Bupkis2023

A deft, oddly lovely, eight-episode semi-autobiographical comedy.

Pete Davidson's rep as a druggie and all-around slacker is well-established. His numerous girlfriends and other incidents have overshadowed his genuine abilities. This series, which he co-wrote with friends from his other work, examines the life of a somewhat real Pete along with moments of absurdity to up the entertainment value. Actually, his maturing skills reminded me of an early Woody Allen, an awkward personality with a sharp understanding of humor, storytelling and cinematic style. Edie Falco and Bobby Cannavale provide solid support with Joe Pesci, as the grandfather, adding humorous insight (a welcome return to the screen). There's also a continuous parade of cameos, including Jon Stewart (his last line is the best line of the series), John Mulaney, Ray Romano, Kenan Thompson (he's got a very funny one-liner too). In grappling with all of his foibles, Davidson demonstrates an ability that cuts thru the comic clutter to unveil unexpected candor and depth, creating a funny but also sweet series. Promisingly, it ends with in such a way that a 2nd season seems inevitable.

Bupkis in general nails a well-balanced mix of humor, self-awareness, and drama stemming from both reality and fiction, giving us a multi-flavored comedy that goes down easy.