The S1E1 Podcast

S1E1: Lucky Louie

A show that the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights called "barbaric". Lucky Louie was an HBO original that was a bit of a departure from most of their other programing. To start, the channel rarely made sitcoms and of the few this was the first that was actually recorded in front of a live studio audience. Lucky Louie was also without the constraints of traditional sitcoms in that it had no language limitations. The show stars Louis C.K. who plays a part time mechanic struggling to get by with a wife and daughter. The show was largely inspired by Norman Lear sitcoms and "The Honeymooners". They even went as far as to use the blueprints for The Honeymooners set to create their own. Despite promising ratings HBO canceled Lucky Louie after only one season with speculation that they just didn't want to associate with a show that didn't fit their high class image.
Does the show take it a little too far or was HBO correct in pulling the plug early? Find out as we deep dive the show's pilot episode.
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Starring: Louis C.K., Pamela Adlon, Mike Hagerty, Laura Kightlinger, Jim Norton, Rick Shapiro, Kim Hawthorne, & Jerry Minor

S1E1: That ’90s Show

With "That '90s Show" we once again find ourselves hanging out (down the street) in the Foreman's basement. This time however the show focuses around Leia, the daughter of Eric and Donna when she decides to spend the summer with her grandparents in Point Place, Wisconsin. This show brings back all the familiar faces and locations of That '70s Show while also focusing on creating a new batch of characters to follow. This '70s spinoff succeeds where That '80s Show failed in using the source material to set the framework.
But does That '90s Show just use the nostalgia of the original just to bait and switch you into watching something completely different or does it truly capture the essence of the show we all came to know and love. Find out when the boys do a deep dive of the pilot episode, "That '90s Pilot".
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Starring: Kurtwood Smith, Debra Jo Rupp, Callie Haverda, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel, Reyn Doi, Sam Morelos, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher, & Mila Kunis

S1E1: Curb Your Enthusiasm

Seinfeld is unarguably one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. But on it, the spotlight only shined on one of the show's two creators. With "Curb Your Enthusiasm" we finally get to see Larry David take the lead role on a show of his own. Here, he plays a fictionalized version of himself on this mostly improvised HBO original. The show has been critically acclaimed and been running for over 22 years. Despite that Larry would like you to lower your expectations when first watching it and not go in holding it to the standard of his prior success. A large factor that went into giving the show its name.
Did the pilot episode meet the S1E1 boys standards? Listen as they deep dive Curb's first episode, "The Pants Tent".
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Starring: Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, Richard Lewis, Kathy Griffin, Sofia Milos, Susie Essman, Robin Ruzan

S1E1: Mike & Molly

In the modern television era we've seen couples meet in just about every situation you could dream up. In 2010 however, we were presented with a pretty unique origin story for TV romance when Mike Biggs and Molly Flynn met one another during an Overeaters Anonymous meeting. The series stars Billy Gardell (Bob Hearts Abishola) & Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) as two overweight people who both struggle with portion control all while falling in love with each other.
Will this episode leave us wanting seconds? Find out as we do a deep dive of "Mike & Molly".
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Starring: Billy Gardell, Melissa McCarthy, Reno Wilson, Katy Mixon, Nyambi Nyambi, David Anthony Higgins, & Swoosie Kurtz

S1E1: The Golden Girls

From its debut in in 1985 all the way to modern day "The Golden Girls" has remained a staple in modern television. Despite the fact that the series finale first aired over 20 years ago the show manages to remain just as relevant in pop culture now than it was then. All this despite being a show about a group of older women. The show centered around a 4 women who all ended up living together in Miami after finding themselves either divorced or widowed, a concept that may not initially leap out at you as comedic gold. But the real core of the show is the bond these women had created and their strong friendship which in turn is relatable to viewers all ages.
The show had an interesting origin. One year prior to its debut NBC held a presentation to help promote the network’s programming to potential advertisers. At this presentation actresses Doris Roberts and Selma Diamond performed a sketch in which they parodied the network's hit show "Miami Vice" where they played two retirees playing cards in a Florida community and named it "Miami Nice". The sketch was a hit among its audience and as result the execs at NBC decided to take the concept and develop it into the show we know how as The Golden Girls.
Despite the show's popularity and fan base was the show an instant hit right from episode one? Listen as the S1E1 guys do a deep dive on the show's pilot episode, "The Engagement".
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Starring: Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, & Estelle Getty

S1E1: The Single Guy

The Single Guy was a sitcom starring Jonathan Silverman as a struggling New York writer attempting to manage his way through the dating scene. The show premiered in 1995 on NBC and was immediately thrown into its Thursday night "Must See TV" lineup. The show was given the opportunity of a lifetime when thrown in the 8:30 timeslot placing it right in between the networks two biggest hits, "Friends" & "Seinfeld". The show however was written-off as one in a long line of "singles in the city" sitcoms that emerged in the mid-1990s. After only two seasons The Single Guy was dropped by its network, leaving it as one of the most highly rated shows to ever be canceled.
Was the show just a product of "right place, right time" or did it have enough substance to survive on its own? Find out as we do a deep dive into the show's pilot episode. 
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Starring: Jonathan Silverman, Jessica Hecht, Mark Moses, Joey Slotnick, Ming-Na Wen, Ernest Borgnine, Jeff Bornstein, Olivia d'Abo and Larry Miller

S1E1: Merry Happy Whatever

You would never be able to have an entire sitcom focused around a holiday like Christmas with weekly episodic television. A show celebrating the same holiday for 4 to 6 months doesn't make much sense. Fortunately, due to the Netflix format where an entire season drops at once it's a lot easier to make something like that happen. Unfortunately, the result of that is this weeks show, "Merry Happy Whatever". For whatever reason Netflix still hasn't been able to knock a sitcom out of the park. The show follows Don (Played by Dennis Quaid) The head of the Quinn household as all his children return home to follow their annual Christmas traditions. Routine becomes a little complicated when his youngest child Emily brings home her boyfriend Matt from California for the holiday.
Will Merry Happy Whatever follow the same fate as the past Netflix original sitcoms S1E1 has covered or will the holiday spirt take over for the five this week? Listen as they do a deep dive review of the show's pilot episode, "Welcome, Matt"
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Starring: Dennis Quaid, Bridgit Mendler, Brent Morin, Ashley Tisdale, Siobhan Murphy, Adam Rose, Elizabeth Ho, Hayes MacArthur, Garcelle Beauvais, & Tyler Ritter

S1E1: Titus

Starting in the year 2000 "Titus" was able to accomplish something that seemed near impossible in the world of television... Test the limits on what Fox was okay with airing. This show which was based on the life and comedy of the shows leading man Christopher Titus was not afraid to push boundaries. In fact, there were multiple episodes of the show that either weren't aired or were postponed and aired out of order due to content. With all that being said this show isn't necessarily that edgy, it was more that the people in charge of this show were very unwilling to compromise on almost every detail behind it. There was even a rule that the studio couldn't add any canned laughter to strengthen the sound if the studio audience wasn't lively enough. Eventually Fox had their fix and despite pulling decent ratings the show was cancelled after its third season. Were the boundaries really being pushed too far or were they sitting right in the comedic sweet spot? Find out as we review Titus' pilot episode, "Sex With Pudding".
 
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Starring: Christopher Titus, Cynthia Watros, Zack Ward, David Shatraw, Stacy Keach, & Lesley Fera 

S1E1: Baby Talk

A show that George Clooney was quoted as saying was "a particular low point" in his career. "Baby Talk" was a television adaptation of the hit movie "Look Who's Talking" The show was created by Amy Heckerling, the writer and director of the original film and Ed Weinberger, who co-created such hit shows as "Taxi" & "The Cosby Show". The show was even originally slated to be called Look Who's Talking until it was determined that it may cause confusion with the sequel that would be airing concurrently. This show also readapted and recast the main characters so we don't see the likes of John Travolta and Kirstie Alley reprising their roles and instead of the baby being voiced by Bruce Willis the network went with Tony Danza who was already starring in the show "Who's The Boss" at the same time.
Despite having the likes of Danza and Clooney involved in the project the show just didn't perform well. Shockingly a full second season was eventually ordered but not before a total re-haul changing nearly the entire cast and location. Those adjustments did little to improve ratings and the show was canceled at the conclusion of the season. But with all this in mind does the pilot episode have enough laughs to make you want to watch more? Listen as we do a deep dive of the show's pilot episode, "Baby Love".
 
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Starring: Tony Danza, George Clooney, Julia Duffy, Lenny Wolpe, Ted McGinley, & William Hickey

S1E1: Grounded For Life

"Grounded For Life" was a sitcom that depicted a family where the parents had children early in life and are now raising three kids while in their early 30s. The show's original network Fox made the decision to cancel the show early into its 3rd season but then was picked up by The WB where it remained until the end of its fifth and final season.
The show was met with mediocre fanfare through it's entire run from 2001-2005, but does that mean the S1E1 guys will feel the same? Find out as they do a deep dive of their pilot episode, "Lily B. Goode."
 
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Starring: Donal Logue, Megyn Price, Kevin Corrigan, Lynsey Bartilson, Griffin Frazen, Jake Burbage, Bret Harrison, & Richard Riehle