Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.
The last time that we saw Danny McBride on HBO, it was for the now iconic performance as Kenny Powers in the Jody Hill-produced series Eastbound & Down. His ability to play buffoonish and loud made it one of the network's most beloved comedy series, and also one of its most surprisingly profane. Over the course of the series' run, it explored a fallen baseball player's post-career success. There was plenty of ego and a whole lot of McBride being an oaf. However, there was something to the way that McBride played Powers that resonated with fans and ended up making its farewell all the more difficult to accept. Considering that Hill and McBride haven't made a film together since Observe and Report, there has been a certain absence of delirious dark humor to mull from. In a sense, that is part of the reason that Vice Principals is being met with a familiar enthusiasm, and starts off with all of that ferocity still in tow.
As the title suggests, the story follows two vice principals, played by McBride and Walton Goggins. The first episode focuses around the retirement of the former principal (Bill Murray), whose farewell ceremony is met with McBride aggressively calling out misbehaved students. Goggins is also a threat to him, as they both fight for that top position by holding failed walkouts while trying to prove how much better they are than each other. While this seems like a decent grounds for the show, it inevitably ends with the two deciding to team up against the new head, who promises to be stricter and less fun. They want to take her down, and the only way to do so is by putting aside differences. After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
It is hard to get a full grasp on the series based solely on this feeling like a preamble to the show's bigger texts. We are well aware that these two vice principals hate each other. There's a sense that Goggins will be a delightful presence in his maniacal, brutal character. However it does seem like the general crux of the first episode beyond establishment is that these two are ornery officials with short tempers and have no chance of becoming principals. At least, that's what's to be interpreted from their hostile treatment of everything. It does make for an intriguing premise, but there's a big difference here than Kenny Powers being allowed to yell "You're f**king out." It may make for funny comedy to hear adults swearing at kids, but there has to be something more in store.
The one intriguing piece of news is that Hill has admitted that the show should only last two seasons. Where most HBO (or even in general) shows tend to have inconsequential end dates, there's something to knowing that there's a limit to how long this thing will last. It would mean that the show has to cover a lot of ground real quick, resulting in hopefully something satisfying and well paced. Considering that Eastbound & Down was also formatted as such, one can only hope that Vice Principals picks up and results in something that is very funny in the dark way that only Hill and McBride can achieve. Thankfully, the supporting cast seems to be game for whatever's in store. The only question now is if the show can move beyond its somewhat anticlimactic first episode.
Whatever the case may be, Vice Principals is a nice change of pace from the average comedies that have been popping up on HBO in recent months. It features a reliable team hopefully doing reliable work as per usual. While it isn't entirely present in the first episode, one could easily find plenty of laughs and dark humor in a plot that should seem far less assuming. We know that the main cast has chemistry. There's a lot to look forward to, even if the series ends up not being as great as its predecessor. Who knows how true that is. However, it's great to have them back, and hopefully it will be a very funny ride.
As the title suggests, the story follows two vice principals, played by McBride and Walton Goggins. The first episode focuses around the retirement of the former principal (Bill Murray), whose farewell ceremony is met with McBride aggressively calling out misbehaved students. Goggins is also a threat to him, as they both fight for that top position by holding failed walkouts while trying to prove how much better they are than each other. While this seems like a decent grounds for the show, it inevitably ends with the two deciding to team up against the new head, who promises to be stricter and less fun. They want to take her down, and the only way to do so is by putting aside differences. After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
It is hard to get a full grasp on the series based solely on this feeling like a preamble to the show's bigger texts. We are well aware that these two vice principals hate each other. There's a sense that Goggins will be a delightful presence in his maniacal, brutal character. However it does seem like the general crux of the first episode beyond establishment is that these two are ornery officials with short tempers and have no chance of becoming principals. At least, that's what's to be interpreted from their hostile treatment of everything. It does make for an intriguing premise, but there's a big difference here than Kenny Powers being allowed to yell "You're f**king out." It may make for funny comedy to hear adults swearing at kids, but there has to be something more in store.
The one intriguing piece of news is that Hill has admitted that the show should only last two seasons. Where most HBO (or even in general) shows tend to have inconsequential end dates, there's something to knowing that there's a limit to how long this thing will last. It would mean that the show has to cover a lot of ground real quick, resulting in hopefully something satisfying and well paced. Considering that Eastbound & Down was also formatted as such, one can only hope that Vice Principals picks up and results in something that is very funny in the dark way that only Hill and McBride can achieve. Thankfully, the supporting cast seems to be game for whatever's in store. The only question now is if the show can move beyond its somewhat anticlimactic first episode.
Whatever the case may be, Vice Principals is a nice change of pace from the average comedies that have been popping up on HBO in recent months. It features a reliable team hopefully doing reliable work as per usual. While it isn't entirely present in the first episode, one could easily find plenty of laughs and dark humor in a plot that should seem far less assuming. We know that the main cast has chemistry. There's a lot to look forward to, even if the series ends up not being as great as its predecessor. Who knows how true that is. However, it's great to have them back, and hopefully it will be a very funny ride.
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