FX's next “Its Always Sunny” is "The League"

Last season, FX aired a new comedy based around five friends (growing up) and the one thing they can still cling to: fantasy football. At first glance, you might think this show is a bit too nerdy, after all -- fantasy football? Really? I am a die-hard NFL fan, and even I won’t pretend to be a fantasy football enthusiast. Although The League is loosely based around playing fantasy football, truthfully, it is much more about a group of guys being just that -- guys, more than anything else. Granted there are fantasy drafts, player cameos, and talks about trades, etc…but what makes this show, more so than any of that - is the camaraderie and best-friend vibe you get from these characters. This show is genuinely hilarious, these guys may be in their 30’s now, but they are still teenagers at heart and it shows.

I doubt many of you have seen, or even heard of this show, so I will give you a little character background. Pete is the one who seems most upset with growing up. His work is a grind, his relationship is a grind - but at the end of the day, he has fantasy football to love, though talking trash is his true talent. He is the best at the game, and lets everyone know it. Then comes Ruxin, my favorite character. He is a lawyer, he’s smart and witty -- and despite trying the hardest, can’t seem to find the winning way. Though he a family at home, he sneaks away every chance he gets. Then comes Kevin, the commish, if you will. He started the league, and is really the “dad” of the bunch, he’s the oldest and has had a family the longest. He too, is a lawyer. Actually, one of my favorite scenes of the pilot season, involved Ruxin and Kevin gambling a clients sentence over a proposed fantasy trade -- hilarious. Andre is the one who gets made fun, or gets made fun of the most, rather -- no one is safe in this group.

That’s part of the reason this show is so great - it reminds me so much of my friends, no matter who you are - there’s no immunity. Everyone gets made fun of, that’s just how it goes. I know exactly who Andre compares to in my group of friends - he’s the kid who got made fun of in middle school, high school and now college. Andre is the same, his status as a wealthy plastic surgeon changes nothing, and I love that. Finally, comes Taco, yes that’s right, Taco. A 30-year-old man who goes by “Taco”; Taco is jobless (not looking either, don’t worry), smokes weed and watches movies to fill his time. He always looks like he has just woken up and couldn’t care less about fantasy football. Some of his lines will leave you scratching your head, smiling, wondering if he really just said that? This is his music video:



While these character backgrounds might not do much for you if you haven’t seen the show - let alone heard of it, there is a specific target group this show hits right on for. If you are a young male, I would be willing to bet that you would enjoy this show. That’s not to say that women won’t, but FX has a reputation of going after male viewers and this show is no exception.

This show is kind of like Entourage in a sense, but rather than portraying a gang of guys who basically hit the jackpot, this show follows the much more realistic, believable group. They don’t drive million dollar cars, fly around the world or date models -- they are real. They have jobs, kids, and real lives and that is why I enjoy this show. While living in a dream world is fun, it’s a nice change of pace when a show follows a group of people you can actually relate to.

This show is definitely not for everyone, but if you like what you have seen from FX in the past, give it a shot -- the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.