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Up All Night: “Another Saturday Night” (Episode 2.05)

By Adam Vitcavage  |  October 19, 2012 | 11:53am
Photo courtesy of Colleen Hayes, NBC
TV Reviews
Up All Night: “Another Saturday Night” (Episode 2.05)

Have we seen this episode before? More importantly, have we seen this episode in Up All Night’s first season? Chris and Reagan seek out a way to resurrect their dying Saturday night social life, something they have done before. Perhaps it is needed; after all, the entire premise of the show is about two new parents trying to balance their life duties, so why not continue to find new ways for the couple to go out and have a good time?

“Another Saturday Night” starts with the Brinkleys realizing how boring their Saturday nights have become and trying to find a go-to weekend babysitter. They find one in Vanessa (Upright Citizens Brigade’s Stephanie Allynne) who seems perfect for the job—that is, until Chris suggests that Scott hit on her to get the latter out of a dating rut.

In the three different acts of the episode, all detailing another failed Saturday night, we see Chris and Reagan begin to have fun, but it gets ruined one way or another. The first Saturday night out is thwarted when Reagan texts Vanessa to see if everything is okay, but she doesn’t respond. Her phone even autocorrects “how’s Amy” to “how’s anus”—something I’m sure we’re all terrified of texting. It turns out Vanessa and Scott are making out, and now she can’t babysit the following Saturday because she has plans.

Allynne does a great job in the small role and though she won’t be in anymore Up All Night episodes, it would be great to see more of her popping up in different shows. She’s a great, fresh comedic face that can add a lot to a show.

The next act involves the couple stealing a neighbor’s babysitter by offering triple pay and a five-hour minimum. This Saturday night is thwarted when the babysitter hears someone in the backyard only to discover it was the neighbor spying on the situation, determined to get her sitter back.

Finally, a recently dumped Scott comes to the rescue to watch Amy so Chris and Reagan can go to a Silversun Pickups show where they crowd-surf, jump on stage, get banned from the club and get mugged (but not really). They finally had the Saturday night of their dreams.

It was great seeing them out and about, and I am glad the show is focusing more on their lives as parents and not Reagan’s relationship with Ava. Of course Ava is still around, and this episode details her relationship with the annoying Jerry. However, the biggest difference is that her plot in the episode was used to enhance the main plot and not take away from Chris and Reagan.

Even with a slightly recycled episode, Up All Night may have finally found the perfect balance between all of the characters. Sure, they’re in the second season and should have found it much earlier, but with a huge structural reboot to kick off the season, this one feels like a fresh series.

 
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