The modern sitcom is a very unusual beast. They seem to fall into three categories:
- The ‘your 75 year old parent is going to love the problematic jokes on this network sitcom.’
- The ‘starts off brilliant but has become a parody of itself sitcom.’
- The ‘How in the name of Sweet Baby Jesus did this unfunny garbage pile get produced, and why do so many people love it sitcom’
Then there are shows like TruTV’s I’m Sorry.
I’m Sorry, created by and starring Andrea Savage (who many will recognize as Dr. Angel Face from Step Brothers), takes all the traditional sitcom storylines (raising a child, the husband/wife dynamic, relationship with parents) and savagely (pun intended) turns them on their head — while also grounding them completely in reality.
Now that very long sentence may sound a bit confusing, but it’s true. Savage (who also writes the series) is able to take the everyday storylines of a sitcom, inject them with just ludicrous situations, exaggerated hyperbolic dialogue and makes them feel completely real. For every ridiculous segment (including this week’s “armpit boobs” surgery,) to every absurd line Savage’s character utters, to the wild characters (like Martin Mull’s ecstasy-taking grandpa) — nothing feels like a “whacky sitcom.” Nothing feels like there should be canned laughter behind it. There’s no hijinks and capers. No, eye-rolling unbelievability. All the comedy in I’m Sorry is truly grounded in a sense of uncompromising reality. It’s not afraid to take risks, go places, and drop censored F bombs when needed.
One of the main reasons this show works, and feels so grounded is the chemistry between Savage, and her co-star Tom Everett Scott. Scott is the absolute perfect straight man to Savage’s outrageous lead. Scott’s character Mike is not one of these typical put upon spouses, trudging their way through their marriage while their comedic spouse wildly flails through scenes. You can feel Mike truly loves every ridiculous thing his wife does although he will roll his eyes and attempt to be a voice of reason when needed. Scott also has a great subtle wry sense of humor that allows him to perfectly jump in with a joke when needed. These two might just be my favorite couple on TV right now. They complement each other wonderfully, and feel like an actual couple not some funny person and someone cast to be their spouse.
Of course, Savage is the straw that stirs the drink here. She has created a lead character that is at the same time outlandish and absurd, but also levelheaded and grounded. In short, she’s created a character that’s a real person and not some caricature. And she has to be because Savage is in almost every scene. If she were some two-dimensional cartoon you would not be wrong in changing the channel. But because her character is so real, relatable, and wildly funny, you’re all in on this show.
I’m Sorry airs Wednesday nights around 10 p.m. on TruTV, and is in the midst of a brilliant second season. It’s a funny and fresh show that is worth you taking the time and hunting down instead of watching that rerun of The Office for the 50th time. It’s the sitcom this era of television needs, and show you have to be watching.
