HORACE AND PETE

Article first published as TV Review: 'Horace and Pete' on Blogcritics.

 

With little fanfare and no prior announcement, Louis C.K. dropped a new television series on the world two weeks ago called Horace and Pete. Set in a bar run for a century by various related Horaces and Petes, the current owners struggle to keep the doors open and fend off a left-out family member. Is this the end of the establishment, or simply the regular challenges that occur regularly over the course of a lifetime?

The story is simple enough. Horace VII passed away a year ago, so now the bar has fallen under the care of Horace VIII (Louis C.K.), an accountant, and his medicated brother, Pete (Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire). When their sister, Sylvia (Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie) brings a lawyer (Stephen Wallem, Nurse Jackie) in to assert ownership, the politically incorrect previous Pete, known as Uncle Pete (Alan Alda, M*A*S*H), tells the storied history of the place and defends the status quo.

One wants the status quo defended, as the titular drinking hole is a universe unto itself, removed from the city outside. Its regulars, including Horace VII’s last girlfriend, Marsha (Jessica Lange, American Horror Story), Leon (Steven Wright, Reservoir Dogs), and Kurt (Kurt Metzger, Ugly Americans), may enjoy debating current events, but it’s hard to imagine them discussing such things anywhere else. Those that come in less often, such as Horace’s daughter, Alice (Aidy Bryant, Saturday Night Live), and a few hipsters looking for an experience, don’t understand.

Horace and Pete can be humorous, but it’s not a comedy. It’s much darker than Louie and there is a sadness that permeates the proceedings. It’s thoroughly enjoyably, beautiful, and stylistic, but it’s not laugh-out-loud funny, and at times, it’s downright depressing. It’s the natural extension of what Louis C.K. has done before, deepening the pathos.

Calling Horace and Pete a television show stretches the definition of that term. True, I did watch it on my television (by buying the episode from C.K.’s website, downloading it to my laptop, then transferring it to my TiVo, where it still looks fantastic in 55 inches), but it does not broadcast on any station, nor is it available via streaming services like Netflix and Amazon. Instead, as he has done with recent stand-up specials, C.K. controls the experience, providing a single portal through which to get it, giving him total control over the presentation, and allowing him to release the first one while still filming the second.

Some may balk at the $5 price for episode one, when most buy-alone shows are $2.99 (for high definition) per episode. C.K. has pledged to sell the second installment for $2 and subsequent ones for $3, so it’s only the pilot, which clocks in at an extra-long 67 minutes, that costs a little more. But it’s totally worth it.

What the viewers get with Horace and Pete isn’t just a show, it’s an experience. The drama feels like a Broadway play. Filmed multi-camera with no background score, there’s a constant white noise one would expect when watching a recording from a theatre. The cast is top-notch and very New York, lending to the impression of a live performance. The script is by C.K., and while most of the dialogue could easily come from his FX comedy series, Louie, by giving his words out to a varied ensemble and delivering them in the right manner, they become the lyrics of a playwright, not sitcom fodder.

None of this avant-garde art is totally unexpected for C.K. Perhaps this specific format is not what one would have predicted, but it’s been a long time since he’s allowed himself to be defined by convention. C.K. is constantly pushing boundaries and doing something no one else has before, if only because of a clever bend. Horace and Pete is that from beginning to end.

Review / Refresher The Big C Hereafter Premiere

Article first published as Review / Refresher The Big C Hereafter Premiere on TheTVKing.

When last we see Cathy Jamison (Laura Linney), she is sailing away on a boat with a man named Angel (Michael Ray Escamilla), allowing her loved ones to believe she is dead. As THE BIG C’s final season, four hours that are subtitled HEREAFTER, begins tonight with “Quality of Life,” we learn that scenario is a dream had while Cathy is rescued from drowning and hospitalized, and, five months later, Cathy is back at home, slowly dying.

It’s a little disappointing that much of the story seen in the previous season finale didn’t actually happen. And yet, taking the selfish way out, sailing off into the sunset, leaving her friends and family behind, makes Cathy unlikeable. It’s a fantasy, not one to really be explored.

THE BIG C HEREAFTER doesn’t take long to find its footing, getting fans right back into the story. Cathy is going through the depression stage of her grief, and while her family is as supportive as they can be, she tells her therapist (Kathy Najimy, King of the Hill, Sister Act) that she doesn’t have anyone to talk to. This is Cathy pre-emptively cutting herself off, preparing to die.

It’s hard to blame her for her pessimistic attitude. Sean (John Benjamin Hickey) is much more attentive to her needs, but it’s probably because of his guilt at almost letting her drown, and he is vocal about being grossed out by Cathy’s biological issues. Paul (Oliver Platt) isn’t pushing for a divorce anymore, but he’s sleeping on the couch, hanging out with his perky, annoying new assistant, Amber (Liz Holtan, Man on a Ledge), and ignoring offers of sex from Cathy. And she doesn’t want to burden her son, Adam (Gabriel Basso), or new college student, Andrea (Gabourey Sidibe), whom she hopes will live their lives.

However, Cathy’s inability to be open with her loved ones is not helping her or them. How can she draw on them for support if she won’t tell them what’s going on? How can they properly deal with what’s happening if they aren’t kept in the loop?

The pressure finally gets to be too much for Cathy, and, spurred on after a discussion with Dr. Sherman (Alan Alda), who is now also undergoing chemo, she decides to blow off some steam at the most inappropriate of places – school – much to Principal Schuler’s (Connie Ray) dismay.

As cringe-worthy as it is when Cathy pulls off her stunt with the loudspeaker, she delivers a lot of truths. She urges the kids to do something that makes them happy, while admitting that teaching is not her real calling. She also laments about the broken school system, where teaching to the test is not nearly as important as actually learning. These are valid concerns, while not being anything new, and it’s nice that she gets to express them, her final message to her students, whom she does care about, no matter what her opinions are of the educational system.

It’s disappointing that Schuler tries to prevent this, especially after pushing so hard to get Cathy to quit. After all, Cathy is dying, shouldn’t she get her final wish? Yet, seeing it from Schuler’s point of view, Cathy does cause a lot of trouble, and the speech she does make isn’t completely innocent, so I don’t know that I would want her to speak to the students, either.

Thankfully, Cathy doesn’t stay miserable and lonely through the entire hour. She is making her way through the seven stages of grief, being around step four at this time, and she does rebound when her
anti-depressants finally kick in. She is able to enjoy being with Sean, lean on Andrea when they both need each other, and give Adam the best birthday of his life.

The way that Cathy will go out, and I do think that THE BIG C HEREAFTER will end with her death, is going to depend fully on her relationships. She’s had her fun, striking off on her own and doing things separate from her family. Now it’s time to reel herself back in and rebuild those bridges. She does a great job with most of the people in her life in “Quality in Life,” especially Adam, who she shares his best story with her yet, but she still has some work to do before the end.

Will Cathy survive until Adam’s graduation, more than a year and a half away? I don’t know, but it seems like the perfect bookend to the series, even if they do a mock ceremony before his class actually walks across that stage.

Cathy is making her peace, and this is helped by the comforting company awaiting her on the other side. Marlene (Phyllis Somerville) and her dog, Thomas, are part of “Quality of Life.” They are what will make Cathy’s passing hopeful and sweet, rather than just sad. Their presence here points to a happy ending, even if the cancer wins, rather than just a teary demise.

Paul, however, is still the odd man out. Even while everyone else rallies around Cathy, he keeps a bit of distance between himself and his wife. It has to be incredibly hard to deal with a dying spouse, and I don’t pretend to know what he’s going through, but this needs some resolution. Maybe in life there isn’t always closure, but I really want Paul and Cathy to make up before she goes. They still care about one another, and with so little time left, they should reconnect in the ways that brought them together in the first place, even if only at the last minute.

“Quality of Life” is heartwarming, satisfying return for a series that is about to go out, like its main character, on its own terms. THE BIG C HEREAFTER airs Mondays at 10p.m. ET for the next four weeks.

'The Big C' not really on 'Thin Ice'

Showtime's The Big C begins its third season with "Thin Ice." Cathy (Laura Linney) gets some great news from Dr. Sherman (Alan Alda), in that her tumors have shrunk considerably. But it's hard to completely give in to her joy when she is worried about Paul's (Oliver Platt) fragile health, so Cathy starts a second, secret life, going by the name Alexis. She also arranges for Sean (John Benjamin Hickey) to serve as guardian to Adam (Gabriel Basso), should something happen to her and Paul.

It's quite a relief that The Big C did not kill off Paul. Yes, he is dead briefly, but his recovery is a welcome one for audiences, who don't want to see Cathy drowning in sorrow. If she loses her positive attitude, she may loose her battle with cancer, too. So Paul is back, as bumbling as ever, and far less concerned with his own mortality than Cathy is.

Which is kind of a bad thing for Cathy. After all, had Paul died, at least she wouldn't have to worry about him anymore. Instead, not only does she have to concern herself with her caner, and who will take care of Adam, and Sean's lack of heat in his house, but also Paul, who is self-destructive. It's a lot for anyone to handle, and so it isn't a big surprise that she needs some outlet away from all of these headaches. In fact, the only surprise is that it's taken her so long to come to that realization.

But Cathy's new persona gets her into trouble. While hanging out at a bar, she signs up for a broom ball team. Practicing at home on her filled-in pool hole, she tumbles through the ice and almost drowns. Is this a sign to Cathy that she needs to back out of her fantasy? Maybe find some healthier, less stealthy way to relax and escape from her responsibilities? One where a family member can watch over her?

Cathy's fall also awakens a new idea about death to her family. Prior to this, they worry about cancer and bad hearts. But Cathy's brush with dying in "Thin Ice" shows that accidents happen, and one's life can end at any time. Hopefully this will sober Paul up a bit, and help him to take his situation more seriously.

Sean has been maturing a lot, and this continues in "Thin Ice." Still upset at losing the baby and Rebecca (Cynthia Nixon) leaving him, he takes his role as guardian to Adam very seriously. Even though Adam is nearly grown, and Cathy and Paul are still kicking, Sean wants to be a caring adult to his nephew. It's gratifying to see this change in him, and a sort of stability suits the formerly homeless man.

Also, Andrea (Gabourey Sidibe) returns home from Africa, clad in ritual garb and wanting to go by a new tribal name. Likely, this is more a way to cope with her betrayal by Myk (Boyd Holbrook) than a true commitment to heritage, and will not last long. But whatever helps Andrea and makes her feel better is certainly worth doing.

Watch The Big C Sundays at 9:30 p.m. ET on Showtime.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To catch up on The Big C with DVDs and streaming episodes, please click here. Read every review of The Big C I've ever written. Article first published as TV Review: The Big C - "Thin Ice" on Blogcritics.

The Big C is "Losing Patients"

     Showtime's The Big C returns for a second season with "Losing Patients." In the premiere, Cathy (Laura Linney) questions whether staying with Dr. Todd (Reid Scott) is the right choice after he discontinues the treatment she began. Cathy confesses to Paul (Oliver Platt) that Dr. Todd kissed her, and her husband takes the news predictably bad. Adam (Gabriel Basso) deals with his mother's illness by becoming an aggressive farter. Rebecca (Cynthia Nixon) learns of Cathy's disease, and lets it slip to Sean (John Benjamin Hickey), who is furious that his sister didn't tell him herself. And as Cathy deals with all of these emotional eruptions, as well as trying to secure a new doctor, she is visited by visions of dead neighbor Marlene (Phyllis Somerville).

     As a season premiere, this one kind of stinks. There is a lot of wrapping up of loose threads left hanging from last year (Todd's kiss, Sean not knowing), but does little to move things along, other than Cathy seeking to switch health care professionals. But The Big C forgoes big stunts for a longer series of arcs, and as an episode, "Losing Patients" is not bad at all. In fact, it captures the same spirit and tone of the rest of the episodes thus far, and so if you are a The Big C fan, it should fall right into the wheelhouse of what you enjoy.

     It is regrettable that this appears to be Dr. Todd's last episode. Scott is a talented actor, who was enjoyable in My Boys, and it is nice to see him doing something different. Because Cathy's next doctor will be played by the great Alan Alda (M*A*S*H, The West Wing), and there would never be any more romantic development between Cathy and Todd, the character is no longer necessary. But that doesn't mean he won't be missed.

     Choosing to keep Marlene around is both strange and wonderful. Strange, because using ghosts as part of the main story, especially when the conceit doesn't begin until season two, isn't really the vibe that The Big C puts off, so it is a little out of place. Wonderful, because Somerville was one of, if not the, best parts about season one, and so her suicide is a heartbreaker. It does not cheapen Marlene's death at all that she appears again. Somerville has been reduced to special guest star status, so how often and for how long she will be around is unknown at this point. It is unlikely she will stick for the entire series run, unless The Big C only goes for two years.

     Nixon should be upgraded to main character, because she really provides a necessary service to the show. Sean is a strange fellow, and many of his homeless for morality bits have already been covered. Rebecca gives him new elements to play off of, and provides some nice drama when she comes between Sean and Cathy. She's not a very likeable person, but most of the characters are, so she provides a good balance.

     The Big C still suffers from meandering and cheesiness, something the first season struggled with. It's definitely the weak link in the Showtime half hour dramedy line up. However, the actors involved are fantastic, and any weaknesses may potentially be overcome. It's not terrible, just not excellent. For now, it's worth sticking around and waiting to see if that changes.

     The Big C airs Monday nights at 10:30 p.m. ET on Showtime.

     Please click here for all of my The Big C reviews.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     To catch up on The Big C with DVDs and streaming episodes, please click here.

30 Rock - "Christmas Attack Zone"

    Five years in, the characters on NBC's 30 Rock really know who they are, and the writers have perfected the situations that are most enjoyable.  Outlandish, sure, but also consistently charming and hilarious.  This past week's Christmas episode, entitled "Christmas Attack Zone", was no different.  It was not only a good holiday themed special, but it was a nice, solid example of what makes 30 Rock so great.

     The best part was Jack's (Alec Baldwin) Christmas Eve dinner.  He invited Liz (Tina Fey), who was desperate to escape the drama of her family, to dine with himself and his mother, Colleen (Elaine Stritch).  Once Colleen found out about Jack's impending baby, though, which was done at the urging of Liz, by the way, she went on the attack.  To defend himself, Jack invited his pregnant girlfriend Avery (Elizabeth Banks), who was angry that Colleen wouldn't accept her, as well as his biological father Milton Greene (Alan Alda), whom Colleen didn't even know Jack knew about.  The result of putting five actors of such comedic calibur in one room can not be oversold.  Hilarity ensued, fights erupted, and Colleen faked a heart attack, earning Avery and Milton's sympathy, and turning them against Jack.  Jack, however, ended up with the perfect Christmas as both of his parents yelled at him, something he'd never had.

     That's what 30 Rock does.  Sure, it seems easy for the show to land huge guests, and what's more, keep them coming back. While Alda was only appearing for the third time, his liberal clashing with conservative son Jack is already an invaluable continuing plot.  Stritch has been in seven episodes, and is always welcome.  She has gotten to do comedy and some drama, but this time was pretty much a comedy-only visit.  But while both have very successful careers, and they still work, 30 Rock doesn't have to fight fully packed schedules to get them.  At least not compared to Banks, who has no fewer than four movies currently coming down the pipeline and has still squeezed in a whopping ten episodes in less than a year.  Considering her and Jack's impending nuptials and offspring, it looks likely that while she may not maintain that hectic number, her run has no end in sight.

     And those are just the guest stars!  30 Rock has a full cast, with many supporting characters surrounding the principals, who are mainly Liz, Jack, Kenneth (Jack McBrayer), Tracy (Tracy Morgan), and Jenna (Jane Krakowski).  The latter two, while mostly there for comic relief, as if such was needed on a show teeming with the funny, have actually had some deeper pathos lately.  Jenna recently went through a breakup with boyfriend Paul (Will Forte).  While only having appeared in a handful of episodes, Paul has become one of my favorite characters.  He is perfect for Jenna, worshipping the ground she walks upon, and even dressing as her in public.  It's a bizarre twist, but the show finally answered the (not really) nagging question, "What type of guy would Jenna actually go for?"  Thank goodness they had a bit of a resolution this week, because Forte is no longer on Saturday Night Live, and hopefully the show will retain his services.

     Tracy is up for a serious acting award, and this week tried to keep up that solemn image, resisting his new comedy movie's release.  That is, until Kenneth pointed out that the world needs laughter, too.  We certainly do, Kenneth.  We certainly, do.  And thank you 30 Rock for providing it.

     30 Rock is on winter hiatus, but will return Thursday nights on NBC early in the new year.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.