A few days ago, NBC ordered even more scripts for Sean Saves the World, as if the fact that American isn’t watching it isn’t a sign that it should just pull the plug. I can’t imagine it’s that hard to be a writer on Sean Saves the World. Just recycle some tired tropes from other, better sitcoms and change the names. Badabing-badaboom, you’ve got yourself a new episode.
“The Good, the Bad and the Sean” reiterates the strengths and weaknesses of NBC’s failing sitcom once again, as the home material is redundant, while the workplace aspects are hit or miss. Sean’s mother criticizes Sean for not disciplining his daughter, Ellie, who is by far the most well-balanced character on the show, from the little we see of her. So in an effort to have her pitch in, Sean tells Ellie if she doesn’t cook dinner for the family, she won’t be able to go on a snowboarding trip that weekend.
While Ellie has legitimate reasons to not make dinner for the family, such as helping a friend through a hard time, Sean is busy making wagers with his mom and boss and generally slacking off the entire episode. I mean, a major part of his work week is trying to get one of his co-workers to not throw a muffin at him. So yeah, I think Ellie’s going to end up fine. As long as she moves out ASAP.
At work, Sean and Max have made a wager of nature vs. nurture using Hunter as a test dummy. Sean gives Hunter the day off so his crappy band can go to their biggest performance. Max bets Sean that not only can he get Hunter to miss his gig, but he can get him to work all weekend and throw a muffin at Sean.
It’s pretty awful using Hunter this way, but hey, Echo Kellum and Tom Lennon are involved and they’re all that’s really working for this show, so I’ll let it slide. Max’s plan works, and Hunter does everything he’s been manipulated to do, making Sean the loser (oh, if that’s not fitting). His punishment is to tell each person in the office one mean truth. He starts with Max, saying he believes his mustache is dyed, upsetting Max and ending the bet.
And yeah, Sean still hasn’t even made an attempt to save the world.
Every episode of Sean Saves the World is split up, with about 60% of the episode taking place at home, and 40% happening at work. The work stuff is surprisingly funny at times, while the segment at home is never ever funny. It’s like the home bits are stolen directly from sitcoms of the past, while the work bits are actually weird and fun. I’ll say it again, but if Sean Saves the World can just get rid of Sean and focus on Kellum and Lennon, this could be a hell of a show. But instead, we’re stuck with 40% of a good idea and 60% a horrible one.