Up All Night for new reasons

NBC's retooled Up All Night returned last night with "Friendships & Partnerships." Gone is the Ava show. Gone is the incredibly annoying character of Missy (Jennifer Hall). Gone is the family's financial security and their five year plan. With the end of the daytime talk show, gone is the familiar Up All Night, about half of which took place on set and in the offices around the set.

This resets things for the three main characters, forcing major adjustments. Reagan (Christina Applegate) gets to spend a little more time with Amy, since she's off of work. Chris (Will Arnett) considers going back to being a lawyer, but finds it doesn't fit with the daddy he is now. Ava (Maya Rudolph) has a total melt down, but with Reagan's help, she will begin building the next stage of her career.

But there's also newness abounding in "Friendships & Partnerships." Reagan's brother, Scott (Luka Jones, Best Friends Forever), comes to redo their bathroom (before learning that the income faucet is shutting off). He is dissatisfied with his bully of an employer, who happens to be his ex-father-in-law. Scott considers going out on his own, but he knows that he is a talented contractor with little business sense. Chris hatches a brilliant scheme that he will take care of the business side of Scott's company. Thus, new income is born.

Or is it? Let's hope the Brinkleys have some savings! Most small businesses fail. And even though this is a television show, where it will likely succeed, and much more quickly than is realistic, there will probably be some stories about money being tight first. It's good, then, that they have Ava, who appears to be much richer than they are, single with no children, who could help Chris and Reagan out if need be.

I honestly don't know how this new Up All Night will work. Scott is a much better character than Missy, though it bothers me that he has seemingly always been around, as seen in the theme song, even though he didn't appear or was even talked about in the first twenty-four episodes. He is less high strung, and can probably be attractive to the opposite sex, providing the show with its "necessary" romance fix. Jones seems to have decent enough chemistry to fit in with the other leads.

More worrisome is what will become of Ava. It's great to see her go through something so traumatic, and I'm anxious to see what her next venture will be. But taking away her show tossed out a huge chunk of what Up All Night was. Contracting doesn't look to provide as many rich, humorous situations as daytime TV did. It is doubtful that Ava will be involved in Chris and Scott's enterprise, and until she finds her new calling, her character is likely to become pretty aimless.

Because "Friendships & Partnerships" is such a transitional episode, I will reserve judgment about the changes for a few weeks. The fact of the matter is, Up All Night was, despite it's fantastic cast, only ever good, not great, so a shake up probably won't hurt it too much. This episode is about on par, in terms of humor, with season one. There are great moments, and then plenty of forgettable scenes, too. What remains to be seen is whether it can grow into something worthwhile, or if these are just desperate measures for a sinking ship.

Up All Night airs Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

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

'Daddy Daughter Time' for Up All Night

This week's Up All Night episode title, "Daddy Daughter Time," does not refer to Chris (Will Arnett) spending time with baby Amy, which happens most weeks. In fact, Chris begins working at the show, instead of being home during the day. He is horrible at first, but with a little coaching from Reagan (Christina Applegate), he improves markedly. Unfortunately, his popularity on screen and behind the scenes annoys Reagan, who feels as if her work space has been invaded.

"Daddy Daughter Time" actually refers to Ava's (Maya Rudolph) father, Marty (Henry Winkler, Childrens Hospital, Royal Pains), who comes to visit with his Asian wife and their children. This is much to Ava's dismay, as she is looking for some one-on-one time with Marty.

Who would have guessed that the mixed race daytime TV host would have a hippy Jewish father who writes children's books about African American youths? If that sounds like a weirdly amusing improv sketch, that's OK, because Winkler and Rudolph are veterans of comedy. Their chemistry is easy and realistic, and seconds after Winkler's first appearance on screen, any lingering questions about paternity go right out the window.

The story itself isn't particularly original. After all, how many kids, even after they grow up, feel neglected when one of their parents starts a new family? However, Ava handles the situation with less narcissism than she does many other things, and seeing the two performers together makes up for any staleness.

Chris coming to work with Regan also smacks of it's-been-done-a-million-times-before syndrome. This is a common cliché for sitcoms, though in the past it's mostly involved a stay-at-home wife going to their husband's place of employment. And maybe that's the point. In this gender reversing series, perhaps Up All Night just wanted to show that it can work the other way, too.

The problem is, using these worn out plots doesn't help Up All Night set itself apart as a series that should be watched. Fans can tune in sporadically, whenever they have time, and don't miss much. What's more, each episode does little to carve out its own niche identity, and "Daddy Daughter Time" is no exception to that rule. So what's left is a show that's enjoyable, because of the awesome trio of performers at the center, but has no hook to keep viewers coming back week after week. Somehow, enough still do.

Up All Night is a serviceable, but far from brilliant, sitcom. The actors deserve better. Sadly, a second season looks like a very real possibility, keeping the cast stuck in this world a bit longer. Though if the writing gets a little smarter, the producers ditch Missy (Jennifer Hall), and Jason Lee comes back full-time, there could be something great here. Oh, and more of Sharon Osbourne (The Talk, America's Got Talent) as a rival of Ava's wouldn't hurt, either.

If you are so inclined, catch Up All Night Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To catch up on episodes of Up All Night that you missed, please click here.

Up All Night giving "Birth"

     NBC's Up All Night made episode six, "Birth," very special by setting it months before the series begins. Reagan (Christina Applegate) is preparing to have Amy, and sets up a very detailed birthing plan. When she goes into labor early, things begin going wrong. First, she forgets her bag. Then, her doctor is unavailable, so the young, attractive Dr. Goddard (Sam Page, Mad Men, Shark) fills in. It doesn't help that Ava (Maya Rudolph) is still in denial about the whole situation. But luckily Chris (Will Arnett), who plans on taking just a short leave from work, keeps calm.

     It's interesting to see the characters prior to how they've been seen thus far. Of course, they are the same people viewers are already getting to know, and there aren't too many surprises. Ava still is clueless about the world, and has problems coping with things. Chris has his priorities in order, whether they be a job or a baby, and can roll with the punches. Reagan is a control freak, but can also adapt when she needs to.

     The cosmetic changes, through unimportant to the overall formula, are why "Birth" is fun. Ava has an old announcer who annoys her, and jokes that her driver, Calvin (Nick Cannon) could do a better job. Those who watch the first few episodes of Up All Night know that Calvin does, indeed, get the occupational change, and will soon be on stage alongside Ava. We also get to see that Chris is actually quite great at a career, but the moment his daughter is born, he realizes he is plenty willing to give it up out of love for his child. It highlights just what a good man he is.

     Less funny is Missy (Jennifer Hall, now a series regular) trying to get Ava to the hospital. Perhaps it's because the character of Missy is more pathetic than humorous, and she lets herself be walked all over, but it's hard to laugh at her. Hall commits fully, so it's hard to blame the actress. Yet, it just seems cruel to find her sad ways funny, and so, in feeling bad for her, it kind of ruins the jokes. Even the gag when Ava cuts Missy's hair falls flat. It's a wonder the series decides to upgrade the character, and potentially a mistake to do so.

     In all, "Birth" is less successful than other show's flashbacks, and thus, a disappointment. It has good moments, and things worth seeing, but perhaps those could have been inserted in a present day story, as stretching the plot for an entire episodes feels forced. Too bad. The "Pilot" was so promising.

     Up All Night airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

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     To catch up on episodes of Up All Night that you missed, please click here.