Judd Apatow should be considered one of the pioneers of modern comedy. Starting his career on “The Larry Sanders Show,” he then executive produced the short-lived cult classic “Freaks and Geeks,” which brought the world the likes of Seth Rogen, James Franco and Jason Segal.
After writing and directing several massively successful comedies such as “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up,” Apatow served as a producer on many of Rogen and company’s other projects. Now, after lending his name to a variety of different projects, Apatow has teamed up with stand-up comedian Pete Holmes for HBO’s “Crashing.”
“Crashing” focuses on a fictionalized version of Pete Holmes (“The Pete Holmes Show”) as he is trying to become a legitimate stand-up comedian. After catching his wife Jess (Lauren Lapkus, “Jurassic World”) cheating on him, Pete moves out of their apartment and uses this as motivation to make a new life for himself. The only problem is he needs a place to crash.
Pete stays with actual comedians playing skewed versions of themselves. Artie Lange, TJ Miller, and even Sarah Silverman, are some of the people that let him stay the night. Apatow and Holmes are genuine fans of comedy as much as they are a part of that community. They use the guest comedians that appear on “Crashing” as mentors for Pete. Through awkward situations, they try to show Pete how to create better material, have a more prominent stage presence and frankly, to be less of a weirdo.
Apatow is already part of the HBO family, serving as an executive producer on Lena Dunham’s “Girls,” another popular comedy series.
This is arguably Holmes’ biggest project to date, especially with him in the starring role, and his awkwardness shines. Playing a former youth pastor in a world of raunchy, foul-mouthed comedians makes Pete seem out of place, but that is where the best laughs of the show come from.
Talking to Artie Lange and TJ Miller about their different perspectives on life and the way they rag on Holmes for being a weird guy are highlights of the script. Anyone that makes fun of Holmes gets a laugh, even from school children on the train when he tries to open up to them about his divorce. There are jokes that feel forced, but one could link that with the growing pains of a new show. Trying out new things and discovering the true heart of the program is part of the deal.
Viewers could classify this as a drama as much as a comedy. The show seems to have the comedic theme of making fun of the pain that comes from true life, which has become an Apatow staple. The authenticity of what these characters are going through and the lessons from the “mentors” are what really make this show feel real.
Things are funnier when people can relate to them. That is why some get offended when people laugh at the expense of others. Yes, it is rude, but it is true and that is what really completes the joke.
“Crashing” is comedy written from the heart. Although occasionally flawed, Holmes has created something that is able to receive big laughs while tugging at the heart strings.
