A.P. Bio

Season 3 proves it’s one of the most fundamentally sound sitcoms out there. From the performances (really, those kids are good!) to the direction to the writing to the ethereal collective chemistry that stems from great character-building, every layer is so well-executed that even for the few off episodes, there’s still plenty of laughs to be had.

For now the NBC sitcom is earnestly uncaring and delightfully unscrupulous. Jack is a legitimately bad teacher, but Howerton makes him a great source of chaotic comedy.

A.P. Bio is at times too straight-forward, lacking both School of Rock's freshness and the strangeness that made O'Brien's SNL shorts such standouts. [2/9 Feb 2018, p.95]

Getting to see these kids bounce off each other, and Howerton, is still a hoot, and while the show falls back into the run-of-the-mill rhythms of the sitcom more often than we might like, it’s still a flavor of “run of the mill” in which Patton Oswalt spins devil sticks in an effort to sexually out-display an ever-delightful Paula Pell. If the show’s coasting a bit at this point, at least it’s still doing so in roughly the right direction.

No, it isn't living up to its potential yet, but I'm convinced that if it just applies itself to its work, it could be something really good. For now, I'd just settle for the show becoming as funny as the people in the show are capable of being.

When the funniest things about a comedy are the cameos, it’s time to go back to the drawing board. Or in the case of NBC’s new sitcom A.P. Bio, back to the chalkboard.

An abrasive sitcom that isn’t merely unfunny, it’s also deeply unpleasant.

This show is unsuspectedly smart and original. It’s fun and quirky like a 30 Rock or Community. First season starts a little basic but as it grows into season 2 and even more in season 3, you will love it. The wheels come off in its weirdness and the cast starts having more of a hand in the writing. Normally I’m not in love with good hearted humor but I laughed out loud so many times it had me.