Dr Ken: The Wedding Sitter – “Selfish Dancer” Review

Dr. Ken: The  Wedding Sitter had a lot going for it, a brilliant “sort-of” cross-over where Fresh Off the Boat regular (Ian Chen who plays Evan Huang) steps in as Dave Park’s doppelgänger. There is some great Molly (Krista Marie Yu) showcasing and a sweet ending for Clark (Jonathan Slavin) in a Four Weddings and a Funeral fashion  as well as a great “selfish dancer” storyline which ends on an uplifting note…almost.

Sidenote: There was one issue. Okay, this is “sitcom-land” where logic does sometimes have to fly out the window. However…Either this episode has been aired out-of-sequence or the Pat/Damona “colleagues-with-benefits” storyline has taken an odd turn. Since everyone, and by everyone meaning all the folks at the clinic, know about the two “doing the nasty” Pat’s insistence that “the three of you” avoid him at the wedding makes no sense at all.  Can we have a collective shrug? 

Still, this episode had some brilliant comic moments.  Dr Ken, (Ken Jeong) cuts a mean rug and does some great moves…”yo.” In terms of highlights the two dance sequences at the Tuttle wedding the first where Ken is a “selfish dancer” and the second where he and Allison (Suzy Nakamura) do their ballroom dance sequence, with disastrously funny consequences,  rock.

So too do the brief flashbacks where the young actor picked to portray Dr Ken is the same height (If not taller?) than his adult “self.” Ken Jeong is great at playing these height gags with an aplomb that is envious (take,  for example, Dave’s Valentine).

The storyline this week has all of the clinic being invited to Dr. Tuttle’s wedding, although Julie (Kate Simses,  who also rocked it this week with her “shouting” at the doctor), Clark and Damona (Tisha Campbell-Martin) are clearly on the ‘B’ invite list.

Julie: “Mine was addressed to “Dr. Julie Dobbs or current resident.”

Later, the trio’s suspicions are confirmed when they learn that they have no seats at the event. However, on the up side, Clark meets his perfect match in Connor (Stephen Guarino) although the two get separated when the group learn they are at the wrong wedding reception.

At the Park residence, Molly is press-ganged into babysitting duty since the regular sitter is ill.  After giving in, the teenager then enlists a former (and much older) sitter to look after her brother so she can go to the grove with friends.  Not to be outdone by this show of cunning, Dave then hires Henry (Ian Chen) to be his “stand-in” for the evening so he can attend a magic show.

At the real wedding reception, Ken dances with Allison,  proving that he is not a selfish dancer after all.  Clark is reunited with Cooper and Pat, who is initially overjoyed at seeing the trio he brushed off prior to the reception,  ends up out in the cold.

Standout Moments:

Ken’s dancing.

Those flashbacks, or more correctly the reactions of those privy to Park’s walk down memory lane.

Molly and Dave with their quickly concocted story and the fist-bump.

Julie shouting at Tuttle twice, but not in a bad way.

Henry and Mrs. Pancake discussing the wall and immigration (after Dave told him not to bring it up).

Clark and Connor.

Ian Chen proving that he rocks whether he is on Fresh Off the Boat or on Dr Ken.

Apart from that “clanging moment” where Pat totally seemed to be disrespecting his “shag partner” this was another instance of Dr Ken proving once again it is one of the funniest shows on television.   While Ken Jeong effortlessly turns in a comic performance that leaves one almost breathless with laughter, and not a little awed, the rest of the cast also manage to prove that their comedic chops are mighty.

It as to be said that Dave Foley, as Pat, has become a particular favorite, like an American “Terry Thomas” but with a touch of discomfort that makes his sexually obsessed hospital administrator a delight to watch.

Overall Thoughts:

The entire episode is excellent crack, apart from the Pat/Damona misstep. It was great fun to see Chen from Fresh Off the  Boat  (The “Huang children” on the other ABC sitcom comedy are favorites of Mike’s Film Talk and it would have been brilliant to see all of them worked into the show somehow…just saying.)  and the cake scene was well done.

Ken: “Whew! That was close.”

It was a nice touch to see why Ken was a selfish dancer and it allowed the series to add a little bit more to the character of Dr Ken Park.

Dr Ken airs Fridays on ABC. Stop by, take a seat and prepare to laugh.