The early trailers for Kevin Can F**k Himself were…interesting. A turn-off, yet enticing at the same time. Is it a show within a show, a mash-up, or a dark sitcom? The picture is a little more clear now that AMC has aired the first three episodes (the first four if you have AMC+), but much remains uncertain. How far will Allison McRoberts go to escape her miserable life with husband, Kevin? Try to change him? Ha, that’s a good one. Run away? Nowhere to go. Kill him? Hmm…
Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek) plays Allison. Let’s get this out of the way right now. She is the reason to watch Kevin Can F**k Himself. I’m sure many of us were curious to see her again in a new role after smiling along with Alexis and the Rose family for six seasons. She shines as Allison, the sitcom wife, and as Allison, the wife in a real-life nightmare. The former is lights, laughs, and silly humor – a slightly exaggerated multiple-camera setup of the classic American sitcom. It’s a satire of the sitcom, and as cringe-worthy as it is, it’s not that over the top. The lights are a little brighter, the laugh track a little louder, and the comedy a little more inane. Kevin (played by Eric Petersen) is one of the most annoying characters we’ve seen on TV. He’s a 40-year old teenager whose life revolves around beer, pranks, and Boston sports (Wade Boggs rookie card, Bill Belichick sweat shirt with the sleeves cut off, and Tom Brady look-alike contests). All this in cahoots with the doofus next-door neighbor, Neil. It’s no wonder she is seriously contemplating murder. (Remember, it’s a dark comedy.)
The second Kevin leaves the room, or Allison leaves the house, the show morphs into a drama – darker, serious, no laughs, and life’s struggles. The single-camera setup associated with prime time dramas and movies. Allison finds solace in Patty; the next-door neighbor and brother of Neil. Patty (Mary Hollis Inboden, The Real Oneals’) almost seems content with life in the frat house next door. She is wary of Allison’s friendship and has a secret life of her own. Allison might be about to divulge the evil thoughts that are keeping her up at night. It’s a stark contrast to the sitcom life with Kevin.
D² Rating ◼◼◼☐ ☐ (Kevin Can F**k Himself is on AMC Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. (PST) (episodes are available to stream a week early on AMC+).
Trivia ? – Schitt’s Creek was the first TV show ever to do this at the 2020 Emmy Awards?
Answer: Win all four acting categories: Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress and Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress