Quick, name a ’70s movie. Save “Star Wars,” chances are Robert Evans was involved. As head of Paramount, Evans was involved in films as diverse as “Love Story,” “Marathon Man” and “The Godfather.”
- Kate Green
- Courtesy of Comedy Central
Francis, you fat fuck!
Last year, Evans narrated the filmed version of his autobiography “The Kid Stays in the Picture.” Now animated in Comedy Central’s “Kid Notorious,” he still exudes the persona of the boozing ladies’ man at age 73. This new sitcom based on his life gives Evans a showcase for his cartoonish, self-indulgent exploits.
While most of the events in the show are fictitious, many of the characters are real people from Evans’ life. With impersonated voices, “Kid Notorious” skewers Hollywood’s A-list from Francis Ford Coppola to Ben Affleck. The home front also stays true to reality, as Evans’ dependable butler, English, is voiced by Alan Selka, Evans’ real-life butler. Also starring are Niecy Nash (“Reno 911!”) as the sassy housekeeper and Slash of Guns ‘N’ Roses portraying himself as the next-door neighbor. Evans also has his loyal housecat, Puss Puss, to serve as a source of jokes.
“Kid Notorious” follows the classic sitcom model, only with more outrageous plots. Evans is confronted with a problem, devises a wacky plan then comes through within 30 minutes. The show derives much of its comedy from satire of Evans’ movies, but his sidekicks keep things fresh by being the butts of his jokes.
Even if it is basic cable, Comedy Central has been the only network to consistently deliver on its programming. “Kid Notorious” is no exception, ranking on the Evans scale somewhere between “Chinatown” and “The Two Jakes.”
Rating: 3 1/2 stars