TV Review: Talented Ensemble Cleans Up in Pilot For Sketch Comedy Series ‘The Men’s Room’

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CHICAGO – We’re doing something we’ve never done before at HollywoodChicago.com — reviewing a TV show that isn’t on the air…yet. Acclaimed producer Michael Wilson, a veteran of TV comedy from years working on “Saturday Night Live,” “Politically Incorrect,” and “Burn Notice,” is shopping a pilot for a new sketch comedy series called “The Men’s Room” and was kind enough to grant us access to a copy. As I work my way through the dozens of new shows that the networks have deemed worthy of spots on their 2012-13 schedules, it’s interesting to see something at this stage of the process, before it’s been given a green light. I use the word “before” because I’m pretty confident that a network will pick it up. They’d be stupid not to given the fact that it’s better than half of the shows already given a time slot and a network.

Television Rating: 3.5/5.0

Sketch comedy is a tough racket. I’ve seen dozens of horrendous ones over the years and it’s difficult to put a finger on exactly why one works while another bombs. I think it’s a lot like seeing improv comedy at a place like Second City in that SO much of the success or failure comes down to the people on stage that night. Think about the best years of “SNL” versus the worst ones — they’re usually delineated by who was in the cast. Or the amazingly smart group of men who became “The Kids in the Hall.” It’s about finding the right people, comedians who can deliver material with confidence, perfect timing, and inspired senses of humor. Wilson and the team behind “The Men’s Room” found the right people.

The Men’s Room
Photo credit: Atoz Productions

Wilson plucked the cast of “The Men’s Room” from the right places — talent factories like Second City and The Groundlings — and their experience elevates the show from the first sketch. The fact that the show is generally built around guy-centric concept means that the ensemble is driven by men but there are a pair of very talented women (Jo Newman & Marta McGonagle) who more than hold their own in the timing department. The boys in this “Men’s Room” include Robert Belushi (relative of the legendary John and Jim), Scott Beehner, Cooper Barnes, Sitara Falcon, T’Shaun Barret, Bruce Wexler, and Mark Gagliardi.

The Men’s Room Photo credit: Atoz Productions

This is key — there’s not a weak comedian in the group. Sketch comedy shows are often only as strong as their least talented performer. If it feels like someone hasn’t elevated their game as much as their co-stars, they stand out like a sore thumb and can kill the timing of a scene. Improvisational comedy is a team sport and sketch comedy is the closest thing on TV to replicating that experience outside of a club. The cast of “The Men’s Room” is the best thing about it.

To be balanced, the writing could use a bit of work, especially in the first few sketches, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sketch comedy show that was clicking on all cylinders right from the very first episode. It’s about getting the right elements in place and, by the end of the pilot for “The Men’s Room” (the show ends with its strongest two sketches, a great bit about two guys trying to pick up women at a widow’s support meeting and another about a Cheesecake Factory that might be a threesome set-up joint) I was convinced that any problems here could be worked out in just a few episodes. Tighten some of the timing in the writing (the first post-credits sketch goes on way too long, for example) and just watch the cast continue to grow as they get more and more comfortable with each other.

So where should “The Men’s Room” end up? With its testosterone-heavy concept, Spike TV seems like an obvious choice but I think TBS would make a perfect fit. The network has been expanding its original comedy base with shows like “Men at Work” and “Sullivan & Son,” comedies that appeal primarily to a male demographic. Comedy Central makes a natural fit as well or maybe FX once they give up on Charlie Sheen or Russell Brand. The point is that there are multiple networks that could see their line-ups improved with a trip to “The Men’s Room.”

For more, check out the pilot for yourself here.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com