I’m not Siskel, I’m not Ebert, I’m not even quick witted enough to throw out a more relevant reviewer of their caliber - okay well maybe Ben Brantley (but he’s a theatre reviewer and would probably give me a bad review for even daring to include him here). I’m just an actor-writer who watches a lot of television - most of that being “guilty pleasure” reality TV. “During quarantine” (how long will we keep saying that?) I made a point to watch all the scripted shows I never had time for and focused on making time for new ones.
In 2020, having recently purchased an iPad and I got a free year of Apple TV. During the height of quarantine (if quarantine can have a height), I binge watched The Morning Show while walking on the treadmill in my mom’s bedroom. Then, I stayed on after seeing the trailer for a new soccer show called Ted Lasso which made me laugh, cry and want to give Jason Sudeikis and his incredible brain a big non-socially distanced hug. Apple TV kept giving me more and I kept staying and this past summer, I stayed on some more for a TOTALLY RAD show called Physical with Rose Byrne and created by Annie Weisman who also created one of my favorite films of new time, I, Tonya. Apple TV has ads for its own content and while I was fixing to watch Physical (and yes, “fixing” because I am from Louisiana, and there is no better equivalent), I saw a preview of Joseph Gordon Levitt, that precious, precious boy-man singing a song from one of my favorite films of all time, The Point.
It was a sneak peek for his new show Mr. Corman and it looked like a fantastical acid trip meets real life man just trying to get by and teaching kids and doing his best kind of thing. I’m already a big fan of Joseph Gordon Levitt and it’s not just because I get compared to “that tall chick from Third Rock from the Sun” at least once a week or because working his film Premium Rush with my ‘94 Nissan Maxima helped get me my SAG-AFTRA health insurance in 2012, it’s because I consider Joseph Gordon Levitt to be one of the OG’s in Hollywood who said, “I’m creating my own work.” And, I love a child star whose adulthood turns out happy.
Point blank, I don’t think enough people are talking about Mr. Corman. At least not the people I know. Maybe I should know new people. Kidding! Maybe I should get the people I know to watch Mr. Corman. Absolutely! So, here’s why. (Brooke, get to the point already! The Point which I mentioned earlier is SUCH a great film - it was on ABC on repeat back in the day. Alan Thicke was always the narrator when I watched, but did y’all know Dustin Hoffman and Ringo Starr also were narrators? It’s a film that was originally an album by Harry Nilsson that’s about people with points on their head who really don’t have a point at all. Okay. So, unless you know The Point like me or my pal Mr. Corman, then, well, this is pointless.)
Joseph Gordon Levitt, also the executive producer, creator, writer and director of several episodes portrays Mr. Corman, a “failed” musician who’s gotten a “real job” as a fifth grade teacher. He battles with anxiety and depression as well as just finding his groove as a childless girlfriendless nearly middle age guy in LA and his anxiety and depression only gets more real as, towards the later episodes, he has to deal with COVID-19. (But don’t worry, y’all. It’s not a “virus heavy” show.) I especially love (and, yes relate to) his close and slightly endearingly needy relationship he has with his mother (portrayed by the ever so fabulous Debra Winger). So many shows nowadays, ones I’ve watched that have seen the light of day, ones that have only seen the light of some film festivals and ones that I’ve read are SO formulaic. There is a linear path that must be followed to make the audience happy. Hallmark movies are a prime example of those store bought pre-cut sugar cookies. But, Levitt (or is it Gordon Levitt? I am sure Gordon is his middle name but I’ve always said it as his last name) totally plays with the audience’s mind (and in a good way) and steers away from that completely linear style of story-telling we’re used to in a binge worthy show.
There are musical numbers, anxiety induced hallucinations and trippy moments and whole episodes about other characters and their back stories (I’m referencing the episode entitled “Mr. Morales” which is about Mr. Corman’s best friend and roommate portrayed by the hunk full of heart, Arturo Castro.) One of my favorite episodes of this season is “Many Worlds” which is a series of snippets of what Mr. Corman (Josh)’s life would have been like had he made other choices. And, the full circle moment at the end of the episode had me in tears. Happy tears. While Mr. Corman is debating his place in the world, he’s definitely earned a spot at the head of the class as my new favorite teacher…and Mr. Corman deserves a place on your watch list.
...but maybe we should hold off on indulging in streaming services till we see what happens with IATSE - I stand strong with the IATSE workers. And you can too by signing this petition here. This review is not meant as propaganda but I can’t not say something.
Archer watches Mr. Corman who, in this scene is dressed as Arrow, the dog from The Point.