You remember that scene in Elf when Buddy loudly proclaimed, “I’m in love, I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it?” That’s what I feel like having sat down to watch fabled American sitcom Mike & Molly for the first time over the weekend. What led me to this place, you ask? Well, I was visiting my mother over the weekend before we were to attend the family WrestleMania party (we’re from the South, okay?), and when I got there, she happened to have the show on as it aired in a block on TV Land. I couldn’t help but give it a shot.
Now, I’m not the biggest classical sitcom fan. Striving for a humorous representation of everyday life is not the most rewarding creative endeavor, in my humble opinion. That’s to say….I like a little originality in my stories. Give me some winding plot, larger than life characters, or some grandiose world-building tale. That’s my speed. I want a break from everyday life. I don’t want to turn on my television and be reminded of it! So, that’s my reasoning for never watching this show – it came out in 2010, but for all I know, it could’ve been from the 90s. And, I mean that in an endearing sense. Something about the connection between the characters and the chemistry of the actors portraying them just clicked.
While Melissa McCarthy has been on a run of…well…how can it put it nicely? Not-exactly-Bridesmaids-good movies…she’s still got the comedy chops of a stalwart in the genre. So, I figured I’d give it a shot. I found that while McCarthy is obviously not free to take the gloves off the way she does in some of her funnier (and raunchier) movies, that comedic timing was still able to shine through brightly. I’ve never really dug up any of Billy Gardell‘s work, but he strikes me as an actor who was built to be a sitcom icon. Their portrayal of marriage is heartfelt and hilarious. But, it was the supporting actors that really caught my eye – Reno Wilson, Nyambi Nyambi, and Rondi Reed all brought some laughs to the table, but when I saw that Katy Mixon was in this show, it stopped me dead in my tracks. Her performance in Eastbound & Down alongside Danny McBride is one of my favorite comedic performances ever. It’s funny to watch some of these actors in a much more toned-down environment. But, she’s great! This show is great! How could I have never known what a good time it is?
Hats off to the team behind it all. You’ve put something truly great into the world, and it’s a shame that this was taken off the air back in 2016. It’s a funny show! So, I guess this is all a long-winded way of some random dude on the internet saying ‘thank you’ to everyone who made Mike & Molly possible. You delivered some real laughs, and I, for one, genuinely appreciate it. Pour one out for this early 2010s sitcom tonight.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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