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Series one, episode two
A list show with something to say, Alan Yentob’s hugely enjoyable series on US TV archetypes moves on to the misfit. And, once again, interviews a startling number of big names with plenty to say on the subject: David Lynch, Larry David, Garry Shandling, Jason Alexander…
Moving quickly enough to hold the attention, yet remaining thoughtful enough to engage the brain, it’s frequently fascinating and brimming with war stories from the frontline of American culture. (Is it widely known that Judd Apatow intended ‘Freaks and Geeks’ to be like ‘The Bourne Identity’ starring George from ‘Cheers’?) Certainly, it’s dull watching life’s winners getting it right: outsiders fuel comedy and drama, and the more indomitable they are, the better. The show loses sight of its thesis by the end – by no means can ‘30 Rock’’s Republican success story Jack Donaghy be described as a misfit – but sheer star wattage and quality of clips steers it through.
From ‘The Addams Family’ through to ‘The United States of Tara’, Diablo Cody’s drama about multiple personalities that seems destined never to air over here, this is another welcome reminder of shows you may have overlooked, as well as the basis of a DVD box-set collection to cherish.