United States of Al

Sad that people seem to be missing the intelligence of this gentle loving humor. So far I am very impressed with all actors and the show's intentions and social import. See thru your cynicism and bias, its all a form of not getting it.

It's rare and about time that network comedies take a chance on a new challenging premise. Al is an Afghanistan legal immigrant who worked as a translator for the United States military. He comes to Columbus, Ohio where the American soldier and his family welcome him into their home. The sitcom needs time. The cast is fine but the show is stilling trying to find itself. The actor who played Al I'd not Afghani but he is talented an experienced. He was David spade's assistant in rules of engagement and played a Muslim foreign exchange student in another sitcom. I'm glad to see chs exploring other cultures and religions. I only wished they did it sooner.

The main character is not funny, the plot is not funny. It seems preachy, and condescending, at times. I am pretty sure it misrepresents culture in the Middle East.

I confess I was somewhat predisposed to like this show because I am very fond of both of the lead actors. Moreover, I have lived overseas, so some of the humor about cross-cultural differences resonated with me in a way it might not have for everyone who tuned into the United States of Al. That being said, I see potential in this show.

While the pilot was not filled with non-stop laughter, there were a lot of cute moments and it served its purpose by conveying the storyline and providing insights into the main characters. Personally, I find the concept of this show appealing because it portrays a very plausible situation. Being able to look a the return of a soldier who served his country set up storylines that could both tickle your funny bone and pull at your heartstrings. Naturally, the inclusion of his one time translator opens up the fish out of water trope, as well as the possibility of some serious bromance.

What remains to be seen is whether or not the writers can pull all that together into a funny package, while avoiding the pitfalls most Network sitcoms are falling prey to these days. If the creators of this show continue to focus on the human element, storytelling, and jokes, this could become something special. Alternately, if they go the preachy route, turning this into a vehicle to push their preferred political ideology, there will be no saving it.

For now, I see enough of a spark that I will keep my fingers crossed and continue to watch...

It's a delightful light comedy that is doing a good job to address a major issues so many people are going through. I have no clue why people are critical of it. It's a 30 min sitcom, I'm not sure what they expect.