Amidst the sounds of grills firing up, beer getting iced and jerseys being dusted off, it’s become tradition to hear Chelsea Dagger, the catchy theme song associated with The League, blaring from the TV as the show has become part of the culture of this time of year. As the fifth season begins, the show is back in a big way as one of the flagship offerings on the debut of offshoot channel FXX.
[pullquote_right]The episode excels at all the elements that make the show hilarious.[/pullquote_right]The season premiere starts off in grand fashion, with a destination draft taking place at Andre’s wedding, leaving the cold of Chicago for sunny California. Draft episodes always end up being one of my favorites of the season, and The Bachelor Draft is no exception. The episode excels at all the elements that make the show hilarious: awkward moments, raunchy comedy, very inside fantasy football jokes, and brilliant cameos. I won’t spoil who all shows up but we see some old faces and some new ones, including the hilarious Adam Brody (The OC, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) as an out-of-town league manager in a recurring role.
[pullquote_left]The chemistry is what makes the humor really work. [/pullquote_left]The cast still manages to feel completely natural and sincere with their interactions and their constant barrage of disparaging schemes to one-up each other. The chemistry is what makes the humor really work, as a lot of the gimmicks are very sitcom-y with things like “hijinks during a wedding” and “keeping secrets from a jealous wife” that would bomb with a lesser cast. Much of the episode overall doesn’t feel all that fresh, but thankfully still brings a lot of the funny, with Brody’s character in particular adding an uncomfortably fun dynamic to the group.
I can say, having seen the first handful of episodes, that for fans of The League the show is still going strong and still not for the easily offended or squeamish.
The Good:
The numerous cameos. Adam Brody. The cast’s chemistry. Laughs from start to finish.
The Bad:
Some forced shock humor. Clichéd wedding scenarios. Jokes fall flat in a few places.
The Verdict:
A strong season opener that’s funny from open to close and full of all the things that make the show work, but occasionally delves into some weak predictable premises.
★★★★☆