PALM ROYALE
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Leslie Bibb, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Julia Duffy, Kaia Gerber, Amber Chardae Robinson, and Carol Burnett
Creator: Abe Sylvia
NICK
What did I expect? Palm Royale is a 1960s set series about a group of socialites that is far more soap opera than comedy; plus, it stars Kristen Wiig (who I’ve never been a fan of). Honestly, if it wasn’t for the return of Carol Burnett, I wouldn’t even have given it a chance. Here’s the thing, though: it’s actually quite good. Maxine Simmons is one of Wiig's strongest roles to date, while the supporting characters (particularly Allison Janney and surprisingly Ricky Martin) intrigue as their secrets unravel one by one. I’m still not entirely sure why Palm Royale worked for me specifically, but it did.
QUENTIN
Palm Royale, which is essentially The Real Housewives of 1969 meets Mean Girls, boasts tremendous production design and a mostly stellar cast. I say “mostly” because at the center is Kristen Wiig, and she is the main reason this series fails. This may be a “me” thing, but Wiig’s Maxine never feels like a real person, instead coming across as more of a quirky SNL character with an exaggerated southern accent. It’s all the more noticeable when she’s acting opposite Allison Janney and Laura Dern. Admittedly, I’ve never been the biggest Wiig fan, so mileage may vary, but this series did not make me a convert.
