Blogging HBO's New Sunday Night

HBO dropped three season premieres this past Sunday, and now that I've had a chance to rewatch the shows on-demand it's time to weigh in.

Entourage - The story arc last season was top notch, but with Ari's sudden unemployment I was concerned this show might head down a dangerous path paved in cheap dramatics. Sure enough Ari's marriage is in trouble, money is tight, the new office isn't suitably A-list. When did this show become so damn serious? And what do we get as counterbalance? Awww, everybody's mom came to the premiere, how gaggingly cute! Look, I know a lot of ladies are watching Entourage now, but the producers crossed a line with that shit. Pick up it Wahlberg, your show's on HBO, not the Hallmark network.

Lucky Louie - Thank god this show got sandwiched between the other two Sunday night premieres, Lucky Louie was clearly the highlight. It's great to see HBO try the live-studio-audience thing, which has been rightfully associated with "cheesy" sitcoms in recent years and phased out gradually by the networks. Popular culture was long overdue for the next Al Bundy / Archie Bunker-type and Louie CK has just the chops to pull it off.

Tourgasm - Aside from th occasional stand-up set on Comedy Central, my impression Dane Cook was that he was a normal comic who told normal jokes to normal college kids who went to school in places like Normal, Illinois. It's amazing what you can accomplish with the right pair of distressed jeans and a little arrogance.