The Z-Suite

O’Brien’s brilliant writing and excellent performances by Graham and the entire cast make “The Z-Suite” a skillful and bold comedy that skates along the line of satire and never tries to take itself too seriously.

It may just be my own chronological prejudice, but there’s a tiresome quality to the younger characters the show doesn’t quite overcome — although one might also say that this means only that they have played their parts well. .... But what “The Z-Suite” has going for it most of all is Graham, an actor who, however whimsical the context, comes across as absolutely real and amplifies the realness of the show that surrounds her.

Given the cast and the potential for a series with some good laughs, we’ll tentatively recommend The Z-Suite. But the writers really need to take their feet off the gas when it comes to cliches about both Gen X and Gen Z.

So the series is populated by badly conceived characters played by actors who have clearly been directed to perform at irritating volume, and every one of its sets look cheap and underpopulated. But I’m a generous sort, and The Z-Suite isn’t a total disaster. There is some small improvement after the first two installments, especially when it comes to Monica.

There is a fine line between broad and dumb. “The Z-Suite,” a new series on Tubi, is so far on the dumb side of the line you can’t even see broad from there.