Cable network truTV continues its march toward “sorta true TV” with Andrea Savage’s semi-autobiographical sitcom “I’m Sorry.” The channel started out life as CourtTV but eventually ditched the name and the live homicide trial coverage for “reality” shows like “Lizard Lick Towing,” “Full Throttle Saloon” and “Storage Hunters.” Those gave way to hidden camera prank shows like “Impractical Jokers” and “The Carbonaro Effect.” Now the network is developing scripted sitcoms, which may just prompt another name/brand change.“I’m Sorry” is created by and stars actress and writer Andrea Savage (“Veep,” “iZombie,” “The Hotwives of Orlando,” The House) and is executive produced by her big-name pals Will Ferrell and Andy Samberg. Like an awful lot of sitcoms in the post- “Seinfeld” world, it appears to be based on the creator’s real life. Andrea plays “Andrea,” a seemingly confident comedy writer, wife and mom living in suburban California. According to truTV this fictional Andrea “comically exposes her inner immaturity and neuroses through unexpected life situations.” The show tips its hand early with the “unexpected” opening line of dialogue, which falls to the inquisitive, prepubescent daughter (Olive Petrucci) of Andrea and her straight-laced hubby Mike (Tom Everett Scott from That Thing You Do!). While dining in public, Olive precociously asks, “Mommy, I forget: Do babies come out of your pussy or your vagina?” … “The Brady Bunch” this ain’t.That joke pretty much tells you where “I’m Sorry” is thinking of dwelling. The pilot episode alone features unabashed talk of chlamydia, rectal prolapse and “butt porn.” Plus there’s cursing. So much cursing for basic cable. The show and its creator/star win points for brutal honesty and a complete lack of self-censorship. But clearly, this is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.The humor is rude, crude and consistently uncomfortable. Everyone here is awful to one another, never missing an opportunity to viciously insult, tear down, gossip about or curse at one another. You could say it’s a cynical but accurate portrait of modern-day suburbia. Or you could just say it’s mean-spirited. “I’m Sorry” is like “Curb Your Enthusiasm” crossed with “Modern Family”—which may work for some people. But it’s not what you’d call family-friendly entertainment.
“I’m Sorry” Wednesday, July 12, 8pm on truTV.
