I’m Sorry
“Pilot” and “Racist Daughter”
Season 1, Episodes 1-2
So, you have a HUGE vagina?
truTV’s foray into comedy shows continues at an uneven pace but, dang it, if their shows aren’t funny. Their latest offering – I’m Sorry – is unapologetically dark and perverse. Each line is worse than the last. It screams obscenities with the confidence of a deep cable series. And it can match all of this with a bundle of comedy. truTV may have found itself another hit.
Andrea Savage stars in and created the show that follows a fictionalized version of herself. She is her character in every way from the loud, megaphonic voice to not shying away from blue jokes. Her role as a mother and actress in real life translate well to the small screen. Savage is joined by Tom Everett Scott, Jason Mantzoukas, Judy Greer and Gary Anthony Williams. Each character has a chance to perform for the audience whether it be with an excellent one liner or assisting with Savage’s physicality. This is a perfect cast for a show like this.
What resonates with each scene is how the main issue escalates. The telltale sign of any sitcom is the way in which the characters deal with the prefix – the situation. Much like Always Sunny, I’m Sorry takes problems to an entirely new level. Savage’s daughter, for example, didn’t like the skin color of one of her classmates. Later in the story, there’s a joke where the little girl comes out in black face in front of a black character. It’s an ingenious move accompanied with an equally ingenious joke. I’m Sorry is also good at utilizing what little money and locations it had. Having the majority of the pilot take place at a children’s birthday party while the parents dealt with a porn issue was an incredible plot device.
Scripting is important for any comedian led series. This show is no exception with Savage carrying a bulk of the joke work. She is fantastic in the lead role of a writer/comedian. No, she’s not struggling; stories come from elsewhere. Decisions like that and casting fellow podcast and television comedians are other phenomenal moves that play into the show’s favor. Conversations feel so natural and loose. Mantzoukas is a stand out in his scenes with Savage as their back and forth dynamic kills. Relating skin color to cookies, playing phone tag with a doctor, and scenes that immediately begin right after the last are some of the best parts of the script. Along with the writing, direction and camera work is good. I’m Sorry has a guerilla shooting style with its handheld nature and slight camera movements while managing to be unobtrusive.
Should you watch I’m Sorry?
There are a countless number of comedian led sitcoms about comedians being comedians. Crashing, Maron, Louie. Then there’s the other shows led by comedians that aren’t about comedy but they’re sitcoms. Insecure, Atlanta, Master of None. The real question shouldn’t be should you watch this show; it should be “do you have any more room for this TYPE of show?” If you’re already a fan of Savage’s work, there’s no point not to check out I’m Sorry. But those seeking to avoid comedian comedy should probably go elsewhere. Otherwise, it’s a good show.