THE ORVILLE Soars

Article first published as TV Review: THE ORVILLE on Seat42F.

There have been rumors of a Galaxy Quest television show for years. I’d love to see that. But for now, the closest we’re going to get is THE ORVILLE, a new sci-fi dramedy coming to FOX. Though not exactly the same sense of humor as the beloved Galaxy Quest movie, THE ORVILLE does take the adventure and wonder of Star Trek, mix it with Seth MacFarlane’s trademark brand of humor, and keep it grounded and dramatic enough to actually build a cohesive story with characters you can invest in. It is no small feat to get such a thing right.

As THE ORVILLE begins, as you likely have already heard, Ed Mercer (series creator Seth MacFarlane, Family Guy) has just been given his first command: the Orville. It’s not top-of-the-line or anything too fancy, but it’s a nice little sleek exploratory starship that will leave Earth and explore the galaxy.

Ed gets to choose one crewman, his best friend Gordon Malloy (Scott Grimes, American Dad!), but most of the compliment is already set. And the last addition, which he has no control over nor prior knowledge of, is his ex-wife, Kelly Grayson (Adrianne Palicki, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), who will serve as his XO. Kelly cheated on him, and Ed is predictably not eager to have her back.

That in of itself is a humorous concept, but thankfully THE ORVILLE doesn’t go too far into sitcom territory with it. There is tension between the couple, yes, and that drives their interaction. Equal side-by-side seats on the bridge of the ship probably don’t help Ed feel any more in control. But their chemistry, while not entirely new, does seem fresh in the performances, and they seem to be a pair audiences will root to get back together. They could bicker just as effectively in a relationship, and there are clearly still feelings between them. Palicki and MacFarlane are great together.

The diverse crew include a robot, Isaac (Mark Jackson), a member of a single-gender species, Bortus (Peter Macon, Shameless), and a young woman named Alara who is out to prove herself (Halston Sage, Neighbors). It is a solid mix of varied personalities, with several species represented, and while many of the actors are not well-known, they all handle themselves well. The show doesn’t hesitate to explore the differences, and delights in the alien characteristics that humans will not understand, something sometimes minimized in other science-fiction or reserved for ‘special’ episodes.

Lest you worry about cred, Penny Johnson Jerald (Star Trek: Deep Space 9, 24) is the wise Dr. Claire Finn, chief medical officer, and producers and directors also carry over from Star Trek. Toss in some stellar guest stars like Jeffrey Tambor and Victor Garber, and this show has unexpected gravitas. It is far more than just a dumb comedy, and while it could not exist in the Star Trek universe, it also wouldn’t fit in the realm of Family Guy or American Dad! either. THE ORVILLE is its own brand.

The humor comes in the authentic moments. Crewmen talk to one another the way people do now, not as some high-minded advanced society, but as relatable folks. THE ORVILLE stops short of going full-out MacFarlane, and instead drapes the jokes over a serious plot with actual drama and danger. The humor bolsters, rather than distracts, and I would not classify this anywhere near a strict comedy. And Gordon’s introduction is one of the funniest bits.

THE ORVILLE is imaginative, clever, and darn fun to watch. I went straight into the second episode, and will definitely be tuning in weekly. This show, at least in the first two hours, deftly sticks a complicated landing.

THE ORVILLE premieres September 10^th on FOX.

DVD Review: ‘Family Guy – Volume Eleven’

Article first published as DVD Review: ‘Family Guy – Volume Eleven’ on Blogcritics.

Ever since its third release, the first after the reboot, Family Guy has shied away from releasing complete seasons, always giving batches of episodes instead, frequently with less than a year’s worth at a time. That changes with the latest DVD, Volume Eleven, which is actually the complete 10th season. These installments aired from September 2011 through May 2012, so it’s not the most recent season that passed, but the one before it, with 23 episodes on three discs.

Now, overall, the quality of Family Guy has declined over the seasons. However, there are a handful of installments in Volume Eleven that really stand out as memorable. Among the highlights of this disc:

• “Lottery Fever” – Peter (Seth MacFarlane) buys over 200,000 lottery tickets, winning a jackpot. Of course, he gets too big for his britches, in a homage to many a classic tale, and there are wonderful bits like a signed-song and Peter making his brood check fake tickets.
• “Seahorse Seashell Party” – The middle of a three-part Animation Domination crossover, in which a hurricane threatens the trio of FOX animated comedies created by MacFarlane, all airing on the same night. Meg (Mila Kunis) finally stands up for herself, but the family can’t survive without a scapegoat, and thus she throws off the dynamics of the show. Temporarily, obviously.
• “Thanksgiving” – Kevin Swanson (Scott Grimes), who was presumed dead by his family and friends, returns home from Iraq.
• “Meg and Quagmire” – Meg turns eighteen and Quagmire (MacFarlane) sees an opportunity. This sends Peter through the roof. As lecherous as Quagmire is, this episode is the one where Peter and Lois (Alex Borstein) finally pay attention to, and look out for, their daughter.
• “Tom Tucker: A Man and His Dream” – Peter becomes Tom Tucker’s (MacFarlane again) agent, and the two go to Hollywood. There’s a great callback when they learn James Woods (himself) is somehow still alive, but even better is the subplot in which Chris (Seth Green) begins dating a girl (Juno‘s Ellen Page) who looks like his mother.
• “Leggo My Meg-O” – A parody of Taken, with Brian and Stewie heading to Europe to rescue a kidnapped Meg.
• “Tea Peter” – Peter joins the Tea Party, they successfully shut down the local government and all hell breaks loose. Current Congressman and women: pay attention!
• “Internal Affairs” – Peter has another epic fight with the giant chicken. Plus, Joe (Patrick Warburton) considers a one-night stand with a co-worker (Anna Kendrick, Pitch Perfect) to get even with his wife for her own infidelity.
• (the best of the set) “Back to the Pilot” – Stewie (MacFarlane) takes Brian (also MacFarlane) back in time to find his lost tennis ball, and they relive the events of the first episode of the series, complete with inferior animation, a different actress voicing Meg (Lacey Chabert), and altered character personalities. However, Brian, in his arrogance, can’t resist preventing 9/11, which means that when they return to the future, America has changed and is in the midst of a Civil War. Hilarity ensues as they attempt to fix everything that is wrong and just keep making things worse. Awesome for being a tribute to the show’s origins, and a fun time-travel twist, as well as yet another journey for the series’ best couple.

And there are 14 additional episodes, mostly typical, stand-alone comedic entries with a few good jokes, but not being particularly memorable even only a couple of years after they air. Is it time for Family Guy to retire? Probably. Though, I’m glad to have the installments mentioned above, some of which will definitely make the short list of must-see episodes.

As far a special features go, there are audio commentaries on some of the half-hours, as well as select scene animatics and deleted scenes. The episodes are “uncensored,” but that doesn’t make a big difference. Some outtakes with Ricky Gervais from his guest role are amusing, and Ron MacFarlane reads some viewer mail. My favorite inclusion is “Looking Back to the Pilot,” something that seems appropriate to do ten years in, especially with the tribute episode included in this set.

Overall, I would rank Volume Eleven as better than the Volume Ten release (and Nine and Eight…), though not as good as some of the earlier ones. If you’re a Family Guy fan who doesn’t regularly watch anymore, this might be a good set to catch up casually with a taste of what it’s being made now.

Family Guy: Volume Eleven is available now.

American Dad! Volume 7 released on DVD

American Dad! Volume 7 is now on DVD. This three disc set contains all 19 episodes from season six, which aired during the 2010-2011 television season.  Among the episodes included in Volume 7 is the landmark 100th episode of the series.

For some time, Family Guy has been growing stale. Which makes American Dad!, Seth MacFarlane's second effort for the network, stand out even more. With sharp writing and unexpected plots, Volume 7 will prove to viewers that American Dad! should be the most celebrated part of Animation Domination, at least for now. This is truly a great batch of installments, and the show exhibits no sign of slowing. While some stories do put the parents in stereotypical sitcom situations, the gags and lengths to which things are taken set American Dad! apart from anything that has come before it. 

Volume 7 of American Dad! begins with an important change. "100 A.D." finds Hayley (Rachael MacFarlane) eloping with long-time, on-again off-again boyfriend Jeff (Jeff Fischer). For those who don't think cartoon characters can grow, as many similar series seem to treat the people in them as static for a show's entire run, this is a way for American Dad! to break the mold. By the time the dust settles, Hayley and Jeff are married, and Jeff moves into the Smith household, where he still remains, two seasons later.

This development is bad news at first for Steve (Scott Grimes), as in the second part of the two-part season opener, entitled "Son of Stan," Stan (Seth MacFarlane) clones Steve so that he and Francine (Wendy Schaal) can see which one of their parenting styles is better. With the responsibility of raising Hayley off of them, all of their efforts turn to the younger child. Luckily for Steve, Hayley and Jeff's eventual return to the nest does deflect some of this new found focus.

Other highlights of Volume 7 include "White Rice," where Francine recovers repressed memories and becomes a stand-up comedian; "The People Vs. Martin Sugar," in which Stan serves on a jury trial involving Roger (also MacFarlane); and "For Whom the Sleigh Bell Tolls," in which Santa Claus seeks revenge on the Smith family for killing him. "Fartbreak Hotel" finds Francine assuming a new identity, "School Lies" sees Roger sell a senator's daughter to a drug lord, and "Jenny Fromdablock" has Roger take Snot's (Curtis Armstrong) virginity. Finally, in "Flirting With Disaster," Francine takes a job at the CIA. Unlike Jeff and Hayley's marriage, this development does not last.

The bonus features are few, but fun. There are audio commentaries on many of the episodes and deleted scenes, too. A short portion of the American Dad! Comic Con 2010 panel is also included. Best of all is "I (Heart) Patrick Stewart," which involves a number of the cast and crew talking about cool it is to work with Patrick Stewart, who voices Stan's boss, Bullock. It is quite possible that many AD! fans are also Stewart fans, so they should delight in this.

In summary, American Dad! Volume 7 is a great collection, full of fantastic episodes and some wonderful extras. Definitely pick up a copy.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here to read all of my reviews of American Dad! Please click here to purchase DVDs and streaming episodes of American Dad! Article first published as DVD Review: American Dad! Volume 7 on Blogcritics.

"Virtual In-Stanity" reigns on American Dad!

     FOX's American Dad! presents "Virtual In-Stanity." Stan (Seth MacFarlane) realizes he misses most of Steve's (Scott Grimes) major life events, and wants to make up for it, but Steve won't give him the time of day. Understanding that, at Steve's age, his son just wants to talk to girls, Stan inhabits a blond, busty avatar named Phyllis (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ringer). Unfortunately for Stan, Steve's interest in Phyllis lulls when she refuses Steve any physical affection, and Steve starts to go for a redhead (Alyson Hannigan, How I Met Your Mother) instead.

     "Virtual In-Stanity" reunites two of the stars of the hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In that series, Gellar plays a tough, hot blond, while Hannigan is a geeky redhead. Sound familiar? While the two are rivals, rather than friends, in American Dad!, that doesn't lessen the casting coup's enjoyment. Because of the dork-appeal of both the goofy vampire drama, that could be quite serious at times, and this animated sitcom, it is likely that more than a few fans are immensely gratified by the show using both women in the same episode.

     A lot of American Dad!'s plots revolve around Stan trying to be a good father. It seems that, as he ages and settles into family life more agreeably, Stan wants to be there for his children more than previously. Unlike other animated series, the characters in American Dad! do age and go through life changes, albeit much more slowly than in reality. For instance, Stan's daughter gets married, and it sticks in future episodes. So it seems American Dad! will chronicle much of Stan's growth as a father over a couple of years, giving a slightly deeper meaning to a show that mostly banks on humor.

     Given that American Dad! is created by Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane, it does often venture into gross and offensive territory. "Virtual In-Stanity" crosses a lot of lines when Stan-as-Phyllis decides to have sex with Steve so that they can bond and keep spending time together. Set aside the severe, permanent emotional damage Steve will undergo when he finds out this ruse, which, if they had gone through with the intercourse, he eventually would have had to, the fact that Stan is willing to do this is highly disturbing. No parent should ever agree to such acts with a child, no matter the circumstances. Yes, it is a female body, but Stan would experience everything that "Phyllis" does.

     Luckily, Francine (Wendy Schaal) has the wisdom to realize all of this, and is as repulsed by the idea as viewers surely are. Valiantly, she takes up an armored suit and fights Phyllis, a la Avatar, before "she" can sleep with Steve. Thus, disaster and a yawning chasm between son and father is avoided. As long as Steve never finds out the truth, and he probably won't at this point, given how things end.

     It may be a silly conceit that would not hold up in real life, but Stan playing with CIA technology is always fun. The fact that his boss (Patrick Stewart) can be just as giddy about it is wonderful. Stan is a very relatable character when he takes out the government toys and uses them for his personal goals. Despite the weird stuff in "Virtual In-Stanity," no one can blame him for this aspect of himself.

     The big regret here is that Hannigan's character likely won't show up again. She could make a great, recurring love interest for Steve! True, Hannigan already stars in a sitcom on TV, but surely she could make time to voice a handful of episodes a year. It's unfortunate that this seems a very remote possibility.

     Also, Roger (MacFarlane, too) goes on a killing spree to get even with some frat guys who don't pay for his limo service. Watching a limosuine stalk a jerk into the bathroom is freaking hilarious. The subplot even manages to get creepy at times, despite its absurd nature. A+!

     American Dad! airs Sundays on FOX as part of Animation Domination, usually at 9:30 p.m. ET, but check listings, as the shows within the block sometimes shift.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here to read all of my reviews of American Dad!

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Article first published as TV Review: American Dad! - "Virtual In-Stanity" on Blogcritics.

American Dad! finds "Gorillas in the Mist"

     FOX's American Dad! finished its seventh season with "Gorillas in the Mist." In the episode, Stan (Seth MacFarlane) discovers it's much more fun to be a friend to his son, Steve (Scott Grimes), than a father. But after Steve gets into a gorilla pen at the zoo, it is the gorilla's dad that teaches Stan what it truly means to be a father.

     At the same time, Roger (MacFarlane) thinks it is easy to write a country song. After failing miserably in his first attempt, Roger marries a woman living in a trailer park with a lot of kids. He finds this lifestyle not to his liking at all, but his new family keeps him home at gunpoint. Roger  fakes spousal abuse, and shows no remorse as the children are carted off to be split up into foster homes. Then Roger sees a very ugly woman, and he has his hit song.

     American Dad! does a number of big, special episodes, including a handful this year, but this is not one of them. Perhaps feeling they have already met their quota for memorable gems this season, the writers instead deliver a standard installment, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as American Dad! is a fairly consistent show with good humor. Almost every week is a treat to watch, and it is probably the most consistently good of Seth MacFarlane's shows currently running. It is with laughter, not disappointment, then, that this episode can be viewed.

     Stan is always struggling to grow as a person. Steve has been shown to need boundaries. The two elements collide in this surprisingly heartwarming story. What starts out as a goofy, drunken adventure winds up teaching father and son a lesson about love and relationships. The fact that a gorilla serves as the educator is only slightly ridiculous. It might not be a stand-out story, but it is one worth telling.

     Roger's plot is a lot more shocking. Even for Roger, his callousness at destroying a family seems overly cruel. Roger's new wife and kids have more than their share of problems before he even arrives, and rather than be inconvenienced, he allows them all to be locked up so he can escape. While they do pull firearms on him, and so Roger is sort of a captive, he does make a commitment, and they have every right to expect him to honor it.

     Frequent viewers know Roger is not the dedicated type, but that doesn't mean he can be forgiven for so utterly destroying so many lives. With luck, this may come back to haunt him some day. Probably not, but one can hope.

     American Dad! will return for a seventh season next fall on FOX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     Please click here to purchase DVDs and streaming episodes of American Dad!

Article first published as TV Review: American Dad! - "Gorillas in the Mist" on Blogcritics.

American Dad! Volume 6 out on DVD

     FOX has just released Volume 6 of their popular animated series American Dad! on DVD. Included in this three disc set are all eighteen episodes from season six, which aired from September 2009 until May 2010. One of the longest seasons to date, season six is also the one where American Dad! replaced Family Guy as Seth MacFarlane's most consistently funny series on television. While not every episode is fantastic, American Dad! is having a resurgence creatively, and is funnier now than it was in early years. If you have not been watching the show, Volume 6 is a good place to jump in and become a fan.

     Among the episodes on this DVD release are "In Country... Club," in which Stan (MacFarlane) takes son Steve (Scott Grimes) along on a Vietnam War reenactment that turns deadly real, and "Moon Over Isla Island," where Roger (MacFarlane) becomes dictator of a Caribbean island as a favor to Stan. In "Shallow Vows," Francine (Wendy Schaal) goes ugly, and somehow it's sweet when her husband has his eyes removed so that he can stand to stay married to her. "Rapture's Delight" finds Stan and Francine, devoted Christians, left behind after Jesus raptures his followers. In the season finale, "The Great Space Roaster," Roger tries to kill the family.

     Steve, the CIA agent patriarch, and Roger, the alien that lives with the Smiths, are usually the focus of the episodes, and provide the most antics. This is the season where Stan pulls pranks like a teenager, follows a rock band on tour, opens a stripper dry cleaning business, buys a racehorse, becomes a crack addict, builds a cyborg of himself, bullies Steve to toughen him up, and turns to President Obama for help after humiliating himself in front of the neighbors. Roger, meanwhile, temporarily moves out, remakes an 80's movie, kisses Francine, reveals himself to be a steroid-using Olympic athlete, becomes a corrupt cop, and studies crime scene photography. If that sounds like a lot to cover in only eighteen half-hour episodes, wait until you watch! There's even more!

     Season six is the last season in which Hayley (Rachael MacFarlane) is single. While all of MacFarlane's series do show some degree of character development over the years, in living situation, if not personality, it is rare that a main character would get hitched, making their spouse an important part of the show from then on. Hayley spends much of volume six interested in a koala bear named Reginald (Erik Durbin), but her stoner ex, Jeff (Jeff Fischer), does eventually return to win her back, sowing the seeds for their marriage early in season seven.

     Interestingly, season six is also when the show went from digital to high definition. This DVD set gives you the ability to compare directly, as the first half of the season is still full frame and low quality, while the second set of nine episodes goes widescreen and enhances clarity. Also, episodes are uncensored, so bleeps and black boxes are removed. Viewers have been warned.

     Like most MacFarlane releases, there are tons of extras on the discs. A number of episodes have commentary, though MacFarlane himself does not participate. Luckily, Matt Weitzman, Mike Barker, Matt Fusfeld, Jordan Blum, Wendy Schall, and lots of others are more than knowledgeable enough to take his place. Two commentaries feature The Interdisciplinary Collective for American Dad Studies, which rather than spoil what that is, I'll let you find the treat on your own. Most episodes have deleted scenes, even if they are brief.

     "Rapture's Delight" gets special treatment, with a "Making Of" special and the broadcast script. This is a favorite episode of the staff, as well as viewers, and not just because religious people may consider it blasphemous. Rounding out the extras is a tribute short honoring all of the various animals that have met their end on the series. It's darkly hilarious, so if you're not easily offended, check it out.

     American Dad Volume 6 is already in stores, so please go pick up a copy at your earlier convenience.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

Article first published as DVD Review: American Dad! Volume 6 on Blogcritics.

American Dad Bursts the "Piñata"

     I think that American Dad has figured out that episodes featuring Stan (Seth MacFarlane) and Roger (also MacFarlane) competing with each other, especially when the stakes are mere pride, work very well. As such, that was one of the two major stories going on in last night's episode, "A Piñata Named Desire". Stan claimed he could act, as he said he did it for a living working for the CIA. Roger, an alien with the voice of Paul Lynde who is a master of disguise and characters, challenged Stan's boast. What was unusual was that Stan appeared to give up very quickly, going to Roger for acting lessons early on in the episode.

     Then things took a twist. Stan learned so well from Roger that he beat his friend out for the male lead part in what I presume to be a local community theater production. Not wanting to be outdone, Roger took out the female lead and assumed her role. What resulted was a hilarious make out session (and more) between the two, as somehow convincing gay sex became the epitome of acting.

     It is well known that MacFarlane goes for shockingly offensive humor, and there was plenty of that. I'm not saying gay sex is necessarily offensive in of itself, but any sex between any two genders, whether they be a same-sex of opposite-sex couple would have grossed anyone out the way it was depicted here. I was grateful that the height of Stan and Roger's love making was not explicitly shown. But the egos of these two characters play so well off of each other, it's like a very strange, yet welcome, remake of The Odd Couple.

     I would like to know why American Dad only acknowledged the conceit that Roger is always showing up as someone else in such a half-hearted way. Sure, Stan called him out on it when he was heading to the acting classes, asking if the teacher Roger recommended was just going to be Roger in another costume. Roger admitted it was likely. Yet, later in the show when Roger dressed as a women to win the female lead, Stan was still the only one at the theater that recognized him. Let's be honest: Roger is an alien with a huge gray head. He's not exactly subtle. With television, especially animation, we often suspend disbelief. But since the series poked fun at its own tool anyway, why not go whole hog? I want an episode where EVERYONE recognizes Roger, no matter how many times he changes wigs and clothing.

     The B plot involved Steve (Scott Grimes) planning the 'best sleep over ever' as his final overnight gathering with his pals. OK, I see why bullies poked fun at the geeky gang for calling their hang out a sleep over, but plenty of cool kids spend the night at their friends' houses through high school, and even college and beyond. Why couldn't the characters just realize they should change what they call it, rather than throwing away the whole convention? At least in the end? I did like their 'long lost black friend', though. Very funny stuff.

     American Dad currently airs news episodes just outside of prime time, Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. on FOX. Make sure you remember the odd timeslot, because the show is worth it.

Article first published as TV Review: American Dad Bursts the "Piñata" on Blogcritics.

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