PILOT REVIEW: A.P. Bio

A.P. BIO

Starring: Glenn Howerton, Lyric Lewis, Mary Sohn, Jean Villepique, Tom Bennett, and Patton Oswalt

Created by Mike O'Brien
Written by Mike O'Brien, Directed by Oz Rodriguez

THE PREMISE
A.P. Bio is a new school sitcom with a familiar theme: a radical different teacher tries to adapt to a traditional school environment. In this case, the teacher is Jack Griffin (Glenn Howerton), a philosophy scholar who missed out on his dream job and is spending a year away teaching A.P. Bio at a high school. He doesn't care much for getting along with his boss, Principal Durbin (Patton Oswalt), and he spends his days plotting revenge with his class against a rival scholar, Miles (Tom Bennett). Rounding out the main cast are students Stef, Mary, and Michelle (Lyric Lewis, Mary Sohn, & Jean Villepique).

THE REVIEW
A.P. Bio has some elements of every other school sitcom, but there's also some interesting turns it takes as it seems intent on being a sort of anti-Dead Poet's Society. I'm wondering if this is a show that's going to get redeeming at times or if it's going to go more the way of The Mick and just really have a seriously flawed lead character. Despite the fact that it is turning some school tropes on their head, other elements are very familiar from a teacher who doesn't want to follow any rules (including dress code) to the troubled student who develops a close relationship. And while we're at it, since I notice weird and questionable details in a show about a field that I am a part of, does Jack just teach the one class?

Glenn Howerton is interesting in the lead role but I'm not convinced he's charismatic or funny enough to really carry this show. All the things they were asking him to do were on a somewhat absurd level like answering the door in a nightgown yet everything was pretty underplayed and didn't seem funny. Patton Oswalt was somewhat restrained here and that works better for him although I felt like he could have done a little more with the part. The students were not really developed much so there's not much to say about them although I though their attempt to do a rap wasn't nearly as funny a moment as it could have been.

I think the biggest issue in the pilot was it all felt a little dark and not funny enough. I have no problem with dark comedy. A show like The Mick sometimes feels refreshing compared to ABC's sunny family sitcoms. But this had an uncomfortable level that wasn't offset enough by humor in the pilot. Everything about Jack's life just felt a little sad. Not ridiculous or twisted, just sad. I like this interesting approach, but it's going to have to inject a little more funny to work. As I read this review back, I think it sounds pretty negative but I actually didn't mind it. I just don't think it goes far enough in being what it clearly wants to be.

WILL I WATCH IT AGAIN?
Yes.  I am curious to see another episode or two of this one before giving up.