9JKL: Season 1, Episode 2 “Relationship Guy” (C+)
This show is at least somewhat entertaining even if it’s not particularly good. After introducing its family unit last week and putting Judy front-and-center as the zaniest of them, this episode managed to refocus and showcase the other characters in a way that I hoped it would be able to. I’m pleased to see both Liza Lapira and David Walton put to good use as the spouses attempting to coach Josh through giving up on his feelings and going for a one-night stand. In the process, we got to learn that Eve executed all of her signature moves on Andrew after their first night together, classifying it as a one-night stand that obviously turned into something much more than that. Josh was pretty terrible at bottling up his feelings and remaining distant, being far too charming with his burrito bagging and then only putting his hands in his pocket during the hug. Judy and Harry didn’t scare Lily off, but that’s because she was even more intense than Josh was, eager to jump into a relationship way too quickly, declaring her stalkerish love for Josh when he suggested that they stop pretending and just be themselves. Harry buying too many bananas and then trying to eat them all to prove a point was a slightly humorous subplot that Elliott Gould made work pretty well. I may end up continuing to watch this show since my wife thinks it’s hilarious, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to stand it for that long.
Showing posts with label 9JKL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 9JKL. Show all posts
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Friday, October 6, 2017
Pilot Review: 9JKL
9JKL (CBS)
Premiered October 2 at 8:30pm
I think there’s a certain type of sitcom that was popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and a new kind of sitcom that’s premiered more over the past five or ten years. This show, which airs on the network most tethered to the former type of series, is a prime example of something that feels very outdated. It’s the kind of comedy where the laugh track seems to prompt the dialogue rather than the other way around, and though it’s not nearly as cringe-worthy as it could have been, it does manage to get irritating pretty quickly. I liked Mark Feuerstein on “Royal Pains” after not liking him very much in what I saw of “Good Morning, Miami,” and he does seem to be a good fit here even though I preferred him on USA’s medical show. David Walton is funnier in a more dastardly role, like the one he has on “Brockmire,” or even “Bent,” “About a Boy,” or “New Girl.” Elliott Gould was a superb part of “Friends” (and obviously did much more in his career long before that), and he and Linda Lavin do exactly what’s asked of them given what I imagine are the role descriptions. Liza Lapira has been on a number of shows before, including “Traffic Light” and “Apartment 23,” and this seems like a good new direction for her. My wife liked this show a lot more than I did, so it’s possible I’ll continue watching, but I don’t think there’s much new to be covered here.
How will it work as a series? Josh managed to get the doorman to stop calling his mother every time he walked in, at least for the moment, but he’s also been made aware that his family has no intention of leaving him alone anytime soon. That’s a pretty formulaic setup, and as long as the other characters get their own chance to be featured, it could work fine.
How long will it last? The reviews for this show are not good, with a very low 37 rating on Metacritic and a horrendous 11 on Rotten Tomatoes. The ratings do seem to be better, which is most important for CBS. I’m not sure this will stick out in comparison to other shows, but for now this one appears to be on decent footing.
Pilot grade: C
Premiered October 2 at 8:30pm
I think there’s a certain type of sitcom that was popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and a new kind of sitcom that’s premiered more over the past five or ten years. This show, which airs on the network most tethered to the former type of series, is a prime example of something that feels very outdated. It’s the kind of comedy where the laugh track seems to prompt the dialogue rather than the other way around, and though it’s not nearly as cringe-worthy as it could have been, it does manage to get irritating pretty quickly. I liked Mark Feuerstein on “Royal Pains” after not liking him very much in what I saw of “Good Morning, Miami,” and he does seem to be a good fit here even though I preferred him on USA’s medical show. David Walton is funnier in a more dastardly role, like the one he has on “Brockmire,” or even “Bent,” “About a Boy,” or “New Girl.” Elliott Gould was a superb part of “Friends” (and obviously did much more in his career long before that), and he and Linda Lavin do exactly what’s asked of them given what I imagine are the role descriptions. Liza Lapira has been on a number of shows before, including “Traffic Light” and “Apartment 23,” and this seems like a good new direction for her. My wife liked this show a lot more than I did, so it’s possible I’ll continue watching, but I don’t think there’s much new to be covered here.
How will it work as a series? Josh managed to get the doorman to stop calling his mother every time he walked in, at least for the moment, but he’s also been made aware that his family has no intention of leaving him alone anytime soon. That’s a pretty formulaic setup, and as long as the other characters get their own chance to be featured, it could work fine.
How long will it last? The reviews for this show are not good, with a very low 37 rating on Metacritic and a horrendous 11 on Rotten Tomatoes. The ratings do seem to be better, which is most important for CBS. I’m not sure this will stick out in comparison to other shows, but for now this one appears to be on decent footing.
Pilot grade: C
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