Happy Sunday Streamers.
Are all great comedians also great dramatic actors? This week, we’ve got two returning shows that strongly argue yes, with two haha men both playing it straight as semi-reformed criminals battling their own demons. Yes, these titles have a couple of seasons under their belt (so there’s a lot of time to be invested if they are new to you), but read on and I’ll tell you exactly why they’re both worth the watch.
Now let’s get to it.
Barry
What It’s About: This dark comedy tells the story of a disillusioned hit man (Bill Hader), who travels to Los Angeles to execute a hit on an actor, but then, after stumbling into an acting class, decides to start a new life as a thespian - even as his criminal past keeps nipping at his heels.
Why You Should Watch: For dark, laugh out loud comedy
I am writing this before Sunday, which means that Season 3 has yet to premiere. It doesn’t matter. This upcoming season could be a Hindenburg/Netflix Q1 22 earnings report level disaster and it wouldn’t change the fact that seasons 1 and 2 of Barry constitute one of the best TV comedies of the last five years. Never have I seen a show so effortlessly straddle the tonal line between brutally sad and giddily comic, and Bill Hader’s completely unexpected turn as the leading man anchors the whole thing beautifully (and earned him two well-deserved acting Emmys in the process). There’s a special place in my heart for any type of showbiz comedy, and if you live in LA like I do, you’ll immediately cackle in recognition at the spot-on satire of desperate, wannabe actors. If you haven’t given this show a shot yet, here is your sign to start. If not for any of the above, then to at least spend some time with one of the funniest characters to grace our screens in recent years, Noho Hank:
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Bill Hader - Saturday Night Live, and a million other comedies including Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Superbad, Pineapple Express, and Tropic Thunder.
Stephen Root - An all-time character actor, you might recognize him from most Coen Brothers movies, Dodgeball, Get Out, and of course, as Milton from Office Space.
Henry Winkler - AYYYYYYYYYY! Or more recently as Barry Zuckerhorn on Arrested Development, or Coach Klein in The Waterboy.
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:
Barry was created by Bill Hader and Alec Berg, the latter who, either as a producer or a writer, has cooked up comedies such as Silicon Valley, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Eurotrip (!?!).
Where You Can Watch: HBOMax
Better Call Saul
What It’s About: A prequel spinoff to Breaking Bad, this show follows the rise of Albuquerque’s scummiest lawyer, Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk).
Why You Should Watch: For two-bit conmen, feuding drug lords, and Breaking Bad Easter eggs/backstory
Hot take - I like this prequel spinoff more than Breaking Bad. Before you dissolve my body in an acid bath, hear me out. Better Call Saul has the same basic formula as Breaking Bad, where characters with a wavering moral compass are backed into hopeless corners, only to claw their way out through increasingly smart or unexpected means. In Breaking Bad, Walt would often use science or smarts against the criminal underworld; in Better Call Saul, it’s Jimmy McGill (before he becomes Saul Goodman), battling classism with sleight-of-hand, cons and smooth talking which, in my humble opinion, is way more fun. You can’t help but root for the scummy lawyer as he slowly realizes he’ll never be accepted by the upper echelons of Albuquerque society, and is actually better off if he gives ‘em the finger and plays the hand he’s been dealt. Adding to the fun, Jimmy frequently bumps into the warring drug lords and supporting characters we met in Breaking Bad, allowing us to learn way more about Mike, Gus Fring, and the Salamancas, as well as providing unlimited Easter eggs for diehard Breaking Bad fans (allegedly in the sixth and final season we even get a glimpse of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman). If you miss Vince Gilligan’s slow burn, masterful plotting, and Bob Odenkirk’s fast-talking, crooked shenanigans, I highly recommend you dive into this one.
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Bob Odenkirk - A longtime sketch comedian and comedy writer, you might know him from Mr. Show, Little Women, The Post, or as the guy who, while writing on SNL, created the Chris Farley/Matt Foley motivational speaker sketch:
Rhea Seehorn - One of the two main characters who wasn’t in Breaking Bad, Rhea hasn’t done much else to call out (which is surprising because she’s really, really great in this show).
Jonathan Banks - Obviously from Breaking Bad, but he’s also been kicking around Hollywood playing various cops or criminals for over forty years, popping up in Beverly Hills Cop, Gremlins, and Airplane!
Giancarlo Esposito - My mind was blown during the pandemic when I realized Buggin’ Out from Do The Right Thing and Gus Fring were the same person. You might also recognize him from The Usual Suspects, The Mandalorian, and lots of cop procedurals like Law and Order, NYPD: Blue, or Homicide: Life on the Street.
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:
Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, both of whom created Breaking Bad (duh).
Where You Can Watch: Catch up on Seasons 1-5 on Netflix, or watch new episodes as they air live on AMC.