Okay, just a fair warning: this is going to be a long post.
Last week's episode marks the end of the first, and hopefully not last, season of Jon Benjamin Has a Van.
Bob Odenkirk guest starred and was great, of course. In my opinion, Bob Odenkirk is one of the most consistently funny guys in the business.
I'd like to point out that Bob's character in the last episode, a preacher named Rocco, put the lollipop in his mouth when the earth started to rumble and quake. He had it out, put it back in, the shaking stopped, then resumed, and he put it back in. So great, so unsafe.
The series got off to a rather weak start, I have to say.
The only thing that was stopping me from abandoning the show altogether after the first two episodes was I liked the people involved. (H. Jon Benjamin, The Abso-Lutely crew, et al.)
Tim and Eric could not have showed up on JBHV at a more opportune time with the third episode.
All in all, it's a very fun show. A lot of it is more clever than actual laugh-out-loud funny, but there are laughs to be had. The show can be very meta at times. Meta like the idea behind the Chrimbus Special. In fact, there's a whole episode that delves pretty deep into meta territory.
The show has intriguing, new concepts. From the comments I've read on other boards, the fanbase likes the man-on-the-street segements, like "You Just Got Burned", or "Do You Have A Minute", a whole lot.
I'd agree with that. The guerilla street intreviews with Jon Benjamin, which IIRC there was one every episode, were always a sizzle point.
My final season one rankings (this was hard to do):
1. Episode 6: Suicide
2. Episode 4: Breakdown Van
3. Episode 7: Van Scheme
4. Episode 10: Smoking
5. Episode 3: Stardoor
6. Episode 9: House on the Lake
7. Episode 8: The Curse
8. Episode 5: Road Rage
9. Episode 1: Border
10. Episode 2: Little Little Italy
Suicide, Breakdown Van and Van Scheme are all top notch episodes in my eyes. And the episodes that are ranked lower aren't necessarily bad. On the contrary, I had a hard time making these list because I enjoyed each episode. The only ones that left a bad taste in my mouth and were kind of slow were episodes one and two.
Anyway....
The "problem" with this show is similar to the "problem" with shows like Awesome Show or 12 Oz. Mouse. The appeal is generally not very broad.
Even if the appeal of JBHV is more narrow than its competing shows I still think it's a very thoughtful show. I'd say it's my favorite thing currently on TV, however, it might not be on TV for long.
JBHV does not seem to be pulling in a massive audience, even when compared to newer shows that have premiered around the time JBHV did.
As of now, The number of Facebook likes for three new shows are as follows:
Wilfred, a show that airs on FX: 249,892 (I haven't seen this show yet, but I've seen scattered clips and commercials and it does not seem like my kinda show. Go figure)
Workaholics, a show that airs on Comedy Central like JBHV: 56,131 (I watched 5 episodes of this and the quality of the show decreased upon more viewings, and that's a bad sign. I see this as a poor man's version of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.)
Jon Benjamin Has a Van: 10,712
Now, I'm not saying number of Facebook likes is a definite way to gauge interest or anything, but it is ceratinly a way to gauge general acceptance.
As we all know, it's quality, not quantity, that matters, but ratings are what keeps a show alive.
I'm afraid that JBHV might not get a second nod. It might be too subversive to get renewed. And let's face it, a lot of people don't want their comedy to ask them to think. They don't want to explore new frontiers in comedy.
When H. Jon Benjamin was asked about how the show was doing at one of his panels (for either Archer or Bob's Burgers), his reply wasn't exactly positive news. He said something to the effect of the earnings/prospects are meager. ( lol).
But I'm still holding out hope. It is my belief that shows really get good in their second season. Examples: Arrested Development, Awesome Show, Tom Goes to the Mayor,
I'd like to see what the show could do if given another chance to really shine.
That's pretty much all I have to say at the moment.
What did you guys think of season one?
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