Bookie

This is the best comedy to come around in a long time. Actually, this series deserves better praise than that because most shows are a total waste of time. I was never a big fan of the stand-up of Sebastian Maniscalco, but he hits his mark here.

Literally every character that steps into this series is noteworthy and could probably handle their own spin-off. I think this is a rare mix of good writing and actors who go above and way beyond what is written down on the page for them. They are all so much fun to watch. Even the kid is great in this and not the usual Anthony Soprano-type spoiled monster.

Not to give away any spoilers, but when the little birthday balloon flew away, I was rolling on the floor, and it takes a LOT to make me laugh like that. Whoever wrote that bit deserves a decent bottle of scotch in their Christmas stocking.

The humor is consistently dark and to pull this off you need flawed characters, and Danny and Ray are toxic waste dumps on legs. Each episode comes with a great punchline and leaves you wanting more. Please tell me this is coming back for another season.

What would you call the opposite of a feel-good comedy? I think that's what we have here.

In an entertainment era often criticized for its lack of genuine laughs, Bookie emerges as a refreshing exception. Breaking away from the clichés that pervade the comedic landscape, this series managed to elicit sincere laughter from me, a rare feat in today's climate of cautious humor.

From the opening moments of the pilot, Bookie defied my expectations, replacing the usual smirks with hearty laughter. The humor was not just a fleeting moment; it persisted throughout, making me genuinely LOL multiple times until the very end.

Impressed by the comedic prowess displayed, I eagerly dove into the second episode, only to find the laughs continuing to flow effortlessly. The clever writing and comedic timing left me hooked, eagerly anticipating more episodes to indulge in the delightful laughter that Bookie effortlessly delivers.

In a world where comedy often treads carefully to avoid offending sensibilities, Bookie fearlessly embraces humor, providing a much-needed breath of fresh air. I look forward to future episodes, eager to see if Bookie can maintain its comedic charm and keep the laughter rolling.

The pilot episode of this show sets a strong foundation, immediately capturing attention with its brisk pace and effective storytelling. As the series unfolds, the pace may decelerate slightly, but the overall quality remains high. Notably, Sebastian Maniscalo delivers a delightful comedic performance, portraying the well-intentioned Bookie who doesn't always make good choices. Alongside him, Omar J. Dorsey is splendid in the role of the sidekick, bringing charisma to the character. The duo often find themselves in some sticky situations, and the fun is watching how they get out it.

The supporting characters are developed in such a clever and enjoyable way. Each character feels fully realized, contributing to the dynamic ensemble and adding layers of humor to the storyline. The episodic stories strike a balance between being fun, light-hearted, and good-natured while also containing a mild hint of adult themes such as sex, violence, and drugs (namely Mushrooms), making it suitable for a wider audience without veering into overly mature content. But if you have young kids, you might want to wait until they go to bed before watching this show. If you give it a try, I think you will find it's a highly watchable show that's worthy of your time.

I never write reviews. I mean what can I say, most of the time it's already 5,8 million reviews that basically all say the same thing but I just had to write something this time since I actually laughed out loud?! I never do that watching comedies, or very very rarely though. But this was just hilarious. 10/10 from grumpy old man.

Great cast, spot on back and forth between the main characters, great support cast. It's just a really good show. It boasts with the creators of 2 1/2 men involved here too. It wasn't a selling point for me at least but they sure did a good job.

Hope they keep it up for the coming episodes.

This one looked great in the previews but in the first half of the first episode it seemed very forced and awkward. That did not last. It actually fleshed out in the second episode as a very funny and interesting show. The premise is about two bookies trying to make it in modern day California and struggling with being tough, without being "tough". They can;t seem to get out of their own way, and that leads to some interesting scenarios. The characters are good. The dynamic between the leads works well. Sebastian Maniscalco has already established himself as a good actor in other things so it was no surprise. I look forward to more with this one.