Less Than Kind

I can't believe I've never seen this mind blowing clever, hilarious and heartfelt experience before season 3.

Less Than Kind is one of the greatest shows ever made and holds a special place in many a heart right next to Judd Apatow's dearly departed Freaks and Geeks. The cast is so good it's unbelievable. Given the range of subject matter (death, love, sex, shame, coming of age angst) its amazing to watch how every cast member's character has evolved over time. Each character holds my attention when they get their screen time. The comedy itself is very successful but tends to be a bit over the top. Everyone is so great they make it work and its hilarious. I can only imagine what the writer's room is like when they're riffing on Josh and Eric's parts.

If anyone from the show is reading this, don't stop! I joined IMDb just to post this review. It's killing me season 1 and 2 aren't available on DVD yet! HBO get on it!

You know, it stuns me, that when Canadians produce a great show like this, they don't put the effort into marketing it. It's almost like they're embarrassed that it's good. I live in Canada and want to see more Canadian content, but good content, not some stupid period piece about some chick growing up on the east coast. This show is funny. It's well written, directed and edited. The actors in it cannot only act, but are real. The humor doesn't come out of some actor "mugging" the camera, but out of the reality of the scenes, which can only be done when you have a strong cast. Hopefully, they'll have more than one season, which is doubtful, given that I actually tried to follow this on cable and couldn't, because the scheduling either changed, or was wrong, or whatever. If you have a PVR, it's worth finding when it's on and taping it. This show is worth seeing. It's too bad that there are only 13 episodes, but if they're smart, they'll make more. End rating: a great show, with crappy promotion, but definitely worth seeing.

This was a good show. I liked the stories and characters. Maury Chaykin was awesome. Some of the other actors were a bit off and after Chaykin died it was not a very good show any more but still better than most Canadian comedy TV shows. Almost wooooooot!?!

This is a really funny series! Haven't had as many belly laughs from a show for quite a while. The writing (and acting) may be as good as breaking bad or mad men, though admittedly it's a comedy - the characters are not as deep. However they are deep enough. I'm only through 3 episodes.

By the way, the rating system where 10 = excellent - seems a bit low. Meaning 10 should be exceptional, and 9 could be excellent. I'd give this a 9.5 certainly. But I gave it a 10 because it is at least excellent.

The fellow from Winnipeg who gave it a 1, not sure if he's a self-hating Winnipeger, or just from the planet humourless, but something has got his goat. I would ignore that rating if you like witty writing, a bit of a slapstick presentation and good colourful characters.

This is my favourite sitcom at the moment. Only The Office comes close and Less Than Kind is better than. It's sort of like a cross between the British sitcom Shameless and Malcolm in the Middle.

Just to give an example of how well written and well acted this show is, in the episode in which the Blechers cars are being repossessed, there is very minor character, the towtruck driver. He only appears for two minutes and only in this one episode, but in those two minutes they gave him a whole back story and a fully-fleshed out personality. You want to see more of this guy.

After pursuing them through the whole episode, the towtruck driver, gently persuades Sam to let him take the car. "People bounce back from these things all the time, man. I see it every day." It's a wonderful scene and the way Maury Chaykin plays Sam's slow and tired surrender is pure genius.

Chaykin is one of Canada's best actors of all time. But in Less Than Kind he plays second fiddle to the awesome Jesse Camacho who really carries the show.

Less Than Kind has been renewed for a second season. In the meantime, I'm happy to watch the first season episodes over and over again. It's that good. You can watch all the first season episodes on the CityTV website.