• Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Aug 16, 2017
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
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Critic Reviews

  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ariana Bacle
    Aug 14, 2017
    83
    All in all, Marlon's a satisfying throwback to '90s-era family sitcoms--just as long as you ignore the YouTube references. [18/25 Aug 2017, p.98]
  2. Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Aug 15, 2017
    67
    [Wayans] shouldn’t have to work this hard, but that’s the funny thing about comedy. When the material’s this light, somebody has to do some heavy lifting.
  3. Reviewed by: Sonia Saraiya
    Aug 14, 2017
    60
    Wayans’ performance is so outsized that it’s impossible to take him seriously; it’s like his character absorbs conflict, taking discord out of commission the way a bodyguard takes a stray bullet. Marlon is a steadfastly more comforting show--but it is less interesting, too.
  4. Reviewed by: Gail Pennington
    Aug 16, 2017
    50
    Except for its familiarity, not necessarily a liability in TV comedy, there's nothing wrong with Marlon except its dated joke-punchline structure, deafening audience laughter and the tendency of the cast to shout all the dialogue.
  5. Reviewed by: Robert Rorke
    Aug 11, 2017
    50
    The comedy doesn’t take off as it might have were it not trying too hard to be a family comedy.
  6. Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Aug 11, 2017
    50
    Although Marlon may not come close in quality and sophistication to, say, “Modern Family,” or even “The Middle,” it’s modestly enjoyable and a smart move on NBC’s part.
  7. Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    Aug 13, 2017
    45
    Mostly Marlon is a lot of mugging and shouting by the star, with the rest of the cast reduced to a collective straight man. As somebody once said, a hundred times in half an hour, oh, hell no.
  8. Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Aug 16, 2017
    42
    Don’t expect to take any ha-ha showers. Marlon isn’t up to that task either. Instead it over-blows everything in service to a star who doesn’t know how or when to stop.
  9. Reviewed by: Daniel Fienberg
    Aug 15, 2017
    40
    Athough Wayans has fewer limitations as a performer, he'd have been wise to realize something similar and not leave his TV family as such an afterthought. As impressive as Wayans' skillset is, Marlon is too much Marlon.
User Score
5.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 21
  2. Negative: 8 out of 21
  1. Aug 16, 2017
    4
    I'd be careful to call this thing comedy. Insulting, is what it is. To see Marlon in Marlon carry on as if he were performing in In LivingI'd be careful to call this thing comedy. Insulting, is what it is. To see Marlon in Marlon carry on as if he were performing in In Living Color from a prior century is, well, an insult. I don't recall if he was in fact in Living Color. But his huge outsize thing would have been suitable there but quite a misplacement here. And why does he get away with the stupid-ass stuff he says about Blacks? Full Review »
  2. Aug 18, 2017
    10
    Like so many of the good people, Marlin is my favorite fish and also my favorite Wayjans brother, so I was predisposed to LOVE this show.Like so many of the good people, Marlin is my favorite fish and also my favorite Wayjans brother, so I was predisposed to LOVE this show. Marlin makes a modern contemporary take on racial issues and cliches that have not been done to death yet. Due to institutionalized racialists, this show will not get a fair chance and won't last more than a season. So enjoy it now, ya bozos. Full Review »