In season 3, the band Girls5eva go on tour.
This season is a drastic change as the band members have left their home of New York and each episode takes place in a different location. It is an interesting change that does reinvigorate things a bit. However, I think this might be slightly weaker than the last two seasons. I feel the free-floating structure doesn't give rise to as many strong show business jokes as before. Also, Dawn's goofy, straight-laced husband Scott (played by Billions' Daniel Breaker) is back at home, so he's barely in this and his absence is definitely felt. But, the jokes are still really funny, satirical, and creative. The funny thing about this show is that they'll go for an odd subject of a joke or draw a bit out, and they mostly, surprisingly work. (Though there is one British joke that feels too stereotypically broad for my tastes. I guess jokes that are monarchy/upper-crust accent-based have started to get on my nerves, and Tina Fey created/produced shows are one of the greatest perpetrators. These jokes feel like they were written in the 90's and not-topical. We have so much access to British television that we know they have so many accents and kinda what it's actually like there.)
Unfortunately, the episode-length was cut from an already meager eight episodes to six, leaving one wanting more. (I understand having American dramas reduce their length as they prevent the stories from being drawn out/worn out, but I think all half-episode comedies where the individual episodes are more self-contained should be at least 10 episodes long.)
Though we still haven't gotten a song that is as funny as the fear song from season 1, this season's still got a pretty solid lineup of funny songs with some well written lyrics.
The four leads remain entertaining. Sara Bareilles, writer and singer of Love Song, gives great delivery as Dawn the most sensible but awkward one, Dawson's Creek's/Cougar Town's Busy Phillips as Summer, the kinda emotionally stunted one, gives the best vocal and nonverbal delivery of the bunch, and Hamilton's Renee Elis Goldsbury continues to be pure, wacky diva as Wickie. I felt Gloria's subplot of her sowing her wild oats and sleeping around was a bit of a nothing burger that wasn't worth it's time. However, former SNL writer Paula Pell is great in everything else as she does as the one who often has to be the voice of reason or in reaction to the others' weirdness or self-destructiveness.
Though we are lacking Scott, his loss is lessened by having Paul (writer/actor John Lutz), who had a small role last season, given much more focus as the band's driver/assistant. Yeah, he's basically doing the awkward character he did in 30 Rock, but he does it so well, and he's given the chance to play it a little weirder. He's especially funny in scenes where he's driving as he does such unexpected stuff.
Highly recommended. The show is still very funny.
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