Review: Tony Ho - Season 2, CBC Podcasts

Another season of Tony Ho’s CBC original podcast has come, and it’s — again — a gruesome sketch comedy wonderland. So Much Happy Better is chock-full of Tony Ho’s signature brand of dark comedy, whimsical performances, and sharp writing. While not every sketch is a hit, they’re more robust and scenic this time around, giving the podcast new depth.

Tony Ho always brings a high-concept premise to life by blooming it in the pits of hell. The fact they are able to blend sadistic ethereal scenarios, and ground them with languid comedy, gives them an interesting flavour. Episodes like Emily or Coach are great examples of their proficiency at executing their voice, with the best episode of the season being The Orb. This season didn't hold as well as it could have, with sketches like Christmas #1 and Luke lacking the acuity they usually have. Three of Us is also a rather peculiar addition, as it veers less into sketch territory and is more of just a straight up nightmare fully realized.

Overall, this season brought the twists and turns I’d expect from Tony Ho. There were episodes that brought the elevation I was hoping for as a fan of the first season, and I’m hoping they double down on them in future seasons (god willing). 

So Much Happy Better was released November 5, 2020
Listen to it here.