DVD Review: ‘Legit – The Complete First Season’

Article first published as DVD Review: ‘Legit – The Complete First Season’ on Blogcritics.

Last year, FX presented an edgy new comedy called Legit. Starring Australian comedian Jim Jefferies as a version of himself, the show follows Jim as he tries to be a better person. This usually includes helping his roommate, Steve (Dan Bakkedahl,Veep), and Steve’s severely handicapped brother, Billy (DJ Qualls, Road Trip), with something their lives are lacking, inspired by Jefferies’ actual life. The results are always hilarious, if not rewarding for Jim. Beginning this Tuesday, just ahead of the second season premiere, Legit – The Complete First Season will be released on DVD and Blu-ray.

Billy is confined to a wheelchair, paralyzed below the neck due to muscular dystrophy, but he’s a normal guy who wants to party and get laid. Jim understands this, and does his best to help Billy out, taking him to Vegas and springing him from his home, much to Steve’s chagrin. Even more disapproving is Billy’s mother, Janice (Mindy Sterling, Austin Powers), though Billy’s father, Walter (John Ratzenberger, Cheers), doesn’t seem to mind, and Billy’s nurse, Ramona (Sonya Eddy, General Hospital), mostly comes around to Jim, seeing through his crap.

Right from the start, Legit sets itself apart because of its portrayal of those with disabilities, which has earned it a huge following from that community. Billy himself is a full developed character, seen as someone with the usual needs and dreams, not someone confined or limited by his challenges. Billy’s best friend, Rodney (Nick Daley), has Prader-Willi Syndrome, a genetic disorder, but Jim includes him in the fun, too, and others pop up throughout the season. These people are poked fun at, but only when they’re in on the joke, not at the expense of anyone, and if that line is ever crossed, there are consequences for the person that crosses it. If nothing else, Legit deserves praise for creating dynamic characters of this type, taking what Glee has done a (much raunchier) step forward.

Now, Jim isn’t completely altruistic, at times being downright selfish. He certainly doesn’t treat women nearly as respectfully as he treats his buddies. And his motivations are sometimes mixed. The results of his actions are often bad, at times bordering into gross or creepy. But he is a layered character, someone that is likeable enough, and earns respect because he gives it.

The show itself is told from a very unique perspective. I haven’t had the chance to catch much of Jefferies’ standup routine, so I don’t know how closely the material here hews to it. However, I can’t name another sitcom on television that really comes close to the story or tone of Legit. Like other FX shows such as Wilfred and Louie, the creator has a strong, guiding hand, allowing his voice to really shine through in a very satisfying way. You may not like Legit, it’s certainly not for everyone, especially the easily offended, but it should be easy enough to respect Jefferies and the work that he’s doing.

I mentioned that Legit might be offensive, and that’s very true. There is plenty of humor related to drugs, sex, prostitutes, masturbation, rape, and the like. It’s adult material, and it airs with a TV-MA rating for good reason. However, all of this fits the style and tone, and is used because of the people the show revolves around, not gratuitously. So if you don’t like that stuff, then stay away from Legit and leave it for the rest of us immature viewers to enjoy. Or, better yet, loosen up and give it a chance.

The two disc DVD set contains all 13 episodes of season one, plus a handful of bonus features. This includes a Director’s Cut of the “Pilot,” a gag reel, deleted scenes, commentaries for select episodes, a featurette on Jefferies, and some autotuned Rodney, It’s a good, appropriate mix.

Legit – The Complete First Season is available this coming Tuesday.

This series is Legit

Grade: 87%

FX’s latest sitcom is LEGIT. Starring Australian comedian Jim Jeffries as a fictional version of himself, based on his stand up routine, LEGIT finds Jim wanting to grow up and be a responsible adult. Unfortunately, this is something that will not come easily to him.

The “Pilot” opens with Jim and his roommate / best friend Steve (Dan Bakkedahl, The Daily Show, Community) waiting in line. We soon learn that Jim tricked Steve into coming because Jim didn’t want to stand in line alone. This tells us immediately what kind of self-centered jerk Jim is, and that Steve is the schlep who follows him around. It sets the tone very quickly as to who these characters are, and what their relationship is with one another.

From there, Steve and Jim’s conversation moves towards the possibility of Jim being a father, which he decides he can only do if the mother dies. Not right away, mind you; he’s not completely cruel. And he’s be willing to continue the sexual intercourse, even if his mate’s body becomes disease-ridden.

This sequence is a fantastic opening. I really feel like it does a great job of outlining Jim himself, what his sense of humor is, and how he sees the world. He likes to think that he’s a good guy, but clearly, he is a long way off from that. But Steve hangs around him for a reason, and we get glimpses of the good Jim right away, even if it is couched in a self-involved narcissist.

I feel like I could keep repeating the same observations in every scene of the episode; that’s how good LEGIT is at explaining itself right out of the gate.

Now, Steve is not a total rube. He has limits as to what he will put up with, and he isn’t shy about correcting Jim’s bad behavior. He may be pushed into doing things that he’d rather not to, but he sets limits, and mostly sticks to them. He is also just about the best brother in the world to his younger, handicapped sibling, Billy (DJ Qualls, Road Trip, Memphis Beat), so he’s easy to root for.

The rest of the first episode involves Jim and Steve taking to find a hooker. Billy has muscular dystrophy, so he hasn’t had any experience with women, but he is a normal horny man, and would like to correct that oversight. It’s a very good thing Jim is around, because Steve only agrees reluctantly to go along with it, and Billy’s mother, Janice (Mindy Sterling, Austin Powers, Desperate Housewives), does not approve.

Jim keeps telling Steve that he wants to improve himself, and it’s at Steve’s encouragement that Jim sets out to help Billy. It’s not the way that Steve thinks Jim should be helping, and Jim’s openness with everyone he knows (and a twitter feed) spread the story much faster than it should be spread. But at least he helps, and it’s hard to fault someone with being who they are, open and honest. And yes, at the end of the day, Jim sees a way to help himself by helping Billy, but at least he’s helping, right?

LEGIT should fit in just fine with the rest of FX’s comedy lineup. It’s most similar to Wilfred, and not just because Jeffries looks and sounds a bit like Jason Gann. The humor is along the same lines, as is the sensibilities of the lead, and some of the show’s themes. The most surprising thing is that LEGIT may even be slightly filthier than Wilfred (or Archer or anything else on the network). If you like WILFRED, but don’t enjoy strange mysteries surrounding men in dog costumes, than LEGIT is the show for you!

I personally find this type of humor pretty darn funny. I admit, it is not for everyone, and it’s not a series that families can watch together or the easily offended should view at all. But for young adults and those in college, LEGIT could easily become something to tune in to every week.

I don’t know that it’s really relatable. Everyone may know someone like Jim, but few real people would go to the extremes that this comedian does. However, it’s not really necessary for LEGIT it be relatable, and the jokes are accessible enough the way they are.

LEGIT premieres Thursday, January 17th at 10 p.m. ET.

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Article first posted on Seat42F