SERIES PREMIERE: This new NBC series, starring Greg Poehler (Amy’s brother) as an American who experiences culture clash after moving impulsively to Sweden, may sound like the sitcom equivalent of Netflix’s
Lillyhammer, which starred Steven Van Zandt as a New York mobster who accepted a witness protection program relocation to Norway, in Lillehammer. But Poehler’s character here, Bruce, is moving not out of fear, but out of love: He’s moved to live with his Swedish girlfriend, Emma, (played by Josephine Bornebusch). Bornebusch is a real find here – beautiful, funny, and seemingly natural, and a good fit for Poehler’s reserved brand of comedy – and the always wonderful Lena Olin, playing Emma’s mother, is laugh-out-loud funny with her droll remarks, even though most of them are subtitled. I really like this new Swedish import series, which also makes room for extended cameos by Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell and others, and I’m not alone. Read Ed Bark’s review in
Uncle Barky’s Bytes.