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CW’s ‘Dynasty,’ ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ rev up Fridays
Remember how dreary Friday nights used to be? You had a pick between NBC’s “Dateline” true crime stories and CBS’ crime shows. That’s all changed. ABC airs the comedies “Fresh Off the Boat” and “Speechless” and the game show “Child Support.” Fox resurrected the family comedy “Last Man Standing” with Tim Allen and it’s winning the night — albeit narrowly. CBS’ “MacGyver” is closing in on an upset.
But if you’re looking for something edgier, go right to CW, which has made its most canny scheduling decision in years by pairing its reboot of “Dynasty” with, alas, the final season of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”
“Dynasty” is leaning into the comedy this season, marrying outrageous situations with rapid-fire zingers. The Carringtons are rich as hell and just hell to each other. What’s not to love?
Last week’s hour opened with Fallon (Elizabeth Gillies) tossing her trailer trash mother, Alexis (Nicollette Sheridan), and her belongings out of the mansion, and Sammy Jo (Rafael de la Fuente) providing running commentary.
“And there goes the wig collection! Gotta hurt. And acrylic nails right in the face!”
Fallon, of course, was upset her brother Steven (James Mackay), who had just learned the butler Anders (Alan Dale) is his father, was planning to build homes for the poor in Paraguay.
“Who’s going to remind me not to turn into my parents?”
Steven went on his mission to help the poor and the entire clan followed, to his horror.
“Our family isn’t exactly sensitive,” he scolded Fallon. “And you’ve brought them to a place where most people have less to their names than the Prada boots on your feet.”
“Thank you for noticing,” Fallon replied.
Jeff Colby remains the best dressed man on prime time, but actor Sam Adegoke deserves more story. He may be getting someone else to scheme with as CW revealed it will be introducing the character of Dominique Deveraux (played in the original by Diahann Carroll) this season.
Conversely, “Crazy ExGirlfriend” is dialing back the insanity — a wee bit — with opening credits that set the tone.
The camera focuses on a beautiful woman on a bike as the chorus cheerily sings, “Meet Rebecca! The coolest girl in the world — wait, wrong Rebecca!” And the camera switches to our wary heroine on a park bench. “… She’s too hard to summarize!”
Rebecca (series creator, writer and star Rachel Bloom) is trying to heal herself and make amends for the chaos she produced. That means abandoning the law, opening a food stand, Rebetzel’s Pretzels, and the occasional musical number.
Last week, she was surprised by a visit from her 13-year-old half-brother Tucker (Luca Padovan), who had just so much in common with her.
Tucker has a cologne collection, oh, and also Rebecca’s teen diary, which he used to manipulate her into taking him to an audition for “Peter Pan.” She probably should have known something was up when he told her he wanted to see Monty Hall’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His antics finally prompted Rebecca to break up with Nathaniel (Scott Michael Foster), who’s taking rejection so well, he might be ready for his own spinoff. “Crazy Ex-Boyfriend.”
Maybe next season.