Pivoting Episode 1: The New Show to Hold You Over in What Already Seems Like an … Interesting Year
FOX’s newest comedy Pivoting, tells the story of three women in their thirties whose best friend Coleen, has just died. Awakened by the realization that life is short, they each decide to make big life changes. Amy (Eliza Coupe) decides to stop avoiding motherhood and try to be present for her kids. Jodie (Ginnifer Goodwin) decides to get fit in order to catch the eye of her good-looking personal trainer. And Sarah (Maggie Q) decides to quit her exhausting job as an emergency room doctor to become a supermarket bagger. The pilot ends in hilarity as Jodie gets stuck in her too-tight skinny jeans, and Sarah tries to cut them off but accidentally cuts into Jodie’s leg. The three friends end up in the emergency room, where they laugh about what Coleen would think if she saw their current plight.
“She would die” says Amy. Cheesy, but Coupe nails the delivery, making it brilliant.
What Pivoting has going for it is an incredible trio of actresses in its main roles. Ginnifer Goodwin is a comedy veteran, having starred in legendary films like He’s Just Not That Into You and Something Borrowed, and she nails the desperate-to-be-young-again mom type. Maggie Q displays her comedic brilliance by approaching supermarket employment with the same seriousness as emergency surgery. And though I had never watched anything with Eliza Coupe (crazy, I know), I was similarly struck by her approach to the role, combining dry humor with believable sincerity.
Additionally, the show’s writers are clearly talented, which is no surprise since its creator Liz Astrof, is known for many other successful sitcoms, including The King of Queens and 2 Broke Girls. On Pivoting, she and the other writers approach the premise of grief with nuance and the right comedic tone. They place a hilarious argument about Coleen’s makeup for her wake in the same episode as a serious concern about Sarah leaving medicine out of guilt for not saving Coleen’s life. Somehow, both feel natural and right. Their story arcs highlight the complexity of mourning. It can sometimes be funny–or in the case of a comedy series, most of the time–but it also brings moments of pain and helplessness.
My one concern about the series is that Amy’s and Jodie’s storylines have been done before. I have definitely seen movies and shows about women trying to figure out their role as moms, whether for the first time or because they were previously absent. (Practically, it doesn’t make much of a difference in terms of the comedic material you can come up with on the topic.) Similarly, I’ve seen plenty of stories with a middle-aged mom trying to get her mojo back. What I haven’t seen before is an emergency room doctor voluntarily opting to be a supermarket bagger, and that’s what makes Sarah’s story the most interesting. Yet I know that all I’ve watched so far is the pilot, so I am hopeful and confident that the writers can take Amy and Jodie in exciting directions.
Ultimately, Pivoting is funny, fresh, and expertly-crafted. On top of all that, it’s also relevant and comforting in a time like ours. In one scene, Sarah explains to the supermarket manager that she’s looking for a job where she doesn’t need to witness or deliver any bad news. Poignant when it seems like all media reports are increasing COVID cases and new shutdowns. I think everyone needs something to watch that lifts that weight, and Pivoting just might be that something. If the coming months of 2022 continue to be as chaotic as the first few weeks, you’ll be thankful you have three hilarious friends and an excellent show to keep you company.
You can watch Pivoting on FOX or stream it on the FOX Now app.
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