Yeah, these were pretty strong for a sitcom's first two episodes. I do really like the depth and nuance we've seen from Grier's character in particular so far, and I have faith the others will follow soon. As you said, some of the seeds for those relationships and that depth have already been planted.
"Though I’ve yet to do a deep dive into either show"
Superstore is really good and really consistent. American Auto was OK in its first season, but I thought it was the funniest show on network TV in its second season. (NBC had some sitcoms ranging from solid to good in the last 4-5 years-- American Auto, Mr. Mayor, Grand Crew, Kenan-- that they did seemingly nothing to promote, which at least they've definitely remedied with St. Denis.) The one thing those two shows have that this one doesn't is Jon Barinholtz, who was pretty much always the funniest thing going on when he was on the screen. (Both shows also start with a "first day" character-- Superstore obviously with Jonah, but American Auto has Jack getting promoted from the floor to the C-suite in the first episode.)
Also, I realized afterward that at some point we're certainly going to get some sort of "St. Penis Medical" vandalism at some point, aren't we?
I was hooked pretty immediately with the pilot. I'm a huge fan of Superstore (seriously, it's sooooo good, please watch) and I'm sure seeing some of the same faces helped with that.
Part of my work in emergency mental health care involves getting the ED MDs on board with my team's clinical recommendations, and I have to say, Dr. Ron's characterization really lands. All the docs I deal with are warm and empathetic, but at a certain remove from the difficult nature of the job.
The only thing that doesn't ring true - and I know this is entirely for practical, visual storytelling reasons - is that shirt/tie/white coat combo. Never seen a doctor in the emergency department in anything other than scrubs. One doc I know wears a white coat over his scrubs, but I think it's mostly to keep warm.
I missed the last like 500 NBC comedies. (Seriously I think the last one I watched was The Good Place) and I was fairly ambivalent about the show from the ads, much like Caroline. But I love Wendy McClendon Covey and I saw it was being covered on Episodic Medium so I decided to give it a chance. I thought the first two episodes were surprisingly strong. After a couple minutes of pretty generic shenanigans the first episode was surprisingly funny for a first episode of comedy, pretty much starting with the "what's the most infectious thing at a hospital?" joke. The entire ensemble is really strong and plays really well together. I like Alison Tohlman as the POV character. The hot shot doctor who wants to be like House and make all kinds of obscure diagnoses was a funny self-referential joke. I like that the new kid wasn't the POV character. To me he'll be a perpetual secondary character in the mold of Kenneth the Page or a non-evil Dwight Schrute, someone who comes from a weird sheltered religious background and doesn't understand the modern world. David Alan Grier's character is really interesting and nuanced. I agree that McClendon Covey's character (who I thought was going to be the lead) seems to kind of come from a broader universe of comedy than the rest of the show (and she herself comes from a background doing much broader comedy than these type of NBC shows) but that seemed to improve as the two episodes went on.
I'm enjoying the cast and the vibes and it's definitely a show I'll stick with, but neither episode gave me big laughs. I actually thought they did more to reset expectation on Joyce in the first episode than in the second; learning that she had been a practicing doctor and watching her competently handle the code were bigger deals than seeing her weep over her marimba instructor.
Whatever good points it's making about the understaffed health care system, I hate that Alex's workaholism is treated as something heroic. We really, really have to let go of the idea that there is anything to be celebrated about working long hours. I prefer Superstore's approach of celebrating those who do the absolute minimum.
I didn't see it as heroic, as much as an indictment of the system that forced her into a choice of letting a woman die or seeing her daughter's play. People kept encouraging her to keave, and if the patient had been seen in time, she woildn't have collapsed in the parking lot. Sure, the husband hugged her at the end of the day, but that's just because the nature of the profession is more important, which the show even points out.
I took the plunge and watched both episodes last night. I definitely felt the Superstore vibe. The cast is so good! I try to watch everything Allison Tollman is in. The science fiction show to the talking dog show! First impressions are that this show could get really good. The surgeon made me laugh a lot. Not sure I am on board with that potential couple, we’ll see. David Alan Grier is a national treasure. Also: I still miss The Carmichael Show!!
Speaking of Rutherford Falls, I noticed the second episode was co-written by Sierra Teller Ornelas, who created Rutherford Falls, and knowing she's on the writing staff for this show would've had me hooked if I wasn't already.
I know the mockumentary format is played out now, but I love when performers are able to do a solid take to the camera, and the cast here seem really adept at it. Tolman really showcased it in the second episode, but Kahyun Kim had a couple of great moments in the pilot too.
And the one medical show I was really reminded of in the premiere was ER, with the new guy coming into a hectic hospital evironment on the first day, not being the focus but nonetheless clearly geared to be part of the ensemble, and the other staff doubtful about his long-term survival prospects. The parallels definitely feel too deliberate to be coincidental.
Great to see you, Caroline. I want to whole-heartedly encourage you to take on Miles message to watch Getting On (HBO). It has some incredible performances from Alex Borstein, Neicy Nash, and Laurie Metcalf.
Also, prior to that, I think Nurse Jackie (Edie Falco and Merritt Weaver) is fantastic. While it's clearly far more dramatic, it also has a good deal of humor.
Yeah, these were pretty strong for a sitcom's first two episodes. I do really like the depth and nuance we've seen from Grier's character in particular so far, and I have faith the others will follow soon. As you said, some of the seeds for those relationships and that depth have already been planted.
"Though I’ve yet to do a deep dive into either show"
Superstore is really good and really consistent. American Auto was OK in its first season, but I thought it was the funniest show on network TV in its second season. (NBC had some sitcoms ranging from solid to good in the last 4-5 years-- American Auto, Mr. Mayor, Grand Crew, Kenan-- that they did seemingly nothing to promote, which at least they've definitely remedied with St. Denis.) The one thing those two shows have that this one doesn't is Jon Barinholtz, who was pretty much always the funniest thing going on when he was on the screen. (Both shows also start with a "first day" character-- Superstore obviously with Jonah, but American Auto has Jack getting promoted from the floor to the C-suite in the first episode.)
Also, I realized afterward that at some point we're certainly going to get some sort of "St. Penis Medical" vandalism at some point, aren't we?
I was hooked pretty immediately with the pilot. I'm a huge fan of Superstore (seriously, it's sooooo good, please watch) and I'm sure seeing some of the same faces helped with that.
Part of my work in emergency mental health care involves getting the ED MDs on board with my team's clinical recommendations, and I have to say, Dr. Ron's characterization really lands. All the docs I deal with are warm and empathetic, but at a certain remove from the difficult nature of the job.
The only thing that doesn't ring true - and I know this is entirely for practical, visual storytelling reasons - is that shirt/tie/white coat combo. Never seen a doctor in the emergency department in anything other than scrubs. One doc I know wears a white coat over his scrubs, but I think it's mostly to keep warm.
I missed the last like 500 NBC comedies. (Seriously I think the last one I watched was The Good Place) and I was fairly ambivalent about the show from the ads, much like Caroline. But I love Wendy McClendon Covey and I saw it was being covered on Episodic Medium so I decided to give it a chance. I thought the first two episodes were surprisingly strong. After a couple minutes of pretty generic shenanigans the first episode was surprisingly funny for a first episode of comedy, pretty much starting with the "what's the most infectious thing at a hospital?" joke. The entire ensemble is really strong and plays really well together. I like Alison Tohlman as the POV character. The hot shot doctor who wants to be like House and make all kinds of obscure diagnoses was a funny self-referential joke. I like that the new kid wasn't the POV character. To me he'll be a perpetual secondary character in the mold of Kenneth the Page or a non-evil Dwight Schrute, someone who comes from a weird sheltered religious background and doesn't understand the modern world. David Alan Grier's character is really interesting and nuanced. I agree that McClendon Covey's character (who I thought was going to be the lead) seems to kind of come from a broader universe of comedy than the rest of the show (and she herself comes from a background doing much broader comedy than these type of NBC shows) but that seemed to improve as the two episodes went on.
I'm enjoying the cast and the vibes and it's definitely a show I'll stick with, but neither episode gave me big laughs. I actually thought they did more to reset expectation on Joyce in the first episode than in the second; learning that she had been a practicing doctor and watching her competently handle the code were bigger deals than seeing her weep over her marimba instructor.
Whatever good points it's making about the understaffed health care system, I hate that Alex's workaholism is treated as something heroic. We really, really have to let go of the idea that there is anything to be celebrated about working long hours. I prefer Superstore's approach of celebrating those who do the absolute minimum.
I didn't see it as heroic, as much as an indictment of the system that forced her into a choice of letting a woman die or seeing her daughter's play. People kept encouraging her to keave, and if the patient had been seen in time, she woildn't have collapsed in the parking lot. Sure, the husband hugged her at the end of the day, but that's just because the nature of the profession is more important, which the show even points out.
I took the plunge and watched both episodes last night. I definitely felt the Superstore vibe. The cast is so good! I try to watch everything Allison Tollman is in. The science fiction show to the talking dog show! First impressions are that this show could get really good. The surgeon made me laugh a lot. Not sure I am on board with that potential couple, we’ll see. David Alan Grier is a national treasure. Also: I still miss The Carmichael Show!!
Speaking of Rutherford Falls, I noticed the second episode was co-written by Sierra Teller Ornelas, who created Rutherford Falls, and knowing she's on the writing staff for this show would've had me hooked if I wasn't already.
I know the mockumentary format is played out now, but I love when performers are able to do a solid take to the camera, and the cast here seem really adept at it. Tolman really showcased it in the second episode, but Kahyun Kim had a couple of great moments in the pilot too.
And the one medical show I was really reminded of in the premiere was ER, with the new guy coming into a hectic hospital evironment on the first day, not being the focus but nonetheless clearly geared to be part of the ensemble, and the other staff doubtful about his long-term survival prospects. The parallels definitely feel too deliberate to be coincidental.
Great to see you, Caroline. I want to whole-heartedly encourage you to take on Miles message to watch Getting On (HBO). It has some incredible performances from Alex Borstein, Neicy Nash, and Laurie Metcalf.
Also, prior to that, I think Nurse Jackie (Edie Falco and Merritt Weaver) is fantastic. While it's clearly far more dramatic, it also has a good deal of humor.