THE STORY – Anthony, a recently hired temp worker, attempts to keep a company retreat on track, unaware that everyone at the retreat is an actor and that the entire week is staged.
THE CAST – Alex Bonifer, Blair Beeken, Emily Pendergast, Erica Hernandez, Jerry Hauck, Jim A. Woods, LaNisa Renee Frederick, Marc-Sully Saint-Fleur, Rachel Kaly, Rob Lathan, Ryan Perez, Stephanie Hodge, Warren Burke & Wendy Braun
THE TEAM – Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky (Co-Creators) & Jake Szymanski (Director)
In a media landscape where prank shows in the vein of “Punk’d” and “Jackass” are a dying breed (with “Impractical Jokers” fighting to hold the line against the migration of hoax-style comedy to the likes of Youtube and Tiktok) Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky’s “Jury Duty” found breakout success with a simple yet ingenious premise: a staged trial where everyone, except a single unwitting juror, is a paid actor.
Despite humble beginnings as an original series on the now-defunct Freevee, season one of “Jury Duty” nabbed three Emmy nominations, two Golden Globe nods, and won a Peabody award. Between the unexpected fan response and numerous accolades, rumors began to swirl about a second installment of the scripted hoax series, and how such a feat could even be pulled off now that the first season is already out.
Though there are a few growing pains as “Jury Duty” ambitiously upscales for season two (“Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat”), Amazon/Freevee’s hybrid improv/reality/scripted comedy series continues to prove itself a uniquely complex and strangely heartfelt offering, thanks in large part to the down-to earth-charm of its unknowing lead and colorful ensemble cast of improv comics and actors.
Where season one remained within the confines of a single, carefully outfitted courthouse, season two of “Jury Duty” ups the ante both in terms of the antics and the scale of production, with a big-brother-esque setup featuring cameras hidden in garbage cans, false walls and hidden control rooms, all in the effort to dupe Anthony, an unsuspecting temp worker who believes he’s been hired to assist on a company retreat for the employees of the family-owned business Rockin Grandma’s Hot Sauce.
Despite being brand new to the supposedly close-knit crew of employees and forced to endure their increasingly unhinged, outlandish antics – including messy inter-office love triangles, a strained father-son relationship, and (eventually) an attempted buyout – Anthony forges through in good humor. He quickly emerges as a genuine leader among and friend to the faux employees of Rockin’ Grandma.
As with the first installment of “Jury Duty,” the tone of the entire series (and the success of the comedy) hinges on what production refers to behind the scenes as their “hero” of the season – and “hero” is exactly the right word for Anthony in “Company Retreat”. Despite the objective insanity unfolding around him (his would-be immediate superior for the week bails on day one, leaving Anthony in charge), Anthony captains his newfound coworkers with warmth and compassion, quickly becoming a de facto leader and embracing the title of “Captain Fun.”
Certainly, season two of “Jury Duty” delivers on the initial schadenfreudian premise of watching someone struggle to maintain their composure in the face of a progressively disastrous situation, the real magic of the series yet again comes from watching the odd man out form close bonds with these bizarre strangers and earnestly attempt to help them.
Standouts among the colorful cast of Rockin Grandma’ employees include Marc-Sully Saint-Fleur as PJ, an outgoing snack enthusiast who ropes Anthony (and the rest of the team) into participating in daily snack rating vlogs, Rachel Kaly as agoraphobic remote worker meeting her coworkers for the first time, and Stephanie Hodge as a long-suffering, chain-smoking senior employee with whom Anthony forms a close bond.
Though Jim A Woods, Wendy Braun, and Alex Bonifer get the most comedic material to work with on the page (as frequently foul-mouthed employee, a corporate bigwig, and Rockin’ Grandma’s ill-prepared incoming CEO, respectively) all 14 members of the ensemble cast of “Company Retreat” work in tandem to create the complex web that is the Rockin’ Grandma’s Hot Sauce team.
Between the genuine time and effort spent by the cast in pre-production to develop backstories and interpersonal relationships for their characters (their stories, after all, had to be airtight and stand up under potential scrutiny on Anthony’s part), and Anthony’s open-hearted approach to handling the countless ridiculous conflicts they cook up, there’s a decidedly joyful, free-spirited summer camp-esque energy to “Company Retreat” that makes it an easy binge – no hot sauce required.
THE GOOD – Ups the ante with more complex characters and a larger production, while still maintaining the offbeat charm of the first installment, thanks in large part (yet again) to the down-to-earth charm of its lead (this time, Anthony) and the genuine bonds he develops with the ensemble.
THE BAD – Though the “Office”-esque mundanity of its humor is part of its charm, the scripts overall aren’t particularly memorable, often reaching for low-hanging comedic fruit and juvenile gags. The inherent constraints of its ambitious blend of scripted and improv comedy result in some episodes feeling decidedly clunkier (and more manufactured) than others.
THE EMMY PROSPECTS – Outstanding Comedy Series & Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
THE FINAL SCORE – 6/10
