Titus - S1E02

Dad's Dead
First Aired: Monday March 27, 2000

The true show grabber, this episode of Titus revolved around whether or not Ken, Titus and Dave's father, is dead. The group, hesitant to check, instead remembers the good and bad times ... mostly the bad.

The episode begins when Dave tries to explain to Titus that he thinks their dad is dead after not coming out of his room for four days. Titus brushes this aside until Dave tells him their father didn't even come out for a beer. As the two try to cope with the potential loss, Erin shows up in a huff. Apparently, her pager message reading "dads dead" didn't me her own father, which she realized after walking in on her parents during sex. She reveals that a few days prior, Ken had given her his will for safe keeping. While the three contemplate opening the will, Tommy shows up for more consoling. As the four eat cake and discuss Ken, he shows up, interrupting Titus berating him. He yells at them to keep quiet and that he is trying to sleep.

While the first episode aired was more of the sitcom feel then this subject matter deserved, this second episode, the true pilot, is where it really shines. The quick wit and one-liners are present, as well as the voice-overs by Titus that add more of the grim, dark humor that the show thrives on. It features many of the lines I told to people over the years about this great, under appreciated show and it is good to be watching this shows again.

Score: 9 / 10