“Jazz” serves up an intoxicating blend of Maria Bamford, the Beaver Boys, and enough James Quall to make us all forget “Jim and Derick.”
Theme:
Like the genre of music that lends its name to this episode, “Jazz” represents not so much a coherent thesis as a series of variations on several themes. Here, we see old Awesome Show standbys like rivalry, frenzy, social awkwardness, and the sustaining power of friendship all explored, expounded upon, and stylized a little differently. Here, we get a comedy routine from James Quall but also Bill Hader’s rendition of Quall in a fabulously on-point faux movie trailer. The Beaver Boys wreck havoc on a nice little restaurant only for us to return to loop back to that same restaurant at an earlier point in time, minutes before the chaos broke out. Dennis Harrity, the child clown on a trike who was introduced in the Season One Episode “Hamburger,” acts as a connecting sequence, bridging the viewer from Maria Bamford’s anguish to more light-hearted sketches. Propulsive, silly, and packed with strangeness, “Jazz” is a welcome relief after the oppressive bro-ness of “Jim and Derick.”
Hi-Lights:
Beaver Boys: Twins
The Beaver Boys face a dilemma: romance the twins they are dating, or steal and eat copious amounts of shrimp and white wine. For any fan of the show, the choice is obvious. Gut-churning sequences of the restaurant devolving into chaos follows.
Quall
Perfectly styled as an inspiring Oscar-bait biopic, “Quall” features Bill Hader perfectly imitating the world’s most dubious imitation artist, James Quall himself. Complete with soaring music, dramatic pauses, and a cameo by David Liebe Hart, “Quall” looks like the best movie never to be produced.
Rewind: 10 Minutes Earlier
We are transported to ten minutes before the Beaver Boy’s arrival at the restaurant where two men face an existential crisis over whether they are sharing a “business or pleasure” lunch. When one of the men makes a poignant stab at a dad joke, a man in another booth descends into spasms of laughter, earning him the coveted “Great job!”
Anatomy of an Episode:
James Quall Intro
James Quall gives us Ronald Reagan’s advice about--what else? Spaghetti and meatballs.
Title Sequence
The same title sequence we’re used to, now with “jazzy” interruptions.
Jazz Sessions: Odd Job Jam
We learn that Tim moonlights as a hostess at a pizza restaurant to support his love of jazz.
Cleaning Up After Your Cat (Part 1)
The spiritual sister to “Quitlin’ with Will” and “Fortin’ with Will,” Maria Bamford invites her ex-boyfriend Matt on the show to berate him for not cleaning up after his cats (who, by the way, all are named after the felines in the kitsch classic “Cats”).
Dennis Harrity Interlude (Part 1)
Dennis the child clown pedals through a maze of color bars, racing other people on tricycles and segways.
Beaver Boys: Twins
See Hi-Lights. The Boys have a difficult choice to make: shrimp or twins?
Jazz Sessions: Horns
Tim and Eric share the same horn.
Quall
See Hi-Lights. A heart-breaking, life-affirming look at the life of one of America’s most cherished comedians, James Quall.
Rewind: 10 Minutes Earlier
See Hi-Lights. Business or pleasure? The eternal question is not answered to anyone’s satisfaction.
Cleaning Up After Your Cat (Part 2)
More harrowing trauma awaits ex-boyfriend Matt as Maria Bamford collapses, screaming about her abusive sister and the omnipresence of cat hair.
Dennis Harrity Interlude (Part 2)
Dennis emerges from Maria’s mouth and pedals away.
Jazz Sessions: Banking on It
Tim tells an electrifying story about his transition to online banking.
Winner:
We’ve got to get serious around here. Between all the jokey winners I award based on my fickle affection and my decision not to award a winner for Season Three Episode Six purely out of spite, I feel that I have threatened the integrity of this project. Here we are, halfway through the series, and it’s time I made things a little more regular. The “Jazz Sessions” segments are among the weakest in the show, so I’ll have to judge it solely based on the “Beaver Boys” sketch. Even though they play off of each other well, Eric wins this one. Eric as Beaver Boy Krunk can’t be matched for his hysteria, hedonism, and devotion to drinking his own foamy pink vomit. For making me nearly vomit myself, Eric Wareheim takes this one to the bank.
Pennie Sublime