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Aug 21, 2015 By Cody Ray Shafer Issue #54 - August/September 2015 - CHVRCHES

Years ago, Seth MacFarlane discovered the not-so-subtle comedic beauty of getting Sir Patrick Stewart to say hilariously vulgar things. Now in his latest TV venture, it seems he’s created a vehicle designed for exactly that.

But Blunt Talk is a little more sophisticated than that, thankfully. Writer and creator Jonathan Ames (Bored to Death) has a knack for uncomfortable honesty, and at its heart, Blunt Talk is a space-invading personal journey of a wealthy English gentleman misplaced in the Hollywood cable talk show world. The focus oable news turns Blunt Talk into a bit of a perverted version of The Newsroom, but with a surprisingly better grasp on direction. Walter Blunt (Stewart) is a remarkably unrelatable character, but that is entirely the point. For as much as the audience is alienated from his position and circumstances, the revealing nature of his struggles humanizes him to a surprising degree. Even if we cannot relate, we empathize.

But where Stewart is the show’s greatest strength, there is very little else to grasp onto. The situations are good for a few awkward giggles, but ultimately Blunt Talk misses the mark on the bigger picture. (www.starz.com)

Author rating: 6.5/10