2 Best Releases Like Phyllis on Fubotv

Sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with a television show or film from a creativity or execution standpoint. Sometimes, it just has bad timing. It’s still unclear which--or how much of each--is true of St. Denis Medical after screening the six episodes (1-5, 7) provided to critics. Certainly, the series’ choice of the mockumentary with interspersed talking heads format does suffer for timing. There’s little to no freshness left in the approach made storytelling structure du jour back when the American incarnation of The Office entered its imperial era in 2006. While by no means ubiquitous, the subsequent critical and/or ratings successes of shows like Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, What We Do in the Shadows, and Abbott Elementary have made the subgenre’s pleasures familiar. That doesn’t mean it can’t work. After all, both Shadows and Abbott continue to be two of the more consistent pleasures on TV. But it does give a new show playing in that sandbox a bit tougher time. That acknowledged, the format still can give great performers an excellent stage. So St. Denis Medical’s sweet and pleasant but not hilarious vibes suggest that the familiar—perhaps tired—subgenre isn’t the only issue here. Of course, there might be a gulf between what appeals to this critic and what the show wants to do. At this juncture, it seems to be looking for a slower, gentler pace. A show that’s less a joke machine and more a “love and learn with laughs” style throwback. Lead nurse Alex’s (Allison Tolman) stymied efforts to get to her daughter’s musical in the pilot, capped by a milkshake and pep talk from veteran doctor Ron (David Alan Grier) supports this. Continue Reading →

Back in the aughts and early teens, television discovered a kind of alchemy. Take a murder. First, assign some good but overly serious cops to it. Then, team them up with an unusual consultant. Voila! TV magic. In no time, the subgenre spread like wildfire over network and basic cable. Anyone could be a quirky consultant, including a former cop overwhelmed by mental illness (Monk), a mystery writer (Castle), a fake psychic (The Mentalist, Psych), mathematicians (Numb3rs), and time-traveling revolutionary war soldiers (Sleepy Hollow). Sure, they weren’t high art, but they frequently provided a great time in front of your big screen. High Potential, the American remake of a French series, delightfully transports audiences back to that breezy era. Developed by Drew Goddard, the series revolves around Morgan (Kaitlin Olson). A single mom of three, she struggles with interpersonal and professional relationships. The cause, in part, is her off-the-charts IQ, which gives her insomnia, an intolerance for authority, and difficulty dealing with anything that isn’t “right.” Those same features lead her to rework an evidence board at the Los Angeles police precinct where she’s working her latest gig as a cleaning lady. When head detective Selena (Judy Reyes) traces the changes back to Morgan, she offers her a job, much to the frustration of Detective Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), Major Crime’s go-to investigator. Judy Reyes and Daniel Sunjata enjoy that classic morning pairing. Coffee and crime scene photos. (Disney/David Bukach) Javicia Leslie and Deniz Akdeniz, and Garret Dillahunt round the police side of the cast as two younger and more welcoming members of Major Crimes and a gambling-addicted head of Robbery/Homicide, respectively. At home, Taran Killam plays Ludo, Morgan’s most recent ex and father to her two youngest children including Matthew Lamb as Elliot, inheritor of Morgan’s IQ and love of random facts, but not yet her attitude. Her oldest daughter, Ava (Amirah J), seems more like her father, who disappeared when Ava was still in diapers. She believes he abandoned the family, while Morgan insists he’d never. Continue Reading →