Everything about Seed, eh?

Review: Tom Green Brings His Own Brand of Comedy to Seed

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A new episode of Seed airs tonight. City’s ensemble comedy, still in its first season, offers a plethora of characters in each episode. This week it’s the more the merrier as Seed makes room for a little new blood, and an infusion of a different kind of funny. Monday’s episode “Bromosomes” features Tom Green as an guest star, adding to the already busy line up. Green plays Dr. Stuart Meinertzhagen, an experimental psychologist, bordering on snake oil salesman.

The episode follows Harry and Rose as they navigate Harry’s bout of Couvade’s syndrome, or sympathetic pregnancy. He becomes moody, nauseated, and turns Rose’s request for a little sympathy in to an all out competition for who is in worse shape.

As he battles Couvade’s, Harry also must put up with Jonathon’s sudden desire to spend time with him behind Janet’s back. When she finds out that Jonathon has been seeing both Harry and Dr. Meinhertzhagen she implements her own plan to get back at her husband. On top of all this Harry is a bystander as Zoey and Michelle navigate a new minefield in their relationship: coming to terms with the effects of their hot lesbian babysitter whom Harry has labeled “divorce bait”.

Halfway through the episode Harry is at the end of his rope and manages to corral all of the above into the office of Meinhertzhagen (Green), where the good doctor uses various methods to deal with the problems in each relationship. Or not deal with them?

Green enters the episode just as you’re beginning to question the function of all of the story lines. He brings just the right kind of comedy to the show: a sort of SNL-esque silliness with the maturity of a comedian who doesn’t doubt his style or ability. He captures the screen and distracts the viewer from the busy first half of the episode. In fact, I wish there’d been more of him.

While still a young show, Seed takes on the herculean task of telling multiple stories in each episode. Though this is nothing new, the difference is that Seed inserts Harry into every story line in some capacity, making it difficult for the viewer to decipher which story is supposed to come out on top. This episode particularly emphasizes this crisis as Harry seems to be everywhere, all the time.

What compounds the hectic nature of the story lines is that Harry’s motivation for his involvement with the donor recipients isn’t always clear. In this particular episode Harry was labeled Rose’s partner on several occasions, without objecting to the term, but in the next scene professed himself fully available to another woman. Though I’ve been keeping up with the show and understand the nature of Harry’s relationship with pregnant Rose (sort of) it seems that half hours have a responsibility to re-apply this knowledge from time to time to hang on to viewers who may stop in mid-season to test out the show.

While leads Adam Korson and Carrie-Lynn Neales have no problem delivering what the show needs, their talent often gets lost in the din of the large cast. The potential to refine the series into a focused and sharp comedy is what draws me back each episode. The gags are there, the talent is there, the concept is there but something is misfiring.

Green’s presence on Seed helped to focus the storylines and provide the kind of humor that will draw comedy fans back for more. The concern now will be, who will be the bandaid for the next episode?

 

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Monday: Bomb Girls, Seed, Murdoch Mysteries

BombGirls

Bomb Girls, Global – “Party Lines”
It’s harvest time and as the girls pluck the bounty of their victory garden, Vera uncovers a TNT shortage, shining an unwelcome light on the men of the Blue Shift – and jeopardizing her burgeoning friendship with Marco. Meanwhile, as preliminary reports of a successful raid on Dieppe are broadcast cross-country, Gladys isolates herself to fight her own private battles and Betty has an unexpected reunion with a soldier. Lorna fights for her long coveted home telephone, but any success is tempered by her growing fears for the safety of her sons.

Seed, City – “Bromosomes”
When Harry (Adam Korson) is diagnosed with sympathetic pregnancy, Rose (Carrie-Lynn Neales) finds that she’s competing for sympathy with her new, narcissistic belly-buddy. Meanwhile, Janet discovers Jonathan (Matt Baram) has been seeing another therapist (guest star Tom Green, Tom Green Live!) behind her back, and wonders what else he’s hiding.

Murdoch Mysteries, CBC – “Lovers in a Murderous Time”
Detective Murdoch and Julia find themselves at odds when a delusional woman becomes the prime suspect in the violent stabbing of her gambling fiancé.

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Monday: Murdoch Mysteries, Seed, Being Human, Top Chef Canada

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Murdoch Mysteries, CBC – “Twisted Sisters”
A series of violent drowning deaths of university-educated unmarried career women leads Murdoch to suspect sexist and racist motives. Guest stars: Zaib Shaikh, Paula Brancati.

Seed, City – “Fetal Attraction”
Harry (Adam Korson) can’t believe that Rose (Carrie-Lynn Neales) is actively dating while pregnant and tries to uncover the true motives of her new, super-hot boyfriend. Meanwhile, Anastasia (Abby Ross) discovers that her dad (Matt Baram) is “part of the establishment,” and wants nothing to do with her father’s wealth and lifestyle. Plus, Billy (William Ainscough) gives Harry lice, and Harry capitalizes on Zoey (Stephanie Anne Mills) and Michelle’s (Amanda Brugel) guilt.

Being Human, Space – “For Those About to Rot”
Josh learns that Aidan made a sacrifice to protect him and Nora, and Sally discovers Nick and Stevie’s (Robert Naylor, Pinocchio) fates. Also, Aidan’s date with Kat (Deanna Russo, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) causes him to remember his wife and son.

Top Chef Canada, Food Network – season premiere
No episode description available.

 

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Seed’s Abby Ross off to a flying start

From Mark Leiren-Young of the Vancouver Sun:

Vancouver teen enjoys bad seed role
Fifteen-year-old Abby Ross still laughs about landing the part of 15-year-old Anastasia on City TV’s new sperm-donor sitcom, Seed (airing Monday nights). “It was my first role and I never thought I would get an actual TV show for my first real gig, so it was pretty amazing,” the Vancouver actress told The Sun via cellphone as she walked to her scene study class at the city’s Railtown Actor’s Studio. Read more.

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