Raising Hope {Burt Rocks}

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I did and now I return with some new reviews.

My first is Raising Hope. Although the new TV season has not been the best, there have been a few shows that are fantastic. The best new comedy is easily Raising Hope.

The story is about a young man, Jimmy, who gets a girl pregnant, but it turns out she is a killer and receives the death penalty. So, along with his family, he is raising a newborn. He lives with his parents, Burt and Virginia, and his grandma, Maw Maw. They are poor - his mother is a maid and his father mows lawns.

This week’s episode was  one of the best yet. Developed by the same people who created My Name is Earl, Raising Hope this week featured Earl’s Jason Lee guest starring as aging rock star Smokey Floyd.

When Burt was younger and Jimmy was only a baby, he attempted to try out for Lee’s band, also named Smokey Floyd. But because he had to bring Jimmy with him, Floyd kicked him out. However, Jimmy’s job at a local grocery store was looking for entertainment during their annual grocery-palooza, and so Jimmy thought of Smokey Floyd.

So, Burt had his second chance at rock and roll. But it went in a much different direction. Just as they began the concert, Floyd heard Hope crying, and he started to insult Jimmy and the baby. After some funny banter, where we learn Virginia isn’t a waitress because she can’t do math, Burt whacks Smokey on the head with his guitar and says, “smoke on that jerk.”

The ending was absolutley hilarious. The incident went viral, made the news, and became auto-tuned. This episode was just another reason why this is the best new comedy. Lee did a great job as Floyd, and he really fit the part.

This may have been the funniest episode as well. Burt getting his head stuck in the freezer, Floyd’s rules to aspiring band members that wanted to be in his band, the woman who asked Floyd to get her vegetables when they were beginning the concert, and many others. This show makes me laugh from beginning to end.

It is quickly climbing up the ladder and becoming one of my favorite comedies. Although there was no mention of Maw Maw in this episode, it didn’t need her. All the characters are funny, likable and somewhat realistic. I am sure that there are families out there who are similar to the Chance family, and I think that is the idea.

If you haven’t tried this show, I highly recommend this. In fact, I think everybody should try this show. It isn’t catered to a certain group of people. It is easily the best new comedy

College Couch Potato Grade: A