For those of us who still watch traditional cable television it’s been a weird year because of the pandemic. Most of your favourite shows are on hiatus or cancelled, some have come back but you didn’t realize it because you don’t know what day or month it is and sometimes the networks will occasionally launch a new show. As was the case last night with Mr. Mayor.

Mr. Mayor stars Ted Danson as the newly appointed mayor of Los Angeles, Neil Bremmer. (I’ll leave out how he came to be mayor because there is a solid joke there I won’t ruin.) He’s new to the political scene after coming out of retirement from the billboard advertising game. He’s surrounded by his quirky staff of two young political aides and a career civil servant played by the hilarious Bobby Moynihan (SNL fame).

Its written and produced by Tina Fey and has a definite “30 Rock” meets “Parks and Rec.” feel. The banter is quick and witty and the sight gags are solid.

I was happy that they released the pilot and episode one together because so often the pilot is just about establishing characters and plot lines and the laughs can be a bit on the light side. However, episode one where Neil has to do a day of community events and accidentally ingests several edibles from a local dispensary lead to several laugh out loud moments from both myself and my wife.

It helps that Ted Danson is so lovable and goofy and as I alluded to earlier Bobby Moynihan is a real scene stealer that it holds together some of other parts that aren’t as well crafted. An almost unrecognizable Holly Hunter plays Neil’s rival and I found to be a little off putting. (That’s probably the point but still.) But there was enough there for me to laugh and forget about my work day for an hour. I’ll continue to PVR it and watch it on the weekends. I think it could be something special.

Mr. Mayor airs on NBC.