American Auto Season 2 Episode 3 Review: Celebrity
American Auto Season 2 Episode 3, “Celebrity,” is a solid episode with a delightful guest performance from Andy Richter.
“Celebrity” isn’t the show’s strongest outing. It’s arguably the weakest of this season thus far. However, it’s entertaining all the same and pushes beyond its usual episodic confines to experiment narratively. For example, the main cast doesn’t regularly interact with lower-level employees. In “Celebrity,” we see Jack and Sadie chat it up with Dale.
ELLIOT: I’m sorry this isn’t the sort of sensationalist trash you two are used to watching. You know, where it’s all drug deals and teens eating each other in the woods.
It’s easy to keep the critical players insulated from the regular Payne workers since the former are primarily executives, but watching these worlds collide is fun. It certainly yields comedic fruit, as is evidenced by Jack and Sadie’s scene with Dale. (Side note: if you look in the office, you’ll see Jon Miyahara, who played Brett in Superstore.)
Andy Richter plays with fun comedy dynamics by initially presenting as overly friendly at the outset and quickly flipping the switch into meltdown mode toward the end of his appearance. His amiability and unfazed demeanor make said meltdown even funnier. Of course, Ryan Reynolds showing up in the same episode is an iconic move on American Auto‘s part.
“Celebrity” allows our core team to play in their element, from Cyrus seizing the Andy Richter opportunity to make a quick buck and Elliot rattling on about British pop culture that doesn’t exist to Wesley’s excruciatingly awkward interactions with Andy (that offer up secondhand embarrassment for the viewer).
KATHERINE: It’s more of a sex/anxiety dream. Like, he’s pleasuring me, but I keep staring at this plate of chicken alfredo and worrying about how long it’s been sitting out.
It’s also a pleasure to watch Tye White stretch his comedic wings during his interview scenes (with an always-excellent Matt Oberg). We seldom see Jack beyond his “cool guy” exterior, so it’s fun for viewers to watch him stumble a bit. White handles it like a pro.
As usual, Ana Gasteyer is our Queen of Comedy, delivering her share of hilarious beats in “Celebrity,” notably when Katherine gushes about her “sex/anxiety dream” about Ryan Reynolds. Long may she reign.
American Auto‘s new approach to Season 2 is paying off hilariously, and “Celebrity” feels like the tip of the iceberg regarding where this show can go. We’re undoubtedly in store for more hysteria and bitingly funny shenanigans.
Stray Observations:
- Having the storyline involve Kevin Costner breaking ties with Payne as a spokesperson feels especially prescient, given Yellowstone potentially ending with Season 5 because of Costner’s shooting schedule. Did the writers know this would happen? Also, when are we getting that American Auto/Yellowstone crossover episode?
- It’s all in the details. This show never fails to bless us with hilarious whiteboard jokes in the background of a scene, and “Celebrity” is no exception. When brainstorming potential candidates to fill Costner’s role as a spokesperson, we see “Reese Witherspork” is a celeb the company could snag but doesn’t want, while “Reese Witherspoon” is someone they desire but can’t get. Meanwhile, they’ll take any Kardashian but Rob and, obviously, Daenerys Targaryen is an A-list steal. Who wouldn’t want the Mother of Dragons representing their car company?
- Meryl Streep might top Payne’s list of dream spokespeople, but she’s too busy with another comedy, Only Murders in the Building, for its third season.
- Cyrus is wrong — Betty White did die too soon. She was supposed to live forever!
- Protect Jack at all costs. He’s the sweetest, purest, handsome-st human.
- If you look at the credits, Ryan Reynolds is credited as “Champ Nightengale” for this episode. That tracks.
- Fun fact: Andy Richter’s from Michigan. His line about visiting family isn’t a lie!
What did you think of this episode of American Auto? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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American Auto airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on NBC, with next-day streaming on Peacock.
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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.