More often than not, sitcoms need to take some time to establish themselves. Even when a pilot isn’t very funny, if there’s potential for good character comedy, there’s potential for the show to get better. That’s what we saw with a new Fox military comedy, written by the creator of Brockmire .
GOING DUTCH : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT? Opening Shot: “USAG Baumholder, Germany.” Scenes of Army personnel in training. The Gist: Colonel Patrick Quinn (Denis Leary), decorated combat commander, arrives at Baumholder with his executive officer, Major Abraham Shah (Danny Pudi); they’re in their dress blues because Col.
Quinn is convinced that he’s about to get command of the base, one of the best combat bases in Europe. Instead, his commander, General Davidson (Joe Morton) tells him that he’s going to be sent to the Netherlands to command USAG Stroopsdorf, a service base that’s considered one of the least consequential bases in Europe. Why? A body cam video of Quinn profanely criticizing Davidson while on a combat mission is a big reason.
When he gets there, he finds out from supply sergeant Dana Conway (Laci Mosley) that the base is known for three things: making cheese, bowling and laundry. They also have a teen center, even though there are no teens on base. Quinn sees a chubby, long-haired soldier, Corporal Elias Papadakis (Hal Cumpston), bicycling around the base and almost loses it.
He finds out who the base’s temporary commander is, and he’s none too happy to .