NEWS: True Stories by Rob Corddry: The Shreveport Daily Trumpeter Reviews "The Winner"

CULTURE: True Stories by Rob Corddry: The Shreveport Daily Trumpeter Reviews "The Winner"

"The TV Corner"

The Shreveport Daily Trumpeter

written by: Stutz Blackhawk





The new Fox sitcom The Winner is anything but! That is to say, upon watching it, I decided that its title did not fairly represent the quality of the program. To be clear, I thought the show was a "loser," not a "winner" as the title of the show, The Winner implies. If the show were to be entered in a contest it would certainly not "win." It may not outright "lose," that of course depends on how many entrants there are in said contest. For instance, if the contest were for Best Television Show Ever and the entrants were "every television show that has ever been," it would come in way after Cops but still beat the pants off Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. This show is no "Winner."



But far be it from me to make a cheap pun at the top of this review. I'm merely pointing out an obvious logic flaw in the show's title and by mentioning that a pun is possible here, I am rising above the inclination. Let's see the Boston Herald use that kind of restraint.



The show's main character "Glen Abbot" is played by Rob Corddry who you may remember from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as well as from guest starring roles in Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm and the hit 70's cop drama Run Policeman! Rob is merely adequate as Glen. He says his lines in a believable fashion. When he is not speaking he appears to be listening to the other actors speak. He looks at things using his eyes and makes faces that seem to appropriately mirror his emotions. He looks surprised when he is surprised.



I won't tell you what the show is about because I didn't get it. I only understand "smart" shows that are shot with handheld cameras. I need the camera to shake a little bit so that I know I'm watching good comedy. Put a camera on a dolly and I am immediately confused. The show also used three cameras which, in my opinion, is three too many. I sometimes wish shows didn't need cameras at all. I wish Fox could have beamed the idea of a perfect show in my head. The only laugh-track would be my own.



Speaking of which: why did Rob Corddry leave The Daily Show to do a show with a laugh-track? I much preferred the sound of one hundred and fifty liberals laughing at anything that jerked their knee. And I liked it when Jon shrugged off their approval like he hated them for laughing (I've interviewed him and he doesn't).



But The Winner's laugh-track is grating. They protest that they are performing in front of a live studio audience but I don't buy it. Show us the audience! Let's see a close up of their tonsils! And if they are actually there in the studio, how do we know Fox isn't tickling them as they supposedly watch the show? That's why they should have done away with the laugh-track in the first place. I don't need the prodding, I know when to laugh: when the person sitting next to me laughs.



The supporting cast is wonderful. Erinn Hayes is so beautiful you want to murder her and dance in her guts so that only you can possess her fully. Lenny Clarke and Linda Hart are wonderful as Glen's parents, though they probably gang-molested him as a child (the characters not the actors).



Speaking of molestation. The creepiest, most inherently wrong thing about The Winner is the relationship between 32-year old Glen and 14-year old Josh played by Keir Gilchrist. Every time they speak to each other I can imagine the assault taking place. Fox should take a note from the CBS hit Two and a Half Men, which treats the subject of pedophilia with great respect.



If you want to watch Rob Corddry murder his career rent the lovable Matthew McConaughey romp Failure to Launch. If you want to watch your Tivo throw up all over itself, watch The Winner.





I give The Winner only 6 stars (out of 23).

This column is a Winner.

"Speaking of molestation..."

Who says that shit?

...at least it wasn't the 1/2 Hour News Hour, Rob.

Rob, I downloaded all the available episodes on Itunes and I have to say, I was iffy but not turned off by the first. However, as I kept watching, I found the show to be sweet, endearing, and often funny enough to evoke out-loud laughing from my as I sat alone in my tiny apartment building Lego sets. Me laughing out loud doesn't happen too often. Sure, the show isn't some innovatively shot, high-minded art comedy, but that doesn't make it bad. It relies on a tried and true setups and formulas, but nicely incorporates them into the "Rob Corddry" world.

So, my final word, I like your show, and its getting better as it goes along. Your character is lovable yet the show retains a dark humor at the same time. I think the show will develop nicely, so long as the viewing public is patient enough to give it a chance. the show's tone and humor make sense to me, I get it, it gets me. I feel better watching the show. But I'm not the general public.

Overall, your show makes me laugh, a lot, and that's all that really matters.

Any show that creates the idea that a 32 year old virgin could lose his virginity to Katey Sagal (Peggy from "Married with Children) (and i think that was her) totally gets my thumbs up.

Rob does a damn good job of making me believe that he is actually Glenn Abbot, the show removes me from reality for a half hour and makes me live in his world, and is well worth watching in my mind. I tune in every week just to see what's going to happen next, i keep hoping that he scores the ultimate prize of the girl of his dreams. That and Glenn Abbot makes me realize that i am truly not all that pathetic, it's like a self-esteem booster!!

I hate laugh track too! Why do I need to be told when to laugh? I would love to see a show that used laugh track in completely inappropriate situations, or maybe even a "cry track".

I watched the show, and noted to myself that fully 3/5 of the jokes were about TV shows or movies that were considerably better than "The Winner."

I also noted that what were supposed to be "jokes" were in fact 30-year-old George Carlin routines that had been played out fifteen years ago.

Also, apparently when someone mentions "Wings" I am supposed to laugh for some reason. I guess I never really paid enough attention?

Also, lame gay jokes are apparently still fresh and humorous. Gay people can like football and still be gay? Golly.

Furthermore, jokes without punch lines are apparently still funny.

In addition, sitcoms that have to tell you when to laugh apparently actually make you laugh. Oh wait.

All in all, I apparently learned quite a bit about society through watching about half of one episode of "The Winner."

But what I really learned is that in the modern television world, any sitcom that is not "The Simpsons" inherently sucks.

Come on, Rob.

Also the voice of Leela on Futurama.

Also the intolerable mother from "8 Simple Rules."

I was underwhelmed, but I'd give it a few more goes before I put it in the "Bernie Mac Show" category of suck.

You do get that the show is based in 1994 right so most of those jokes are relevant to the time period they are portraying.

Another apparently self-evident joke that apparently wasn't, apparently.

But seriously, all the jokes were really stupid. And yes, I understood from the opening credits that it was set in 1994. And it's not like the time period is the key to unlocking the secret of the limitless humor of the show. From the reaction my friends have to it, most of them only like the show because it's from the creators of "Family Guy" which in itself is not all that funny. PS, they're the same people who like Zach Braff, so, you know.

Addendum: The definition of pretentious comedy is pretty much any comedy that is based around a joke that the audience isn't clued in on except in passing, so it's like one huge inside joke for the writers and producers, a la Scrubs. And yeah, The Winner is really pretentious.

This show is super funny, although it is a bit strange to see Rob in something that is so cheesy.

"Erinn Hayes is so beautiful you want to murder her and dance in her guts so that only you can possess her fully."

Oh... my fucking... god.

That is a winning sentence right there.

-D

I'm shocked that not one person from Shreveport or even Louisiana has commented on this. Oh well.

I kind of agree with him, but i watch maybe five minutes of one episode and was expecting more Family Guy and less Everyone Loves Raymond.

I love the show! Even though it's on Fox.

My boyfriend and I love this show... It's funny to us.