Carpoolers

Did You Know?

• Before the show aired, Bruce McCulloch published a diary breaking down the inspiration for Carpoolers and the process of creating the show.
• In the diary, McCulloch vented about frustrations in the industry concerning being constantly hired to produce scripts that would never make it to air.
• McCulloch also discussed how driving with his friends made him reflect on why male communion is portrayed on television in a negative light.

Plot

Carpoolers follows four men who share a daily commute to the same office complex. Gracen, the main character, is a rigid mediator with a wife and son. His fellow riders include Aubrey, a frazzled family man; Laird, a conceited dentist ruined by divorce; and Dougie, a young husband whose marriage the others frequently tease. Gracen and Laird are best friends, but the rest rarely socialize outside the car. Each episode starts with a cold open where the four sing along to an old hit, except in episode six when Aubrey enthusiastically belts a pantyliner commercial, grossing out the others. A short theme song follows.

Pilot

In the pilot episode, titled "Dougie's First day or The Toaster," Aubrey, Gracen, Laird, and Dougie are introduced as Dougie joins the carpool for the first day. Gracen is upset to learn his wife spent $200 on a new toaster when the old one worked fine, and his distress grows when he discovers his wife and son both earn more than he does. This leads to marital issues, culminating in the group breaking into Gracen's house to steal the new toaster to save his marriage.

Cast and characters

Fred Goss plays Gracen Brooker, a mediator with a wife and son, who is friends and neighbors with Laird. Faith Ford portrays Leila Brooker, Gracen's sensible wife and successful real estate flipper. Jerry Minor is Aubrey Williber, an accountant with seven children and a lazy wife who is only seen as a pair of feet; his catchphrase is "Gentlemen ... let's carpool." Tim Peper plays Dougie, a newlywed seeking acceptance while committing carpool faux pas. Allison Munn is Cindy, Dougie's young wife with a saccharine relationship. T. J. Miller plays Marmaduke Brooker, the Brookers' emotionally stunted adult son who stays home in his briefs. Jerry O'Connell is Laird Holcomb, a recently divorced dentist who sleeps with many women.