Last Man on Earth

You know that old expression, I wouldn't [insert verb] you if you were the last man on earth?  Well after watching the first hour of this new show I am tempted to paraphrase with I wouldn't watch you if you were the last show on earth.  This new series is horrible.  And so many people gave that same opinion before it even aired but I stood strong and said nope, this could be clever.  Why, because if written for humor rather than a lame concept, it could probably be pretty good.

Here's what we've seen.  Spoiler alert, and I use the word as I would if I left fish out in the summer for a week.  Guy is the last man on earth in 2020.  Some kind of virus killed everyone off.  No elaborate explanation, none needed (this isn't Omega Man after all).  He travels around the country in what seems like a really haphazard manor (we see him cross out states as he visits them, often non contiguously).  Luckily gas is plentiful and he has figured out a way to pump it without the need for electricity, a credit card, or anything else that would make gas pumps work (which I can live with, it's a sitcom after all and I could believe Donald and Anne never slept together for 7 years -- look it up).  On his travels he collects all kinds of great art pieces and things.  I would do that too.  He gets into locked buildings with the use of a gun (so much for the kids watching this).  He masturbates a lot.  and ultimately moves in to a mansion in, wait, I think I remember, Arizona.  Me I would have stayed near one of the coasts (and I hate the beach) but then, that's me.  Sets up house.  Uses the pool as a toilet. Trashes the place.  Ultimately decides he;'s going to off himself and discovers a woman instead.  There is a really clever bit when early on he is watching Castaway and tells the TV he'd never be friends with a ball and then later we see him playing pool and talking with a bunch of different types of balls with faces drawn on.  I give them credit, they had something clever.  The second half was all about the woman and the man ,earning about each other. 

I really think this could have been more clever.  Instead of 10 minutes of him bowling down pins and then lamps and then fish tanks and then ultimately parked cars (with a car as the bowling ball), perhaps spend the time actually visiting some historic sites and doing funny stuff there.  Or maybe just doing something funny would liven up the show.  Maybe a show about the last man on earth needs to stay in the realm of science fiction and shouldn't cross into comedy.  But wait, there are clever folks out there.  Give it to the Wayans, look what they did with horror movies, or the guys who did Airplane and Top Secret and Police Squad.  People who have experience and know something about parody.  Hey that's it, parody.

So, no, if it was the last show on earth I would still watch it.  at least a couple more episodes to see if it redeems itself.  But honestly, don't see much hope in this lasting.