'Mr. Throwback' Reviews: "Building the entire production around Curry was a radical choice, sure, but the payoff is nothing but net"

         On August 8, 2024, Peacock released 'Mr. Throwback', which has received predominantly positive reviews from critics, holding fresh at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the series, Danny Grossman, who was the top player as a child until his potential career was cut short by a lie, reaches out to his friend, NBA superstar Stephen Curry, to help save his business. When he steals Curry's jersey, Danny becomes embroiled in yet another scandal. The ensemble cast includes Adam Pally, Ego Nwodim, and Ayden Mayeri. Read the full review round-up below.

        Andrew Lawrence of Guardian notes, "Building the entire production around Curry was a radical choice, sure, but the payoff is nothing but net." Adding, "With just six half-hour episodes, Mr Throwback can’t compete with Inside’s domination of Tuesday and Thursday night NBA coverage. Nor is it poised to threaten the studio show’s knack for trading memes and jokes with its audience in real time. It’s not a coincidence that hosts Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal walk on to the pilot. Their presence lends authenticity. So does Curry – who, monotone affect aside, embodies an ironic underdog quality."

       Nina Metz of Chicago Tribune says, "Tonally, “Mr. Throwback” is aiming for something like “Entourage” but with sports, mashed up with a boastful but decent-hearted loser typically dreamed up by Danny McBride, but the show never finds its voice or point of view." 

        Joel Keller of Decider praises the series, stating, "Does Mr. Throwback have the potential to fly off the rails? Absolutely. But the show’s creators have decided to keep the goings on relatively low-key, which actually makes the show funnier than it should be."

       Will DiGravio of Paste Magazine writes, "While Mr. Throwback falls short of those classics, it is a warm, resonant, and funny show." Concluding, "While much attention will be given to Steph Curry’s performance, the emotional and comedic core of the show remains Danny. In the role, Pally creates an empathetic character, living in the moment and, as that central tenet of comedy goes, ignoring consequences. He and Mayeri have a great chemistry. In one scene, as Danny and Samantha reap the benefits of becoming close with Steph, they discuss the obvious: with more wealth comes less stress. They wonder how their marriage may have differed if not for the outsized financial stress, bringing a surprisingly touching bit of class consciousness to the otherwise goofy show."

Photo by Nick Jio on Unsplash