CHILDRENS HOSPITAL "Going" Away Again

Article first published as CHILDRENS HOSPITAL "Going" Away Again on TheTVKing.

Cartoon Network's Adult Swim's Childrens Hospital brings their fifth season to a close this week with "Coming and Going." Feelings are in the air. Or rather, lack of feelings, as the cast splits into twosomes to deal with their issues. Owen (Rob Huebel) has never had an orgasm and has the urge to feel what that's like, so Lola (Erinn Hayes) reluctantly agrees to help. Glenn can't experience emotional feeling at all, so Blake (Rob Corddry) makes it his mission to fix Glenn. And Sy (Henry Winkler) tricks Chief (Megan Mullally) into going out with him in the hopes of sparking some romantic feelings from her, meaning they miss the war zone at the hospital, but their opera provides a beautiful soundtrack for the disaster.

Each episode of Childrens Hospital completely stands on its own, with almost no continuity from each week to the next, except in the vaguest of terms. For instance, in the fourth main plot this week, the one that doesn't fit into the theme mentioned above, Cat (Lake Bell) helps Valerie (Malin Akerman) give birth, even though we've never seen Valerie pregnant until now, and it's been well established in multiple installments that Valerie is actually Derrick Childrens (Jon Hamm), a man in disguise. Doesn't quite add up, does it?

Yet, that has never stopped the show from being funny. Instead of worring about continuity, it frees up the characters and writers to do whatever they find amusing in the moment. This has led to a lot of strange, stand-alone episodes, like the Shakespeare-esque entry a couple of weeks ago, yet never a shortage of laughs. Each episode is like a mini play or sketch put on by an extremely talented group. The ensemble is excellent across the board, and they only let in the best guest stars, which this week included Jack McBrayer and one of the show's writer/producers David Wain, who plays Rabbi Jewy McJewJew.

There are some connecting threads through most (not all) of the episodes. Season five finds the cast shipped off to Japan to work a hospital on an army base. This has been a recurring setting, and so informs the stories. It has made this season a little different overall from the first four, in terms that there have been new things that didn't necessarily lend themselves to the old set, but quality and tone have been maintained.

"Coming and Going" fully takes advantage of the place in a big way when, due to a series of unfortunate mishaps, the base is attacked by the American military. Yes, the base is made up of American military already, but somehow those outside of the base think that terrorists have taken over. It's kind of a loose premise, not at all believable, but one that works for the bits.

This means that each of the four main plots unfold as bombs explode around them. Maybe giving birth or having sex near a battle isn't completely unheard of for a TV drama, but who dares use such set ups for a comedy? Even as men go down, there isn't anything serious about the proceedings, with raising a flag being the way to stop the fighting, as bizarre as anything else.

It's also the small touches that make the episode. From Owen later admitting that he has had orgasms before, and was just confused by what the term 'orgasm' meant, to Glenn being killed, only to find out it was the hospital's previously never-seen "other Jewish doctor" who dies, despite it being obvious that Marino is the one going down, there are quirky, weird, unexpected touches all over the place. Valerie asks a little girl to deliver her baby, whom Cat immediately accepts as "Doctor Littlegirl." It's all as bizarre and wonderful as that.

What's impressive about this episode, over the rest of the fantastic weekly episodes, is, given a double-length running time of half an hour, there is not only time to run more stories simultaneously, but also they are all expertly interwoven. Normally, several of the cast sit out for many episodes per year so that a cohesive plot can emerge in less than fifteen minutes. Here, that is not the case, all of the principals present, and their stories are connected by synchronized occurrences and a great soundtrack.

In all, "Coming and Going" is an awesome example of a top-notch series. Childrens Hospital is gone for now, but hopefully a sixth season won't be too far away.

Interview with Lake Bell

You may know Lake Bell from her starring role as Cat Black on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim series, CHILDRENS HOSPITAL. You may also know her from the recently canceled HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA, as a columnist in The Hollywood Reporter writing about cars, or her stint as a model, or from the short film she wrote and directed, WORST ENEMY. In short, she’s a busy woman, with a lot of talent, and varied interests.

Recently, I got to speak with Lake, who directed the season premiere of CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, “The Boy with the Pancakes Tattoo,” as well as tonight’s episode, “Staff Dance.” Here are the highlights of that conversation.

I asked Lake what the biggest difference was between acting and directing. She responded that the main difference is that you’re directing. All kidding aside, she likes the experience of running the ship and working in a new genre, her previous directing experience being drama-centric. It helps, she says, because of the “absurdist mania” that comes from working with her favorite people in the world.

That’s right. Lake loves her co-stars. While that may be no surprise, given the sheer amount of fun that radiates from the program, she did say directing was a serious gig. Often, the air on the set of CHILDRENS HOSPITAL is to joke around and have a good time. But with only two days per episode to shoot, and filming two episodes back to back, someone has to take charge and make sure that they don’t goof around too much. Lake takes that responsibility very seriously, and she said the others couldn’t have been more supportive of her efforts, not giving her any trouble or hazing.

In fact, Lake was recruited to direct CHILDRENS HOSPITAL after the guys in charge, Rob Corddry, David Wain, and Jonathan Stern, saw her short film. WORST ENEMY having earned praise and positive attention at Sundance and elsewhere, they were far from the only ones to take notice. But having Lake on staff as an actor, anyway, they had the unique opportunity to convince her to direct not one, but two episodes. And they didn’t just ask once, making sure that she knew it was a serious offer.

Lake describes her time directing as being “in heaven.” She totally dove into the position, sitting out a number of episodes as an actor (her choice) so that she could prep, execute, and polish the stories in post-production. Tasked with some serious, action-heavy, huge tales to tell, she worked her butt off to make sure she did a good job. If the season premiere is any indication, her hard work has really paid off.

I asked Lake if she would rather concentrate on acting or directing going forward, and she said ideally, she’d like to split her time. She has been so busy lately that she has been unable to accept any new acting jobs. In a perfect world, that won’t be the case forever. For now, though, she is content to go with the flow, and tackle what comes her way.

Her schedule cleared up a little bit for these new challenges because of the cancellation of HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA, another series that she starred concurrently with CHILDRENS HOSPITAL. Lake says she understands that cancellation is not personal, and that television is a business. While she misses the people she worked with, and the HBO show holds a special place in her heart because she met her future husband, artist Scott Campbell, on set, she thinks that things happen for a reason. She tremendously enjoyed the work, but now she’s open to participate in jobs she couldn’t have done otherwise. It’s a wise attitude to take, and one that should serve her well in the business, long-term.

I wanted to know which role Lake would most like to reprise. Given the range of characters Lake has played, from these recent roles, to a guest spot on NEW GIRL last year, to being a series regular on BOSTON LEGAL, to the films she has appeared in, like IT’S COMPLICATED and A GOOD OLD FASHIONED ORGY, there is a wide range of characters to choose from. Lake’s answer was quick and sure: Lucy from NO STRINGS ATTACHED, who she describes as being “bizarrely comfortable” to play. The reason she chooses Lucy is because of Liz Meriweather’s fantastic writing.

The call flew by. Thanks to Lake Bell for taking the time to talk with me. Her second directed episode of CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, “Staff Dance,” airs tonight (August 16th) at midnight.

Childrens Hospital The Complete Third Season checks in to DVD

Cartoon Network's Adult Swim isn't just for animated shows anymore. One of their best live action shows is Childrens Hospital. Originally a webseries doctored to deliver episodes running around 10 minutes each, The Complete Third Season, includes 14 installments from the first season created just for television.

Childrens Hospital is a unique, odd comedy. Although all the doctors and patients are white and speak English without an accent, the setting is Brazil. The story revolves around a staff of health care professionals who heal sick people and sleep with each other. But despite being as good looking as the more serious shows of the same description, these performers double as comedians. One doctor only heals through the power of laughter. Another is the owner of the facility in disguise.

Sometimes episodes build upon previous installments, and sometimes they are stand alone artistic pieces. The only constant in the Childrens Hospital universe is that viewers never know what to expect when tuning in, and no matter what it is, it will be funny.

The show's strength comes from its extremely strong ensemble. From creator Rob Corddry (The Daily Show), to Henry Winkler (Happy Days, Royal Pains), to Megan Mullally (Will & Grace), to Malin Akerman (Watchmen), each star has serious acting chops and plenty of screen experience. Also in the cast are Lake Bell (How to Make It in America), Erinn Hayes (Worst Week), Rob Huebel (Human Giant), and Ken Marino (Party Down). These people know what they're doing, and how to really sell their parts, rolling with whatever twists each new script throws at them.


Of course, when the playground looks as fun as Childrens Hospital, everyone else wants in on the action. Which means that the show has an unusually high number of familiar faces popping in for recurring roles and guest spots. Among those featured on this DVD are Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Tom Lennon (Reno 911!), Nick Offerman (Parks & Recreation), Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program), Kate Walsh (Private Practice), Paul Scheer (The League), Jordan Peele (Key & Peele), as well as many other veterans of Ken Marino's previous shows, The State and Party Down. Plus, Michael Cera (Juno, Superbad) gives voice to the hospital PA.

Honestly, the list above of people involved in Childrens Hospital is far from comprehensive. That alone should tell you what kind of quality you're getting. But if famously talented people aren't enough to entice, the show has great, sharp writing covered, too. Medical cases range from a boy stuck in a box of quicksand, whom only Lola (Hayes), who is not at the hospital, can save, to Blake (Corddry) needing to transplant an executed killer's heart into a boy before he turns 18 at midnight.

Watching the characters be doctors is cool, but it's the special episodes that really kick Childrens Hospital up a notch. Season three has several that qualify. "The 70's Episode" is a "lost" episode from the 1970's, still featuring the same cast "way back when." "Childrens Hospital: A Play in Three Acts" is a piece in the style of Thornton Wilder. "Party Down" has the cast of canceled series Party Down catering a bar mitzvah. And "Newsreaders" is a "what if?" that gives almost all of the characters their own spin-offs.


I understand that a lot of this review sounds like gushing. There is a good reason for that. This show deserves great things said about it and a much bigger audience than it currently has. However, it's also hard to break down in detail what makes it so good because each episode is so different, and the writers seem to reinvent the characters constantly. It's an ever-shifting universe that defies pinning down. However, the overall tone and extremely high quality serve the show well.

As awesome as the episodes are, the special features on this single disc DVD set are lacking. The special features include more than 30 minutes of deleted scenes, bloopers, and gags, but they are very oddly organized. And without the context of the episode they belong in, they just aren't as funny. The extras also include six minisode promos in which Dr. Owen Maestro (Huebel) shrinks and goes inside of a body to teach kids about medicine, but these, too, lack much of the show's magic, likely because only one actor from the series appears.

Overall, this DVD set is definitely worth the buy, despite the lack of satisfying extras. Whether you're a loyal fan or a newbie, this is a great batch of episodes to purchase and watch over and over again. It is clever, creative, and fresh in a way few comedies ever achieve. Childrens Hospital The Complete Third Season is available now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Please click here to buy the first two seasons of Childrens' Hospital on DVD.  Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review: Childrens Hospital The Complete Third Season on Blogcritics.

New Girl gets "Naked"

     In the first new episode of FOX's New Girl to air in weeks, Jess (Zooey Deschanel) walks in on Nick (Jake Johnson) dancing "Naked." Her laugh / scream takes away any confidence he has in himself, and ruins his date with co-worker Amanda (Lake Bell, Childrens' Hospital, How to Make It in America). Jess scrambles to fix things between them, but Nick doesn't make it easy, with his refusal to talk about his feelings. Schmidt (Max Greenfield) becomes resentful because he is the only one in the apartment who hasn't viewed Nick's genitals, and Nick refuses to correct that injustice. Winston (Lamorne Morris) ignores all the drama, realizing he has two years of pop culture to catch up on, and glues himself to the internet.

     Lake Bell is amazing. She is sexy, brave with the comedic moments, and a very talented actress. Because she plays someone that works with Nick, it opens the door for a recurring role. Except she's already starring in two cable series currently airing. Which means it is very unlikely that she will ever become someone seen regularly. This is too bad, because Amanda has some potential. Her sarcasm may be a bit that will get annoying quickly, but she could grow and develop. Plus, her awkwardness with Nick after the disastrous bedroom scenes, plural, is good to milk for at least one more installment.

     New Girl has already discovered who it is, just four episodes into the freshman run. That's quite a feat for a new series. It's not a perfect show, yet. With all of Jess's charm, including her ad-libbed singing, she can still get on the nerves when she can't bring herself to say "penis." It's the childishness that is a bit of a turn off. However, Deschanel commits fully to the character, and much of the questionable behavior will likely fade away as the character grows. Her relationship with the roommates, and the types of situations that this situation comedy tackles, though, are solid and enjoyable. Overall, New Girl falls firmly in the 'win' column.

     Is New Girl setting up Nick and Jess for romance? They are the most similar, in terms of dating experience and preference. They also are the most developed characters on the series, with Schmidt and Winston taking more a supporting, goofy role...for now. It would not be surprising if the show goes for a Nick / Jess pairing. But considering the roommate situation, and the series premise, it would inevitably end in a break up, with pining and depression. All this would not be a total mistake, but there's a definite feeling that New Girl will be better if they keep Jess platonic with all three of her co-habitants. Certainly, it would be more original to do so.

     "Naked" brings out the creepy in Schmidt, which is actually a good place to go with that character. Because Schmidt is such a d-bag, fans won't want to see him get lucky with a lot of girls. In fact, he deserves some humiliation first, so he can grow into a better man. Until this happens, making him pathetic, and obsessing over things like seeing his best friend's junk, is pure comedy gold, so there is no reason not to go for it.

     Winston is still somewhat of an enigma. Missing from the first episode, the former professional basketball player (in Latvia, though he's American), isn't a natural fit with Jess. Which works out quite well. He doesn't really gel with this week's plot, so he is given his own. There are a few references thrown in here that will date the episode in syndication, but overall, it works out OK, giving a slight bit of insight into the type of man Winston is, while avoiding forcing him into a situation where he doesn't belong. Good job.

     Watch New Girl Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

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What is Childrens Hospital?

     What is Childrens Hospital?  The title of the first episode, which aired last Sunday on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, is "Hospital Isn't a Place".  Wikipedia tells me that it is named after Dr. Childrens.  It also says that it is a web series for TheWB.com created by Rob Corddry (The Daily Show).  Rob not only gets writing and directing credit, but also is one of the stars, playing a doctor who always wears clown makeup.  Disturbing, yes.  Funny, doubly yes.

     Although this started as a web series (apparently in 2008, from the dialogue), two episodes will air each week for the next month or so.  Each episode is about 5 minutes.  The two this week were divide by a faux commercial for a crime show called "NTSF:SD:SUV", or "National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle."  It advertised a 12 hour season finale special event, so I'm thinking that it isn't real.  Like Childrens Hospital, it mocks a popular television genre.  After all of the webisodes have aired, new episodes will begin running on August 22nd.

     CH spoofs popular medical dramas.  It's biggest source seems to be Grey's Anatomy, as the narration, personal drama, and sex seem to best match that show.  It also pulls from ER and M*A*S*H.  The best M*A*S*H reference was a voice on the hospital loudspeaker asking Captain Pierce to report to Colonel Blake's office, two characters from the old sitcom.  Also, the character who does the announcements is named Sal Viscuso, an actor who frequently did the announcements on the show it copies.  The voice is performed by Michael Cera (Juno, Arrested Development), a big name talent who isn't even seen on screen.

     Cera isn't the only well known personality to populate the medical comedy.  The series stars Lake Bell (How to Make It in America, Boston Legal), Erinn Hayes (Parenthood, Worst Week), Rob Huebel (Human Giant), Ken Marino (Veronica Mars, Party Down), and Megan Mullally (Party Down, Will & Grace).  Some of them have funny names, such as Bell's Cat Black, some have funny mannerisms, such as the Chief's crippling ailment, that seems to be not only undefined, but change throughout the episode.  The first two episodes boasted guest stars the like of Nate Corddry (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, United States of Tara), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), and Ed Helms as Dr. Ed Helms (The Office).  Bell will be reduced to recurring status when the season two episodes kick in August 22nd, but the cast will add Malin Akerman (Watchmen) and Henry Winkler (Happy Days, Arrested Development).

     So, what is Childrens Hospital?  Sadly, I cannot tell you that, or even what it's about, and that makes it hard to review.  I'll let all of those names up there stand for the show, and if that doesn't encourage you to watch it, I don't know what will.  That much talent doesn't come together for crap.  I can tell you, the first episodes were hilarious!  Childrens Hospital airs Sunday nights 10:30 on Cartoon Network.

How to Make It in America makes it

    HBO's freshman series How to Make It in America finished an eight episode first season with the finale "Never Say Die" this past Sunday.  I wasn't impressed with the show when it first premiered, but I watched most of the season marathon-style in one afternoon, and quickly became quite hooked.  The major complaints I had about the pilot, that it didn't explore side characters, and that the point of the series wasn't cohesive, were addressed quite well early on, and though it did still border on the art world, fashion, of a sort, did take center stage.

     Ben (Bryan Greenberg) and Cam (Victor Rasuk) remain the main characters that the audience will root for.  Going into the finale, I became incredibly discouraged on their behalf, thinking that they had lost forever their shipment of t-shirts, the first sale of their fledgling company.  Had that been the case, I don't think I would have been as happy as I turned out being, and it was just one hit too many for the struggling pair.  Sure, they are going to have plenty of bumps in starting a company, but to take away that may have killed their dream before it even really began.

     Rachel (Lake Bell), Ben's ex, also ended up with almost as much plot as they did, although she was left in kind of the opposite situation, leaving a successful job to strike out on her own.  I don't really believe Ben and Rachel belong together, and it didn't feel like that's where they were going, even though they slept together again.  I hope that I'm not wrong.

     Perhaps the most interesting character, though, turned out to be Cam's cousin Rene (Luis Guzman).  An ex-con, turned CEO of an energy drink supplier, he was introduced as a villain loan-shark, and he was the source of several of Ben and Cam's troubles.  However, Rene had a code of honor, and he was trying to go (mostly) straight.  His conversations with the local priest, which appeared very sincere, were confusing, awkward, and comical, all in a good way.  When the series continues, as it has already been picked up for a second season, he is the one I most want to see developed further.

    HBO will surely rerun the series, so if you missed it, I highly recommend catching it.

How to Make It in America doesn't quite make it

     HBO has a new show out called How to Make It in America.  It is about friends Ben (Bryan Greenberg, October Road) and Cam (Victor Rasuk, ER) trying to make money while living in New York City, apparently in the fashion scene, though after watching, I thought it was more the art world.  It is attempting to be gritty and realistic, or at least it comes across that way.  The theme song may be confusing, but it resembles the photographs shown at an artist showcase later in the pilot episode.

     This series has plenty going for it.  Besides Greenberg, it boasts other notable stars such as Eddie Kaye Thomas (American Pie, 'Til Death), Lake Bell (Boston Legal), Shannyn Sossamon (Moonlight), Martha Plimpton, and Luis Guzman.  Unfortunately, it didn't land in the premiere.  There was plenty of the two main guys, but very little of anyone else.  They are charming and interesting, but there wasn't enough plot to adequately set up what the series is going to be about.  Not only that, unlike other recent HBO shows, I didn't get invested in the characters right away.  At this point, I could never watch another episode and never wonder what happened.

     However, I am going to watch next week's episode.  It does intrigue me that I don't what it's about.  I've always thought that pilots are often a poor representation of the series, and I hope this one is as well.  Because I can't predict what else is coming, I will watch at least another half hour or two until I decide whether or not it is worth my time.

     If you'd like to check it out, How to Make It in America will rerun throughout the week, and new episodes will be presented Sundays at 10pm on HBO.