Afloogs

The Birthday Boys, both the group and the TV show, adds an element to sketch comedy that really should be a lot more widespread in the genre: unpredictability. With few exceptions, The Boys avoid the common pitfall of sketches that do nothing but escalate, taking one gag and making it more and more extreme. There is always an element of unpredictability, stemming largely from the wide array of approaches taken by the group. Very little feels rehashed or overdone; the complete lack of topical sketches and very few pop culture references allow for novel ideas to flourish, and it's immediately clear why Bob Odenkirk was drawn to this production. This is quickly becoming my favorite IFC comedy (and one of the best on TV right now). It has the quirks and idiosyncrasies of Comedy Bang! Bang! but the hits:misses ratio is a lot higher. Here's hoping for a second season.