ROUND TWO

Uncle

vs

Friends of the People

 

I can’t explain my resistance to Uncle. Maybe it’s because I hate British people, and I’ve never had the balls to admit it until now. Maybe I think it’s unfair how they do their television, and it gives them an unfair advantage in the tournament (they make quality shows, and only as many as they want to. Bullshit.). But it’s probably because, as I mentioned when Uncle kicked Constantine out of the tournament, the premise is so tired and overdone that there can’t be anything left to explore. And Uncle isn’t necessarily mining the idea of a piece of shit finding redemption and friendship in a small child for any gold that we haven’t seen before. But, through two episodes, it’s doing everything with such an incredible confidence, particularly when it comes to balancing hearts and farts, that these two early victories shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise.

 

Friends of the People is a scripted TV show, which is the only thing you need to be to be included in the tournament, but skit shows are at such a disadvantage in something like this. I wouldn’t say that Friends is good…but it is severely likeable, so much so that it’s easy to wade through the skits that don’t work. The feeling that this is a group of kids having a bunch of fun makes it seem OK that this cast doesn’t have anything new or profound to say. The concepts are high, and when they don’t work, the cast knows how to bail on it and move on to something else. I have no idea who these actors are, or if anyone is watching this, but don’t be surprised if a couple of these skits go viral before the end of the season. But Uncle handily moves on to become the last member of the Elite Eight, and will move on to take on Jane the Virgin.

 

– Ryan Haley

 

NEXT:

ROUND 3 CONCLUDES WITH UNCLE VS JANE THE VIRGIN!!!