The Birthday Boys

:

Season 1
  • Network: IFC
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 18, 2013
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
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Critic Reviews

  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Oct 18, 2013
    70
    The more frequently Birthday Boys returns to seemingly unfunny or barely funny bits, the funnier they eventually become--another Python borrowing, and a good one.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    Oct 18, 2013
    80
    The two episodes I've seen are very good--engagingly twisted, more invested in ideas than jokes, often funny, usually admirable.
  3. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Oct 18, 2013
    70
    The Birthday Boys is a consistently funny show for viewers who are regular consumers of pop culture and recognize the elements from TV and film that are being spoofed.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ray Rahman
    Oct 17, 2013
    83
    The high-energy group's smart, counterintuitive brand of absurdism is especially reminiscent of The State. [18 Oct 2013, p.61]
  6. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    Oct 17, 2013
    70
    If you are reaching the saturation point with this type of sketch work, The Birthday Boys may cause you to sigh at the sameness of it all. But if you’ve stayed away from those other yucksters, these ones provide fairly consistent midlevel laughs.
  7. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Josh Modell
    Oct 17, 2013
    83
    It seems like they’re trying to build a little universe of their own, on the shoulders of the most notable sketch shows of the past. It’s a show worthy of attention for that reason alone, and doubly so because it’s often funny as hell.
  8. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Oct 15, 2013
    75
    This is not sophisticated, drawing-room humor. It's closest to what they used to call college humor, and what is now considered stoned humor. But beneath the silliness is gentle but still dead-on satire that makes The Birthday Boys worth a look and a laugh.

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Best TV Season of 2013
77
#77 Most Shared TV Season of 2013

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 8 out of 22
  1. stinkyWizzletoe
    Aug 7, 2014
    0
    Not sure what show everyone else is watching, but personally I find this show completely without humor. I have watched five episodesNot sure what show everyone else is watching, but personally I find this show completely without humor. I have watched five episodes desperately wanting to find it funny, but it just isn't.
    Most of the sketches seem to be inside jokes that only they really understand, or seem to find funny. Case in point the Roofers, or the guys who know the secret formulas for different colas hanging out, or just pick a sketch, none of them have any sense of the basic structure of comedy. They set up jokes and never pay them off, and most of the time they never even set up a joke.
    Go with the Kroll Show for sketch with comedy instead of a bunch of wanna be jokesters.    … Full Review »
  2. realTV
    Dec 12, 2013
    10
    This show is amazingly good out of the gate! The episodes really hold together well. Evokes Monty Python and obviously Mr. Show--both in senseThis show is amazingly good out of the gate! The episodes really hold together well. Evokes Monty Python and obviously Mr. Show--both in sense of humor and in consistency of original ideas. First season gets better and better.… Full Review »
  3. concringewyrm
    Nov 29, 2013
    3
    Mr Bob Odenkirk must be turning in his grave. After 8 episodes perhaps 3 sketches have been funny. This show makes the Whitest kids you knowMr Bob Odenkirk must be turning in his grave. After 8 episodes perhaps 3 sketches have been funny. This show makes the Whitest kids you know seem genius and makes comedy bang bang seem watchable and funny once an episode.… Full Review »
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