Ep 3. We Regret to Inform You

We Regret to Inform You, the third episode of Mr. Show With Bob and David's first season, is a hilarious and absurd take on life's disappointments and the ridiculousness of bureaucracy. The episode is divided into several sketches and bits, all connected by the theme of receiving bad news.

The episode starts with a sketch about a man (played by Bob Odenkirk) who has just received a letter from the government informing him that he's been audited. The man is understandably upset and angry, but the sketch takes a surreal turn when the auditor who comes to his house turns out to be a friendly, singing, tap-dancing IRS agent who wants to help him save money on his taxes. It's a great example of the show's ability to take a straightforward premise and subvert it with weird and unexpected humor.

The next sketch takes aim at the absurdity of corporate culture and the soul-sucking nature of office jobs. It features David Cross as an employee at a company called Helter Skelter Financial, where the employees are required to wear roller skates and gleefully recite the company's mission statement about "making money for our shareholders." But when a new employee (played by Jack Black) shows up and refuses to participate in the mindless corporate rituals, Cross's character starts to question the true value of his job. It's a biting critique of the emptiness of modern capitalism, but it's delivered with a healthy dose of absurdist humor.

Another standout sketch in this episode is called "Coupon: The Movie," a parody of those endless, cheesy infomercials for products like the Snuggie or the Shamwow. In this case, the product being sold is a book of coupons that promises to save you "trillions of dollars" on everything from groceries to cars to "autopsies and funeral services." The sketch is a perfect send-up of the ridiculous hyperbole used in advertising, and it's made even funnier by the fact that it's presented as a fake movie trailer.

Throughout the episode, there are also several interstitials featuring the show's hosts, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. These are usually silly little bits where they make fun of each other or goof around in some way, but they serve as a nice palate cleanser between the longer sketches.

Overall, We Regret to Inform You is a strong early episode of Mr. Show With Bob and David, showcasing the show's unique brand of humor that blends satire, absurdism, and a healthy dose of silliness. While the sketches may not all hit equally well, the show's willingness to take risks and try new things makes it a refreshing and entertaining watch. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to the show, this episode is sure to make you laugh and maybe even make you think a little about the absurdity of the world around us.