Episodes: The First Season

A Smart And Savvy Industry Satire--Matt LeBlanc Plays Matt LeBlanc In Another Finely Tuned Ensemble
When Showtime was touting the new comedy "Episodes" for its winter line-up, a lot of the pre-press and advertising had to do with Matt LeBlanc. While I like LeBlanc, his presence in a new show was neither a particular draw for me nor a deterrent. However, I did tune in to give the program a shot and was pleasantly surprised that instead of purely a LeBlanc vehicle, "Episodes" featured a smart and savvy ensemble of actors in a delightful (and frighteningly believable) skewering of the entertainment industry. Most specifically, the show targets the creative and borderline insane process behind bringing a new television program to air. This surprisingly intelligent foray into scathing satire may not be the best program on the subject I've ever seen (try the uncomfortable awkwardness of "The Comeback," the blistering ruthlessness of "Action," or the of-the-moment imperative of "Grosse Pointe" as other possible candidates), but it is pretty on-the-mark!

What is intriguing, and...

Just Hilarious; highly recommend
Too bad there were only seven epidosdes in season one because this comedy is fantastic. Highly recommend you give this a try--regardless of whether you ever liked Matt LeBlanc in Friends.

"And We Got Joey!" 4 1/2*
Difficult to sum it up better than "K Harris". However, in addition, I could actually relate to both how a sitcom is created and a behind the scenes look at life in a Hollywood studio.

Yes, this is a great ensemble cast:

1.) Kudos to character actor John Pankow (as Merc the network executive) is a "dark horse". His character is so truly distasteful that I want to strangle him every time he has a monologue!

2.) Matt LeBlanc, as Matt LeBlanc, alternates between being a poster boy for Hollywood excess and genuinely funny. I like him better in this role than I did in "Friends".

Very good series and another winner by Showtime!

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