Ep 1. Pilot

Marlon is a new comedy series on NBC that is all about Marlon Wayne, a charismatic and slightly uncouth father of two who is determined to stay connected to his family despite his rocky past. In the show's first episode, titled "Pilot," viewers are introduced to Marlon and his ex-wife, Ashley, as they navigate the challenges of co-parenting while also trying to move on with their own lives.

The episode begins with Marlon waking up in the morning and immediately launching into one of his signature monologues, as he talks to the camera about his life and his philosophy of living in the moment. He's clearly a charmer, even as he's eating breakfast cereal out of a mixing bowl and making crude jokes to his ten-year-old daughter, Marley.

As Marlon and Marley ride their bikes to school together, they argue about which music to listen to, a conflict that is resolved when Marlon starts using some old-school beatboxing skills to keep Marley entertained. It's clear that Marlon loves his kids and wants to be a big part of their lives, even if it means occasionally embarrassing them in public.

At school, Marley's teacher gives her a new assignment: a family tree project that requires her to draw a picture of her whole family. Marlon is excited to help Marley with the project, but his enthusiasm quickly wanes when he sees that Ashley has already mentored to help Marley with the project which leads to a little bit of clashing moment between Marlon and his ex-wife.

As Marlon and Ashley argue about their parenting styles, it becomes clear that there are still some unresolved issues between them. Marlon wants to be able to spend more time with their kids, but Ashley is hesitant to give him too much leeway, given his history of being unreliable. Marlon, meanwhile, seems determined to prove to Ashley that he can be a responsible parent, even if it means stepping outside of his comfort zone.

In one amusing scene, Marlon tries to teach his son, Zack, how to shave, with mixed results. As Marlon struggles to use an electric razor, Zack looks on in bewilderment, clearly wondering if his dad has any idea what he's doing. It's scenes like this that make Marlon such an endearing character, even as he's making a mess of things.

As the episode progresses, Marlon organizes a "family fun day" at a local amusement park, hoping to build some positive memories with his kids. The day starts out well, but things quickly go off the rails when Marlon gets into a fight with a park employee who accuses him of cutting in line. The altercation quickly escalates, and soon Marlon is being chased through the park by security guards.

In the midst of all the chaos, Marlon gets a call from his agent, who informs him that network executives are interested in him hosting a new talk show. Marlon is thrilled by the news, but he knows that he'll have to step up his game if he wants to be taken seriously as a TV host.

With the help of Ashley, Marlon decides to use the family tree project as a way to connect with his kids and show them that he's truly committed to being a good father. As he works with Marley and Zack to create a tree that includes all of their relatives, Marlon reflects on his own mistakes and realizes that he needs to step up and be a better role model for his kids.

By the end of "Pilot," Marlon has learned some valuable lessons about parenting and responsibility, even as he continues to make plenty of mistakes along the way. The episode sets the stage for a series full of heartwarming moments, laugh-out-loud comedy, and plenty of hijinks from Marlon and his family. Fans of family sitcoms like Black-ish and Modern Family should definitely give Marlon a chance, as it offers a fresh take on the genre and delivers plenty of laughs along the way.