This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
"Better Things" (11 p.m., FX) feels a bit like "Louie," and there's a darn good reason for that. Louie C.K. is the co-creator, executive producer and writer, along with star Pamela Adlon — and Adlon is also an executive producer of "Louie."
As is that case with that other show, Adlon stars as a fictionalized version of herself in "Better Things." She's a divorced, single mother of three girls who's also a working actress. Not a super-successful actress, but it's how she makes a living in a business that is beyond cruel.
She supports her daughters with little to no help from her ex-husband, not that her oldest, Max (Mikey Madison), appreciates it in the least. It's an appallingly accurate look at parenting a teenager — hilarious and heart-breaking at the same time.
(I have to say that as the single father of three, I've had similar conversations with my daughters — although it's a lot funnier when it's happening to someone else.)
"Better Things" is not a yuck-a-minute sitcom. There are laugh-out-loud moments for sure, but the comedy actually arises from the situations. It's not as dark as "Louie," but it can be pretty dark.
Darkly funny, that is. I've seen five episodes, and I enjoyed every one of them.
"Better Things" is one of the best new comedies this year.
• Also tonight, the NFL season begins with a rematch of the Super Bowl — the Carolina Panthers travel to Denver seeking revenge against the Broncos (6:30 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5).
Elsewhere on TV ...
• High school football (7 p.m., Ch. 14): Juan Diego at Murray
• Women's college soccer (7 p.m., BYUtv): SMU at BYU
• "Big Brother" (8 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Another houseguest is evicted.
• "Beauty and the Beast" (8 p.m., CW/Ch. 30): Vincent is interrogated about an impending attack.
• "Queen of the South" (11 p.m., USA): Teresa and Brenda risk everything with an extortion attempt.