Amazon REBELS From Good Content

Article first published as Amazon REBELS From Good Content on TheTVKing.

One of Amazon's new comedy pilots is The Rebels. Julie Levine's (Natalie Zea, Justified, The Following) husband dies and she inherits a football team called The Rebels. Unfortunately, she knows little to nothing about the sport, complaining about the team's "costumes," but after a few sad words from her son, Chris (Aidan Potter, Playing for Keeps), decides to keep them, much to the dismay of other owners. Now if she can only figure out how to turn the losing team around...

Right out of the box it seems a little odd that Julie's husband is so beloved for having a team with such a poor record. He must have really been one special person in order for everyone to forgive him for his lack of wins. So the premise is a little off.

The team itself is ridiculously cartoonish. After Julie appoints her inherited bumbling assistant, Danny (Josh Peck, Drake & Josh), to General Manager, something that could or should never happen, we see him go through the roster of inept players, including Lamont (Affion Crockett, This Means War), who avoids getting let go through tears. It's a Bad News Bears-esque situation, a bunch of misfits who were somehow hired to play professional football, but surely don't act like the athletes we're familiar with.

Because of rights issues, The Rebels can't mention the NFL. Instead, they choose other letters, even though they seem to keep the same sportscasters, cameoing as themselves. I know this is an unavoidable logistics issue, the same reason a fake team is chosen, but it's distracting and will confused some viewers, who will likely assume the team is not in the national league.

This series is also set in L.A. Why L.A.? It's not like they're known for their football, so I guess perhaps that's why the writers think they can get away with putting a terrible team there, if there was any thinking behind the decision at all. But it's a setting I've recently complained in other reviews has been done to death, and it sucks they're using it again. The only benefit of being in L.A. is that it makes the drug parties and monkey with a gun seem just a tad more realistic, as that is about the only city in the country such shindigs would take place in without anyone blinking an eye.

The male romantic lead introduced in The Rebels is Rick Massella (Hayes MacArthur, Go On, Perfect Couples). He's a washed-up player whom Danny approaches to play quarterback after the ego of their draft pick, referred to as "Jesus" (Alan Ritchson, Blue Mountain State), proves a bad fit for the group chemistry. But of course Rick has already had a bad run-in with Julie, making his plot as rote as it is predictable, and setting the two up for an eventually messy relationship.

And that's really the whole problem with The Rebels. As much as I like Zea, Peck, and MacArthur as actors, and they lend as much authenticity as possible under the circumstances to the roles, the story is a familiar movie formula from last century, and there's little originality to be found. The Rebels may be enjoyable, certainly better than the similar freshman baseball sitcom Back in the Game, but far from anything groundbreaking.

Halfway through Amazon's current batch of pilots, I'm disturbed by the lack of freshness in this round. After a great initial launch last year, one might assume Amazon aimed to compete with the premium and cable channels willing to take chances in their offerings and do something different. The Rebels is not a good step in that direction.

The Rebels "Pilot" is available now for free streaming on Amazon.

Go On over to fall's best new sitcom

Episode Grade: 95%

At the beginning of this fall television season, my favorite new sitcom was The New Normal. What can I say? It spoke to me on an emotional level. But a close second was NBC's Go On. Featuring Matthew Perry back in fine form, the series presents a group of misfits, kind of like Community, but less weird. Not that weird is bad. Community remains my favorite currently running sitcom. It's just not necessary to go super-weird in every show, and for Go On, more moderate levels are appropriate.

The point is, Go On exhibited seeds of something special. As the initial run of episodes has played out, that opinion has only been cemented more and more firmly, pushing it into first place status on my list. The series features one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled, and their interplay with each other, exhibited in varying pairs and groups, as well as the genuine warmth they feel for each other, a connection made in a very raw emotional state, raises this show up to another notch.

In the latest episode, "The World Ain't Over 'Til It's Over," Ryan (Perry) takes Anne (Julie White) on a trip to the vineyard with himself, Steven (John Cho), and a girl that Steven just met. Perhaps there is some selfishness on Ryan's part, not wanting to be alone, and finding Anne a charming companion. But there is also a desire to help Anne, who is having trouble forgoing a daily visit to her lover's grave. This is Ryan putting himself out there, inviting one of the group into another aspect of his personal life, and finding new understanding as he goes for, and achieves, a laugh, a drink think, and a cry.

What is really cool is that there is no sexual chemistry. Anne is a lesbian, and while other shows may ditch that when convenient (cough, Glee, cough), Go On never seeks to build anything more than a platonic relationship between Ryan and Anne. She calls him on his stuff more than anyone else in the group, and the two also seem the most "normal," compared to the others, most of the time. This allows them a bond, and it gives Ryan an opening to go deeper into his support circle, something he really needs to begin to heal.

Of course, there is a love interest for Ryan on Go On, and that's the leader of the group, Lauren (Laura Benanti). Ryan is definitely interested in her, and has even made some little attempts to thwart Lauren's relationship with Wyatt (Hayes MacArthur, Perfect Couples) in order to keep the possibility open. In The World Ain't Over 'Til It's Over," Ryan advises Lauren not to accept Wyatt's proposal unless she is sure it is right, partly because he likes Lauren, and partly because he is remembering his marriage through rose colored glasses.

Lauren does take Ryan's advice to heart, at first, having doubts about whether she is ready for marriage. But then she ends up accepting anyway, seeing how much Wyatt cares for her and wants to make her happy. Which is good, because Ryan soon rushes off to take his advice back, once he remembers the reality of being in a couple.

Which makes one wonder if the Lauren / Ryan pairing may ever happen. Maybe it won't. Maybe Ryan is just projecting a romantic interest onto Lauren, the same way every other member of the group has done. Maybe Lauren only looked at Ryan twice because she was getting cold feet about committing to a long-term relationship. Maybe Wyatt will die after the wedding, leaving Lauren open to be a true member of the group once and for all.

I really love the scenes of Yolanda (Suzy Nakamura) and Sonia (Sarah Baker) helping Wyatt plan the proposal. I like that Wyatt doesn't fall for their poorly disguised attempts at sabotage, which makes it all the more rewarding when he wins them over. Yet another small branch off that works, one among many, many possibilities with this cast.

While Ryan and Anne are away, the rest of the misfits gather for Mr. K's (Brett Gelman) end of the world, party, hence the name of the episode, "The World Ain't Over 'Til It's Over." It's sweet to see them all support the least likable member of the support group even when they don't agree with his opinions. And the only reason Ryan isn't there is probably because he's helping Anne. Which, as I've said, will only bring him more involvement with the others, and lead to his attendance of such functions in the future. So it's all good.

If you're searching for the next great comedy, look no further than Go On, which airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, beginning again on January 8th.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

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.

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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.

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