"The League" Stands Out In A League Of Its Own
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The League (Photo courtesy of F. Scott Scafer/ FX)
Jeff and Jackie Schaeffer, creators of "The League," deserve a round of applause and a million “thank-yous” for the beautiful and hilarious work they have done on this soon-to-be hit comedy. Though the show airs directly after "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia," it has taken on a persona of its own. "The League" is a show that follows the professional and social lives of an ensemble cast that participates in quite the competitive fantasy football league. Below are some character overviews, courtesy of buzzfocus.com:
Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi) – Commissioner of the league; realizes this responsibility just gives him seven more kids to babysit.
Jenny (Katie Aselton) – Kevin’s wife; she loves football and her knowledge of the game is the reason he's so competitive.
Pete (Mark Duplass) – Master manipulator and three-time league champ who does inappropriate things with the league trophy; recently divorced and learning how to manage the single scene again.
Ruxin (Nick Kroll) – The complainer of the group; he is married to Sofia (Nadine Velazquez), a high maintenance woman out of his league. Don’t let his arrogant mouth fool you, she’s got him wrapped around her finger.
Taco (Jon Lajoie) – Kevin’s deadbeat brother and sex addict; he knows nothing about football but won the league once; he also sells crude ringtones and participates in quick scams to scrape by.
Andre (Paul Scheer) – Plastic surgeon, returning league champ, and league whipping boy; Andre is an expert on being "unfunny" but tries very hard not to be.
The season opens up with the main event of the fantasy draft. The gang has arranged for it to take place in the City of Sin. This time, however, Jenny doesn’t want to watch Kevin screw up despite her stellar sports advice. Instead, she wants to be part of the action as a participant in the fantasy football league.
The best part about the show is that you don't have to be a football fan to enjoy it. The comedy in the show is so creative and edgy that having the football knowledge is simply a plus.
Additionally, the show will feature a number of guest appearances in its second season. For episode one, Andre has arranged for the Cincinnati Bengals' star wide receiver, Chad Ochocinco, to be the master of ceremonies for the draft, which is set to take place in quite the fine suite. Furthermore, Matt Fore will make an appearance in the second episode as Josh Cribbs, and Terrell Suggs makes a guest appearance in the third episode as if to provide a comical preview to the NFL week three Browns vs. Ravens matchup.
Even more importantly, what seems to be most enjoyable about "The League" is how relative the show is to real life. Every character on the show reflects someone everyone knows, and sometimes viewers can identify with the characters themselves as they strive to find the perfect balance between their professional and personal lives.
"The League" is a show that I definitely recommend watching as it brings different types of humor to the table that will have everyone laughing. There are multiple aspects to the show so people will find something to appreciate.
"The League" returned on September 16 and will present 13 episodes this season. The show airs regularly on FX, Thursday nights at 10:30 p.m.
