What to Watch: ‘Brockmire’ ‘Taskmaster,’ ‘Archer’ and More

A weekend of comedy to keep you laughing all the way into May.

April 27, 2018 5:00 am
Hank Azaria in the appropriately-Redemption-themed second season of 'Brockmire.' (IFC)
Hank Azaria in the appropriately-Redemption-themed second season of 'Brockmire.' (IFC)

Spring has finally sprung, and that means it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy some schadenfreude comedy. Plus, a docuseries of RFK on Netflix and a Karate Kid show…on YouTube? Check it all out below on our weekly What to Watch weekend guide!

Brockmire (IFC)

Hank Azaria — you know, Apu? From The Simpsons? At least for now? — is underrated in the genius Brockmire on IFC. Like Netflix’s Bojack Horseman, Brockmire’s comedy is so black it borders on bleak, as it deals with a former major league baseball announcer (Azaria), whose on-air mental breakdown punts him right out of a career. A decade later and he’s back in the booth…in the minor leagues. (Though the depressive egoist Brockmire is Bojack-esque, the plot is straight out of Eastbound and Down.)

The theme of the second season, appropriately enough, is redemption.

Archer Danger Island (FXX)

It’s hard to believe there’s already been nine seasons of Archer, the animated covert-ops comedy starring the vocal talents of H. Jon Benjamin, Jessica Walter (Arrested Development), Judy Greer, Chris Parnell and the occasional celebrity voice cameo (Christian Slater, Burt Reynolds, Patton Oswalt). The show’s simple(‘ish) premise: dysfunctional secret agents, led by the titular Archer (Benjamin) and his overbearing mother (Walter) has taken a lot of detours in the past few seasons, as evidenced by seasons like Archer Vice and Archer Dreamland, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store on danger island. Well, besides Crackers Macaw, the talking parrot voiced by Lucky Yates.

Taskmaster (Comedy Central)

For fans of Comedy Bang Bang, check out Comedy Central’s latest game show, Taskmaster, where CBB co-host Reggie Watts issues ludicrous challenges to comedians you’ve definitely seen before. Based on the British program of the same name and hopefully ushering in a new trend of similar imports from across the pond. I’d personally love to see an American version of Would I Lie to You make it to AT LEAST a streaming service like Netflix if not network or cable. (So take note, network executives!)

Bobby Kennedy For President (Netflix)

Part of a CNN series about the Kennedy dynasty, this four-part Netflix series on the former U.S. Attorney General, whose early political views (anti-communist, late to Civil Rights) clashed with his later image as an advocate for social justice. The series features never-before-seen footage of RFK as well as interviews with Harry Belafonte, Rep. John Lewis, Dolores Huerta as well as Paul Schrade … one of the men shot the same night Kennedy was assassinated.

Cobra Kai (YouTube Red)

The Karate Kid saga is back in action! This time in the form of a YouTube Red original dramedy, starring OG cast members Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka as his arch-rival, ubermensch Johnny Lawrence (who is apparently just a super nice guy in real life). See the battle of the dojos on the new streaming show and remember: Sweep the leg!

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