‘Guest Book’, ‘Diplo’ debut
“The Guest Book” (10 p.m., TBS, TV-MA) becomes the second anthology series to debut in the last two weeks that’s mostly set in a rented motel room. HBO’s “Room 104” features a series of unrelated mind-bending mysteries. In contrast, “The Guest Book” invites new guest stars to check into the Froggy Cottage rural resort every week, but the staff and local residents stay the same and continue the story.
“Guest” puts the accent on wacky. Created by Greg Garcia (“My Name Is Earl” and “Raising Hope”), it shares his earlier series’ emphases on goofy oddballs more likely to work with a mop than in an office. Recurring characters include Vivian (Carly Jibson), a plus-size lap dancer at the local down-market strip club, Chubby’s Bikini Bar. She runs a scam with her stepson, Frank (Lou Wilson). They lure motel residents to her parlor, tape their “sessions” and blackmail them. Kellie Martin (“ER”) is the local inept police officer. Wilfred (Charlie Robinson) runs the motel when not going online to check out the action on Chubby’s live feed. Garret Dillahunt (“Raising Hope”) shows up as the sad divorced dad next door.
The pilot stars Danny Pudi (“Community”) as Tim, a science teacher out to rekindle a spark with his wife, Sandy (Lauren Lapkus, “Crashing”), months after the birth of their child. Sandy is portrayed as a foul-mouthed nag, hostile enough to drive Tim into the arms of the scheming Vivian.
Look for Stockard Channing, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jaime Pressly and Jenna Fischer in later episodes.
SCRIPTING VICELAND
James Van Der Beek (“Dawson’s Creek”) stars in the title role in the music industry satire “What Would Diplo Do?” (10 p.m., Viceland, TV-14). This is the network’s first scripted effort.
Diplo is a celebrity DJ and star of the electronic dance music (EDM) scene. He can get a crowd of tens of thousands throbbing as a euphoric mass with the mixes stored on his laptop.
The central theme of this series is Diplo’s unbridled confidence and the minions who try, and frequently fail, to tether him to reality — or at least half-considerate behavior.