Pilot Review: Ground Floor

Ground Floor (TBS)
Premiered November 14 at 10pm

After seeing “Sullivan and Son” and “Men at Work,” the idea of a new TBS sitcom doesn’t particularly appeal to me. The network, which has long syndicated comedy series that have had successful first runs on other networks, hasn’t exactly developed compelling original shows. The fact that this show comes from creator Bill Lawrence makes it somewhat appealing, although I found “Cougar Town,” which has now found its home on TBS after starting its run on ABC, far less involving and engaging than “Scrubs,” another show that bounced around between networks, landing on ABC for its final two seasons after being cancelled by NBC. The number one reason, and possibly the only one, to watch this show is the involvement of one John C. McGinley, who was incredible as the eternally condescending Dr. Cox on “Scrubs,” as Brody’s boss Mr. Mansfield. His role is understandably much less sophisticated and developed, but at least he makes the most of it with his deep voice and over-delivery of all of his lines, and he’s having some fun with it. I’m less impressed with the two casual leads, Skylar Astin and Briga Heelan, who play Brody and Jennifer, the couple that seems intent to persist existing even though Brody is going to have his relationship assaulted by his boss and his work life, and Jennifer isn’t interested in actually starting a relationship, content with the regular sex that they’re having instead. The show’s laugh track is predictably irritating, issuing cued laughter after most of Harvard and Derrick’s lines. Life on both the ground floor and the executive level isn’t terribly interesting, and this show isn’t destined to be well-remembered.

How will it work as a series? We already got a glimpse of what the show might look like in its regular form thanks to the second episode airing right behind the pilot. It didn’t take long for Mansfield to meet Jennifer, and now it’s just up to Brody to keep convincing Jennifer that they’re destined for more while she resists and Harvard plots to kill Brody. It’s far from complex, but it might fill a few episodes worth of work and sex jokes.
How long will it last? It’s hard to predict what TBS audiences will want. This show’s debut wasn’t too far off from the start of those two unimpressive TBS shows I named at the start of this review, so it might well stick around for another season or two (or more). I can’t say that I’m particularly interested either way.

Pilot grade: D+