'episodes' is my new favorite show!!!

I recently finished watching the first two seasons of Episodes.  This series stars two British actors Tamsin Greig & Stephen Mangan.  This series also stars Matt LeBlanc! This show is broadcast here in the US on Showtime.  In the United Kingdom this show is broadcast on BBC Two.  It is a British/American sitcom that I am really enjoying!

This Photo described what I thought going into the first episode of Episodes:

This show starts with a married couple Sean Lincoln [Stephen Mangan] & Beverly Lincoln [Tamsin Greig].  In the show they're writers and producers for this show in the United Kingdom called Lyman's Boys. Their show just won another British Academy Televsion Award.  At the award ceremony Merc Lapidus [John Pankow] talks to them about making an American version of Lyman's Boys. He tells them he will get them a house to stay in at while in LA and gives them deals they can't refuse. 

Merc is the head of what shows gets broadcast on a major network.  Merc later gets Matt LeBlanc [Matt LeBlanc] to join the team and star as a head master.  Matt LeBlanc is supposed to be playing himself in this series. 

Being a fan of Friends I love when Matt brings up things from Friends during the show!

Here is a perfect trailer of Episodes:  

My favorite interactions are the ones between Sean and Matt as well as anyone with Merc in it! Sean and Matt develop this bromance that was fun to watch.  Beverly and Matt were not friends at first and never have been in an episode I have seen.  

Merc is the biggest sweet talker ever. He literally tells people whatever they want to hear all the time. He cares more about making money than making a good show.  He is intense and his emotions change so fast, I laugh in almost every scene he is in!

I give this show a 8/10 and I will continue to watch the rest of Episodes soon. 

Does Anyone Even Watch This Show?

After recently getting a Showtime account, I was able to explore all of the wonderful TV shows and movies offered online and on the channel.  I have already watched all of Homeland so it was time for me to start another Showtime series that I could become addicted to.  That's when I decided to start watching Episodes.  Episodes stars one of my favorite comedic actors Matt LeBlanc of Friends fame.  The show even won him a Golden Globe last year for best actor in a comedy.  But after watching a few episodes, I realized....I think I might be the only person in the world who watches this show.  I have never heard anyone talk about it, nor have I seen any advertisements for it on other sites like Hulu, or TV Guide.  Could this be a diamond in the rough or is there a reason for its lack of viewership?

Frankly, I love the show.  It's a smart comedy about two British TV writers who move to L.A. and are forced to "Americanize" their show.  Episodes is unique in the fact that it is an American and British comedy, premiering on Showtime as well as on BBC 2.  The show was created by Jeffry Klarik (co-producer of Mad About You, and The Class) and his business and life partner (how cute!!) David Crane (co-creator of Friends).  I think the two have created an extremely witty show with a funny ensemble.  To be frank I probably would not have started watching this show if Matt LeBlanc and David Crane were not involved, because Friends is my all time favorite show.

Episodes follows around a married couple who have won yet another BAFTA award for their TV show about a headmaster at a boys boarding school.  A snobby, pompous LA producer has them come out to LA to produce the show, much to their dismay.  After casting Matt LeBlanc (who plays himself) as the headmaster things go downhill after everyone starts changing their show.  They change the plot of the show, and the cast and characters and chaos ensues.  Episodes has been renewed for a 3rd season, and I can't wait to continue watching the rest of the series on Showtime, hoping that someone else in the world will watch it with me and enjoy the quirky characters and silly plots just as much as I do.  I think one of the reasons I enjoy it so much is because it reminds me of what it's like to produce my own sitcom (Boys of 213 on ICTV check it out!) and I can relate to the producers in many ways.