The title is a send up of KEVIN CAN WAIT, the ill-fated Kevin James CBS show that went from highest rated new comedy in year one to cancelled in year two (a nifty trick indeed). In the typical family sitcom set up, Kevin was the buffoon husband and Erinn Hayes had the unenviable job of playing his tolerant wife. Eventually her character was unceremoniously killed after the first season (which some might argue was a little hostile and harsh for no reason). Guess who made the decision to explain away her departure with death? (Hint: He can go F*** himself.)
Playing the wife of a typical dufus sitcom husband (Tim Allen, Kevin James, Ray Romano, Bill Engvall, Sherman Hemsley, Jackie Gleason, Patrick Warburton, Jim Belushi, Drew Carey, Matt LeBlanc, Mark Addy, Anthony Anderson, and dozens more) is the world’s most thankless role. You’re either the wet blanket always scolding the star for wanting to sell their children for whiskey, or you go along bemused thus looking like an idiot yourself.
And rarely do you get to be funny. With the possible exception of Audrey Meadows’ Alice Kramden, the “voice of reason” is not funny.
My heart goes out to Erinn Hayes, and Nancy Travis, Jamie Gertz, Patricia Richardson, Patty Heaton, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Megyn Price, and all the others.
This new series is seen through the eyes of Allison McRoberts, as played by SCHITT’S CREEK Emmy winner, Annie Murphy. She’s the mom on a witless multi-cam sitcom starring “Kevin” (Eric Peterson). And she loathes it. To where it’s affecting her life.
The show is shot two ways — multi-cam when you’re watching the actual sitcom, and single-camera when the red light is off. So it’s a meta behind-the-scenes look at sitcoms. I haven’t seen it. Obviously, I’m curious and will give it a look.
I’m sure there will be inside television moments I will recognize and love. I guess my big question is: Will anyone else care?
When so many people are struggling big time, will they feel empathy for an actress who has a solid job, making scads of money, being seen by millions of people each week? Will America’s heart go out to a woman whose primary hardship is she doesn’t get enough laugh lines and is often on the wrong end of a seltzer bottle? As hardships go in 2021 I’m not convinced that is near the top of the list.
So the show faces two obstacles — the quality of the execution and whether it is subject matter the audience will care about? I’m curious. For the sake of all those actresses who have played that insufferable role (and trust me, the anxiety and anger is real and justified), I hope KEVIN CAN GO FUCK HIMSELF is their day and the show’s a hit.
from By Ken Levine
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