What I’m Watching: Veep (Season Premiere)

Veep: Season 6, Episode 1 “Omaha” (B+)

This show is the reigning Emmy champ for Best Comedy Series, taking home the trophy the past two years. While critics and Emmy voters seem to have loved season five, I wasn’t as impressed, and therefore I’m pleased to see this season sort of rebooting things while keeping its characters just as awful. I didn’t laugh out loud more than once or twice over the course of the episode, but this was still an objectively humorous half-hour. The awkwardness on this show is, in my mind, unparalleled, and it’s clear that there is literally no one other than Selina herself who thinks that running for president again is a good idea. Having to ask Marjorie for permission to use funds after giving her AIDS to have to resolve makes things even more uncomfortable, and she manages to do a tremendous job of treating Gary and Mike terribly. She does seem to like Richard, which is a positive in my mind since he’s the best character on the show. Jonah’s new position as cancer-surviving politician suits him well, and I like Dan as a talk show host who just can’t get out of a job that seems fine for now but is sure to make him miserable due to the fury of his cohost. Andrew is especially seedy and manipulative, and for some reason he’s the literally the only person Selina seems to be listening to when she asks for advice. There’s no way that Amy’s relationship with Matt Oberg’s Buddy Calhoun can last since he’s way, way too nice for her. Here’s to a great season, I hope!