2/28/15

The Last Child on Earth?

Okay, that's not the name of the new Fox series starting tomorrow (March 1), but the name The Last Man on Earth might be too optimistic.  

I like Will Forte, the writer and lone star (and lonely star) in this series, but can he carry this show by himself?  I remember Tom Hanks in Cast Away and Robert Redford in some boat movie, though here we are talking multiple episodes.  Not even C.K. Louis would want to take on this much at once.

Here is the basic plot from Fox:

THE LAST MAN ON EARTH is a new single-camera comedy that chronicles the life and adventures of an average guy – and humanity’s last hope – who discovers what life is like when no one is telling you what you can and cannot do. 

The year is 2020, and after a deadly virus has swept the planet, only one man is left on earth: PHIL MILLER (Forte). He used to be just an average guy who loved his family and hated his job. Now, in his RV, Phil searches the country for other survivors. He has traveled to every city, every town and every outpost in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and has found no one. As he returns to his hometown of Tucson, Phil comes to the painful realization that he is almost certainly the last living being on the face of the earth. All he wants is for someone – anyone – to find him in Tucson – preferably a woman. 

Be careful what you wish for, Phil...

As this clip will demonstrate, this is more Zach Galifianakas on crack than anything else.  Maybe this is what happens when we tire of the zombies attacking the survivors.  We just get the survivor.  This could also be the ultimate merging of reality series and apocalyptic scripted series - an offspring showing the fate of humanity in the form on one remaining dope.  

Can this storyline carry a season?  Doubtful.  Does it say something about our culture?  Probably.  Will I watch it myself?  Probably doubtful. 

Update:  Fox has renewed the series for a second season.

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