Partners should split up

Grade: 80%

CBS has a new sitcom from the creators of Will & Grace. Called PARTNERS, the show is about two male best friends, one gay, one straight, who have been together through it all. They started out as childhood friends, and now design buildings together. Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) plays Louis, the gay one, who thinks far too frequently about himself. David Krumholtz (Numb3rs) is Joe, the straight one, who may finally be ready to settle down and get married.

In the “Pilot,” Joe is ready to break up with his girlfriend, Ali (Sophia Bush, One Tree Hill), when she gives him an ultimatum: put a ring on it or else. Joe doesn’t like being pressured. Louis tells him to listen to his gut, and Joe agrees. But when Joe goes to Ali to end things, she preempts his prepared speech by apologizing for her words the other day, assuring him that she isn’t trying to pressure him into anything that he’s not ready for, and affirming that she loves him. This attitude totally changes Joe’s mind, and he spontaneously proposes.

Unfortunately, Louis isn’t aware of this when he runs into Ali the next day at yoga, and accidentally lets it slip that Joe had been planning on breaking up with her. This not only ruins Ali and Joe’s relationship, but also causes Joe to freeze Louise out… permanently.

I have a big problem with this entire scenario. Is Ali and Joe’s relationship really so rocky that both consider calling things off? If so, how does that possibly make them ready to tie the knot? These totally opposite attitudes are not the makings of a healthy marriage, even if they are a staple of mediocre sitcoms. Solving emotional problems this severe between a couple neatly in half an hour can take viewers out of the fantasy, hurting the overall impression of the series.

Even worse is Joe’s decision to cut Louis off completely. This is his best friend whom he has known since they were little kids. First of all, why didn’t Joe call Louis to tell him the good news the night he proposed, considering how close they are? That’s what a normal person would do. Second, anger is fine, but to sever both professional and personal ties with him for a mistake that was understandable given the circumstances? It’s not an auspicious start.

PARTNERS has a very good cast. Krumholtz and Urie do a fantastic job as Joe and Louis, even if their chemistry is not one hundred percent solid yet, selling the parts as much as can be expected, given the material. Bush is also good, and I love Brandon Routh (Chuck, Superman Returns) as Louis’s ditzy boyfriend. Magic can happen with this excellent cast, all of whom have developed interesting personalities for their roles. Just give them something worthy of their performances.

The set, music, and tone are similar to Will & Grace. A couple of the performers get a bit cartoonish, in a fun way. There is a light heartedness that doesn’t take itself too seriously. In fact, when the series tries to dig too deep into drama is where it falls short. Making this a more recognizable comedy, not trying to push too much seriousness on it, would play to the strengths of those involved.

The fault with the “Pilot” seems to lie mainly in the writing. Reducing such characters to predictable, unrealistic situations will kill the series. Given that PARTNERS is by the Will & Grace people, it can probably recover, and maybe even turn into something great. The “Pilot” just does not live up to what any of the team on this show can do. Many good shows have sprung from bad first installments. Hopefully, PARTNERS will be one of them.

PARTNERS premieres September 24^th on CBS.

Betty comes to an end, sans the Ugly

    Last night marked the series finale of a fantastic four year story.  ABC's Ugly Betty, after scoring high enough ratings to move off of Friday nights, was abruptly and unfortunately canceled shortly thereafter.  What makes the cancellation seem criminal was that Betty's current season was shortened by two hours, giving the show's team even less time to tie everything up.  They managed to, but only by rushing and packing plot thickly into the last few hours.

     True to Betty style, everyone got a happy ending in "Hello Goodbye".  Amanda (Becki Newton), in the course of a mere three episodes, got to know a man she realized was her father, and he was glad to be in her life.  Marc (Michael Urie) didn't officially get a promotion, but it seems like he'll be a major creative drive for Mode magazine from now on.  Speaking of Mode, Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams), the show's resident villainess, not only turned over a new leaf, but got her heart's desire in both her career and her personal life.  Hilda (Ana Ortiz) was married to a man who treated her right and bought her a home in Manhattan, much to her son Justin's (Mark Indelicato) delight.  Justin found acceptance of himself.  And even Ignacio (Tony Plana) being left alone seemed happy about it, glad to see his daughters do something with their lives.

     Of course, the title character daughter, Betty (America Ferrera, who turns 26 on Sunday, what a crappy birthday present!) got her dream job and moved across the Atlantic to London.  And new more stylish glasses, to match her better wardrobe and braces-less smile, as she has slowly been transformed away from ugly duckling by the time they filmed her swan song.  Though she revisited a couple of the men who stirred her heart over the years, in the end she was left single.  Sort of.  Although it had to be quick, Daniel (Eric Mabius), her boss of the last four years, came to realize his feelings for her, quit his job, and moved to London, too.  He didn't try to stop her from fulfilling her potential, the sole man who only ever wanted her to bloom.  It was perfect, and thankfully the writers didn't rush that, merely teasing at the beginning of the relationship without getting into it yet.

     Sadly, there were some glaring loose ends that just couldn't be tied up.  Most involved the Meade family.  Alexis's (Rebecca Romijn) absence was glaring, nor did Claire (Judith Light) have time to figure out her new family situation to my satisfaction.  I hesitate to hope for a feature film, chances seeming slim, but surely there could easily be happenstance enough to get the entire cast over to Britain and do a fitting follow up?

     As the picture faded out, the title appeared on the screen, and then the Ugly faded away, leaving only Betty.  That would be the name of the dream movie in my mind.  Given the constraints, it was the best finale fans could have hoped to have seen.  The sadness comes with the knowledge of such unfulfilled potential.  The show, not Betty herself.  She got hers.

Ugly Betty ditches the metal mouth and heads to London

   Ugly Betty has almost concluded it's four year run on ABC, but an important milestone was reached last week.  Betty (America Ferrera) got her braces taken off!  Kathy Najimy (Sister Act) was the orthodontist who got to do the honors, after a falling out with Betty's previous one, played creepily by Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family).  Of course, this being Betty, it was done in style, while the title character had her mouth stuck to a million dollar bra.

     I was slightly disappointed because most of this episode was fantasy, with Najimy playing a fairy godmother-type who showed Betty how her life would have been different if she had never worn the braces.  However, it was done to great effect.  Poor Justin (Mark Indelicato) was never born, Marc (Michael Urie) was the receptionist, Betty was evil, and Daniel (Eric Mabius) and Amanda (Becki Newton) were married, though they were cheating on each other.  This last bit was a little sad, as that is one couple I would kind of like to see end up together.

     That aside, the episode still managed to pack quite a bit of plot in around the dream sequences.  With the series finale looming, the plot involving Daniel and his family, as well Amanda's interaction with them, advanced quite a bit.  Betty's family also got some fun time, being there for Betty after the metal was out of her mouth.  It's a charming, quirky show, and there is nothing else like it on television, which is why it will be sorely missed when it's gone.

     In tomorrow night's episode, Betty will travel to London, England, where she will be reunited with best friend Christina (Ashley Jensen, Extras) and have a run-in with former flame Gio (Freddy Rodriguez, Six Feet Under).  As long as Betty gets one last encounter with Henry (Christopher Gorham), she will have a nice ending.  And it would be wise to bring back Daniel's brother/sister Alexis (Rebecca Romijn).

     Ugly Betty airs Wednesday nights on ABC at 9pm, but only for three more weeks.