[6.0/10] Somebody in the writer’s room for The League said to themselves, “You know what we’re totally equipped to tackle comedically? Suicide and domestic abuse. Spoiler alert: they weren’t.
But this is still, oddly enough, far from the worst outing The League has had this season, which is perhaps damning the show with faint praise, but it’s the best I have to offer at the moment.
Let’s start with the positives. While Taco’s proprietary time zone feels like something the show pulled out of the “generic Taco misadventures” pile, the scene where the group tries to explain Daylight Savings Time to him and realizes how insane it sounds is one of the funniest 30-second stretches in the series. By the same token, while Andre’s “mistaken for suicide” shtick is embarrassing, the scene where he’s in a support group may be the funniest one in The League history (non-Rafi division). The comic rhythms of him not getting the “toss a judgment away” shtick, and the doctor’s (Dan Castallanetta!) increasing exasperation with him was outstanding.
But man, the rest of the episode was the doldrums. I like Zach Woods as a performer a lot, and he salvages what he can, but Gabe the prototypical hipster being suicidal and pestering the group is, shall we say, a challenging at best plot obstacle to get right, and this episode falls far short. The constant jokes about him killing himself are tepid, and the best the show can muster on that front is gags about not eating while someone’s talking to you and Ruxin’s zany plans to get his tickets back. The closing car-assisted suicide attempt that turns into Taco smoking Lane out is a cheap laugh at best.
And good lord, why did this show think it could make the Ray Rice domestic abuse video funny? The gag about Andre being in an “abusive relationship” with his cat is just the pits. And The League has no real take on any of the Ray Rice stuff. It’s entire play here is just “hey, it’s that horrible footage, now with a cat!” Feh.
The only other thing the episode has to offer is the concept of “garbage time” in real life which is the mildest of mild running gags, but one that can at least elicit a chuckle.
Overall, “Taco Standard Time” is this show getting way over its skis and trying to make light of issues it has no where near the skill or talent to do well.
Shout by TheLazyReviewerBlockedParent2023-12-08T09:14:27Z
This actually wasn't too bad compared to some of the recent episodes but all the stuff with Taco REALLY sucked. It's not funny and never has been.