The S1E1 Podcast

S1E1: The Neighborhood

"The Neighborhood" is a CBS sitcom that first premiered in 2018. The show stars Max Greenfield as Dave Johnson, a relentlessly upbeat Midwesterner who moves his wife and kids to a predominantly Black neighborhood in Pasadena. His overly friendly approach doesn’t exactly win over his new next-door neighbor, Calvin Butler (Cedric the Entertainer), who’s not thrilled about the Johnsons’ arrival. What follows is a clash of cultures that slowly turns into an unlikely friendship.
Critics were a little mixed at first, calling it a “safe” network sitcom with a big heart. Over time, The Neighborhood found its rhythm  largely in part to the chemistry between Cedric and Greenfield and became one of CBS’s quiet success stories. So will the boys think this neighborly sitcom fits right in, or are they ready to move out after one episode? Find out as they check out the pilot, Welcome to the Neighborhood.
Starring: Cedric the Entertainer, Max Greenfield, Tichina Arnold, Beth Behrs, Sheaun McKinney, Marcel Spears, & Hank Greenspan
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S1E1: Santa Clarita Diet

"Santa Clarita Diet" was a dark comedy series that aired on Netflix from 2017-2019. The show starred Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as suburban realtors Sheila and Joel Hammond, whose quiet California life gets flipped on its head when Sheila mysteriously transforms into an undead, flesh-craving zombie. Instead of leaning into horror tropes, the show mined humor from the couple’s desperate attempts to keep their family and careers intact while hiding the fact that Mom is now snacking on human remains.
Critics praised the sharp writing and the show’s ability to balance over-the-top gore with genuine sweetness. Netflix controversially canceled "Santa Clarita Diet" in 2019 without resolving its story. Since then, it’s earned cult-favorite status among viewers. Is this one as finger licking good as it sounds? Listen as the S1E1 boys sink their teeth into the pilot episode, "So Then a Bat or a Monkey".
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, Skyler Gisondo, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Richard T. Jones, Ricardo Chavira, Joy Osmanski, Andy Richter, & Nathan Fillion
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S1E1: Tabitha

"Tabitha" was a short-lived sitcom that aired on ABC in 1977, serving as a spin-off of the iconic series Bewitched. The show followed Tabitha Stephens (played by Lisa Hartman), now all grown up and blessed with her mom's powers, working as a television producer in Los Angeles. While Bewitched thrived on suburban domestic chaos, Tabitha shifted the formula into a workplace setting.
Despite its familiar pedigree and Hartman’s charm, Tabitha struggled to find its footing. Critics felt the show lacked the wit and chemistry that made Bewitched a classic, and audiences didn’t fully connect with its new direction. Ratings were low, and the series was canceled after just eleven episodes. So, is this magical spin-off worth the watch? Listen as the boys dust off the pilot episode and decide.
Starring: Lisa Hartman, Robert Urich, Mel Stewart, David Ankrum, Karen Morrow, Timothy Blake, Eric Server, & Barry Van Dyke
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S1E1: Not Dead Yet

"Not Dead Yet" is sitcom that aired on ABC from 2023-2024. Loosely inspired by Alexandra Potter’s novel "Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up". The series stars Gina Rodriguez as Nell Serrano, a down-on-her-luck journalist who moves back to the States after a messy breakup only to find herself stuck writing obituaries. But there’s a catch: every time she writes one, the ghost of her subject shows up to hang out. With the help of these not-so-dead mentors, Nell navigates her quest to get her life back on track.
Reviews were cautiously optimistic, praising Rodriguez’s charm and the show’s mix of goofy gags with genuine warmth. The ratings didn’t exactly resurrect network sitcoms from the grave, but the show carved out a small fanbase for its oddball sincerity. So the big question: is this sitcom a spirited winner or a flatlined flop? Listen as the S1E1 boys crack open Not Dead Yet's pilot episode.
Starring: Gina Rodriguez, Hannah Simone, Lauren Ash, Rick Glassman, Joshua Banday, Angela E. Gibbs, & Martin Mull
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S1E1: Maniac Mansion

Maniac Mansion was a sitcom that aired on The Family Channel from 1990 to 1993. The show was created by Eugene Levy and produced by George Lucas’s Lucasfilm Television. Loosely based on the cult-favorite 1987 video game of the same name. While the series took its name from the cult video game, the show used little to none of the source material, opting instead for a domestic sitcom laced with surreal, science-fiction twists. The premise centered on Dr. Fred Edison (Joe Flaherty), a well-meaning scientist whose home experiments often created bizarre predicaments for his family. The mix of conventional family humor and absurdist elements gave the show a tone that was equal parts sitcom, parody, and sketch comedy.
Critics and audiences received Maniac Mansion with curiosity but mixed feelings. Fans of the video game were surprised by the lighter, kid-friendly direction, while TV reviewers highlighted its eccentric humor and offbeat charm from the show's SCTV roots. Though it never broke through as a mainstream hit, the series gained a modest cult following. Is this this show going to be more Spooky or Dookie with the boys? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode, "The 10th Anniversary Special" and find out.
Starring: Joe Flaherty, Deborah Theaker, Kathleen Robertson, Avi Phillips, George Buza, John Hemphil, & Mary Charlotte Wilcox
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S1E1: Good Grief

“Good Grief” is a sitcom that aired on Fox from 1990 to 1991. It centered around a very unusual setting for a comedy: a family-run funeral home. The show’s offbeat concept was part of Fox’s early push into unconventional sitcom territory during the network’s formative years. The premise revolved around Warren Pepper, a straight-laced mortician who ran the “Sincerity Mortuary” with his sister Debbie. Their operations were disrupted when Debbie’s flamboyant, wisecracking husband Ernie Lapidus became a partner in the business.
Good Grief received a very mixed reception. Ratings were modest at best, and after thirteen episodes, Fox opted not to renew it. Though largely forgotten today, it remains a curious example of early '90s television experimenting with taboo subjects in a sitcom format. Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive Good Grief's pilot episode, "Ladies and Gentlemen... Ernie Lapidus!".
Starring: Howie Mandel, Joel Brooks, Sheldon Feldner, Wendy Schaal, Ruth Manning, Jack Yates, & Danny Silver
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S1E1: Bust Down

“Bust Down” is single-camera sitcom created by and starring Langston Kerman, Jak Knight, Chris Redd, and Sam Jay that premiered on Peacock in 2022. It centers on four friends who work low-wage jobs at a casino in Gary, Indiana. The show leans heavily into raunchy humor and over-the-top scenarios, with the creators noting they wanted it to be “raunchy, irreverent, and complicated".
Critics generally responded positively and praised Bust Down's bold comic voice and willingness to push boundaries. Sadly, months after the show's release, Jak Knight passed away. It's unclear if this factored into the end of the show. Bust Down now exists as a 6 episode show that may have never realized it's full potential and floats on various streamers. How did the S1E1 boys feel about the show? Listen as they deep dive the pilot episode, "Bad Hang".
Starring: Chris Redd, Sam Jay, Langston Kerman, Jak Knight, DomiNque Perry, Freddie Gibbs, John Douglas, & Dan Bakkedahl
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S1E1: Welcome To Sweden

Welcome to Sweden was a sitcom that aired from 2014-2015. The series was produced in collaboration between Sweden’s TV4 and NBC in the U.S., making it one of the rare cross-Atlantic sitcoms of the 2010s. The show follows Bruce Evans, an American accountant who leaves his career behind in New York to move to Sweden with his Swedish girlfriend, Emma Wiik. Much of the comedy stemmed from Bruce’s struggle to adapt to Swedish culture.
Welcome to Sweden earned an International Emmy nomination and developed a small cult following, especially among expats and viewers interested in cross-cultural stories. However, ratings in the U.S. struggled, leading NBC to cancel the series during its second season in 2015. Did NBC do the right thing or did they fail to help the show find it's audience? Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the show's pilot episode, "Välkommen".
Starring: Greg Poehler, Josephine Bornebusch, Lena Olin, Claes Månsson, Christopher Wagelin, Per Svensson, & Amy Poehler
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S1E1: That's My Bush

That’s My Bush! was a Comedy Central sitcom that aired in 2001. It was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the duo behind South Park. The show, which was a satirical look at life in the White House was green lit with the understanding that the show would focus around whoever ended up winning the 2000 presidential election. The show’s premise was less about politics and more about lampooning the conventions of the American sitcom.
Although reviews were generally positive, praising the show as a clever parody of both politics and sitcom clichés, That’s My Bush! proved unsustainable. High production costs led to cancellation after just eight episodes. Parker and Stone later admitted the series likely wouldn’t have worked in the political climate after September 11, 2001. Listen as the boys deep dive That's My Bush's pilot episode, "An Aborted Dinner Date". 
Starring: Timothy Bottoms, Carrie Quinn Dolin, Kurt Fuller, Kristen Miller, Marcia Wallace, Lisa K. Wyatt, & John D'Aquino
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S1E1: It's Garry Shandling's Show

"It’s Garry Shandling’s Show" was a sitcom that aired on Showtime from 1986 to 1990 where Garry Shandling plays a fictionalized version of himself living in a suburban condo. The series was notable for breaking television conventions at the time, with Shandling directly addressing the audience, acknowledging that he was in a sitcom, and routinely mocking the artificial structures of television comedy. Its theme song even playfully narrated itself (“This is the theme to Garry’s show…”), further underlining its meta, self-aware style.
Reception was largely positive, with critics praising Shandling’s wit, originality, and the show’s willingness to lampoon television itself. The series helped establish Garry Shandling as a unique comedic voice, paving the way for his later, even more acclaimed HBO series The Larry Sanders Show. In retrospect, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show is remembered as a cult classic that pushed sitcom boundaries and inspired a new generation of TV comedy writers. Will the S1E1 boys enjoy a sitcom poking fun at sitcoms? Listen as they deep dive the show's first episode, "The Day Garry Moved In".
Starring: Garry Shandling, Molly Cheek, Michael Tucci, Scott Nemes, Jason Bernard, Suzanne Kent, Shawn Ora Engemann, Geoffrey Blake, & Vanna White
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