Misadventures in Dating

Man Seeking Woman is a comedy series shown on FXX and FX. It is about a recently single man named Josh who is trying to date again. His best friend Mike, a wild party boy who is always down for a good time and has lots of luck with woman, and his sister Liz, a buttoned up lawyer help him navigate the world of dating. That is a straight forward premise that has been done to death and with good reason. Its ripe with comedy potential.

This show is different.

The first episode we see Josh break up with his girlfriend and it start to rain. Rain on Josh. Specifically. Josh. Only Josh. If that sounds surreal, maybe written and shot from Josh’s perspective to convey his sense of loss and sadness I could not disagree. But I can tell you when the rain his jacket, and when it zoomed out and a bird squawked and hit his head I laughed out loud.

Man Seeking Woman is an excellent example of what a maxim I have for storytelling: what you tell doesn’t have to be real or the truth but it has to be emotionally true.

Josh, played by Jay Baruchel, is both in on the joke and the subject of it. Sometimes he is merely the victim of the absurdity and reacts the way anyone would. He flips out when he is set up on a date with a troll, a small monster from Scandinavian lore. Other times he is apart of the joke. After securing a date with a woman he takes calls from President Obama and other prestigious people and organizations.

The show never misses an opportunity to remind you that Josh is shy and unskilled in dating but never lets him off the hook for his own struggles. Sure he must compete with a monster from a different dimension for his girlfriend’s attention but the problem isn’t the monster, it’s his insecurity. That's how the show stays grounded. Josh is the problem.

The show has oddly great special effects. Makeup and CGI are well above what a low budget comedy on FX should be. Over a decade later most of the of the effects still hold up. Frequently there is a throw away joke that relies on a impossible creature or location but the show is never held back by what you see.

His best friend is Mike, played perfectly by Eric Andre who seems purpose built to be in a show like this. Britt Lower plays Josh’s sister and is the voice of reason. Liz and Mike often offer contrasting advice. Mike encouraging him to be promiscuous and aggressive in dating but his sister urges caution and communication. Josh’s indifferent ex-girlfriend is played my Maya Erskine from Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Pen15 fame. The cast is brimming with chemistry that often takes the comedy to the next level.

Produced by Lorne Michaels and packed full of SNL luminaries like Bill Hader, Vanessa Bayer, Fred Arminsen, Jorma Taccone all make guest appearances. As well as other comedians like Sarah Silverman, Tim Heidecker, and Anna Konkle just to name a few who all lend comedy timing and energy to this unique show. The show is bursting with the sort of talent that a show like this needs, everyone is game and never too cool to really go all in on premises that sounds so ridiculous. Liking having to go to a wedding in Hell, or his ex-girl friend dating Adolf Hitler.

I will admit when I first saw this show I was very single and struggling dating. I can attest that when you are struggling and terminally single it feels like the world is against you and everyone else got taught by a wizard how to speak to women. That sense of frustration and hurt is brought forth and examined in this weird little comedy show.

I cannot recommend it enough as a bit of weird media that is unlike anything you’ve likely to have seen before.