Brief "My Boys" spoilers coming up just as soon as I smash a guitar... Not crazy about this one, other than the writing of Mike, and some of Bobby's panic about the seating chart. This was the first episode all season where Mike didn't seem mentally-challenged, or so obnoxious that the gang should have performed some kind of intervention, and the "profit margarine" joke" was both really funny and the kind of natural-sounding banter the show hasn't used as much lately. And Bobby's whole "There's a system!" mantra and insistence on getting the RSVP cards by mail rang very true.
But the rest of it? Meh, at best.
Martin Mull was sort of amusing as the self-involved therapist, but that storyline completely glossed over the suggestion that Andy was on the verge of an affair with Jo, or that his marital problems were in any way Jo-related. The punchline to the Mafia/ticket story felt cheap and sitcommy, and I got tired of the parallels between PJ and Brendan's situation about five minutes in.
They've done better, and hopefully they will again. What did everybody else think?
Wasn't Burn Notice on last night, or have you just not posted your review? I was busy giving my thumbs a workout (NCAA 2009 for PS3) and just let the series recording presumably record last night's new episode.
ReplyDeleteThe Andy/Jo thing, while playing fairly true in its awkwardness and not having it jump immediately to an affair, was very nice to see unfold, but I'm not sure this was the best payoff.
ReplyDeleteBy the way....was that a new Meredith? It didn't look or sound all that much like Jeannie North...
Same Meredith.
ReplyDeleteThe things I loved about this episode far outweighed the things that I was a bit more meh on, so overall this was a great one for me. I loved all of the Bobby stressing out of the RSVP cards bits and, actually, I think I just loved Bobby 100% this week. I also loved Mike's "balls" conversations, particularly when he told the prank caller to work on his bit and call him back. That was great. And there haven't been that many first seasonesque Mike/Kenny moments this year, so the "did you just say margerine" bit was most welcome.
I love everything Martin Mull, so blind loyalty made me unwilling to be too critical of his scenes, but yeah...it didn't really go anywhere and the payoff (though cute) wasn't "big" enough to be the climax of the Andy/Jo storyline. At least I'm assuming that was the climax. I hope it was, at least. The PJ/Andy conversation in the bar was very satisfying, though. It was real and a nice brother/sister moment.
And even though Kenny's my favorite and I was glad to see a return to a less brain damaged Mike, their storyline was a lot better before the return of Mexican Freddy. I didn't really need to see him again. Like the actor, don't care for the character to be recurring. It was funny the first time because Mike Bunin made it funny, but now that you know what the Kenny/Freddy relationship is, it really doesn't need to be brought back again and again. Someone they *could* bring back? Trouty.
Even though I haven't totally loved every moment this season, I'm really kind of sad that we only have two or three episodes left. TBS needs to do something about that.
I agree that the Andy/Jo possibility was completely ignored when it needed resolution (or at least a better acknowledgment from Andy that it had gone too far). What was Andy getting from Jo that he wasn't from Meredith? Was Jo actually hoping he would cheat on his wife? These are usually "too deep" questions for sitcoms, but I thought My Boys would pull it off somehow. Sigh. This whole season is very underwhelming and it makes me sad inside of my body.
ReplyDeleteMy local cable company just got TBS in Hi Def a few weeks ago. I've been recording My Boys in HD the past two weeks and the audio is not matching up with the actors. It is extremely annoying. Anyone having these issues? Not sure if this is a TBS deal or my cable company?
ReplyDeleteI second the vote for a return of Trouty - but I fear Johnny Galecki might be too busy with his Big Bang Theory duties to do a guest spot on another show. Here's hoping, though!
ReplyDeleteThis episode was, I feel, pretty typical of the second season so far. Some funny bits, some very bland ones. I feel the season has been a bit mishandled from the start in the way the writers have tried to makes some major change in the situation of each character (with the exception of P.J.) With these character changes, the overarching narrative seems to be all over the place, all the characters going in different directions. It might be the way the lives of a circle of friends works in the real world, but I feel the lack of cohesion is to the detriment of the show. Especially when the joke average isn't sky high.