The S1E1 Podcast

“Brockmire” is a comedy that aired on IFC from 2017-2020. The show stars Hank Azaria as Jim Brockmire, a legendary baseball announcer whose spectacular on-air meltdown sends his career into a decade-long tailspin. After years of self-destruction, he gets a second chance calling games for the Frackers, a minor league team in Morristown, Pennsylvania. As he struggles to stay sober and rebuild his reputation, Brockmire discovers that redemption is never as simple as calling the next game. The series mixes sports comedy with dark satire.

Critics praised “Brockmire” throughout its four-season run, with particular acclaim going to Azaria's fearless performance and the show's razor-sharp writing. While it never became a mainstream ratings hit, the series developed a devoted fanbase and is frequently cited as one of the most underrated comedies of the late 2010s. Did this foul-mouthed broadcaster knock it out of the park? Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the show's pilot episode, "Rally Cap" and find out.

Starring: Hank Azaria, Amanda Peet, Tyrel Jackson Williams, Hemky Madera, & Katie Finneran

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“My Two Dads” is a sitcom that aired on NBC from 1987-1990 about two friends turned rivals who need to reunite to raise a 12-year-old girl after her mother passes away. The series explored an unconventional family dynamic years before non-traditional households became a common television theme. What could have been a gimmicky setup instead became a surprisingly warm sitcom about friendship and the idea that family is about more than biology.

The Show was an immediate, albeit modest, success making its way into the Nielsen top 20 during its first season. While "My Two Dads" had a solid three-season run on NBC, a massive portion of the show's legacy comes from its relentless syndication on the USA Network throughout the 1990s. It became a core after-school viewing ritual for an entire generation of kids who missed its original prime-time run. Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the pilot episode and find out if this one earns full custody of your attention.

Starring: Paul Reiser, Greg Evigan, Staci Keanan, & Florence Stanley

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"Emeril" is an NBC sitcom that premiered in 2001 and starred celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse as a fictionalized version of himself. Set behind the scenes of a successful television cooking show, the series was a workplace and family comedy rolled into one, attempting to cash in on Emeril's massive Food Network appeal at the time.

Despite boasting a talented cast and the popularity of Emeril Lagasse at the height of his fame, the series was short-lived and has largely faded from television history. Does this forgotten sitcom deserve a hearty "Bam!" or should it stay off the menu? Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive Emeril's pilot episode, "fat".

Starring: Emeril Lagasse, Lisa Ann Walter, Sherri Shepherd, Carrie Preston, & Robert Urich

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The Bob Newhart Show was a sitcom that aired on CBS from 1972-1978. The series stars Bob Newhart as Dr. Robert Hartley, a Chicago psychologist balancing the eccentric personalities of his patients with the equally colorful characters in his personal life. Unlike many sitcoms of its era, The Bob Newhart Show relied less on broad slapstick and more on sharp writing and dry wit.

Many fans consider The Bob Newhart Show to be Bob's finest work. Its realistic portrayal of adult relationships helped set it apart from the sitcom landscape of the time. More than fifty years after its debut, the series remains a staple of classic television. Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the show's pilot episode, "Fly the Unfriendly Skies" to see if this one gets a green-light or cancel.

Starring: Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, Peter Bonerz, Bill Daily, Patricia Smith, Marcia Wallace, Noam Pitlik, Florida Friebus, Jack Riley, & Penny Marshall

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“Hank” was a sitcom that premiered in 2009 on ABC. The show starred Kelsey Grammer as Hank Pryor, a CEO whose lavish lifestyle comes crashing down after he loses his job and is forced to leave Manhattan behind for the small town of River Bend, Virginia. There he attempts to reconnect with his wife, kids, and a more grounded way of life. The series leaned heavily into the classic fish-out-of-water sitcom formula, mixing culture clash comedy with recession-era themes and Grammer’s trademark snobbish charm.

Critics were far less enthusiastic about Hank than ABC had hoped. Many reviews criticized the series for feeling dated and overly formulaic, especially compared to fresher single-camera comedies debuting around the same time. Ratings steadily declined after the premiere, and ABC canceled the series after airing just five episodes. Was this just an old-school sitcom released at the wrong time, or was ABC right to cut its losses? Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the pilot episode and find out.

Starring: Kelsey Grammer, Melinda McGraw, Jordan Hinson, Nathan Gamble, & David Koechner

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