Interview with Abe: Bridget Everett

I was delighted to have the chance to revisit season two of “Somebody Somewhere” for AwardsWatch. Watch my conversation with Bridget Everett below!

Interview with Abe: Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller

I spoke with the stars of one of my favorite shows on TV ahead of its second season, “Somebody Somewhere,” for Awards Radar. Watch my conversation with Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller below!

What I’m Watching: Somebody Somewhere (Season Finale)

Somebody Somewhere: Season 1, Episode 7 “Mrs. Diddles” (B+)

I really like when Sam gets to be seen being great at something, as was the case with Tricia noticing her natural sales techniques at the start of the episode. It was great to see Sam try so hard to help Joel find a new church that he liked, and to watch him literally look up to get a feel when he wasn’t so focused on the very hot priest. After Sam accidentally mentioned to Coop that little tidbit about Charity and Rick that he didn’t know, Charity wasn’t having any more of this blackmail, and that presented an absolutely fabulous opportunity for Joel to channel his bible knowledge and help create a compromise situation, one that came just before they were awarded the prize they had worked so hard to win. I’m not sure what to take from Tricia going to visit Coop, and fortunately that’s something that we’ll probably get to see more of in season two. This was also a fun showcase for Fred, who came by to see Ed and then sponsored a wild night that started with poker and drugs and ended with Sam playing a truly heartfelt song for Joel that made him just want to stay in the moment. Mary Jo’s decision to come home because she knew they couldn’t afford her staying in rehab was a nice moment, one that showed the resilient nature of her marriage to Ed. I’ll be thrilled when this show returns for season two, and until then, can we work on getting Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller Emmy nominations?

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Bridget Everett as Sam and Jeff Hiller as Joel

What I’m Watching: Somebody Somewhere

Somebody Somewhere: Season 1, Episode 6 “Life Could Be a Dream” (B+)

It seems like Joel’s relationship with Michael didn’t last past that mid-storm phone call, and while Joel shrugged it off when he told Sam, it was obviously not his choice, as we saw when Michael gave him some of his things and the Vitamix that he was going to give him for Christmas. The friendship that Sam and Joel have is truly very warm, and that made Sam quitting following a surprisingly positive performance review that imagined her there for years all the more difficult for him. Loudly complaining about how he didn’t like any of his other coworkers probably wasn’t his best move, and it’s going to be a tough adjustment which won’t be helped by him laughing uncontrollably when someone trips over a drawer. The family meeting at the rehab started out awkwardly and quickly devolved from there, with the fact that Mary Jo had never even mentioned Holly offensive enough to get both her daughters enraged. Sam going to sing to Holly’s grave and then to her mom was a powerful note on which to end the episode. It was good to see that Tricia found a very passive-aggressive way of communicating her feelings to Charity with the messages on the pillows, and that she then figured a way to keep the store open without having to see her every day when Coop came in to use the bathroom, blissfully unaware of the fact that his wife was cheating on him. That’s probably for the best given how Charity is trying to downplay it and how Tricia is not even remotely ready to move on.

What I’m Watching: Somebody Somewhere

Somebody Somewhere: Season 1, Episode 5 “Tee-Tee Pa-Pah” (B+)

It’s easy to forget that this show’s Kansas setting links it to one of the most famous disaster movies of all time, “The Wizard of Oz,” and that its residents might be both more prepared for similar events and behave very recklessly in the face of them, like hiding out outside while trying to calm a foster dog. Joel’s timing didn’t work out so well, but there was something therapeutic in how he sat completely drenched with those terrifying clouds in the distance, pondering about what mattered to him and ultimately leaving a voicemail about the things he wanted – a Vitamix and kids – and what he wasn’t ready for yet – a proposal. Fred’s advice to Sam was not particularly helpful, but she didn’t have much say in what how she could approach Tricia since the window smashed in pretty quickly so they too had to hunker down. After some copycat vomiting, they had a nice time drinking together and bonding, and then we got to see the humorous motel scene where Tricia bartered for information and the key to Rick’s room. Joel trying to Venmo the guy was pretty funny. Rick seemed like he might be able to get away with it, but Charity was right there in the bathroom and earned herself a very painful-looking punch to the stomach before she could say much. We’ll see what happens going forward, but Tricia isn’t likely to hold anything against Sam, which is a good thing, and this could actually be very positive for their relationship.

What I’m Watching: Somebody Somewhere

Somebody Somewhere: Season 1, Episode 4 “Feast of St. Francis” (B+)

I like that, sometimes, things do work out for Sam, like when she stepped in to take out a red wine stain with a clever white wine trick that at first seemed invasive and then turned out to be truly helpful. She wasn’t sure that her presence was wanted when she was out axe-throwing, and then it turned out to be a setup, which seemed to go pretty well. I’m glad that she finally confronted Rick, who caught on to her very obviously tailing him and appeared to be genuinely fearful about Sam telling Tricia that he was dealing drugs. Unfortunately, after everything and Sam being a tremendous help during the event, she saw something she shouldn’t have, which is now a secret that’s going to make her the enemy whether she tells her or keeps it to herself. Tricia freaking out about how the Kansas rainbow may be misinterpreted for a different kind of rainbow was entertaining, and Sam pointing it out gleefully only added to her panic. Ed wanting to keep his wife being in rehab a secret made some sense, and I like that he showed up to the store in the suit that he planned to be buried in with a perfect cover story and an appetite for cheese. Joel does have a gift that he could use to help others at the church, but the intensity of the rash that he developed when Pastor Deb said she wanted to meet with him indicated that he’s just not capable of lying and feels enough guilt about it to feel like he’s not worthy of the title.

Take Three: Somebody Somewhere

Somebody Somewhere: Season 1, Episode 3 “Egg Shells” (B+)

Well, the relationship that never was between Sam and her neighbor isn’t going to happen now that he’s been arrested for dealing fentanyl, and the majority of this episode was devoted to Sam trailing someone else she was pretty sure was also dealing drugs. The surveillance operation with Joel on Rick was not quite thrilling, as highlights included him buying a hot dog and then watching a chainsaw artist for forty-five minutes. The far more entertaining bit was what was happening in the car, like Sam being unsurprised that Joel had binoculars because he was a birder and then wanting a snack before singing about details about the things Joel might have needed to do one time in his car. As usual, their enjoyable time together got peppered by something serious, as Joel commented that Sam sitting around drinking wine in her underwear on Saturdays sounded lonely. The fun started soon enough after, and fortunately this show is a comedy, otherwise that tractor-passing stunt would have been much more than just an exhilarating moment. Her on-stage performance where she sung her heart out and then ripped her shirt open followed by thunderous applause was quite triumphant, but I think my favorite musical performance of the episode was Tricia and Sam joining Mike on the guitar. The ensuing reveal of how problematic Mary Jo’s drinking has become led to a superb scene between Sam and Mike where he suggested rehab was only for movie stars, followed by an unheard but compelling conversation between husband and wife. We’ll see the effects of that in the future, but this episode still wanted to end on a light note, with the carefully-curated window display being ruined by graffiti penises.

Round Two: Somebody Somewhere

Somebody Somewhere: Season 1, Episode 2 “Knick-Knacks and Doodads” (B+)

I’m still not sure I could accurately describe what this show is about, but I’m definitely intrigued and enjoying getting to know our two protagonists. Sam’s state of mind and general comfort with the world was demonstrated when she angrily marched outside to ask her neighbor to stop making noise so early only to find out that it was twelve thirty in the afternoon and that she wasn’t wearing any pants. I liked that owned that interaction later and promised it wouldn’t happen again, resulting in a wish for a nice life since there would no longer be any conversation in the future. Getting demoted and moved to a much younger and condescending woman’s team to grade essays was a blow, but there’s no one quite so capable of making her feel bad as her sister, who threw in an unsubtle suggestion to go to the gym with an overall biting analysis of how she was “well past forty” and life should have started already. It was unfortunate that she then lashed out at Joel for having a vision board that he wouldn’t possibly be able to accomplish in Kansas, and I liked that he was eventually receptive to forgiving her but forced her to do Zumba as a form of atonement. A visit to Kim was also helpful for reminding her that it is possible for her to be happy, but that she has to make certain moves to assure that for herself and not let others tell her what she can and can’t do, which has been happening a lot.

Pilot Review: Somebody Somewhere

Check out my one-minute take on every new pilot, which is embedded below and you can also watch by subscribing to movieswithabe on YouTube.