TED LASSO Hired For This Team

Article first published as TV Review: TED LASSO on Seat42F.

This past Friday, Apple TV Plus launched TED LASSO, a half-hour dramedy about a perpetually cheery amateur football coach from the United States hired to head a pro-level football team in the UK. And as you probably know, football in the UK is not the same as football in the US; they’re two different sports. No, this is not a mistake, the decision to hire Ted was purposeful, and now we’ll see how this guy does in an extreme fish-out-of-water scenario.

I’ll be honest, I did not expect to like TED LASSO just from the logline. I’m not a big fan of sports (or a fan at all), and I hate dumb-guy comedies, especially where the jokes are played on the man’s ignorance. But because it was created by Bill Lawrence (Scrubs) and Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live), the latter of whom also stars, and both of whom have delivered funny very well in the past, I tried to keep an open mind going in.

Boy, am I glad that I did. TED LASSO is wonderful. It’s not dumb-guy comedy, and while there are humorous jokes, it’s not a straight-out comedy at all. It’s a moving piece with layered characters and emotional situations that will tug your heart strings just as often as it tickles your funny bone. And in the first two episodes, it’s not about sports at all. (Though, if it later becomes so, Friday Night Lights has already proven that good television trumps a distaste for athletics.)

Much of the success of Lasso can be credited to the writing. But much can also be credited to Sudeikis’ performance as the titular character. It would be so easy to dismiss Ted on his face. Yet, Sudeikis plays him with genuine earnestness and depth that keeps him from being a cartoon. Small scenes, when Ted is alone in his apartment or on the phone, prove just how much his caring is genuine, not an act at all. His coaching style, one in which he focuses way more on team cohesion than logistics of play, is also inspiring and one can see how it would work – when the team already has plenty of talent to make up the other side.

Though, it’s quite possible that Ted’s assistant, Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt, Bless This Mess), is the one who actually knows how the game is played and helps on that front. I think there is more to Coach Beard’s words about “fast” in episode two than plays for the joke. So together, they make a decent manager.

TED LASSO avoids dropping into the typical out-of-one’s-element tropes by making Ted curious and accepting of his surroundings, as he is about the team. There are exceptions, of course; Ted hates tea. But by minimizing that element, it keeps the show from being too silly.

Perhaps the main draw is a message that optimism can win. In these dark times, it’s easy to give in to the hate and vitriolic and tension between sides in this country, and around the world. So often, we dismiss our fellow humans because of their beliefs, and while we may often feel justified (maybe actually be justified) in doing so, it’s heart-warming and hopeful to see someone approaching things differently and succeeding.

Of course, Ted will still have his fair share of obstacles to overcome. The main antagonist is revealed at the end of the pilot, and I was pretty surprised. Though I also see how Ted may defuse the situation without making any real enemies.

TED LASSO is buoyed by a wonderful supporting cast, including Juno Temple (Maleficent) as a player’s girlfriend, Hannah Waddingham (Krypton) as the club owner, Jeremy Swift (Downton Abbey) as the communications manager, and Nick Mohammed (Intelligence) a the equipment boy.

I’ve been lassoed by Ted, and I’m anxious to see what else is in store. The first three episodes are available now on Apple TV Plus, with new installments dropping every Friday

Series Is UNDATEABLE

Article first published as UNDATEABLE Review on Seat42F.

NBC has a new summer sitcom, which premiered last night, called UNDATEABLE. Created by Adam Sztykiel (Due Date) and Bill Lawrence (Scrubs), it is the story of a cocky womanizer who becomes friends with a gang of geeky losers. They all learn from each other and form tight bonds in a friendly, warm tale, a few laughs tossed in.

Unfortunately, that’s not very original. Because Lawrence’s name is on this project, I expect it will deepen and make us care about the characters soon enough, but the “Pilot” is not good at all and the second episode, “Pants Buddies,” which aired just after the first, isn’t much better. Don’t get me wrong, Lawrence can write a bond between two men like no other, but most of the rest of what’s going on just feels done and tired.

UNDATEABLE stars Chris D’Elia (Whitney) as Danny, the aforementioned asshole, who is quite likeable. D’Elia is mega talented, and I loved him on Whitney because of his chemistry with the titular character. On UNDATEABLE, he has to be a bit too much of a jerk too much of the time, hard to swallow given his charisma. He’s also undermatched by most of his co-stars, especially the one he interacts with most often.

The ‘straight’ man to this odd couple, Justin (Brent Morin, making his scripted TV debut), doesn’t work nearly as well. He feels very similar to the lead in another recent Lawrence show, Brody on Ground Floor, but without the charm of Skylar Astin, Morin doesn’t quite live up to the role. He’s whiny and boring, and while this sometimes works for the character that everyone else plays off of, I find myself not caring about Justin and being happiest when he is off screen.

Now, UNDATEABLE seems poised to hinge largely on the chemistry between Danny and Justin, and I just feel like it’s very one-sided at this point, D’Elia being much better than Morin. A major thrust of the story will also be how the two come to balance one another out, but given that the growth starts immediately, this doesn’t seem a sustainable concept. Turk and J.D. they are not, and without a compelling friendship here, which the series definitely lacks, I feel like it’s doomed to fail.

What may redeem UNDATEABLE a bit is the supporting cast. Briga Heelan is funny as Maddie, though since she also stars in Ground Floor, further reinforcing the Brody / Justin parallel since Maddie is Justin’s love interest, NBC is not able to list her as a main character, and she will likely only serve a recurring capacity. Bianca Kajilch (Rules of Engagement) is pleasing as Danny’s sister, Leslie, and the two actors work well together. Ron Funches, who plays Shelly, can deliver a line in an excellent, unique way, and steals virtually every scene he’s in. Even Brett (David Fynn), who initially seems bland, starts to add color in “Pants Buddies,” leaving Burski (Rick Glassman) as the one creepy, weak leak, other than Justin.

The dialogue is a bit clunky. Leslie has a line about a “herd of turtles” that feels ham-fisted at the start, and is confirmed to be so when it’s used for a story connection later. Danny’s repeated calling of Justin “baby bird” starts to become forced, and about half of the jokes land flat. The episodes are not helped at all by what I assume is a live audience, whose laughter frequently is much louder than the scenes warrant, becoming a distraction.

Now, Lawrence fans may remember how rocky Cougar Town began, but with a terrific ensemble of players, it quickly grew into a beloved favorite. I concede there could be potential for UNDATEABLE to follow that pattern if it ditches the Danny-teaching-everyone-to-date and everyone-teaching-Danny-to-care premise pretty quickly and expands the roles of Shelly, Brett, Leslie, and Maddie. Failing that, however, I don’t see continuing what’s presented in the first two episodes becoming a show I’d want to tune in to on a weekly basis.

UNDATEABLE airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

GROUND FLOOR "On Top"

Article first published as GROUND FLOOR "On Top" on TheTVKing.

Seven episodes into its freshman season, Ground Floor has become a series I look forward to watching. The cast doesn't have the chemistry of Cougar Town and the writing lacks the weird fun of Scrubs, but it still is a reliable draw from creator of all three, Bill Lawrence. There are constantly decent jokes, and I do enjoy the show's leads immensely.

At the heart of Ground Floor is the relationship between Brody (Skylar Astin) and Mr. Mansfield (John C. McGinely). Did you think I was going to say Brody and Jennifer (Briga Heelan)? Well, as much as Brody and Jennifer's pairing provides the structure, the best parts of each installment are usually those where Mansfield gives Brody advice. Every part of Brody's romantic life is observed and commented on by his boss, and through these talks, we see the development of Mansfield.

At first, it appeared that Mansfield might be a retread of Dr. Cox, McGinley's Scrubs character. But as layers are willingly revealed week after week, it becomes clear that isn't the case at all. While Cox was closed off, Mansfield is open. Cox hated being a mentor, and Mansfield lives for it. Cox would never admit to screw ups and emotions unless pushed, while Mansfield volunteers such things, thinking nothing of throwing an arm around an employee and sitting close on a couch. They are really two completely different people.

McGinley is quite the talented actor. He really makes the little gags Mansfield gets work far more than they should. Each time he appears on screen, the eye is instantly drawn to him, and for good reason. Last week's episode found him singing and dancing in the empty office, and I don't know how the actor kept it together with the audience reacting as they did (assuming the show films in front of a live studio audience?). He really has something.

Brody benefits much from his lessons from Mansfield. Whether he agrees with his superior or not, and he doesn't always, there's a camaraderie and respect between them that belies their varying power statuses. Mansfield is someone Brody looks up to, and I think they are friends, too, though Mansfield would never admit it to the office.

Back to the more obvious central duo, Brody and Jennifer appear to be progressing nicely. I'm a little disappointed we haven't witnessed more of their development after the rocky start, with a bigger focus on shenanigans in the office than in their personal lives. I want to see them outside of work more, find out what kinds of things they are going through that result in them being stronger. They do have a palpable attraction, and I just want it to be explored more in-depth.

Which is kind of what is nice about this week's episode, "Woman on Top," in which we see strain between Brody and Jennifer and how they work through it. Mansfield unknowingly hires Brody's serious ex-girlfriend, Heather (Anna Camp, True Blood, The Help), and as cool as Jennifer tries to be, she gets jealous, especially when she sees how well Brody and Heather still get along and how much they have in common.

Brody and Jennifer do overcome the Heather obstacle, though. It messes them up, and they put in the work to get through it. That's what every strong union needs, to be tested and survive, in order to thrive. I'm not asking for constant drama on this magnitude, as that would be hokey and false, but to get more glimpses of these two in this manner would be welcome.

It is not at all unexpected that Heather leaves at the end of "Woman on Top." Camp is much too in-demand to stick around in a recurring part, and her desk position and attitude would necessitate she be constantly seen. So Mansfield sends her to run his Chicago branch, leaving the door open for repeat appearances, but not making her someone we have to see again.

Does Mansfield do this for Brody? He's been a supported of Brody and Jennifer, even when he resists them, so it makes sense he might do a behind-the-scenes move to help the couple. On the other hand, he's a shark in the business world, and Heather is the type of firm hand the Chicago branch needs. Perhaps it's just a win-win.

Heather's departure is too bad, in a way. Camp and Astin were two of the stars of the film Pitch Perfect, and "Woman on Top" is a nice reunion. Jennifer always has Harvard (Rory Scovel) lusting after her, so it could be interesting to toss in someone who might want to get back with Brody. Plus, it's just plain fun how fast Heather whips Threepeat (Rene Gube) into serving her.

Speaking of Pitch Perfect, a movie with a lot of singing, Astin and Camp have musical moments in this episode, and McGinley and others sang last week. It's cool that Ground Floor finds ways to work its actors' vocal talents into the series. I'm a fan of musicals in general, and while I don't think this will ever be one of those, I appreciate even small numbers done by talented performers. Between Ground Floor and Super Fun Night, it's nice to see this element emerging in the new fall sitcoms. More singing please!

The one thing Ground Floor has yet to figure out is how to effectively use all of its supporting players. Jennifer, Brody, and Mansfield are the real leads, and they are great. Harvard serves his purpose, and Threepeat is someone flexible enough to vary his role week to week, which is what is happening. But Derrick (James Earl) and Tori (Alexis Knapp, who was also in Pitch Perfect) don't really have a fit yet. I'm hoping that changes and Ground Floor moves more in an ensemble direction, as pretty much all the best comedies on TV have larger casts than just 3 or 4 characters.

Overall, Ground Floor has a charm that really resonates, and it is pretty funny. For a freshman show with only half a dozen episodes under its belt, it's doing quite well, and the pedigree involved is such that I expect it will mature nicely. I look forward to seeing where it grows from here.

Ground Floor airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on TBS.

Getting In On the GROUND FLOOR

Article first published as Getting In On the GROUND FLOOR at TheTVKing.

Bill Lawrence's (Spin City, Scrubs) newest comedy, created along with Greg Malins (Better With You, 2 Broke Girls, Friends), is Ground Floor, which premiered on TBS this week. A step above other TBS original sitcoms, like Sullivan & Son, because of more layered characters and stories, but a step below other Lawrence work, like Cougar Town, mostly because of an annoying laugh track, Ground Floor is not bad.

The series stars Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect) as Brody, an ambitious, talented young money manager who is on the ground floor of his life, early in both career and the romance department. The latter kicks off as the "Pilot" begins when Brody meets Jennifer (Briga Heelan, Cougar Town), a girl who works on the first floor of his building. Both of them are given grief by their friends for dating each other.

See, in Ground Floor, the business world is segmented into two classes. The upper crust makes the cash and works themselves to death, while the lower level are uneducated slackers. No one in either world supports crossing the boundary. Never mind that the building has many more floors than two, and should employ many more people than the scant few we see, at many different levels.

This is the problem with the series, which seems to be a trait of this particular network - simplifying things to go for quick laughs without having to earn them with depth. It's the reason why I don't watch many TBS sitcoms (Cougar Town excepted, since it wasn't originally created for the cable channel). And given the weaknesses, tossing in the laughter, whether it be a live studio audience or just recorded additions, actually makes it seem more inane and surface-level.

Yet, Ground Floor has a little more than these surface traits, likely owing to its clever creator. Brody and Jennifer don't start their relationship in a predictable way, actually giving us a portrait of two people that are more than a stereotype or a category. The co-workers are forced to mix right away, blurring the lines between tow two groups right off the bad. And supporting players seem to have a little more going on than their counterparts in Sullivan & Son's bar, even if it's only a little bit.

Part of the credit can go to John C. McGinley, who plays Brody's boss, Mr. Mansfield. Mansfield is sort of like Dr. Cox, McGinley's character on Scrubs, because he's a demanding hard ass. But Mansfield is a little more willing to admit he cares, and reveals something of himself to his underlings. He tries to mold them into himself because he's found success and he wants that for them, too.

In the second episode, "Off to the Races," which aired just after the first, Mansfield meets Jennifer, whom he's been counseling Brody to ditch, leaving more time for his career. Mansfield takes an instant shine to the girl, and admits to Brody that he knew he would, given Brody has good judgment. This is something we'd never see from Dr. Cox, and makes the whole situation, with Body torn between love and his profession, more complex.

The three main actors aside, though, I haven't found any way to connect with the rest of the cast, co-workers to Jennifer and Brody. Played by Rory Scovel (Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous) Alexis Knapp (Pitch Perfect), James Earl (Glee), and Rene Gube (a writer on TBS's Men at Work), none of these stand out as someone to watch. At least not yet.

I can't say that Ground Floor has truly won me over yet, but it's earned a few more episodes. Given the extremely poor way in which Cougar Town began, before growing into a beloved favorite, there's every chance that Ground Floor can do the same, as it did have a better initial two installments. The premise is a little flimsy, but the actors and the writing give us a bit more than might be expected, so there's definitely hope to be found.

Ground Floor airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on TBS.

Cougar Town pads over to TBS

Grade: 90%

ABC’s COUGAR TOWN has a strong following and a determined staff, but sadly, that wasn’t enough to keep it on network TV. Luckily, in this modern age, there are other platforms willing to take such gems and keep them going. On January 8th at 10 p.m. ET, TBS premieres COUGAR TOWN’s fourth season.

I have been a big fan of COUGAR TOWN since mid-season one. Once the first few episodes got the titular premise out of the way, and the series settled down into a grown up version of Friends with lots of wine, it became something really special. The question is, how long can it retain this magical feeling?

Season three was helped tremendously by the amount of love and buzz. Creator Bill Lawrence and his cast traveled the country, hosting screening parties at bars on their own dime. They all took to twitter. There were web videos. Bottles of wine were shipped out. All of these things likely contributed to an aura that went beyond the television screen, and energized those who would tune in.

That does set a dangerous precedent. This year, with just a commercial or two to psych fans up, the energy felt down. Of course, one does not expect the people behind a show to keep up such a huge and expensive slate of promotion. But because it made viewers feel like a part of something, there has to be a let down when it’s over.

Which is not to say that season four is bad, by any means, but simply to explain the headspace the precedes such a viewing, and to give a warning to not build up your expectations beyond what they normally are for what is really, at its core, an enjoyable, lovely, and entertaining series.

Recently, I sat down and marathoned the first six episodes of the new run. Many of the same humorous bits were present, and the series has not lost a thing since transitioning onto cable. Each of the characters definitely retained their identities, and the story arcs progressed naturally from where they left off. Most importantly, I laughed quite a lot out loud.

However, for a reason I couldn’t quite put my finger on, the premiere, “Blue Sunday,” just felt like a little bit less than earlier seasons. Later episodes were better, for sure, especially the second one of the season. But the long-anticipated return was just slightly less than I’d hoped for. I emphasize the word slightly.

I won’t give too much away, plot-wise, but here are the basics of the initial set up. The story resumes one week after the season three finale, with Jules (Courteney Cox) and Grayson (Josh Hopkins) getting used to married life. Ellie (Christa Miller) warns Grayson that anything he does twice the first week is a precedent, and he must continue to do those same things for the rest of his life. Obviously, this isn’t a realistic expectation, and what works in one marriage won’t necessarily translate to another couple. Oh, and Jules is mad at Grayson for something he did in her dream.

Meanwhile, Travis (Dan Byrd) seeks to avoid a messy conversation with Laurie (Busy Philipps), so he takes his father, Bobby’s (Brian Van Holt), advice and runs from his problems. After all, if you don’t deal with them, they just go away, right?

The rest of the stories continue on from there. There’s plenty of relationship drama, some insight into the origins of the relationships between the various characters, and a lot of laughs based on running gags. Whether it’s Ellie approving new rules, Laurie acting the slut, Jules being a little too in love with her son, or Andy (Ian Gomez) crushing on Bobby, these things continue to just work.

I don’t know that I noticed the content turning any more adult than it already was. Sure, a title card references greater freedom on cable, and perhaps episode six goes a little bit further with a visual gag than they could have previously done on ABC. But overall, I’d say things stay pretty much the same. Which is what fans have hoped for.

I think fans will be pleased with the return, and find little to complain about. If you loved COUGAR TOWN before, you’ll continue to love it. If you liked it before, you’ll continue to like it. Just be grateful that, like Tom (Bob Clendenin), we have been allowed to continue to look in on this group of funny people for another year.

Cougar Town finally goes to Napa

ABC's Cougar Town ended its third and final season on the alphabet network last night, before it moves to TBS next year. The full hour episode, entitled "My Life; Your World," felt nothing like a series finale, so it's a good thing that it will not serve as such. Instead, what is presented is a very transitional episode, setting up what next season might be like.

Central to "My Life; Your World" is the marriage of Jules (Courteney Cox) and Grayson (Josh Hopkins). Though planned for four months from now, Grayson suggests eloping after growing frustrated that the rest of the gang is always around. Unfortunately, Jules doesn't understand that he means he wants only the two of them to be present, and she invites the rest of the Cul de Sac Crew to travel to Napa (where else would wine lovers go?) with them! Plans fall apart even further when Jules cannot get Grayson's daughter to join them, and so they decide to wait until they go home to get hitched.

Strangely, TVLine.com's Michael Ausiello seems to be a mute bartender in Napa. For goodness sakes, where are the man's lines?

This disagreement between Jules and Grayson, over privacy is one that seems like a huge stumbling block. Grayson starts out as a character that is not part of the pack. Even after he begins hanging out with the others, he separates from time to time. But lately, he is always with the gang. Does his reaction, which manifests itself in some pretty angry outbursts, stem from a real desire to be alone sometimes, or is he just getting cold feet?

Hopefully, it's mostly the latter, since Jules' friends will not be going anywhere. And this does seem to be the case when Grayson not only gets over his hangup, but proposes to Ellie (Christa Miller), Andy (Ian Gomez), and Bobby (Brian Van Holt), too. If Grayson had not been able to come to terms with this, this would have been a major deal breaker. After all, if the group did not spend every waking moment together, what would the show be about?

Also, before Jules can admit she's got a problem, too, which is eventually shoved under the rug, making Grayson be the one that adapts, totally in character, there is a great homage to Groundhog Day.  Jules has never seen the movie. She makes her friends explain it to her, and it still confused. But as they make her live it until she admits that she's wrong, the hilarity ensues. Great use of a classic film!

The actual nuptials end up being really sweet, as Lynn (Nicole Sullivan) suggests that they be spontaneous, which is exactly what they do. While the couple cannot get permission to marry on the beach, Jules' dream, they stage a guerrilla wedding there anyway. As the cops (including one played by series creator Bill Lawrence) close in, they quickly become a moving wedding. It's a funny scene that really fits the tone of the series, both ridiculous and heart warming. Especially when Chick (Ken Jenkins) brings along his horse to keep him from crying.

Of course, there are other plots in "My Life; Your World," too. Travis (Dan Byrd) turns 21. This is celebrated in Napa by the gang pulling him out of bed and shoving a glass of wine into his hands. His resulting claim to not really care for the vino provides the appropriate shocked reaction from Jules. But that doesn't take away from how satisfying it is to finally see Travis drinking with the others.

As the kid on the show, he has always been a little bit outside of the group. In recent episodes, this has started to change, with less scenes of Travis at college, and more of him being included. Especially cool is his recent friendship with Ellie. The wine is the perfect initiation ceremony to move into the gang fully. And the terrible singing of happy birthday seems more realistic than most shows do.

Andy gets a father-son moment in the first half of the episode. With the joy of Penny Can having been sapped away when Travis points out how silly it's gotten, with all of the additional rules, Andy and Bobby mourn. However, Travis is able to boost their spirits by helping them introduce Stan (Sawyer Ever) to the game. The sight of Andy as a loving, devoted father is precious, and it's sort of a passing of the torch from Travis to Stan as the token kid, now that Travis has joined the adult world.

Is it a little odd that Travis might want to join his mother's circle of friends? Yes and no. Yes, because he's still in college, and they're all much older, and being too chummy with one's mom is a little creepy. No, because Jules has the coolest friends, which includes Travis' dad, whose father-son relationship is not at all creepy. But most of all, it works because of Travis' attraction to Laurie (Busy Philipps).

Ever since the start of Cougar Town, there has been a chemistry between Travis and Laurie. While Laurie is definitely the youngest one of the adults, it didn't work at first, when Travis is still a teenager, because of the age difference. By "My Life; Your World," it begins to feel a lot more natural. Travis makes a play for her, getting smashed, naked, and declaring his love, in front of the entire gang and Laurie's boyfriend, no less.

Laurie doesn't go for Travis yet, but the seed is planted. At the wedding on the beach, she looks at him, and there is definitely something between them, even stronger than before. She is surely actually seeing him as boyfriend material now. Will it work out between them? Who knows? But it will be very surprising if they do not become a couple sometime in season four.

The final plot involves Ellie falling for a hotel concierge named Daniel (David Arquette) who will do anything for her, which eventually lands him in jail. This entire subplot feels wrong and strange. Watching how not cool this all is with Andy, one keeps waiting for the inevitable moment where Ellie realizes she has hurt her husband and apologizes. It never comes. In the tag at the end of the episode, she is still rubbing his face into it. Not even Ellie is this cruel, and so the story falls flat. But it is the only really weak spot in the entire hour, so it can be overlooked.

Cougar Town will pack its bags and move to TBS soon. Make sure to watch for details about when it will come back! My recommended way to do this is to follow Bill Lawrence on twitter @VDOOZER.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here to buy DVDs and streaming episodes of Cougar Town. Read every Cougar Town review I've ever written! Article first published as Cougar Town finally goes to Napa on TheTVKing.com

Cougar Town looks for "Something Good Coming" in Hawaii

     Last spring, ABC's Modern Family ended their season by heaing to Hawaii. This year, Cougar Town does the same thing. Next year is your turn, Happy Endings! In Cougar Town's final episode of season two, "Something Good Coming," the Cul de Sac Crew take a family vacation to Hawaii with the ulterior motive of bring home Travis (Dan Byrd), who has fled there after dropping out of college and having his proposal rejected by his girlfriend. Laurie (Busy Philipps) feels especially responsible, as it is her "cheering up" talk that gives him the idea to go. Jules (Courteney Cox) and Bobby (Brian Van Holt) fail to get through to him, but Laurie comes through in the end. Meanwhile, Bobby feels left out after spending couple time with both Andy (Ian Gomez) and Ellie (Christa Miller), only to have them ditch him for some alone time. Jules and Grayson (Josh Hopkins) seem at an impasse when it comes to having a baby. And Tom (Bob Clendenin) follows them, but only hangs out at a distance, unnoticed until the final day of the trip.

     Last season, Cougar Town ends with Bobby sad because he is the only single member of the group. This year, that theme recurs. It's a shame that Bobby is in a similar place as he is a year ago, because the season one finale really made viewers feel for him and hope that he would find a girl. To have the second season finale echo those same emotions is a bit regetful, though Van Holt plays it well. Luckily, Bobby has matured and gotten to a better place, with an actual apartment, so he certainly has a better chance to find love going forward. Until then, he isn't completely alone. Travis is single again, but he's not really part of the group, especially after leaving for college. Tom is also not quite a member. Perhaps Bobby can spend some time hanging with Tom next year?

     Does Tom ever have a chance of joining the group? It's unclear. He is kind of like Chang on Community in that he is on the outskirts and yearns to be on the inside, but the individuals only allow him access on rare occasions. What Tom has going for him is that the Cougar Town characters are kinder and less self involved than the Greendale crew (who are awesome!), and they often don't seem completely bothered to have to tolerate him. It may take awhile, but Tom has a shot.

     Speaking of NBC's Community, the character of Abed (Danny Pudi) makes a short but hilarious cameo in an early scene of "Something Good Coming," an obvious response of Community's extended tribute to Cougar Town in a recent episode, in which Abed mentions flying to Los Angeles and being an extra in CT. It's awesome that two wonderfully creative shows can honor each other with such cross promotion.

     And speaking of cross promotion again, this episode of Cougar Town features the return of a Scrubs character in Ted Buckland (Sam Lloyd), who Travis finds also trying to mend his broken heart on the island state. While it is a real pleasure to see Ted once more, the feeling turns bittersweet when Ted mentions he lost his love. Ted has always been such a sad character, and it was a delight that he got a happy ending on Scrubs. This episode kind of ruins that. But overall, it's worth it to see Ted.

     Will Jules and Grayson be able to overcome their dillema? That's the hope. Other sitcoms get main characters together, only to break them up to force drama. Cougar Town appears to be different, choosing to have their people work through problems, rather than break up. It took them awhile to get together, but once they're a couple, they are a couple. It's a welcome change, and a smart move. A baby might shift the tone dramatically. Ellie and Andy's doesn't, but Jules is essentially the main character, and she makes sure everyone knows her business all the time. As such, another child for her would likely have much more affect than Stan has.

     Another episode with some real Travis / Laurie chemistry. Their bond is plapable, and the creepiness has started to wear off. The writers have said they would want to wait until season five, when Travis is 21 and Laurie is 30, to get them together. Yes, Laurie is Travis's mom's friend, but she's also become his. With her age, it isn't too weird. Besides, watching the two of them together, it is clear that there can be a real relationship there. While it doesn't feel like it's quite time yet, perhaps a season three finale? There could be some fun had when Laurie wants to go out drinking and Travis can't. He may also buck hanging out with his mother all the time, as Laurie does. It will be a real shame if this never happens. As such, Cougar Town must be kept on the air for at least a few more years!

     Also neat, the short title sequence, which typically pans up Florida, is extended, as the camera travels across the country and out to Hawaii. A very cool shot, and a fun idea well executed. The title card features the words "We will never stop mocking the title...", a reference, as the series has taken to doing every week, that Cougar Town just really doesn't do the show justice, or describe what it's about. Series creators Kevin Biegel and Bill Lawrence have begun soliticing fans on twitter for ideas for a new title, so if you have one, please tweet @VDOOZER and @kbeigel

     Cougar Town has been renewed, but will not return until November. I recommend watching reruns and following both he writers and the actors on twitter. They do not fail to amuse. The actor's twitter accounts are: @MrJoshHopkins @ChristaBMiller @IBGomez and @BusyPhilipps25 And the character of Laurie (run by the writers) tweets as @TheLarmy

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     Click here to buy DVDs and streaming episodes of Cougar Town.

Cougar Town: Titles Are Hard

     Perhaps the worst named sitcom currently on television, ABC's Cougar Town is also one of the funniest.  The rotten concept the series began with was ditched early on in the first season, and the show morphed into something really great.  Debate raged last spring whether a name change may help the series pick up viewers, but a new one was never agreed upon.  As a nod to fans, this year's season premiere had "(Still)" above the title.  And since then, there has been a new tag every week making fun of the monkier.  This week's was "Titles Are Hard", which, to Bill Lawrence's credit, they are.  Still, I can't help but wishing they had made a change.  My favorite was the sligthly risque Family Jules, which is way more accurate as to what the show is about.

     That's because the show, whose central character is Jules Cobb (Courteney Cox), is now about her group, as they have become a family.  Yes, the other characters often all revolve around her, and her house is the hang out place.  She gave up on being a cougar a long time ago, and is now in a steady relationship with a more age appropriate man, Grayson (Josh Hopkins).  She's not the only one who was rapidly evolved.  Ellie (Christa Miller) and Laurie (Busy Philipps), who started out as bitter enemies still have their tiffs, but they have pretty much accepted each other, and even sometimes spend time together without common denominator Jules.  Jules's ex-husband, Bobby (Brian Van Holt), who was originally kind of a joke, is now beloved and accepted by all of the others.  Andy (Ian Gomez), while still not the one wearing the pants in his marriage, is valued by his wife, and can make decisions without her.  Even Jules's son, Travis (Dan Byrd), who at first seemed separate from the adults as they came together, finds frequent reasons to be home from college, hanging out with his parents' pals.

     If it all sounds honky dory, that's because it is.  Yet, it still delivers laugh out loud moments every week.  Whether it be a funny new song that Grayson makes up, a new drinking game, turning Travis's bedroom into a Jam Room, or everyone hanging out in Jules's renovated dream bathroom, simple, silly things make the comedy must-see.

     Last night, Jules's father, Chick, came for a visit.  He was played by Ken Jenkins, who was Dr. Kelso on Scrubs.  Scrubs was, of course, created by the same man who does Cougar Town, Bill Lawrence, as his wife, Christmas Miller, has appeared in both shows.  Quick Bill Lawrence trivia: Not only does Travis currently attend college at the set used for the medical school in last season's failed continuation of Scrubs, but the original Scrubs hospital can still be seen every week in Cartoon Network's hilarious Childrens Hospital.  Bill Lawrence things just don't die.  Including Ken Jenkins, who was fresh as ever, and actually, thankfully, though I liked the character, wasn't very Kelso-y.

     The episode focused on Chick's refusal to show Jules much affection since her mother died.  Sure, it was perfectly predictable that the root cause would be because Jules reminded Chick too much of his departed wife.  But their reconcilliation after a big confrontation still jerked a few tears.  It made me wish Jenkins was on the show more regularly, and given Lawrence's penchant for constantly adding and bringing back recurring characters, coupled with his adoration of Jenkins, it could happen.

     The episode also was goofy just because of the Halloween element.  Ellie dressed up as Laurie, and Laurie dressed up as Ellie, leading to some choice one-liners.  Travis later showed up as Andy, which confirms once more that somewhere down the line, as Travis gets slightly older, the cougar concept may be revisited somewhat by a Travis-Laurie pairing, and while it would be weird at first, they do have great chemistry.  Even though she is his mom's friend, much older than him, so maybe not.  Chick was a bear, and no one knew he was at the bar for awhile (except observant or intelligent viewers).  Andy was Burt Reynolds, but as Grayson put it, looked like Dom DeLuise dressed as Burt Reynolds.  Jules thought Grayson was going to be a prince, so she dressed as a princess.  Grayson was actually the singer Prince, again, I saw it coming from a mile away, but still couldn't stop laughing.  Oddly enough, despite all of those great costumes, my favorite was Bobby's Windy Guy, mostly because Ellie and Andy had to have a serious conversation with a guy whose hair was gelled back and had pieces of trash stuck to him.

     If you're not watching Cougar Town, please give it another chance.  It's on right after Modern Family, and I know plenty of you watch that.  Check out Cougar Town Wednesdays at 9:30 on ABC.  In Lexington, ABC is found on channel 10 (antenna), 386 (satellite), or 908 (high definition cable).

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Cougar Town roars to life

    ABC's Cougar Town was (rightly) ridiculed when it first premiered.  It had a mediocre pilot, and a weird premise.  Yet, shortly after the first episode, it dropped the whole garbage about older women dating younger men, other than a token Cougar character, Barb (Carolyn Hennesy), who is funny, but not even a main character.  Instead, it became about a group of older, but far from old, friends that get together, drink, and have fun with each other.  It's a more relaxed version of Friends, and it's become one of the best comedies on television.

     At the center of the series is Jules (Courteney Cox), and everyone else seems to kind of orbit around her.  Her son, Travis (Dan Byrd), is staying close by for college.  Her ex-husband, Bobby (Brian Van Holt) is one of her closest companions, which seems to have become a staple of television.  What happened to bitter exes who never speak again?  Except that Bobby is such an essential, lovable character, that despite his immaturity, you sometimes wonder why Jules ever dumped him.  She has now moved on to Grayson (Josh Hopkins), who she began dating after less than a season of will they / won't they tension, certainly a fresh approach.

     Also in the cast are Jule's long-time best friend, Ellie (Christa Miller), and her new best friend and employee, Laurie (Busy Philips).  Although they initially clashed over Jules's affection, they are already reaching an understanding with each other.  Clearly, Ellie has had practice with divided loyalties, because her own husband, Andy (Ian Gomez), sometimes seems to favor Bobby over her.

     The thing about the show is, despite the already drastically reduced tension in the group, they all just seem to enjoy each other so much, that it makes you feel good to watch it.  For instance, in the season finale, "Finding Out", everyone is now in a relationship except for Bobby.  So they all go out of their way to throw him a party on the beach and make him feel better.

     The whole concept wouldn't work without the hilarious, spot-on writing by series creator Bill Lawrence (Scrubs) and the staff.  The sitcom is already rivaling the best days of his last project.  I honestly just have no complaints, except, of course, the title.  There are already online suggestions of other possible titles, as well as plenty of rumor that the network in considering renaming.  My favorite is The Family Jules.  Haha, get it?  But, whatever the title, Cougar Town is a true jewel.

     The second season of Cougar Town will air next fall on ABC.

Sitcom Roundup '09 Part I

     Many great sitcoms finished their fall run this week.  I had nine sitcoms that I wanted to cover, so I'm breaking them into two parts.  First is ABC and NBC.  Expect the other one, including FX shows, sometime after CBS's Monday finishes tomorrow.  Here we go.

Modern Family (ABC) ~ Hands down my favorite new sitcom this year.  With a fantastic, large cast, this is the dysfunctional family of modern America.  The Christmas episode was fantastic.  Slowly, it is being revealed that Jay (Ed O'Neill, Married... With Children) really is a great dad, and he is proving it again while helping raise Manny (Rico Rodriguez).  Jay not only got into the spirit of Manny's Columbian traditions, he really made the kid's Christmas.  As much as I love the gays, Claire (Julie Bowen, Boston Legal) and Phil (Ty Burrell, Back to You) took the cake this week as they canceled Christmas when they thought their kids were lying.  Tough parenting done right.  Though Phil, of course, overdid it.  If you are not watching this show, start immediately.

Cougar Town (ABC) ~ It started off a little slow, but this sitcom from Bill Lawrence (Scrubs) has really become something.  Led by Jules (Courteney Cox, Friends), the show revolves around her friends and family in Florida.  This week, Andy (Ian Gomez, Felicity) proved his parenting skills to his wife, Ellie (Christa Miller, The Drew Carey Show) with less than hoped for, but hilarious, results.  Also, things seemed to be heating up between Grayson (Josh Hopkins, Private Practice) and Jules, but with the introduction of a new guy this week, he could face at least one more obstacle before the inevitably get together.  I also have to give props to Dan Byrd (Aliens in America) who plays Jules's son, Travis, and mostly takes his mother's insanity in stride.  With this series really starting to find its path, ABC has the makings of a comedy night!

Parks & Recreation (NBC) ~ The Amy Poehler-led series had a rocky first season, but has found its groove this year, especially with the expanded rolls of Donna (Retta) and Jerry (Jim O'Heir), who really fill out the department.  Unfortunately, it looks like Leslie (Poehler) has lost her first stable relationship, as Dave (Louis C.K.) told her he was going to San Diego for at least a year.  Let's hope she takes him up on his offer to go visit.  Also, I love that Andy (Chris Pratt of Everwood) is finally getting over Ann (Rashida Jones, The Office) and falling for intern April (Aubrey Plaza).  The two will make a great couple.  The plot this week finally made Ron (Nick Offerman) and Tom (who may be the funniest character on television, played by Aziz Ansari, formerly of Scrubs) actually appreciate Leslie, so maybe her life will improve.  A little.  Aw, who am I kidding?

The Office (NBC) ~ This show has done some very wrong things in the past, but the week before the finale hit a new low when Michael (Steve Carell, 40 Year Old Virgin) let down a group of high school seniors who thought he was paying for their college.  Not that he was much better this week, trying to force Phyllis (Phyllis Smith) out of her Santa role.  I am quite disturbed by Dwight's (Rainn Wilson) new mission in life to take Jim (John Krasinski) down.  It had appeared that they might actually be friends after Angela (Angela Kinsey) dumped Dwight.  Speaking of guys dumped by Angela, Andy (Ed Helms, The Daily Show) was so sweet with his failed gifts to Erin (Ellie Kemper), though he really made up for it at the end.  Oh, well.  More disturbing was the news that Dunder-Mifflin has been sold, and the New York execs are being fired.  Not the merriest Christmas they could have imagined, but I think this particular office will be all right.

30 Rock (NBC) ~ How many Emmys did this show have to win before people started tuning in?  As someone who has been watching from the beginning, I admit, the show did improve since then, but not much.  It has always been funny.  This week Liz (Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live) tried to go head to head with Jack (Alec Baldwin) for giving the best Christmas gift.  Guess who won?  Thought Liz sure gave a good one.  More funny was the writers, including  Frank (Judah Friendlander), who convinced Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) that they were a religion that didn't participate in Secret Santa.  What their religion did do was hilarious, but cause poor uber-religious Ken to stop believing in God.  Uh, oh!  Was it merely coincidence that both 30 Rock and The Office's final episodes were called "Secret Santa"?  Hmm.

Click here to go to Part II (CBS & FX)

Scrubs's new class

     Bill Lawrence's Scrubs returned for it's second season on ABC last night.  (It originally ran for seven years on NBC).  It felt like a whole new show, and it was a little shaky, but since this was only the first hour, that can be forgiven.  That is, IF it improves quickly.  Here's what was good, and what was bad.

     The new characters are fun and interesting.  Not sure Lucy (Kerry Bishe) can fill Zach Braff's shoes, though.  Yeah, she is quirky, sweet, and naive.  Kind of like a slightly less female version of J.D.  However, she didn't have quite the level of likability that he always had.  She may, in time, grow to be a fitting main character, but she is clearly still finding her legs.  Cole and Drew had an easier time, perhaps because they were allowed to be their own people, instead of serving as a replacement for a beloved character. Cole (Dave Franco) brought a level of jerkiness not seen on the show regularly before, and Drew (Michael Mosely) seems to be the type to try to hide everything, but also has layers.  The romance blossoming between Drew and last season newbie Denise could turn out quite exciting.  The only issues with the new guys is that the show is focusing on them too quickly.  Last season a slew of new interns was brought on, presumably to prepare for this new direction, however it appears that only Denise (Eliza Coupe) made the cut to continue, and that is disappointing.  It would be easier to accept them if they had been eased in, but given a few more episodes, I think they will all pass muster.  None of the three faces insurmountable odds.  I also enjoyed the security guards and the Australian chick, and hope that they will become staples.  I even liked the slightly new theme song.

     The issue with the new Scrubs is the how the old characters are being treated.  Only one of the supporting cast turned up, though The Todd (Robert Maschio) was arguably the most prominent, save Ted (Sam Lloyd), so it is fitting that he will continue.  But what about the rest?  Kelso (Ken Jenkins) made the transition the easiest.  He seems fine where he is.  Janitor (Neil Flynn), too, who won't be part of the new show, had a nice little goodbye scene.  The others, not so much.  Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) and Dr. Turk (Donald Faison) are the only two returning full time.  Why would Dr. Cox stop being chief of medicine and take a teaching job?  What exactly happened to the old hospital, and who is in charge now?  Sure, I understand it was torn down and rebuilt on a campus, but why, and what happened to most of the staff?  For instance, I saw nurses.  Where is Carla (Judy Reyes)?  Apparently she is no longer in the cast at all, though her bio is still on the official website, because she wanted to remain a full time character, and she was told that wasn't feasible.  Why not?  And Dr. Turk, who did transition almost as well as Kelso, is still married to her, so how will he get full, rich stories if she won't be popping up from time to time?  Also, what is Elliot (Sarah Chalke) up to?  We saw her only briefly in the pilot.  She is signed to do a number of episodes, but in what capacity?

     The character of John Dorian suffers the most, though.  He is still the same guy he was, which is fine, but what has he been up to this past year?  He apparently wasn't working with is friends, but where is he?  Why exactly did he return?  He is still treated like one of the stars, despite splitting narration with Lucy, but he is only signed for a limited number of episodes.  I would assume his contract stipulated he remain in the theme song with top billing for now, but why?  Just because he's an executive producer?  It doesn't make sense, and it makes him seem watered down.  My biggest beef is that he had such a perfect, fitting series finale last spring, that anything more than an occasional guest spot for him seems to cheapen the new show.  Hopefully his transition out will come soon and with class.

     This new version of Scrubs is funny, I'll give it that.  It kept enough of the old elements to make the viewer feel comfortable continuing.  But it needs to up the ante and let the newbies prove themselves quickly, or this could be another failed After M*A*S*H*.