Pilot Review: Up All Night

Up All Night (NBC)
Premiered September 14 at 10pm

Christina Applegate and Will Arnett are two stars who have both have Emmy-nominated parts on relatively short-lived recent shows that still managed to live a bit longer than many might have expected. In Applegate’s case, she was the lead on “Samantha Who?” while Arnett was a supporting standout on “Arrested Development.” Now, they’ve found a vehicle that essentially allows them to play the archetypal characters they’ve become accustomed to playing. Applegate is the fast-talking, shrill and sarcastic wife and new mother, while Arnett is the whispering-under-breath, extremely sardonic dad. They’re great parts, and it’s hard to find fault with either actor’s portrayal. What’s not as clear is the potential of this show. It fits the “Modern Family” bill of showcasing life as it actually is in a certain sense, which is to say that its depiction of parenting may be realistic even if the zaniness of its characters amplifies its entertainment considerably. That’s not to suggest that this show doesn’t have what it takes to become a sitcom deserving of weekly viewing, only that this pilot doesn’t cover much ground. Their constant swearing and Maya Rudolph’s character don’t fit in as well. I do like Rudolph, but having not seen her much on “Saturday Night Live,” I got to know her as a result of more dramatic, or at the very least, less showy, roles in “Away We Go” and “Bridesmaids,” and I think I prefer the more toned-down version of her. Having her character as a series regular brings out the crazy – read, cleanse – that this should would be better off without since it definitely takes it outside the reality of already amusing situations by trying to make everything much more enticingly over-the-top. I’m definitely not ready to give up just yet, but this show didn’t excite me as it should have.

How will it work as a series? Applegate and Arnett are experienced in the art of weekly comedies, having both starred on other shows prior to and after the ones I mentioned above. They’re definitely capable of helming this series, and it’s just a matter of sticking to their frantic lives as new parents and not focusing on how nutty Ava is. This could definitely be appealing entertainment.
How long will it last? The show performed extremely well in its initial, and this coming week’s move to the 8pm timeslot is going to be the real tell of whether this show can survive. Many have also suggested that it should join NBC’s Thursday night comedy lineup, where “Whitney” may soon provide some space. I think this one is going to stick around for a bit and will likely make it to a second season.

Pilot grade: B-