Pilot Review: How To Be a Gentleman

How To Be a Gentleman (CBS)
Premiered September 29 at 8:30pm

CBS is one of the only networks still in the market of producing traditional laugh track-accompanied sitcoms, and this is, if nothing else, a traditional laugh track-accompanied sitcom. The story of a buttoned-up gentleman with a penchant for chivalry reuniting with his old high school bully isn’t highly original, but that’s not a problem since this pilot is actually much funnier than it should have been given the uncreative premise. The show may not be reinventing the wheel, but the cast is actually quite entertaining, and most promisingly, those stars in supporting roles aren’t wasted, as is the case on other new shows this season such as “Suburgatory” and “A Gifted Man.” This show provides an excellent follow-up role from “Entourage” for Kevin Dillon as gym owner and trainer Bert, who, unlike Johnny Drama, doesn’t try to pretend he’s intelligent. David Hornsby is an actor I’ve almost never encountered, but he seems up for just about anything as gentleman Andrew. Dave Foley is fun as Andrew’s assimilating boss Jerry, and I’m most pleased about the chance to see Mary Lynn Rajskub, Chloe from “24,” as Andrew’s sister Janet and Rhys Darby, Murray from “Flight of the Conchords,” as her desperate-for-approval husband Mike. I highly enjoyed the efforts made by Bert to seem more civilized to Andrew, drinking the entire carton of milk and then telling him Andrew he wrote like a pirate, prompting a frustrated response that he had written in calligraphy. I definitely don’t know about the enduring potential of this show, but I laughed at this pilot a whole lot more than I had expected to, making it an entirely pleasant experience.

How will it work as a series? That’s the part about which I’m most nervous. This pilot was a positive surprise, but, when all is said and done, its success depends on the chemistry of its two leads and the strength of the writing. I think the former should be fine, but I’m not as secure about the latter. One can hope, though!
How long will it last? The ratings for this show, which received mostly poor reviews aside from my own, were fine but not great, down from the launch of “Shit My Dad Says” last year but still higher than everything on NBC. I don’t see this one lasting, but CBS should keep it around to the end of the season.

Pilot grade: B+