Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
It’s about freaking time Andrea Savage got her own show. If you don’t know Savage by name, you’ll surely recognize the comedic actress from her scene-stealing performances in Step Brothers, Veep, The Hotwives, and Sleeping with Other People. But Savage’s ascent from ensemble to leading lady is officially complete as she finds herself at the top of the call sheet in her fearlessly funny new truTV series I’m Sorry.
Now available to stream on truTV (and for free on YouTube), the half-hour sitcom follows Savage’s character — a comedy writer, wife, and mother — who often finds herself in a variety of social situations that shine the brightest of spotlights on her inner immaturity and neuroses. If the familiar sound of the opening blomp-blomp-blomp tuba from Curb Your Enthusiasm just zipped through your head, you’re not alone. The show shares a lot of similarities with the classic HBO comedy as Savage’s character, which is loosely based on her real life, repeatedly finds herself in socially awkward situations. In the pilot episode alone, Andrea is embroiled in uncomfortable encounters of her own creation with a couple of legends by the name of June Squibb and Judith Light.
And that’s just Episode 1.
Many a show attempt to emulate the “isn’t life super awkward and weird?” trope. I’m Sorry succeeds thanks to the sitcom’s ability to create natural as opposed to contrived conflict. It’s not CAPITAL LETTERS MAYHEM; it’s relatable tension, and that distinction makes all the difference. I’m Sorry also knows how to tell an exceptional story. Seemingly innocuous moments from Act 1 are paid off in Act 4, and that kind of smart, circular storytelling is both entertaining and refreshing.
Savage portrays an unconventional mother, but one of the strengths of the series is her outwardly conventional relationship with her husband Mike, played by the perennially underrated Tom Everett Scott. Let me say this about Scott: If you want your TV show to be just a little bit better, you add a little Thomas Everett Scott into the mix. The guy’s solid gold in a silver world. When it comes to doing that thing people do — in this particular case acting — he’s aces. Savage and Scott possess an easy familiarity that genuinely feels like you’re watching two people who share a sincere affinity towards one another. The pair exude a lively chemistry filled with the kind of exaggerated eye rolls and playful banter earned after years of matrimony.
In an embarrassment of comedic riches, the cast is rounded out by Judy Greer, Gary Anthony Williams, and Jason Mantzoukas, who portrayed Savage’s husband in Sleeping with Other People.
The never-ending array of awkward encounters are a lot of fun, but I personally found myself gravitating towards the more relaxed “hang out comedy” aspect of the show, although that has more to with the easygoing chemistry of the cast. Perhaps I’m just a man who enjoys a well-time Tom Everett Scott eye roll and a brazen Jason Mantzoukas zinger more than most.
The ensemble is overflowing with talent, but it’s Savage’s quick wit and likable charm that draw you in. It’s easy for a solid series to get lost in the Peak TV shuffle, so don’t miss out on truTV’s clever new comedy I’m Sorry.
