Dr. Ken Season 2 Premiere – “Allison’s Career Move” Review. The Great Mail Strike of 2016.

Season 2, Episode 1

Air Date: Friday, September 23, 2016, 8:30/7:30c on ABC

Rating: ★★★★★

“Mark my words, Ken, I will have your wife.” – Pat

Soon to be co-workers?

In “Allison’s Career Move”, Dr. Ken (Ken Jeong) continues to ride the emotional high from his stand-up performance at the Laugh Factory during last season’s finale. Ken’s enthusiasm rubs off on his medical practice as he attempts to spend more time with his patients so they don’t feel short changed, in addition to providing them with a YouTube link to his performance. But Ken’s good mood is quickly upended when his boss, Pat (Dave Foley), floats the idea that Allison (Suzy Nakamura), Ken’s wife, should move her practice to their hospital. Will Ken tell Allison about Pat’s proposal or will he keep the hospital his sanctuary?

One of the things I enjoy about Dr. Ken is how well the writers separate Ken’s personal life from his professional one. In doing so, the result is a hilarious look at the two different sides of Ken’s nature—one that highlights his hospital practice and the other that provides an intimate look at his family life. Each aspect has its own tone, humor, and personality. While I enjoyed the separation during the first season, both facets of the show have become established enough to allow some crossing over as Allison weighs Pat’s offer. Allison’s potential move reflects a natural growth for the show and sets up what should be an interesting second season.

What does Connor do?

“Allison’s Career Move” had me laughing throughout the entire episode. I especially got a kick out of Ken’s unorthodox filler for the kids’ sandwiches when he runs out of peanut butter. Admit it, I bet some of you have tried it already or are thinking about using it right now. Ken isn’t the only one with funny scenes, though. Despite the series being inspired by, and named after, the show’s star, Dr. Ken is truly an ensemble series filled with some great comedic talent. It’s hard to go wrong when you have a talented comedian like Foley on your cast. His turn as Dave Nelson on News Radio made it one of my favorite shows in the ‘90s; Foley’s humor certainly fits right in with the brand of humor on Dr. Ken.

Then there’s Jonathan Slavin, who plays Ken’s nurse Clark. Slavin doesn’t get enough credit for how funny he is. Having appeared on countless shows, it wasn’t until his role as Phil on Better Off Ted that I really took notice of him. Slavin is absolutely hilarious in “Allison’s Career Move” as Clark tries to figure out what his boyfriend Connor (Stephen Guarino) does for a living. Why Slavin hasn’t gotten his own comedy series is beyond me but for now, I’m glad he’s on Dr. Ken.

How can you not love Albert?

Watching “Allison’s Career Move,” I kept thinking something was different about the show that I couldn’t put my finger on. The sets look the same; there wasn’t any major shake-up with the cast between seasons; yet something has changed. It wasn’t until Ken’s son Dave’s (Albert Tsai) first scene that I realized what it was. I’ve absolutely adored Tsai since he first appeared as the lovable Bert on the short-lived series Trophy Wife. While I’ve always enjoyed the young actor’s performances, there is a noticeable comfort, confidence, and maturity in Tsai’s acting in “Allison’s Career Move.” It’s wonderful to see such growth between seasons; I can only imagine what the future will hold for such a young talent, especially after working with the talented Jeong and the rest of the cast.

A touching moment.

Tsai isn’t the only one who has improved. Much like high school, the first year of a new series is always the toughest as everyone tries to acclimate to their new surroundings. With Dr. Ken’s freshman season behind them, everything, from the writing to the acting, has a more assured tone, while the storylines show an increased maturity. It’s not that Dr Ken’s first season didn’t have heartwarming moments, but the scene between Ken and his daughter Molly (Krista Marie Yu) during “Allison’s Career Move” has an emotional impact I wasn’t expecting. Not only is their scene heartfelt, it comes across as real and sincere. Perhaps Ken’s real life daughters are rubbing off on him as they get older.

Anyone who questioned whether ABC made the right decision giving Dr. Ken a second season got their answer with “Allison’s Career Move.” Show creators Jared Stern, John Fox, and Ken Jeong took a good show and made it even better. If the second season premiere is an indication of what’s to come, I can’t wait for the rest of the season.

Tweet me @Staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “Allison’s Career Move.”

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

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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.