The League

So FX sent me a disc of the first two shows of 'The League'. I only really recognized Paul Scheer from 30 Rock and the luscious Nadine Velazquez (My Name Is Earl) but that didn't stop me from instantly bonding with these characters.

There people are the people I hang out with .... hell they are me. Some married, some single, and one guy in the middle of a separation. They are all friends with girlfriends ...or spouses...they go out together or they hang at the house for a birthday party. But the one common central they seem to LOVE is fantasy football.

It interacts in their daily lives - and this half-scripted show seems to capture quite well how goes REALLY act with one another. At least the way I act with my friends. But they go a bit more for their fantasy football league. Get caught doing something bad? She won't tell...if you trade Payton Manning.

Mark Duplass is damn good as the central character whose fantasy football really keeps him going. He's the guy who needs his lucky shirt for fantasy draft day and when he can't find it...suspects his wife through it out.

The cast is awesome...and it is a show I'm going to love to watch throughout the football season.

Difficult to rate because I'm conflicted. I have no idea why this hasn't been released in the UK, other than the fact that most of us probably don't get American Football references and it's probably not suitable to be aired on television generally. It's totally gross, sick, rude, inappropriate, blasphemous, obscene, cringeworthy and has jokes about just about everything that I personally find distasteful, and things that I'd usually turn off for. However, it is unavoidably hilarious. Laugh out loud funny even if you are berating yourself for finding something so horrible amusing. You know you should switch off but it's just too funny. It's definitely more boy-humour than girl-humour (think The Hangover) so I'm surprised I like it so much in that respect. None of the characters are particularly likable (I personally like Pete best), but you end up really attached to them, but the comedy is just so clever, fast and observational as well as horrible but there are some big names that have graced it's episodes from the world of Football and there's a great few eps with Jeff Goldblum to name one familiar actor - and he's his fabulous self as ever.

Basically set around the antics of six friends who are part of a fantasy football league, and the lengths they will go to to win their league trophy - the Shiva, named after a plain girl who went to their highschool with them who is now a very attractive doctor and friend. Do not watch this if you don't like bad language, violence, drugs, reference to any body parts, bodily functions or anything of a sexual nature. Or if you are squeamish. Or delicate. Or of a nervous disposition. Currently on four series and I hope there are more.

I will start by saying It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is my favorite show of all time. I will follow this up with saying that The League is one of the funniest shows I've ever watched. While it doesn't have the same level of satire that Sunny has, this show had the same irreverence and the same no-holds-barred energy that Sunny has. FX and FXX have struck gold with two of the funniest shows or funniest this era of television has seen. While season 7 was not good, the first 6 seasons gave me some of the best laughs I've ever had.

I'm not a huge football fan, but i never miss an episode of the league. I'd imagine its even better if you actually have a clue about the constant football guest stars but its obvious this show is less about the lineups as it is the shameless unrestrained competition that makes the entire show so damn hilarious. The cast is constantly messing with each other, cracking jokes and busting each others balls. The amount of hilarious, uniquely eccentric characters in the show is par to that of scrubs or chuck, there's really never a dull moment. The episodes usually end with some awkward or completely ridiculous moment, such as Ruxin's dads vinegar strokes, being chased by a dildo trident, etc.

Rafi is completely insane and everyone is constantly avoiding him and would probably get away with it too if it weren't for the fact that his sister is Ruxin's wife, a smoking hot latina who somehow doesn't realize her brother is completely insane and also a rapist. Andre is probably an easier target than meg from family guy and the exact example of what not to be. Taco is just plain ridiculous, i mean, is that his real name, was his mother on crack when she had him, i don't know. It would certainly explain a lot. The Mcarthurs are constantly at odds when it comes to balancing raising their young little daughter and viciously undermining each others efforts to win the shiva bowl. Pete is probably the most normal one of the bunch, but i mean, come on, Pete. You should know better than to let a bitch like Gina Gibiati have the upper hand. The entire thing mixes into a nice blend of sardonic, sad and just plain insane.

This show is worth it just to hear the random ass conversations. for instance, leg titties. :) Also the episode Taco pretended to be a therapist was hilarious.

This is one of the best, by far in my opinion, comedies out there. For me it has successfully filled the void left by Arrested Development. There are other shows that fill this void as well but this one of the few shows that satisfies my desire for quick witted humor combined with sophomoric humor. My wife feels it's a guy's show. I can't entirely disagree. I would say it is definitely aimed at the very people it features. But also I would say anyone who likes sharp and fast humor like Arrested or Sunny will like this. There is definitely enough humor that goes outside fantasy football to appeal to a more general demographic. I think my favorite part of the is that it is lauded as semi scripted which to me really comes out in the dialogue. You can tell that there are times when they are genuinely laughing at the jokes or barbs each other throws out there unexpectedly. This also adds to the chemistry of the characters and the naturalness of the show. It really feels like you're watching 5 friends/couples going back and forth and arguing or discussing etc. Supposedly, and I believe it, the main actors are all friends in real life and even do a fantasy league with the shows creators. Regardless of whether that is true or not I think this is a true comedy gem that should be around for a long time.