About ABOUT A BOY

Article first published as ABOUT A BOY Review on Seat42F.


NBC brings the acclaimed novel and film ABOUT A BOY to the small screen this week with a sitcom of the same name, previewing Saturday night after the Olympics. Having not seen or read that work, this review is solely about the “Pilot” of the new series itself. It’s the tale of two males, one old, one young, who form an unlikely friendship that helps them both to grow as individuals. And it’s totally not creepy.

David Walton (New Girl, Perfect Couples, Bent) stars as Will, a successful composer of a Christmas song who lives alone in a nice house in San Francisco. He has a friend, Andy (Al Madrigal, The Daily Show), but Andy has his own family, leaving Will alone most days to chase women and meander through life like an overgrown child. It’s a little pathetic. OK, maybe more than a little.

Then Marcus (Benjamin Stockham, 1600 Penn) moves in next door. Marcus is overly sheltered by his vegan mother, Fiona (Minnie Driver, The Riches, Good Will Hunting). Will’s a good son, dedicated to cheering her up with a song, as Fiona suffers from depression, even though she won’t let him eat ribs. Of course, a boy like this will be bullied, and is soon on the run from classmates who’d like to pound him to a pulp.

This has the makings of a mutually beneficial relationship. Marcus could use a male role model who can teach him how to loosen up and be cool, as well as protect him from bad boys, and Will needs to grow up, taking on a role as a mentor, and actually letting someone really get to know him. They also quickly appear to be layered individuals, both guys managing to keep what could very easily be stereotypical parts away from cartoonish territory.

The “Pilot” takes us through their first meeting, introducing the characters, providing illustrations of their starting points, and still manages to squeeze in a pivotal moment for their relationship. It does feel a lot like a full-length film condensed down to twenty minutes, which means the pacing is a little faster than it should be, and scenes pass by in a whiz.

That being said, ABOUT A BOY does do a great job of letting the emotion shine through. A montage makes the bond feel real, despite the brief screen time, and Walton and Stockham have amazing chemistry. Both being parts of failed series on multiple occasions before this one, ABOUT A BOY may just be the right vehicle to help them succeed.

There are definitely some cheesy parts in this first episode. For one thing, Marcus isn’t nearly as good a singer as the show pretends, and Will is a bit more devious than most viewers might be willing to overlook. Not to mention, Fiona is uptight enough to insist Will not grill meat unless the wind is blowing in a southeasterly direction. Ridiculous. The hope, though, is that this cast is good enough that the audience will see the talent in the writing, direction, and performances, and give it a second chance.

Even at its weakest points, I connected to ABOUT A BOY. There is something really authentic and joyous in the tone, something magnetic that should draw people to it. Don’t let the late, mid-season start fool you; ABOUT A BOY is better than pretty much any other new broadcast network sitcom this year, in my opinion, with the possible exception of The Crazy Ones. I can’t speak to the long-term viability of the premise yet, but Walton and Stockham have sold me on the project, and I’ve already happily set a season pass.

If nothing else, I’m really curious to see if the writers can keep Dakota (Leslie Bibb, GCB) around as a believable recurring character who might eventualy see past Will’s heinous lies. She seems poised to return at this point.

For fans of PARENTHOOD, which also airs on NBC, Will may seem familiar. That’s because the character already appeared in a January episode, meaning this series had a crossover before it even premiered! Pretty impressive.

Catch ABOUT A BOY late this Saturday night on NBC.

New Girl is better than "Table 34"

Article first published as New Girl is better than "Table 34" at TheTVKing

FOX's New Girl has changed direction for two of its leads right as February sweeps begins in their sophomore year. Last week, Nick (Jake Johnson) finally kisses Jess (Zooey Deschanel), releasing some of the long pent-up tension between the roomies. Jess, being in a relationship doesn't take it well, and neither does Nick, as what he does scares him.

Jess and Nick are not fully baked characters. They are in a state of flux, with Jess struggling to right herself during a career change, and Nick lacking, well, any direction. They aren't ready to be in a serious, committed relationship with each other. It's why they've been dancing around one another, instead of dating long ago. It's also the reason this can't work right now.

And yet, emotion is often messy. Love doesn't have to subscribe to a set of rules, nor fit in a predetermined box. Who's to say that these two crazy kids can't make things work, despite all of the odds stacked against them? Maybe deep affection is enough.

No, it's not. But it will sure be funny to watch them try to figure it out.

In this week's episode, "Table 34," much of the half hour is spent with Jess debating whether to tell her boyfriend, Sam (David Walton), about the kiss. The fact that she doesn't come right out and say it proves that she feels something in return for Nick. But Sam finds out anyway because Nick feels guilty, and in an attempt to make sure Jess is happy, blurts the confession, trying to reassure Sam that it meant nothing to Jess. Sam sees right through the lie, which Jess seems to be telling to herself as much as to Sam, and breaks things off.

It will be interesting to see exactly how this story develops in the next couple of weeks. Jess has some justifiable anger at Nick for ruining the good relationship she was in that won't just disappear. Nick may be totally in love with Jess, but he's not mature enough to lay things on the line. With Sam out of the picture, though, there isn't a huge barrier between them, and they may have to actually deal with their feelings in one way or another, either though that isn't a strong suit for either of them.

Or they may just hilariously avoid one another until it blows over. For now.

I love that Winston's (Lamorne Morris) reaction to hearing the news is to threaten Nick, telling Nick that he will be the one removed from the apartment, should the whole mess blow up. Winston and Schmidt (Max Greenfield), Jess's other two roommates, aren't crushing on her. They are simply protective big brothers, and they are willing to go to bat for her, even against their closest friend. It's a very sweet element of New Girl, and one played especially well this week.

Meanwhile, the other large arc unfolding is Cece's (Hannah Simone) quest to find an Indian husband, and Schmidt's attempts, despite his best intentions, to sabotage her mission. After all, he is still in love with her, and he cannot help himself trying to win her back.

The good news is, Cece appears to be softening. She loves Schmidt just as much as Schmidt loves her, but Schmidt hurt her. It wasn't on purpose, and Schmidt thought he was doing what was right for Cece, but the fact remains that he wronged her quite severely, and it's not something that she can just let go of. Given time, though, she probably eventually will.

The fact that Cece and Schmidt fall into bed at the end of "Table 34" is not a sign that their drama is over. Cece still wants an Indian husband, and hasn't fully forgiven Schmidt. But it is a move in the right direction, re-stoking the coals of their passion before they can burn out. I figure this will get stretched until the season finale, and then they'll be a united couple forever.

It does suck for Cece that she is placed at Table 34 because of her lack of education and full-time employment. It worries me that this is setting her up to settle for Schmidt because she doesn't think that she can do better. But hopefully that will pass, and she'll be with Schmidt for the right reasons again.

All of the antics at the Indiana marriage convention in "Table 34" are pretty darn funny. Yes, it doesn't quite gel that the Indians would allow their event to be invaded by a bunch of white (and one black) people, who clearly aren't there to engage in the spirit of the occasion. But it's a unique setting I can't remember ever seeing before on television, and it allows things to play out in a place ripe for comedy. Plus, how great is Jess and Nick's newspaper-tape table?

New Girl airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

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New Girl no longer new but still funny

FOX's New Girl presented the first two episodes of its sophomore season last night. In the first, "Re-launch," Jess (Zooey Deschanel) loses her job. She spirals into depression, and even though she tries to bounce back by being a Shot Girl for Schmidt's (Max Greenfield) penis cast removal party, it just isn't enough. Which is why, in the second installment, "Katie," she is on the prowl for sex, which she finds easily enough.

New Girl could be tackling the political issue of school budget cuts, something plaguing the country right now, as there are tons of teachers like Jess right now who can't find teaching jobs (this reviewer included). Yet, as a comedy, the circumstances surrounding Jess losing her job are mentioned, and moved past quickly. The writers aren't out to make any political statements, and Schmidt's angry mutter of "Obama" is too much of a bit to be taken seriously. New Girl sticks to what it does well: laughs. It doesn't force anything more, a wise decision, as tackling this large issue would not work well with the show's tone.

This is also why the series can be forgiven for falling in to the TV trope of seeing unemployment as an opportunity to re-invent oneself. Most of us in the lead characters' economic class, battling student loans and high gas prices, would have to be out looking for a job the day after being fired. Jess is allowed to luxuriate in her grief, and yet, because of the execution of the actress and the story, it works.

Poor Jess. She is pretty, to be sure, but she is not a sexual creature. She'd like to be, but she doesn't really know how. Part of the charm of New Girl is that it will take a very special man to find the things that she does a turn on in the bedroom. It's why the premise of a girl living with three men who don't want to jump her bones comes across as realistic instead of phony. They can care about her without wanting to get into her pants all of the time. Jess is an acquired taste, quirky in the extreme. Which makes for a very funny, novel series, especially because there aren't a lot of lead female characters on TV who embrace a lack of wooing power.

Yet, in "Katie," boys are falling in line to get her number. The beautiful looks always trumps until Jess opens her mouth to make it awkward. One suitor, Bearclaw (Josh Gad, Book of Mormon) is weird in his own right, though not in a way that fits Jess. Instead, she ends up with Sam (David Walton, Bent, Perfect Couples), a man who thinks that she is Katie, a girl he has been chatting with online. Even after Jess confesses the truth, he still wants to be with her! That's a good man, right there, able to see Jess's inner character, even after she screws up. Or the sex is (somehow) just that mind blowing.

Of course, Sam won't be around forever. We see Nick's (Jake Johnson) tender side emerge once more as he seeks to cheer Jess up. They may not be ready to be together yet, but it's they'll get there eventually. They both might go through a few other partners on the way, but make no mistake about it; Jess and Nick will hook up.

Schmidt is also feeling a little down. He tries very hard to talk a big game in "Re-launch," throwing his danger-themed party. But, despite the large pool of eligible ladies, he doesn't find a girl to sleep with. In fact, he barely notices there are any gals at the party save one: Cece (Hannah Simone). Schmidt is done with his player days (if they ever really existed), and while he still tries to pretend machismo, his heart is spoken for. This is a character we can all really relate to, and his pain breaks our hearts.

That's not to say that he deserves Cece back, though. Yes, he will make up for dumping her someday. But for now, although Cece is starting to forgive him, he hurt her too deeply for a quick reconnection. So she'll date Robby (Nelson Franklin, Traffic Light) for awhile instead. We haven't seen why Cece would want to be with Robby, who, at first glance, appears ill-suited to her. But I'm sure New Girl will get to that. Or just make the character a one-time guest star.

In these two episodes, besides the excellent shipper stuff, New Girl also includes a lot of humorous side plots. Some really work, like Winston (Lamorne Morris) getting weird with fruity drinks and, strangely enough, but only because of the ending, Nick talking to a homeless man (Justified's Raymond J. Barry) he believes to be a future version of himself. Others, like Parker Posey (Louie, A Mighty Wind) as a sad, washed-up Shot Girl, don't. But overall, the show returns strong, mixing the humor and heart that it captures so expertly.

New Girl airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted at TheTVKing

Not exactly 'Smitten' with Bent

This week, NBC's Bent finally premiered with two episodes, "Pilot" and "Smitten." In "Pilot," Alex Meyers (Amanda Peet, Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip, 2012) reluctantly hires Pete Riggins (David Walton, Perfect Couples, 100 Questions) and his crew to renovate her kitchen. They flirt, but he's a player, and she's got a boyfriend, Ben (Matt Letscher, Eli Stone, Brothers & Sisters), whom she forgets to mention, and isn't sleeping with. In "Smitten," Alex and Pete's dance continues, and Ben still isn't getting lucky. Though Pete is, just not with Alex.

For the curious who missed these episodes, the "Pilot" of Bent is free on Amazon right now, and "Smitten" is available for a small fee. Watch it, then come back and read this article.

Looking at the stars listed in the paragraph above, a pattern begins to emerge. Bent is full of terrific actors who have been in excellent television shows that were canceled before their time. Bent is not one of those excellent shows, and its imminent cancellation, which seems a very likely possibility, especially given the show's April premiere date, will not be mourned the way others have been.

The actors are great, and many of the names should be familiar. Besides the three listed above, Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) plays Peter's washed-up-actor dad, JB Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm, a former writer for Saturday Night Live) is Pete's gossipy friend, Clem, Jesse Plemons (Friday Night Lights) is Pete's taken-advantage-of-apprentice, and Joey King (Ramona & Beezus) is Alex's daughter. Additionally, Pasha D. Lychnikoff (Deadwood) and Margo Harshman (Even Stevens) round out the cast.

But the problem with Bent is that there isn't much material for the performers to work with. The whole concept is that Pete is redoing Alex's kitchen? How long can that be stretched out? What happens when the work is done? Does he redo her whole house? Unless Pete and Alex are a couple by that time, there isn't much of a reason to merge their social circles. And if they are a couple, where does the tension go, as their interplay is the only real plot arc developed thus far?

Also, Harshman's character is called Screwsie. Whether that's because she likes to have lots of sex, or because she unscrews the top off many a bottle of cheap wine, the cutesy nickname is way too on the nose. Seriously, a grown woman goes by the name Screwsie? Does she want to be labeled an easy, alcoholic, slut?

Along the same lines, in the "Pilot" Tambor's character says that he's "Bent, not broken." If you need to explain the title of your series, the show needs a new title.

There are some hints of goodness. The bond that Pete forms with Alex's daughter, Frankie, is sweet. That is clearly his 'in' with her mother. If one can win over the kid, one can get the mother, and Pete has done that already. But since it's happened right off the bat, there isn't a lot of room to develop this further, and this relationship is not enough to carry the series on its own.

This cast would be great in a better written show. The chemistry is wonderful, when they get to use it. Perhaps that's what should be done. Keep them all together, but write totally new characters. Or figure out a different direction for Bent, quickly. Otherwise, it's destined to be yet another failed project for this very talented group of people who just can't find the right show.

Bent airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. In Columbus, NBC is analog channel 4, satellite 382, and high def cable 1004.

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Perfect Couples goes out with a "Perfect Wedding"

     Once more, an extremely funny sitcom has failed to find an audience. Definitely one of the best in recent years, NBC has pulled Perfect Couples from its schedule beginning next week. That means that this week's episode, "Perfect Wedding", will likely serve as a series finale. It's not fair, when Outsourced got an entire season and Perfect Couples only aired ten episodes. In a perfect world, quality would be the most important factor in choosing which TV shows live and die, but that is sadly not the case. I just wish there was some way to better highlight quality where it is found, other than relying on networks to promote it.

     Several episodes have dealt with Vance (David Walton) and Amy (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) getting ready for their wedding, so perhaps it is appropriate to end the series on the day of their nuptials. That way, a major arc is not left hanging. This being Vance and Amy, who can both be downright insane, things do not go smoothly. Amy worries that Vance will split, and Dave (Kyle Bornheimer) and Rex (Hayes MacArthur) spend their time trying to keep Vance calm and not let him over think things, as he has a tendency to do. This culminates in Amy seeing Vance fret, and both end up running out on the wedding. Finding each other at the airport, they agree they are not ready to get married.
     I applaud the series for this level of thinking. Many shows in their ilk would marry off the characters, and then deal with things as they come, either changing them to make it work, or allowing divorce later. Vance and Amy are smart enough to realize their weaknesses, and work on them. It makes very much sense in the story for them to call off the wedding, even after everyone has gathered at the church. That is not to say they would not revisit matrimony down the line, should the series get picked up, which doesn't look likely. But they aren't ready now.

     As much fun as Amy and Vance are, my favorite couple is Dave and Julia (Christine Woods). They are the best man and maid of honor, and both want to tell the same story during their speech. That simply will not do, and Julia gloats when she finds out that she will be talking first. Dave won't give up loosing the story to Julia, and goes around telling everyone ahead of time. She doesn't get angry. They both know all is fair in love and war, and they love each other despite their competitive contests. It's a very healthy relationship, without grudges.

     Woods's evil laugh is so good in this episode, it bears rewinding for instant replay. And no one can ugly cry like she does. Woods, while a decent dramatic actress, has shown unexpected comedy chops on this series that easily belong in any future clip reels she sends out. Bornheimer has already proven his worth in other failed sitcoms, and he continues to be magic. Woods and Bornheimer are the rare genuine geniuses in the comedy world, that praise cannot be heaped too highly on them. Both will find new work soon enough. But I want to see them together! They are fantastic!

     Rex and Leigh (Olivia Munn) are no slouches either, of course, though they are less complex than Dave and Julia, the 'real', 'normal' couple. Leigh, the wedding planner, actually hires a professional calmer for the wedding to soothe the nerves of anyone who freaks out. She herself got to make use of his services. Rex, on the other hand, is the only one who doesn't have a job. He feels so left out, he gladly volunteers to be 'flower man' when the flower girl gets sick. You'd think the concept would be too goofy, but watching Rex practice dropping petals in the hallway is priceless! 

     Perfect Couples has some of the best writing and acting in current sitcom land. Though it got off to a rocky start, recent episodes have been an absolute joy from beginning to end. I beg of you NBC! Renew this show!

Article first published as TV Review: Perfect Couples - "Perfect Wedding" on Blogcritics.

For an alphabetical list of all of Jerome Wetzel's Current Season Reviews, please click here.

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Perfect Couples - "Pilot"

     NBC's newest addition the their Thursday night sitcom lineup is Perfect Couples. I'm not sure how I feel about the show. It has a talented cast, many of whom I already liked before the series went to air. It's fairly funny. I just don't know if its original and clever enough to really stand out as something that needs to be watched.

     Like ABC's Better With You often does, the episode began with highlighting similar situations and how three different couples handle them. Unlike BWY, where the couples are alike, and the differences are determined by length of time together, these couples just have different types of chemistry and styles of communication. Rex (Hayes MacArthur, Worst Week) and Leigh (Olivia Munn, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Attack of the Show) are in counseling and read relationship books, so they use therapy jargon and discuss feelings. It works about as well as you think it will. Vance (David Walton, 100 Questions) and Amy (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) fight with lots of passion, and then make up sexually with the same level of energy. The 'normal' couple in the center is Dave (Kyle Bornheimer, Worst Week) and Julia (Christine Woods, FlashForward).

     I love Bornheimer, and I know he just needs the right sitcom to really take off as a star. He is great in understated humor and broad physical comedy. Playing the mostly even, straight man to the zaniness around him works just as well as his goofy turn in WW. For him alone, I want this show to succeed. Munn is also pretty funny, as she has proven playing varied versions of herself in news-like entertainment. Ellis has always been wickedly funny in Sunny, and she basically kicks up that same character a notch. Woods was lucky that FF ended after only one season, because even if this series gets canceled, she will be better for it, broadening her range and cast-ability. Walton and MacArthur I don't know as well, but they round out the ensemble just fine. All six actors commit completely to the characters they play, and do it with talent. As such, I don't think any issues I have with the show relate to casting.

     In the pilot, Dave and Julia agree to a game night with the others so that they can have their anniversary free to themselves. As you might expect, things go badly, and soon their four friends are in their bedroom. Vance and Amy's plot makes sense, and their entanglement with the evening. However, Rex and Leigh just constantly show up, presumably so they get as much screen time as the rest. It's not that the couple is less funny, but they just weren't as involved in the story this week. Rather than allow the other characters room to breathe and work, it seemed like they were forced into scenes they needn't have been.

     This is just a pilot, so I won't delve too deeply or read too much into things. Every new show has bugs, and how good the series is depends on how quickly and well they work out the kinks. I will try Perfect Couples again next week and I hope you do the same, because despite some missteps, there is potential here.

     Perfect Couples airs Thursday nights at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

Article first published as TV Review: Perfect Couples - "Pilot" on Blogcritics.

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100 Questions sparks a few more

     NBC's newest sitcom is 100 Questions.  Premiering last Thursday with "What Brought You Here?", it's a sitcom with a definite number of episodes already set: 100.  Each episode concerns one of the 100 questions a dating service asks our main character, and she gives lengthy answers in flashback.  Considering it's a summer series, it seems unlikely that it will complete it's goal, though to be fair, Seinfeld was a summer show.  So was the brilliant Better Off Ted, although it only got to run eleven episodes during the normal tv year.  But that's the problem.  If it is soon canceled, as it is likely to be, it won't hit but a few of the aforementioned queries.  If it miraculously gains momentum and is a huge hit, it will be expected to go well over 100.  So someone picked a completely wrong number on this one.

     The show itself is not bad.  It should loose the laugh track immediately, as that was definitely the most annoying part about it.  But it does have a fun cast of characters that seems a cross between Friends and How I Met Your Mother.  Charlotte (Sophie Winkleman) is the Brit at the center of the group, and the one telling the story.  Her friends include a slutty ditz, Jill (Collette Wolfe), heartbroken Leslie (Smith Cho), suave former-rich boy Wayne (David Walton) and geeky straight man Mike (Christopher Moynihan, the creator and writer of the show).  Each fits nicely in their little group of chums, though I suspect they may try a Wayne - Charlotte romance should the series continue.  I found funny qualities already in each character, and the actors can all handle the comedy.  Their dynamics was much more interesting than the plot unfolding, which is not a bad thing for a new series.  Even the match company guy, Andrew (Michael Benjamin Washington) adds his own humorous quips.

     I do wonder at the format.  It has not been made clear after only one episode if the flashbacks will be sequential or not.  I would argue for not, as it frees up the writing staff to be a lot more creative, however I doubt audience would be able to stomach it.  It would be too hard to develop a cohesive linear story of the characters, and that would seem necessary to build a fan base.  The audience has to care about who they're watching, and most people won't do that if they spend all their time confused about how each segment fits among the previous ones.  Unless the placement isn't important, and the jokes kick it up another couple of notches, and then they can do whatever they want.

     As far as summer shows go, this will probably be among the best.  If it aired during the regular season, I would likely rank it in the middle of the pack.  However, as I always say, it's hard to judge what a series will be by it's pilot, and that is all I have seen so far.  Please check out 100 Questions Thursday nights at 8:30 on NBC to find out the answers to the queries I posed.