TCB Debriefing 12/19/23: What We Do in the Shadows, The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, Tessa Coates, John Roy
1. What We Do in the Shadows will come to a close at season six (Variety). Hopefully, that’s on their terms and they’ll finish the run as one of the best TV comedies of the 21st century.
2. There is a show coming up soon (Feb. 23rd) at Amazon Prime called The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy starring Natasha Lyonne and Maya Rudolph (Deadline). From the looks of it, it would seem that Amazon is angling to have an answer to Rick & Morty and Solar Opposites.
3. Ever since we saw Tessa Coates‘ solo show Primates to an intimate crowd at Dynasty Typewriter years and years ago, we were so charmed that we wondered when, not if, should we get her own TV show (Deadline). Well, it would seem the day for this is night as Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham have attached themselves to her series following best friends, one of which discovers the other is secretly a professional assassin and is on the run. A buddy comedy with Octavia and Hannah could be one hell of a pairing.
4. A true craftsman of the art of the joke, John Roy has a deeper understanding of stand-up comedy than most comedians who take the mic and the stages, intimate and cavernous. Roy’s recently released half-hour special puts Roy’s thoroughly refined skill set in action between stage presence, timing, delivery, diction, and a thorough mastery of one’s own comedic voice on marvelous display. We say all of that, but another marker of Roy’s stand-up prowess is how he really hides the seams behind his bits and how they all interconnect, luring one into where one should always be during a stand-up comedy performance, present and laughing heartily over and over.
John Roy’s half hour special is now streaming now on YouTube free of charge at your convenience here.
5. We’ll leave you with this: Remember that every year end “best of” list that comes out before Christmas has glaring omissions.
