"Michael & Michael Have Issues" Reviews: Tepid Response For Beloved Comedy Duo

"Michael & Michael Have Issues" is a show within a show within a show. The two leads, Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter, play themselves introducing sketches of a show which follow them writing/creating sketches which they later appear in. If you don't understand what the hell is going, don't worry, just tell your friends it's "meta" and they'll leave you alone. Suffice to say it's intentionally uncomfortable both in its relationship to the audience and its humor, but the show is much less awkward and edgy than the pair's former projects.

"Stella" starred the Michaels and David Wain, the comedian who recently wrote and directed "Role Models," and ran on Comedy Central from June to August of 2005. It followed the three men's odd, jobless lives as roommates. They always wore suits and they always fought (an obvious pattern in their work.) Before that the three of them (and eight other comedians) appeared in "The State" on MTV, which ran for two years in the mid-90s. it featured inbred brothers who hit themselves on the head, monkey torture gags, and people claiming to have slept with each others' grandmothers. While both shows had short runs, they gained an eager cult following which led to DVD releases and Web deals for both.

The style of "Michael & Michael" is similar to these previous comedies in that it's made up of sketches, and has the self-absorbed neurotic humor that excuses the inexcusable behavior of the main characters, but it's dialed down, probably to appeal to a broader audience. While I smiled my way through the first episode, I didn't laugh at loud as I had at almost every episode of "Stella." Here's what other reviewers had to say:

Joanna Weiss of the "Boston Globe" praised the duo's obvious chemistry saying, "Black and Showalter work together perfectly...each part - and each person - makes the other one funnier."

Robert Lloyd of the "LA Times" had mixed reactions to the show writing, "Practically speaking, the mix of sketch and story lets them not invest too heavily in either, and 'Michael & Michael' is pretty consistently amusing in a low-boil way while rarely breaking into brilliance."

Brian Lowry of "Variety" had a kinder take: "Although there's nothing new in the formula, the two half-hours screened sporadically prove very funny, transforming little skirmishes between the leads into wry comic highlights."

Randee Dawn of the "Hollywood Reporter" had the harshest words for the show saying, "In the end, despite frenetic jump cuts and abrupt scene changes and attempts to goose along the 'story,' the 21 minutes devoted to actual 'MMHI' content feels like twice that...For now, 'MMHI"s real issue is that it's likely to be just another in a string of missed opportunities."

Heather Havrilesky of Salon agreed, "...most of what "Michael & Michael" has to offer is pretty simple and silly, the kind of childish lunacy that can incite chuckles but is only mildly amusing if you're not in the mood."

Brianna Snyder, writing for the "Hartford Advocate," came at it from the comedy nerd point-of-view, placing the men in context of their careers and the scene at large:

"The genius of this comedy is that there are lots of layers, and you don't necessarily need to get into those layers to laugh. It's both simple and complex. With "Michael and Michael Have Issues," they've made arguably perfect comedy for the Comedy Central audience, which is basically everyone."

All in all it's a tepid response for such a well-respected pair. Tell us what you think after the show airs tonight in the comments section!

Comments

[Slappie]

I thought it was pretty good. Most of these shows take a little while to click. I loved The State & Stella. Stella was just like this I think. At first I thought it was ok, but I was loving it just about the time they canceled it.

[Marklar]

These guys are not funny.

[amityb]

To preface my response: I think Showalter and Black are some the most brilliant comedic talents of my generation. I was a "The State" cultist, LOVED Stella, and have seen both comedians perform live. That being said, this show is bad. Really, really bad. It pains me to see such talent go to waste. I can only imagine that this is due to a lack of creative control as a means of appealing to a mainstream audience. It was like watching members of Monty Python painfully attempt to emulate Rick Gervais in The Office. It didn't work; I'm sure they'll get canceled soon, hopefully to work on better projects.

[amdezurik]

they look to be trying to find something "commercial" enough to sell to the corps. yeah, that leads to watered down talent and mediocre perfomances sadly...

[powerlift2201]

I enjoyed the state and was happy to see many of the State's actors on Reno 911 - an actually funny show. Stella was unwatchable and it's too bad to see that Michael and Michael are doing the same thing. I have not watched the pilot and reading most of the responses here I wonder if I should.

[LetsGetToWork]

Beloved??? By whom? The guy who writes the headlines, I guess.

It's a terrible show.

[louiexiii]

I tried to give this show a chance, I turned it off after the first five minutes. That whole intro with Michael being rude to the intern and then kind of arguing with Michael about how it was a two-fer deal, that they could only interview both or none of them was weak and was no way to open a show.

I wanted it to be good, it just wasnt. The humor was too childish, there was no thinking required, just general slap stick and arguing.

[Andman0121]

I thought Stella was brilliant. Im sad to say I thought this show was a bit lackluster.

[wltdnfaded]

I'm sorry, but these guys just haven't been funny since The State. Stella bored the bejesus outta me.

[dantcomedy]

The State had its moments - some very good ones - but nothing these guys have done since has been very good. Michael Ian Black's stand-up was competent but not very memorable. I heard their NPR interview today, and they both seem like genuinely dedicated guys who are probably capable of better, but I can't figure out why they keep getting shows.

[lionshead86]

Comedy sucks, music sucks, movies suck. Just my luck to be born into such a sucky era.

[BOM2007]

It is a bad time right now for pop culture. Hang in there, dude. We're going through some serious cultural growing pains right now (internet, twitter, changes in music delivery, etc, etc, etc.) Perhaps we'll settle into it eventually and we'll start seeing some quality. But for now, I feel your pain.

[skatscan]

It's like the late 70's and early 80's where comedy was "Different Strokes", music was Air Supply, and movies was "Porky's"

[KJLSanDiego]

hey there's still good stuff out there! Music is hard right now, but movies have been bringing it all year, and TV always fluxuates, but you can always find good programming, there is something for everyone on the Tube!

[ThePhilosopher]

There's a ton of great music out there right now, if you're willing to look beyond the standard Top 40 fare. This year alone Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors, Camera Obscura, Wilco, Grizzly Bear, Andrew Bird, Sunset Rubdown and Phoenix have all put out top-notch, brilliant and innovative albums. The internet has opened up music considerably, there's so much out there to find and enjoy. Anyone who thinks this is a bad year, or bad decade, for music isn't looking hard enough.

[thebrendan]

Meh.

[jwill9981]

Michael Ian Black's not funny. He was always the weak link on VH1's retro commentary shows (I love the 70's, 80's, 90's, etc.)

[skatscan]

I like the show "Ed" but didn't watch it because of Michael Ian Black.

[Clavis]

Agreed. I hated how, while everybody else was indulging in shared nostalgia ("Oh wow! I had that videogame!"), Michael Ian Black decided to do this weird self-indulgent little character thing where he'd pretend to be an obtuse fan of whatever the thing was, and you were supposed to find him oh-so-amusing because you knew he didn't *really* feel that way... ugh. That affected routine got old after about 3 seconds.

I get it, Michael Ian. You're hipper than everyone else in the room. Now go away.

[geedeck]

I hated the commercials for it. "Two guys being alternatively overtly and covertly spiteful to each other"

Awesome, so it's about the average workplace. Yes, that's I want to come home to relax to.

[George B]

I simply couldn't laugh. I was watching, waiting for something funny. My opinion. Respect it.

[wltdnfaded]

I do.