Animation
Good Times
Netflix takes a classic sitcom, Good Times, and turns it into a vulgar, violent, sexually-charged TV-MA show.
Change. Most of us don’t like it very much, and those of us who say we do are big, fat liars.
Oh, sure, we’ll change our sheets or change our oil. But change ourselves? Man, even when we know we have to change—even when we know we want to change—it’s awfully hard to do. Even when change is foisted upon us.
Kevin Gable is in a season of change. A few years ago, he was a New York police officer with a beautiful wife and three nifty kids. Now—well, he still has the kids, and a new son-in-law to boot. But he turned in his badge and is now the head of a fledgling security company, doing his best to grow his business. He’s a widower, too—who tragically (and controversially) lost his wife between Seasons One and Two of this CBS sitcom.
Now, Kevin’s a suddenly single dad dealing with three headstrong kids (and that son-in-law) at home, then zipping off to his security firm where he must work alongside Vanessa Celluci—his one-time archnemesis on the police force.
Yep, change is hard, no question. But here’s the real question: Is it funny?
Actor/comedian Kevin James helped make CBS scads of cash when he helmed the long-running sitcom The King of Queens (1998-2007), where he played an amiable UPS guy alongside Leah Remini, his sitcom wife.
A lot has changed in the decade since the King abdicated his CBS throne. Forget mere dozens of channel choices: Today’s viewers have hundreds. Old-school episodic television has made way for limited-run serials that reward obsessive viewing. Netflix and other streaming agencies have upended what the word television even means. Light, airy sitcoms like The King of Queens are as rare as unicorns on the plains of the Serengeti these days.
So what does Kevin Can Wait look like? Well, a lot like The King of Queens.
Not only is James back, but so is Remini, as of Season Two. The show also spurns the one-camera setup so favored by modern sitcoms (see: Modern Family or The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) in favor of a positively retro two-camera comedy, complete with laugh track. It airs on CBS—not only a broadcast network, but the most traditional one of the bunch. Hey, even the jokes feel a little old. Kevin Can Wait is so much a relic of an earlier time that you almost expect the Smithsonian to sweep in any moment, pick it up and store the show in one of its historical warehouses.
Yes, Kevin Gable may be in the midst of some heavy-duty change, but the show in which he appears is as rooted in tradition as my Aunt Edna’s apple pie.
Oh, and it’s just about as tasty, too.
Sure, Kevin Can Wait can feel staid. But star Kevin James is an awfully likeable actor, and that makes the show pretty watchable, too.
Moreover, Kevin Can Wait is fairly family friendly. Remarkably so, especially for our jaded, content-tolerant times. It’s rare even for a relatively “family friendly” sitcom not to trot out a handful of double entendres these days. But in a recent episode of Kevin Can Wait, I didn’t hear a single naughty allusion. Truly a Christmas miracle.
Admittedly, it ain’t perfect. Despite Kevin’s business being led by seasoned police officers, they seem to skirt the law in any city, town or municipality not located in Sitcomdia. But despite these and other missteps, this show feels like it’s really trying to mind its manners. When a CBS sitcom is cleaner than, say, a certain program on the Disney channel—and by a significant margin—it’s worth noting. Praising, even.
I hate to praise shows unreservedly, quite frankly. I don’t have time to watch every episode, so sometimes these sitcoms can take a left turn at Albuquerque. That can leave you (the prospective viewer) in an uncomfortable position and leave me (the intrepid reviewer) with egg all over my face. Still, from what I can see so far, Kevin Can Wait may be the kind of show some of us have been waiting for. And that makes for a change to the current television environment I can get behind.
Kendra and Chale want to buy a pizza restaurant named Enzo’s before it’s sold, but they don’t have the cash for a down payment. That is, until Kevin comes along with $80,000 and acts as a not-so-silent investor—and one with a long list of contradictory ideas.
Kendra’s uncle offers to invest the remainder of his money not wasted on bitcoin, provided his check doesn’t bounce. Kendra and Kevin argue over various issues; Kevin craves control, but Kendra doesn’t want him to treat Chale “like a doormat” any longer. Rather, she wants Kevin to give Chale the freedom to make business decisions. Their argument causes Kevin to stubbornly ignore his daughter.
Kevin remembers playing “Whack-A-Mole,” the same game Chale describes as “bashing adorable things with a mallet.
We hear people say “shut my pie hole:” and “crap.” We also hear about people dying in public places, getting “kicked in the nuggets” and spying on people. A joke is also made about Child Protective Services. Characters drink beer and wine.
Vanessa tasks Kevin with setting up a new account for their security business, Monkey Fist. But instead of concentrating on what will make their business money, Kevin decides to hold a competition to find a personal assistant. Elsewhere, Chale wants to pursue a different business investment, but Kendra isn’t so sure.
Kevin tells his new assistant to lather both sides of his bagel in butter so that they’re not just kissing, but making out, he jokes suggestively. A few people mention drinking beer. Others argue over a poorly executed decision. A violent metaphor is used. Someone threatens, “I will kill you.” The words “h—,” “stupid,” “crap,” “shut it,” and “dummy” are all heard once.
Kevin goes undercover at a car dealership to uncover whether the owner has been hiding money from his ex-wife. But when he proves to have a knack for actually selling cars, Kevin begins to relish his pretend job. Meanwhile, Kevin’s son, Jack, tries out for a part in a school play; he gets a little help from Chale, Kevin’s live-at-home son-in-law.
Kevin’s schemes to trap the car dealer range from being simply deceptive to flat-out illegal. Kevin’s Plan A, for instance, is to swipe a thumb drive from the owner’s office. (The owner is eventually entrapped by a video recorder disguised as a fountain pen.)
Jack, who’s trying out for the role of a bully, is supposed to steal someone’s milk as part of the play. Chale suggests that Jack put a pebble in his shoe so he can feel the bully’s pain, leading to some unintended consequences: Jack is sent to the principal’s office for being a little too scary, and then to the nurse’s office where he’s diagnosed with plantar fasciitis.
Kevin suggests that a rival security team—staffed with a bunch of ex-Navy SEALS—now looks like a team of actual seals (having let some of their training regimen go by the wayside, apparently). Characters say “crap” three times. We hear the car dealership owner confess his scheming deeds. Kevin’s brother flirts with some women.
Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
Netflix takes a classic sitcom, Good Times, and turns it into a vulgar, violent, sexually-charged TV-MA show.
While its protagonist might live a nuanced life, The Sympathizer’s problematic content can’t be described the same way.
Say hola once again to the iconic explorer in this faithful reboot of the children’s series.
Based on a popular video game, Ark: The Animated Series features hungry dinosaurs, bloodthirsty people and plenty of problems.
