My first impression of Jim Jefferies' Legit character Jim is that it isn't difficult to picture him fitting in well with the Paddy's Pub crew. Either that, or somehow he'd clash dramatically with them. I'm not entirely sure and I don't think there's really any way to accurately predict that unless FX made it happen. The closest thing the cable network is doing to that right now is putting Legit in its Thursday night line-up, pairing it with Archer. But my inclination to see Jim with the likes of Charlie, Mac, Dee and the rest of the Sunny characters should give you some idea of what this guy is like, assuming you're a fan of FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Sometimes Jim says things he probably shouldn't say aloud. Although, if he didn't, I don't think Legit would be nearly as funny. Making up for with intentions and determination what he lacks in morals and ethics, Jim's on a mission to legitimize himself, but it's a long road ahead.
Created by Jefferies and Peter O'Fallon, Legit has Jefferies playing Jim, a stand-up comedian who's determined to make his life and job more "legit," which leads to him and his friend Steve (Dan Bakkedahl) taking Steve's wheelchair-bound brother Billy (D.J. Qualls) to a Las Vegas brothel for some sex. That should give you some indication of what kind of shenanigans these guys get up to. Are you having trouble figuring out how this seeming act of kindness and generosity toward a man suffering from advanced stage Muscular Dystrophy will help legitimize Jim? That's ok, it doesn't really matter. It becomes clear from the start that, like Sunny, this is a comedy more focused on the dialogue and hair brained schemes, which never really play out predictably.
Episode 2 ("Dreams") has Jim and Steve breaking Billy out of his adult care facility, and Episode 3 ("Love") focuses on Billy's attempt to have a real relationship, which leads him deep into the world of online dating and web chat. As Jim, Jefferies is hilarious and the story focuses on his adventures, but the emphasis on Quall's character in these first few episodes works well in giving Jim some unusual challenges. Billy may be immobile, but his character is utilized well in helping Jim and Steve demonstrate their creativity and resourcefulness when trying to help him achieve his dreams. While some of Qualls more recent roles were for dramas (Supernatural, Memphis Beat), his earlier work was in comedy, with Road Trip and The New Kid among some of his feature projects, so he's a great fit for the part.
The pilot is just the so-wrong-it's-right amount of crass and funny, with a side of the occasional raunchy penis humor. If that doesn't sound like your thing or you find the very mention of some of the episode descriptions offensive, skip it. But for those who like their comedy a bit rougher around the edges, Legit delivers. Beyond the humor, which is doled out in even doses throughout each episode, there's also heart in this series, and characters that somehow manage to grow on you more and more with each episode. Whether or not Jim ever manages to achieve his goal of becoming "legit," the focus of the series seems more in the journey than it is the destination, and based on the start of the series, there are plenty of laughs in ahead.
Legit premieres Thursday (January 17) at 10:30 p.m. ET on FX.
