Reboot (2022)

The chemistry among the cast members pushes this series from good to exceptionally funny in an endearing, dysfunctional sort of way. They capture the absurdity of rebooting a show that has no business returning and turn that disaster into great comedy in the process.

There’s no question Hollywood loves to look at itself and a TV show about a TV show is more than a bit indulgent. But audiences also like to look at Hollywood and “Reboot” at least manages to be witty and entertaining.

Tt’s cleverly written, with laugh-out-loud bits and a regular stream of amusing meta humor (including references to Hulu).

Like Step Right Up’s writing room, Reboot occasionally seems torn between two ideals: the standard world of sitcoms, and an attempt to do something new and fresh. But like that writer’s room, the show eventually finds an equal balance that will likely please both fans of Levitan’s more standard sitcom work and something that takes a few solid shots at the television industry in general.

“Reboot” benefits from a great cast – Judy Greer and Paul Reiser are among the show’s series regulars – and some funny moments. But occasionally it feels like there’s something missing. ... Still, “Reboot” has enough going for it that I’ll stick with it to see how it develops in later episodes.

In the end, Reboot seems caught between wanting to skewer the old ways and desperately missing their simple satisfactions. There are twists in the series opener that came as a genuine surprise, but nothing is so messy or nuanced that it can’t be settled by a good punchline. The show wants to have its meta-cake and eat it too.

The show’s overqualified cast—which also includes Keegan Michael-Key and Judy Greer—at least wring mild comedy from even hackneyed cracks about clashing age groups and the sort of timing-based gags that tend to involve the phrase, “He’s right behind me, isn’t he?”

Really enjoyable show, very easy to watch, with a really likable cast. Hopefully it'll get a second season

A family sitcom that was a hit 20 years ago is revived with the original cast, played by Keegan-Michael Key, Johnny Knoxville and Judy Greer, plus a young new writer (Rachael Bloom, and you can't tell me they didn't have Liz Lemon in mind when they created her look). Naturally, the passage of time has altered their lives and relationships with the other cast members. Steven Levitan, who's best known for creating Modern Family, has infused surefire humurous energy throughout and mined the comic abilities of his talented cast. Ironically, most of the funniest moments come from the culture clashes in the writer's room, which is a combo of young "wokes" and old school types. Like most classic TV sitcoms, Modern Family had 24 episodes in the first season to establish itself. This time Levitan only had 8. While the show isn't at the level of Levitan's biggest hit, with some time it may grow from a mildly amusing comedy into a truly hilarious hit.