Michael and Michael Have Issues

I would say that my favorite new show of the summer line up was definitely Comedy Central's Michael and Michael Have Issues. It's a show-within-a-show about two friends/comedians/co-workers and their daily exploits. It features Michael Ian Black (Run, Fatboy, Run, I Love the 70's/80's/90's, Stella) and Michael Showalter (The Baxter, Stella). The two met each other as freshman at New York University's Tisch School of Arts as theater students. They and 11 others which included Reno 911!'s Thomas Lennon, Ben Garant, Kerri Kenni-Silver, and recently Joe Lo Truglio (Lt. Jim Dangle, Deputies Junior, Weigel and Rizzo respectively) went on to form "The New Group", an improv comedy troupe, which eventually morphed into The State and finally a successful, groundbreaking sketch show that aired on MTV for three seasons.

Since the State, respective members have gone on in their own directions, but remain friends and from time to time, work partners. This is true of Black, Showalter. After years on the NY comedy circuit with fellow State member David Wain, they got their own show on Comedy Central, Stella" in 2005 where they played unemployed feckless idiots that seemed to have an unlimited disposable income. Though poorly rated, it has since garnered a cult following for its subtle humor and obscure references, tour dates across the country, and a possible movie deal.

The Michaels return once again to TV with their new show, a not entirely untrue portrayal of their working friendship and competitiveness. Both play themselves in what is most likely hyper fictionalized accounts of some of their favorite stories: playing office matchmaker, scamming some pot for their stressed out boss,one night stands at frat houses and more. The show balances the behind the scenes drama that goes into making a program as well as the program itself quite nicely. Somewhat juvenile sketches--which cleverly reflect how straight up dumb the guys are from time to time/all the time--are interspersed throughout each episode. British "fork" offerers, zombie runs and an all sweatpants retail store receive honorable mentions. But what really makes this show great is the chemistry of the cast. The show is anchored by the same kind of awkward, situational humor that has made shows like "The Office" successful, and it definitely works here as well.

Though, in the end, it's the two main characters that carry the show. Both Showalter and Black's characters seem to be in a state of arrested development, insecure and prone to hash out things with small, ineffectual fists. I cannot say that this show is terribly nuanced and complex, like some really good Stella and State episodes, but they come close. What the former didn't have was a wider appeal, which this show seems to be gaining steadily. And all without sacrificing the kind of dry wit that the two are known for, no matter how many easy sex jokes get in the way. I'm glad to see these guys working together again, and I hope to see them for a new season that's a little more than 7 episodes.