Workaholics – Season 5 Review

The ironically titled, “Workaholics” follows the outrageous and cringeworthy everyday antics of Anders, Blake and Adam: three dropkick best friends in their mid-twenties who all live and work (bludge) in the same call centre.

The show was developed and written by its stars and recurring actor/show runner Kyle Newacheck. Now in its fifth season, the character archetypes have been firmly established and the show’s secondary characters, either fringe weirdos the guys know or their co-workers, have all become rounded which makes the office banter all the more entertaining.

In Episode 2 ‘Front Yard Wrestling’, the guys establish their own high production WWE rip-off wrestling association and hold a recorded show in their front yard to the amusement of their neighbours and co-workers. Until their landlord, an unforgettable Ben Stiller, shows up to tell them to stop. This was the best episode of the season as it showcases the aspects of Workaholics I enjoy at its best.

Other celebrity cameos include Jack Black, cast brilliantly as Adam’s dad, and Dolph Lungdren who briefly appears as himself.

The season did produce one below par episode,  ‘Speedo Racer’ . It is too cringeworthy in places, which led to some of the most important jokes failing to land. [Editor: Although has received 8.4/10 by users of IMDB.com, which is the same score as ‘Front Yard Wrestling’.]

Since season three, each finale has involved some form of flashback/flash-forward. This time the guys reminisce upon their first day at TelAmeriCorp back in 2008. What works so well about these flashback episodes is the way they are able to satirise the aspects of pop culture at that particular time so precisely. For instance, with the support of their overly eager boss, the guys attempt to create a viral YouTube account for the business that parodies popular videos of the time but fail spectacularly.

After five solid seasons it will be interesting to see how they can innovate moving forward whilst continuing to acknowledge their long term viewers with clever throwbacks to previous seasons.

If the boyish, outlandish humour of shows like ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ or the cringeworthy moments of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ appeal to you ‘Workaholics’ combines these two comedic elements and becomes it’s own show by putting a Gen-Y spin on it.