Thoughts on the first episode of Gary Unmarried - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AB · 09-25-2008, 06:56 PM

Any thoughts on the first episode?

I thought it was pretty good, I actually liked it better than that other new show, Worst Week.

TJL · 09-25-2008, 07:27 PM

I wasn't crazy about this one.

Another CBS show where the men are big dumb idiots who are crass and unworldly and women are smart and are always right about everything.

The dialogue wasn't that funny, yet the laugh track was cranked to 11.

Parents freaking out about thier son having a girl in his room? Really, that's what they're still coming up with in the writer's room?

I doubt Gary Umarried will be around much longer, mostly because Paula Marshall is in the cast, a woman who has been in about 1,000 failed TV series.

JulieSomoski · 09-25-2008, 07:49 PM

I'm sorry, but I hated it. I hated everything about it. I found not one joke to be even the slightest funny, and I got bored about 10 minutes in (not to sound rude or anything

). They spent very little time introducing the characters, and they jumped right into a plot 10 seconds into the episode. Seriously, why would they start off the pilot episode with Jay Mohr in bed with another woman?

I liked Worst Week a little better, but neither stood out to me. I think once Dancing with the Stars ends its Wednesday run, the ratings for both Christine and Gary should go up a bit, at least over 7 million.

ryan423 · 09-28-2008, 01:55 AM

I think it was good. The thing is...you can't really classify what type of comedy its aiming for.

Is it a family sitcom or an adult sitcom with a family? Anyone know what I'm trying to come across?

Chocolate Moose · 09-28-2008, 09:41 AM

Painful. that's the word.

JulieSomoski · 09-28-2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan423

I think it was good. The thing is...you can't really classify what type of comedy its aiming for.

Is it a family sitcom or an adult sitcom with a family? Anyone know what I'm trying to come across?

I got the same impression. The whole plotline was very loose, that you didn't know what was coming.

AB · 09-28-2008, 05:54 PM

I agree that they jumped right in with the episode so it was a little confusing trying to figure out who everyone was at first. And some of the jokes did fall flat. But I'm willing to give it another couple of viewings, it may get better or it may not. I'll do the same for Worst Week.

TJL · 09-28-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annball1957

I agree that they jumped right in with the episode so it was a little confusing trying to figure out who everyone was at first. And some of the jokes did fall flat. But I'm willing to give it another couple of viewings, it may get better or it may not. I'll do the same for Worst Week.

I agree, they cold have eased into the whole Gary/Vanessa relationship, but instead they went for the opening scene with them in be - perfect excuse for lame sex jokes.

To me, it makes Vanessa look like a bit of a slut - jumping into bed with the guy "painting her condo?"

Which brings me back to my point of the men are bad theme that runs rampant on CBS sitcoms: Gary catches crap from Vanessa for not telling her he has kids, but when she reveals that she has a kid too, she plays the "I'm a single Mom and I'm trying to protect myself/my kid" card.
That's such a double standard.

AB · 09-28-2008, 08:11 PM

^ Yeah I get what you're saying, the men are bad routine is pretty typical and has been used to death. It would be nice if they could change the direction of the show a little bit. No idea if that will happen though. I think they try to do too much in the first episode in order to hook the viewers but instead it often ends up turning the viewers off.

AB · 09-28-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan423

I think it was good. The thing is...you can't really classify what type of comedy its aiming for.

Is it a family sitcom or an adult sitcom with a family? Anyone know what I'm trying to come across?

I'd say it was an adult sitcom with a family at this point.

TJL · 09-28-2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annball1957

^ Yeah I get what you're saying, the men are bad routine is pretty typical and has been used to death. It would be nice if they could change the direction of the show a little bit. No idea if that will happen though. I think they try to do too much in the first episode in order to hook the viewers but instead it often ends up turning the viewers off.

Nowadays you don't have half a season to get viewers into the plot and story. You have to hook them right away or else you are gone. So that means throwing a billion plots into the pilot.

DSfan · 09-28-2008, 09:48 PM

I watched the pilot last night on the Internet and I actually found it to be pretty funny. I normally get bored during some new shows and always finding myself looking at the counter to see how much time is left but this show I looked for the first time at 17 min when it was practically over, I never really got bored. I agree with what everybody else said above though, it's all very true, some good points brought out, however I like the show even though it has its negative aspects.

ryan423 · 10-10-2008, 09:45 AM

I've figured out another reason I think this show wont last that long. Frankly, unlike Back to You did last season, this show does need retooling.

First, I think the new Allison is terrible. Not as good as Laura Morano. I also think as great as Ed Begley Jr is, this part just doesnt feel like great casting. I also think that the painter who works with Gary isn't the greatest. I mean, come on cbs, the guy from 'welcome to the captain' lmao?!

I think the casting was well done for Gary, Vanessa, his son and wife though.

DSfan · 10-12-2008, 12:10 AM

I really liked Welcome to the Captain. I wish that could have been picked up for a full season, it was entertaining and fun to watch.

Chocolate Moose · 10-30-2008, 04:54 PM

i'll still watching. it's gotten a bit better. jury's still out on its future ..

09-25-2008, 06:56 PM	#1
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,426	Thoughts on the first episode of Gary Unmarried Any thoughts on the first episode? I thought it was pretty good, I actually liked it better than that other new show, Worst Week.

09-25-2008, 07:27 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	I wasn't crazy about this one. Another CBS show where the men are big dumb idiots who are crass and unworldly and women are smart and are always right about everything. The dialogue wasn't that funny, yet the laugh track was cranked to 11. Parents freaking out about thier son having a girl in his room? Really, that's what they're still coming up with in the writer's room? I doubt Gary Umarried will be around much longer, mostly because Paula Marshall is in the cast, a woman who has been in about 1,000 failed TV series.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

09-25-2008, 07:49 PM	#3
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	I'm sorry, but I hated it. I hated everything about it. I found not one joke to be even the slightest funny, and I got bored about 10 minutes in (not to sound rude or anything ). They spent very little time introducing the characters, and they jumped right into a plot 10 seconds into the episode. Seriously, why would they start off the pilot episode with Jay Mohr in bed with another woman? I liked Worst Week a little better, but neither stood out to me. I think once Dancing with the Stars ends its Wednesday run, the ratings for both Christine and Gary should go up a bit, at least over 7 million.
	__________________ Click here to view some great articles written by my husband and I! All views are appreciated! Watch: Medium, Fridays at 9pm, on CBS! Big Bang Theory, Mondays at 9:30pm, on CBS! The Mentalist, Thursdays at 10pm, on CBS! Old Christine, Wednesdays at 8pm, on CBS! ABC's Comedy Lineup, Starting Wednesdays at 8:30pm, on ABC!

09-28-2008, 09:41 AM	#5
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,883	Painful. that's the word.
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

09-28-2008, 01:55 AM	#4
ryan423 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2007 Posts: 1,829	I think it was good. The thing is...you can't really classify what type of comedy its aiming for. Is it a family sitcom or an adult sitcom with a family? Anyone know what I'm trying to come across?

09-28-2008, 05:54 PM	#7
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,426	I agree that they jumped right in with the episode so it was a little confusing trying to figure out who everyone was at first. And some of the jokes did fall flat. But I'm willing to give it another couple of viewings, it may get better or it may not. I'll do the same for Worst Week.

09-28-2008, 08:11 PM	#9
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,426	^ Yeah I get what you're saying, the men are bad routine is pretty typical and has been used to death. It would be nice if they could change the direction of the show a little bit. No idea if that will happen though. I think they try to do too much in the first episode in order to hook the viewers but instead it often ends up turning the viewers off.

09-28-2008, 09:48 PM	#12
DSfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,204	I watched the pilot last night on the Internet and I actually found it to be pretty funny. I normally get bored during some new shows and always finding myself looking at the counter to see how much time is left but this show I looked for the first time at 17 min when it was practically over, I never really got bored. I agree with what everybody else said above though, it's all very true, some good points brought out, however I like the show even though it has its negative aspects.

10-10-2008, 09:45 AM	#13
ryan423 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2007 Posts: 1,829	I've figured out another reason I think this show wont last that long. Frankly, unlike Back to You did last season, this show does need retooling. First, I think the new Allison is terrible. Not as good as Laura Morano. I also think as great as Ed Begley Jr is, this part just doesnt feel like great casting. I also think that the painter who works with Gary isn't the greatest. I mean, come on cbs, the guy from 'welcome to the captain' lmao?! I think the casting was well done for Gary, Vanessa, his son and wife though.

10-12-2008, 12:10 AM	#14
DSfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,204	I really liked Welcome to the Captain. I wish that could have been picked up for a full season, it was entertaining and fun to watch.

10-30-2008, 04:54 PM	#15
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,883	i'll still watching. it's gotten a bit better. jury's still out on its future ..