Is Being a ‘Stay-At-Home Dad’ Really That Hard? Yes.

The most recent series from Atom.com’s reloaded original programming slate announced last summer tells the story of  37-year-old commodities trade broker, who in the recent economic downturn, loses his job to a computer. Now unemployed, he must say goodbye to the trading pit, booze, and testosterone, and hello to life as The Stay-At-Home Dad.

Writers Brandon Williams (who also stars as the dad) and Adam Jones (who also directs) present a fast-paced, banter-filled comedy whose combination of sharp dialogue with foul language and low brow humor narrowly treads the line of good taste. Williams’s portrayal of Brandon the dad is spot-on with impeccable comedic timing and full commitment to a character that is at once compelling and repulsive. Bravo.

The latest episode “Holiday Nuts,” starring Cheers’ George Wendt as Brandon’s sharp tongued father-in-law, features an insult-laden Thanksgiving dinner with Brandon’s wife (Evelyn Carr) and mother-in-law (In Living Color’s Kelly Coffield Park) in which every possible skeleton is released from the closet. Fast pacing and short episode length (with a great score by Judson Crane) make for an addictive experience.