The Birthday Boys: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Ratings

See All

5.9

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5.9	Your Score
5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Season Details & Credits

IFC | Season Premiere Date: October 18, 2013

Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Mike Mitchell, Jefferson Dutton

Summary: Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show) joins with Los Angeles-based comedy troupe The Birthday Boys for a new sketch comedy series. Odenkirk and Ben Stiller serve as producers.

Genre(s): Comedy

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. Dumb Public
Air Date: December 20, 2013
tbd
S1:E9. Going All the Way
Air Date: December 13, 2013
tbd
S1:E8. All Your Favorites Are Back
Air Date: December 6, 2013

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Ray Rahman

Oct 17, 2013

The high-energy group's smart, counterintuitive brand of absurdism is especially reminiscent of The State. [18 Oct 2013, p.61] Read full review

Josh Modell

Oct 17, 2013

It seems like they’re trying to build a little universe of their own, on the shoulders of the most notable sketch shows of the past. It’s a show worthy of attention for that reason alone, and doubly so because it’s often funny as hell. Read full review

Robert Lloyd

Oct 18, 2013

The two episodes I've seen are very good--engagingly twisted, more invested in ideas than jokes, often funny, usually admirable. Read full review

David Wiegand

Oct 15, 2013

This is not sophisticated, drawing-room humor. It's closest to what they used to call college humor, and what is now considered stoned humor. But beneath the silliness is gentle but still dead-on satire that makes The Birthday Boys worth a look and a laugh. Read full review

Neil Genzlinger

Oct 17, 2013

If you are reaching the saturation point with this type of sketch work, The Birthday Boys may cause you to sigh at the sameness of it all. But if you’ve stayed away from those other yucksters, these ones provide fairly consistent midlevel laughs. Read full review

Rob Owen

Oct 18, 2013

The Birthday Boys is a consistently funny show for viewers who are regular consumers of pop culture and recognize the elements from TV and film that are being spoofed. Read full review

Matt Zoller Seitz

Oct 18, 2013

The more frequently Birthday Boys returns to seemingly unfunny or barely funny bits, the funnier they eventually become--another Python borrowing, and a good one. Read full review

User Score

Write a Review

5.9

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

User Reviews

realTV

Dec 12, 2013

This show is amazingly good out of the gate! The episodes really hold together well. Evokes Monty Python and obviously Mr. Show--both in sense of humor and in consistency of original ideas. First season gets better and better.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Afloogs

Dec 21, 2013

The Birthday Boys, both the group and the TV show, adds an element to sketch comedy that really should be a lot more widespread in the genre: unpredictability. With few exceptions, The Boys avoid the common pitfall of sketches that do nothing but escalate, taking one gag and making it moreThe Birthday Boys, both the group and the TV show, adds an element to sketch comedy that really should be a lot more widespread in the genre: unpredictability. With few exceptions, The Boys avoid the common pitfall of sketches that do nothing but escalate, taking one gag and making it more and more extreme. There is always an element of unpredictability, stemming largely from the wide array of approaches taken by the group. Very little feels rehashed or overdone; the complete lack of topical sketches and very few pop culture references allow for novel ideas to flourish, and it's immediately clear why Bob Odenkirk was drawn to this production. This is quickly becoming my favorite IFC comedy (and one of the best on TV right now). It has the quirks and idiosyncrasies of Comedy Bang! Bang! but the hits:misses ratio is a lot higher. Here's hoping for a second season.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

teshia

Nov 28, 2013

It's not a bad show and some of the skits are good but it's lacking a much needed spark. It reminds me a lot of when The Kids in the Hall went off the air and they tried to replace it with The Vacant Lot. It simply doesn't bear the comparison to Portlandia that Odenkirk implied during theIt's not a bad show and some of the skits are good but it's lacking a much needed spark. It reminds me a lot of when The Kids in the Hall went off the air and they tried to replace it with The Vacant Lot. It simply doesn't bear the comparison to Portlandia that Odenkirk implied during the trailers. The group seems too large and the editing seems to fall flat.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

concringewyrm

Nov 29, 2013

Mr Bob Odenkirk must be turning in his grave. After 8 episodes perhaps 3 sketches have been funny. This show makes the Whitest kids you know seem genius and makes comedy bang bang seem watchable and funny once an episode.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

artyfarty

Oct 22, 2013

Too many sketch group members, and none of them memorable besides the wide-headed chin guy. Slooooooooooow and too derivative. A Python rip-off, minus the wit.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

davewood

Dec 22, 2014

Truly awful. I have no idea where the Python comparisons come from. The sketches are weak and lack any subtlety. If you want absurd comedy try "Toast of London"

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

stinkyWizzletoe

Aug 7, 2014

Not sure what show everyone else is watching, but personally I find this show completely without humor. I have watched five episodes desperately wanting to find it funny, but it just isn't.
Most of the sketches seem to be inside jokes that only they really understand, or seem to findNot sure what show everyone else is watching, but personally I find this show completely without humor. I have watched five episodes desperately wanting to find it funny, but it just isn't.
Most of the sketches seem to be inside jokes that only they really understand, or seem to find funny. Case in point the Roofers, or the guys who know the secret formulas for different colas hanging out, or just pick a sketch, none of them have any sense of the basic structure of comedy. They set up jokes and never pay them off, and most of the time they never even set up a joke.
Go with the Kroll Show for sketch with comedy instead of a bunch of wanna be jokesters.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Seasons & Episodes

77

Series Overview
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: October 17, 2014
Season 1

76
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: October 18, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E10. Dumb Public
  Air Date: December 20, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E9. Going All the Way
  Air Date: December 13, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E8. All Your Favorites Are Back
  Air Date: December 6, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E7. Skewered!
  Air Date: November 29, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E6. Helpful Tips
  Air Date: November 22, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E5. Cool Machine
  Air Date: November 15, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E4. Rock and Roll
  Air Date: November 8, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E3. Catching up on Shows
  Air Date: November 1, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E2. Goofy Roofers
  Air Date: October 25, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E1. Paychecks!
  Air Date: October 18, 2013