Maniac Mansion was a sitcom that aired on The Family Channel from 1990 to 1993. The show was created by Eugene Levy and produced by George Lucas’s Lucasfilm Television. Loosely based on the cult-favorite 1987 video game of the same name. While the series took its name from the cult video game, the show used little to none of the source material, opting instead for a domestic sitcom laced with surreal, science-fiction twists. The premise centered on Dr. Fred Edison (Joe Flaherty), a well-meaning scientist whose home experiments often created bizarre predicaments for his family. The mix of conventional family humor and absurdist elements gave the show a tone that was equal parts sitcom, parody, and sketch comedy.
Critics and audiences received Maniac Mansion with curiosity but mixed feelings. Fans of the video game were surprised by the lighter, kid-friendly direction, while TV reviewers highlighted its eccentric humor and offbeat charm from the show's SCTV roots. Though it never broke through as a mainstream hit, the series gained a modest cult following. Is this this show going to be more Spooky or Dookie with the boys? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode, "The 10th Anniversary Special" and find out.
Starring: Joe Flaherty, Deborah Theaker, Kathleen Robertson, Avi Phillips, George Buza, John Hemphil, & Mary Charlotte Wilcox
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S1E1: Good Grief
“Good Grief” is a sitcom that aired on Fox from 1990 to 1991. It centered around a very unusual setting for a comedy: a family-run funeral home. The show’s offbeat concept was part of Fox’s early push into unconventional sitcom territory during the network’s formative years. The premise revolved around Warren Pepper, a straight-laced mortician who ran the “Sincerity Mortuary” with his sister Debbie. Their operations were disrupted when Debbie’s flamboyant, wisecracking husband Ernie Lapidus became a partner in the business.
Good Grief received a very mixed reception. Ratings were modest at best, and after thirteen episodes, Fox opted not to renew it. Though largely forgotten today, it remains a curious example of early '90s television experimenting with taboo subjects in a sitcom format. Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive Good Grief's pilot episode, "Ladies and Gentlemen... Ernie Lapidus!".
Starring: Howie Mandel, Joel Brooks, Sheldon Feldner, Wendy Schaal, Ruth Manning, Jack Yates, & Danny Silver
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S1E1: Bust Down
“Bust Down” is single-camera sitcom created by and starring Langston Kerman, Jak Knight, Chris Redd, and Sam Jay that premiered on Peacock in 2022. It centers on four friends who work low-wage jobs at a casino in Gary, Indiana. The show leans heavily into raunchy humor and over-the-top scenarios, with the creators noting they wanted it to be “raunchy, irreverent, and complicated".
Critics generally responded positively and praised Bust Down's bold comic voice and willingness to push boundaries. Sadly, months after the show's release, Jak Knight passed away. It's unclear if this factored into the end of the show. Bust Down now exists as a 6 episode show that may have never realized it's full potential and floats on various streamers. How did the S1E1 boys feel about the show? Listen as they deep dive the pilot episode, "Bad Hang".
Starring: Chris Redd, Sam Jay, Langston Kerman, Jak Knight, DomiNque Perry, Freddie Gibbs, John Douglas, & Dan Bakkedahl
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S1E1: Welcome To Sweden
Welcome to Sweden was a sitcom that aired from 2014-2015. The series was produced in collaboration between Sweden’s TV4 and NBC in the U.S., making it one of the rare cross-Atlantic sitcoms of the 2010s. The show follows Bruce Evans, an American accountant who leaves his career behind in New York to move to Sweden with his Swedish girlfriend, Emma Wiik. Much of the comedy stemmed from Bruce’s struggle to adapt to Swedish culture.
Welcome to Sweden earned an International Emmy nomination and developed a small cult following, especially among expats and viewers interested in cross-cultural stories. However, ratings in the U.S. struggled, leading NBC to cancel the series during its second season in 2015. Did NBC do the right thing or did they fail to help the show find it's audience? Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the show's pilot episode, "Välkommen".
Starring: Greg Poehler, Josephine Bornebusch, Lena Olin, Claes Månsson, Christopher Wagelin, Per Svensson, & Amy Poehler
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S1E1: That's My Bush
That’s My Bush! was a Comedy Central sitcom that aired in 2001. It was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the duo behind South Park. The show, which was a satirical look at life in the White House was green lit with the understanding that the show would focus around whoever ended up winning the 2000 presidential election. The show’s premise was less about politics and more about lampooning the conventions of the American sitcom.
Although reviews were generally positive, praising the show as a clever parody of both politics and sitcom clichés, That’s My Bush! proved unsustainable. High production costs led to cancellation after just eight episodes. Parker and Stone later admitted the series likely wouldn’t have worked in the political climate after September 11, 2001. Listen as the boys deep dive That's My Bush's pilot episode, "An Aborted Dinner Date".
Starring: Timothy Bottoms, Carrie Quinn Dolin, Kurt Fuller, Kristen Miller, Marcia Wallace, Lisa K. Wyatt, & John D'Aquino
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Join us every week where we’ll be picking a different sitcom and judging it solely on its very first televised episode. In doing so we’ll be challenging ourselves to erase any knowledge of future episodes so we can deliver an unbiased opinion. At the end of each show we’ll tell you if this is a show we would green light or cancel. Tune in to find out which mega shows wouldn’t make the cut, what forgettable mistakes we give a pass, and who started exactly where they should be.