Pilot Review: Son of Zorn

Son of Zorn (FOX)
Premiered September 11 at 8pm

There’s a reason that I don’t watch any of the shows on FOX’S Sunday night Animation Domination comedy block. I just don’t tend to find those shows funny, and watching the latest addition to the lineup, which previewed this past week before its official debut on September 25th, only confirmed that it’s not for me. This show requires an enormous amount of suspension of disbelief, which is obvious, I know, but it’s hard to get around of the absurdity of the concept and the fact that none of it is supposed to be remotely out of the ordinary. That Zorn is the only animated thing in an otherwise entirely live-action world is strange, and I realize that it’s supposed to augment the comedy. There are some concepts that are on the verge of being mildly humorous, like Zorn’s misperception that his boss is a man who does everything like a woman but couldn’t possibly be one because she’s his superior and his citation of a number of famous people who have been known for taking the bus. Jason Sudeikis is a funny guy and he’s got a great voice, but there’s no denying just how irritating Zorn is. I like Cheryl Hines and Tim Meadows, who have spent plenty of time on television in the past. I imagine that they won’t put this at the top of their resumes, even if this show catches on. It’s possible that it could have been clever, but I don’t think it was ever a great idea from the start.

How will it work as a series? There’s something positive in the fact that his boss recognizes his aggression and his inability to correctly perceive how he should react in a given situation as passion, and so hopefully that will help him come around to a better understanding of suburban life away from warfare. He has a long way to go with his son, which should prove frustrating and slow-moving if nothing else.
How long will it last? It’s hard to tell since it’s just a preview, but if it does catch on it could last a long time along with the other series on Sunday on FOX. Apparently the ratings were pretty astounding and the reviews weren’t all that bad, so at this point things are actually looking up for this show, which could well find itself endowed with a second season.

Pilot grade: D-