In the US: Wednesdays, 8.30/7.30c, ABC
Well, the Carusometer hasn’t seen anything like this before – not that it can see much from behind those Shades of Justice, sometimes. What can have gone on here with Suburgatory? Two absolutely cracking episodes, full of fun, warmth, pathos and satirical bite that lift it head and shoulders above the rest of the comedy field, even Modern Family these days. Then stuck right in the middle was a near laugh-free suckfest. What happened there?
Oh yes. Different writer.
So if there’s a quick lesson to be learnt about Suburgatory, it’s that as long as Emily Kapnek is writing it, it’s likely to be brilliant; if she’s not, it’s not.
Other than that, I’ve not much to add since the first episode. The cast is great, especially Cheryl Hines and Jane Levy (an odd junior combination of Emma Stone’s snark and hair and Gillian Jacobs’s facial expressions). The writing’s great. Watch it.
Carusometer rating: 1 (Emily Kapnek only); 2 (on aggregate)
Rob’s prediction: As long as Emily Kapnek does as much of the writing as possible, it should run and run. Will certainly last a season.
