SummaryMarine veteran Riley (Parker Young) befriends Awalmir aka Al (Adhir Kalyan), an interpreter who served with him in Afghanistan and who has just moved to start a new life in America in this Chuck Lorre comedy created by David Goetsch and Maria Ferrari.
Created By:Maria Ferrari, David Goetsch
United States of Al
Season 1 Premiere:
Apr 1, 2021
Metascore
Mixed or Average
52
User score
Mixed or Average
5.2
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Metascore
Mixed or Average
52
18% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
73% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
9% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Apr 6, 2021
80
With a talented cast and writing staff and a truly original premise, it might really turn into something exceptional—if the American Taliban doesn't put it to death first.
Mar 25, 2021
60
The cross-cultural confusions like in Chuck Lore's most recent hit Bob {Hearts) Abishola, are mostly endearing, even when some of the jokes land too hard. [29 Mar - 11 Apr 2021, p.9]
User score
Mixed or Average
5.2
33% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
33% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
33% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
May 24, 2021
7
If you're looking for belly laughs from a TV show, this is not the comedy for you. If you're looking for a deeper examination of what people face in their day-to-day lives, with a touch of comedy, then this show may work for you. Mr Lorre was doing basic comedy in, e.g., the Cybill shows. Since then, recently he's progressed, tackling more difficult issues. Skipping ahead to Mom, that show was a tough one to watch because of its premise. But watching it was rewarding because of the understanding one gains. Bob Hearts Abishola is another where one gains insight while enjoying the episodes. The United States of Al carries on along those lines. Mr Lorre is clearly progressing (and making up for the decreasing quality of Big Bang's 7th through 12th seasons. But I digress...). Mr Young plays his role superbly. I enjoyed his acting on Enlisted, but this series allows him to really show his subtly. The way he walks around the house, you can see by the expression on his face that he is carrying a burden. The interaction between Mr Young and Mr Kalyan characters shows a deep friendship that spans many difficulties. As is usual with a Mr Lorre series, the character development is excellent. So if you're looking for a TV comedy where you put your brain on hold, watch the show, then pick up your brain afterwards, this show may not be for you. But if you want to watch an observation of the bond between an American soldier and the Afghan interpreter he worked with, with a comedic touch, then I'd say give this show a viewing. If you watch no other episode, watch the one about the fundraiser....
Oct 14, 2021
3
The good: the show is a positive step for muslim american represientation, and is apparently written or created by Afghan people I believe. The Bad: the show is billed and shot like a comedy, **** not very funny. From the Season 2 episode 1 I watched, there was 1 kindof funny joke in the firt 5 seconds of the show, and actually a throw-away comment by the dad, and then...nothing funny for a good 10 minutes as it was actually quite dark and depressing. The show would have worked better if shot in a different way, and could have explored things in a much different way. What you have here is a bit of confusion, and it doens't quite work well for what it is apparently trying to be. (a 30 minute sitcom.)
May 11, 2021
50
Treads so softly upon the issues it half-raises that it may as well be “Punky Brewster” (see below). ... Scenes feel more put on than lived through. On the other hand, when it spends quality time with Riley’s sister Lizzie (the excellent Elizabeth Alderfer), quietly off the rails since the death of her helicopter pilot fiancé — death again! — it finds weight and realism the rest of the show doesn’t quite achieve.
Apr 1, 2021
50
"Al" has the feel of an idea that sounded better during the pitch than in the execution, with the laughs ending up lost in translation.
Mar 31, 2021
50
United States Of Al keeps its titular figure in a mold. It does take a couple more steps forward than TBBT in this case, by showing slightly more empathy to Al’s freakout over the shorts than just dreary innuendos. ... But for touting itself for its representation, the show offers this tenderness mostly to its white characters, though even jokes that don’t involve Al simply fall flat.
Mar 30, 2021
20
Nothing about these first four episodes, though, suggests a willingness to move past the predictable pork/alcohol/sex jokes and into grappling with how a Middle Eastern and Muslim immigrant who spent years surrounded by war would adjust to American life. ... All this show can generate for Al is to call him an “optimistic little dude,” and that patronizing pat on the head is pretty much the whole vibe of the arduous “United States of Al.”
Apr 29, 2021
0
The quality of Chuck Lorre's shows have been on a steady decline. This is probably the worst one yet. CBS sitcoms generally fail to provide any comedy, but this one has literally nothing of value. Critics gave this garbage show softball reviews just because it's on a major network and has a major creator. This is not an okay or mediocre show, it is so much worse than just about anything else on television. Only worth watching if you hate Chuck Lorre and want to watch the hopefully swift demise of this embarrassment.
Production Company:
- BoomGen Studios
- Chuck Lorre Productions
- Warner Bros. Television
Initial Release Date:Apr 1, 2021
Number of seasons:2 Seasons
Rating:TV-PG
Awards
Primetime Emmy Awards
• 2 Nominations
Set Decorators Society of America, USA
• 2 Nominations
Art Directors Guild
• 1 Nomination
