The S1E1 Podcast

“Stark Raving Mad” is a sitcom that aired on NBC from 1999-2001. The show stars Tony Shalhoub as Ian Stark, an eccentric horror novelist known for his practical jokes, and Neil Patrick Harris as Henry McNeely, a neurotic book editor who is assigned to work with Stark. The series revolves around the odd-couple dynamic between the two main characters.

Despite the star power of its lead actors and being ranked 19th among all programs with an average of 15.5 million viewers, the show was canceled after one season. Stark Raving Mad even won a People's Choice Award for Favorite New Television Comedy. Was the cancelation of this show a wild mistep by its network? Listen as the boys deep dive the show's pilot episode to find out.

Starring: Tony Shalhoub, Neil Patrick Harris, Eddie McClintock, Heather Paige Kent, Stanley DeSantis, & Harriet Sansom Harris

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English Teacher is an American comedy drama television series created by Brian Jordan Alvarez for FX. Alvarez stars as Evan Marquez, a high school teacher in Austin Texas who finds himself at the intersection of personal, political, and professional aspects of working at a high school.

The series has been met with mostly positive reviews with The New York Times saying the show "Finds Surprising Humor in Polarizing Subjects". Will the S1E1 boys share that sentiment? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode.

Starring: Brian Jordan Alvarez, Stephanie Koenig, Enrico Colantoni, Sean Patton, Carmen Christopher, & Langston Kerman

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“Head of the Class” is a sitcom that aired from 1986 to 1991 on ABC. The show centers around a group of academically gifted students, and their laid-back history teacher, Charlie Moore (played by Howard Hesseman). Charlie’s unconventional teaching methods and his efforts to show the students that there’s more to life than just academics form the crux of the series.

“Head of the Class” received positive reception during its run, particularly for its unique premise focusing on exceptional students, which was a departure from the typical high school sitcoms of the time. The show spawned a spin-off series "Billy" and had a 2021 Reboot. Will the S1E1 boys, a group of non intellectual prodigies enjoy this one? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode.

Starring: Howard Hesseman, William G. Schilling, Jeannetta Arnette, Leslie Bega, Dan Frischman, Robin Givens, Khrystyne Haje, Joher Coleman, Tony O'Dell, Brian Robbins, Dan Schneider & Tannis Vallely 

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“Mr. Robinson” is an NBC sitcom that had a very brief run in August 2015. The show stars Craig Robinson as Craig, a musician who picks up a job as a high school music teacher in pursuit of a former high school fling.

Overall, “Mr. Robinson” was seen as a missed opportunity to create a compelling sitcom, leading to its cancellation after just one season. Critics pointed out its reliance on sitcom tropes and stock characters with Craig Robinson being underutilized due to weak writing. Will the S1E1 guys feel different? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode.

Starring: Craig Robinson, Ben Koldyke, Brandon T. Jackson, Spencer Grammer, Amandla Stenberg, Peri Gilpin, Meagan Good, Tim Bagley, Asif Ali, & Dante Brown

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“The Inbetweeners” is a British sitcom that aired from 2008 to 2010 on E4. The show follows the misadventures of four suburban teenagers at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive School. The series is known for its humorous take on the awkwardness of adolescence, focusing on themes like social acceptance, and the boys’ often unsuccessful attempts at romance.

Despite its initial lukewarm reception, “The Inbetweeners” has become a classic, celebrated for its relatable and cringe-worthy humor. The show was successful enough to spawn two movies and a very short lived American adaptation. Will the S1E1 boys connect with this show and think back to times when they were growing up in school together? Find out as they deep dive the The Inbetweeners pilot episode, "First Day".

Starring: Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison, Joe Thomas, Greg Davies, Emily Head, Belinda Stewart-Wilson, Robin Weaver, Alex Macqueen, & Henry Lloyd-Hughes

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“Mrs. Brown’s Boys” is a sitcom created by and starring Brendan O’Carroll who plays Agnes Brown, a loud-mouthed Irish matriarch who loves meddling in the lives of her six children. The show first premiered in 2011 on BBC1 and RTÉ1 but the character of Agnes Brown had already been established in stage plays, radio plays, books, and straight-to-DVD films.

The series is known for its informal production style, often breaking the fourth wall and including outtakes and intentional tomfoolery. While this style doesn't seem to land with critics who have often given the show poor reviews, it has been a ratings success in numerous countries and has won several industry awards. Will the S1E1 guys side with the critics or the fans? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode, "The Mammy".

Starring: Brendan O'Carroll, Dermot O'Neill, Jennifer Gibney, Paddy Houlihan, Derek Reddin, Fiona O'Carroll, Eilish O'Carroll, & Amanda Woods

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“Melissa & Joey” is a sitcom that aired on ABC Family from 2010 to 2015. The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Melanie “Mel” Burke, a local politician and former wild child who takes in her teenage niece, Lennox (Taylor Spreitler), and nephew, Ryder (Nick Robinson). To help manage her new responsibilities, Mel hires Joe Longo (Joey Lawrence), a former commodities trader who lost everything in a Ponzi scheme, to be the family’s “manny” (male nanny).

“Melissa & Joey” received generally positive reviews during its run, particularly for the chemistry between Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence. The show was praised for its lighthearted humor which was reminiscent of classic sitcoms. Does this show pass the test of time or is it just a cheap copy of show like "Who's The Boss" and "The Nanny". Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the pilot episode and find out.

Starring: Melissa Joan Hart, Joey Lawrence, Taylor Spreitler, Nick Robinson, Elizabeth Ho, Don Stark, & Vernee Watson

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“Amen” is a sitcom that aired from 1986 to 1991 on NBC. The show stars Sherman Hemsley as Ernest Frye, the Deacon at the First Community Church, who also works as a personal injury lawyer. Ernest is known for his harebrained schemes and often finds himself in trouble due to his dishonesty. The dynamic at the Church starts to change after the hiring of the new pastor, Reverend Reuben Gregory (Clifton Davis). Upon arrival the Reverend quickly becomes the object of the Deacon's daughter's affection.

The show was set in Sherman Hemsley’s real-life hometown of Philadelphia and was part of a wave of successful sitcoms in the 1980s and early 1990s that featured predominantly black casts. Will the S1E1 boys have faith in Amen's ability to entertain you for 22 minutes? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode and find out.

Starring: Sherman Hemsley, Clifton Davis, Anna Maria Horsford, Roz Ryan, Jester Hairston, Barbara Montgomery, Franklyn Seales, & John Hancock

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30 Rock is a sitcom created by Tina Fey that aired on NBC from 2006-2013. Set behind the scenes of a fictional live sketch comedy show. The series follows Liz Lemon (played by Tina Fey), the head writer of “TGS,” as she navigates the challenges of managing an eccentric cast and crew. This includes dealing with her arrogant boss, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), and the unpredictable star Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) and a host of other quirky characters.

“30 Rock” is known for its clever satire of the television industry and corporate culture. The show received critical acclaim, winning several major awards, including multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series. Does this former pillar of NBC's Thursday Night Lineup hold up over a decade after the show's finale? Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the pilot episode and find out.

Starring: Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander. Katrina Bowden, Lonny Ross, Keith Powell, Maulik Pancholy, Rachel Dratch, & Alec Baldwin

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“Selfie” is a sitcom that aired in 2014. The show stars Karen Gillan as Eliza Dooley, a sales representative obsessed with achieving fame through social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. After an embarrassing viral video, she realizes that online “friending” is not a substitute for real friendships. She seeks help from her co-worker, Henry Higgs (played by John Cho), a marketing image guru, to revamp her image in the real world.

The series is a modern adaptation of the classic story “Pygmalion” by George Bernard Shaw, which was also popularized by the musical “My Fair Lady.” Despite being canceled mid-season by ABC, the remaining episodes were released online on Hulu. The show received mixed reviews initially but gained a following as more episodes were released. Is Selfie the kind of show that will get the S1E1 boys to hit the like button? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode and find out.

Starring: Karen Gillan, John Cho, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Allyn Rachel, David Harewood, & Tim Peper

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