The S1E1 Podcast

S1E1: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a sitcom that aired on NBC from 1990 to 1996. The show was produced by Quincy Jones and Warner Bros. Television and introduced Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, who moves from West Philadelphia to live with his affluent relatives in Bel-Air, California. Upon its debut, the show was met with solid ratings and quickly gained popularity. Its humor, and iconic theme song made it a cultural staple of the 1990s.
The legacy of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is substantial. It catapulted Will Smith into superstardom and remains a defining part of his career. The show continued to gain new fans through syndication and streaming, solidifying its status as a classic. Beyond entertainment, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" broke ground in mainstream media by blending hip-hop culture with traditional sitcom structure, making it one of the most influential shows of its era. Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the show's pilot episode.
Starring: Will Smith, James Avery, Janet Hubert-Whitten, Alfonso Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons, Tatyana Ali, & Joseph Marcell
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S1E1: Gary Unmarried

"Gary Unmarried" aired on CBS from 2008-2010. Created by Ed Yeager, the show starred Jay Mohr as Gary Brooks, a recently divorced painting contractor navigating life as a single dad while re0e for the first time in thirty years. This was used as one of the shows in CBS’s effort to build a solid comedy block.
"Gary Unmarried" received mixed-to-positive reviews. Critics often praised Jay Mohr's likability and comic timing, but some found the writing predictable and derivative. It earned a 2009 People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy, suggesting it had some fan support. Despite its early promise, CBS canceled the show after two seasons due to declining ratings. Despite never being on any of the S1E1 boys' radar originally will they take an interest in this one? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode.
Starring: Jay Mohr, Paula Marshall, Jaime King, Al Madrigal, Ryan Malgarini, Laura Marano, Ashley Farley, & Ed Bagley Jr.
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S1E1: $#*! My Dad Says

"$#*! My Dad Says" was a sitcom that aired on CBS from 2010-2011. Inspired by the popular Twitter feed created by Justin Halpern, the series starred William Shatner as Ed Goodson, a cantankerous and outspoken father whose blunt life advice often clashed with modern sensibilities. Jonathan Sadowski played his adult son, Henry, who moved back in with Ed after losing his job, setting up a premise filled with intergenerational humor, father–son banter, and sitcom hijinks.
The show drew attention because of its unusual origin as a Twitter account and Shatner’s star power, but critical reception was lukewarm at best. Many reviewers felt the humor leaned too heavily on Ed’s crude one-liners and never developed its characters beyond stereotypes. CBS canceled "$#*! My Dad Says" after its first season. Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive this mostly forgotten about show's pilot episode.
Starring: William Shatner, Jonathan Sadowski, Will Sasso, Nicole Sullivan, & Tim Bagley
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S1E1: Salute Your Shorts

Salute Your Shorts is a sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon from 1991-1992, set at the fictional Camp Anawanna. The show follows a group of teenage campers navigating a summer of friendships, rivalries, and pranks. All of which while under the half-watchful eye of their counselor, "Ug". The show's appeal lies in its ability to balance silly slapstick humor with a level of gritty realness and authenticity.
Despite only running for two seasons, Salute Your Shorts carved out a lasting legacy and became one of Nickelodeon’s top programs of all time with a loyal following that remains to this day. It stands as a beloved emblem of early '90s Nickelodeon. Will the S1E1 boys enjoy this trip back to their youth or will this show get an Awful Waffle? Listen as they deep dive the shows first episode, "Michael Comes to Camp".
Starring: Megan Berwick, Michael Bower, Danny Cooksey, Venus DeMilo, Trevor Eyster, Heidi Lucas, Erik MacArthur, & Kirk Baily
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S1E1: Suddenly Susan

Suddenly Susan is sitcom that ran from 1996-2000 on NBC. In it Brooke Shields starred as Susan Keane who begins a journey of self-discovery after leaving her fiancé at the altar. She then returns to her job at The Gate, a trendy publication owned by her ex’s brother. He offers her a new role: writing a column about navigating single life, aptly titled “Suddenly Susan.” This sets the stage for a workplace comedy filled with quirky colleagues and personal reinvention.
Critics were divided on Suddenly Susan, with some appreciating the ensemble cast and Shields’ comedic charm, while others found the writing uneven and the premise thin. Ultimately, changes to both the cast and creative team lead to a declining audience and a cancelation from the network. Will the S1E1 boys enjoy revisiting this 90s classic? Listen as they deep dive the shows first episode, "First Episode".
Starring: Brooke Shields, Nestor Carbonell, Kathy Griffin, Judd Nelson, David Strickland, Barbara Barrie, Anthony Starke, & Kurt Fuller
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S1E1: Florida Girls

Florida Girls is a Pop TV original sitcom that aired in 2019. The show follows the lives of four women living in a small, working-class town in Florida. Despite their ages they have not yet fully embraced adult responsibilities. Instead of pursuing typical career paths or higher education, they spend their time partying and making poor life choices.
The show was praised for its funny, fresh perspective on female friendship, and for its quirky, offbeat characters. Critics appreciated the show’s blend of light-hearted and serious moments. Despite the show recieving praise from most critics, Florida Girls never found its audience. Did this one come and go too soon? Listen as the S1E1 guys deep dive the show's pilot episode.
Starring: Laura Chinn, Patty Guggenheim, Laci Mosley, Melanie Field, Kyle S More, Courtney Pauroso, & Chris WIlliams
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S1E1: Two and a Half Men

"Two and a Half Men" is a CBS sitcom that aired from 2003 to 2015. The show was created by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn, and became one of the most successful sitcoms during its run. The story begins when Alan (Jon Cryer), a neurotic and unlucky-in-love chiropractor, is kicked out of his house by his ex-wife, Judith, and shows up at the Malibu beach house of his older brother, Charlie (Charlie Sheen). Charlie, a wealthy bachelor and jingle writer, leads a carefree life filled with alcohol, women. Despite being polar opposites, the two form a dysfunctional co-parenting duo when Alan brings along his 10-year-old son, Jake (Angus T. Jones).
The early seasons were a massive hit with audiences, thanks to sharp writing and the undeniable chemistry between Sheen and Cryer. Though often labeled “juvenile” or “lowbrow” by critics, viewers of "Two and a Half Men" embraced the crass humor and relatable family tension. Charlie Sheen’s erratic behavior, drug use, and public rants against producer Chuck Lorre led to his firing at the end of Season 8. Viewership dropped as result but remained strong enough for CBS to keep the show going. After another four seasons post Sheen creative fatigue finally kicked in and the decision to end the show was made. Listen as the we bring it back to Episode 1 when the boys deep dive the show's pilot episode.
Starring: Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Marin Hinkle, Melanie Lynskey, Holland Taylor, Kristin Bauer, & Tom Wilson
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S1E1: The George Carlin Show

"The George Carlin Show" is a sitcom that aired on Fox from 1994-1995.  The show centers around George O'Grady, a curmudgeonly New York City cab driver in his 50s who hangs out at a neighborhood bar. While it follows a traditional sitcom format with a laugh track and episodic structure, Carlin's involvement ensured that the writing frequently touched on anti-establishment themes, and generational conflicts.
In later interviews, George Carlin expressed disappointment with the creative process behind the show, feeling that network interference diluted his vision and that the show lacked the creative freedom he needed to thrive. The show gave viewers a rare look at Carlin attempting to live within the bounds of a formula he often mocked. Will the S1E1 boys enjoy this or would they rather watch Carlin's classic Stand-Up instead? Listen as they deep dive the show's first episode, "When Unexpected Things Happen to George".
Starring: George Carlin, Alex Rocco, Paige French, Anthony Starke, Christopher Rich, Susan Sullivan, & Mike Hagerty
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S1E1: Dads

"Dads" is sitcom that aired on FOX from 2013-2014. The series stars Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi who play two successful video game developers in their 30s whose lives are turned upside down when their overbearing and dysfunctional fathers move in with them. Much of the show's comedic dynamic is based on culture clash, and boundary-pushing jokes.
"Dads" received largely negative reviews from critics upon its premiere for relying on racial stereotypes, crude humor, and lack of character development. FOX initially defended the series and ordered six more episodes beyond the original 13-episode commitment. However, the show never overcame its critical reception and was cancelled after the season ended. Is this show too much for even the S1E1 boys? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode.
Starring: Seth Green, Giovanni Ribisi, Brenda Song, Vanessa Lachey, Tonita Castro, Peter Riegert, Martin Mull, & Dan Castellaneta
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S1E1: The Grinder

The Grinder is a sitcom that aired on FOX from 2015–2016 starring Rob Lowe as Dean Sanderson, a TV actor famous for playing a lawyer who returns to his hometown and attempts to practice law alongside his actual attorney brother, Stewart (Fred Savage). The show cleverly parodied legal dramas by contrasting Dean's melodramatic, fictional courtroom experience with the realities of practicing law.
Critics praised the series, with many considering it to be one of the standout comedies of the season. Despite its critical acclaim, The Grinder struggled with low viewership which led FOX to cancel the series after just one season, a decision that disappointed fans and cast members alike. Will The S1E1 guys object to FOX's decision? Listen as they deep dive The Grinder's pilot episode.
Starring: Rob Lowe, Fred Savage, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Natalie Morales, Hana Hayes, Connor Kalopsis, William Devane, Steve Little, Brian Huskey, & Kumail Nanjiani
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