WEIRD LONERS Neither in the TV Landscape

Article first published as WEIRD LONERS Review on Seat42F.

FOX’s latest sitcom, premiering this week, is called WEIRD LONERS. As you might expect, it follows four individuals who could be labeled with the descriptors in the title. They end up together by circumstance at a time when they could all really use a friend or two, and will likely become a stable group because of convenience and a common sensibility, getting themselves into wacky situations that don’t go well because of their oddness and selfish natures.

The ensemble is mostly made up of network comedy staples. Zachary Knighton (Happy Endings, FlashForward) plays Stosh, who blows up his life and career when sleeping with his boss’s fiancé. Since his condo is company-owned, too, Stosh decides to crash with his lonely, possibly unemployed cousin, Eric (Nate Torrence, Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip, Hello Ladies). Eric goes out looking for wall art and finds Zara (virtual newcomer who fits right in, Meera Rohit Kumbhani), an aimless artist. At the same time, Stosh can’t help but interfere with Eric’s hot neighbor, Caryn (Becki Newton, Ugly Betty, The Goodwin Games), who is considering marrying a boring guy (David Wain, co-creator of Childrens Hospital), the exact opposite as the type of man she is naturally inclined towards. And, because why not, Caryn asks Zara to move in with her, meaning all four now dwell in two adjoining townhomes.

As you can see, none of the four have their lives together, and all are in their mid-30s, past the time most of their peers decide to grow up, a fact highlighted in the opening of the pilot. A little arrested development is mixed with a lack of self-awareness, at least for most of the group, giving ripe ground for comedy to grow upon.

WEIRD LONERS isn’t exactly a new idea. Perhaps the characters are more emotionally stunted in this show, but it’s not that different from Happy Endings, How I Met Your Mother, Cougar Town, Friends, or a myriad of other programs built on the theme of acquaintances with a strong bond. It’s a formula that works pretty well with the right actors and writers, and despite its flaws and formulaic approach, Weird Loners certainly seems to have both of those groups working for it.

Because of the starting point of each of these characters, there is ample room for growth and development moving forward. The focus is likely to be on goofy situations and one-liners, but all four of the players also bring emotional depth and complexity to their roles, making them seem like three-dimensional individuals. People such as they are sure to find ways to better themselves over time, their coming together providing the resources all of them are lacking at the start.

Will that be enough for Weird Loners to succeed? I don’t know. The most recent good example of this, Happy Endings, got a mere three seasons. It may be that this recipe has been prepared so often that viewers are tired of it, and not looking for another helping. I could easily see it being a one-and-done late season also-ran. But I really like the cast, all of whom deserve to be on TV on a regular basis, so there’s always the chance that enough other people will appreciate it, as I have done, and give it the numbers to stay on the air.

If you’re not sure if you should check out WEIRD LONERS, I do recommend it. While not being particularly original, it succeeds at being funny. The pacing is good, the laughs are frequent enough, and the personalities are engaging, if not likeable. The characters aren’t completely realistic, but they do feel authentic. If nothing else, it is an entertaining half hour without the plot holes or quick, easy gags that many shows succumb to.

WEIRD LONERS premieres this coming Tuesday on FOX.

It Almost Was a SUPER FUN NIGHT, Now Off to Bed

Article first published as It Almost Was a SUPER FUN NIGHT, Now Off to Bed on TheTVKing.

ABC's Super Fun Night was perhaps the most derided sitcom pilot produced in years. The criticisms before the show even launched were so bad that ABC held onto the first episode and aired the second instead. But over time, the show proved it could be amusing and touching, even if it never reached levels that would lead one to recommend it to a friend. This week, after seventeen episodes, "...Till the Fat Lady Sings" aired as the season, most likely series, finale.

"...Till the Fat Lady Sings" finds Kimmie (Rebel Wilson) torn between two men. Long-time crush Richard (Kevin Bishop) kisses her, and when she tells her boyfriend, James (Nate Torrence), about it, James dumps her. Should Kimmie try to repair things with the man she's spent so much time with, and whom she cares about deeply? Or should she take a chance on her dream guy, asking Richard not to take a promotion in Germany to stay for her?

Kimmie has come a long way from the woman who had never had a real relationship (or sex) to being someone two men want. This makes sense, though, because we've seen her growth and her personality. There are things that aren't attractive about her; she's over the top, awkward, clumsy, screws up a lot, and can be self-involved. But she's also sweet, earnest, funny, and compassionate. These are the sides of her Richard picks up on, and because they've already had such a close, established friendship, it does feel believable that Richard might want to be with Kimmie.

I can't say I ever came around to care about Kimmie as Richard does. There are still too many negatives. However, she tries hard, and for that, she deserves happiness. She's a good person.

Super Fun Night surprised me when Kimmie chooses James. It makes sense. Richard may just be acting out because he's going through something with his father (The Nanny's Charles Shaughnessy), and so their thing might not last. Kimmie also doesn't want to hurt James, who took awhile to agree to date Kimmie because he noticed her feelings for Richard, so it would be cruel to make the other choice now. Plus, James and Kimmie have a really good time together and have developed an attachment. But because Richard is a main character and is originally established as the guy Kimmie wants, it still came as a shock that she doesn't pick him.

Should the series somehow be renewed, I do think Kimmie and Richard will eventually end up together. That's basic TV formula. Though it would be way better if Kimmie stayed with James and had a happy ever after because it bucks the trend. If this is how the series stops, the ending is perfect for where the characters are. If it returns, it will take some real bravery to not do what people expect.

Super Fun Night hasn't always done what's expected, though. The musical numbers, my favorite part of the show, even when just done as a tag, are fantastic. The characters are more than one thing. Some of the basic plots are predictable, but others are not.

Take for instance the friendship between Kimmie and Kendall (Kate Jenkinson). One would never expect it to blossom so well, so fast. They still get at one another's throats from time to time, mostly on Kendall's end, but I like that they also get along a lot. Their closeness feels earned, Kimmie being there when Kendall has no one, and I really love the way Super Fun Night develops Kendall into more than jut a stereotypical character.

The one thing that feels rushed in "...Till the Fat Lady Sings" is Marika (Lauren Ash) coming out of the closet. Yes, the signs are there from the beginning, but Marika meets Frankie (Hana Mae Lee, Pitch Perfect) and, two weeks later, can admit she's a lesbian? I think Super Fun Night does this because they worry they won't get the chance, but a more drawn-out arc would have been more appropriate here.

Helen-Alice (Liza Lapira) and Benji (Paul Rust) are left in a bad place, having had sex, but he's still highly allergic to her. Again, this needs more time, and in the finale, there just couldn't realistically be a resolution to their story. Only so much fits in a half hour installment.

I don't know how much I will miss Super Fun Night, but I did enjoy it. Hopefully Wilson bounces back with an even-more musically influenced series in the near future. Not Pitch Perfect: The Series, mind you, but something that fits with her goofy sense of humor. And she should feel free to bring along her co-stars and recurring players, who really do form a nice ensemble over these few months of run time.

HELLO LADIES, and Goodbye

Article first published as HELLO LADIES, and Goodbye on TheTVKing.

HBO's Hello Ladies aired "The Drive" this Sunday, marking the eighth and final episode of the season. Stuart (Stephen Merchant) drags his friends all over town chasing Kimberly (Heather Hahn, The Beauty Inside), a hot model he wants to get with, his pals' patience soon wearing thin. In the end, they all drift away and Stuart gets the girl. But is that what he really wants?

I wasn't immediately enamored with Hello Ladies when it premiered, despite its fantastic title sequence. Although it has some Merchant hallmarks, proving just how much the star and creator has contributed to his partnerships with Ricky Gervais, it doesn't strike me as very funny, and I have trouble connecting with anyone in the show. However, the more I watch, I realize it is the sad parts of the episodes that resonate, not the humorous parts, and by investing in the emotion, the series got better and better.

Stuart is not a likeable guy. He's selfish, shallow, conceited, and fake. But why? It's because he's long been a loser and has no confidence in himself. His bravado is a coping mechanism, an attitude he tosses up to try to be someone he's not, thinking it improves how others sees him. It doesn't work, but one can understand why he would try.

The longer Stuart holds onto this, the more distant his friends become. In "The Drive," Wade (Nate Torrence) wants to stop by his soon-to-be ex-wife's party. Stuart dismisses this idea, and actually lays into Wade, so Wade goes home instead. Why can't Stuart be a good chum? Why doesn't he support Wade the way that Wade supports him? It can't possibly be long before Wade stops taking Stuart's crap, as he does late in this episode, and decides he's better off without Stuart.

Stuart does right by Jessica (Christine Woods), though. Not only does he leave Kimberly naked and willing in the ocean and doesn't brag about it, but Stuart also refrains from telling Jessica what a douche her sort-of-boyfriend Glenn (Sean Wing) is, knowing it will only hurt her more. Jessica doesn't need further pain, already smarting over the loss of her big acting break. Stuart offers the comfort Jessica seeks and deserves, thus redeeming himself a bit at the last minute.

Jessica is similar to Stuart in many ways, including being self-involved, and yet, she's not a terrible person. We see throughout Hello Ladies that she runs her mouth and makes mistakes, but she is kind to those who matter, such as Wade. Maybe Jessica knows a mostly effective method to balance confidence and caring, and while she's not perfect, Stuart should take some notes.

There is barely a hint of anything romantic between Jessica and Stuart in the entire season. Even when Stuart comes to her aide, he doesn't treat her as anything but a buddy. They have a very brother-sister chemistry, and this is a refreshing and different thing for a television show to do. I really appreciate what the actors have brought to the parts and how they play their roles, both incredible performers.

I don't know if there will be a second season of Hello Ladies, and I'm not even sure there should be because Stuart would have to backslide, erasing the progress he finally makes in "The Drive." Yet, I did really end up liking this season, and I'm glad HBO aired it.

HELLO LADIES and Goodbye

Article first published as HELLO LADIES Review on Seat42F.

Most U.S. television viewers are used to seeing Stephen Merchant (The Ricky Gervais Show, An Idiot Abroad) only in the company of Ricky Gervais (The Office). That may change, however, as HBO is airing a non-Gervais series starring Merchant, his first lead role, called HELLO LADIES. It premieres this Sunday, September 29^th at 10:30 p.m. ET.

If anyone assumed that Gervais had the monopoly on awkward and weird and Merchant was just along for the ride, that is firmly disproven within just a few minutes of the “Pilot.” Merchant plays Stuart, a tall, lanky man who can’t take a hint and is creepy in his desperation around the fairer sex. If he gets a woman in his sights, he does not let go, no matter how clear she makes her disinterest, as happens in the very first episode. His persistence is not charming, it’s the opposite, and Stuart is the type of guy one would be embarrassed to be seen with in public or admit to being friends with. At least, while he’s acting like a stalker.

I’m not sure who the target audience is for HELLO LADIES. With a main character so unlikeable, would anyone root for him? He’s funny, yes, but that’s about all he has going for him. He isn’t generous, hounding his pals for water or gas money. He isn’t interesting. He’s too old to get away with seeking a series of one-night stands. He does have confidence, but he doesn’t have the looks or the charisma to back it up.

Which doesn’t necessarily destroy the show. Look at David Brent in the original British version of The Office; Merchant has made a career out of writing for these types of people, even if he doesn’t usually play them himself. As an actor, Merchant is definitely capable, highly believable as Stuart. The problem is that Stuart is just so distasteful a human being that it makes him hard to watch.

Stuart’s buddies aren’t much better. There’s Wade (Nate Torrence, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip), who is wallowing through a divorce and can’t shut up about his wife, which drives the girls away just as surely as Stuart’s ineptitude does. And there’s Kives (Kevin Weisman, Alias), Wade’s neighbor who is a big jerk and doesn’t get along with Stuart, but the wheelchair he’s confined to buys him enough sympathy that girls can overlook his attitude, only making Stuart more jealous. It’s an unlikely trio, with two of the three certainly not at all successful on the club scene.

Torrence and Weisman are both funny, too. Torrence is good at the wimpy loser shtick, and Weisman’s character’s ego belies what one might expect from such a role, the actor’s performance barely influenced by the chair, if at all. These men are usually supporting players, so don’t distract the spotlight away from Merchant, but work well him in the parts they play.

Strangely, Stuart lives with a normal, attractive, female roommate named Jessica (Christine Woods, Go On). There is nothing romantic between them, with Stuart treating her like someone he’s known a long time, never trying to hit on her. Of course, he’s not shy around her friends, trying to pick them up when they make the mistake of coming over. For Jessica’s part, she gets fed up with Stuart’s lecherousness, though she somehow still likes him, but not in an overly sweet way. They just seem to enjoy one another’s company.

In most shows, this is the recipe for an eventual hook up between the leads, or at least a one-sided pining, or maybe even a brother / sister vibe, with Stuart looking out for Jessica. Instead, Jessica could be a man and it would not change their dynamic one iota. It’s a very strange pairing, and I’m not sure how I feel about it, to be honest, whether to call it fresh or just admit it doesn’t work.

Woods has a brilliant sense of timing, but sadly it appears that she will be the “straight man” in HELLO LADIES. I believe she could play pathetic, too, if they let her, or could handle her own subplots and gags. What she does in the “Pilot” is sleep with a guy and then cold feet about being with him, not exactly work that requires much creativity from the portrayer. She is every bit as talented as the men in the cast, and it’s disappointing that she seems to have a lesser role, even if she might have more screen time than one or two of the others.

HELLO LADIES is not a bad show, but it lacks the magnetic draw I had been expecting. Given the cast involved, it could and should be a notch better than this.

Mr. Sunshine ends with "Ben and Vivian"

     ABC's Mr. Sunshine ended its freshman run last night with "Ben and Vivian," which I feel is probably its best episode yet. Things really flowed well, and chemistry was improved by the addition of a great guest star. While a decision about renewal has not yet been handed down, things aren't looking that great for the series. That's too bad, because like many new sitcoms, I think Mr. Sunshine just needs a little time to really work out the best road map for itself. Obviously, the cast is terrific, and the setting is fun and unique. If any new bubble show this year could use a second chance, I vote for this one.

     One change I would like to make, should Mr. Sunshine get a second season, is to make Lizzy Caplan (Party Down, True Blood) a series regular. Caplan guest stars this week as Vivian, Crystal's (Allison Janney) new assistant. She falls into bed with Ben (Matthew Perry) the night before she begins work, and once they realize they now inhabit the same office, begin a friends with benefits relationship. Ben falls for her, but she rejects his need of something more.
     Ben's growth through season one has focused on his ability to get in touch with emotions and forge a real relationship. When we meet him, Ben is in a similar benefits deal with Alice (Andrea Anders), but she breaks it off. I guess it's appropriate that, at the end of the season, his place in the pairing is reversed. The fact that he passes up Vivian's offer to continue the sex and forget about his plea for a real coupling shows that Ben is making progress. That is why, more than anything, the series should be renewed.

     I have to mention quickly that Andrea Anders is a constant delight. It's the little things, like the recurring bit where she opens Ben's door and catches the ball he has thrown, that set her apart. Everything she does just lights up the screen, and after numerous good sitcoms she's been involved in (Better Off Ted, The Class), it's time she is featured on a genuine hit.

     My argument for more Caplan doesn't stem just from her interaction with Ben. Her best bits are as she befriends Roman (Nate Torrence). Rejected once more by his mother, Crystal, Roman turns to Vivian to fill his needs. She does, enjoying her time spent with him. In fact, the only reason she even agrees to do anything with Ben outside of sex is so she can be close to Roman. While I did not sense a romantic attachment between the two, Caplan returning could lead to some fun jealousy stuff for Roman's crazy girlfriend, Heather (Portia Doubleday), a definite argument for bringing her back.

     Roman, like Ben, has grown. He is introduced as a bumbling idiot who just wants love and affection from his mother. Crystal continuously lets him down, and it comes to a head in the final episode. Crystal once more chooses another man over giving Roman attention, but instead of taking it, Roman snaps back. With Vivian and Ben in his corner, (and Heather, though we don't see her here) Roman has built up enough self-esteem to standup to her, declaring he is tired of hearing her say she's going to be a good mother; she needs to start acting like one.

     This could be a real turning point for Crystal, who has resisted growth, even though she frequently talks about it. I love Janney, and her character is a kooky fun mess. However, I do believe there are real emotions underneath her facade, and yet no one is willing to dig deep enough to get to them. Roman has the ability to be the first. Renew the show so we can see more of this great pairing!

     The one character I'm not crazy about is Alonzo (James Lesure). Generally, his purpose in being on the series seems to be to keep Alice and Ben apart until Ben can grow into a mature man worthy of Alice. I actually could see Ben and Alice not ending up together, but I expect the series will want to toy with the idea of the two as a couple again before they drop it.

     This week, Alonzo is actually given a story that has nothing to do with Alice. Dave the Mascot (David Pressman) tests Alonzo's legendary kindness and patience by taking over his office. He keeps pushing Alonzo's buttons, and when Dave loses Alonzo's zen garden rake down his costume, Alonzo snaps. Is the zen garden the only thing that keeps Alonzo sane? More can be explored about why he is the way he is, and what it takes to set him off. I want to see some dark secret come out. I'm not arguing to get rid of Alonzo, but give him more to do, and more depth.

 

     I won't say this is currently the best sitcom on television, or even in the top five. And I know that a fabulous cast does not guarantee a great series (I'm looking at you, Private Practice!). But there are plenty of flashes of greatness in season one of Mr. Sunshine, and I think a second season could potentially be much improved. Please give them the chance, ABC!

Article first published as TV Review: Mr. Sunshine - "Ben and Vivian" on Blogcritics.

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Mr. Sunshine is no "Hostile Workplace"

     It seems that not too many people are watching ABC's Mr. Sunshine. I find that very disappointing, because it's a kooky, fun show that deserves a little love. It has a humor not unlike the too-soon canceled Better Off Ted, but with a central character who doesn't try so hard to please. In fact, when he can get away with it, he doesn't try at all. Plus, its supporting cast boasts huge talent. While the series is still searching for its footing, each episode has had me laughing, and it deserves more time to figure things out.

     This week, Ben (Matthew Perry) can't get the air conditioning fixed in the arena because the entire staff hates him. With good reason. He can't even remember any of their names! So Roman (Nate Torrence) makes Ben flashcards of everyone and suggests a clever trick to help with the memorization, a rare stroke of good sense from the demented boss's son. Ben takes Roman's idea and plays it a little too mean, writing insults on each card that he can use to remember their names. It works, and he is soon friends with everyone... until Roman accidentally scatters the cards all over the arena floor.

     Is it realistic that Ben can get everyone to like him so quickly after being despised for so long? Of course not. And Roman dropping the cards in a public place is easy to see coming from a mile away. But Ben's delight in his delusion, and the realization that Roman is his only friend at work, are glimmers of something great brewing beneath the surface. I want to see more of Ben finding out things about himself, and genuinely trying to improve. I want to see more of Roman being useful and integral to the plot, rather than just a dumb stooge.

     And any more Jorge Garcia you want to me toss my way, I am all for, too. It was his second appearance, but this story also introduced us to a number of Ben's co-workers, many of whom look mighty familiar. There is definitely the potential for a large ensemble comedy down the road, or at least wonderful guest actors popping in and out at will.

      The B story is pure comic genius as Crystal (Allison Janney) makes a number of references about things Alonzo (James Lesure) and her boyfriend must certainly have in common. Alice (Andrea Anders) finds Crystal racist as the boss goes on about brothers, funny handshakes, run down houses, and broken bottles littering the yard. Even Alonzo, who keeps his cool for most of the episode, starts to get upset. Crystal's growing afro, caused by the broken air conditioning, was a stroke of genius, adding to the illusion, and providing physical comedy unto itself.

     But Crystal's new guy is white. And he is Alonzo's fraternity brother, so everything Crystal says is completely harmless and true. The one comment that doesn't fit, as Alice points out, is because Crystal thinks Alice is old, a delightful insult, made so by Anders's reaction. The entire plot is crafted so elegantly, guided by brilliant comic performers. It is impossible to see the punchline coming, but incredibly effective when it lands. Crystal is doofy and ignorant, but she isn't mean spirited. This may have been my favorite bit in the series so far.

     Please don't count out Mr. Sunshine. New episodes air Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Article first published as TV Review: Mr. Sunshine - "Hostile Workplace" on Blogcritics.

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Mr. Sunshine Lets in a Ray

     While we all miss Cougar Town for the next ten weeks (ten!), Monica's Chandler is borrowing her time slot with ABC's Mr. Sunshine. (Note: if you are a sitcom buff, or Wikipedia frequenter, this show has nothing at all to do with the short-lived spring 1986 series of the same name starring Jeffrey Tambor.) This isn't Matthew Perry's first show since Friends; I very much enjoyed his slightly more dramatic turn in the under appreciated Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip. With Ben in Mr. Sunshine, which Perry writes as well as acts, he has struck a balance between the two roles, creating yet another memorable guy.

     Ben is the manager of an arena that hosts a variety of entertainment, including a circus in "Pilot." He isn't very personable. Even the woman he's been sleeping with, Alice (the wonderful Andrea Anders, who ironically also starred in Friends spin-off Joey), will tell him that. But we didn't see the totally self-involved Ben much. Certainly not enough to hate him. As the series begins, he's realizing he needs to be a different person, and it's time to make that happen. This show is about his journey, and that journey began the same time the series did.

     If a man finding compassion within himself doesn't sound like a funny sitcom, keep in mind that besides Alice, Ben is surrounded by his cluelessly racist boss Crystal (Allison Janney, The West Wing), her incredibly dumb son Roman (Nate Torrence, also Studio 60), possibly homicidal assistant Heather (Portia Doubleday), and eternal optimist Alonzo (James Lesure, Las Vegas), with whom Alice is moving in. Heather is actually a recurring character, as is the janitor "Bobert"(Jorge Garcia, Lost), but both deserve to be upgraded to regular at the earliest convenience, if not sooner.

     Other reviews I have seen of this show label it as a slow burner, saying future episodes pick up and are much funnier than the pilot. If so, I'm as optimistic as Alonzo about the show's prospects, because I loved the first episode. Sure, some of the characters like Heather and Roman seemed a bit one-note, but it was only a 22-minute first episode. They will grow over time. Anders and Perry are pros, already exhibiting well-defined, nuanced characters, and Janney is always awesome. Her insistence that an Asian kid hand her a trophy at her charity benefit had me dying laughing. Not to mention her song. And the photo op.

     The writing and jokes could be less funny, and I'd still tune in to see the talent. I'm glad that's not the case, though, because others need to tune in if Mr. Sunshine is to retain the decently strong ratings it began with. I certainly don't want it to replace Cougar Town forever (unlikely, as Cougar Town has already been renewed for next year), but I consider The Middle completely expendable. So, too, are the reruns of Modern Family if ABC commits to a longer, original sitcom programming block, as NBC is doing on Thursdays. I know I want to see more. I'm excited after just one episode!

     If you miss Matthew Perry as much as I did, please watch Mr. Sunshine, Wednesday nights at 9:30 p.m. on ABC.

Article first published as TV Review: Mr. Sunshine Lets in a Ray on Blogcritics.

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