Cooper's Bar

I'm not sure who would consider this show a comedy. I even enjoy dark comedy but this show never made me even have a "sensible chuckle" or slightest grin. It is a drama not a comedy and not even a dramedy (which most of the times are dramas with 1 or 2 funny moments amidst all the pain and stress) so that misclassification made it hard for me to enjoy the show since my wife and I went into it thinking it would be funny.

I'd rate it higher as a drama but even then it doesn't work for me. I'm was never interested in the sad sack characters or their interactions. Others who enjoy "maelstroms of pain" may disagree and really love this work but it isn't for me.

The crux of the issue with this show for me is that Cooper doesn't even really want to be a star that bad. In the show, he keeps talking about wanting to open a bar if starring in his own show doesn't work out. In fact, he seems to prefer opening the bar and seems reluctant to be the lead of his own show! The show, from its outset, lacks any stakes.

On top of this, it just isn't that funny. Much of the humor is supposed to come from how down to earth and blue collar Cooper is in comparison to the dog eat dog world that Kris (played with utter commitment and gusto by Rhea Seehorn who deservedly netted a nomination for this role), the caustic representative of the company that wants to buy (steal) the rights to a "Cooper's Bar" tv show from Cooper, represents. The problem is that the Cooper and his pals are too unlikeable to represent the "sane" man by comparison to Kris and her ilk. Cooper himself is grouchy, derisive of younger generations, close-minded, and a little arrogant. His friends are all varying degrees of naive, clueless, and conceited. Since the "sane man" group is hard to root for, it creates less comedic dissonance between his pals and the company's representatives.

I'm starting to think American humour differs greatly from British. Watching this via YouTube, I don't think I laughed once. Or even smiled. It's just not funny. Maybe I just didn't get it.

...which is the point, right?

It's amazing the self-absorbed drivel that results from letting anyone with a keyboard type stuff online. (See other reviews above.)

This is an excellent, witty short form distraction, well worth watching.

Like the chicken wings, this show is packed with good punch. Love the plot lines. All mini segment shows... with all the hip lingo. Trash on Range-rover, lights in backyard bar, wise cracking mall cop. Cheerful English dude, and ballsy wife make this show. Cooper is a Danny DeVito-esque character who is fabulously funny!