Tim Robinson's new show, 'The Chair Company,' is making waves, proving that his brand of wonderfully bizarre comedy is exactly what audiences crave! In fact, it's become HBO's biggest comedy launch in over half a decade, a title previously held by Armando Iannucci's 'Avenue 5' back in 2020.
But what makes 'The Chair Company' so popular? The series premiere, which aired on Sunday, snagged an impressive 1.4 million viewers across various platforms in the U.S. within just three days. This puts it among the top three comedy series debuts in HBO Max history, sharing the spotlight with 'And Just Like That' and 'Our Flag Means Death.' That's some serious company!
The show stars Robinson as William Ronald Trosper, an employee at the architectural firm Fisher Robay. Fisher Robay specializes in the rather unglamorous, but necessary work of creating malls. Trosper's life takes a hilariously unexpected turn after a mortifying workplace mishap: his chair breaks during a crucial business presentation. Imagine the embarrassment! Driven by a mix of wounded pride and perhaps a touch of obsession, Trosper embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind the defective chair, leading him down a series of increasingly strange and comical rabbit holes. He traces the chair back to Tecca Chairs, the original manufacturer, and things get... interesting.
The supporting cast is equally stellar, featuring Lake Bell as his wife, Barb; Sophia Lillis as his daughter, Natalie; and Will Price as his son, Seth. Lou Diamond Phillips and Jim Downey also add their comedic talents to the mix.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some critics argue that the humor might be too niche, relying heavily on Robinson's established comedic style. Others, however, praise the show's originality and willingness to embrace the absurd. What do you think?
Meanwhile, in other HBO news, 'Task,' starring Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey, continues its impressive growth. This series, which is set amongst the working-class backdrop of Philadelphia's suburbs, has seen its viewership increase with each episode. The most recent episode attracted over 4 million viewers in its first three days alone. This represents a significant 32% jump from the premiere episode, which has now surpassed a whopping 10 million viewers!
'Task' is performing comparably to Brad Ingelsby’s acclaimed previous HBO series, 'Mare of Easttown.' At the same point in their respective runs, 'Task' is averaging 6.7 million viewers per episode, while the Kate Winslet-led drama averaged 6.8 million. The close numbers demonstrates the power of quality storytelling and compelling performances.
Ruffalo portrays an FBI agent leading a Task Force dedicated to stopping a string of violent robberies orchestrated by an unexpected culprit: a seemingly ordinary family man, played by Pelphrey. The premise alone is enough to make you want to tune in!
So, what are your thoughts on 'The Chair Company'? Do you find Tim Robinson's humor refreshing and innovative, or do you think it's an acquired taste? And 'Task', are you tuning in each week to see if Ruffalo catches Pelphrey? Share your opinions in the comments below!
