What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 7 “College/Pohantoon” (B)

Al going to college is a big deal, but it was never going to be easy, just like so many other adjustments to the American way of doing things. I enjoyed the casting of John Ross Bowie, an actor I feel like I’ve seen in so many projects over the years that it looks like I probably recognize most from “The Big Bang Theory,” as the professor who reacted poorly to Al coming to see him and then was beyond intimidated and subservient to Riley when he showed up to knock some sense into him. Getting Hazel’s input on all this is also always fun, and, after getting the adjustment he hadn’t necessarily earned, Al put his newfound psychology knowledge to use to work on Riley and the effects of his separation from Vanessa that he still hadn’t quite accepted. It was great to see more of Art’s dating life and how he so quickly found out when he wanted to go to a particular restaurant that Lois had previously been married to a big-time football player who, worse than anything else, Art had really liked. Lizzie was probably a bit too eager to rub it in his face and get his reaction on camera, but that does tend to be the way of doing things in this family, mocking rather than comforting, showing a different kind of support than perhaps the traditional loving way parents and children are supposed to be there for one another when things get tough.