The League

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'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.

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 so glad this show is back. It has consistently been one of my favorite series on TV for the last few years.

While last season left something to be desired this season has already started off with a bang. The Draft Shows are always some of the best. The writing is so smart and there are so many payoffs for longtime viewers. The same device was used in How I Met Your Mother and it works on this show as well.

I would like to have the stories focus more around fantasy football as the catalyst for the stories. That was my main complaint of last season. They got too far away from fantasy and focused more on sit com plot structures. The "Dirty Randy And Rafi" episode was one of the worst of the entire season because there was no football in it.

Hopefully this season will return back to their roots and be more football oriented.

Still this is one of the best shows on TV.

The League is a show about 5 high-school buddies facing everyday life concerns while mercilessly ridiculing each other and placing way too much importance on their fantasy football league!

From the outset this show is way funny, making use of the relaxed boundaries cable TV offers. Not at all politically correct and not concerned with hurt feelings. A good comparison is 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' but having more likable characters and relying more on good humour than shock value (for the most part).

The chemistry of the cast is great. The characters play off each other really well, especially after the series finds its feet, and make for some of the more memorable TV comedy figures in recent history.

I was compelled to check this show out after looking for more TV comedy and reading about comparisons to the almighty Seinfeld. I would agree with this assessment in that it has intricate, often intersecting story lines, while having everyday situations with absurd outcomes and definitely prescribing to the 'no-hugging, no learning' ethos of Seinfeld.

Setting it apart is the 'dude' humour, and a level of crassness you can't get away with on network TV.

I was not surprised to find out the creator, directors of 'The League' had written for Seinfeld and directed episodes of another brilliant comedy 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.'

Standing on the shoulders of giants indeed but definitely succeeding in delivering a hugely funny, unpredictable show with brilliant moments of dialogue and a developing world within the show!

Tim Thorne