I’m not a sports fan but Disney+’s Chad Powers had me unexpectedly laughing and hoping for a season 2
Glen Powell is totally unrecognisable as Chad Powers but his comedic side is very much present.
Chad Powers has finally dropped on Disney+ and I’m already hoping there will be a season two on the way.
To call myself a “sports fan” is like saying EastEnders’ Phil Mitchell isn’t a fan of grunting - it’s just not true. So whenever a sports-themed drama or comedy crops up on my calendar, I tend to avoid it at all costs.
But as a fan of Glen Powell and his work on Anyone But You with Sydney Sweeney, I thought I’d give his new Disney+ comedy Chad Powers a test drive.
Interestingly, the six-part comedy was inspired by former quarterback Eli Manning’s 2022 prank when he used facial prosthetics to transform himself into “Chad Powers” and try out for Penn State football and the plot doesn’t drift too far from this real-life event.
Russ Holliday’s (played by Glen Powell) career as a successful quarterback finished after a couple of stupid and embarrassing mistakes during a national championship game.
Now, eight years later, he wants back on the field and dresses up as southern oddball Chad Powers to try out for the struggling South Georgia Catfish football team.
But trying to explain why he can't change in the locker rooms and give no details of his past leads to confusing reasons like a "wide pee hole" and wolves overrunning his hometown.
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Some of these "southern quirks" caught me off guard and laughing far too loudly that it woke up my less-than-impressed dog.
What was really impressive though was how fluid Powell became in switching between the voices of Russ and Chad, so much so that it was actually a little disturbing.
It also doesn’t help that Chad looks like he was in the cast of 1972’s Deliverance but nevertheless, this Forrest Gump-esque football player is a true sweetheart.
There’s a lot to be said about Chad Powers’ emotional moments as well, not just for Chad himself but for Ricky Hudson (Perry Mattfeld) as she tries to navigate the difficulties with being a female coach.
And, of course, there’s Russ’ musical loving side-kick, the Catfish team’s mascot Whiskers, AKA Danny (Frankie A Rodriguez) who gives the not-so-sporty viewers something more relatable to laugh about.
So far, there has been no word on whether or not a second season of Chad Powers is on the way, but Disney+ would be making a mistake if it didn't decide to give Powell and the team another shot at this funny yet surprisingly touching sitcom.
And that's coming from someone who can’t switch over Match of the Day fast enough.
Chad Powers is available to watch on Disney+.