How ‘Dave’ Delivered the Best Television Episode of the Year
‘Hype Man,’ the show’s breakout, destigmatized bipolar disorder in a way few have dared
Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.
Dave, FXX’s semi-autobiographical comedy about Dave “Lil Dicky” Burd’s pursuit of hip-hop glory, wrapped its first season last night as one of the most-watched new comedies in the network’s history. On the surface, a White rapper landing a prestige-adjacent show — let alone one executive produced by Kevin Hart and Scooter Braun, among others — is a testament to the privilege that many White creators enjoy, even when participating in a culture they did not create. But Dave succeeded creatively by treating its protagonist as just one character in an ensemble, delivering strong moments by bringing others to the foreground.
In fact, Dave’s biggest accomplishment wasn’t the 5 million viewers it averaged each episode, or its ability to snag guest appearances from Young Thug, YG, Charlamagne Tha God, and others. It was delivering an urgent conversation about mental health in the Black community.
The fifth episode, “Hype Man,” appears to focus on Burd’s anxiety about the biggest gig of his young career: opening for Meek…
