Comedy fans are eagerly awaiting the new CBS show Poppa's House, with Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. on board. The father and son duo seem to have fantastic chemistry between them. So is the sitcom good? While it has all the aspects of family relationships, office jokes, and generational differences, it frequently stumbles in its early episodes, leaving many to wonder if it will even make it.
According to Aramide Tinubu from Variety, the show has a very tough time at first when the material is mainly silly jokes and generic ideas. However, as the season progresses, so does the writing, especially after episode 4 when the stories become more interesting.
The sitcom revolves around Poppa (Wayans Sr.), a famous but cranky radio host, and his son Junior (Wayans Jr.), who is working in middle management and aspires to be a filmmaker. Other interesting characters include Dr. Ivy Reed (Essence Atkins), who, using her psychological knowledge, challenges Poppa's tough attitude, and Nina (Tetona Jackson), Junior's clever wife.
A good cast and some very touching scenes make Poppa's House shine at times, though it doesn't always succeed.
Is it worth watching? Yes, for die-hard family comedies and Wayans' humor fans, but with some careful thinking!
The cast of Poppa's House and their chemistry
One of the highlights of Poppa's House is its cast. The real father-son relationship between Wayans Sr. and Jr. makes the show seem real. Their friendship even made some of the poorest jokes seem funny at the moment.
Fans on Reddit have noticed this connection. One user, u/Sithstress1, was amazed,
“I honestly thought I was looking at some poster for a movie I’d never heard of where Damon played two different parts until I saw the release date.”
With Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson, the characters simply get more intriguing. Atkins spices up hilarity with intelligent sentiments as Dr. Ivy Reed, and Jackson brings cleverness as Nina.
Some characters seem underused at the start. For instance, Nina often becomes the subject of jokes for being short. However, through Episode 4, the personalities start to become interesting - particularly with Junior's new in-laws, played by Geoffrey Owens and Wendy Raquel Robinson. Their conversations add to the story.
Poppa's House had a shaky start but a promising evolution
Critics note that Poppa's House has issues in its first few episodes. According to Variety, the jokes of Episodes 1–3 depend too much on silly slapstick comedy and typically sexist humor, which ends up driving away some viewers.
But it becomes better in Episode 4, "School Days," with its humorous dialogues and very crucial family relationships.
Hollywood Reporter writes about how the show changes, observing,
“It’s a tribute to the interplay between the Damons, though you may wish it had more to offer early on.”
For example, with "Podcast," an episode in which Poppa and Ivy co-anchor a podcast, this is yet another high-peak in the humor and pathos. In so doing, this show connects itself through talk shows with daily life challenges and parenting.
Why is Poppa's House worth watching?
Despite initial issues, Poppa's House shows the appeal and ability of the Wayans family. It is a combination of laugh-out-loud moments and tear-jerking moments, especially towards the latter episodes. For fans of classic sitcoms such as My Wife and Kids or CBS's The Neighborhood, this series might be appealing.
This cast looks like it’s having fun and that joy often translates to the screen. It's not the most groundbreaking effort, but a comfortable view to be sure. Check it out for some mellow sitcom-driven family fun.
Trending
Poppa's House airs Mondays at 8:30 PM ET on CBS and is also available to stream on Paramount+.
Reply
