Schwimmer stars in U.K. spy farce ‘Intelligence’ – Times Herald-Record
— David Schwimmer (“Friends”) returns to half-hour comedies with “Intelligence,” from the U.K., now streaming on Peacock. Schwimmer has done a number of notable dramas since leaving Ross Gellar behind, most notably as Robert Kardashian in “American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson.”
In “Intelligence” he plays Jerry, a brash, overconfident and underinformed NSA agent sent to “liaise” with a lower-level British spy operation. The comedy is set up as both a culture clash between Americans and Britons as well as a lampoon of generational attitudes, with plenty of eye-rolling and self-absorption among the young staff, even in the face of security breaches and terror threats. It’s as if the gang from “Parks and Recreation” was placed in charge of Jack Bauer’s CTU on “24.”
“Intelligence” is a showcase for series creator and comedic actor Nick Mohammed’s brand of physical comedy. He plays Joseph, Jerry’s fawning “fan” and eager second banana.
Unfortunately, Jerry emerges as a one-note joke and a thoroughly unlikable fool. It’s a major disappointment to see Schwimmer return in a comedy this bad. In many ways, Peacock’s “Intelligence” is very similar to Netflix’s “Space Force,” starring Steve Carell. It offers a sendup of uninformed gung-ho American arrogance in the age of Trump, but offers viewers nobody to root for or like.
— Are you ready for a summer of greed? CNBC has scheduled “American Greed” (10 p.m.), tales of fraud, cons, larceny and avarice, for every Monday through the end of August.
Tonight’s episode examines an assault on one of our society’s most cherished institutions: the ritual of applying to college. For millions of striving Americans, higher education has been a key element to personal enrichment and fulfilling the American dream.
“Greed” focuses on the schemes of Hollywood stars to hire college admissions consultant Rick Singer to rig the game. He collected more than $25 million to defraud the system on behalf of his well-connected clients. Among them, Lori Loughlin (“When Calls the Heart”) and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, a fashion industry mogul. You know things are rotten when Hallmark Channel stars face prison time.
From now until Aug. 24, “Greed” puts the spotlight on the man who inspired “The Wolf of Wall Street” movie; the Madoff scandal; Martin Shkreli, the much-loathed “Pharma-Bro”; the founder of an investment lunch club who scammed investors with his “Billionaire Boys Club” and Eric Conn, a fraudster who perpetrated the biggest Social Security theft in history.
— The “POV” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) documentary “We Are the Radical Monarchs” explores two women’s attempt to create an alternative girl scout troop in Oakland, California. Instead of selling cookies, the young scouts celebrate their city’s radical history and diversity.
A series of short films follows, exploring life in a Pueblo; examining the radical gentrification of California’s Bay Area; and reflecting on the long history of hiring readers to entertain the workers in Cuban cigar factories.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Dwayne Johnson presides over “The Titan Games” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).
— A head wound rattles a victim’s memory on “9-1-1” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14).
— Brad Womack reflects on “The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons — Ever!” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
SERIES NOTES
A double date multiplies tensions on “The Neighborhood” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … Improvisations on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14), followed by a repeat episode (8:30 p.m., TV-14).
LATE NIGHT
Jimmy Fallon welcomes David Schwimmer, Alison Brie and Jimmy Buffett on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Colin Jost, Cristin Milioti and Nikki Glaspie visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC).
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