America Ferrara headlines this workplace sitcom set in a Wal-Mart-like superstore where the employees are a collection of eccentrics and underachievers mostly making minimum wage. Ferrara plays Amy, a working mother who skipped college to raise her daughter. Amy has risen to the level of supervisor but resists moving into management, even though she is the smartest, most clear-headed person in the store (which only depresses her). While Ferrara anchors the show, Superstore is more of an ensemble piece than a star vehicle. Ben Feldman is the new employee, a college graduate full of suggestions that lead to disastrous outcomes, and Mark McKinney is the veteran store manager, a cheery guy whose tendency to bring Scripture and prayer into the employee meetings is shut down by assistant manager Lauren Ash, who is militant in her observance of rules and procedure. These are very much working-class characters and the show acknowledges both the drudgery of their jobs (which results in all sorts of antics) and the struggles of getting by on low wages, while also touching on issues related to class, income inequality, unionization, healthcare, and corporate control, albeit with only little swipes at Wal-Mart culture. Although the show sports likable characters and easy humor, it is overall a minor series with familiar sitcom tropes. Compiling all 11 episodes from the 2015-16 debut season, extras include deleted scenes and a gag reel. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)
Superstore: Season One
Universal, 2 discs, 237 min., not rated, DVD: $29.99 Volume 31, Issue 6
Superstore: Season One
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