Alex Inc. Series Premiere – "The Unfair Advantage" Review. Starting Over.

Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 8:30/7:30c on ABC
Rating: ★★★★★

“The company is going great, all we need is a name.” – Alex

Yearning for a change in his life, Alex Schuman (Zach Braff) decides to quit his job to start his own podcast company. With the support of his wife Rooni (Tiya Sircar) and their two kids Soraya (Audyssie James) and Ben (Elisha Henig), Alex decides to risk everything, including their savings. At 37 years of age, will Alex be able to survive the harsh start-up world while still being there for his family?

Alex Inc. is inspired by podcast creator Alex Blumberg, a radio journalist and entrepreneur who went on to become the co-founder and CEO of the podcast network Gimlet Media and the podcast series StartUp. The first two seasons of the podcast feature stories about the ins and outs, and ups and downs, of starting a business, which is where the inspiration for Alex Inc. comes from. Now in its sixth season, StartUp receives roughly 1,000,000 listens per month.

Embarking on a journey to tell stories that matter to the world, Alex enlists the help of his overenthusiastic producer, Deirdre (Hillary Anne Matthews), who followed him from their previous job together, and Alex’s unemployed second cousin Eddie (Michael Imperioli). I would watch Imperioli in anything and am thrilled to see him in a comedic role. The trio are definitely, underdogs, which creates some amusing moments as they try to set up shop and get the business going.

As great as the cast is, Braff is the heart of Alex Inc. It’s hard to believe this is his first starring role since his hit series Scrubs, which ended its nine season run in 2010. Alex Inc. seems to be tailor made for Braff’s comedic talents.

Directed by Braff and written by Matt Tarses, “The Unfair Advantage” is almost two different shows. The first deals with Alex the dad. Alex might not be the best father but he loves his kids deeply. The family storyline is heartwarming and has some moments that are emotionally impactful. Then there’s start-up Alex, who isn’t as confident and questions whether he’s made the right choice starting over. This side is the work place comedy part of the show that relies on some of the antics seen in the trailer below. While the two storylines sometimes blend, they are very distinct.

I’m a sucker for anytime actors from a previous show reunite. Given both the creator and star of Alex Inc. come from Scrubs, I’m already giddy over the possibilities. While Alex Inc. needs to establish itself as a quality show before resorting to what some might call cheap ratings grabs, who wouldn’t want to see Braff reunited with former co-stars Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Neil Flynn, or any of the other actors from the series. Given the premise of Alex Inc. involves Alex interviewing interesting people, I can’t think of a better way to incorporate some amazing guest stars as the season progresses.

Sitcoms are a dime a dozen on television these days and the bar to win over audiences is extremely high. I wondered whether Braff still has what it takes after all these years. The answer comes midway through “The Unfair Advantage” during Alex’s conversation with his family about podcasting. Braff’s performance is absolutely mesmerizing and drew me into the moment in a way I haven’t felt before in a sitcom. There is an almost childlike sense of awe to Alex that’s wonderful to watch.

Alex Inc. is a highly entertaining comedy the whole family can enjoy. In a time when reboots and remakes fill the airwaves, Alex Inc. comes across as surprisingly fresh. Between Braff’s performance and the final third of “The Unfair Advantage,” Alex Inc is definitely one of my top three favorite sitcoms currently on television.

Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “The Unfair Advantage.”

Tune in to Alex Inc. Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c, only on ABC.

For more on the show, go to http://abc.go.com/shows/alex-inc

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.