‘Veep’ Season 6 Still Plays Politics For Big Laughs

Ever worry if Veep Season 6 would still be funny in the Trump era? Worry not. This Veep is large and in charge of comedy gold

So, surely by now, you’re completely fatigued with politics. Living in the Trump era, many of us who follow television wondered how political-skewing series would possibly compete with reality. How would House of Cards’ Frank Underwood appear next to the real thing (or a close facsimile)? On the comedy side, how would Veep, the acclaimed celebration of political idiocy, exist in a Trump world? The good news amidst all the real-world bad news is that Veep Season 6 premieres with its comedy in tact. In fact, it may be better than ever.

Veep Season 6 kicks off with “Omaha,” an episode dedicated to Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) returning to the scene one year after the events of Season 5. She’s not exactly adjusting well, although she’ll never tell you that. Interviewed by Dan “Danny” Egan (Reid Scott) on his post-political gig, she unveils the Meyer Fund for adult literacy (and later AIDS). The stroke of genius here comes with the Veep regulars scattered in various careers. In addition to Egan’s anchor job, Amy Brookheimer (Anna Chlumsky) leads her fiancee’s political campaign.

Cancer-survivor Jonah Ryan (Timothy Simons) uses his illness as a political platform. Mike McLintock (Matt Walsh) serves as a stay-at-home dad for a significant brood of children. Ben Cafferty (Kevin Dunn) works as a political advisor for Uber for a hot minute (until he launches into a series of offensive Asian stereotypes). And Gary (Tony Hale) continues to serve at Selina’s feet without purpose.

“Omaha” eventually winds around, after many hilarious asides, to Selina hinting at another run for the White House. Everyone pales at the idea. The remainder of the provided episodes find Selina giving up on that notion and exploring methods to solidify her legacy. Because after all, JFK didn’t serve a full term either, according to Selina.

Final Verdict

Veep Season 6 continues the impossibly great run of this comedy series. It’s really kind of sick how brilliant it really is. And how inevitable Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ sixth Emmy win will be. Still, to argue against the quality of the comedy is impossible. Veep flat-out delivers in every way. In addition to Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky continues to plum comic depths out of her growing role. As an emasculated television anchor, Reid Scott also excels at delivering this rapid-fire brilliant dialogue under David Mandel’s steady hand. Really, the entire cast is fantastic, again, and if ever there were doubts the series would continue to mine comedy out of politics, Veep Season 6’s premiere erases all of that.

Veep Season 6 premieres Sunday, April 16, at 10:30pm ET on HBO.