What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry (Season Finale)

I’m Sorry: Season 2, Episode 10 “New York vs. LA” (B)

It’s weird watching this finale without knowing whether this show is going to continue. It’s on a network which hosts no other series that I watch, and season two was commissioned while the first one was still airing, which makes the notion of a third year for this show completely unknown. Andrea, for one, spent a good deal of this episode renegotiating terms, making jokes about her marriage contract with Mike and his apparent interest, which I think was mostly humorous, in certain activities to which she was not open. Hosting the memorial service for her great-uncle did make Andrea uncomfortable in a more serious way than usual, suddenly contemplating the potential deaths of both her parents, inevitabilities she had always thought of as long-off that seemed much closer now. Both of them were quite casual about it, and Martin’s request for a particular type of bag to be buried in so that he could decompose was quite absurd. I’m glad that no mention of Jennifer’s boyfriend’s enthusiasm for sex leaked at the party, as I feared it would, and instead Andrea, Mike, and viewers were saddled with some unfortunate information they definitely didn’t need about length versus thickness. Mike giving Andrea the ultimate present of revealing that he had bought the tank top just to mess with her was a great way to end the episode, showing her that he understood what she wanted from him when it came to humor and doing bits, which was made funnier by the fact that she was wearing a t-shirt to a fancy restaurant just to make a point about where they were in their relationship. I’d watch more of this show, though I don’t know when we’ll have any information about if it will indeed be back.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Andrea Savage

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 2, Episode 9 “Miss Diana Ross” (B+)

I like the way that this episode played out, particularly in the continuation of the teacher sex dream plotline that’s been occupying most of the conversation between Andrea and everyone she knows for a while now. Copying him on an e-mail she sent to Mike joking about the amount of time that he lasts and how they’re working on it was a horrendous and easily avoidable misstep, but the best part was how he responded to it, reporting on how long he actually lasts and making class-related jokes with her. Somehow, that was less objectionable to both Andrea and Mike than their babysitter using the term “front tushie.” You’d think that Brian would have suggested some of his great babysitter options ahead of time rather than let Andrea squirm, since he devoted considerably more attention to coming up with ways to make fun of her forever as a result of all of her actions. Andrea’s mom continues to make nearly as many inappropriate comments as her daughter, but at least she understands what she’s doing as opposed to her completely clueless dad who is not aware of societal norms at all. You do have to wonder how Andrea got to be how she is, someone who took so much delight in Mike uttering a rare curse word while they were sitting in bed together. Things got plenty awkward with neighbor Shorts again, but most of that was Andrea’s doing and her incredible ability to completely shut down when she has to deal with the important rather than comedic confrontations in her life.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 2, Episode 8 “Sophie’s Choice” (B+)

Title aside, this episode was actually a hit, in no small part thanks to the spotlight given to Allison Tolman, who we haven’t seen as Jennifer since last season and who has struggled to find a follow-up role worthy of her talents after her fantastic debut on “Fargo.” The divorced Jennifer just wanted to be able to hang out with a friend as if everything was normal, displaying more enthusiasm and energy at some points that Andrea. The best scene of this episode came during the cooking class when Jennifer was all too willing to interject in the very public fight between the neighboring couple and confirm, with no actual knowledge, that the wife was indeed having an affair with Bob before bluntly offering to have sex with her husband as revenge. I’m not sure we’ll see any more of her and that plotline, but at least it served as a positive impetus for Andrea to try to get into the role play that she’s hilariously bad at, which of course was quickly interrupted by her mood-killing recorded smoke alarm. Her comment to a disappointed Mike that comedy-wise, things couldn’t have gone better was the true epitome of her eager awkwardness. Running into Jennifer’s husband Scott with Mike while once again shopping for some reason at Los Angeles kosher supermarket Cambridge Farms was definitely a letdown for Andrea, who heaped friendliness on him rather than the biting disdain she so desperately wanted to express and failed so miserably to convey.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 2, Episode 7 “Little Louse on the Prairie” (B)

Andrea definitely got angry over the course of this episode, but it didn’t feel quite as strong or entertaining as some previous installments. Getting lice led to her making many, many jokes about the multitude of creatures living in her hair, only a few of which truly landed, which Andrea knew well as she was making them. Mike rolled his eyes just as he usually does, trying to get past some of the very unromantic voices she put on in the heat of the moment while kindly reminding her that she did need to watch where she put her head. I was happy to see June Diane Raphael, a standout supporting player from “Grace and Frankie,” here as Andrea’s wild friend who always hijacks their joint birthday in a way that makes Andrea feel extremely unfulfilled and, in this case, fall off the toilet out onto the floor of the bathroom. That moment was full of much more physical discomfort and embarrassment than Andrea is used to since that usually comes from her the words she says instead, and she didn’t dwell on that nearly as much as she did on the lice, which was a bit disappointing since I think that could have led to some humorous follow-up scenes. I’m finding that I prefer the writing scenes Andrea shares with Jason Mantzoukas’ Kyle to the ones she shares with Scott Aukerman’s Rob, though it feels a lot like Mantzoukas won’t be back anytime soon and that we’ll be stuck with the other guy instead.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 2, Episode 6 “The Small of My Back” (B+)

Andrea was on fire in this episode, expressing plenty of passion in every conversation she had, whether it was chastising her father for having sex in the house when Amelia was sleeping over, telling Mike about the sex dream she had about Mr. Castellotti, or recounting both of those unfortunate happenings to her friend Brian, who was all too eager to both digest the information and then tell all the other parents about it. It could have been a lot worse than Amelia telling Andrea in front of Brian that she just wanted to “do it for fun” when she grew up, and it did seem that Andrea left things awfully unresolved when she failed to truly emphasize the adult nature of sex and that it probably wasn’t something she should reference on the playground. I was very excited to see Rose McIver’s name in the credits since I’m a huge fan of the “iZombie” star, whose show returns for its final season in May. I wish that she would have had a bigger role, but at least she got to play it completely straight with Andrea before she finally acted on the information she had all too subtly alluded to and then remained just as emotionless in her response after confirming the affair. In the way that this show has always resembled “Curb Your Enthusiasm” a bit, I enjoyed Martin’s eagerness to let the waiter go through his whole speech about what to order at the restaurant when he had indeed been there before and Andrea seemed totally ready to put in her order before he opened his mouth.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 2, Episode 5 “Extra Boobs” (B+)

It’s no surprise that Andrea is an extremely awkward patient, though her doctor wasn’t exactly being the epitome of professional when she kept laughing at her underarm situation. She tried to throw Mike under the bus when he made a humorous but definitely inappropriate comment after her recovery, but he wasn’t having any of it and refused to admit to what he had said. Mike is usually much more subdued than Andrea and less prone to make jokes that would be deemed overly colorful, but he got his chance while she was still coming back after the procedure to be the more profane one, which was entertaining. He also refused to let Sharon off the hook when Andrea was piling on about the present nature of her relationship, affirming that he too found it strange. As tends to be the case with looking into your ancestry, Andrea found out some things about her parents’ roots that didn’t make her feel all that great, starting with her father’s casual mention of the fact that he wasn’t actually Greek. His switch to making jokes about being Polish didn’t go over well with her, and that’s before her mom essentially confirmed that her family have been Nazis. Andrea always has big reactions to just about anything, and so the fact that both of her parents were so nonchalant about destroying everything she had always believed made the impact of that news all the more startling. Letting Amelia still present herself as Greek was probably the smart and safe choice.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 2, Episode 4 “Couple’s Massage” (B+)

This season feels like it’s had a lot more to say about parenting than the first year, and I’m all for it. Amelia asking Santa for an iPad help start them on a productive course towards teaching her what money means which was completely undone by Sharon giving Amelia her used iPad so that she could get a new one. Andrea always seems to have the worst luck of running into people when she’s with a newly educated Amelia, who in this case suggested that they didn’t have $3 to spend on socks when Andrea was recognized by a Sony exec. Starting chores to earn her allowance is a good idea, though her concept of how much five weeks’ worth will end up getting her is considerably skewed. Going for a couple’s massage with her mother was probably never a smart plan, and her mom moaning loudly during it wasn’t even the worst part, after she had already been a bit too receptive to Santa’s flirtation. I keep wondering where we’ll see Lennon Parham’s Beth again, and having her show up when both she and Andrea were topless was just the right level of uncomfortable for Andrea, who had no choice but to lean into the topless hug so generously offered. Wishing the number of people she had slept with was higher than it was felt very in character, and the final scene with her running into the former neighbor who she thought she had hooked up with but actually hadn’t was predictably embarrassing.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 2, Episode 3 “Barbara T. Warren” (B+)

It shouldn’t have as a surprise that a topic like death would be raised by Amelia, and, as usual, Andrea and Mike paused to think about what they should say before presenting what probably seemed at the time like an innocuous answer. I don’t know who Rich Eisen is, but obviously his presence and his problematic party favor were irritating enough to all the parents in spite of his celebrity status. Amelia loudly telling her mom that the old man at the supermarket was going to die soon was plenty awkward (also, interesting that Andrea shops at Cambridge Farms, a fully kosher supermarket in the valley in Los Angeles), but I preferred her excitement about picking out her room when she got to move in with her uncle, played by Nelson Franklin, who I had forgotten that we had seen before on this show. Sharon telling him that she was very proud of him had both her children reeling for the eventual reveal of her actual thoughts, in a scene that really made them seem believable as siblings. Andrea joking about Rob taking off his pants so that she could get the money she needed to pay for the coffee was uncomfortable, a realization that comedy out in the real world doesn’t always work if the right audience isn’t there, and then things went way too far when a joke about fellatio played out in a very literal way that no one was expecting. It’s never a good sign when Andrea is the shocked one.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 2, Episode 2 “Quietly Bleeding” (B+)

I enjoyed the opening scene of this hour in which Andrea was waiting at the supermarket with a random young guy for the condoms to be unlocked. That uncomfortable moment led to another great scene in this half-hour where Adam Scott from “Parks and Recreation” played her gynecologist, who happened to be Steve, Mike’s camp counselor, who was more than happy to catch up casually in the middle of her exam, something that did not sit well with Andrea at all. The realization that Andrea and Mike are on separate islands was a helpful return to reality for the two of them, but of course she dealt with it through comedy, joking about divorce while Mike suggested that therapy was probably a better first option. Sharon insisting the Mike was the best thing that ever happened to her was entertaining, and she definitely does have an inappropriate fixation on her son-in-law. The couple did manage to get back on track after seeing horrifying gender stereotypes in other people and then springing into action when the guy got a serious head wound during his story. Telling his wife that yes, she should ride in the ambulance with him was a great moment. Olive learning how to read isn’t good for anyone, and there were unfortunate implications that came about like her telling the dentist Andrea thought his breath was bad and her newfound ability to recognize words that her parents used to be able to spell without her knowing. You learn something new every day, like how “feisting” means being crazy.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry (Season Premiere)

I’m Sorry: Season 2, Episode 1 “Quietly Bleeding” (B+)

It’s been almost a year and a half since this show went on hiatus after the end of its first season, and I’m very happy to have it back on the air. This is primarily a vehicle for Andrea Savage to make jokes, and it succeeds very well in that in its first installment of the year. There are the problems that she encounters in her daily life as a parent, like having to talk to her daughter about pubic hair and deal with other adults and teenagers telling her things that start conversations she might have liked to delay for a few years. The physical appearance and dress of Amelia’s kindergarten teacher and what he said to her when she reported what Amelia had told her didn’t help matters at all, and making assumptions has rarely served Andrea well in the long run. Her sudden obsession with how much she might make as a prostitute was an entertaining subplot, one that put Mike in an amusing position to do research. Jason Mantzoukas continues to be a great supporting player as Andrea’s writing partner, and though I had seen it already in advertisements for the return of this show, I laughed when Andrea reached over his computer to hit random keys and suggested that it was better than anything Kyle had ever written. I’m curious to see if Lennon Parham, former star of “Playing House,” who portrayed potentially friendly mom Beth, will have a bigger role opposite Andrea that will allow her to utilize her comic talents.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry (Season Finale)

I’m Sorry: Season 1, Episode 10 “Off the Charts” (B)

This wasn’t the best episode of this show to end on, though it’s a relief to know that this won’t serve as its enduring legacy since the show has already been renewed for a second season. Some of the humor on this show comes off as a bit random, while some of it is much more awkward than funny. Brian showing up to pretend like his kid also got rejected from each school when it turns out that both kids got into both was strange, and Andrea pretending that she had forgotten her phone because she didn’t want to gloat when everyone else was so dismayed hardly seemed believable. Why Brian would think that it was funny that Andrea sent that horrifically inappropriate picture to the preschools is beyond me, and it seems like she’s going to have to do a lot of atoning to make up for it. Her dad’s sudden interest in boudoir photos of his family was odd, and the fact that he was on ecstasy while hosting the party helped to add some context to his erratic behavior. Sharon make things just as uncomfortable when she excitedly made jokes about Mike’s sperm, something that he didn’t like at all. The idea of them having another kid is interesting, mainly because I can imagine that Andrea is going to milk being pregnant for all of its perks and get a lot of flak for doing that, if her attempts to try not to brag about having a baby at a fertility clinic were any indication. My wife laughed when she heard the conversation Mike and Andrea were having about perfect eyesight since we’ve had that same talk. This show is funny but I’d love to see it grow a bit more in season two, and I look forward to its return, whenever that may be.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Andrea Savage

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 1, Episode 9 “Weekend Alone” (B+)

Some of the things that happen on this show are just sort of random, like Andrea running into someone that she thought she knew in a supermarket only to realize that they didn’t know each other at all, and others she turns into a big deal by not going the easy route. She fought hard to get invited to the plans that she’s no longer included in because she has a kid, evidenced by her initial reaction to the 9:30 time, but when her daughter and husband were away, she was all for it. I like that she walked around with no pants, including when she went outside, and that Mike deemed that unhygienic and inconvenient. Bringing up the fact that the shorts conversation has run its course with Sandy was a preventable and unwise move, and seeing him in pants and unwilling to engage at the end of the episode demonstrated just how much this non-friendship is going nowhere even more now. After being complimented for her unbridled vulgarity, Andrea dropped her key in the Uber but refused to admit that she had done it, instead making up lies about her son the enthusiastic archer being in the house, resulting in her setting off the alarm, having to guess which one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles it was, and concluding that she’ll be dead by the time she can speak to someone during regular business hours. She was right to chastise Kyle for answering her call while with another woman, and her attempt to take a silent stand against the inappropriate blind man at the coffee shop only resulted in her being confronted for calling another woman a garbage person. Posting on the forum as Mike wasn’t nearly as amusing as his horrified reaction to learning about its occurrence.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 1, Episode 8 “Butt Bumpers” (B+)

I guess that’s the story of this show: Andrea turning situations that didn’t need to be quite as awkward as they are and making them much, much worse. There’s no denying that Andrea’s single-parent play date with Ben was incredibly uncomfortable, but it was infinitely more cringe-worthy to hear her bring it up and for it to become immediately clear that Ben hadn’t shared it with Caroline, making it into a much bigger deal than it should have been. Their excitement about thinking that waiters looked like famous people also came to a shattering end as their friendship quickly dissipated, a real shame for the overeager Andrea and Mike who were so thrilled to have made friends like this. The next most horrifying moment of the episode was when Amelia went up to Jocelyn and asked her what she did, replying to her answer with “That’s not enough, what else do you do?” I think that Andrea is going way overboard in her efforts to counterprogram the negative messages that Amelia is getting about female empowerment, and it’s starting to show in some unfortunate ways. I liked everyone’s reactions to Sharon’s description of feeding Leon dinner in bed, and seeing it in action was just about as bad as could be expected, though I’m sure Andrea’s father will be celebrating since it doesn’t speak too well to Leon’s autonomy. The shorts neighbor hasn’t gotten any further than that, and I think it’s a real shame given Steve Zissis’ potential. I’d like to hope that there’s more in store for him in the future.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 1, Episode 7 “Divorce Fantasy” (B+)

I’m thrilled to open this review by confirming the terrific news that this show has been renewed for a second season by TruTV. I don’t imagine it as the time of show that’s being broadly watched simply because of the network it airs on, and so I’m excited that said network has decided to bring it back for another round since I do enjoy it a lot. Leave it to Andrea to have a divorce fantasy despite being happily married, and for her to picture the life of a divorcee as so glamorous and enthralling rather than prone to lead a waitress to being on the verge of tears while serving customers. Andrea is never one to let anything go, and as a result she just had to pry and ask the waitress if she was okay, despite her friend Jennifer’s insistence that she should just leave it be. This was a better showcase for Allison Tolman as Jennifer as she tried to wade slowly back into the dating pool while Andrea was trying to push her all the way in right away. Getting roofied the first night they went out was bad news, and of course Andrea would try to downplay the seriousness and miserable nature of the situation. Martin telling Andrea about his clubbing enthusiasm was a bit random, and he was quite a stickler for owning his idea despite Andrea’s attempts to throw a party for him that might speak to his eccentric new interests. Changing decades turned out to be a great and simple solution, one that made her eyes roll all the way back into her head as she actually got angry with someone and was on the right side of an argument for once.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 1, Episode 6 “Too Slow” (B+)

I’d never accuse Andrea of trying to be politically correct, but naturally she’d want to be appropriately polite to the only lesbian couple at Amelia’s school – the same way she’d be to any people regardless of their sexual orientation. I immediately recognized Lizzy Caplan as one half of the monster couple, who initially seemed like they might just be a bit more lax with their parenting style, but after they encouraged their son hitting, they completely destroyed a random employee just for doing his job, it was clear that they were terrible people. I love that Andrea was offended when they said that she and Mike were uptight, even though it got them out of having to hang out with them anymore. We hadn’t seen much of Nelson Franklin from “New Girl” and “Veep” as David previously, but he took on a more substantial role in this episode as Andrea told her mom that he was gay and then met with him, expecting him to officially come out to her. The news that he’s dating his roommate’s girlfriend is utterly inconsequential for this show as a whole, but I suspect that this isn’t the last we’ll see of him and hear of this. Andrea hitting the car in front of her because she got distracted trying to take a picture of the woman dressed in all pink was pretty ridiculous, and she’s never one to lose an argument willingly, as evidenced by her forcing Amelia to come sit around during the dance classes she didn’t want to go to after committing to them.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 1, Episode 5 “Acts of Service” (B+)

One of the fun things about shows about comedians playing themselves, or a version of themselves, is that the crude nature of their humor doesn’t always jive with the family lives that they lead. Andrea’s efforts to make jokes at school with the other moms is the best example, since everyone else was saying something that seemed like it might cross the line yet only her comments about things like having heroin in her bag get angry looks from the other judgmental parents. Certainly some of this show’s humor, like the ending conversation about rape, aren’t up my alley, but it works in the context of this show and of how Andrea turns it into comedy gold. Having a very inappropriate picture on her slideshow of daughter pictures to prank Kyle every time probably isn’t the best idea either given how easy it was for her daughter to stumble upon it. Talking about the book on love language was funny, and Mike’s efforts to be ahead of the game and always offer to do things for Andrea were highly entertaining. I like that they were able to be honest with each other and point out just how much it didn’t feel right to do it, and I think they really have to question the advice their therapist gave them. Finding out that her father was in an open relationship with Bonnie was quite a shock for Andrea, and I think she read a bit too much into the excitement of romance with that and with her encounter with the makeout dentist.

What I’m Watching: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 1, Episode 4 “Goddess Party” (B+)

I was very happy to see Allison Tolman in the opening scene of this episode since I’m a big fan of the “Fargo” actress and relieved to see her in something – anything – better than the horrific “Downward Dog.” Maybe she’ll play more of a part at another point in the show, but in this episode she was really just there to send Andrea on a tirade about the ridiculousness of a goddess party. I enjoyed Andrea’s attempt to buy the cheaper stones only to guilt herself into the original choice. Her participation in the goddess party was extremely uncomfortable, and her decision to go again despite not having anything all that useful to say either time was unfortunate. Comparing Nazis to Harry Potter probably wasn’t the smartest decision either, and I like that Mike pointed out that she was patting herself on the back for solving a problem she caused in the first place. Her nanny Olivia is pretty entertaining, offering unsolicited comments about her hair, barbs aplenty and amusing Andrea to no end, and I loved the focus on the hot nanny next door who both Jocelyn and Andrea found incredibly attractive even though she was initially concerned that it would be the men who would fall for her. Mike noting that, according to her, his Achilles heel was potato chips and hers was another man was funny. Andrea is pretty good about making things that aren’t a big deal at all into something, and this was an excellent case of that.

Round Two: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry: Season 1, Episode 3 “Ass Cubes” (B+)

I think the title of this episode says it all. Andrea was actually pretty mean to Kyle when he started talking about wanting to meet someone to settle down with, and while that does involve the use of some tap water in an unfortunate place, that’s what makes him happy, and technically she is the one who made the match. I was trying to figure out where I knew Miss Shelly from, and I think it’s because Lyndon Smith played Natalie on “Parenthood.” I love that she was a perfect fit for Kyle, which made the idea of her teaching Amelia horrifying to Mike. I wasn’t sure how Mike would fit into this show, but his reactions to Kyle and Andrea are pretty great, and I like that he tried to make his own joke, prompting Andrea to doubt her comedic abilities. That it would be her lack of desire to have kids that ruined the relationship seems like a rather adult resolution to the whole situation. Andrea didn’t know how to react to her father’s attempts to woo her mother while her father-in-law is still very much healthy and alive, and I liked all the jokes about Leon being close to death’s door. Casting Martin Mull, recently Emmy-nominated for his role as Bob on “Veep,” as Andrea’s father makes a lot of sense, and I suspect that the occasional motorcycle-rider and frequent flirter will be back again to try to get with Kathy Baker’s Sharon and drive his daughter crazy in the process.

Pilot Review: I’m Sorry

I’m Sorry (TruTV)
Premiered July 12 at 10pm

I was really excited when I saw posters for this show in the New York City subway. I’m a big fan of Andrea Savage, an actress I’ve only recently come to know over the past few years. She was a recurring player on “Episodes,” “iZombie,” and “Veep,” and I enjoyed watching her most in a small but very memorable role in “Sleeping with Other People.” I read somewhere that this is yet another show about a comedian’s life, but I think that it’s a pretty strong one, and one at this point which I’m looking forward to coming back to and experiencing throughout the summer. The storylines – a former porn star who’s a kid’s mom, a daughter who doesn’t like the color of her black friend’s skin, and having to pee on jalapeno hands – range from legitimately funny to uncomfortably awkward, and this show handles it all pretty well. Savage is terrific, and it’s great to see her anchoring a show. I particularly like all the people she’s surrounded hersef with, including Judy Greer and her “Sleeping with Other People” scene partner Jason Mantzoukas. Episode one was fun because it had Gillian Vigman and June Squibb, both of whom contributed well. The dynamic that Andrea has with her not-as-funny husband is great too, and I like how certain tropes, like her waiting to hear from a doctor on a Saturday, are returned to over and over. This show seem like it could definitely be a lot of fun, and I’m ready for more.

How will it work as a series? This is a familiar setup in a lot of ways, one that is present on a number of shows at the moment, and it’s going to be up to Savage to make it work both in the scripts and on camera. I think she’s up for the task, and while this won’t all be gold, most of it is sure to be very funny and entertaining.
How long will it last? Reviews have been pretty decent from what I can tell, and I’m not too skilled at interpreting cable ratings, especially for a network like TruTV. This is one of its first original scripted comedies, and so I’m not sure there’s much to compare it to, and therefore I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and assume that its quality will make up for low numbers, leading to a second season renewal sometime in the near future.

Season grade: B+