Classics: A Review of Vice Principals By Lauren Ennis

The backpacks are out and the buses are in gear; it must be that back to school time of year. To commemorate this bane to teachers and students everywhere I'll be turning the spotlight not on teachers or students but school administrations. To honor those unsung hallway heroes I'll be reviewing the hit HBO comedy series Vice Principals. Easily one of the most outrageously funny things on television the series sends up all things high school with enough shenanigans of its own to ensure that it more than makes the grade.

Setting an example

The story begins with vice principals and polar opposites Neal Gamby (Danny McBride) and Lee Russell (Walton Goggins) vying for the position of principal following the retirement of their boss. Misanthropic Gamby assumes that his years of experience will guarantee him the position while charismatic Russell relies upon his con-man's charm to lead him to victory. Both are shocked, however, when they learn that neither of them will become principal, and the school board instead hired district outsider Doctor Belinda Brown (Kimberly Hebert Gregory). Confronted with an adversary that neither can conquer alone Gamby and Russell form an unholy alliance that marks the beginning of a hilarious if not exactly beautiful friendship.

After decades of draining high school dramas, Vice Principals' darkly comedic approach earns the series an 'A' for originality. Through the over the top hijinks of Gamby, Russell, and company the series aptly captures the modern public school system at its most absurd. From the inefficiencies of PBIS, to easily outmaneuvered standardized tests, to school spirit run amok, nothing in the school system is safe from the script's scathing wit. even in the midst of its wonderfully warped plot the series greatest strength lies within its characters which allow the script to subvert such tired stock types as the overzealous dean, the charismatic 'cool' teacher, and out of touch Vice Principal and transform them into the stuff of comedy gold. With an anarchic spirit that gleefully tramples over every rule of political correctness the series breathes new life into dusty classroom cliches and sets a new standard for school comedy.

Through two seasons the series delivers countless laughs thanks to the expert work of its cast. Susan Park earns sympathy in her role as Russell's put upon wife, Christine, while Busy Philipps is appropriately snarky as Gamby's ex-wife. Maya G Love and Shea Wigham are endearing in their portrayals of Gamby's awkward teen daughter and his ex-wife's too good to be true new husband. Georgia King personifies the girl next door as idealistic English teacher Amanda Snodgrass. June Kyoto Lu is a force of nature as Russell's viscous mother-in-law, Mi-Cha. Edi Patterson is pure dynamite as unstable math teacher, Miss Abbott. Kimberly Hebert Gregory portrays Doctor Brown with a charisma and comedic timing that ensure she is every bit Gamby and Russell's match. Even in the midst of stellar supporting performances, the series belongs to Danny McBride and Walton Goggins as Gamby and Russell. McBride is riotous in his turn as socially inept curmudgeon Gamby and the perfect foil to Goggins' hilarious performance as charming sociopath Russell. Together, the two form a pairing to rival the greatest of comedy duos.

Part buddy comedy and part school satire, Vice Principals is one hundred percent wickedly witty. Through its uproarious script and expertly comedic performances the series is guaranteed to have students and teachers laughing their way into a new school year. For a lesson in comedy join Gamby and Russell in Vice Principals.