By Casey Sublette
Copy Editor
Imagine having a life that consists of fantasy football and sabotaging your friends’ lives for your own amusement. Welcome to “The League.”
Created by Jeff and Jackie Schaffer, who previously worked on sitcoms such as “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “The League” consists of only a brief plot outline, which grants the actors a full range of comedic freedom. With no written script to go off of, FXX’s hit show brings forth refreshing comedic value.
The new fifth season of “The League” proves to be one of the funniest yet, with a continuation of the show’s distinctive humor and original story line that ties to the characters’ addiction to their fantasy football lives.
Originally airing in 2009 on FXX, “The League” is based around a group of friends whose only goal in life is to play fantasy football. All of the actors on the show have prior improvisation experience, both comedic and dramatic, which leaves the dialogue with the quality of a scripted one.
The goal of the characters in “The League” is to win the “Shiva Bowl,” similar to the Super Bowl but much less glamorous. Last place in the league receives the “Sacko,” a trophy made from a bull’s scrotum. The loser also must face humiliating punishments that are too vulgar for print. Each player will do anything to win, whether it’s crossing one’s husband or drugging friends; nothing is off limits.
Wacky scenarios always seem to arise throughout the series. For example, the gang makes fun of each other’s marriages, comparing their difficulties to NFL players and various football regulations. Similar out-of-the-norm scenarios like this one are so absolutely ridiculous that they continue to establish the show as one of the funniest on television.
Another standout aspect of “The League” is the unorthodox vocabulary used as ways to circumvent censorship. The most popular phrases, such as “frutada” and “eskimo brothers,” show the actors’ cleverness and hilarity by making light of offensive words.
Most of the characters are very relatable to the viewer. Nick Kroll takes his role as Ruxin to different levels of comedy, constantly rattling off sharp comebacks and providing cheap yet satisfying laughs with classic off-color humor. His witty jokes are referred to as “the Nick Kroll highlight tape” by Jeff Schaffer because of the myriad of jokes he is able to think of.
Yet, there are some problems. At times, “The League” can get repetitive as the jokes and phrases become overused. Sometimes, certain situations from past seasons are reused, bringing a redundant feel to the show.
However, the blunders are minimal and do not affect the overall comedic value of the show. There may be only three episodes remaining in this season, but “The League” has a clearly bright future ahead of it.
“The League” airs on FXX every Wednesday at 10:30 p.m.
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