The Chris Gethard Show: Public Access

The Chris Gethard Show defies categorization. It's a talk show, a variety show, an improv comedy show. It's the saddest comedy show. It's the funniest sad show. At it's best, it has more creativity, energy and passion than anything on TV. At it's worst, it still has all those things but becomes a spectacular failure, sort of like the time a fireworks show accidentally set off all their fireworks at once, in one huge, chaotic explosion: It's not what you came to see, it's not what anyone planned, but in a way it's even better than it would have been if things had gone right.

Mostly what The Chris Gethard Show is is incredibly personal. I remember watching the first episode of Nashville and thinking that the people who made that show (producers, directors, writers, actors) could have gotten together just as easily and made an hour-long network drama about lawyers or doctors or detectives; the show was well made but bland. TCGS is the opposite of shows like that - literally no one else could put on this show and that personal heart inspires well earned adoration and appreciation.