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Dr. Ken – “Dicky Wexler’s Last Show” Review. See You When I See You.

Season 1, Episode 18

Air Date: Friday, March 11, 2016, 8:30/7:30c on ABC

Rating: ★★★★★

“Cancer is such a ugly word so I named it Charline after my ex-wife.”  – Dicky Wexler

Ken and Dicky

Dicky Wexler (George Wyner) is an old school comedian with a verbal barb for everyone he meets. Even Dr. Ken (Ken Jeong) is fair game for Dicky’s ribbing. “He’s so small, he could model for trophies.” Ken grew up listening to Dicky’s routine and despite all the short people jokes, he’s Ken’s favorite patient. Things take a serious turn, though, when Dicky asks Ken to provide the medical clearance he needs as a condition for performing at his next gig. Problem is, Dicky has myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in one’s bone marrow. With their friendship on the line, Ken is faced with a difficult decision.

Cancer is always a touchy subject, especially when addressed in the setting of a television comedy. Thankfully, director Mark Cendrowski does a wonderful job walking the line needed when taking on the serious topic of cancer while not losing any of the comedic edge Dr. Ken is known for.

Written by Erik Sommers, “Dicky Wexler’s Last Show” has some of the funniest one-liners of the series, which helps break up the otherwise somber tone of the episode. From Dave (Albert Tsai) referring to his teeth as “the white picket fence of your face house” to Damona (Tisha Campbell-Martin) confessing she had to “gargle with hamburger” after trying a vegan meal, their comedic delivery is wildly entertaining. I couldn’t stop laughing. Clark (Jonathan Slavin) is especially hilarious as he tries to get the staff to try something new. Even the hospital valet, Juan-Julio (Marques Ray), gets in on the action during an amusing showdown with Clark.

Family time.

Much of Dr. Ken’s success falls on Jeong as he is the series creator and executive producer. One of the things that make the show work is that it’s not always about Ken. While the series is loosely based on Jeong’s life, it’s more of an ensemble show. Having assembled such a diverse comedic cast, it’s surprising how well the jokes are evenly spread among the actors. Each character, from Ken’s boss Pat (Dave Foley) to Ken’s wife Allison (Suzy Nakamura), is given their own moment to shine. We also see a different side of Dr. Julie (Kate Simses) during “Dicky Wexler’s Last Show” as she provides the voice of reason for Ken as he struggles between helping his friend or doing what is medically responsible.

It seems to me like we’ve lost the ability at times to laugh at ourselves or make a joke without worrying we might offend someone. Some of the biggest laughs during “Dicky Wexler’s Last Show” come at Ken’s expense, especially when it comes to his height.

One final show.

“Dicky Wexler’s Last Show” shows a lot of respect for cancer. Sure, there are jokes about the disease but other than naming it “Charline,” the humor isn’t aimed at cancer. It’s more like they’re not laughing at it, but laughing with it. The episode also provides a glimpse of Jeong’s serious side, which might be surprising for anyone who has seen his previous work or read his interviews. I was struck by how much one scene, in particular, hit me when Dicky makes a final plea to Ken. “The club is my home; let me go home.” Wyner and Jeong masterfully play off each other during the funny moments, making the seriousness of this scene turn believable and heartbreaking.

As the first season of Dr. Ken winds down, ABC remains tight-lipped as to a second season. Based on the hysterical yet moving “Dicky Wexler’s Last Show,” it is evident that Dr. Ken consistently gets better each week. With episodes as enjoyable as this one, one can only hope it’s just a matter of time before a renewal announcement is made.

Tweet me @Staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “Dicky Wexler’s Last Show.”

Tune in to Dr. Ken Fridays at 8:30/7:30c, only on ABC.

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All photos © 2016 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

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.

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.