One area where Kroll Show season two is killing it is the weird little runners between its main sketches. We had “Cake Train” in episode one, “Hippie Fights” in episode two (which really grew for me when I re-watched the episode) and now “Rocks & Roll,” the 80s television saga of a noted archeologist who rides around on a motorcycle dispensing useful, but hardly vital information, a show seemingly almost entirely produced by an entity called “R. Schrift.” Kroll Show has always been good at nailing the little details, and this is no exception.
I don’t want to know more about “Rocks & Roll,” because the joke definitely thrives on brevity and mystery, but I’ll definitely be re-watching that sketch a few times, especially the final installment, where he informs a child that “The world used to be one super-continent called Pangaea” before scooting off on a bike with his mother. On paper that might not sound funny. On screen, it was flawless.
The two major sketches featured in episode three were Armond and the Rich Dicks, both solid performers but neither my favorites from the first season. I was happy with the return of Armond, though. He’s at his best when his life is utterly miserable and everything is at odds with him, yet his face remains as impassive as ever. Last season was filled with gross envelope-pushing sex jokes that had seriously diminishing returns, but I was pleasantly surprised by the sweetness of this installment.
I say sweetness—the sketch does revolve around the mysterious death of Armond’s second wife Shannon and his subsequent house arrest. All signs point to him being the murderer, especially his complete impassiveness, but we the viewers know that deep down, Armond’s a sweetheart who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Just look at his adorable interactions with his son Roman (Andy Milonakis) and his big scene where he cries through his mouth.
“Armond Of The House Arrest” also featured a guest appearance by Ike Barinholtz as a slick lawyer and, of course, Jon Daly’s voice-over Kelsey Grammer impression, but I think my favorite character was that sad handyman who gets sucked into Armond’s weird little world. Can he come back, please? I want that arc resolved.
The Rich Dicks were helped immensely by the guest appearance of Amy Poehler (who, and I don’t think I’m telling any tales out of school here, has been dating Kroll for about a year now) who plays the sister of Jon Daly’s character Wendy and who seems to be in sexual relationships with both her brother and Kroll’s character Aspen. Yep, that all makes sense.
Much like Armond, I like how the Rich Dicks have been slightly scaled back this year. There’s no war with drug cartels, just a grandparent’s funeral that they can’t be bothered to go to. The video footage from their pool party, complete with maid Consuela parading around in a Dick Tracy costume, was as ridiculous as it should be, but more within the realm of reality, if that makes sense. In shorter terms: I really loved it, and let Poehler be in every Rich Dicks from now on, because her impression of being on molly needs to return to television and I don’t see Parks And Recreation picking up that thread anytime soon.
Stray observations:
- Roman knows how to demand dinner. “Make me a feast, yo!”
- Aspen exclaims the word “brunch” post-orgasm.
- He wants to put a baby in Heath, but she shuts him down. “I cannot be with a Jewish boy and ruin my bloodline.”
- Kroll chats with Poehler. “I was third runner-up for most casual in my high school.” “What happened to the other two kids?” “They wanted it less.”
- Aspen hits a bong at the funeral. “I literally have like nothing at stake here.”