Roush Review: Cringe-Inducing ‘Chad’ Isn’t Your Typical High-School Nerd
Review
Chad
Boys will be boys. And then there’s Chad, a wired basket case of raw adolescent anxiety, reeking of the need to belong, fit in and be liked.
Wouldn’t want to be him, barely want to know him, and yet in Chad, Saturday Night Live veteran Nasim Pedrad almost makes you want to hug him — if that would stop him from being such a heartbreakingly hilarious fool.
Pedrad’s uncanny and gender-blurring transformation into this 14-year-old train wreck nails every mood swing: the giddy delight at being in proximity to the high school bros he hero-worships, the petulance and irrational despair when he fears being denied access to their insular world. In the premiere, he makes a typically awkward first impression as freshman year begins by humble-bragging to cooler upperclassmen about sex, a subject on which Chad is obviously far from expert. As the lies escalate, he’s finally asked: “Why are you telling us this?”
Chad’s simple yet profound answer: “It’s called panicking.” His desperation to be noticed is as pathetic as his gratitude when he is. In nearly every episode, as you’d expect, being the center of attention is a recipe for disaster.
“You just try so hard and it never works,” observes his unflappable and inexplicably loyal best friend, Peter (Jake Ryan). His indulgent mom (Saba Homayoon) and adoring Uncle Hamid (Paul Chahidi) also stand by him, as befits their Persian heritage — which intrigues and repels Chad and gives the show some of its best, most original material. (One episode involves an antique sword, presented to Chad as a gift from his absent dad in Iran, which he takes to school to show off. Bad idea.)
Liane Hentscher/TBS
The squirm factor often becomes too much as Chad amplifies every social and emotional miscue with public tantrums. His remorse after each meltdown is genuinely affecting but ultimately shallow, because by the next episode, he’s at it again.
Kids these days!
Chad, Series Premiere, Tuesday, April 6, 10:30/9:30c, TBS
Conversation12 Comments
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B
Seriously, if you can find a child to play young Sheldon you can find a 14 year old to play Chad. But it's just painful to watch.
7 1
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G
That show is uncomfortable, weird and not funny. The joke lines lack comedic timing and the character is just painful to watch. Seriously not funny, just sad.
6 1
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R
Nothing more pathetic than a 40 year old woman pretending to know how a any teen boy would behave. To act like anything about this show being likable means this site is trash
5 2
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O
Worst show in years!!!!!
4 1
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B
The absolute worst I’ve seen in a long time-most people are confused about what Chad is actually playing!?!
3 1
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G
oh just couldn't watch so sorry
3 1
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B
It makes you cringe watching the show chad .... some of the behaviors of the character is not only uncomfortable but disturbing...I feel like chad needs major psychiatric help....it is not funny at all...
2 1
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R
Managed to get thru a couple of episodes before I gave up. What the hell was going on here? It is indeed "cringe-worthy" and, even more, downright creepy. We were all fourteen-year-olds at one point and I can say, if it were me, I wouldn't go within fifty feet of this boy (or girl, as the case may be). Just creepy. That's MY one-word description of this show...
1 1
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G
The " Pluto Nash " or " Master of Disguise " of television.
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G
I watch when I'm bored. Bored beyond belief. Insensate. If there was a channel showing paint flaking off of junked cars, I'd rather watch it.
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G
The word that I'd use would be " pathetic ". White noise when I'm not doing sod - all.
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G
It's pathetic. Simply pathetic, boring, pointless. I only keep it on when I only need whiny white noise.
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