AMC launches new tech tycoon comedy, ‘Loaded’
Affable knuckleheads fall into a pot of money. What could go wrong? A new British import, “Loaded” (10 p.m., AMC, TV-MA), follows four scruffy 30-somethings whose gaming app company gets bought by a global corporation. They go from eating pizza over their kitchen sink to dining at posh restaurants, driving sports cars and buying floating homes. And it happens overnight, with little preparation.
As Josh, Jim Howick is the most fleshed-out character of the lot. He has very mixed feelings about his sudden windfall. He splurges on a new pair of pants but can’t bring himself to enjoy them. His understated and repressed humor is the emotional heart of “Loaded” and one of the few amusing or endearing aspects to the show.
In contrast, Leon (Samuel Anderson), the marketing guy, immediately buys himself a Ferrari and hires a barbershop quartet to taunt every venture capitalist or banker who ever turned them down. It’s a good example of money-fueled immaturity, but it doesn’t rise to the level of funny.
Ewan (Jonny Sweet) portrays the socially inept coder who bestows a huge bonus on the only girl in the office to pay him any mind. Watto (Nick Helm) rounds out the cast as the stoned visionary behind their hit game, a man whose substance-addled memory loss results in a copyright suit just days after the boys’ big cash-out.
Mary McCormack (“In Plain Sight”) portrays Casey, the crass corporate figure who lords over the boys, reminding them of the loss of control that comes with a 15-million-pound check.
At first glance, “Loaded” appears to be a pale British imitation of “Silicon Valley,” but it spends very little time developing believable characters who may have spent years of sleepless nights writing code or concocting algorithms. In many ways, it’s far closer to a London-based “Entourage.” We’re supposed to identify with these man-boys as they try to hide from a mean Mommy.
Given all the reports of gruesome misogyny in the real Silicon Valley, it’s curious that this tech comedy’s lone strong female character is a one-dimensional castrating figure.
ALSO FROM THE BRITS
Speaking of British imports, Acorn begins streaming the second half of the 19th season of “Midsomer Murders.”
GET YOUR ’80S FIX
Fans who cannot wait until Oct. 27 for the second season of “Stranger Things” can get their ’80s fix with “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” (6 p.m., TNT), “American Gigolo” (7 p.m., HBO Signature), “The Blue Lagoon” (8 p.m., Sundance) or “Splash” (10:30 p.m., Sundance).
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