I'm with Busey

I don't know why I was actually expecting this to be a reality show, after Comedy Central had fooled me with their first "reality show" Contest Searchlight, which all turned out to be a hoax, but it wasn't really apparent to me until the end of that show. I was looking forward to the first episode of I'm With Busey, the premise seemed so great. Mr. Tough Guy actor, a little on the odd side, mentoring a young Comedy Central writer, who is a little on the wussie side. The first episode left me wanting something better, and just left me thinking that Gary Busey is either a complete idiot, or a complete psycho. But as I saw a few more episodes it dawned on me that even though Busey may be a bit nuts, he is just acting. It really became apparent that he was acting in the episode where he took Adam to the electronics store and was trying to convince him that all technology were weapons (such as a camera that will blow his mothers face off when she tries to take a picture) Also when he thought that the wax figure of John Wayne was talking to him. The Magic Indian was priceless as well. This show isn't gold, but it is entertaining. It leaves me wanting to ask Gary 2 questions. 1.) Exactly how does one play "Name That Smell?" 2.) Exactly how does a clown on the way to the electric chair behave?

First of all, for those wondering "is this real", let me put an end to the suspense. It is not. The show has writers; it is a scripted work of comedy, not reality TV. The premise and humor runs along the same lines as another show from the same network, "Project Searchlight", that starred Dennis Leary. The idea is to take a reality concept that tv execs all seem to want to duplicate (i.e. reality shows based on the lives of eccentric semi-famous poeople) and parody the concept itself by stretching it to the point of absurdity. The elements of the show are all the same as others of the same genre, but taken to their logical extreme. So in "I'm with Busey", you don't just make Busey eccentric, you make him down right bat-sh*t crazy. Many (most) viewers of the show will find themselves wondering if it's possible that anyone could be that off and not be committed to a mental institution. Do you laugh or feel pitty? And that's the humor of the show. Much like the preferred comedic style of the late great Andy Kaufman, the real laughter of the show is in realizing that the show is laughing at you. Or, more specifically, at the public that eats up the garbage of these types of reality shows. Approaching "I'm with Busey" with this in mind, the show is a well written and acted parody walking that fine line between the ridiculous and the absurd. I don't know about a whole season, but it is definitely worth watching for a few episodes.

I have only seen this show on television two or three times but both times I have ended up in a laughing fit. This show is hilarious. Gary Busey comes up with crazy ideas, games, and activities that they should do or talk about and the things that he comes up with are absolutely hysterical ! Busey talks about what he believes and what he 'knows is true' and the things that he thinks of are crazy. It doesn't really matter whether or not he actually believes in these things or wants them to happen, either way they're so so funny. I love watching this show!

Network: Comedy Central; Genre: Comedy/Reality; Average Content Rating: TV-PG; Classification: Contemporary (star range: 1 - 4);

Season Reviewed: Complete Series (1 season)

Somewhere between reality and delusion, student and teacher, sanity and insanity - lies Gary Busey. And somewhere between all of those things, as well as between the documentary and the improve comedy lies Comedy Central's latest Kaufman-esquire work 'I'm With Busey'. The show, taken at face value, chronicles creator and star Adam De La Pena (writer for 'The Man Show') achieving one of his 'life long dreams': to be mentored by his favorite actor, Gary Busey. Busey puts Adam through rigorous and ridiculous training tests all in an attempt to espouse to De La Pena, his knowledge of the world. For Gary Busey, as it turns out is, or thinks himself to be something of an superhuman, his sensory perceptions and understanding of the mysteries of the universe. He thinks about things that kings and lords of great empires can't even spell. Or so he tells us.

This show is twisted, completely unique and at times howlingly funny. The bit in 'Imagination' when Gary pitches a cookbook about road-kill to a publisher who expected to get a biography almost had me hyperventilating I laughed so hard. You'd just have to have the taste for this type of material. 'I'm With Busey' is like a post-modern reality show, one that laughs back at us for laughing at it. I'm sure this show will put off many of those used to laughing at the endless parade of dysfunction on TV for just that reason. Because this time, this show is always pulling the strings. As wild and weird and loony as Busey may act, the viewers still can't be a step ahead of him. That's how far out of field the show is. It's a great world to visit.

In an odd way, what sells the show is the chemistry between Adam and Gary. At any given moment it can seem like Adam is a winy little kid led by worldly Busey or that Busey is wired on something and Adam is the grounded straight man just trying to survive. They seem to both enjoy (even need) each other's company and at the same time, can hardly stand each other to the point of nearly coming to blows in the mean-spirited (post-modern) 'Fear' episode. The show's packaging is top-of-the-line as Adam (giving monologues throughout the episode) really knows how to end each show on a high note. The best ending kicks come in 'Imagination' and 'Romance'. Each episode is about Busey explaining to Adam some abstract concept. In the process the show creates original TV moments where we see "nerd fights", Busey trying to put corks in cows to save the Ozone layer and Adam temporarily switching Busey out for another, equally ridiculous mentor - Andy Dick (complete with Busey throwing Dick's drink on the floor in a childish show of dominance). The series' finale couldn't have been more perfect.

What makes this show such a treasure and so potentially enduring (I know it was canceled) is the enigmatic nature of it all. 'I'm With Busey' is the perfectly embodied realization of Comedy Central's long-standing obsession with Andy Kaufman's brand of reality-bending comedy. Watching the show enough you get the sense that it has to be improved with some basic structures set-up around it. There are coincidences that are to perfect to be real and emotions and situations arising that are so insane they seem impossible to fake. The great mystery around the show is that it is unclear how much Gary Busey himself is in on it. Does Busey really think the show has deep messages and he is doing a service to the world? Is Adam, knowing the way he actually behaves (and he does behave this way), steering him for laughs on a show? Or is it all an exaggerated act with self-parody on Busey's part? You can look at the show 10 different ways, like a broken mirror, and it will fit into just about any explanation you bring to it. Much like Ozzy Osbourne on 'The Osbournes', Busey isn't just the butt of the joke, but a witty character whose eccentricity makes him infinitely more fascinating to watch than the would-be models that populate network reality shows. It's so weird, it's so unique, it's so off-the-wall and so brutally funny in an uncompromising way - I might even call it "brilliant".

Who's with Busey? I'm with Busey.

* * * * / 4

From the reviews I had read of this show, I was expecting a "typical" reality series alla Ozzy Osbourne or Anna Nicole. After the first episode, I was intrigued because I sensed that maybe there was method behind the madness. Two subsequent episodes have convinced me that the creators of this show have truly done something original (a difficult task in today's television environment.)

"I'm With Busey" is, I believe, no more of a reality show than "Friends" but a carefully crafted improv show. The episodes are clearly structured as scenes and acts and though I am not sure if any of the lines are scripted, the situations definitely are. It astounds me that any television critic who has spend any credible time in this business could so clearly miss the spoof aspect of this program.

The comedic content is hit and miss for me, though I must admit to several huge outbursts of laughter during last night's episode. I'm completely hooked, and I hope this show goes on to be more than just a cult classic. Television hasn't seen anything this new in years.