‘Mr. Throwback’ — Lovable Fools Make This Mockumentary a Total Blast
Peacock’s new goofy comedy deserves more praise and eyeballs
The best thing about Peacock’s latest mocku-series, Mr. Throwback, is already in its title: “a return to an older way of doing something,” as a quick Google search spits out the word’s definition. I may not be as well-versed in the current landscape of mockumentaries as I used to be, but the 6-episode show instantly took me back to the golden days of the genre when The Office (US) and Parks and Recreation were the funniest things on television. Mr. Throwback encapsulates that same energy, a quirky and infectious silliness, showcasing an ensemble of irresistible oddballs whose every disastrous move somehow turns into comedy gold.
As we are introduced to the down-on-his-luck memorabilia dealer Danny Grossman (Adam Pally), the loser of losers, there’s an undeniable appeal and sudden urge to watch him unravel as he has to settle a huge debt he owes to some real bad guys. Danny is childish and irresponsible in a way that kept reminding me of Chris Pratt’s fan-favorite character, Andy, from Parks and Rec. He might not be as clueless (he’s already been through a divorce and has a teen daughter), but his worldview and lifestyle are very much of a child's. Everything's a playground to him until reality checks in and punches him in the stomach.
Being a scam artist and opportunist, Danny quickly finds his way back to childhood friend and ex-teammate Stephen Curry, who he hasn’t talked to in 20-odd years. After an awkward attempt at reconnecting, the NBA star invites him out for dinner to celebrate his team's latest victory. Danny accepts but then immediately gets caught trying to steal his buddy’s jersey to sell online for quick cash. Naturally, his instinct is to lie his way out of the situation by saying his daughter suffers from an unknown terminal disease and doesn’t have much time left. The basketball big shot believes him, and from then on, the spiral of lies and utter nonsense kicks off as a camera crew accompanies Danny as part of a documentary they’re making about Curry and Co.
Though the show follows a loose plot about Danny’s (family) “situation” that gradually builds to an inevitable and hilarious climax, there’s a welcome spontaneity in Mr. Throwback that comes from unexpected places. Let that be Danny’s delusional and non-existent shot of getting back with his ex, Sam (Ayden Mayeri is a riot), Curry’s inability to register failure, or his agent, Kim (Ego Nwodim is an unstoppable Bitch Boss), explaining to us how the dynamics of “Stephiverse” work. Either way, you can never fully anticipate how or where the punchline for an initial setup will arrive from — whether it’s a clever pop culture reference or a fourth-wall-breaking moment by the camera crew — which gives the series an unpredictable quality you can't help but fall for.
The key ingredient (besides the superb writing) to pull that off is a phenomenal and instantly clicking cast that Mr. Throwback utilizes to the maximum. Pally’s Danny is so asinine, self-centered, and oblivious that he's become my new favorite loser to watch on TV. There isn't a dull moment when he's on the screen because he gives off the impression that he doesn't even know what he might do next. Regardless of whom he tries to charm, persuade, or rustle feathers with, his comic intensity is always there. And Curry, playing an alternate and adorable version of himself, proves to be a good sport and a maybe-not-so-surprisingly versatile entertainer as an actor, too. He happily caricatures his maximalist "win-at-all-costs" mentality for laughs while adding another layer to his self-aware brand as a player and public figure.
But I'd be doing a disservice to the rest of the cast by attributing the show's success solely to its greatest stars front and center. Truth is, it's all teamwork. The smaller yet similarly hysterical moments by the supporting characters are just as crucial to the overall charming and enticing vibe the series captures with aplomb. For instance, one of my biggest laughs was earned by a random mailman who’s been (outrageously) accused of scaring Danny by farting. And there are dozens of other situational bits like this.
Honestly, I’m a little baffled by the fact that Mr. Throwback didn’t get more buzz since its release because it’s one of the funniest programs I’ve seen on TV this year. I can only hope that over time the show finds its way to people’s hearts (and correlates with their sense of humor) just like it did to mine. Because once it does, it’s destined to become a crowd-pleaser.
Mr. Throwback is available to stream exclusively on Peacock.
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