Directed and produced by Bruce McDonald we follow Curtis (Don McKellar), a tv addict in Toronto, Canada who near refuses to leave his apartment and all the outlandish ways he goes about continuing and justifying that lifestyle. Honestly a show that is difficult to describe in a pitch, or even explain what it was after the fact, when the back of the box mentions inspiration from Marshall McLuhan and promises meta-commentary on television from within a satire laced sitcom itself, I was of course sold. Shot quite interestingly, although unfortunately a bit too dark and grungy for my tastes, the ascetic of the apartment felt something off about it, almost surreal, but very purposeful. Some sequences also utilize some neat tracking zoom shots that you typically don't see from sitcoms, theres interesting editing stylizations, and not to mention it being all single camera format. Without even getting into episode plots as its really something you just gotta experience yourself if you choose. Many circle around Rex Reilly, the in universe parody of Jerry Springer, played by both Bruce McCulloch and Mark McKinney across the two seasons which was fun to see, and throughout the show none of the characters are really good people in any sense, much the guests on the show he watches. Molly Parker joins as Hope, Curtis' roommates' girlfriend and eventual love interest, which was very fun, though unfortunately her character felt the most underwritten. It was also fun to see Al Waxman appear in the pilot, who I honestly wouldn't have recognized had it not been for wikipedia. The whole show feels a love letter to television, it the most cynical, almost depressed way, and I can understand why its gained its cult following. I honestly wanted to like this more than I ultimately did, but perhaps a show about a tv obsessed shut in hit a bit too close to home. If it sounds like something you'd enjoy, would recommend, was good if not a bit ridiculous.
