4/5
Open Season
8 Episodes. Starring: Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani, Erika Henningsen, Colman Domingo & Steve Carell. Created By: Tina Fey & Lang Fisher & Tracey Wigfield. On: Netflix.
Spring. Seasons greetings. Sometimes shows just take you by surprise. And the eight-part wonder of 'The Four Seasons', streaming on Netflix, gets better with the age of every episode after its mild midlife beginning. There are many crises here, but keeping up with the kids on Netflix isn't one of these 99 problems. Even if the streaming service is TUDUM-ing through all their comic con like fan favourites ('Squid Game', 'Stranger Things', and 'Wednesday' to come), these mid-lifers could even render Arnold Schwarzenegger's second season...well, 'Fubar'. In the golden age of 'The' television ('The White Lotus', 'The Bear'), 'The Four Seasons' will remind you of the 'Golden Girls' as the salt and pepper sets in. A month off 40, I needn't worry about all that, I won't have any hair to go grey soon anyway.
Summer. Deluxe like the hotel. Based on the Alan Alda (the 'M*A*S*H' legend makes a classic cameo) 1981, written and directed, movie of the same name, 'The Four Seasons' does for televised versions what Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac's 'A Most Violent Year' reunion in 'Scenes From A Marriage' did for its own Swedish house muse. Created by lead actress Tina Fey, Lang Fisher ('Never Have I Ever') and Tracey Wigfield ('Great News' and the 'Saved By The Bell' revival on Peacock), these thirty-minute or so comedy-drama episodes show you the great parts of America and real family drama and dynamics...with feeling. Whether we're at a lake house that could even make Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves jealous, or speeding through the renewal of vows. This blooming good garden party is much better than an eco resort where your phone isn't the only thing with bad service.
Autumn. Just wait until you pedal pub your way to a beach bar before the fall calls for a family holiday and some youth theatre that really hits close to home. Leaving the great state of New York in one, from throwing ultimate Frisbees to slaloming through all sorts of stress at a ski resort with the great guest star Toby Huss channelling Elton John perfectly at not the most opportune moment, but a hilarious one all the same. These 'Four Seasons' are ones that can break you with tears, and those of laughter, sometimes within striking distance of each other. In one moment, it's warm and quaintly funny. In another, it will leave you with a lump in both your throat and conscience, with some of the all true to life speeches that are probably about to go viral in quotable social media. Then, out of nowhere, it'll blind side you in the snow...and there I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like that. All before it brings you right back as you wipe away the tears that are about to be replaced with those same ones of laughter. In other words, it's hilariously heartbreaking.
Winter. For Fey, this could eclipse '30 Rock'. For the great Steve Carell, he's found his new 'Office' to work in. The ever versatile 'Despicable Me' Gru and 'Anchorman' Brick shows he says it best when he goes all 'Dan In Real Life'. Will Forte also shows us he can play it seriously deadpan, even if another SNL alumni still has us picturing him with celery up his a## as 'MaGruber'. Being unable to listen to Mr. Mister's 'Broken Wings' in the same way again (if you know, you know. If you don't, count yourself lucky). Yet, it's Erika Henningsen and Kerri Kenney-Silver who provide heart and soul, especially for Carell, and Marco Calvani who offers some much-needed warmth across the seasons. Still, we all know who's the real show starring steal of this 'Seasons' series. The great, dandy, Colman Domingo, fresh off 'The Madness' of his own Netflix show. The 'Rustin' and 'Sing Sing' Oscar nominee, who really makes an entrance, has one of the best moments and speeches of 'The Four Seasons'. Coming in the finale, and the penultimate episode, that he also directs. The man who has voiced both Batman and Norman Osborne, and is set to play Joe Jackson AND Nat King Cole (in a movie he'll direct) also has deft comic-timing. Call the midlife, because a second series is on deck, too. Truly in-season. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'The Four Seasons (1981)', 'The White Lotus', 'Scenes From A Marriage'.
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