Watching the trailer above you'll learn a lot about the show, and at the same time, nothing at all. You'll learn that the show has a quality cast with at least two actors that you've heard of, Will Arnett and Aaron Paul. You'll learn that the premise of the show is about a former 90's TV sitcom star that is now washed up and has to deal with his fame, or lack there of. Finally you'll learn that the show is funny. Are any of these things not true? No. The trailer doesn't lie but it does withhold what becomes the larger part of the theme toward the last half of the show. I don't want to give too much away, there isn't a twist or anything, but in order to enjoy the show to its fullest, I think you should be forewarned that although it is consistently funny the episodes become increasingly dark and "real". The increasingly darker mood that the show projects does take away from some of the fun, but it is needed. Otherwise we'd just have another Simpsons or Family Guy, and that is what everyone seems to expect. I've learned a lot about comedy and more importantly comedians recently and this is why I think the show is a great satire on the world of comedy.
About a month ago I got stuck in a YouTube vortex of standup comedy. Watching 5 minute clips of Louis CK, Patten Oswald, David Chapelle, Daniel Tosh, etc, for over an hour. While watching some of Patten Oswald's stuff, he began to joke about depression, and how he has had and still has severe cases of depression. I was then taken by the YouTube gods to some Dave Chapelle bits. While watching, I remembered how he had gone MIA after his "breakdown" and looked it up, he too has severe depression. Everyone who knows anything about Lous CK doesn't need any more information from me in order to make the connection here. Last but not least, let's look back to a few weeks ago...Robin Williams. There seems to be something very real and dark underneath the jokes, silly antics and over the top excitement of these men. I think this show does a tremendous job at exploring the seriousness and silliness that one can have at the same time.
The coincidence of this show's release with Robin William's death is utterly amazing. In order for one to be so over the top funny and loved by everyone, you almost need a distain for yourself. You probably won't understand that statement until you watch this show, and I hope you do. In closing, expect to laugh, expect to feel a bit alone, and then hopefully you can laugh even though you feel alone.
