The S1E1 Podcast

S1E1: Trial & Error

"Trial & Error" is a sitcom that premiered on NBC in March 2017. It was conceived as a mockumentary-style comedy series, following a New York City lawyer (Nicholas D'Agosto) who travels to a small town in South Carolina to defend a poetry professor (John Lithgow) accused of murdering his wife.
Inspired by true-crime documentaries the series employs a comedic blend of courtroom antics, absurd characters, and unexpected twists, providing a satirical take on legal proceedings while keeping viewers entertained with its lighthearted and witty humor.
Despite critical acclaim, the show faced challenges with viewership ratings and was ultimately canceled after two seasons. Was this show a victim of bad marketing strategies or was Trial & Error guilty of simply falling short? Listen as the S1E1 guys dissect the pilot episode of this seemingly unknown sitcom.
Starring: John Lithgow, Nicholas D'Agosto, Steven Boyer, Sherri Shepherd, Krysta Rodriguez, & Jayma Mays
www.S1E1POD.com
Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

S1E1: Malcolm in the Middle

"Malcolm in the Middle" is a sitcom that first premiered on the Fox network on January 9, 2000, and ran for seven seasons. The series revolves around the Wilkerson family (Their last name which is only disclosed in the pilot episode), with the central character being Malcolm, played by Frankie Muniz. Malcolm is a highly intelligent and gifted young boy who finds himself in a middle-class family with often chaotic and dysfunctional dynamics.
"Malcolm in the Middle" received critical acclaim for its humor, writing, and performances. A pre "Breaking Bad" Bryan Cranston's portrayal of Hal earned him widespread recognition, and the show was praised for its realistic depiction of the challenges and dynamics within a large family. It won several Emmy Awards and Golden Globes during its run. The show remains fondly remembered as a standout sitcom from the early 2000s.
Starring: Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan, Catherine Lloyd Burns, & Craig Lamar Traylor
www.S1E1POD.com
Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

S1E1: Out of This World

"Out of This World" was a sitcom that aired from 1987 to 1991. The premise of the show centers around a teenage girl named Evie who on her 13th Birthday discovers that her father is an alien. The show featured Donna Pescow as Evie's mother, and secretly featured Burt Reynolds as her father. The show followed Evie's adventures as she balanced teenage life with the secrets of her extraterrestrial heritage.
While "Out of This World" may not be as well-remembered as some other sitcoms of the era, it had a dedicated fan base and was known for its blend of science fiction and family comedy elements. Will the S1E1 boys enjoy this one or is it better left on another planet? Find out as they deep dive the show's first episode, "Evie's 13th Birthday".
Starring: Maureen Flannigan, Donna Pescow, Joe Alaskey, Doug McClure, & Burt Reynolds
www.S1E1POD.com
Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

S1E1: Greg The Bunny

"Greg the Bunny" is a television show that originally aired on the Fox network in 2002. The show uses a Muppet-like mix of live-action and puppetry, featuring both human and puppet characters interacting. In it, Greg is a puppet who's on his way to apply for a job as an assistant and somehow finds himself as the new star on the children's television show.
Despite the unique concept, "Greg the Bunny" was canceled after its first season. However, it developed a cult following and has since become a favorite among fans who appreciate its irreverent humor. Will this show be a fast favorite of the S1E1 guys? Listen as they deep dive the show's first episode, "Welcome to Sweetknuckle Junction".
Starring: Eugene Levy, Seth Green, Sarah Silverman, Bob Gunton, Dina Spybey-Waters, & Dan Milano
www.S1E1POD.com
Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

S1E1: Smart Guy

"Smart Guy" was a sitcom that aired on The WB network from 1997 to 1999. The show starred Tahj Mowry who had gained recognition for his role on the ABC sitcom "Full House" as T.J. Henderson, a child prodigy who moves up to high school at the age of 10 and has to try to fit in with his older peers. The show was generally well-received for its blend of humor and heart and is remembered fondly by those who watched it during its original run.
Will the S1E1 guys also look back at Smart Guy with the same fondness? Find out as they do a deep dive of the show's pilot episode.
Starring: Tahj Mowry, Jason Weaver, Essence Atkins, John Marshall Jones, Omar Gooding, Anne-Marie Johnson, & Venus DeMilo Thomas
www.S1E1POD.com
Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

S1E1: Get A Life

"Get a Life" was a sitcom that aired on the Fox network from 1990 to 1992. The show starred comedian Chris Elliott as Chris Peterson, a 30-year-old paperboy who lived with his parents. The lose premise of the show being, "What if Dennis The Menace was an adult?". The series was a departure from traditional sitcom formats and embraced a more absurd and unpredictable style. Despite its cult following, "Get a Life" faced challenges in finding a mainstream audience and was eventually canceled after two seasons.Does Get A Life's unconventional humor line up with the somewhat offbeat humor of the S1E1 guys? Listen as they deep dive the show's first episode, "Terror on the Hell Loop 2000" and find out.
Starring: Chris Elliott, Sam Robards, Robin Riker, Elinor Donahue, Bob Elliott, & Mike Hagerty
www.S1E1POD.com
Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

S1E1: The Santa Clauses

"The Santa Clauses" is a show on Disney+ that serves as a legacy-sequel to The Santa Clause film series that originally started in 1994. Here we see Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) now in his 60s and coming to terms with the fact that he can't be Santa forever. He will now have to set out to find a suitable replacement Santa and also prepare his family for a life outside of The North Pole.
Is this show the perfect complement to the original film series that came before it. Or is Disney just using nostalgia to cash in for their streaming platform? Listen as the S1E1 guys deep dice The Santa Clauses first episode, "Chapter One: Good to Ho" and find out.
Starring: Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Austin Kane, Elizabeth Allen-Dick, & Devin Bright
www.S1E1POD.com
Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

S1E1: Three’s Company

"Three's Company" is a classic sitcom that originally aired from 1977 to 1984 which was based on a British sitcom called "Man About the House." The show revolves around Jack Tripper (John Ritter), who shares an apartment with two single women, Janet Wood (Joyce DeWitt) and Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers). To address the societal norms of the time, where co-ed living arrangements were not widely accepted, Jack pretends to be gay in order to convince the landlords that there's nothing improper about the living situation.
Three's Company became a cultural phenomenon and is remembered as one of the iconic sitcoms of the late 1970s and early 1980s. But 46 years after first premiering will the show come off as too dated for the S1E1 guys? Listen as they deep dive its first televised episode "A Man About the House" and find out.
Starring: John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, Suzanne Somers, Audra Lindley, & Norman Fell
www.S1E1POD.com
Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

S1E1: Blackadder

"Blackadder" is a British comedy that originally aired in 1983. It was created by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson with the concept of exploring historical periods and characters in a comedic and satirical manner. With each new series a different era is visited. Atkinson's portrayal of Edmund became iconic and helped the show become an all time classic in British television comedy.
Can Shakespearean style work on a comedic television show? And if so will it hold up 40 year later. Listen as the guys deep dive Blackadder's pilot episode, "The Foretelling" and find out.
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny, Elspet Gray, Robert East, & Patrick Allen
www.S1E1POD.com
Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

S1E1: Party Down

 "Party Down" is a 2009 comedy series that follows a group of struggling Hollywood caterers trying to make it big in the entertainment industry.Despite an amazing cast and being positively reviewed the show didn't gain much traction in the ratings department. As result the show was canceled after only two short seasons. Party Down eventually found its audience after its initial run and became a bit of a cult favorite. This led to the cast returning for a third season in 2023.
What went wrong in the shows initial run? Was this show ahead of its time? Did it land on the wrong network? Was it simply just not as good as people say? Find out as the S1E1 boys review the pilot episode, "Willow Canyon Homeowners Annual Party".
Starring: Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Ryan Hansen, Martin Starr, Lizzy Caplan, Enrico Colantoni, Rebecca Creskoff, Jackie Debatin, & Eden Sher
www.S1E1POD.com
Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD