On Jan. 16, "Workaholics" returned to Comedy Central with "Booger Nights," a thoroughly enjoyable episode. This also meant the return of the new age, desk-jockey renditions of "The Three Stooges" - mainstays Blake Anderson, Adam DeVine and Anders "Ders" Holm.
If you would have told me that, entering the final stretch of its third season, "Workaholics" was going to come back in the new year from its mid-season hiatus with an absolutely hysterical new episode, I would have been skeptical. As a casual viewer, I've gone through a couple seasons of a series that has been - in my opinion - quite a hit-and-miss sitcom. The show employs the tried-and-tired (though admittedly still successful) formula of a situational comedy - it's centered on underachieving office workers.
There have certainly been many high points in the series, as I've found myself quietly chanting "Let's get weird!" along with Adam in Season 2, and I've been guilty of using the phrase "You're kind of GQ" to give my nod of approval to a friend. However, I also vividly remember my days starting "Workaholics" on Netflix, feeling pretty disinterested in various points of the show, skating over some episodes such as "We Be Ballin," "Temp-Tress" and "Straight Up Juggahos" in search of one that could rise above the monotony of crude jokes and the predictable brand of what I like to refer to as "loser-humor."
That being said, "Workaholics" could have not made a bigger splash in its return than with the latest episode, "BoogerNights." Right off the bat, the three lovable misfits fire off a flurry of poor-taste jokes and learn of a future office roast for coworker Bill. In the quest to be the kings of the roast - and to ultimately assert their humor to an apathetic office - the trio set off in a wildly funny search for comedic-roast gold. However, the roast proves to be too much, and the situation goes way over the top in a series of events in which "Workaholics" undoubtedly outdoes itself. As things escalated, the episode certainly felt like it was larger than and unhindered by its 21-minute time cap.
The manner that "Booger Nights" was handled and produced was borderline ingenious, with a consistent, high level of energy, and with timely jokes to prevent the story from feeling dull in a way that I haven't seen out of "Workaholics" in the past. The acting was really well done, especially by the supporting characters (workmates Bill, Montez, Waymond, Jet Set and their foul-mouthed boss, Alice). Each brought a level of snarky humor and convincing irritability that effectively put each character's attitude toward the main trio into perspective.
If this episode is any foreshadowing of what's to come, I fully expect the ending of season three to finish stronger than ever, and it should rightfully raise expectations as season three draws to a close in mid-March.
This show has undeniably gotten weird, as things seemed to be a bit outlandish and outright ridiculous in this mid-season re-opener, but as "Workaholics" has proven yet again, "getting weird" is the way to go.
