The Winner

As the season finale, this was Glen’s very last time to get lucky with the ladies. And lo and behold, he did! Well… sort of. And with none other than Married with Children’s Peggy Bundy (Katey Sagal, whose voice you may also recognize from Futurama. And who, for the record, is looking great these days). I was glad to see this date go better than Glen’s last date with the gay man from the video store, although I suppose when it comes to Glen, “better” is a relative term. Glen’s role-playing with his old teacher was hilarious, although it was a tad uncomfortable to watch Glen admit he was a virgin. I also love how Glen, upon meeting her, exclaimed, “You have a first name?!” Only a child like Glen would still be uncomfortable calling his old teacher by her first name at the age of 32. All of the sex lessons were hilarious as well. I loved everything from the chalkboard diagrams to the timer!

I’m so glad the show has finally made some progress with Glen. After eight episodes, we’ve seen countless bad dates: one with Glen, Alison and Alison’s boyfriend; one with the mom from Josh’s Spelling Bee trip to Albany (which I hope I don’t have to remind you ended with a tube of herpes cream); and one date with a gay man. Even though I can’t exactly call this episode’s date “normal” by any means, at least Glen is making some progress! Here’s to hoping Season 2 will show us more of Glen’s luck in this department. It was endearing for Glen to tell his old teacher that he couldn’t continue to sleep with her because he didn’t love her. Glen, pathetic as he may be, really is a softie and I hope next season, he’ll find someone (Alison?) who appreciates his efforts. That is, if he can continue to develop more relationships with people his own age, and eventually move out of his parents’ house!

Well, thanks for bearing with me through the season. I hope Rob Corddry finds success in another season of the show, although I can already say with certainty I don’t think he’ll find the same measure of success as fellow Daily Show alum Steve Carell. Let me know your thoughts on the finale.

I don’t know what was sadder, when Alison told Glen that Josh’s new friend was the “first time he has ever had a ‘cool’ friend,” or when Glen actually followed Josh and his new friend Murray to the movies! And let’s not forget that Josh actually took his new friend’s side when Murray called the usher to get rid of Glen. Poor Glen! Is this guy ever going to catch a break? I know we already know he ends up a millionaire, but I wish there was some indication of Glen losing some of his insecurities as well. My heart just breaks for Glen in moments like these.

I am happy that the show is focusing more on Glen’s work life than his home life. His parents never really do it for me, and while they do serve to let us know how pathetic Glen is, I just am not feeling the laughs coming from them. His mom did have one great line tonight though when she told Glen that she bought him and his new friend tickets to the Ice Capades.

While I’m not a huge fan of the parents, I think that Glen’s co-workers are getting funnier and I’m glad to see Glen interacting with someone his own age! Even if it means he’s getting set up on a date with a man. I loved when Glen thought his date couldn’t be gay because he liked football. Hearing him rattle off the list of things that defines a gay man (Barbies, antiques, etc.) was in classic naïve-Glen form.

As I have been in the past entries, I’d like to leave you with a list of all of our 90’s references from tonight. In my opinion, they are the only indication that this show takes place in the 90’s and I always get a kick out of hearing them. From tonight, we have Nell, Melrose Place, Addam’s Family Values and I’m sure if I paid more attention to the world of football, there were some hidden in there as well.

Well, that leaves us with only one episode left! I’ll be back soon with my thoughts on the finale. In the meantime, feel free to share your favorite moments from the season so far. And let me know if you think we will have a Season Two to look forward to!

My initial thought on tonight’s bonus episode is that Rob Corddry looks like an entirely different person with hair! And that I love Glen’s alter ego “Lance Manly.” From the moment Glen put on his wig, he took on a confident, adult persona that’s actually appropriate for a 32-year-old. It was a refreshing change from insecure Glen Abbott who lives at home, works in a video store and makes $208 per paycheck (even if it is 1994). My favorite Lance Manly moments were his calling the other bald man at the spelling bee finals “Rapunzel,” ordering “three Michelobs” at dinner and telling Donna that his pilot job “pays the bills and gives the foxy mamas thrills.” Rob played Lance Manly as only Rob Corddry could, and I loved every minute of it.

As for Rob’s real character Glen, I thought it was endearing how excited he was in what appeared to be Glen’s very first hotel experience. From gawking at the “art” to being so animated about how the rooms were identical, it was nice to see Glen out of his parents’ house and finally on his own. Even if “on his own” meant seducing a married woman while taking on some of his Lance Manly characteristics.

I can only assume we won’t be seeing Glen lucking out with the ladies anytime soon. Each time he seems to get close, he strikes out, although I took some comfort in the fact that this time it was not his fault. I laughed out loud when Glen found Donna’s herpes cream and then wished her good luck with her sores before parting ways. And speaking of Donna, did she really seduce Glen at dinner with her daughter?! What is it with this show and the kids taking part in all of the adult relationships?

Finally, I wish we could see more into Glen’s future as the richest man in Buffalo. We’re told every week how Glen ends up a “Winner” and yet we get no insight into his success. The show drops the occasional clue in Glen’s voiceovers, but we never actually get to see him reap his rewards after living out his wonder years. Something to look forward to, I suppose. I just hope it doesn’t take too long to get there!

Tonight's episode of The Winner made me feel sad for Glen, and not in a haha-look-what-a-loser-he-is kind of way. There were few moments when I laughed out loud and even fewer when I felt sure that this 32-year old could truly transform into the “Winner” that the show’s introduction promises. It’s sad enough that the only real structure Glen has is at home with his parents. Throw their trial separation into the mix and it’s just plain pathetic that Glen remains at home, listening to his parents fight about a childhood he’s been living for 32 years. And just when you think this situation can’t possibly make you anymore uncomfortable, Glen heads over to Alison’s to intrude on her date with her new boyfriend, Gary, who treats Glen like he’s six years old.

There were few parts of tonight’s episode that I found truly funny. I still love that it takes place in 1994 and I’m happy that those (albeit increasingly un-subtle) '90s references that I pointed out last week continued tonight. For instance, tonight’s mention of Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel’s divorce and Glen’s renting Philadelphia and Kramer vs. Kramer (on VHS!) when he thought his cat had feline AIDS.

Speaking of the cat, what a random storyline! I thought that would be the story that kept us laughing amidst Glen’s parents’ impending separation and Glen’s realization that Alison has a new surgeon-boyfriend. But from its introduction in the first five minutes of the show, we never really saw that cat again until the show’s completion. Maybe they tried too hard to cram this potentially funny storyline into an episode that already had two major stories happening at the same time.

Before I wrap this episode up (it’s almost time to get started on the next one!), I just want to mention that I found it hard to take an interest into Glen’s parents’ marital problems. We were only introduced to this couple two episodes ago in the pilot and for a couple that didn’t ever seem to have much good chemistry, it was hard to believe that they’d have much of the bad variety. I just didn’t care to hear them fight, and I found little gratification when they made amends at the end of the episode. Here’s to hoping that future episodes focus more on Glen and less on his parents.

That’s all for now. Let me know what you all think of tonight’s episode!

I didn’t find this episode of The Winner to be quite as strong as the pilot. I think too much of the episode was focused on Glen and Josh preparing for their dates, but I do think it’s adorable the way they are bonding. It’s funny how Josh seems to be more mature than 32-year-old Glen, and I love how Josh was the one giving Glen advice at the end of the episode and not the other way around. I also think it’s so funny that Glen is working at the video store. What a perfect job for him! I laughed out loud when they showed Glen with his name tag that said, “Be patient, I’m learning.” The tag seems so symbolic of Glen’s life in so many ways.

As for Glen and Josh’s relationship, this episode really showed their friendship blossom. I think the two have a good rapport and both characters seem to complement each other well. However, I still find it so bizarre that Josh is helping Glen date his mom, especially when Josh suggested that Glen go to a whorehouse to practice for his date. The only thing creepier than Glen taking Josh’s advice was when he actually brought Josh to the whorehouse. I mean, come on! He’s so young!

Despite the oddity of Glen’s friendship with Josh, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Glen when Allison told him she had a crush on someone else. Rob Corddry does such a good job of making Glen lovable and pitiful at the same time. It broke my heart to see Glen take the news of Allison dating another man, but he carried it with plenty of laughs, like when he told Allison that her starting to date again would probably give Josh lupus! As for Josh himself, I think he is so cute and I love how between the two of them, Josh is the mature one. I think there are many more laughs to come from their relationship.

Being a fan of both The Daily Show and Family Guy, I’ve been looking forward to The Winner and tonight’s pilot did not disappoint me. Family Guy creators Seth MacFarlane and Ricky Blitt successfully bring their oddball humor to the show’s main character, Glen Abbott, and I think there is no one better to portray the 32-year old loser than Daily Show expatriate Rob Corddry.

First off, I love how the show is set in 1994. The subtle (and not so subtle) 90’s references cracked me up, among them Glen’s Party of Five mention and of course, the O.J. Simpson car chase. I think one of the funnier lines in tonight’s pilot was Glen’s mom, Irene (Linda Hart), declaring that O.J. “couldn’t hurt a fly,” rivaled only by Allison (Erinn Hayes) noting that Clinton “seems to be a good family man.” I love how the writers intentionally take us back to 1994 through these references and I’m excited to see more of them as the series continues.

While I know the show’s central plotline is Glen’s trying to reconnect with his high school crush Allison, I think it’s creepy that he enlists the help of her son Josh (Keir Gilchrist) to do so. Especially on their double date when Glen tells Josh that since his mom is divorced, she definitely goes all the way. You just don’t say that to your date’s son! But this is only the beginning of Glen and Josh’s friendship and I know it will bring plenty of laughs to the table.

Rob Corddry makes a great “Winner.” I love how Glen used the theme song to Growing Pains as his secret signal to Josh and I laughed out loud when he had the night’s entire TV schedule memorized. No one plays a better loser than Rob. His quirky awkwardness around Allison was dead-on, and I can definitely see some Peter Griffin-like (Family Guy) moments to come. I’m also glad the series started off in the present day where Glen is the richest man in Buffalo. I think it will be a fun ride to see how this 32-year old who still lives at home with his parents transforms into the “Winner” that the show’s title promises.