03 April 2010

WATCH THIS: The Life & Times of Tim

The Life & Times of Tim, created by Steve Dildarian, is another show about a twenty-something New Yorker working at a monolithic corporation and just trying to get by without totally embarrassing himself.

Except this show is totally hilarious.



Tim is sort of like an animated version of those The Most Awkward Boy in the World comedy sketches (starring Zach Woods, now of The Office fame)... somehow, no matter what Tim does (or doesn't do), it's gonna get pretty uncomfortable. And rip-roaringly funny. Just in the first season Tim somehow gets cornered into fighting an old man, and taking his boss's daughter to her senior prom.

WATCH THIS SHOW.

The animation is a little... simple, like something you might come across on Newgrounds, but don't let that dissuade you. This is a cartoon in which the characters wear different outfits (but still have a consistent wardrobe/style), and one that has many little background details never mentioned, but that are sincerely pause-worthy:






There is also continuity between episodes, recurring characters, notable guest stars (Tony Hale, Trevor Moore, Lizzy Caplan, Cheri Oteri, Jeff Garlin, Bob Saget...), references to Wes Anderson and Felicity, and many, many hilarious jokes.

Tim could be criticized for its use of vulgar situations (and language), but none of it is used gratuitously, or without creativity and originality. Vulgar? Yes. Tasteless, lewd, or uncouth? Hell no. A prime example is an alcoholic priest, a recurring character, and in the age of parish sex scandals, a skewed version of a new kind of archetype. Yet Tim does not use this character as a chance for a cheap shot at religious institutions. No, the priest's "wild" antics instead just lead to more opportunities for Tim to have to deal with awkwardness and embarrassment - what the show is about.

Watch The Life & Times of Tim or else live with the knowledge that you're missing out on something wonderful.


Each thirty-minute episode consists of two fifteen-minute segments.

The Life & Times of Tim airs on HBO at 9:30 pm Fridays.
It is currently half-way through its second season, which has a snazzy new opening-sequence, but is not lacking in any of the goodness mentioned above.

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