If you like chubby guys -- and who doesn't? -- the Canadian sitcom Run the Burbs provides more in 20 minutes than most tv series give you in three seasons. Andrew Phung, best known as the comic-relief Kimchi on Kim's Convenience, plays Andrew Pham, a stay-at-home Dad with a wife who longs to leave her soul-destroying corporate job; a teenage daughter who crushes on girls; and a preteen son who, going against sitcom protocol, doesn't crush on girls. That's a lot of representation, but I'm holding out for a gay male character. Bob, played by "openly gay" Gavin Crawford, becomes a regular in Season 2, so I'm reviewing Episode 2.1, "In Phocus" Each episode title in Season 2 has a ph- replacing an f: "Phamily Ties," "Phresh Start," "Phlash Back."
Scene 1: At some kind of community festival, two women walk past holding hands. Then we see Andrew, wife Camille, and preteen son Leo face-timing their daughter, who is in Paris. Maybe written out of the show?
When they stop for ice cream, Camille has trouble deciding, and the racist behind her in line sneers that there's no chicken-butter flavor, "so pick a normal flavor or go back to your country." Dude, look around you. Almost everybody in that park is Black, Middle Eastern, or Asian, including the ice cream vendor! You think you're going to get any Rocky Road that way?
Camille lays him out with unheard profanity that has everyone covering their ears, then applauding. Andrew brags that she is the "sexiest woman in the world." Well, that was a superheroic response to a microaggression.
Scene 2: Andrew is getting dressed to apply for a job as Rockridge's new Community Development Coordinator. Meanwhile, Camille is starting a focus group for her new business, Cam Pham Eats, and preteen son Leo hangs out in his sister's bedroom because she's in Paris and can't stop him. He gets a face-time from his buddy, who invites him to a dead skunk viewing.
Scene 3: At City Hall, Andrew is told to kiss up to Robin, since she'll be deciding who is going to replace Bob, the retiring Community Development Coordinator. He'll have a say, too. "Got it -- make Robin and Bob fall in love with me." Bisexual joke.
Into the interview, with Bad Cop Robin "I hate everything about you!" and Good Cop Bob "You're perfect!" He offers to take them on a walking tour of the improvements he's planning. Robin: "Absolutely not!" Bob: "I'm in!"
Scene 4: First stop: those little libraries where people get rid of their books. The problem is, they're full of erotics, so Andrew proposes adding an adult section. Robin: "That's a stupid idea!" Bob: "What a wonderful idea!"
Meanwhile, at home, Camille and her assistant have invited her friend who runs the Bubble Bae hangout, her neighbor Hudson (Jonathan Langdon, left) , and her Dad Ramesh, to a tasting session for her new catering business. Shouldn't you have strangers in a focus group?
They don't like the logo: "Campham," one word, looks like "Camp Ham," and Dad is a conservative Muslim! But they love the food.
Camille invites her preteen son Leo to be in the focus group, but he's busy: "Going to poke the skunk." "Um...I don't think you're ready for that." She thinks he means sex, har har
Scene 5: The interview over, Good Cop Bob invites Adam to his office. We see a closeup of a framed photograph: he explains that they are his husband and two kids -- Tina and Turner, har har. After assuring him that "Bad Cop Robin loved you!" and "I like you!", he drops a bombshell: "You're not getting the job."
Say what?
"I was so inspired by all of your creative ideas that I want to stay on and do more for the community." People often fail to get the job because they're too good -- "He's a superstar -- he'll make me look bad."
"But don't you want to spend more time with your family?"
"No, I hate them. The twins are into crypto, and Vance forces me to watch RuPaul's Drag Race. Aren't families the worst?" Uh-oh, Family Man Andrew roils.
Scene 6: Andrew complains to administrative assistant Barb. "Grr...he never planned to retire at all. He's just working the system, like he always does to avoid doing any work. We can fix this."
Meanwhile, the focus group is still criticizing Camille's logo: "It should be more regal. Can we use comic sans? Put in a pakura." When they leave, she is demolished.
Back to administrative assistant Barb dishing with Andrew. The City needs Bob to retire: he never does any work and doesn't care about the community. She suggests that, since Andrew inspired him, he could un-inspire him!
Scene 7: As Bob adjusts his bonsai tree, Andrew bursts in to thank him for saving him from "This Azkaban place, sucking out everyone's soul." But Bob sees through the un-inspiring attempt. "Why would I retire when I can sit here for the next ten years, getting paid for doing nothing?"
Andrew pleads: he needs this job to support his family. Not a good argument for the family-hating Bob, dude.
Scene 8: That night, Andrew, Camille, and the preteen son Leo are in bed together, discussing how their days sucked. The kid just hangs out in his parents' bed? That's creepy! Camille asks about the skunk-poking. He couldn't go through with it. Still thinking that he means sex, they say that he can talk to them about anything.
After Leo goes to his own room to masturbate, Andrew points out that Phams never give up. Tomorrow the son will try to "poke the skunk" again, Camille will work on her logo, and Andrew will find a way to handle Bob.
Scene 9: Andrew visits Bob at home, while he is working on his plants and refusing to help his husband with the dishes. "My plans will improve the community more in a year than you did in 15 years!" he announces.
"Don't care. Robin is clueless, Barb is a loser, and you are not worth my time." Uh-oh, Andrew is recording him! Now he'll have to retire or be fired!
Nope, Robin doesn't care: "What Bob calls me at home is none of my business." And Andrew has no experience, so he won't be getting the job regardless. Aww.
Meanwhile, Camille's friend tells her that the problems with the logo aren't really what's bothering her. It's everything about the new job, and the threat of having to return to corporate. "If I hear 'synergy' one more time..." As an academic, I can relate. Four or five committee meetings per week, with an hour spent on "What is the goal of this committee?" But the focus group loved your food. Isn't your business about the food, not the logo?" Camille is newly inspired.
Scene 10: In bed, the two discussing how wonderful Camille's new business will be. But they only have savings for six months, so she'd better get busy. Geez, start the business on the side while working corporate, and if it takes off, you can quit.
Scene 11: Leo announces that he managed to poke the skunk. Andrew and Camille discover that it was a real skunk! He reeks! The end.
Beefcake: Andrew takes his shirt off.
Other Sights: Generic suburb
Canada: Like most Canadian sitcoms, they carefully avoid naming their country. No Canadian flag outside City Hall; no one mentions Toronto; no maple leaves anywhere.
Heterosexism: No kissing. Andrew and Camille hide under the covers to have sex. But at least when they think their son is having sex, they don't automatically assume that it's with a girl.
Gay Character: Bob becomes Andrew's foil when he wants to get something done, like a speed bump installed. I like that he's elderly, not a Cute Young Thing, and a jerk amid gay characters who are either over-the-top villains or impossibly noble. Bot only six episodes, and the husband is not mentioned again?
My Grade: B
Phung penis after the break. Warning: explicit