Coming back from the other Lorne Michael-produced, SNL writer alum-created series Man Seeking Woman on FXX, it was even harder to want to return to Fox's Mulaney. That pilot alone provided there was so much originality and spunk that can come from these funny writers' minds, and yet John Mulaney's show seems like the antithesis of this.
Well, while I'd say this latest episode, "French Roast," still isn't quite good, at least it shows signs of improvement or, at the very least, potential for Fox's sitcom. In fact, this may be the best episode of the series yet, with it being the most consistent and amusing thus far. This still doesn't quite make it good, however.
After a surprisingly strong opening about Mulaney's bad stand-up experience in Murfreesboro, TN — where the comedian makes good use out of its awkward name — Mulaney goes back to its ho-hum joke telling and routine storylines. The cast, to their credit, seem more confident and comfortable, even Mulaney. But they still don't have that likable spark together needed to make this show click. Sure, they look like they're having fun, but they still seem kind of stiff, save for Elliott Gould as Oscar. He, of course, is a veteran and a great professional at his craft.
Speaking of Oscar, while I love the character and it's refreshing to see the showrunners using him more, his on-going subplot this week where he teaches a desperately single Jane (Nasim Pedrad) how to be more like a periodical '50s woman goes nowhere fast. Not only is it highly unbelievable and an unintentional discernment towards modern feminists, but it doesn't do anything productive or interesting. Pedrad is the one member of the cast who seems less and less in tune with the show, and this week is probably her worst moment yet, especially after her storyline's low-brow finale.
Also heavily predictable, if just a hair better, is the running main plot of this episode, which focuses on John getting ready to make fun of his boss Lou (Martin Short) and make his TV debut on the first-ever Celebrity You Guessed It Roast of Lou Cannon. Of course, things go downhill and John must find a way to fix it because that's what always happens. The writing, with a teleplay from Dan Levy this week, in these scenes, however, are better than most, and hold more weight than most other tired jokes throughout the series. Plus Mulaney gets the chance to expand on Lou's origins, as he apparently starred in a failed summer comedy in 1989 called French Roast, which they show "clips" from at the very end. Ironically or not, though, they are painful failures at comedy as well.
It gets harder and harder to write anything about this series as it goes along. The problem is that it never really changes; it just mildly fluctuates up or down but stays in the same dead zone of mediocrity. At the very least, "French Roast" proves the show may have a more graceful curtain call as it airs up its final three episodes. I got a little more hope in it than I did last week, and I guess that's something.
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