michael dworkis reviews the newest part of Fox’s Animation Domination …
The newest addition to Fox’s “Animation Domination” block, Allen Gregory is about a kid genius who has traveled the world, wined and dined with presidents, authored books, and is successful beyond the imagination. However, financial woes in the family result in his father and life-partner James have decided that little Allen should go off to elementary school.
Packing a caviar and wine lunch, Allen Gregory must now contend with the normal life of a child, facing off with teachers and understanding what it is like to be normal child. Instead of doing any of that, he calls his teacher by her first name, falls in love with the obese principal, all while belittling anyone around him.Allen Gregory, created by Jonah Hill and Family Guy executive producer David Goodman, is a well-animated addition to the massive library of animated programs hosted by Fox. While both Hill and Goodman have an impressive resume in comedy, Allen Gregory uses a combination of snobbish behavior with a dismissive and belittling attitude towards everyone around him which does not translate well for the overall concept of a show. The character Allen Gregory act like an older, more extreme version of Stewie from Family Guy.
The show looks funny, but it seems to be more of a show to shock the viewer with what comes out of his mouth. The concept of “genius kid meets reality” has been done before. Will there be an episode where Allen has that special moment of clarity realizing being a jerk is wrong? Probably.
Allen Gregory fits into Fox’s Sunday night Animation lineup well with its cynical and edgy humor. That is the only reason why it fits. The program attempts to go over that edge with harsh sarcasm, acting like the goal is to degrade every character at least once. Each character behaves like he or she is above all, and that becomes the problem with the show, as Allen Gregory is supposed to be the main character with those self-absorbed beliefs.
I think about shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy. The Simpsons are in its 23rd season, and while rumors of its cancellation have yet to see confirmation, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Marge, and Homer Simpson have found concrete establishment in pop culture alongside Bugs Bunny and Optimus Prime.
The only other program I can think of that comes close to that success is Family Guy. This show combines mind-warping flashbacks and inconceivable “what-if” scenarios with the main plot of the program. Those shows are funny and their impacts are memorable.
I do not believe this show will see the same success as Family Guy and American Dad. The humor is too crass and often repetitive. The jokes are predictable after the first few minutes and the characters are not likeable at all. They all have problems which become the butt of every joke, and the jokes are not even creative. If it lasts past the half-season mark, I will be surprised.
