11x07 McPoyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial of the Century

[8.3/10] I was initially pretty skeptical of this one. It seemed like an excuse to trot out a bunch of The Gang (and associated hangers on)’s exaggerated quirks with little more. But instead, this turned into a superb showcase that built and built and built to a hilarious crescendo with pretty much anyone and everyone having something to do.

That goes for the initial off-putting cartoonishness for me. Uncle Jack taking his hand obsession to the next level with some big hand-resembling gloves, or Maureen Ponderosa acting like a cat seemed too cartoony at first, but somehow Jack shrieking when one of his gloves falls off, and Maureen chasing a laser pointer around were enough to cross into the realm of delightful absurdity, and I couldn’t help laughing out loud at it all.

I’m also always a big fan of the lawyer whom The Gang are also pestering, and his snide efforts to point out their stupidity, and his ensuing frustration when he somehow manages to lose, are great. Plus Reginald VelJohnson (the dad from Family Matters) is fantastic as the judge, who is trying to maintain order in the midst of all this insanity, not to mention try to keep up with all the absurdity popping up all around him.

And it’s a fine outing for everyone in The Gang too. Dee getting upset that her bribery coat is made of muskrat and trying to undermine the lawyer by proving he’s Jewish is good for some great, transgressive laughs. Dennis straining to get his alimony payments to Maureen withdrawn and his disbelief at the whole situation is very fun. And Mac’s failed attempts to deliver the “bombshell” and be a part of the case deliver some good laughs too. Plus Frank as the world’s worst AA sponsor for Bill is easy but good for a chuckle.

But the best of them all is Charlie, who gets to play the straight man to everyone else’s insanity (something he showed off for comic effect in “Charlie Work”) and win the day by being an idiot savant (something he also displayed in “Charlie Work”). The way he finally gets to succeed by using his expertise in “Bird Law” to actually win the case is superb. And holy hell, Guillermo Del Toro returning as Pappy McPoyle, replete with eye-attacking bird is just the best kind of comic lunacy as things erupt in the courtroom.

Overall, a great and hilarious episode that has something very funny to do for pretty much everyone, and delivers snippets of amusing craziness before bringing the pot to a boil in the tradition of many of the show’s best episodes.