Onion News Empire

Article first published as Amazon Originals Onion News Empire Review on TheTVKing.

Onion News Empire is the best of Amazon's new "Pilot" offerings. From the minds of the infamous satirical Onion comes a show that is part The Newsroom parody, part a lambasting of modern CNN, part political roast, part journalism criticism, and part just plain fun. Plus, though I like The Onion's shorts and former Comedy Central series, Onion News Empire boasts a casts of mostly proven actors, which helps the credibility of the franchise's latest effort, and the boosts the talent level involved.

We are quickly introduced to quite a few characters in the "Pilot." Not just introduced, but told their backstories and motivations immediately and explicitly, a play on the jarring way some characters begin on a television show. Many of those shown are stereotypes or the personification of a cliche, and all the standard news types are present.

There's: Sam West (Christopher Masterson, Malcolm in the Middle), the young upstart who has just been promoted to the big leagues and will do anything to prove himself to his more experienced colleagues; Jillian (Aja Naomi King, Emily Owens M.D.), the helpful young assistant who wants to be more, but is taken advantage of by everyone else, including Sam, her stated love interest; Cameron Grey (Cheyenne Jackson, 30 Rock, Glee), the very popular, hot reporter who is trying to hide his illiteracy; David Bryan (Jeffrey Tambor, Arrested Development, Bent), the washed-up, self-involved veteran worried more about playing the game and maintaining his status than doing his job well; Helena Zweibel (Laila Robins, Bored to Death, In Treatment), the hard-nosed executive; and Ed Musgrove (William Sadler, The Pacific, Damages), the definition of a newsman, and the most direct mocking of The Newsroom.

Each of these personalities are so well cultivated, there is not a weak link among them. What's more, with only twenty plus minutes of screen time total for the episode, I feel like I know exactly who each and every character in the series is. This is no small feat, and it's a testament to the great work each of the performers are doing.

The writing is incredibly tight. There are at least a dozen one-liners I could pull from this "Pilot" and tweet, including bits about a very specific Ohio rape law and my favorite, a story that the nation's poor people pooled their money to buy an oil company so that the government might finally offer them assistance. There is something amusing and clever in every minute of the show, and from beginning to end, I was inspired and entertained.

The plots themselves are smart, too. Sam is assigned a crappy beat, which he turns into a big story, only to find out that it makes the network's biggest sponsor look back. So then, he peddles back and spins it, saving the day by getting into the muck. Jillian is looking after a little girl whom is kidnapped by the network to create news on a slow day, though they screwed up by nabbing a chubby girl, whom no one cares about. If these are the kinds of plots we have to look forward to, I very much anticipate some great snarky, current commentaries.

As if that isn't enough, Onion News Empire reveals a huge, sinister scheme at the end of the episode that could have deep and lasting implications for... well, who knows? But it's cool.

Plus, the sets are great, the detail is perfect, and there are visual gags sprinkled throughout, including two matching portraits in David's office. This is the total package, and the culmination of everything The Onion does best, finally delivered in one heck of a fantastic production.

In all, I can find nothing to complain about in the Onion News Empire "Pilot," and dozens of things to praise. Check out Onion News Empire, now available on Amazon.com.

Bored to Death will leave you far from it

     HBO's Bored to Death began it's sophomore season two weeks ago.  Starring Jason Schwartzman as Jonathan Ames, a struggling writer, who moonlights as an (unlicensed) private detective, it's a truly unique show.  Ames is joined by his two best friends, George (Ted Danson), who is also his boss, and Ray (Zach Galifianakis), a cartoonist.  All are into pot, and each has their own brand of alcohol.  The show comes across as part noir, part screwball.  This season, Ray's girlfriend, Leah (Heather Burns) was added as a main character.

     Last week tied up some loose threads left after from last year's season finale.  Jonathan is hired by George's nemesis, Richard Antrem (Oliver Platt, The Big C) to find out if his wife, Priscilla (Laila Robins), is cheating on him.  While hiding in a closet, Jonathan is disturbed to see George come back and have sex with Priscilla, something that has been going on for awhile.  What's even more disturbing is that George forgets to keep track of the nights that Jonathan will be waiting in the closet, and it happens a second time.  Jonathan tries to cover up the tryst from Richard, but eventually Richard returns home to find both Jonathan and George in his closet.  In a true testament to just how weird the series is, and how accepting the characters are of each others' various flaws and vices, Richard, George, and Jonathan all go out for a drink afterwards.  It's also worth noting that Richard is George's foil, and the two are far more alike than different.

     The show is mostly about Jonathan.  George and Ray have subplots, such as Leah dumping Ray in the season premiere, and his struggle to win her back, but they are always minor to whatever is happeneing with Jonathan.  In fact, the main character often has two plots going on in each episode.  This week, his new girlfriend, Stella (Jenny Slate, Saturday Night Live) wants him to have a sleepover with her and her ex (Josh Gad, Back to You).

     A side note, the naked man in Leah's bed last week was played by series creator Jonathan Ames.  It is interesting to note that in a deleted part of the scene, Ray actually grabs Ames's penis as he runs past.  Ames says on his blog that it will be on the DVD.  Why would the creator put himself through something like that?  It's a brief glimpse into the mind making the show that fits totally with what we've seen.

     It's a weird show, a perfect vehicle for Schwartzman.  Ames feels like most of the other parts that the actor has ridden to fame, and so fits perfectly.  Somehow, even in weekly doses, it's still a thrill to watch Schwartzman work.  Danson, who has had one of the most successful, consistently wonderful careers of any television actor, shines once more.  I wonder if there isn't more than a little bit of the real Danson in George, who has had bright periods in his life, intermixed with faliure, but weathers it all with good humor and genuine niceness, though he's far from a pushover.  Galifianakis, who soared to notority after The Hangover also plays a part we've seen from him before.  The repeat performance of any of the leading men never comes off as stale, but more finely honed and aged.

     I recommend you tune into Bored to Death, which will have a new episode tonight 10pm on HBO.

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