In addition to playing a fictionalized version of himself, Jefferies is also a writer and executive producer on "Legit" (along with Peter O'Fallon and Rick Cleveland), and the show feels very tonally similar to FX's "Wilfred" — and not just because fellow Australians Jefferies and Jason Gann could pass for brothers. Both are comedies in the sense that they're a half-hour long and at times capable of explosive, raunchy humor, but they're more interested in watching their main characters learn how to be men. There are good jokes (particularly in the premiere, the first of three episodes I've seen), but the show is dominated by an unexpected feeling of warmth and generosity. Jim really does want to help Billy, and to be a better person, even if his intentions are always undercut by his approach and ego.
Jefferies, a more popular comic in real life than he is on the show, has a cocky, scruffy appeal — imagine Ricky Gervais as a David Brent who was sometimes capable of being as charming as he thought he was — and he works well with Bakkedahl and Qualls. And Billy is a great role for Qualls, who's been bouncing around showbiz since "Road Trip," an odd duck Hollywood never knows quite what to do with, even though everyone knows they want to do something with him. Jim is the protagonist, but Billy is more than just his charity project. He has needs and desires and flaws, and he really does like Jim beyond seeing him as a useful tool.
By design, "Legit" isn't as consistently funny as some other FX comedies like "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," but it nicely occupies that border between comedy and drama that have become home to both "Wilfred" and "Louie." It's a charming series that feels like it has a lot of potential for growth, and not just because its main character has nowhere to go but up.
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Review: Jim Jefferies tries to go Legit in warm new FX comedy
