TV Review: ‘Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll’

I won’t lie. When I first heard that Denis Leary’s new TV show finds him in the role of an aging former rock star I was a bit hesitant. He certainly had the attitude (and the mouth), but it just didn’t click at first that this was a good transition from his last big role as a firefighter in ‘Rescue Me’. That said, he plays the part of a rock star well. The problem is that the role is fairly mundane all things considered.

For a show called ‘Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll’ there is not a lot of daring or controversy written into its plot. At least in the first few episodes it plays like so many other sitcoms before it, treading out the familiar trope of the endearing bad parent trying to make good. Leary is the down on his luck rock star that is suddenly reunited with his estranged, and musically talented, daughter, Gigi (Elizabeth Gillies). Gigi joins his band and it soon becomes clear that she has maintained a soft spot for her broke, drug addict dad.

Leary, who is credited as writer for the show, does a good job capturing all of the necessary elements to make the show work. It does offer more than a few laughs. Leary’s character offers him an outlet for the unique perspective that made is stand-up so interesting.

As predictable and generic as the whole show is it is not without its occasional charm. It shows hints of developing into something worth watching, but while ‘Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll’ shows promise it first faces the challenge of distinguishing itself from all of the other sitcoms it falls inline with. For now it has the formula right, but whether viewers are willing to invest in another formulaic sitcom is another question.