The Kind You Won't Take Home to Mother: FX Sets Up Television's Strangest Night of Comedy Programming (Look Out NBC, It's Thursday)

By Cindy Davis | Lists | March 1, 2012 |

By Cindy Davis | Lists | March 1, 2012 |

I’m not exactly sure what demographic FX is targeting (weirdos?), but who knows—it could be me. Shit is getting stranger and stranger. We already had an ongoing obsession with “Justified,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “Archer” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” when the cable network pitched a good many of us off the deep end with Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story.” Now it looks like the warped comedy thing has been off in a dark corner, birthing little monsters who rapidly matured and slithered off toward their new Thursday night slots, where they’ll snuggle up to a couple of already familiar freaks. For those of us who find NBC’s Thursday line-up the furthest thing from must-see TV, FX just might find a few new customers sidling up to the bar.

1. First up at 9:00 p.m. is “Anger Management.” I know what you’re saying—I said it too—who the hell is going to watch this mess? But in this bizarre vegetarian beef sandwich of a night, Sheen somehow kinda fits. And admit it, you’re just curious enough to check it out once…

…especially now that comedian, former fellow addict and recently homeless, Brett Butler has joined the show. Sheen will play a “non-traditional therapist” and Butler, the bartender at Sheen’s favorite watering hole. I can’t even imagine what is going to happen here.

“Anger Management” will premiere with two new thirty minute episodes; thereafter, new episodes will air at 9:30, with the previous week’s episode repeating at 9:00 pm (EST).

2. In the 10:00 p.m. slot, “Wilfred” returns with a second season of Elijah Woods trying to figure out if his neighbor’s dog really is a dog, or a furry-costumed Australian who smokes, drinks and encourages bad behavior. I’ve seen this a couple of times and though Woods will forever creep me out with his creepy eyes, I may have laughed at Jason Gann’s (Wilfred) antics.

Bonus: Robin Williams brings his own brand of crazy to the season opener.

3. At 10:30 Louis C.K returns for Season 3 of “Louie.” That’s all you really need to know. Watch it.

4. And finally, the eleven o’clock hour introduces Russell Brand’s “Strangely Uplifting,” the premise of which I’m not sure I entirely understand. The show seems to be some sort of stand-up comedy/talk show hybrid, with the wiry jack-of-all-trades discussing politics and pop culture while interacting with a live audience.

Now all FX needs is a little bit of Shatner—I’d never leave their side.

Cindy Davis might be a very kinky girl.