CHAD POWERS: SEASON ONE
Starring: Glen Powell, Steve Zahn, Toby Huss, Perry Mattfeld, Wynn Everett, and Frankie A. Rodriguez
Creators: Glen Powell and Michael Waldron
AMARÚ
When you have a ridiculous premise, you need to deliver on two things: ridiculously hilarious comedy and ridiculously genuine heart. Chad Powers has both in spades. It’s the crassest and crudest live-action comedy I’ve seen in a minute, and a key example of “if it’s funny you can get away with anything”. But it also helps tremendously that at the show’s heart are true representations of the hardships that come with being an athlete. Sports tropes, while highly repetitive, are highly relatable, and when you mix empathetic characters with hysterically offensive comedy, you can’t do anything but shake your head and laugh your ass off.
ROBERT
I am not in the Glen Powell camp personally, so a passion project from him about football, as produced by the Manning Brothers, didn’t scream “must-watch.” However, if Ted Lasso could succeed as a premise built from a silly commercial, why not Chad Powers? The differences lie in the writing and acting. Where Lasso is fresh and hopeful, Powers is shallow and reliant on vulgarity for comedy. I couldn’t get over how improbable it was that everyone fell for all the stupid lies and makeup. Also, Powell’s Russ redeeming himself in six episodes felt quick, falling apart faster than Chad’s latex face.
QUENTIN
Given its 80s premise (think Soul Man and Just One of the Guys), there is a certain nostalgic charm to Chad Powers. That charm is only furthered by Glen Powell's natural charisma and, depending on your personal interest, a football-centric plot. That said, it’s a fairly forgettable series that considers liberal use of “retard" edgy. At just six episodes, the story is pretty rushed, which would be fine if the jokes hit, but they are, at best, of the chuckle-under-your-breath variety. I wouldn’t call it a waste of time because I did enjoy it well enough, but it’s not exactly worth going out of your way.
NICK
What do you get when you mix Mrs. Doubtfire and Blue Mountain State? Chad Powers. Although this series isn’t as good as either of those ingredients, it has its moments. However, Glen Powell as the titular character does a lot of the heavy lifting to make those moments come to fruition. His comedic timing and commitment make the most of (at best) snicker-worthy comedy, but the script often lets down the supporting cast. I think there’s something here worth continuing, but Chad Powers needs a lot of improvements and possibly a few different writers if it wants to justify another season.
