‘Without football, I don’t know who I am...’
The disparate nature of the streaming model means that Disney+, one of the biggest streaming services in the world, can put out a limited series with Glen Powell, probably the most in demand actor in the business right now, and hardly anyone is talking about it. This is a shame because it’s quietly excellent.
Russ Holliday (Powell) is a washed-up college football quarterback who sabotages his career by botching a touchdown in a championship game before insulting a disabled child a few months later. After finding himself persona non grata in the world of professional sports, Holliday hatches a plan to don a disguise, rebrand himself as the titular Chad Powers, and relaunch his career at the South Georgia Catfish, a struggling team with a beleaguered coach (Steve Zahn) and a demanding owner (Wynn Everett).
I was unsure about Chad Powers at first, as while Russ Holliday is an incredibly captivating protagonist, I was unsure about the broadness of his alter ego, the eponymous Chad Powers. Over the course of six episodes, however, Powell turns this seemingly one dimensional character into someone that we actually enjoy spending time with. My one criticism would be that aside from Zahn, who can always be relied upon to convincingly portray a lovable loser, the rest of the supporting cast don’t bring a great deal to the table. Powell’s star wattage burns so bright, however, that his presence is enough to ensure that Chad Powers remains compelling throughout its six episode run (it is further helped by the relatively short running time of each episodes – Chad Powers the TV show never outstays its welcome – unlike Chad Powers the character).
Such is the constant churn of new pop culture, it appears that Chad Powers is destined to become a mere footnote in the big book of comedy television. You might as well watch it now before its reappraised as a classic in five years time.
