BAD TEACHER Makes For Bad Show

Article originally published as BAD TEACHER Review on Seat42F.

A couple of years ago, a pretty awful “comedy” film hit theaters. Called BAD TEACHER, it followed the antics of an abandoned trophy wife as she became an educator in the public school system. For some inexplicable reason, someone thought a terrible movie would make a great TV show. Hence, we now get BAD TEACHER on CBS, beginning this Thursday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The premise itself is highly flawed. A woman with absolutely no educational training is somehow hired, without license, degree, or credentials, to teach youngsters. She then acts completely unprofessionally in front of staff, students, and parents, and still gets to keep the job. Not only is this completely unrealistic, teaching standards being quite high and requiring much preparation and schooling, but it just isn’t funny.

Perhaps my own feelings about the field of education, having studied to become a teacher myself, color my opinion of BAD TEACHER. I’m sick of teachers being looked down upon, criticized for the “high” pay (low compared to most positions that require a Master’s degree), working hard for little credit, and being blamed for things that are wrong with the system, graded on student performance they often can’t control that much. At a time when press about teachers is not good, it really irks me that a network would be irresponsible enough to put this drivel on the air, further reinforcing negative and untrue stereotypes.

Getting off my soapbox, I guess I’ll tell you a little about the show itself. Ari Graynor (Fringe, Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist) stars as Meredith Davis, the titular woman. She gets nothing in her divorce, due to an iron-clad pre-nup, and so sets about finding herself a new sugar daddy. While crashing with her friends (‘Til Death’s Kat Foster and Luck’s Richard Kind), Meredith discovers that their child’s school is full of eligible, rich dads. Tricking inept sad-sack Principal Carl (David Alan Grier, In Living Color) into giving her a job, Meredith begins trying to land the next big one.

Even though Meredith routinely blows off everyone at her new place of employment, she is slotted into a place in the building’s hierarchy. Dorky Irene (Sara Gilbert, The Big Bang Theory) latches on, forcing herself into position as Meredith’s bestie. A former classmate, Joel (Ryan Hansen, Veronica Mars), decides he likes Meredith and sticks around to be her love interest. Well, he will be when she gets over her obsession with wealth. And the current Top Dog at the school, controlling Ginny (Kristin Davis, Sex and the City), decides Meredith is a threat, even though the blonde shows no ambition whatsoever, and casts herself as the enemy.

Of these people, Joel is the only one that comes across as interesting. Joel has an odd backstory, his penis being posted in photographs all over the school by Meredith’s predecessor, even though he doesn’t come across as the type of guy who would spark such venom. He isn’t pushy with Meredith, hanging around but waiting for her to come to him. He also seems the only one not participating in the game, standing by with a smirk as Meredith makes a fool of herself. He’s a normal, sane guy in a world populated with stereotypes.

Of course, as a series like this must, Meredith finds a heart at the end of the pilot. Unfortunately, there is no build up or character growth to support this. For the entire half hour, Meredith acts like a selfish jerk, and then, without any warning or catalyst, she suddenly pretends to care. If the first episode can’t give her even a hint of an arc, it’s unlikely the rest of the series will correct the mistake.

It isn’t unusual for CBS to present a crass, unfunny comedy. It’s not even unheard of for them to land really good actors and force them into parts that are beneath them, though seldom has been assembled on a bad project a group this good (being a fan of Gilbert, Davis, Graynor, Hansen, and a number of non-central cast members), wasted immensely. But BAD TEACHER has barely any redeeming qualities and is certainly worth no one’s time.

Bones enjoying stride

     FOX's Bones, now in it's sixth season, has solidified its formula and now is luxuriating in its success. Is that a good thing? Bones has always been one of the best case-of-the-week crime shows, owing to an amazing cast of characters. Lately, owing to a long-growing formation of tight social bonds and relationship developments, the show is able to spend just as much time on the personal stories as the case, which I view as a boon. Yet, the cases stay interesting and fun, and actually add to the personal drama, rather than detract from it.

     For example, this week David Alan Grier guest starred as Bunson Jude the Science Dude, and his assistance to Dr. Brennan (Emily Deschanel) was as comical as it was helpful. Last week, Brennan and Booth (David Boreanaz) investigated a murder at the Jersey Shore. Brennan was fascinated by the culture, which she had been studying in the "documentary series" Jersey Shore. She got to explain creeping and GTL to Booth. Great plots, very entertaining, and showcasing the main characters as well as the murder.

     But why wasn't Bones able to score any big casting gets? An attempt to get some of the Jersey Shore cast members to appear in the episode fell through, and did they even approach Bill Nye the Science Guy about guesting this week? Those types of things are, indeed, stunt casting. But for a long running, semi-popular, well-made show such as Bones, shouldn't they have been achievable gets? Maybe the people behind the show didn't want that, thinking it veered too much into cheese. Yet, they did the plots anyway, with imitations of the real thing, so why not go all out?

     That aside, the series has never been better. Temperance Brennan has lightened up so much that she's almost a normal person. This is due to not only her growing feelings for her partner, but also the real friendships she has forged in the workplace. Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) has gotten markedly happier since he found love, even when he wasn't with her. Angela (Michaela Conlin) has allowed herself to be tied down and start a family. And Sweets (John Francis Daley) and Cam (Tamara Taylor) have been fully accepted into the group that was already established before the arrived.

     And that's not all. Somewhere along the way, the Bones cast has expanded greatly, with a whole host of new characters considered part of the little Jeffersonian family. The rotating cast of interns has been an absolute joy. I miss those that are gone each week, and get excited to see who will come back next. Ms. Julian (Patricia Belcher) has been an important presence in half the season so far. Booth's new love interest, Hannah (Katheryn Winnick), is already making friends with and inviting Cam, Brennan, and Angela over to hang out. One big, happy group.

     That is what worries me; everyone is so happy, gets along so well. Don't get me wrong. Despite the love I had for the clashing between the characters early on, I am pleased to see the maturation. Now, though, the series gets to the point where it may be in danger of floundering. I have no complaints about the plot of sending everyone away at the end of last year, nor the solid premiere that brought them all back together. It punted the point of needing another shakeup down the field a bit. But only a bit. I predict that the next major twist will be when Brennan makes a play for Booth, and the inevitable breakup of Booth and Hannah. I'm not sure that's enough to fill a whole season, though.

     Don't get me wrong. I'm not pessimistic. I love Bones. I'm curious to see where the show will go from here. Just a word of caution to the people that make it: even though the current comfort is a delight, don't get too comfortable.

     Bones airs Thursday nights at 8pm on FOX.


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Article first published as TV Review: Bones Enjoying Stride on Blogcritics.