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It's the middle of May, and time for the TV high poohbahs to send some of their poorly performing shows to the guillotine. Per usual, there are some flawed but intruiging series that deserved a chance to achieve true greatness, but will never get the chance (RIP, Lucifer). There are others that received a last minute reprieve (booyah, Brooklyn Nine-Nine!).
But I want to talk about a secret joy in my heart today; the happy news that three shows my wife and kid adored--but I couldn't watch anymore--have been sent packing. Let the carnage begin!
1. Kevin Can Wait
A seemingly can't miss sitcom built on the substantial popularity of Kevin James. Dreadfully unfunny from the get-go, unless you enjoy James acting like a clueless jerk for 22 minutes. The characters are completely flat, and the wimpy son-in-law trope is painful to watch. James and the producers killed off the wife after season 1 to bring in his King of Queens co-star Leah Rimini--and the show got WORSE.
The show on right after KCW--Matt LeBlanc's Man with a Plan--is just as clichéd, but actually has funny jokes and a solid ensemble. (And they didn't fridge the wife.)
2. 9JKL
As mildly pleasant and inoffensive as its star and co-creator, Mark Feuerstein, but it evaporates almost as soon as it leaves the screen. A comedy about an adult son dealing with his overbearing mom next door, it has nothing witty or original to add to the topic. The mom and dad are played by Linda Lavin and Elliot Gould, and for awhile I watched, amazed, that these near-legendary performers had nothing better to do with their time.
3. The Last Man on Earth
This cancellation is a mixed blessing, because I thought the pilot episode was phenomenal, with a true tour de force performance by Will Forte. The current ensemble has Forte, Mel Rodriguez, January Jones, Mary Steenbergen and Kristen Schaal, who is my wife in an alternate universe. So how can this show be bad?
Well.... I think it's too crowded. It steers away from the inherent darkness of the premise when it should be leaning into it. Forte's good hearted idiot manchild bit wears you down after awhile. Plotlines meander endlessly, then peter out. And the writing just isn't sharp enough for me to enjoy these characters hanging out together.
(So... I guess that's how.)
The fourth season finale ended with Tandy and his crew meeting a whole bunch of survivors; but I had no confidence that this plot turn would be handled any better than any of the others.
*******
That's 90 minutes of my life I get back! My DVR will be grateful.
But I want to talk about a secret joy in my heart today; the happy news that three shows my wife and kid adored--but I couldn't watch anymore--have been sent packing. Let the carnage begin!
1. Kevin Can Wait
A seemingly can't miss sitcom built on the substantial popularity of Kevin James. Dreadfully unfunny from the get-go, unless you enjoy James acting like a clueless jerk for 22 minutes. The characters are completely flat, and the wimpy son-in-law trope is painful to watch. James and the producers killed off the wife after season 1 to bring in his King of Queens co-star Leah Rimini--and the show got WORSE.
The show on right after KCW--Matt LeBlanc's Man with a Plan--is just as clichéd, but actually has funny jokes and a solid ensemble. (And they didn't fridge the wife.)
2. 9JKL
As mildly pleasant and inoffensive as its star and co-creator, Mark Feuerstein, but it evaporates almost as soon as it leaves the screen. A comedy about an adult son dealing with his overbearing mom next door, it has nothing witty or original to add to the topic. The mom and dad are played by Linda Lavin and Elliot Gould, and for awhile I watched, amazed, that these near-legendary performers had nothing better to do with their time.
3. The Last Man on Earth
This cancellation is a mixed blessing, because I thought the pilot episode was phenomenal, with a true tour de force performance by Will Forte. The current ensemble has Forte, Mel Rodriguez, January Jones, Mary Steenbergen and Kristen Schaal, who is my wife in an alternate universe. So how can this show be bad?
Well.... I think it's too crowded. It steers away from the inherent darkness of the premise when it should be leaning into it. Forte's good hearted idiot manchild bit wears you down after awhile. Plotlines meander endlessly, then peter out. And the writing just isn't sharp enough for me to enjoy these characters hanging out together.
(So... I guess that's how.)
The fourth season finale ended with Tandy and his crew meeting a whole bunch of survivors; but I had no confidence that this plot turn would be handled any better than any of the others.
*******
That's 90 minutes of my life I get back! My DVR will be grateful.
