Ep 1. The Office's Ed Helms & Oscar Winner Mo'Nique

The first episode of the first season of The Mortified Sessions introduces the concept of the show and features two very different guests - Ed Helms and Mo'Nique.

The show opens with slightly awkward introductions of the host and the guests. The host Jeff Garlin, who is also the creator, writer, and producer of the show, briefly describes what the show is about - adults reading and performing from their teenage diaries, deepening the connection between the performers and the audience.

The first guest is Ed Helms, an actor, comedian, and musician best known for his role as Andy Bernard on the NBC sitcom The Office. Helms brings his teenage diary with him, which he describes as a "a pretty bleak window into the mind of a tortured teenager rather than anything light and funny". Helms proceeds to read some of his diary entries and performs a couple of songs that he wrote as a teenager - one about being in love and one about being heartbroken. He is clearly embarrassed by his younger self and often laughs at the absurdity of his teenage thoughts and feelings. However, his performance is also very genuine and heartfelt, and the audience can feel the emotions that he is trying to convey.

The second guest is Mo'Nique, an actress and comedian who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 2009 film Precious. Mo'Nique reads from her diary, which she wrote when she was around sixteen years old. Her diary is filled with stories about her family life, her relationship with her first boyfriend, and her hopes and dreams. Mo'Nique is very self-assured and confident as she reads her diary entries, and her performance is both funny and touching. She also talks about how her diary helped her to process her emotions and find a safe space to express herself, especially in a difficult family situation.

Throughout the episode, the host Jeff Garlin interjects with his own comments and questions, trying to elicit more information and emotions from the guests. He shares his own experiences of teenage angst and awkwardness, and creates a comfortable and humorous environment. The show is interspersed with some footage of the guests as teenagers, and some interviews with them now, reflecting on the importance of their teenage years and how it shaped them into the people they are today.

Overall, the first episode of The Mortified Sessions is funny, engaging, and emotionally resonant. The guests' performances are both amusing and revealing, and the host's comments and questions add another layer of depth. The show is a celebration of the teenage experience, with all its humor, cringe-worthy moments, and heartbreak.