Clever ‘Happyish’ may be too profane

Showtime’s “Happyish” (9:30 p.m. Sunday; the pilot is streaming for free online now at Sho.com) is many things: funny, astute, clever and tuned into the perceived tension between depth of thought and shallow sheen. But too often the show’s profane excesses get in the way of its better attributes.

“Happyish” was set to star Philip Seymour Hoffman as an advertising executive coping with younger bosses. Mr. Hoffman filmed the pilot episode before his February 2014 accidental drug overdose death. British comic actor Steve Coogan stepped into the title role, and one imagines “Happyish” has become a different show.

Where Mr. Hoffman’s perpetual hangdog expression might make a series that’s the antithesis of “happy” even more glum, Mr. Coogan’s vibe, while still somewhat contrarian, is less immediately depressive. The show’s peppy theme song, a punk version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” by “Happyish” composer/former Shudder to Think guitarist Nathan Larson, also distances the series from an abundance of malaise.

Mr. Coogan stars in “Happyish,” created by writer Shalom Auslander, as Thom Payne, a 44-yearold ad agency creative director who eagerly retreats to home life with his wife, Lee (Kathryn Hahn, “Parks and Recreation”), and 6year-old son in bucolic Woodstock, N.Y.

Thom’s work life gets turned upside down when two young Swedes, Gottfrid (Nils Lawton) and Gustaf (Tobias Segal), are hired and put in positions over Thom.

He hates their ideas, which include replacing the animated Keebler characters with little people actors. Unlike his co-workers who suck up to the Swedes, Thom stands up to what he sees as awful ideas even as his boss (Bradley Whitford) encourages Thom to rebrand himself.

Each “Happyish” episode begins with a list of the show’s themes/ name checks (episode one: Samuel

Alzheimer) and there’s ultimately a trippy imaginary conversation between one of the show’s human stars and a cartoon (a Keebler elf this week, a talking Amazon.com box next week; the Geico Gecko in episode three).

While the animation conceit becomes predictable, there’s a bigger problem with each episode’s formula: The three episodes sent for review all begin with one of the show’s characters directly addressing the camera and saying “[F-word expletive] you!” to someone who upsets them (Thomas Jefferson, Carol Brady and God in episodes sent to critics).

“Happyish” emphasizes over-the-top profanity and a lot of anger at its surface. Dig deeper and there are some interesting ideas in play but getting past the show’s predilection for rants may ask too much of viewers who may share some of the same frustrations as the characters.

When “Happyish” is at work with Thom it’s probably the most relatable to anyone who has worked in an office where young, brash newcomers are valued over hard-working, longtime, dedicated employees.

The series also plays with the notion of advertising — and with it, television and all media — taking its marching orders from the 18-34 demo, or as Thom says, “We’re kissing the [butts] of zit-covered, know-nothing teenagers!”

The notion that happiness has become foreign to many Americans is also tested, both by Thom — a headhunter played by Ellen Barkin tells Thom he has hit his “joy ceiling” — and his co-workers when they set about devising a new campaign for Coke.

“Happiness tests poorly,” an ad exec notes. “How do we sell happiness in an age of disillusionment?”

When “Happyish” goes home with Thom and Lee, the show is a mixed bag. Lee’s damaged relationship with her mother works well as the basis of episode two, but the premiere episode’s depiction of parents referring to their child with profanity, and then sneaking outside to smoke pot, will likely appall more traditional viewers who would otherwise give Thom’s work protests an “atta boy” rave.

“Happyish” is smart and funny enough that it merits some leeway. The series addresses issues that weren’t prominent in the “Mad Men” era and are too sophisticated for CBS’s 2013-14 ad agency-set comedy “The Crazy Ones” to tackle. “Happyish” may be worth watching just to see how the show plays out the issues it brings up, especially squishy ageism and putting too much stock in the value of social media over human connection.

Keep or Cancel?

Sunday is the last day to have your say on what should be kept or canceled by voting in the Post-Gazette’s annual Keep or Cancel poll at http://old.post-gazette.com/tv/poll/default.asp.

Last week WEtv yanked its reality show “Sex Box” from the schedule after tepid ratings.

USA canceled comedy “Sirens” after two seasons.

Spike TV renewed “Lip Sync Battle” for 20 additional episodes.

Univision canceled “Sabado Gigante,” the longest-running variety show in TV history, after 53 years on the air.

MTV canceled “Eye Candy,” which co-starred Pittsburgh native John Garet Stoker, after a single season.

TV Land renewed its new comedy “Younger” for a 12-episode second season.

Netflix renewed “Marvel’s Daredevil” for a second season. The series will get new showrunners, Doug Petrie (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “American Horror Story”) and Marco Ramirez (“Sons of Anarchy”), and return with new episodes in 2016.

Comedy Central renewed “Inside Amy Schumer” for a fourth season.

MTV will bring back the comedy “Faking It” for a third season.

Channel surfing

CBS will salute retiring “Late Show” host David Letterman with the 90-minute prime-time special “David Letterman: A Life on Television” (9:30 p.m. May 4) hosted by Ray Romano. … Whoops! Here’s a timing-is-everything cautionary tale: This weekend Smithsonian Channel debuts “Boomtowners” (9 p.m. Sunday), about the oil production boom in North Dakota, just as reports emerge that thousands of jobs have been lost since gas prices started to decline last fall. … When the sixth season of Fox’s “Masterchef” debuts May 20 (8 p.m.) it will feature a Western Pennsylvania elementary music teacher, Alicia Giove, among its cast of 40 home cooks competing for the top spot. ... WQED-TV is airing new episodes of live-action “SciGirls” (10:30 a.m. Sundays), which encourages girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math. … CBS will air two more colorized episodes of “I Love Lucy” — 1955’s “L.A. at Last” and 1957’s “Lucy and Superman” — at 9 p.m. May 17.

Tuned In online

This week’s podcast includes conversation about “Veep,” “Orphan Black” and “Scandal.” Subscribe or listen to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette podcasts at iTunes or at https://soundcloud.com/pittsburghpg.