While I can’t say I’m all that surprised, HBO’s new comedy, starring one of the best comedic talents working today, has landed a certified fresh 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The show is The Chair Company, and the comedian is Tim Robinson, of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson fame, currently airing on Netflix. It’s unclear if a fourth season may happen with Robinson’s jump over to HBO for The Chair Company.
The Chair Company plays like an elongated version of one of Robinson’s short I Think You Should Leave skits. Here’s the synopsis:
“The Chair Company tells the story of William Ronald Trosper (Robinson), who begins investigating a vast and elaborate conspiracy after an embarrassing workplace incident.”
Robinson stars, obviously, but also on board are Lake Bell (HBO Max’s Harley Quinn) and Sophia Lillis (IT). The show has only aired its first episode this past week, and it will be doled out in thirty-minute installments from here until it finishes its eight-episode season. It’s not clear if The Chair Company is meant to be a limited series. I can imagine Robinson running with another concept to make his new HBO presence sort of an anthology, but we’ll have to see.
I’m not sure how much word has gotten out about The Chair Company yet, given that it doesn’t even have a Rotten Tomatoes user score. It’s in fourth place on HBO Max’s top 10 list, which is something, I guess. It’s already passed up Peacemaker, which just had its finale a couple of days ago. Not bad at all.
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson has a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, so Robinson is no stranger to high critic scores. The show and its various absurdist skits feel like a comedy touchstone the way other classic, quotable series and movies have been. My buddy actually had an I Think You Should Leave themed birthday party. It was awesome, at least for a bunch of dumb guys in their 30s.
If you want an introduction to Tim Robinson and his brand of comedy, here’s one of his classics. He’s not for everyone, but I think once you understand his whole thing, you’ll get it eventually:
And another one, which has been turned into a widespread meme even past the show:
Finally, here’s the trailer for The Chair Company, which is similar, but at least a little different from these individual sketches.
I still need to watch episode 1, but I have no doubt it’s going to be great.
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