Web Therapy

Lisa Kudrow is the Lucille Ball of our time. Unusual, distinctive, unafraid.

This show, which I only heard of last October (2011), is remarkable comedy.

Comedy is the art of making the unexpected hilarious. That's what this show does. In each episode, the premise is usually straightforward. Each time Fiona begins a session, we have immediate clarity on what the problem is. Hilarity then ensues, taking unexpected turn after unexpected turn - some cued by Kudrow's priceless brand of facial exasperation, others cued by some astonishing new fact that visibly upsets or enrages her.

I remember reading a take on I Love Lucy. Desi Arnaz explained that every episode opened with a perfectly common home-life dilemma. As fans know, nothing past that premise was ever common. Each week, Lucy made us believe that she's the housewife with X problem which, if solved, will change her life. All the better if the dilemma was posed by a possible show-biz break.

Cue Lisa K and the Lucy Ricardo'ish character Fiona. She is ambitious. The Internet is her show-biz - she always wants to break into it in a big way. She has an appalling lack of common sense. Kip has problems we could imagine Ricky having if he was a lead singer and star today.

In the end, both Lucy R. and Fiona W. are screwball characters whose humanity is immediately on display but who are tempted into vanity, errant ambition, and ill-fated schemes.

Web Therapy is comedy art. Hilarity at its zenith. I tell everyone I know to watch it.

Everything about this show is absolutely brilliant. The stellar cast, the intelligent writing and most of all the eerie view of the future it presents. Who could have possibly imagined "web therapy" would have actually become a thing??

I was really surprised to see the low reviews for this show on here. Admittedly, this style of comedy isn't for everybody. It's very 30 Rock-esque. But if you appreciate dry humor and don't need to rely too much on visualization to be entertained, you'll really appreciate this show! Lisa Kudrow is great in it, the guest stars are great, and while it's sometimes offensive, for the most part it's pretty damn funny.

I have enjoyed past seasons of 5m to 15m episodes.

Kudrow has always been a favorite. Cast and guests are a lot of fun.

I'm having a hard time figuring out why, (this 'new' 30 minute show) is not so new? Lately, several episodes seem to be 'stitched', re-edited portions from past season shows, IE: several 5-15m shows into a 30m, (supposedely new episode).

I hope it has just been a 'filler' problem or such.

Off-season repeats and during season 'fillers', (once in awhile) is expected...but, do not recall seeing this type of combo.

The show has got so many diff scenarios to 'wander' into that this seems way too early to do.

In concept, Web Therapy is simple and, many a time, dealing with quite real and serious situations. So, how is it so much fun? The show relies heavily on its actors and their improv skills. It's also not said enough - what a kind and intelligent human being Lisa Kudrow is. She must've done years worth of exploration in the nature of human life and relationships in order to portray such a vile person with such detail, hilarity and charisma. And what else can an artist so well-versed in comedy do out of all that, other than a hilarious stream of jokes?

It's the most classic form of sitcom - in that it's heavily partitioned and, essentially, a compilation of sketches, with stuff you don't hear jokes about a lot. Even setting the format of the show aside, it's a true innovation to the world of comedy. One for the textbooks.

If you enjoyed The Comeback or Veep, Web Therapy is your next piece of top-shelf entertainment.