Anger Management, Ep. 1 – “Charlie Goes Back to Therapy” and Ep. 2 – “Charlie and the Slumpbuster”
Air date: Thursday, June 28, 2012, 9:00-10:00 pm ET/PT on USA Network
Rating:
Episode 1 – “Charlie Goes Back to Therapy”
The 28 minutes that encompass “Charlie Goes Back to Therapy” are entertaining, to say the least, and serve to introduce the viewers to the various players in Anger Management. When I first tuned in to the season premiere, I thought I was watching one of Charlie Sheen’s infamous rants about Chuck Lorre and Two and A Half Men. “Winning!” But the writers cleverly turn the rant into the opening session of Charlie Goodson’s (Sheen) anger management group therapy. One would think Sheen would play a member of the group given his real life persona but he doesn’t. His character is a very non-traditional therapist who decided to get his college degree after his anger caused him to lose his baseball career.
New patient Lacey enters the group therapy session.
His therapy group consists of Patrick (Michael Arden), a gay passive-aggressive personal shopper; Nolan (Derek Richardson), a man with no anger of his own who attracts angry people wherever he goes; Ed (Barry Corbin), a crotchety old man whose wife enrolled him in these sessions, and new patient Lacey (Noureen DeWulf), a spoiled, rich girl who shot her boyfriend ”in the balls” for cheating. She has a run-in with Charlie’s neighbor and good friend, Michael (Michael Boatman) that shows us what kind of man Michael is. He isn’t crazy about Charlie holding his anger management therapy sessions at home although he doesn’t mind being introduced to the pretty girls who come and go. Boatman has had a successful career playing both lead and supporting actors on dramas such as China Beach and The Good Wife, and comedy shows such as Spin City and Arli$$, and if his part in “Charlie Goes Back to Therapy” is any indication, that success will continue for a long time.
Charlie and his daughter, Sam (Daniella Bobadilla), in her room. The messiness in there certainly belies her OCD, doesn’t it?
Charlie may think he’s conquered his anger issues but they pop up again when he has to deal with his ex-wife Jennifer’s (Shawnee Smith) current boyfriend, Sean (guest star Brian Austin Green). He’s filling Charlie and Jennifer’s 13-year-old daughter Sam’s (Daniella Bobadilla) head with thoughts of not going to college, which really pisses them off. By the way, Sam suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which leads to some amusing scenes, and Jennifer delights in annoying Charlie. I have to say, the banter between Charlie and Sean prompted a good deal of laughter from me, as did the scenes with Charlie and Jennifer.
Prisoners Cleo (James Black) and Donovan (Darius McCrary) explain their relationship to Charlie (Charlie Sheen).
In addition to his therapy sessions at home, Charlie runs a therapy group at the local prison as his way of giving back. James Black cracks me up with his portrayal of Cleo, a gay man in a relationship with his cell mate, Donovan (Darius McCrary), who is much larger and stronger than Cleo, and just as funny. Many people will remember Ernesto (Aldo Gonzalez) from his days as Pedro on Sons of Anarchy although this role is nothing like Pedro. As a matter of fact, the entire therapy session they and the other members of the group have in “Charlie Goes Back to Therapy,” is comical.
We’re also introduced to Brett (Brett Butler), another of Charlie’s friends and the bartender at his favorite watering hole, the Merry Peasant. She’s a former stripper who loves to joke around with Charlie. Her short quips, come-backs and one-liners are hilarious! Butler is one of the funniest women on TV I’ve had the pleasure of watching. She’s best known for playing the title role in Grace Under Fire, and is one of the best straight women in the business. If you don’t know what a straight woman is, check out its definition. I’ll tell you this—it has nothing to do with a person’s sexual orientation! With her previous real life experience as a cocktail waitress, this role should be easy for her.
Last, but certainly not least, is Selma Blair who is wonderful as Kate Wales, a therapist who happens to be Charlie’s girl friend/best friend. She’s not the type of woman who wants to settle down and have kids which perfectly suits Charlie. Let me tell you, when Charlie realizes he needs to go back into therapy, how he persuades Kate to become his ‘therapist with benefits’ is pretty damn funny. It’s not only the dialogue that made me laugh; it’s also Blair’s portrayal of her character, which is both droll and witty.
Episode 2 – “Charlie and the Slumpbuster”
The second half-hour of the timeslot is comedy at its best. We’re introduced to Mell (Kerri Kenney), a new therapy patient who just happens to be Charlie’s “slumpbuster” from his days on the baseball field in Beloit, Wisconsin. For those of you who don’t know what a slumpbuster is, it’s the ugliest woman a player can sleep with in the hopes of “breaking his hitting slump.” Cruel, yes; but oh so funny! Charlie doesn’t immediately recognize Mel but how she makes him remember her is hilarious, especially the look she gives him, which is a total gut-busting moment for me! Charlie decides to make dinner for Mel as a way of making it up to her, and there’s one scene in particular where I almost choked to death from hard how I was laughing! Think Lady and the Tramp. It would be easy for me to continue telling you about the myriad of scenes that cracked me up—because there are a lot—but if I did that, there’d be no reason for you to watch the show. Let me just tell you, Kenney absolutely steals every scene she’s in with spot-on comedic timing and quirky facial expressions, although Sheen does an admirable job of keeping up with her.
Memorable and funny lines:
Michael about Lacey: “Give me her phone number and we’ll call it even.”
Charlie: “Forget it, she’s here by court order.”
Michael: “I like a fixer-upper.”
**
Sean: “All I’m saying is unemployment—it’s not just for psych majors anymore.”
**
Charlie to Sean: “You’re a club promoter, dude. You’re realistic about glow sticks and E.”
**
Kate to Charlie: “Things are going so well between us right now. I mean, we…we feel nothing for each other and it’s working!”
**
Lacey: “How am I supposed to work through my issues with men being dicks while women are showing up in this group as a result of your past dickness?”
**
If Anger Management can keep up the level of hilarity in future episodes, FX will definitely have another hit on its hands. All I can tell you is you need to watch this show because if you don’t, you’ll be missing out on one of the funniest sitcoms in recent history! The acting and comedic timing are spot on, the dialogue is witty, clever, and sharp, and the chemistry among the actors is perfection. After viewing only two episodes, I am totally hooked. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Tune in to the season premiere of Anger Management, Thursday, June 28 at 9:00 pm ET/PT, only on FX. Beginning Thursday, July 5, repeats of the previous week’s episode will precede the new first-run episodes, which move to their new time at 9:30 pm ET/PT.
LIKE Anger Management on Facebook. Follow the show on Twitter and the cast @CharlieSheen, @DanieBobadilla and @actoraldo. And check in to Get Glue now for an exclusive sticker!
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All photos © 2012 FX Networks. All Rights Reserved.
Linda
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