1600 Penn: “Live From the Lincoln Bedroom” (Episode 1.08)

With each new episode that 1600 Penn trudges through, it seems like it learns the importance of ensemble over forcing one character into the comedic spotlight. It still has an incredibly hard time balancing all six members of the Gilcrest family in one episode, but 1600 Penn has smartly started pairing off cast members together and seeing what works and how different dynamics will play out.
This was a great change in last week’s “To the Ranch,” an episode in which many of the different characters were forced into close proximity with each other, forcing them to deal with various issues. We once again get that in “Live From the Lincoln Bedroom,” an episode which picks back up on the frayed relationship of Skip and Dale, while also dealing with Emily’s insecurities of being a new mother and battling the maternal instincts of Becca.
The strongest change that 1600 Penn has made in its first eight episodes is that it doesn’t just let Skip roam free in The White House, causing havoc. Instead, he’s much more reined in, often pitted against another person who perfectly counterbalances his insanity. In “Live From the Lincoln Bedroom,” Skip has created his own podcast, which is clearly a horrible idea, which Marshall tries to stop.
If 1600 Penn has any standout star, it deserves to be Andre Holland as Marshall. His relationship with Becca has become the most consistent storyline, and his humor is much more balanced than any one else.