Anyone looking for new TV comedies to binge watch on a long holiday weekend shouldn’t miss the very positive reviews for Central Park and Trying on Apple TV+. Both shows debuted at the beginning of the summer, which means their entire first seasons are available now.
And while Ted Lasso is only halfway through its first season on Apple’s streaming service, it also has drawn praise from critics.
Central Park is ‘a glorious gift for comedy’
Apple TV+’s first animated series is Central Park, a zany musical comedy that follows a family of caretakers that live in a certain park in New York City.
Rotten Tomatoes gave the show a 92% score, and says, “With warmth, wit, and a pitch perfect ensemble, Central Park is a joyously hilarious musical love letter to the Big Apple.”
The review on RogerEbert.com said, “Apple TV’s Central Park is a glorious gift for comedy and musical fans and, well, everyone.”
Admittedly, Cult of Mac reviewer Scout Tafoya wasn’t impressed, but he’s in a minority here.
The series was created by Loren Bouchard, who also created Bob’s Burgers. Leslie Odom Jr. scored an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for his role in this show.
Trying is ‘a charming British comedy’
Trying follows a British couple as they set out to adopt a baby — with a series of hijinks as they navigate the up and downs of a difficult system.
The comedy pulled in an 86% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And RogerEbert.com calls the show “wholly endearing.” The site says that the two leads, Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall), “have winning chemistry as a couple you want to root for, hang out with, and watch fumble through this process.”
However, Cult of Mac’s Tafoya isn’t going to bring Trying into his home.
Ted Lasso is “a sweetly cheerful comedy”
Apple TV+’s newest comedy is Ted Lasso, about a clueless American football coach who lands a job in Britain leading a team that plays that other kind of football.
The Boston Globe says the show “is a pleasure, which took me by surprise.” The review points out that Lasso, rather than being a predicable baffoon, is a “a big-hearted, optimistic, even charming guy.” It calls the show “a sweetly cheerful comedy.”
Ted Lasso got an 86% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Cult of Mac’s Tafoya says the show came to a draw for him, and says it “isn’t the disaster I imagined.”
Bonus: Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet
Photo: Apple
The first comedy on Apple TV+ debuted last winter, months before the other three. Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet follows a team of programmers, writers and branding experts as they build a new game.
It has a 94% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. And the review on The Verge says, “What makes Mythic Quest so satisfying is how all of its comedy is steeped in character.”
“The writing is sharp,” says Tafoya, “and the characters are all empathetically drawn.”
Only on Apple TV+
These comedies are Apple originals, and are therefore exclusively on this company’s streaming video service. Watching any of them requires paying $4.99 a month. However, Cupertino includes a one-year free subscription with the purchase of many Apple devices.
And a subscription brings access to a couple of dozen current and upcoming shows and movies. There’s Greyhound, a feature film about World War II starring Tom Hanks.Or a reboot of its anthology sci-fi series Amazing Stories. And fans of crime drama can take in Defending Jacob.
