Lady Dynamite

Lady Dynamite
Genre Comedy
Surrealism
Created by Pam Brady
Mitch Hurwitz
Starring Maria Bamford
Fred Melamed
Mary Kay Place
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
Composer(s) David Schwartz
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 20
Production
Executive producer(s) Maria Bamford
Mitch Hurwitz
Pam Brady
Kristen Zolner
Andy Weil
Jane Wiseman
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time 26–35 minutes
Production company(s) Wounded Poodle
The Hurwitz Company
Distributor Netflix
Release
Original network Netflix
Picture format 1080i (16:9 HDTV)
Original release May 20, 2016 (2016-05-20) – November 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)
External links
Official website

Lady Dynamite is an American comedy series created by Pam Brady and Mitch Hurwitz, on Netflix.[1] The series stars Maria Bamford, and is loosely based on her life. The twelve-episode first season was released in its entirety on May 20, 2016. The series was renewed for a second season on July 27, 2016.[2][3] The second season premiered on November 10, 2017. On January 13, 2018, the series was canceled after two seasons.[4]

Premise

Stand-up comedian/actor Maria Bamford (portrayed by herself) moves back to Los Angeles after spending six months away in recovery for bipolar disorder and attempts to build up her life from scratch with the help of her agent Bruce Ben-Bacharach (Fred Melamed). Throughout the entire first season, flashbacks are employed to gain an insight on Maria's backstory and her relationships with her family and friends.

Cast

Main

Maria Bamford, star of the show.
  • Maria Bamford as Maria Bamford, a fictionalized version of herself.
    • Bamford also provides the voice of Blueberry, Scott's dog.
  • Fred Melamed as Bruce Ben-Bacharach, Maria's manager.
  • Mary Kay Place as Marilyn Bamford, Maria's mother.
  • Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Scott, Maria's boyfriend. (season 2, recurring season 1)

Recurring

Guest stars

Background

Concept and development

"What I hope people get from [the show] is that by losing everything, it's possible to become something better. At least in real life, I have a much more reasonably paced life than I ever had when I was slightly banana head. In losing some of my ambition, it made it so I can have relationships and a better life. That has been learned throughout the ages: You mean money and prestige doesn't make people happy? Nope."

Bamford explaining the series for Vulture.com[5]

The show came to be when Mitch Hurwitz approached Maria Bamford and asked her if she had an idea for a series, reportedly in 2013.[5] Part of the pitch was telling a story about a mental breakdown. The project was no more than talks for years. Later, Hurwitz attached Pam Brady to the project to write and direct. Bamford described this process as "extremely slow".[5]

The use of nonlinear narrative in the show was part of Bamford's pitch. It is used to portray the different mental states people can go through, and also how they overcome it. In that way, the show's flashbacks serve as "a reminder of that journey."[5] Bamford describes the show's narrative structure as "Bloodline, with me."

Bamford, who is a stand-up comedian, decided not to use stand-up comedy as a device in her show. When asked about her decision, she explained: "Even though that is a reasonable way of telling the story, I do have a self-conscious feeling of "I don't want to see the same thing over and over"".[5] This decision is depicted in the pilot episode of the series.

Writing

Maria Bamford was involved in the writing process, but she did not write any episode herself. In spite of the show being based on Bamford's real life, the writers had freedom to modify her experiences for creative purposes. For example, in the pilot episode, Maria puts a bench in front of her house in an effort to promote a sense of community in her neighborhood. This idea came from Bamford's real life.

Even though she did not take a hands-on approach in the writing of the series, she was in the writers' room often, to discuss ideas and "hang out" with the writers.[5] Writing credits include Kyle McCulloch, former South Park writer, and Jen Statsky, former Parks and Recreation and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon writer.[6]

Directing

Former Arrested Development collaborators Max Winkler and Andrew Fleming directed episodes for Lady Dynamite. Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious), Academy award-winner Jessica Yu and Ryan McFaul also directed episodes.

Episodes

Season 1 (2016)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Pilot"Mitch HurwitzPam Brady & Mitch HurwitzMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)
Maria installs a "community" park bench in front of her place in order to get to know her neighbors better. She goes into some of her past including her time at a mental health institution and when she was a teenager. She befriends popular talent agent Karen Grisham, who wants to be besties with her but does not take her on as a client. Although reluctant to do stand-up work, Maria is convinced by her manager Bruce Ben-Bacharach to join a benefit event called Open Arms with Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath, but then learns it is more about carrying firearms in the open rather than embracing people. Patton Oswalt plays a cop who disapproves of Maria's park bench, but he breaks character to advise her not to do the cliche stand-up motif in sitcoms.
22"Bisexual Because of Meth"Andrew FlemingTheresa Mulligan RosenthalMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)
Maria is fired from the sitcom Baby on Board for speaking her mind, but Bruce convinces the director to continue to work the rest of the day. Maria agrees to have Karen be her agent. She goes on a date with a recovering meth addict.
33"White Trash"Daniel Gray LonginoKyle McCullochMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)
44"Jack and Diane"Bill BenzMatt Ross & Max SearleMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)
55"I Love You"Robert CohenJen StatskyMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)
66"Loaf Coach"Andrew FlemingTheresa Mulligan RosenthalMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)
77"Josue"Max WinklerKyle McCullochMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)
88"A Vaginismus Miracle"Robert CohenJen StatskyMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)
99"No Friend Left Behind"Ben BermanTheresa Mulligan RosenthalMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)
1010"Knife Feelings"Ryan McFaulMatt Ross & Max SearleMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)
1111"Mein Ramp"Jessica YuPam BradyMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)
1212"Enter the Super Grisham"Max WinklerPam BradyMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)

Season 2 (2017)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
131"Wet Raccoon"Ryan McFaulPam BradyNovember 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)
After Scott moves in with Maria, they have to deal with their idiosyncrasies, including a raccoon that Maria keeps feeding. One year in the future, Maria is back with Karen Grisham as her agent and pitches a new streaming series. In 1987 Duluth, sixteen-year-old Maria unwillingly goes with her father to a model train convention.
142"Hypnopup"Ryan McFaulTheresa Mulligan RosenthalNovember 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)
153"Goof Around Gang"Anna DokozaKyle McCullochNovember 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)
164"Fridge Over Troubled Daughter"Robert CohenRobert CohenNovember 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)
175"Souplutions"Ryan McFaulHallie CantorNovember 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)
186"Apache Justice"Ryan McFaulMatteo Borghese & Rob TurbovksyNovember 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)
197"Kids Have to Dance"Ben BermanKyle McCulloch & Robert CohenNovember 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)
208"Little Manila"Pam BradyTheresa Mulligan Rosenthal & Pam BradyNovember 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)

Reception

Season Critical response
Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
1 94% (35 reviews)[7] 85% (15 reviews)[8]
2 100% (15 reviews)[9] 85% (15 reviews)[10]

The first season of Lady Dynamite has received widespread acclaim from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a rating of 94%, based on 31 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Maria Bamford's Lady Dynamite is a vibrant, subversive, sweet, meta-fictional ride - but also a courageous, boundary-busting and ultimately deep portrayal of a troubled psyche."[7] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 85 out of 100, based on 15 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[8] The show has garnered attention because of its depiction of mental illness.[11][12][13][14][15]

The New York Times described the show as "[having] its own bizarre-sincere voice and its own dream logic" and "something else, in a good way: a journey to the center of Ms. Bamford’s mind that dives through fantasy after loopy fantasy and emerges with something real."[16] About the show's style, The New York Times noted that "The show’s creators, Pam Brady (South Park) and Mitch Hurwitz (Arrested Development), have constructed a multipurpose fun house; we jump about in time and flit from meta-show to memoir to hallucination."[16]

Variety described Bamford's performance saying that "the actress and comedian, whose presence has rarely been used as well as it is here, manages the neat trick of being both believably guileless and winningly sharp."[17] Variety also praised the show's guest stars, stating: "the entire show gains a great deal of energy from a varied array of game guest actors, including Mira Sorvino, Patton Oswalt, Ana Gasteyer, Brandon Routh, and Bridget Everett, all of whom appear delighted to be in Bamford’s playfully serious orbit."

Critics have compared the series to Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Community, Review and BoJack Horseman because of the way it uses meta-humor, absurdist humor and how it deals with mental health.[17][18]

Accolades
CategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
21st Satellite Awards
Best Musical or Comedy Series Nominated
[19]
2016 IGN Awards
Best New Series Nominated
[20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Netflix Orders Maria Bamford Comedy Series From Mitch Hurwitz & Pam Brady". Deadline. June 19, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  2. ↑ Schwindt, Oriana (27 July 2016). "Netflix Renews Chelsea Handler's 'Chelsea,' 'Lady Dynamite' and Casts Jennifer Garner as a Llama". Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Maria Bamford Announces 'Lady Dynamite' Premiere Date – With a Little Help". Deadline. February 23, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  4. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (January 13, 2018). "'Lady Dynamite' Not Returning For Season 3 On Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fox, Jesse David (May 20, 2016). "Maria Bamford Walks You Through Lady Dynamite, Her Mitch Hurwitz-Produced New Show". Vulture. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  6. ↑ Peyser, Eve (31 August 2015). "Jen Statsky on the art of the one-liner, writing for late night, and comedy with 'heart'". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Lady Dynamite: Season 1 (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Lady Dynamite: Season 1 reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Lady Dynamite: Season 2 (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  10. ↑ "Lady Dynamite: Season 2 reviews". Metacritic.
  11. ↑ "The Biphobia In 'Lady Dynamite' Is The Only Thing Holding It Back From Perfection". The Frisky. July 11, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  12. ↑ Clausen, Evelyn Anne (June 23, 2016). "We've Never Had a TV Depiction of Mental Illness Quite Like Lady Dynamite". Slate Magazine. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  13. ↑ Syme, Rachel (2016-05-31). "Maria Bamford Mines Mental Illness for Her Sitcom, 'Lady Dynamite'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
  14. ↑ "How 'Lady Dynamite' Helps Fans Cope With Mental Illness". Vocativ. 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
  15. ↑ Kang, Inkoo (2016-05-24). "Lady Dynamite: Maria Bamford Tries To Blow Up the Sitcom For Netflix". MTV News. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
  16. 1 2 Poniewozik, James (May 18, 2016). "Review: 'Lady Dynamite' Finds Surreal Humor in Mental Illness". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  17. 1 2 Ryan, Maureen (May 17, 2016). "TV Review: 'Lady Dynamite'". Variety. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  18. ↑ Saunders, Tristram Fane (May 25, 2016). "Lady Dynamite, Netflix, review: 'the world is finally ready for Maria Bamford'". The Telegraph. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  19. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (November 29, 2016). "Satellite Awards Nominees Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  20. ↑ "TV". IGN. January 28, 2016.
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