New NBC Sitcoms
Dec. 15th, 2014 02:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yendiOne of the things that's frustrated me over the last few years of Network TV viewing has been watching sitcoms that are unbelievably mediocre thrive while genuinely funny shows vanish. TV seems to have been better for drama in recent years, but every hit sitcom seems to be some CBS or Fox show with a laugh track and so few genuinely funny moments that even the trailers are unwatchable (I'm looking at you, Two Broke Girls). Meanwhile, shows like The Crazy Ones and Happy Endings that I genuinely find amusing and, even more unusually for a sitcom, smart, get yanked.
I know, different strokes for different folks (as opposed to Diff'rent Strokes for different folks). Clearly, folks like Two and a Half Men or Mom or whatnot, and ratings, not quality, are what matter. But it's still depressing. I've been trying to take a Britcom approach, noting that I've gotten more episodes of Happy Endings than I did, say, The IT Crowd, but it doesn't always work.
Anyway, two more shows are coming to an end (with about four episodes remaining of each).
Bad Judge never really aspired to anything more than goofiness, and is the second consecutive show with "Bad" in the title and Ryan Hansen in the cast to get the axe (after last spring's Bad Teacher). Like the previous show, this is a much cuter show than expected. It's actually closer to Night Court than anything else -- a goofy judge who has a lot of sympathy for the people in her courtroom, a snarky prosecutor, some over the top moments. But Kate Walsh is outstanding in the lead, showing comedy chops I didn't realize she had, and there was some really good chemistry and humor here. The entire cast is solid, and while the show might not be groundbreaking, it's entertaining enough to have had the potential to be comedy comfort food.
A to Z is a more ambitious show. It's the story of the nine-month relationship between a couple, from meet-cute to the end (although we won't get the latter, of course). It's narrated by Katey Segal, and stars Christina Milioti (the Mother of HIMYM fame). It's a nice mix of sweetness in terms of the relationship, and zaniness for the workplace comedy elements (supporting cast members Hong Chau, Parvesh Cheena, and Christina Kirk often steal the show). It's got plenty of goofball moments, but also a good female lead (Milioti's co-lead, alas, is Generic Male Who Isn't Josh Radnor But Might as Well Be, although to be fair, he might just be written that way), and some really witty writing. Of course, I don't know what the plans would have been for season 2 (although I suppose they could have declared "getting engaged" as the new season 2, or done a breakup that led to them getting back together). It's far from perfect, but I've yet to dislike an episode.
That leaves Marry Me as the only NBC sitcom (and only new sitcom) I'm still watching (until Parks and Rec returns). The pilot was wretched, but the show has picked up, essentially turning into Happy Endings 2, which is fine by me. I adore Casey Wilson and Ken Marino, and the rest of the cast compliments them nicely. It's also doing poorly in the ratings, alas, so might be in trouble (although I suspect it's got a decent shot at one full season, if only because NBC's running out of shows). Still, well worth watching, if only for episodes devoted to Flemish pride, or one of the best Die Hard references I've seen.
I know, different strokes for different folks (as opposed to Diff'rent Strokes for different folks). Clearly, folks like Two and a Half Men or Mom or whatnot, and ratings, not quality, are what matter. But it's still depressing. I've been trying to take a Britcom approach, noting that I've gotten more episodes of Happy Endings than I did, say, The IT Crowd, but it doesn't always work.
Anyway, two more shows are coming to an end (with about four episodes remaining of each).
Bad Judge never really aspired to anything more than goofiness, and is the second consecutive show with "Bad" in the title and Ryan Hansen in the cast to get the axe (after last spring's Bad Teacher). Like the previous show, this is a much cuter show than expected. It's actually closer to Night Court than anything else -- a goofy judge who has a lot of sympathy for the people in her courtroom, a snarky prosecutor, some over the top moments. But Kate Walsh is outstanding in the lead, showing comedy chops I didn't realize she had, and there was some really good chemistry and humor here. The entire cast is solid, and while the show might not be groundbreaking, it's entertaining enough to have had the potential to be comedy comfort food.
A to Z is a more ambitious show. It's the story of the nine-month relationship between a couple, from meet-cute to the end (although we won't get the latter, of course). It's narrated by Katey Segal, and stars Christina Milioti (the Mother of HIMYM fame). It's a nice mix of sweetness in terms of the relationship, and zaniness for the workplace comedy elements (supporting cast members Hong Chau, Parvesh Cheena, and Christina Kirk often steal the show). It's got plenty of goofball moments, but also a good female lead (Milioti's co-lead, alas, is Generic Male Who Isn't Josh Radnor But Might as Well Be, although to be fair, he might just be written that way), and some really witty writing. Of course, I don't know what the plans would have been for season 2 (although I suppose they could have declared "getting engaged" as the new season 2, or done a breakup that led to them getting back together). It's far from perfect, but I've yet to dislike an episode.
That leaves Marry Me as the only NBC sitcom (and only new sitcom) I'm still watching (until Parks and Rec returns). The pilot was wretched, but the show has picked up, essentially turning into Happy Endings 2, which is fine by me. I adore Casey Wilson and Ken Marino, and the rest of the cast compliments them nicely. It's also doing poorly in the ratings, alas, so might be in trouble (although I suspect it's got a decent shot at one full season, if only because NBC's running out of shows). Still, well worth watching, if only for episodes devoted to Flemish pride, or one of the best Die Hard references I've seen.