What's Loot About?

In a modern update of the poor-little-rich-girl comedy, Maya Rudolph plays a billionaire's ex who discovers there's a charity operating in her name and uses it to spur her reinvention.

Who's involved?

• Rudolph plays Molly Novak, a woman in her late 40s obsessed with fashion and luxury, who is suddenly forced to reckon with living her life outside the shadow of her ex-husband. The blow is softened considerably when she gets a Mackenzie Bezos-sized chunk of his estate. Forced to reckon with the fact that rich, powerful men often "trade in" women like her for younger girlfriends, Molly realizes that looks can only get her so far in life — and that's the start of her journey.
• Michaela Jaé Rodriguez plays Sofia Salinas, director of Molly's foundation and her temperamental opposite. The idea here is that only someone as driven and intimidating as Sofia could push back against one of the richest women in the world — and the conceit works. At the same time, Sofia discovers qualities in Molly that help them both get ahead.
• The rest of the characters are classic workplace-comedy types They're led by Joel Kim Booster (Fire Island, Sunnyside), who plays Nicholas, Molly's bitchy right hand and protector.
• Comedian Ron Funches plays Molly's cousin who, with no experience, gets a staff job at her foundation.
• Nat Faxon, who won an Oscar for writing The Descendants, plays Arthur, the whitebread accountant for Molly's foundation and possibly the show's most likable character.
• The series is created by Alan Yang (Master of None) and Matt Hubbard (30 Rock, Forever). This is Yang's second Apple TV+ series; Little America was superb, and its deftness in moving between slapstick humor and bittersweet poignancy is on display here as well.

Why (and to whom) do we recommend it?

This is a pretty obvious play to the Ted Lasso viewer: It stars a former SNL standout as a cheerful naif, abetted by strong writing and an amusing ensemble. Loot isn't as successful as that Emmy-winning hit, but it's still a very enjoyable show that's handsomely produced, with a posh soundtrack and luxurious visuals. Rodriguez is excellent as the uptight foundation president, and there's just enough lampooning of the politically correct philanthropy world to give the jokes some bite.

Pairs well with

• Forever (Prime Video), another tonally complex comedy starring Rudolph and Fred Armisen as a couple whose marriage is in a rut.
• Shrill (Hulu), starring SNL's Aidy Bryant as a self-proclaimed fat advocate learning to live her life loud and proud — done with a light touch and a supporting boost from Booster.
• Barry (HBO Max), the acclaimed comedy that showed us a new side of Bill Hader, playing a hit man whose life changes when he walks into an acting class.