Bill Engvall in "The Bill Engvall Show"
courtesy of TBS
“The Bill Engvall Show” (TBS)

‘THE Bill Engvall Show” starts its second season on TBS this week. Engvall, one of the members of the Blue Collar Comedy Show,” is perfectly at ease in his role as a father to three children. It is a typical sitcom with the same situations that have been providing comedy fodder for lo these many years. Nancy Travis co-stars as his wife Susan and she is a good match to Engvall’s portrayal of the less than capable Bill Pearson.

Each week there is a problem that can be solved in a half hour. Most of these revolve around the Pearson’s three children – Lauren (Jennifer Lawrence), Trent (Graham Patrick Martin), and Bryan (Skyler Gisondo). Martin is a hoot as Trent. He talks and acts like someone who is perpetually stoned but in this role he is playing a boy who is just totally naïve, innocent and a bit less than sharp. Martin has every pause and gape down to perfection. He is the brightest spot on the show and the one character most member of the audience will grow to love.

The rest of the cast range from bad, semi-regular Tim Meadows, to pretty good, Travis as the wife. Engvall falls somewhere in between. Still there is a sweet appeal to the show. You like these people in spite of themselves and the comedy comes seeping through even if it has an awkward arrival.

“The Bill Engvall Show” is not a comedy classic, at least not at this point, but it does grow on you. You find yourself smiling at the corny jokes and empathizing with Bill’s lack of parental skills.

In an age when every comedy seems to be obsessed with sexual situations and smutty humor, “The Bill Engvall Show” is refreshing. It is a throw back to the old days when Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart and Mary Tyler Moore reigned. It isn’t of that caliber yet but it is of that mind set.

So tune in to “The Bill Engvall Show” each week. The two episodes sent for preview were fresh, clean and entertaining comedy. You can even have your family watch them with you.

“The Bill Engvall Show” airs each Thursday at 9PM on TBS. It repeats Friday nights at 1AM.
 

 

 

 

 

©2008 Jackie K. Cooper

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