every few episodes - each with highly specific details. The supporting cast is more than capable of carrying their own episodes already - Cheryl Hines is great as Dallas, and Carly Chaiken is perfect as her deadpan, spoiled, Queen Bee daughter, Dalia.


When the show lets these characters take the reigns, it has substantially more laugh-out-loud funny moments than the majority of the other under-the-rader new sitcoms (I'm sorry Up All Night, I've tried!). I was reminded of this in last week's episode, when Tessa's best friend announces that she has taken a lover. Allie Grant embodies the nervous and unpopular (not nerdy, not surly, not a cliche!) Lisa Shay - and her mother, the incomparable Ana Gasteyer, curious to know the situation, grills her daughter about being in love: "For years I have sat here while you prattled on about your social life when nothing even remotely interesting was going on. Well now that things are getting real I want details!"


It was oddly realistic.


Miscellanous Notes about Suburgatory that Didn't Fit Anywhere Else:
-Dalia's friends/followers are named Kenzie, Kaitlyn, and Kimantha.
-Lisa's "lover" is Malik - he runs the school's Medium fan/reenactment club.
-Dallas was a member of an all-African American sorority.
-Lisa's brother Ryan is the sort of character I just adore - the sort of sweet, very stupid beefcake kind.
-I really don't like the theme music, but that's okay.
-The following revenge plot:

No word as of yet if Suburgatory has been picked up for its second season, but here's hoping it does. If you're already planning on watching say, Modern Family tonight, then tune in a little earlier. Or just catch an episode or two online, you won't be disappointed.


-Marg
@acuteinsomnia