I don't normally review things, but feel this needs more attention. This show is very good. I rarely actually laugh out loud at TV any more, and some of this actually got me laughing. I think it's because a lot of his patients are actually improv comics, so they are very talented at being awkwardly funny. His family are some of the best characters, with Barry being my favorite. It's a quick binge and you won't regret it if you can find it (I think it's on seeso?).
23 Reviews
Very intelligent humor, likable characters. A surprising(ly) good show
TomyDee2 April 2017
Just a quick review, as I don't see any posted yet and it's a pity, because this show is very good and the lack of publicity that it is getting is not deserved.
I have seen all episodes of the first season and would love if they continued the story, and for that to happen this show needs to get more attention. The writing in this is spot on, really. The humor is often subtle, dark and ironic, and if you enjoy that kind of humor (coming more from the sarcasm of life than, you know, cheap swear words) then you will enjoy this very much.
Characters are also very likable, and I have enjoyed every episode after work as a "treat" to disconnect the mind and laugh. Anyway, I really recommend everyone to check this TV show out if they have the chance, its truly good – check out the pilot online on Youtube and judge by yourself, if you like the first episode you will most likely enjoy the rest.
As for flaws, I think other secondary characters going to the therapy sessions could have been better developed and their stories better fleshed out, I understand that was not the objective of the show but maybe it would have helped to carry the story on, but I get that the story focused more on David than his patients.
I have seen all episodes of the first season and would love if they continued the story, and for that to happen this show needs to get more attention. The writing in this is spot on, really. The humor is often subtle, dark and ironic, and if you enjoy that kind of humor (coming more from the sarcasm of life than, you know, cheap swear words) then you will enjoy this very much.
Characters are also very likable, and I have enjoyed every episode after work as a "treat" to disconnect the mind and laugh. Anyway, I really recommend everyone to check this TV show out if they have the chance, its truly good – check out the pilot online on Youtube and judge by yourself, if you like the first episode you will most likely enjoy the rest.
As for flaws, I think other secondary characters going to the therapy sessions could have been better developed and their stories better fleshed out, I understand that was not the objective of the show but maybe it would have helped to carry the story on, but I get that the story focused more on David than his patients.
It's funny
Bryan-22 September 2018
I'm a bit late on this one having just watched the first season. There are some genuine fall out of your seat laughs to be had. Their meeting in the porn store had me dying. I can't seem to find any news on a second season but one can only hope. Judging by the small amount of exposure this show seems to have I find it unlikely.
A simple comedic gem!!!
reggiegianni16 April 2017
This show is absolutely brilliant in its simplicity. Every scene is on point and the comedy is fabulous. The lead is an absolute gem in both his comedic dialogue delivery and his facial expressions. All the actors around him complement each other brilliantly. There is absolutely nothing superfluous about this show and as far as I can remember no other show made me laugh out loud so hard. It is not an exaggeration. The best thing about this show is that the comedy is natural and non repetitive, and is not forced down your throat. It is a real pity that this show is still so obscure as it really does deserve more exposure. I really hope this show has a future and is not cancelled. give it a try and you will not be disappointed.
A dramedy with laughs, imagine that!
bondfool-123 January 2018
Nowadays, everyone is making half hour dramas and calling them "comedies" just because of their length. Looking at you, Transparent. Shrink, however, is a dramedy with heart, meaning, and most importantly, big laughs. Tim Baltz and Mary Holland are incredible.
Funny and so true
Lejebi18 November 2017
This show is excellent. For people who have dealt with mental health on either side of the fence this show is better than any antidepressant out there! With so many different characters, watching it is like being in a hilarious support group. I just fell in love with it and I cannot wait for season 2!
Can't wait for the next season!
montocchiobeatrice14 January 2018
Good to watch
puneetpratibhabiseria4 September 2021
Great series
lukewesol1 June 2019
Fantastic Show
matukonyc121 October 2018
A truly original show with some of the most talented comic actors around. So funny I've watched it twice, and was genuinely upset when I heard Seeso was shutting down and there'd be no more episodes. It has a wry humor that I very much enjoy.
Bittersweet reality between the hilarity
vgeovanis19 March 2019
This show is fantastic. The humor is spot-on and a cross between observational and satirical humor. And just when you think it's about to tumble over the line from satirical to truly mean -- about the main lead, or his clients, or especially his dysfunctional family and friends -- it feints and slides over to poignant and very real.
The main character is a sympathetic millennial everyman whose situation is very relatable (for certain demographics, anyway). But he's not generic or predictable. In fact, nothing about this show or its writing is predictable. Which is probably why it is so funny. Yet, at moments (not *too* often, fortunately; it's a dramedy, not a soap or melodrama), it also pulls off "heartwarming." And not in a hokey, smarmy way, but genuine.
The Chicago locations are authentic (and I could swear David's parents' house is a bungalow in Cicero, actually, but hey - Capone had a hotel in Cicero, so it's kind of an extension of the city, heh)... either that, or they've done an amazing job recreating these locations on a sound stage somewhere in LA... or, hell, maybe here in Chicago. It's obviously not a super high budget show, but the production quality is actually quite high -- nothing about it looks or seems low budget.
The ensemble acting is superlative, and the minor characters are a major part of some of the funniest bits. I often laugh more times than I can count with each episode... yet... I get these people, I know these people, I've taken care of these people, I'm friends with and related to these people, and sometimes I am one of these people.
And underneath it all, with their/our bad behavior, poor boundaries, repeated button-pushing, messed up histories, defensiveness (and offensiveness), we're all schlepping through life doing the best we can, however dysfunctionally, fearfully, a$$holish-ly, half-a$$ed-ly, and hilariously that may be.
I'm pretty bummed there apparently won't be any more episodes. It's a real shame. This show belongs on Netflix or Amazon (or should be continued there - please?). It's truly right up there with those networks' best original programming.
The main character is a sympathetic millennial everyman whose situation is very relatable (for certain demographics, anyway). But he's not generic or predictable. In fact, nothing about this show or its writing is predictable. Which is probably why it is so funny. Yet, at moments (not *too* often, fortunately; it's a dramedy, not a soap or melodrama), it also pulls off "heartwarming." And not in a hokey, smarmy way, but genuine.
The Chicago locations are authentic (and I could swear David's parents' house is a bungalow in Cicero, actually, but hey - Capone had a hotel in Cicero, so it's kind of an extension of the city, heh)... either that, or they've done an amazing job recreating these locations on a sound stage somewhere in LA... or, hell, maybe here in Chicago. It's obviously not a super high budget show, but the production quality is actually quite high -- nothing about it looks or seems low budget.
The ensemble acting is superlative, and the minor characters are a major part of some of the funniest bits. I often laugh more times than I can count with each episode... yet... I get these people, I know these people, I've taken care of these people, I'm friends with and related to these people, and sometimes I am one of these people.
And underneath it all, with their/our bad behavior, poor boundaries, repeated button-pushing, messed up histories, defensiveness (and offensiveness), we're all schlepping through life doing the best we can, however dysfunctionally, fearfully, a$$holish-ly, half-a$$ed-ly, and hilariously that may be.
I'm pretty bummed there apparently won't be any more episodes. It's a real shame. This show belongs on Netflix or Amazon (or should be continued there - please?). It's truly right up there with those networks' best original programming.
Fantastic show!
musclvr37717 March 2019
This show is hilarious yet sad. You cringe and then laugh. The family of the doctor are spot on characters that we've all known or lived with. Tim Baltz is a great actor and it says he created it. The cast of patients allow you to peek into others' sometimes desperate existence with empathy, but shows the light side of darkness. I am ready to watch it again!
An apt subtitle might be Try Being Human
giobon21 January 2019
Shrink is one of the best series about being human, and in only eight episodes it takes the viewer from humour to empathy to clarity.
That said, it took me seversl months to watch the series, but only because a: each episode deserves introspection and consideration and b: I do not watch TV very often, and certainly not episodic TV. Fortunately NBC streamed it in its entirety up to the day I concluded the show in 2019.
The writing is pithy, the acting flawless, the direction invisible, and the empathy embracing.
For me Shrink offers genuine catharsis in each episode, and in the eighth episode, the meaning of life: being human
Peace in
That said, it took me seversl months to watch the series, but only because a: each episode deserves introspection and consideration and b: I do not watch TV very often, and certainly not episodic TV. Fortunately NBC streamed it in its entirety up to the day I concluded the show in 2019.
The writing is pithy, the acting flawless, the direction invisible, and the empathy embracing.
For me Shrink offers genuine catharsis in each episode, and in the eighth episode, the meaning of life: being human
Peace in
Gone Too Soon
stephenbawesome18 February 2022
This was a show that I regret not seeing when it first came out and not supporting sooner. As a fan of Comedy Bang Bang and comedy podcasts, I was familiar with much of the cast and expected it to be funny, but I wasn't prepared for it to be this food. It's amazingly put together for what was likely a tight budget. The premise allows the viewer to circumvent hackneyed tropes and present earnest humor in a refreshing, positive way. Tim Baltz shows fantastic range in this show and has created a lead that manages to be both funny and heartfelt. If this show came out during the pandemic when everyone was locked down and binging, I have no doubt it would have been a critical darling and Emmy nominee. I highly recommend viewing this and hope it can find a second life somehow.
The funniest!!
mhanneson21 February 2022
My favorite episode is the surreal one!
reich-brandon14 January 2022
Shrink has everything you need for a solid comedy. It has dry humor, amazing acting, and topic matter that is ahead of its time in addressing issues like mental health, and student debt. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for irreverent, raw, and original characters! Enjoy.
Hilarious show - Scripted and Unscripted
jaredbell9021 February 2022
I watched the show when it was released on Seeso (RIP). One of my favorite things about a good comedy is a when it has heart. The characters become relatable. I wish the show would return because the relationships created between the different characters is really fun to watch.
The open patient montage that takes place in the garage made me cackle multiple times. Hilarious show that everyone can enjoy!
The open patient montage that takes place in the garage made me cackle multiple times. Hilarious show that everyone can enjoy!
My first 10/10 review goes to this show
miaaacameron3 March 2022
It is currently almost 2AM where I am and I just finished binging the whole show in a span of a few hours and let me just say, what a beautiful show. It was genius, shot beautifully, the acting was impeccable in the fact that these actors did not seem like actors, more so just regular people just like you and I who have problems as humans do. Idk...I loved it. Scratch that, I really loved it. Anything where I can feel the humanness, the rawness and relatability of something is something that I will always treasure and keep with me: and this this show is just that. Oh and not to mention that it is absolutely HILARIOUS. The humor is clever and random and wry and will truly provide you some good laughs (which nowadays we all need). Thank you Tim and everyone else that helped create this masterpiece.
Fantastic comedy and drama
devon-2107823 February 2022
I'm a Tim Baltz fan so it's no wonder I loved this show. I find it so rare when a show has comedy that makes me laugh out loud AND drama that makes me cry but this show was able to do it. I wish there were a second season. Every single performer on this show really delivered, especially the mom character. Highly recommend!
Tim Baltz is a leading man
gabrielgarcia-1172515 March 2022
I became a fan of Tim Baltz early on with his improv and comedic skills being showcased on many podcasts including Comedy Bang Bang. When SHRINK was announced on SeeSo I was primed and ready to see Tim's acting chops. I was NOT disappointed and frankly pleasantly surprised. Yes I knew Tim would be great and funny but man I was crazy impressed with his performance. He was in his bag with this show and script. I think Tim Baltz proved himself a leading man for tv series. Then seeso unfortunately just disappeared and for some reason they decided to sink SHRINK with them. I thank Tim Baltz and his amazing cast everyone brilliantly delivered on such amazing and heartfelt characters including the amazingly funny and charming Mary Holland. Hidden gem of a show and I hope the cult following continues to grow.
So good
showpigeon9 June 2022
What a gem of a show! Clever humor and sweet insights into personal relationships. Tim Baltz's performance is so authentic and tangible. The supporting cast is all perfect too, particularly Sue Gillan who nails every moment. Mary Holland is so charming, Meagen Fay is delightful. What an absolute treat.
Fantastic show! Cancelled far too quickly.
pshieronymus21 July 2023
I was admittedly a huge fan of Tim Baltz(aka R. Snutz)before seeing this, but this show absolutely blew my mind. It checked all of the boxes for me in a show. I have a casual interest in topics of mental health, as the spouse of a mental health professional, and I cannot wait to share this show with my wife. Not implying that this is some master class in how client patient interactions should be carried out, however there is at a minimum a sincerity and an honesty in the dialog of this show that clearly mirrors the kind of empathic environment any good therapist would try to create. Expertly crafted, hilariously honest, and criminally cancelled before a much larger audience had a chance to discover it. Such a shame. I can only hope that Scotty Auk's will fire up a new streaming service and give Mr. Baltz whatever money he needs to bring this show back to life. I will be first in line. Bravo to the entire creative team on this one!
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