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<i>The Comedians</i> Season Finale – “Overhear” & “Partners” Review. The End.

Season 1, Episode 12 and 13

Air Date: Thursday, June 25, 2015, 10:00 PM ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

“You’re not my friend, we just work together.” – Billy

Hanging with friends.

The newly formed chemistry between Billy (Billy Crystal) and Josh (Josh Gad) is put to the test when Billy overhears Josh making fun of him. Will Billy take the high road and put it behind him or is this the final straw in their already tumultuous relationship?

The setup for “Overhear” is one of the best of the season. I enjoy how for the first half of the episode neither the audience nor Josh knows if Billy heard what was said about him. Watching Josh try to surmise how much Billy knows is hilarious, especially when he enlists Kristen (Stephnie Weir) for some advice.

Josh’s sleuthing leads to an explosive confrontation between him and Billy. Their meltdown appears so genuine, it’s uncomfortable to watch at times. I couldn’t help wondering if there’s a seed of truth to Billy’s words or whether Crystal is doing some of his best acting.

Billy and Josh putting on a happy face.

Despite the fallout, Billy and Josh continue to put on a happy face for the camera. I laughed as Billy turns on the enthusiasm when the camera begins to roll only to be pissed again the moment Mitch (Matt Oberg) yells, “Cut.”

The hyperrealism of The Comedians is something I find particularly enjoyable. By playing fictionalized versions of themselves, the writers are able to incorporate real references into the show. Watching Josh talk about Frozen or Billy reminiscing about When Harry Met Sally adds to the realism of the series. It also provides for some wonderful guest stars like Rob Reiner and Mel Brooks. While not as famous as Reiner and Brooks, “Overhear” introduces us to Dan Gill, Rory Scovel, and Kate Micucci, who all happen to be Josh’s friends and rising comedians in their own right. Even though The Comedians is scripted, I enjoy going behind the scenes where Billy and Josh are shown hanging with their friends, talking about nothing.

Julie, the voice of reason.

The animosity between Billy and Josh continues with “Partners” as the final day of filming of The Billy and Josh Show approaches. Billy isn’t shy about his desire to get the hell out of town with his wife Julie (Dana Delany), who once again provides the voice of reason for her husband. It’s too bad the writers didn’t find more ways to use Delany on the show.

The fate of FX president Denis (Denis O’Hare) is a twist I never saw coming in “Partners.” While it sets things up for a possible second season, it also creates an unnecessary distraction. I really enjoyed O’Hare’s no nonsense approach to his character and as with Delaney, I wish Denis had been more thoroughly utilized throughout the season.

The sudden romance between Mitch and Esme (Megan Ferguson) unfortunately feels rushed. Sure, there have been hints, mostly from Mitch, that something might happen between the two. Instead, their scenes feel as if they have become so bored with the show, they might as well just make out instead.

I must give credit where credit is due especially since I have been so hard on the skits for The Billy and Josh Show in my reviews. Apparently, the writers saved the best for last. Everything, from the drug bust skit to the soldier who won’t die, is entertaining and had me laughing. If the showrunners for The Comedians decide to release the first season on DVD, I’d love it if they included some of the unedited skits for The Billy and Josh Show.

One of the things missing from The Comedians this season was an overall story arc that felt like a natural progression. Sure, the goal from the beginning was to get The Billy and Josh Show to air on FX, but throughout the 13 episodes, there was zero character growth. It would have been nice to see an on-screen bromance form beginning with Billy and Josh’s first meeting. It would have been fun watching them deal with unexpected setbacks every so often; at least then you would see progress being made.

Instead, before each episode, the writers seem to hit the reset button, ignoring any growth between the characters from the previous week. On the surface, “Overhear” and “Partners” are very enjoyable episodes, as Billy and Josh find themselves at each other’s throats only to find common ground at the end and make up. But it’s too little too late and given their past differences, I’m not convinced this final truce will last.

Is this goodbye?

It’s unfortunate The Comedians has been so hit and miss because there have been several glimpses of comedic and dramatic greatness throughout the season. One of these scenes takes place backstage with Billy talking to Josh about always wanting more out of life. It is well written and Crystal’s execution is so heartfelt, you can’t help but wonder why there couldn’t have been more of these kinds of moments during the season.

The final scene to close out the first season of The Comedians is beautifully shot. Having the camera at Billy and Josh’s backs as the two comics walk onto the stage for what could be the last time has a special feel to it. So far, FX hasn’t announced whether the series will get a second season. What do you think? Does the series deserve a second season?

Leave a comment below or tweet me @staffaroadtrip and let me know what you think about “Overhear” and “Partners.”

Visit the show’s website at http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/the-comedians for all the latest news.

 

Looking for The Comedians on social media? Follow these links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheComedians.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecomediansfx/.

Tumblr: http://thecomediansfx.tumblr.com.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecomedians.

 

You can also follow some of the cast on Twitter: @Josh Gad, @Billy Crystal, @Dana Delany, and @Megan Ferguson.

Photos © 2015 FX Networks, LLC, a division of Fox Broadcasting Company. 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.