It is all change this season on Dr. Ken. In “Allison’s Career Move” the other Dr. Park makes a life changing decision, Molly learns her SAT results and Dr. Julie is nowhere to be seen. Clark has issues with his fella and Ken’s father moves in with the family again.
This episode was paced a little differently and featured more about the immediate Park family. Although Jonathan Slavin’s bit with his significant other was brilliantly funny. Once again Slavin and Campbell-Martin work well off one another. Although to be fair, Tisha’s character and Pat still carry the mantle for almost perfect comic duo.
At the start of the episode Ken works in his Laugh Factory appearance with a patient and then tells the man to leave the jokes to him. Shortly afterward Ken imitates Allison being unhappy with her current job situation “Wah.”
Clark asks if Ken is commiserating with, or making fun of, Allison. Ken goes on to explain that the commute is too long and other complaints that his wife has trotted out.
Pat is intrigued. He suggests that Allison comes to work at the hospital on the Looney Wing. Clark immediately protests that Pat’s remark is cruel. The hospital administrator responds indignantly saying that if the Looney family left all their money to the wing, he would use their name.
Classic.
Meanwhile, Molly learns that her SAT scores were abysmal and she worries that her parents, “who put all their hopes and dreams into me; no offense,” will be devastated. Dave reassures his big sister, “Well at least you’re pretty.”
He then tells Molly that he will sort the problem out until she can retest. Later Ken fixes the kids sandwiches; PBJs, and instead of peanut butter, he has to use Reese’s Pieces.
Allison come home late and grabs one of Ken’s sandwiches. Hungrily taking a bite she tastes the Reese’s Pieces. Ken says he is sorry but they are out of peanut butter. Allison replies, “Don’t you ever apologize for putting candy in a sandwich.”
She then gets Pat’s voicemail offering her the position at the hospital. Ken is worried but Allison laughs at the idea of working in the same place as her husband.
At Welltopia Damona tries to help Clark discover what Connor does for a living. Pat tells Ken that despite offering a brilliant employment package Allison will not accept the job.
In an instant reversal, Ken is upset that his wife has turned down what is turning into an excellent opportunity and he interrupts her yoga class. “Allison, our marriage is in trouble!”
Clark finally takes Damona’s advice and confesses to his lover that he has no idea what he does at the office. Connor does not react well, he leaves. Clark is beyond distraught.
Back at the Park house, Ken proves he is smarter than an 11 year old and has found out that Molly’s SAT scores are bad. He and Molly share a moment and everything works out fine, although Dave destroyed his magazine.
At work, Ken is busy doing his Allison impression, “Wah, I can’t work around you Ken, wah.” She comes in and catches him out. She then admits that the job offer is too good to ignore. Her continued refusal forced Pat to up the offer and she now earns more than Ken.
The couple make it through the issue and as they congratulate themselves on a job well done, D.K. comes in with a suitcase. “Your mother is in Korea for the rest of the year. I live here now.” Ken queries this and is told to check his voicemails. (The ones he told Allison earlier that he deleted.)
Standout Moments:
The candy sandwich line gag. Not once, but twice.
Clark and Damona’s “No boyfriend in two years.”
Molly and Dave full stop.
Wah.
The return of Dana Lee.
Final thoughts:
Dr. Julie (Kate Simses) was conspicuous in her absence and, as a personal favorite, was sorely missed. However, the season opener was funny, well paced and had a job related theme that was good fun.
Clark’s cluelessness about Connor’s job and Allison’s dissatisfaction with her self employed status were the key factors here. “And everyone has a different insurance company.”
Suzi Nakamura and Ken Jeong may just be the perfect TV couple. They each bring so much to the table in terms of comedy performance. The chemistry is still there, from last season, and their interactions are smooth, funny and touching….in all the right places.
Dr. Ken is still the highlight of a Friday evening. This is a good natured comedy that features one hell of an ensemble cast. While it looks at things from a humorous perspective, the show comes right back to family, both at home and at the workplace.
The series airs Fridays on ABC. Tune in and get your “giggle on.”
Cast:
- Ken Jeong – Ken
- Albert Tsai – Dave
- Suzy Nakamura – Allison Park
- Krista Marie Yu – Molly
- Tisha Campbell-Martin – Damona
- Jonathan Slavin – Clark
- Dave Foley – Pat
Guest starring Dana Lee as D.K. and Stephen Guarino as Connor.
I miss Julie – she was a stitch. Bring her back!!
A number of folks are missing Dr. Julie do you are not alone. But to clarify, the show does not use a laugh track it is filmed in front of a live studio audience. Check out Facebook, you can actually see the audience… Cheers.
The office scenes just seem to be missing something without Julie.
Sadly this season I’m noticing the laugh track more since I’m often not laughing along with it like before.
Dr. Julie was a main character in this show and needs to be written back into the series!!