ABC/KAREN NEALSuburgatory is one of the best, if not the best, new comedy coming to your TV screen this fall. Yeah, we said it.
It's really got so much going for it. A Juno-esque lead? Oh, hi Jane Levy! A hot dad? What up, Jeremy Sisto?! Shopping montage? Mean Girls-style comedy? Cheryl Hines? A bevy of Saturday Night Live alums guest starring? The gang's all here!
Here's everything you need to know about ABC's best new comedy...
Suburgatory (ABC)
Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 8:30 p.m.
Time-Slot Competition: Survivor: South Pacific (CBS), H8R (CW), The X Factor (Fox), Free Agents (NBC)
Cast: Jane Levy, Jeremy Sisto, Carly Chaikin, Cheryl Hines, Alan Tudyk, Rex Lee, Allie Grant
Status: We've seen the pilot episode.
Tessa (Levy) is 16 years old and she is in hell. Make that a suburban hell chock full of mini-vans and perfectly manicured lawns. The reason she's been exiled to "suburgatory?" A box of condoms hidden in her nightstand, which causes George (Sisto), her protective father, to pack up their crap and move from New York City to the 'burbs.
While he thinks the move will be good for her, Tessa is horrified by the "Franken-moms" with Red Bull addictions and their kids, who change noses like most people change purses. One of these frightening mother-daughter duos? Dallas (Hines), who has an instant connection to George even though she's married, and Dalia (Chaikin), who thinks Tessa is a lesbian because she wears combat boots. Other key players include Noah (Tudyk), George's old college buddy who drank the suburban Kool-Aid, and Mr. Wilde (Lee), a high school guidance counselor.
While it's obviously an extremely exaggerated version of suburban life, you can't help but be charmed by the world Suburgatory presents because it's just so darn funny. Even though she isn't totally sold on the suburbanites, Tessa starts to see the benefits of living in a town where neighbors bring over pot roast and buy you pretty new bras because your mom never stuck around to do it.
We're just going to come out and say it: George and Tessa may just be our favorite TV father-daughter duo since Veronica Mars' Keith and Veronica. Yes, we went there again. There's a genuine affection amidst all their teasing and you can tell they both really want the other to be happy. Plus, they'll have you cracking up when they bust out their "passive-aggressive reference books" to express their feelings over breakfast. Seriously, we're thisclose to asking George to adopt us! Or at the very least ask Tessa to come our new BFF.
Suburgatory is also busting out the big (funny) guns! The show has some seriously awesome guest stars lined up, like Jay Mohr as Dallas' husband and SNL's Ana Gasteyer and Chris Parnell as George and Tessa's neighbors.
Verdict: Watch! If you're going to watch one new comedy at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, make a date with Suburgatory. Sorry, Free Agents. It's not you, it's us.