Article first published as SUPER FUN NIGHT Review on Seat42.
Contrary to what you may have heard, ABC’s SUPER FUN NIGHT is not the worst new sitcom this fall. That dubious honor belongs to Back In the Game. I would rate SUPER FUN NIGHT as third worst, after Back in the Game and Dads. Unfortunately, given its already tarnished reputation, that does not bode well for it.
SUPER FUN NIGHT premieres Wednesday, October 2nd at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Contrary to what you may have heard, ABC’s SUPER FUN NIGHT is not the worst new sitcom this fall. That dubious honor belongs to Back In the Game. I would rate SUPER FUN NIGHT as third worst, after Back in the Game and Dads. Unfortunately, given its already tarnished reputation, that does not bode well for it.
The reason SUPER FUN NIGHT is entering
the fall premiere season with one hand tied behind its back is that
critics panned the “Pilot” when it was released to them earlier this
summer. ABC decided to combat that by airing the second episode,
“Anything for Love,” as the premiere this week. In preparing for this
review, I watched only “Anything for Love,” not the “Pilot.”
When starting with episode two, there is
clearly a piece missing. We are dropped into the story without being
introduced to the characters, save the lead, Kimmie Boubier (Rebel
Wilson, Bridesmaids), whom is pretty easy to get a read on. This hurts
most in Kimmie’s relationships with her co-workers, especially Richard
(Kevin Bishop, Irina Palm), the boss’s son, whom she likes, because it
takes a few scenes with Richard to start to get a read on what their
relationship is. We also aren’t shown the origin of the premise, why
Kimmie wants to go out for a SUPER FUN NIGHT in the first place, though
it does seem kind of obvious.
Given that it seems the plot would have
made more sense if the first episode had been watching before “Anything
for Love,” the switch smacks of desperation. Now, if the second episode
were a lot funnier than the first, knowing that lots of people already
proclaimed the first as terrible, and not wanting to risk losing those
first-week viewers because of it, then the move would be a good one.
After all, with the bad buzz already building, it is time to get
desperate. Sadly, “Anything for Love” is not funny.
Kimmie is surrounded by a bunch of
caricatures. Kendall (Kate Jenkinson, The Wedge) is the stereotype
villain co-worker, jealous of Kimmie for the things Kimmie doesn’t even
notice about herself. Even though Kendall appears to have everything
going for her, she tries to steal Kimmie’s spotlight, too. And Kimmie’s
friends, Helen-Alice (Liza Lapira, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23)
and Marika (Lauren Ash, Lars and the Real Girl), and virtually
indistinguishable from one another in this episode, just stock pals who
try to cheer Kimie up.
This means that SUPER FUN NIGHT rests
completely on Kimmie’s shoulders, and it’s not funny because she’s not
funny. The character has been created to be as pathetic as possible, and
it’s not fun to watch her be embarrassed. One feels bad for her and
wants to help her, not giggle when her dress is pulled off by an
elevator and she tries in vain to laugh it off. It’s easy enough to tell
she doesn’t find the moment amusing in the slightest, which makes us
uncomfortable.
I think the failure is Wilson’s fault,
and here’s why. Kimmie is the one character who connects emotionally to
the viewers, which makes it impossible to laugh at her misfortune,
knowing the pain it causes her, which we can read on Wilson’s expressive
face. Were she to play the part of more silly, the show might stand a
chance. Not that I’m really advocating for less character development,
so the complaint is that Wilson is too good for this material, and
doesn’t lower herself to the goofiness of the story, even as she fully
commits to the broad, physical comedy.
A scene in “Anything for Love” has
Kimmie battling with Kendall to sing at a piano bar, and you will
genuinely be frustrated for Kimmie. When she goes big during the song,
gaining her confidence, she seems desperate, as she is, and it robs the
moment from being entertaining. Were Kimmie only being funny or moving,
it might be OK, but by attempting to combine both, neither work. If
these bits, the ones in which Kimmie makes us feel, don’t succeed
because they try to be funny and fail, the show is doomed just because
of its makeup.
Wilson has been stripped of her British
accent, which doesn’t seem necessary, given that Richard gets to keep
his, and Wilson’s friend from England, Matt Lucas (Little Britain),
makes a guest appearance. She does a fine American voice, but it’s still
a little weird. I guess the network or someone along the totem pole
thought the lead wouldn’t be as relatable to American audiences if they
knew she was from another country. It’s a little depressing those that
control the show think this, and even more depressing if there’s any
truth to the assumption.
With a flawed premise and flat
characters, SUPER FUN NIGHT just doesn’t stand a chance. Too bad, as I
know Wilson can be funny, and look forward to her next, hopefully
successful, vehicle.
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