The new comedy
Chad has been a long time coming. Created by and starring Nasim Pedrad, the show has been in development since 2016, and has moved networks from Fox to TBS. Pedrad not only written and directed the show; she also takes on the challenge of playing the eponymous 14-year-old boy who legally changed his name from Ferydoon to Chad Amani to sound more American. He only has one goal as high school starts: to befriend the crowd he perceives as “cool.” It’s a familiar narrative, but Chad, who is Iranian American, has to additionally navigate his cultural identity along with his teenage experiences, although he often chooses not to do so. Chad puts his Iranian heritage on the back burner as a way to fit in, even though he’s the only one who views it as a hindrance. After some unsteady initial episodes, the series manages to explore some heartfelt narratives through its extremely uncomfortable humor.
Chad is an Unpleasant Trip Back to High School
With creator Nasim Pedrad playing the high school lead, the new comedy series is sure to call to mind Pen15 , but it lacks the depth needed for a good coming-of-age story.
TBS
Welcome to
Up Next, a column that gives you the rundown on the latest TV. This week, Valerie Ettenhofer reviews Chad, the new TV show from Saturday Night Live alum Nasim Pedrad.
High school can be hell if you don’t fit in. This basic truth forms the premise of the TBS comedy series
Chad, which takes on the perils of adolescence from the perspective of an excruciatingly awkward fourteen-year-old Iranian-American boy. The twist is that the boy is played by series creator