The Comedians
Season 1 Episode 11 “Red, White, And Working Blue”
Directed by Richie Keen
Written by Ben Wexler
Starring Billy Crystal, Josh Gad, Larry Charles, Stephnie Weir, Max Oberg, Megan Ferguson
FX
Air Date: Thursday, June 18th, 2015 10pm

The Comedians celebrated the 4th of July tonight, doing so with the same awkwardness they’ve approached the majority of this first season. The show centers around a particular sketch written by Josh Gad, in which he is a herpes-laden porn star and Billy Crystal is a dad walking his daughter to her first day… as a porn star. Billy ponders why he must “always play the dad.” A theme of the season is the relationship between two comedians of different ages and eras, and that plays heavy in tonight’s episode.

The Comedians
Season 1 Episode 10 “Misdirection”
Directed by Larry Charles
Written by Eric Ledgin
Starring Billy Crystal, Josh Gad, Larry Charles, Stephnie Weir, Max Oberg, Megan Ferguson, Rob Reiner, Adam Campbell
FX
Air Date: Thursday, June 11th, 2015 10pm

The Comedians – the show about the making of a show on FX starring the newest Martin & Lewis, Billy Crystal and Josh Gad, was off to a bit of a rocky start, as they struggled find an identity to the show early on. The humor tended to fall on the awkward sophomoric side, but as the season went on, I found myself loving the way Billy and Josh play off one another. The main dynamic is old school veteran comedy vs. new generation in-your-face style comedy. I imagine this to be not too far off from their natural selves. As we begin this week’s episode, Mitch (Max Oberg) has stepped into the director’s chair for a Curious George sketch (now a fully grown alcoholic ape), with an older Man in the Yellow Hat. Suffice to say his directorial style doesn’t mesh with the actors and they go to Kristen (Stephnie Weir).

The Comedians
Season 1 Episode 9 “Damage Control”
Directed by David Mandel
Written by Laura Kittrell
Starring Billy Crystal, Josh Gad, Stephnie Weir, Max Oberg, Megan Ferguson, Denis O’Hare
FX
Air Date: Thursday, June 4th, 2015 10pm

We’ve all been there. At the mall, or the supermarket, we go to park our car and someone has parked over the line, and taken up two spots. Or perhaps, you park first and later find your car damaged by some moron next to you. Now imagine this idiot is your co-worker… worse, your co-star. For Billy Crystal, this is reality.

The Comedians
Season 1 Episode 6 “Orange You The New Black Guy”
Directed by Larry Charles
Written by Matt Nix, Ben Wexler
Starring Billy Crystal, Josh Gad, Megan Ferguson, Larry Charles, Stephnie Weir, Denis O’Hare
FX
Air Date: Thursday, May 14th, 2015 10pm

When renowned entertainment journalist Elvis Mitchell shows up on The Comedians, I mean “The Billy And Josh Show,” set for an interview, Josh Gad notices him peeking around. There are NO minorities on the set of the Billy and Josh Show… except for that Asian writer; but he’s just “off white.” So Billy (Billy Crystal) and Josh hit the PC panic button and go to Kristen (Stephnie Weir) demanding they hire of more people of color. I suddenly started humming the song from Broadway’s Avenue Q, “Everybody’s a Little Racist.”

The Comedians
Season 1 Episode 5 “Go For Gad”
Directed by Larry Charles
Written by Laura Krafft
Starring Billy Crystal, Josh Gad, Megan Ferguson, Larry Charles, Stephnie Weir, Denis O’Hare
FX
Air Date: Thursday, May 7th, 2015 10pm

The big news this week on The Comedians is that Josh (Josh Gad) is apparently up for a role in the new Scorsese movie as the “Jew lawyer” to DiCaprio’s mobster. Josh has taken to accepting phone calls during shooting and is on a juice cleanse to slim down for Marty. Billy (Billy Crystal) tries to prepare Josh for the possibility of the role falling through, which many on set believe to be a sign of Billy’s jealousy, his wife included.

The Comedians
Season 1 Episode 4 “Celebrity Guest”
Directed by Larry Charles
Written by Ben Wexler, Larry Charles, Billy Crystal, Matt Nix
Starring Billy Crystal, Josh Gad, Megan Ferguson, Larry Charles, Stephnie Weir, Steven Weber, Denis O’Hare
FX
Air Date: Thursday, April 30th, 2015 10pm

Last week The Comedians finally hit its stride and was laugh out loud funny. Josh Gad and Billy Crystal created magic while high in a late-night convenience store and as a result missed an awards show where both were nominated. FX President Denis Grant (Denis O’Hare) is delaying the premiere. Billy sees the writing on the wall, especially when Kristen (Stephnie Weir) compares them to mold… you know, in a positive way.

The Comedians
Season 1 Episode 3 “The Red Carpet”
Directed by Larry Charles
Written by Ben Wexler, Larry Charles, Billy Crystal, Matt Nix
Starring Billy Crystal, Josh Gad, Megan Ferguson, Larry Charles, Stephnie Weir, Steven Weber
FX
Air Date: Thursday, April 23rd, 2015 10pm

YES! It took three episodes, but The Comedians has nailed it. The same irreverent and ridiculous humor that made Curb your Enthusiasm a staple on HBO has now found a home on FX. All it took was projectile vomit, a giant bong, and a supermarket. Sorry, but for some crazy reason projectile vomit has always had me dying; I still remember being in tears during Team America: World Police.

The Comedians
Season 1 Episode 2 “Come To The House”
Directed by Larry Charles
Written by Ben Wexler
Starring Billy Crystal, Josh Gad, Megan Ferguson, Larry Charles, Stephnie Weir, Steven Weber
FX
Air Date: Thursday, April 16th, 2015 10pm

Last week FX debuted The Comedians a documentary style comedy about the making of a new comedy sketch show: “The Billy & Josh Show” starring Billy Crystal and Josh Gad. Only problem… the stars cannot stand one another.

The second episode of the show, titled “Come to the House,” demonstrates how the two stars’ combative personalities are affecting those around them. Director Jamie (Steven Weber as a woman) seems to be struggling, while the head writer Mitch (Matt Oberg) can’t seem to get Esme (Megan Ferguson), the assistant, to understand her role… as an assistant. When he suggests a coffee run, she responds, “YES, I’ll take a dirty chai!” Obviously she’s never seen The Devil Wears Prada.

The Comedians
Season 1 Episode 1 “Pilot”
Directed by Larry Charles
Written by Larry Charles
Starring Billy Crystal, Josh Gad, Megan Ferguson, Larry Charles, and Stephnie Weir
FX
Air Date: Thursday, April 9th, 2015 10pm

The Comedians should be hilarious. You have the legend Billy Crystal. You have the newcomer in Josh Gad. You have veteran comedy writer/director Larry Charles. Everything adds up… almost. Like most pilots, you can only hope you’re left with a desire to see where the show is going. Do you want to take the ride with these characters? After a bit of a bumpy start, yes I do.