Emmy Episodes: Brooklyn Nine-Nine

It’s always my policy to watch every Emmy-nominated episode each year, which leads me to sample a handful of shows that I don’t tune in to on a regular basis. For the third year in a row, I’m making a special effort to spotlight each of those installments to offer my perspective on shows that I don’t review each week.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 5, Episode 14 “The Box” (A-)

I don’t know why I couldn’t get into this show when it first started. I enjoyed watching it the three times that Andre Braugher was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, and this is my first episode in two years since he fell off the list after that. Fortunately, Sterling K. Brown, who won an Emmy for “This Is Us” last year and contends again this year, is up for Best Guest Actor for portraying murder suspect Philip Davidson. This is probably the hardest – and most consistently – that I’ve laughed watching an episode of any show in a long time. I love the way that Andy Samberg and Braugher interact as Jake and Ray, and this episode provided a fantastic setup for them to go at their suspect together. His swift decision to cancel his opera night so that he could make Philip sing led to an entertaining series of missteps, the highlights of which were Jake trying to find a way to have “You can’t handle the tooth” come up naturally and Ray trying to bait Philip by saying dentists shouldn’t be called doctors only to have the tables turned on him when he had to defend those with PHDs as doctorates. Philip bringing up the fact that Jake had to be the dumb cop in the smart cop, dumb cop routine was a good moment for him, before Jake got him good by understanding exactly what he needed to feel which would lower his defenses enough to trap him. While Brown is clearly having fun here, I think I’d give Samberg and Braugher more credit for making this episode hilarious. I’d be fine with him winning, though I have to finish watching all the nominees in this category first.

Round Two: The Strain

The Strain: Season 1, Episode 2 “The Box” (B)

I’ll start off by noting that people biting into other people’s necks without warning and snakes crawling out of dead kids’ mouths to attack their parents is not my cup of tea. But like “The X-Files,” the horror here is presented in a very literal way. Nothing jumps out to scare you, but what’s going on is truly terrifying. The structure of the plot is actually quite competent, offering up just the right amount of nonsense to mix with serious stuff. I’m very pleased with the score, which helps to set and sustain the mood, ensuring that this thriller doesn’t let up, constantly keeping its viewers at the edge of their seats even if someone isn’t about to be brutally murdered by an unspeakable entity. While Ephram is busy trying to make sure that he doesn’t lose custody and still remains his son’s dad, he’s not quite focused enough on the work at hand, though his baffled reaction to a phone call from a father reporting that his dead daughter came home was understandable. We got a much more direct look than I expected at the Master, and even got to hear him talk. I guess it is important to have a physical, literal villain, and we can expect more of that going forward, especially with Gabriel’s unexpected act of vampirism. I finally recognized Leslie Hope of “24” fame with long hair as Dr. Luss, who really should consider the offer of staying under quarantine given her visions. Kevin Durand is a perfect fit to play Vasiliy Fet, the all-too-eager health inspector who sure knows how to hold a dead rat for maximum effectiveness.

What I’m Watching: New Girl

New Girl: Season 3, Episode 5 “The Box” (B+)

This show has been extremely funny, and that’s only continuing as Jess and Nick’s relationship hits more speed bumps along the way. Inheriting thousands of dollars from his dad is a big deal for Nick, who doesn’t think of money in the same way that other people do, content to think that putting bills into his box means that he doesn’t have to deal with them anymore. Splurging on silly things made complete sense, and lashing out at Winston when he tried to collect the $1,900 he owed him was equally expected. That Jess would break go into his box and pay all his bills in cash, only to try to unpay them later when Nick expressed his anger at being told what to do with his money. Schmidt going to see his rabbi, played by the questionably convincing Jon Lovitz, to help affirm his self-perception as a good person, was funny, and the best part of it all was Nick’s inability to comprehend the word tzedakah. This episode had two hilarious instances of characters adding a possessive to an expression – Schmidt’s casual reference to performing “Heimlich’s maneuver” and Nick’s bafflement at hearing for the first time about “Bobby’s pins.” The writing on this show has been on fire, and I’m thrilled to see such terrific lines being uttered by the very entertaining players. Now let’s get Cece back into the center of things, and send Schmidt on a good path now that their relationship is over for good (or is it?).

Pilot Review: Family Tree

Family Tree (HBO)
Premiered May 12 at 10:30pm

British humor is something that appeals to some and does nothing for others, and, as presented here from co-creator Jim Piddock fused with the maniacal mind of American auteur Christopher Guest, it’s quite distinctive. Guest has created excellent mockumentaries with “For Your Consideration,” “A Mighty Wind,” and others, and that tactic is still at work here in this new HBO original series. It’s reminiscent in many ways of past efforts by the network to bring offbeat British humor to American audiences, “Life’s Too Short” and “Extras,” and while this one is also airing on BBC Two just like those two, new installments will screen on both networks simultaneously rather than arriving on HBO several weeks or months after airing in England. Chris O’Dowd, who recently wrapped on arc on one of HBO’s biggest hits, “Girls,” is a far more intelligent and sympathetic protagonist than Warwick Davis’s self-portrayal or Ricky Gervais’ Andy Millman, and it’s clear that he’s the one who will be giving the looks of shock to the camera rather than those around him. His reaction to the fact that his date thinks dinosaurs still exist was priceless, and I love just how long she went on justifying her claim. Tom Bennett’s Pete is a great character, so proud of the fact that he continues to work at the zoo, and I think his friendship with O’Dowd’s Tom will be one of the show’s strongest assets. The very definitely American Michael McKean should prove entertaining as patriarch Keith, and I heartily enjoyed Nina Conti’s introduction to Bea, whose life as a ventriloquist makes her job at the bank especially difficult. Discovering that his photographer great-grandfather was apparently Chinese puts this comedy into a very strange but appealing context, and I’m eager to see what becomes of this quirky show.

How will it work as a series? First and foremost, it’s a comedy, with Tom having misadventures thanks to the questionable guidance of those he associates himself with, and Bea presumably having her own hi-jinks due to her eccentric coping mechanism. But having the backdrop of Tom’s search for answers about his lineage should anchor this show in a great way, keeping its tone occasionally serious and making a definite impression on its viewers.
How long will it last? It’s impossible to say with these international co-productions, but the starting numbers were not great, especially after “Game of Thrones” and “Veep,” both of which have already been renewed for next year. “Life’s Too Short” is getting a send-off special, while “Extras” aired just thirteen installments total. I think HBO might be enthusiastic about this one, but I wouldn’t expect more than two seasons at the very most.

Pilot grade: B+