Link (http://www.catholic.org/ae/tv/review.php?id=32877)


The Orlando Sentinel (MCT) - How did ABC lose the gift for sitcoms?

The network of "Bewitched," "Happy Days" and "Barney Miller" can't come up with a half-hour hit these days. It's a pity, because a blockbuster sitcom like "Roseanne" or "Home Improvement" could lift the Disney-owned network.

ABC dramas "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Brothers & Sisters" continue to connect with young adults. "Dancing With the Stars" has revived ABC on Mondays.

But the network is limping in comedy. "Desperate Housewives" has turned dramatic lately, and "Ugly Betty" is waning. Despite adorable Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?" hasn't achieved hit status

Four new comedies don't seem likely to help ABC.

The best of the four is "Cupid," which debuts at 10 p.m. Tuesday. It isn't exactly new, either. This remake of a 1998 fantasy follows Trevor Pierce (Bobby Cannavale), who claims he's Cupid and says he must unite 100 couples to regain entry to Mount Olympus. (One hundred couples would translate into a five-year run.)

Dr. Claire McCrae (Sarah Paulson), an uptight psychiatrist, tries to reason with Trevor with little success. He's just a wild and crazy god when it comes to love.

The mediocre premiere presents two major problems. The first couple that Trevor helps _ an Irish musician (Sean Maguire) and a New York reporter (Marguerite Moreau) _ are more intriguing than Trevor and his shrink.

The remake isn't as charming as the original, which paired Jeremy Piven as Cupid and Paula Marshall as his doctor. Both have gone on to other comedies: He to HBO's "Entourage," she to CBS' "Gary Unmarried."

"In the Motherhood," which airs at 8 p.m. Thursdays and debuted last week, represents ABC's feeble attempt to transform a successful Web series into a sitcom. The main problem: The three moms are mighty annoying.

In the premiere, Rosemary (Megan Mullally) faked a pregnancy to gain attention. Jane (Cheryl Hines) lied to her children and her manny (Horatio Sanz). Emily (Jessica St. Clair) leveled with her young children with disastrous results.

The lame comedy made me long for a lovable mom _ say Marion Cunningham of "Happy Days" _ and to see Hines back on "Curb Your Enthusiasm." But I did want to know more about Sanz's diet and exercise plan. He looks marvelous.

"Better Off Ted," which airs at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, debuted a couple of weeks ago and has largely been ignored by the audience. And for good reason: This sendup of corporate life is no "Office" or "30 Rock."

Good guy Ted (Jay Harrington) is just too bland, and heartless villain Veronica (Portia de Rossi) constantly upstages him. The show sabotages its wackiness by shifting to single dad Ted's sweet daughter. ABC hasn't helped the show by slotting it after "Scrubs," which the audience has rejected. The prognosis: "Better Off Ted" will be dead soon.

"Surviving Suburbia," which debuts at 9:30 p.m. April 6, brings back Bob Saget of "Full House." He plays a cynical dad, but his acid outlook isn't enough to juice up this blah comedy, which was originally slated for The CW. Picking up comedy from the CW _ that tells you how far ABC is from its "Happy Days" heyday.

The show is likely to be sampled because it will follow "Dancing With the Stars." But nothing in "Surviving Suburbia" is as amusing as "Dancing" host Tom Bergeron's quips or judge Bruno Tonioli's remarks. These days, ABC can't deliver the comedy in sitcoms.

ABC would've been better off not cancelling some of the shows they just got rid of.

Desperate Housewives was never a full-blown comedy in the first place, so I don't see why they're saying that it has "turned dramatic."

At least ABC is trying, unlike some other networks. *coughNBCcough*

At least ABC is trying, unlike some other networks. *coughNBCcough*


agreed!

So far caught Better Off Ted and In the Motherhood - I thought ITM was much better. BOT is just really bland to me, a shadower of The Office. It's not going to make it to next season. ITM was okay, and against Idol, it's ratings really weren't that bad for the premiere (it managed to outrate Samantha Who?, which could have trouble next season).

I've seen the previews for Surviving Suburbia - I thought the show looked hilarious. Bob Saget seems like he knows how to bring back comedy to ABC, and the show itself has the classic sitcom feel that's much needed. I'm really going to be pulling for this show once it premieres.

The sitcom curse for ABC continues. Ever since they made that idiotic decision to cancel 8 Simple Rules (4 years ago now) they have not had a single successful sitcom since. Until ABC goes back to their roots of traditional sitcoms they are dead. They need to stop with these idiotic single camera sitcoms, and go back to the multi camera sitcoms.

ABC has quite a lot of traditional half-hour sitcoms in the works for next season, which that article fails to mention. I think we will see a few of them for the fall. "Canned" with Amanda Bynes, "Pryors" with Kelsey Grammar, and the Alyssa Milano/Eric Christan Olsen/Kyle Bornheimer project are the front-runners. Those three could work well, especially if Surviving Suburbia works this season...they could use that to launch a four-camera, four-comedy night. ABC hasn't had a new four-camera sitcom launch since Crumbs in Jan. 2006. But they will certainly have some in the fall and next week in Surviving Suburbia.

ABC will likely get some single camera comedies as well to pair with Samantha Who and In the Motherhood...front-runners are "The Middle" with Patricia Heaton, "The Bridget Show" with Lauren Graham, Holly Robinson-Peete, Jeffrey Tambor and "Cougar Club" with Courtney Cox. One of those could be paired with Dancing with the Stars...my guess...The Middle.

I'll definitely be pulling for Surviving Suburbia. I was already laughing at the previews, so it seems like it'll be a great show. I think a 2 hour Wednesday comedy block would be good for ABC, and maybe an hour Thursdays at 8pm. With that many comedies, they might need more than 1 night.

ABC has quite a lot of traditional half-hour sitcoms in the works for next season, which that article fails to mention. I think we will see a few of them for the fall. "Canned" with Amanda Bynes, "Pryors" with Kelsey Grammar, and the Alyssa Milano/Eric Christan Olsen/Kyle Bornheimer project are the front-runners. Those three could work well, especially if Surviving Suburbia works this season...they could use that to launch a four-camera, four-comedy night. ABC hasn't had a new four-camera sitcom launch since Crumbs in Jan. 2006. But they will certainly have some in the fall and next week in Surviving Suburbia.

ABC will likely get some single camera comedies as well to pair with Samantha Who and In the Motherhood...front-runners are "The Middle" with Patricia Heaton, "The Bridget Show" with Lauren Graham, Holly Robinson-Peete, Jeffrey Tambor and "Cougar Club" with Courtney Cox. One of those could be paired with Dancing with the Stars...my guess...The Middle.

That is what they need. Traditional sitcoms. Enough with these waste of time single camera junk. The most successful sitcoms on TV are still multi camera. ABC needs to learn by this.

"Surviving Suburbia," which debuts at 9:30 p.m. April 6, brings back Bob Saget of "Full House." He plays a cynical dad, but his acid outlook isn't enough to juice up this blah comedy, which was originally slated for The CW. Picking up comedy from the CW _ that tells you how far ABC is from its "Happy Days" heyday.
I don't see the big deal about the CW thing. It was only going to air on The CW. MRC infact produces the series. From all the preview on ABC.com, I think Surviving Suburbia looks hilarious. ABC needs more comedies like it!

ABC has the potential for many comedies next fall. At most: Mondays at 9:30, Tuesdays 8-9PM, Wednesdays, 8-10PM, Thursdays 8-9PM. That would be the best case scenario and I could see that happening, but perhaps one of the 8-9PM blocks could not be sitcoms.

As for Suburbia, I've seen the pilot (see my review next week). It is not bad, needs work...but I think it will be a big hit. Bob Saget will draw. Even though I hated Full House.

Pavan, you shock me to my utter marrow! Hating Full House...:lol:

I too am looking forward Surviving Suburbia....first sitcom in a long time that I actually anticipate catching.

ABC has the potential for many comedies next fall. At most: Mondays at 9:30, Tuesdays 8-9PM, Wednesdays, 8-10PM, Thursdays 8-9PM. That would be the best case scenario and I could see that happening, but perhaps one of the 8-9PM blocks could not be sitcoms.

As for Suburbia, I've seen the pilot (see my review next week). It is not bad, needs work...but I think it will be a big hit. Bob Saget will draw. Even though I hated Full House.

My guess would be Wednesdays 8pm-10pm, Thursday at 8pm for comedies next season. DWTS will probably stay 2 hours for awhile, and maybe launch a new comedy there later in the season. I bet Ugly Betty will go to Tuesdays at 8pm. Not sure about the other slots, but my guess would be Brothers and Sisters moving maybe to Tuesdays at 10pm, with a new drama airing out of DH.

The premiere for SS will definitely be big. Who doesn't like Bob Saget?-LOL. I was laughing at the previews. Whether the pilot is good or not, this is definitely traditional, and I'm REALLY looking forward to it.

Well, when that theme song started "ah ah ah," I was saying "ahhhh!"

My guess would be Wednesdays 8pm-10pm, Thursday at 8pm for comedies next season. DWTS will probably stay 2 hours for awhile, and maybe launch a new comedy there later in the season. I bet Ugly Betty will go to Tuesdays at 8pm. Not sure about the other slots, but my guess would be Brothers and Sisters moving maybe to Tuesdays at 10pm, with a new drama airing out of DH.

The premiere for SS will definitely be big. Who doesn't like Bob Saget?-LOL. I was laughing at the previews. Whether the pilot is good or not, this is definitely traditional, and I'm REALLY looking forward to it.

DWTS is two-hours only the first 3-4 weeks. So they can launch their best single camera comedy then, which to me is The Middle. Betty could go to Tuesdays at 8, you're right. But it could also go to Fridays and be paired with Supernanny. If they go to that route, ABC should pair Bridget Show/Samantha Who on Tuesdays, In the Motherhood/Cougar Club on Thursdays...and the Wednesday four-camera block of Suburbia, Threesome (with Milano, etc), Canned, and Pryors. With Heaton's The Middle following DWTS.

DWTS is two-hours only the first 3-4 weeks. So they can launch their best single camera comedy then, which to me is The Middle. Betty could go to Tuesdays at 8, you're right. But it could also go to Fridays and be paired with Supernanny. If they go to that route, ABC should pair Bridget Show/Samantha Who on Tuesdays, In the Motherhood/Cougar Club on Thursdays...and the Wednesday four-camera block of Suburbia, Threesome (with Milano, etc), Canned, and Pryors. With Heaton's The Middle following DWTS.

The Middle is right after Surviving Suburbia on my list of shows to see. The Middle sounds like it'll be a good show, and DWTS could be a good spot after it. And if ABC does indeed want 4.5 hours of sitcoms next season, they should go for it, because that'll definitely be something.

Ugly Betty on Fridays, though, would probably be the nail in the coffin for that show. Since ABC really wants it for syndication purposes, next season will probably no doubt be the last.

So far caught Better Off Ted and In the Motherhood - I thought ITM was much better. BOT is just really bland to me, a shadower of The Office. It's not going to make it to next season. ITM was okay, and against Idol, it's ratings really weren't that bad for the premiere (it managed to outrate Samantha Who?, which could have trouble next season).

I've seen the previews for Surviving Suburbia - I thought the show looked hilarious. Bob Saget seems like he knows how to bring back comedy to ABC, and the show itself has the classic sitcom feel that's much needed. I'm really going to be pulling for this show once it premieres.


Yeah Better Off Ted was good, hopefully ABC gives me a chance to get into it. Phil is a Riot-lol

Well, when that theme song started "ah ah ah," I was saying "ahhhh!"
Me too!! :D

I'm glad top hear Kelsey's sitcom has a title ;)

I'm really pulling for ABC. I know Better off Ted has cancellation all over it, but I'm enjoying it. And I love Scrubs, as bad as these two are doing!

Surviving Suburbia, The Middle, Pryors, Canned and Cougar Town all look promising to me!

I hope Better Off Ted does ok. I think ABC made a huge mistake last year by canceling Miss Guided.

That is what they need. Traditional sitcoms. Enough with these waste of time single camera junk. The most successful sitcoms on TV are still multi camera. ABC needs to learn by this.


Tell it! That is so true. They should bring back George Lopez. It is still ripe enough for a return.

I'm glad top hear Kelsey's sitcom has a title ;)

I'm really pulling for ABC. I know Better off Ted has cancellation all over it, but I'm enjoying it. And I love Scrubs, as bad as these two are doing!

Surviving Suburbia, The Middle, Pryors, Canned and Cougar Town all look promising to me!

I've watched a few episodes of Scrubs this season, and it's actually good, better than from what I remember it being in recent years. It's almost too bad it's the final season. Ratings really aren't that terrible either - at least the show still brings in a good demo.

I wonder if Better Off Ted will be able to rebound this week without airing against Idol.

I've watched a few episodes of Scrubs this season, and it's actually good, better than from what I remember it being in recent years. It's almost too bad it's the final season. Ratings really aren't that terrible either - at least the show still brings in a good demo.

I wonder if Better Off Ted will be able to rebound this week without airing against Idol.


It too me a while to realize that sexy blonde in the show starred on the spinoff Joey-lo