Idiotsitter’s premiere on Comedy Central is a reboot of the web series, though the plot for the pilot is more or less the same as episode one of the original. Harvard-grad Billie (co-creator Charlotte Newhouse) interviews for a position as a Nanny for the wealthy Russell family only to discover that what she’s really interviewing for is to be a court-appointed guardian for criminally-inclined adult Gene (co-creator Jillian Bell). Billie doesn’t want the job, but can’t refuse the salary so ends up moving into the mansion and trying her luck with Gene. A good chunk of the pilot revolves around a party Gene throws. We do learn that TJ Miller no longer plays Gene’s best friend, Chet, which was quite heartbreaking but I will survive somehow. The episode is a perfect portrayal of Gene’s outrageous lifestyle and Billie’s neurotic conservative one. Thanks to Gene, Billie gets wasted on what she believes is just white wine but in fact has been drugged, by Gene, with a half roofie half horse tranquilizer. Best moment of the scene, and also a great portrayal of what I think are things to come in the series, is Gene and Billie hanging out in the bathtub doing Austin Powers impressions. The humor is obviously great and Gene and Billie give me serious squad envy but there’s more to it then that. It’s a little heartbreaking at times. Gene is the spoiled daughter of wealthy Kent Russell (we don’t know exactly what he does but we know that he just made a hybrid sports car line) who often neglects her. And although Gene is mostly terrible and has the personality of the Tasmanian Devil, we get the feeling that she’s just looking for companionship and some attention from her father who she admires. Creators Newhouse and Bell are just brilliant in their formation, structure, and writing of Idiotsitter. I know I am raving about it, but really it was pretty perfect. Aside from the absence of TJ Miller, I have no complaints. It’s funny, awkward, nuts, irrational, fool or tomfoolery, emotional, and smart. If you haven’t watched the web series I suggest you give the show a watch! Enjoy! Idiotsitter debuts Thursday, January 14th at 10:30 p.m. on Comedy Central.
