Brockmire Season 3 Episode 1 Review: Clubhouse Cancer
Carissa Pavlica
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Jim Brockmire had turned over a new leaf.
When Brockmire Season 3 Episode 1 begins, he's sober and dealing with all that it entails.
Brockmire might discover that getting sober was the easiest part of his journey, but he's surrounding himself with people who might be able to help him along the way.
Drinking and drugs cover up a lot of life's issues. When someone gets sober, everything they did while drinking and even before comes rushing right back at them, albeit for different reasons.
The opening scenes of Brockmire trying to will himself to sleep are what drive many people to drink in the first place.
Boy, have I had trouble sleepin' lately. My sober mind just races through all the clarity of the silence.
Brockmire
The inability to sleep can be debilitating, and there's nothing better to calm the mind than a mind-altering substance.
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The lack of sleep not only ravages the physical being, but it leaves you with a lot of damned time on your hands.
Kudos to Brockmire, who tried to find some worthwhile hobbies but always fell back onto the tried and true -- masturbation.
It's not shocking that it works so well for him since dicks and sex make up a significant part of his conversations.
Brockmire discovered that putting away the drink didn't mean he was changed ultimately, and learning he is a career killer and unwelcome by most even in casual circumstances has started digging at Brockmire.
To that end, he's not only getting a new lease on life but a whole lot of people around him have come and gone, too.
Joining the cast this season are a whole bunch of new, and well-known faces.
Joining Hank Azaria and his signature wit is J.K. Simmons as Matt 'the bat' Hardesty. The Bat was the announcer for the Oakland Athletics but is stepping aside for the time being to address his cancer.
That leaves room for Brockmire and his new partner, softball queen Gabby (comedian Tawny Newsome) to take over with the help of their new, somewhat disturbing producer, Gus (Richard Kind).
When Brockmire isn't at the stadium in Florida trying to hold it all together, he's attending Alcoholics Anonymous.
At AA, Martha Plimpton joins the cast as Brockmire's sponsor, adding yet another layer of humor to this already funny series.
The casting additions offer great counterpoints to Azaria's delivery. Every one of them has a signature way of speaking, and when the entirety is playing out on screen, it offers a different type of humor for every character.
Bat: I'm gonna skip on lunch.
Gabby: Yeah, you can probably use the downtime. You know, my aunt recently had breast cancer.
Bat: I look like I have breasts?
From Kind's goofy persona to Simmons' nasty smartassery to Plimpton's sardonic style, all of them are combined in the biting commentary offered by Brockmire himself.
What kind of joyless golem serves soup in a Greenroom? Are they requesting that we eat it out of a cup in some kind of failed attempt at shabby chic?
Brockmire
Brockmire has always enjoyed the company of women and works well with them, but his reputation adds insult to injury as he cannot stop his gums from flapping in the most inappropriate circumstances.
It's even worse when men are used to talking crap in places like a baseball stadium. It's almost as if he's getting set up to fail again, and it's hard not to feel for him.
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Isn't it a perfectly logical time to share a dick story when someone got a nickname from the guys because of his package?
Brockmire: No, the nickname Matt the Bat comes from his locker room presence. He's got the biggest dick in baseball history.
Gabby: Whoa. Seriously?
Brockmire: Oh yeah. Matt loves all that alpha male bullshit. He likes to bump into ya accidentally on purpose to make an impression. Literally. Left a dent. There's a density to it, Gabby. It's like a windsock that's been packed with wet sand.
That was the most engrossing story and description of a dick without using the term that I've ever heard!
Unfortunately, it's 2019, and the MeToo movement is just as strong as Brockmire's incessant need to get down to the dirtiest details when he starts to share.
Brockmire's struggle is real in the year 2019, even if he's still under the impression it's the 20th Century.
Brockmire: I wanna assure you. Sobriety has changed me, OK? Really, I am no longer that reckless, "say anything" Jim.
Gabby: You just talked the last two minutes going into aggressive detail about our coworker's dick.
Brockmire: Oh shit. I did do that, didn't I? Goddammit, I am just, I am not built for the 20th Century workplace.
Maybe getting attached to Gabby will be a blessing in disguise.
It seems like the first time Brockmire has been interested in changing and put forth an effort to do it.
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He's not drinking, he has a sponsor, he recovered his released turtle and even stepped up for the infirmed woman in his complex.
There is a lot to look forward to during the new season as Brockmire tries to conquer his demons and create mature and lasting relationships.
But if we're going to be perfectly honest, the idea of Brockmire going too far off his less desirable course could take away from the humorous man he's been in the past.
The key here will be whether he can be as entertaining as an affable guy as he has been as a bit of an asshole.
Based on the circumstances so far, it's likely Azaria can make anything work.
But by adding the additional cast members, all with their own way of delivering the one-two comedy punch, it allows Brockmire to grow and even improve his personality without losing the bite we expect from watching Brockmire.
Of course, there is a lot to come that could knock Brockmire off his game.
How will he handle Jules' return?
How long will Brockmire be the clubhouse cancer (a great turn of phrase given Bat's diagnosis)? Will he be able to win over new friends with his changed outlook on life?
Watching the premiere gave me an idea for a slideshow, as there are so many characters on TV begging to become friends. Turtles alone would bond Brockmire and Bill Hodges from Mr. Mercedes.
Who else do you think would be great friends for Brockmire? I have a whole list! Add your and thoughts about the premiere below.
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.
