So, math is pretty cool, am I right? Turns out if you’re counting down from 19, the next number is 18, or the approximate number of times the average American buries his or her face into a pillow out of sheer vicarious embarrassment while watching any given episode of The Bachelor. #themoreyouknow
Don’t worry, the eighteenth best show of last year isn’t The Bachelor because if I picked any show for “best of” status from that particular trainwreck of a franchise it would obvi be Bachelor in Paradise due to reasons.
Anywho…onto the third entry in #top20in20!
#18: Wet Hot American Summer – First Day of Camp
As a love letter to fans, this wackadoodle Netflix mini-series allows us another welcome opportunity to visit Camp Firewood’s staff of lovable goofballs: Katie, Andy, Coop, Susie, Gail, Gene, and all the rest. Even more impressive are the new editions (including Josh Charles, Jon Hamm, Kristin Wiig, H. John Benjamin, Jason Schwartzman, Michael Cera, and John Slattery) who make a phenomenal cast even better. As a companion piece to the film, the continuity holds up surprisingly well. As a pure comedic experience, the hijinx and utter wtf-ery prove difficult to beat.
While the self-awareness of some shows can come across as wink-at-the-camera BS, Wet Hot uses it brilliantly to its advantage to create a hyperbolic pastiche of so many genres — from political thriller to teen “drama.” The resulting world that gets so lovingly created is one where anything can happen and probably will, including but not limited to toxic waste spills, warring camp feuds, government hit man, reclusive musicians, puka shell necklaces, burp fights, and “Weird” Al Yankovic.
Plus, we can thank this show (and Paul Rudd) for one of my favorite TV lines of the year: “I’ll fart my way into that snatch, just you watch.” See? Chivalry isn’t dead!
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow creeps in #17. How have I been doing so far?
