Arli$$ Boned the Fish When...

[TMC]

http://www.bonethefish.com/viewtopics.php?1652

Arliss (rendered in its logo as Arli$$) is an American situation comedy on HBO about a sports agent and his group of associates. The series premiered in 1996 and ended in 2002. Reruns of the show air on ESPN Classic.

https://web.archive.org/web/20070225...ptheshark.com/

• Other Thoughts:
  
  From the first second this show was aired, it blasphemed everything Larry Sanders had created for HBO. I am so sick of shows in which ugly, annoying leading men are constantly being pursued and laid by supermodels.
  Great writing, will cancel HBO when they cancel this show. I love to see the side of pro sports brought out that is usually covered up.
  It has always sucked. Robert Wuhl bites ass.
  ARLI$$ RULES!!! What other show can you get fast-paced comedy with many sports stars guesting on here? Arliss Michaels is more than an agent, he's a SuperAgent! HBO is da **** when it comes to original series-both comedies-Arli$$, Sex and the City-and Dramas, Oz, Sopranos, etc.Worth the hot hook-up!
  Consistently hilarious for years now, Arli$$ is to cable comedy what Dream On only wished it was. It skewered sports just as well as Larry Sanders did the same to the entertainment industry. Top-notch. Never jumped a single shark.
  1st show, 2000 - Arliss and Domestic Violence??? Why did they decide to make a funny show into a serious drama. Arliss dealing with Domestic Violence??? zzzzzz!
  it didn't and never will it is hilarious
  god i hate shows about sport stars and their lawyers and making ungodly amounts of money while people are suffering--why do we idolize out sports stars but teachers are get one of the lowest salaries --hmm i guess that's why our kids and young adults our idiots :-S
  arliss is one of the best shows on tv besides the sapranos IT HASN"T
  Hope they don't get too serious. I saw a recent one about wife abuse. I am a recent viewer and all the other episodes were pretty funny of the ones that I saw.
  I agree with what the first post-er said about this show. This show was a "Larry Sanders" wannabe that just wasn't funny.
  Great show-hasn't jumped. And by they way-teachers out my way make decent bucks. You are the idiot.
  Arliss jumped in the 2000 season with each episode trying to teach a lesson. Its become "Touched By An Agent"
  Arli$$ is one of the most consistently funny shows on television. Rarely a dull or unfunny moment. Now a comment on previous comments: 1. HBO does, indeed, produce some of the best original programming on TV--though I've never liked Sex & the City. If only the networks were able to take the same chances with concepts and characters that being a premium service allows HBO to take. Maybe then the big 3 (or 4) would be worth watching. 2. The comment on the glorification of athletes over teachers is either the funniest social commentary I've ever read--because America reveres its entertainers over other, more important professions, the basics of human relationships such as communication, education, and tolerance have fallen by the wayside, and, as if to prove it, our poster purposefully wrote his commentary in the style of an uneducated bumpkin--or else it's an excellent red flag warning us that society needs to change and change quickly.
  I love this show! I think it is so funny and Robert Wuhl does an excellent job. However, it does seem like the plots are pretty much the same. Arliss tries to get a super sports star or a super sports star needs his help, someone gets laid, "f**k" is said about 500 times and that's it. Good show though.
  Arli$$ is a fine show; it is part of a great HBO tradition, along with Dream On and The Larry Sanders Show. An occasional venture into serious issues does not weaken the comedy. Satire can be a serious business.
  The dopey soundtrack effects are way too on the money telling the viewer how to react to a particular scene. This is a classic trick to force mediocre comedy or dramedy to emote more than it deserves. Listen to an episode and once you notice it, the next time you watch it becomes unbearable and you feel manipulated.
  Ed Asner played an announcer going senile. Was he really acting? Horrible episode with "Mr. Grant."
  I know Michael Boatman (Stanley Babson) came back after Spin City bit the dust, but the damage is done, and there's no goin' back. The ONLY reason I occasionally tune in is because of Sandra Oh (Rita Wu). She's very funny and absolutely gorgeous!
  This ballplayer, Arliss's hero -- who you never see till THIS episode -- is accused of beating his current wife. This ballplayer's ex-wife, after a lot of Arliss-like soul searching, exonerates him and all is good. Then the ex-wife looks at Arliss as the show ends and says something like, "Oh but wasn't I?", meaning: "Yah he beat hell out of me and now I'm lying for some reason, which I'll now not explain." Cheesy drama side-by-side with an idiotic plot twist. The show has been unwatchable since.
  Arli$$ has never jumped! NEWBOMB TURK RULES!!
  The stories are empty of humor. The special guest jocks are empty of acting ability. And its main characters (even Arliss himself) are just empty-headed. "Arli$$" is too bad a program to be shown on the same network as the hilarious and clever "Sex and the City".
  The case of the missing boob did it. That show bordered on tasteless and really made me uncomfortable. All Arliss needed was his little pink breast cancer ribbon.
  In the 2001 season this show has jumped. Arliss has recently been far more caring and sentimental, and frankly I find it annoying. he has gone from shrewd and ruthless to politically correct. The episode in which he meets his ugly ex- girlfriend and finds out she had had breast cancer was too sentimental and frankly not believable, no way the Arliss of last year has sex with her. The episode where he saves the Edmonton Oilers is another example of the same. No way the Arliss of the past passes on the higher offer for his player, too sentimental and inconsistent with past seasons.
  I remember one episode in which a football player and his girlfriend were having a very disgusting sex scene. I won't go into details, but it offended me and I don't get offended by that kind of thing. That was when the shark jumped for me.
  As soon as it aired. The special guests are horrible. they cart these guest star athletes out and as soon as they appear one of the regular cast members feels compelled to say the stars full name so that we idiots at home will know who they are. If they are such big stars, they shouldn't need to be introduced to us.
  This show sucks. I am a sports fan, but none of these people can act and Arliss is rough on the eyes.
  Day one. Robert Wuhl must have some compromising photos of several important network executives. I'd rather be fondled by Gordon Jump than watch this show.
  Arli$$... when title got $$
  No one is more certain this show stinks than Robert Wuhl. It's written in every oily bead of flop sweat that slides down his face every episode. This show is indeed the "deformed cousin" of original HBO programming: completely unfunny and maudlin in every way "Sex and the City" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is entertaining and delightful. Well, this show is thankfully no longer in production. And we all know where it is headed: to the unmarked grave of history's discarded lies.
  Arli$$ has to be the funniest show ever!! I love it.....along with Son of the Beach and Notch Johnson..gotta love them. I especially love Rita, she's the best!!
  This show jumped the shark the minute the creators cast that annoying woman as Rita. She is one of the most intolerable actresses I have ever come across.
  Arli$$ sucks. It is an un-funny Larry Sanders Show. Too bad. Rubert Wuhl is a pretty funny guy, (See Bull Durham) although he is not someone to build a show around. Maybe if someone else was the star it might be better, but I doubt it. The only reason to watch the show is (HOT PIECE OF ASS) Sandra Oh as Rita. Stanley is a pretty lame character. Kirby is an imbecile. Why do sitcom creators insist on having morons on their shows. (See Phoebe on Friends) They only way to keep me watching is to have Sandra Oh naked all the time. At least then I could pleasure myself while watching rather than trying to suffocate myself with a pillow when the show comes on.
  This is, without a doubt, the worst television program ever foisted upon the viewing public, and the fact that the public in question actually pays to watch it makes it that much more of a tragedy. If any television program deserved to be called a crime against humanity, this is it, folks. I don't know who Robert Wuhl has compromising pictures of, but the individuals in question are clearly highly placed at HBO.
  Arliss jumped the shark after the 1st season. In the 1st season, Arliss was portrayed as an agent who was not above trying to get more money for himself, even if meant stabbing his client in the back by making a secret deal with an owner. However, by the end of the episode, something would happen where the client actually came out on top and Arliss loss another money deal. Well, some person or persons unknown must have gotten to Robert Wuhl, because starting from the 2nd season, Arliss was portrayed as a compassionate person who would do the right thing for his client even if it meant lost of money for his company. Once that happened, it wasn't funny anymore. Instead of being the Larry Standers of sports agents, it became a show about compassion. Who was Robert Wuhl trying to kid? Most agents are leaches and parasites feeding off people to stay alive. Instead of playing up that angle, we were subjugated to Arliss showing he cared for his clients and even helped out when a skeleton was lurking in the closet. Even the subplot with Kirby and Stanley are totally bull****. In the real world, a person like Kirby would never be given a position of sports agent. He would have been thrown out of the office.
  they sang last night! oh my god. have we learned NOTHING from Boston Public??!!
  I thought about writing "Just sucks" and leave it at that since I don't think this show even remotely deserves anybody putting that much thought into it. However, I must state that Arli$$ isn't merely unfunny, but it's writing borders on amateurish, junior high, giggly schoolboy production. I say borders because it never hits that high. This show is for the Coors swilling dolt who gets all his news from ESPN and Screw magazine.
  Kirby videotapes his bedroom activities without consent of his partners, so instead of him going to jail, paying a fine, or what have you....they have a female bodybuilder rape him with a strap on! Ludicrous!!! I'll never watch it again.
  The episode of the young tennis player-eskimo who becomes a crazy sexaholic. It was bad enough that the kid got picked up from Alaska or wherever, then he gets all kinds of hotties? Doubtful. The show was decent until then.
  Last Season Arli$$ jumped the shark when rather than focusing on a comedic plot that actually made you laugh, the writers focused on preaching to the audience on social issues like racism, homelessness, mental diseases, eating disorders, homophobia, etc.
  Hey, what's wrong with Coors swilling dolts who get their news from ESPN and Screw magazine? I'm offended. Seriously, though, this show jumped when HBO decided to give Robert Wuhl his own show. It's juvenile and unfunny. Always has been. I'm a huge sports fan but have no desire to see silly cameos by athletes (and Robert Wuhl sucking up to them). Just a lousy show.
  all of a sudden this show is all serious...attacking serious issues...this is supposed to be a comedy for christ sake
  Robert Wuhl is the most unlikable, despicable person not just on TV, but in real life as well. And nothing proved it more than the episode where he once again has a hot looking girlfriend (yeah, right) who describes him to Rita as an amazing lover, with incredible stamina, who's hung like a horse, and gave her her first real orgasm in years. Not only that, the poor actress has to simulate giving him a blow job. Worst of all, Wuhl was the writer and director of the episode!!! He wrote that crap himself, about himself!!! What'd he think, it was gonna help get him laid in real life? Has he no shame? The man is scum!!!
  agents are good people (i'm an agent)
  Arli$$ never jumped Robert wuhl is one of the best actors on television have liked him since he played al stump in Cobb
  Split Vote - Touched by an Agent AND When it started using actors instead of real athletes.
  Kirby, Female bodybuilder, strap-on, nuff said Male raped isnt really that funny
  I know the show is in re-runs only right now, but the show jumped the shark last night when I saw Special guest Ed Rendell from a 1996 rerun. Not only is Rendell a bad mayor he is now a bad Governor. He raised our taxes in PA just like Mike Fisher said he would. Don't blame me PA, I voted for Mike Morill
  The show NEVER jumped, why? It was great. Depicts the zany life a sports agent may lead. Sure it goes a bit overboard sometimes but hey you can shove it up your fat red neck . This show has helped me to choose a career path in life.
  Was a great show with a refreshing blend of professional sporting guest stars
  It sucks that HBO didn't give this show a great fairwell like SATC. Maybe they left the door open? This is one of the best shows to ever find it's way onto a tube. I'm still sad that it's over.
  Yeah, I love how someone can post "agents are okay (I'm an agent.)" Uh, right. This guy must have gone to the "Learn How to Become a Sports Agent" school that advertises on 4AM Jerry Springer reruns. I am certain that - for instance - the guys who just worked over the Arizona Cardinals on Larry Fitzgerald's deal know how to CAPITALIZE. Anyway, as for Arli$$, I refer to my long-standing comment on the show: if I want to see Warren Sapp on my TV screen there better damn well be an NFL game going on at the time. Here is the formula for this idiotic show: Robert Wuhl drops hammer on some uber-hottie, athlete makes guest appearance, Kirby acts dorky, athlete makes guest appearance, and then, worst of all, we get ANNOYING MORALITY PLAY DU JOUR. Now for all you who decry the unrealism of Robert Wuhl pulling all these hot chicks, uh, what color is the sky in the world in which you live? If his character is a multi-millionaire super-Agent he is going to roll with some talent, regardless of his looks. Anyway, this show was unbelievably stupid and did quite suck. A "Day One" jumper to be sure.
  Quite possibly the sleaziest example of The Brian Benben Disease I have ever seen. Yet another example of a never-was getting ABSOLUTE CREATIVE CONTROL over a series. With the ONLY exception of Garry Shandling, it always ends up being a disastrous ego trip. I love looking at naked hooters as much as the next guy but watching Robert Wuhl scoring with supermodel types at will, (and worse yet, they are depicted as DESPERATELY after his wrinkled old bones to boot,) is like watching your uncle having sex with a hooker. Just not pretty to watch at all. Note to you HBO lovers: Just because it has a bunch of cuss words and full frontal nudity in the show doesn't make it better. CLICK!
  I'd like to say this show never jumped. For one thing, it was a very funny show, with great actors cast for the parts. It had its moments that were a little too sentimental, but made up for it with the comedy, and the beautiful woman that played Rita (Sandra Oh? anyone?) The only thing was, I was watching Arli$$ one night, and fell asleep on the couch, next thing I knew, I woke up and it was around 1-130, and the actress that played Rita was in a porn movie.......can't say that's wrong, or made the show jump or anything, just sort of funny, and well, not really surprising-she is amazingly hot. Great show, great cast, great comedy. All in all a wonderful show, that never jumped the shark.
  Here's something special for all you "Arli$$" haters: It seems most of the glowing reviews of Arliss on this site are coming from... Robert Wuhl himself. Last month, I was on an Amtrak train from Providence to New York in the same car as Wuhl. (The man actually has an "Arli$$" suitcase!) I overheard Wuhl bragging loudly into his cell phone that he "undid" a lot of the negative Arliss reviews on JTS by his own hyperpositive posts. Well, Bob, if you're reading this... you've been caught. Nice try, but the jig is up. If you put as much effort into making Arliss good as you do to stemming the tide of honest criticism, you might have had a shot at another season. Pathetic.
  This show is a classic in the mold of threes Company and Married with Children and Martin. Its guaranteed to have me rolling on the floor every time. All of the characters on Arliss can mug for the camera as good as Al Bundy, Jack Tripper, Jefferson D'Arcy and the King--Martin.