I haven’t yet watched an episode of HBO’s comedy series Family Tree, however it’s one that’s definitely on my must-see list. As a huge fan of Christopher Guest’s film, it’ll be interesting to see if his humor translates to a television series and if it’ll catch on with audiences.
For those of you who have been tuning in, here’s what you can expect from June episodes:
FAMILY TREE JUNE 2013 EPISODES
Episode #3: “The Austerity Games”
Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 2 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: June 2 (12:30 a.m.), 4 (10:30 p.m.), 5 (midnight) and 6 (12:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: June 3 (8:00 p.m.), 4 (11:30 p.m.), 5 (9:00 p.m.) and 9 (12:30 P.m.)
Bea (Nina Conti) and Monk audition to perform at a children’s birthday, while Tom (Chris O’Dowd) starts digging deeper into the life of his grandfather William, who may have competed in the 1948 London “Austerity Games,” a far cry from those of 2012. After learning more about the games from Mr. Pfister (Jim Piddock), Tom visits his great-aunt Victoria’s friend Mildred (Barbara Bolton), who is able to shed some light on William’s former athletic prowess, and on why Victoria left Tom the chest of family curios. With Keith’s help, Tom and Pete (Tom Bennett) visit the gym where Tom’s grandfather William trained for the games, and meet some old-timers who knew him. While at the gym, Pete bravely accepts a challenge from a much younger timer. Bea and Monk perform their first professional gig at a wedding reception.
Episode #4: “Country Life”
Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 9 (10:40-11:10 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: June 9 (12:45 a.m.), 11 (10:30 p.m.), 12 (12:05 a.m.) and 13 (12:35 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: June 10 (9:00 p.m.), 11 (11:30 p.m.) and 12 (9:30 p.m.)
Tom finally has a job interview. He also discovers he has cousins in both Derbyshire and California, and makes a plan to visit and learn more about the Derbyshire branch of the family tree. Meanwhile, Pete has to perform a delicate “procedure” on an alpaca at the zoo. Tom, Bea, Keith (Michael McKean), Luba (Lisa Palfrey) and Monk drive up to the Derbyshire farm owned by their cousins from the North. Tom is interested to find out if the grass is really greener in the country, and equally determined to get to the bottom of a dark family secret. Culture clashes notwithstanding, Tom gets his answers and some family truths are finally revealed. The family-tree plot thickens as he also hears from his American cousin, Al (Ed Begley, Jr.), on the trip. Pete’s life-affirming mission at the zoo proves to be no less sticky a venture.
Episode #5: “Welcome to America”
Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 16 (10:30-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: June 16 (12:30 a.m.), 18 (10:30 p.m.), 19 (midnight) and 20 (midnight)
HBO2 playdates: June 17 (9:00 p.m.), 18 (11:30 p.m.), 19 (10:00 p.m.) and 23 (1:40 p.m.)
Tom arrives in Los Angeles to stay with his American cousins, Al and Kitty Chadwick (Carrie Aizley), and to discover why his great-great-grandfather Charles left for England more than a hundred years ago. Al has invited two other cousins – Rick (Matt Griesser), who also lives in California, and Dave (Christopher Guest), who’s on a road trip from North Carolina – to a family barbecue. With Rick’s girlfriend, Julie (Maria Blasucci), and Al’s neighbor, Mike (Fred Willard), rounding out the party, everyone gets to know each other a little better, and they put their heads together to figure out how the family ended up having branches in both the U.S. and England. As the drinks flow, tongues loosen, inhibitions are dropped, and ice is not the only thing that gets broken underneath the California sun.
Episode #6: “Civil War”
Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 23 (10:30-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: June 23 (12:30 a.m.), 25 (9:30 p.m.), 26 (midnight) and 27 (midnight)
HBO2 playdates: June 24 (9:00 p.m.), 25 (11:30 p.m.), 26 (9:30 p.m.) and 30 (11:50 a.m.)
Tom’s cousin Rick, an American Civil War enthusiast, helps Tom find out more about his great-great-grandfather Charles’ mysterious activities as a soldier in the war. They visit a Civil War expert, Harvey Krupp (Don Lake), who agrees to investigate further on Tom’s behalf, and invites him to take part in a Civil War reenactment that he organized. A car accident leads Tom to meet Ally Keele (Amy Seimetz), a beautiful aspiring writer, and the attraction appears to be mutual. Tom gamely participates in the Civil War reenactment with Rick, Julie and Harvey, but war isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. During the battle, he gets a phone call with news from England. Afterwards, Harvey gives him even more interesting news about his great-great-grandfather, which explains a lot of things.
Episode #7: “Indians”
Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 30 (10:00-10:30 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: June 30 (10:30 p.m., midnight) and July 2 (10:30 p.m.), 3 (midnight) and 4 (midnight)
Tom rents a classic convertible car and meets Ally for lunch, where they get to know each other a little better. Bea and Pete arrive to share Tom’s last two weeks in America. Tom has done more genealogical research and discovers that his and Bea’s great-great-grandmother, Rebecca, may have been Native American. He, Pete, Bea and Monk drive to an Indian reservation to trace his Native American past, and meet Running Bull (Graham Greene), a chief, and White Feather (Saginaw Grant), an elderly shaman. Their inquiries lead them to a store, where Marty (Kevin Pollak), the owner, reveals the surprising truth about Tom’s great-great-grandmother. And a phone call from Mr. Pfister in London, who has Tom’s DNA results, tells him even more about his roots.
