Show: Allen Gregory
Grade: F
Time: Sundays at 8:30 p.m.
Network: FOX
Somewhere between the childish humor of the boys from South Park and Family Guy's pint-sized pop-culture icon lies their atrocious, unoriginal combination: Allen Gregory.
Created by actor Jonah Hill (The Sitter) with Andrew Mogel and Jarrad Paul (both of whom wrote the screenplay for Yes Man), the newest entry to FOX's seemingly never-ending production of animated comedies is hands-down one of the worst pilots of the Fall.
The first episode of the series follows Allen Gregory De Longpre (Jonah Hill), a 7-year-old boy who is brilliant at manipulating those around him. The first moments of the pilot show him insulting a group of people at a party as well as his adoptive Cambodian sister Julie (Joy Osmanski, Good Job, Thanks!), a girl who is portrayed as a stereotype that has already been played out far too many times.
Speaking of stereotypes, enter Allen's parents, a duo consisting of uptight Richard (French Stewart, The Muppets) and young, but ridiculously stupid, stud Jeremy (Nat Faxon, Zookeeper). From the diva attitudes to adopting an Asian child, everything these dads do is so cliché viewers will literally have to close their eyes to stop them from rolling around in their heads.
Allen Gregory himself is like a smart, sophisticated, and completely horny/sexualized young man trapped in the body of a 7-year-old boy. He brings a bottle of wine to drink during his lunch period, acts like he's better than all the other students, and disrespects all the adult figures around him – he calls his teacher by her first name (Gina) which he pronounces like the second half of the word vagina.
Most viewers will, more than likely, not be able to make it past the hilariously unfunny pilot, which although a mere 23 minutes, seems to drag on as the characters utter one humorless remark after another.
As a whole, the many "jokes" and one-liners either fall flat or are just offensive rather than funny. Right in the beginning, Allen Gregory makes a comment about Jeremy having contracted AIDs which was apparently supposed to be humorous, but in a normal world where a life-threatening illness isn't something to joke about, it is hard to imagine anyone doubling over with laughter.
Speaking of awkward and unnecessary scenes played for laughs, upon meeting his 60-odd-year-old obese principal, Allen Gregory is hit with Cupid's arrow and develops an intense and creepy infatuation with her.
He believes the two of them to be destined lovers, an idea that will most likely be disturbing to the viewer given the vast age difference between these characters.
If the concept isn't screwed up already, the writers were kind enough to provide the audience with a fantasy sequence in which Allen Gregory and his principal are meeting for a sexual encounter in a hotel room. Fortunately the scene quickly ends and the viewer isn't forced to witness this statutory rape further.
There is not one redeeming aspect to mention about the premiere of Allen Gregory. It is an uncreative rehash of characters America has been watching for years and is sure to join other low-rated Fall shows such as Charlie's Angels, The Playboy Club, and Free Agents in cancellation heaven by December at the latest.
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