United States of Al

I confess I was somewhat predisposed to like this show because I am very fond of both of the lead actors. Moreover, I have lived overseas, so some of the humor about cross-cultural differences resonated with me in a way it might not have for everyone who tuned into the United States of Al. That being said, I see potential in this show.

While the pilot was not filled with non-stop laughter, there were a lot of cute moments and it served its purpose by conveying the storyline and providing insights into the main characters. Personally, I find the concept of this show appealing because it portrays a very plausible situation. Being able to look a the return of a soldier who served his country set up storylines that could both tickle your funny bone and pull at your heartstrings. Naturally, the inclusion of his one time translator opens up the fish out of water trope, as well as the possibility of some serious bromance.

What remains to be seen is whether or not the writers can pull all that together into a funny package, while avoiding the pitfalls most Network sitcoms are falling prey to these days. If the creators of this show continue to focus on the human element, storytelling, and jokes, this could become something special. Alternately, if they go the preachy route, turning this into a vehicle to push their preferred political ideology, there will be no saving it.

For now, I see enough of a spark that I will keep my fingers crossed and continue to watch...