Whatever else there is to say about FX's intermittently amusing new comedy Testees, this has to be said: This is a show that is not afraid.

Like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, with which it will be paired starting Thursday night, Testees will go just about anywhere for a joke. In 21 minutes of the pilot alone, we're treated to the sight of a man licking another man's foot, a reference to "robot rape," a possibly pregnant man lactating and the embodiment of all those spam e-mails you get about "male enhancement" coming true.

Also like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the go-for-broke approach doesn't always work. There are some laughs to be had in the pilot, but wave after wave of audaciously uncomfortable jokes can also be wearying.

The recipients of most of this humiliation are Peter (Steve Markle, the stubbly one in the picture) and Ron (Jeff Kassel), two guys who lack either the skills or the motivation (possibly both) to hold down real jobs and instead hire themselves out as guinea pigs for shady conglomerate TESTICO, which tests all manner of products. Side effects are invariably negative or embarrassing, particularly for Peter, who always seems to wind up with the real product while Ron has an easier time in the control group.

Thursday's premiere finds them testing a new suppository (hence the "robot rape" reference) that results in Peter exhibiting all the symptoms of pregnancy: morning sickness, mood swings, swollen feet and, of course, what looks like a basketball in his belly. And yes, he's lactating. And yes, we see it.

Testees was created by Kenny Hotz, a writer for South Park and the creator/star of the cult favorite Kenny vs. Spenny (he also appears on screen as Larry, a more fortunate TESTICO testee). In Kenny vs. Spenny, Hotz always distinguished himself as the one willing to go to any lengths necessary to win a competition over his hapless friend. The same can be said for his writing style (he penned the pilot with Derek Harvie) -- nothing is off limits.

Kassel and Markle are certainly game, and they have an ease with one another that helps some of the jokes go down easier. Testees certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea, but fans of It's Always Sunny probably won't have to go searching for something else to watch at 10:30.

Comments

Testico??? Now that's funny.

Mark Y. | Oct 9, 2008 10:51:43 AM | #

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But not as funny as the fact "Testees" is pronounced the same way as "Testes" which is another way of saying testicles. Intentional? This is Fox, so yeah, probably.

Alex | Oct 9, 2008 11:46:47 AM | #

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A correction on the post I just made -- I thought it said Fox, but it actually said FX. My bad.

Alex | Oct 9, 2008 11:47:21 AM | #

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Thats the whole joke that Testees is pronounced the same as Testes. And besides that the show fits compatibly out of It's Always Sunny. Its the first comedy that FX has since Starved and that bombed so lets see how this does.

Dan | Oct 9, 2008 1:37:41 PM | #

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This show is audacious and gross but still really funny. It's for adults by adults and might not be your cup of tea. But if you appreciate "South Park" or "Sunny", then you'll most likely get a real tickle out of this one.

Mr Popo | Oct 10, 2008 5:46:35 PM | #

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http://raidz.net/blog/back-my-testees-0

Andrew | Oct 31, 2008 12:02:33 PM | #

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I heard that it was "WRONG" so I watched it. It's Funny as hell.

Dan N. | Nov 19, 2008 4:43:40 AM | #

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