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| Left to right: Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome |
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.
In the past few years, the comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates have done an impressive job of mixing comedic scenarios with dual harmonies and a ukulele. Their presentation tends to strike a twee vibe, but that is until you get to the heart of their music. They sometimes strike the vibe of petty girlfriends enraged at ex-boyfriends or having frustrations that are often sexual. It is an ultimate subversion tactic that has helped them to be one of the most enjoyable acts currently out there and makes albums like "Slippery When Moist" essentials. The logical next step would have to be... a TV show?
While this move seems a little strange, it doesn't when considering that the show lands on IFC, which has been home to revolutionizing the alternative comedy scene by giving premiere comics their own series including Comedy Bang! Bang!,Out There, Maron, and Portlandia. Much like Comedy Central, the network is banking with peak creativity by having these voices provide quality original content. Even if this comes across as the band's version of Maron, it does provide an insight into what exactly makes these two women so funny by mixing original plots with music numbers with adjacent videos often done with comedic editing.
This is IFC's Flight of the Conchords or The Monkees. This isn't an insult, as they actually have an infectious chemistry that makes their music quite endearing in the pilot episode. The subjects in discussion include ghost testicles, gagging during sex, and doing "The Fadeaway." The one benefit is that the harmonies allow any crass nature to sound cute and this dark take on lighthearted culture is a rather ingenious approach. Yes, the premiere is almost exclusively centralized around sex, but it does the subject in clever and new ways and quickly helps to distinguish itself from competitors.
In this fictionalized version, band members Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci are struggling actresses as well as a folksy band that are maybe a little too frank in their music. The episode satirizes their manager (Rob Huebel as a puppet) getting them mixed up and having Micucci act opposite Ben Kingsley in some very awkward acting. Meanwhile, Lindhome is dating comedian Thomas (Anthony Jeselnik) and their romance gets disrupted in the third act. If nothing else, the show effectively applies poetic license and makes the original story feel unique and interesting.
For those familiar with Garfunkel and Oates' music, most of the songs used in the episode will be familiar. This isn't a problem, as they manage to effectively give them context and add weigh to the arbitrary moments that they otherwise feel like. Even if the show if frank with sex and often comes across as the same subversive delivery, there's plenty of weight in the songs which are orchestrated in infallible formats that allow the melodies and visual presentation carry any flack. It isn't a perfect episode, but with the crop of familiar alternative comics, it definitely has a tone and vibe that gives it an identity and if nothing else, make Lindhome and Micucci into an intriguing set of characters.
As a fan of their music, I am so glad that this show exists and that the premiere had so much promise and energy. IFC continues to churn out quality work and this may rank as one of their best, if it holds up. I wouldn't doubt that, as the show manages to mix darkness and silliness side-by-side in ways that are baffling at first, but continually get more fascinating as the show continues. It is about real life struggles as well as where creativity comes from. It makes the whole journey seem more fun than it is. With a theme song that is a generic call akin to The Mary Tyler Moore Show's song about making, I feel like the show will have enthusiasm to spare. Also, I'm curious to see if the cameos will continue to be strong, especially since they landed Kingsley somehow.
If nothing else, the music and the visual component should be a reason to keep an eye on the series. As a fan of Flight of the Conchords, I can attest to watching the music videos with some frequency after the show's brief existence. Musical comedy is an art form, and Garfunkel and Oates is likely going to update how we perceive it. The two have already proven themselves to audiences on the comedy circuit, and now it feels like they'll get their chance for something grander, possibly even able to surpass the network's other shows. Even if it doesn't, it is nice to know that 2014 is over halfway through, yet it still manages to produce surprisingly effective series that prove where the untapped talent is coming from.
As a fan of their music, I am so glad that this show exists and that the premiere had so much promise and energy. IFC continues to churn out quality work and this may rank as one of their best, if it holds up. I wouldn't doubt that, as the show manages to mix darkness and silliness side-by-side in ways that are baffling at first, but continually get more fascinating as the show continues. It is about real life struggles as well as where creativity comes from. It makes the whole journey seem more fun than it is. With a theme song that is a generic call akin to The Mary Tyler Moore Show's song about making, I feel like the show will have enthusiasm to spare. Also, I'm curious to see if the cameos will continue to be strong, especially since they landed Kingsley somehow.
If nothing else, the music and the visual component should be a reason to keep an eye on the series. As a fan of Flight of the Conchords, I can attest to watching the music videos with some frequency after the show's brief existence. Musical comedy is an art form, and Garfunkel and Oates is likely going to update how we perceive it. The two have already proven themselves to audiences on the comedy circuit, and now it feels like they'll get their chance for something grander, possibly even able to surpass the network's other shows. Even if it doesn't, it is nice to know that 2014 is over halfway through, yet it still manages to produce surprisingly effective series that prove where the untapped talent is coming from.
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