Men of a Certain Age: Season 1, Episode 4 “The New Guy” (C+)
I’d love to watch an episode of this show without squirming in my chair the whole time. There always has to be at least one part of each episode which is so devastatingly uncomfortable and unbearable that it almost makes the rest of it not worth the trouble. This installment was a notch better than the previous one, but still had that despicable awkward arc to bring it down. The universe is way too small in the world of this show. There’s no reason that Dave needed to attend the school function and run into Terry. As a character, he’s infuriatingly obnoxious and offers no positive qualities. At least Owen’s disapproving father helps shape him into a stronger, more resilient person, but Dave’s presence adds nothing and takes away so much. Dave jokingly bidding four million dollars, bidding against himself, and then shouting that his kid better get into the school was a horrific chain of events I wish I could erase from my memory. This episode did do something right, and that’s having the fundraiser, a way to bring all (or at least most) of its characters together. Owen also had his best plotline yet, listening closely to the stories recounted by Sonia and her new guy and doing his best to “get the timeline straight.” He may not be a terribly effective car salesman, but he’s going to stick up for his friend. This was a particularly pathetic hour for Joe, who went on a bender with his bookie and then woke up to the harsh reality that he still has to pay off his debts. Confessing to Owen that he had been e-mailing with another woman before his wife cheated on him was another sad step, and that guy really has to start pulling his life together.
Don’t be surprised if there’s no review of this show next week; I haven’t decided if I’m going to keep watching it or not since a number of shows return next week. Anyone have an opinion?
Showing posts with label Men of a Certain Age. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Men of a Certain Age. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Take Three: Men of a Certain Age
Men of a Certain Age: Season 1, Episode 3 “Mind’s Eye” (C)
As this show continues to develop, it’s becoming clearer that there’s not much worthwhile to be found here. I’ll stick it with it for at least one more week because there’s nothing on next week, but may abandon it the week after that as we’re inundated with the premieres of a number of returning shows. The plotlines in this show are just off-putting, and it’s clear in almost every case that the guys are walking into a trap and setting themselves up for a fall. The truly lame arc in this episode is that of Joe’s son, since Joe himself hardly seems interested in his son’s discontent and can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong. He’d do better to talk to his buddies or maybe even his ex-wife instead of relying on the sage advice of his co-workers, who don’t seem terribly bright. The only bright spot of the whole storyline was his final comment, which provides the title for this episode – “you realize you’re actually in the car with me, not just in your mind’s eye.” Owen giving everyone discounts and deals was never going to work out well, and it was just tragic to watch. It was somewhat entertaining to see everyone ask about Owen in amusing ways, and there was something effectively triumphant about him saying, “Yeah, I am the fat guy.” Why he needs to give a motivational speech when he accepts his award for top salesman is puzzling, and it’s just setting him up for a failure and a realization of how much money he lost by giving out so many deals. Terry’s acting job at least gave him something to do, but his efforts to enhance the myth of family and his relationship with his fake wife were a bad idea from the start. Had he told her he was into her at the start rather than trying to forge an attraction by creating an illusion about their romance, he might have saved himself the trouble of finding out in a horribly embarrassing way that she was otherwise engaged. It seems like the kind of thing that would happen to him, but it was so devastatingly predictable. It was really nice to see Cynthia Watros, even in such a limited, one-shot role, and this makes me really hope that she’ll be back for season six of “Lost” next year.
As this show continues to develop, it’s becoming clearer that there’s not much worthwhile to be found here. I’ll stick it with it for at least one more week because there’s nothing on next week, but may abandon it the week after that as we’re inundated with the premieres of a number of returning shows. The plotlines in this show are just off-putting, and it’s clear in almost every case that the guys are walking into a trap and setting themselves up for a fall. The truly lame arc in this episode is that of Joe’s son, since Joe himself hardly seems interested in his son’s discontent and can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong. He’d do better to talk to his buddies or maybe even his ex-wife instead of relying on the sage advice of his co-workers, who don’t seem terribly bright. The only bright spot of the whole storyline was his final comment, which provides the title for this episode – “you realize you’re actually in the car with me, not just in your mind’s eye.” Owen giving everyone discounts and deals was never going to work out well, and it was just tragic to watch. It was somewhat entertaining to see everyone ask about Owen in amusing ways, and there was something effectively triumphant about him saying, “Yeah, I am the fat guy.” Why he needs to give a motivational speech when he accepts his award for top salesman is puzzling, and it’s just setting him up for a failure and a realization of how much money he lost by giving out so many deals. Terry’s acting job at least gave him something to do, but his efforts to enhance the myth of family and his relationship with his fake wife were a bad idea from the start. Had he told her he was into her at the start rather than trying to forge an attraction by creating an illusion about their romance, he might have saved himself the trouble of finding out in a horribly embarrassing way that she was otherwise engaged. It seems like the kind of thing that would happen to him, but it was so devastatingly predictable. It was really nice to see Cynthia Watros, even in such a limited, one-shot role, and this makes me really hope that she’ll be back for season six of “Lost” next year.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Round Two: Men of a Certain Age
Men of a Certain Age: Season 1, Episode 2 “Let It Go” (C+)
After an uncertain start last week, this show hasn’t really found its footing yet. It’s also not doomed to failure, but it’s going to have to pull itself together soon it if wants to remain relevant and worthwhile. All three characters’ storylines are chugging along at an accelerated pace, but the question of whether they’re actually interesting has yet to be answered. Perhaps the most accessible and at the same time the least interesting of the three stories is that of Owen, whose continual inability to stand up for himself for the first three quarters of the episode and subsequent satisfying power play is just obnoxious. Most of all it’s a shame to see the incredibly talented Andre Braugher wasting himself on such a role. The other two haven’t quite found their funk either, but they seem to be doing work that fits their abilities. Joe’s efforts to reconcile with his wife by judging her response to his question about seeing other people are evidently poorly conceived and executed, but Ray Romano does a good job of playing the sad sack trying desperately to determine what he should bring to a party. His flagrant denial of his gambling addiction is a more serious undertone to the show that will likely not be explored since the other two don’t seem overly intent on doing something about it. Terry’s exploits are a bit tiresome but also quite entertaining, and seeing Scott Bakula run from a huge guy about to beat him up is pretty funny.
After an uncertain start last week, this show hasn’t really found its footing yet. It’s also not doomed to failure, but it’s going to have to pull itself together soon it if wants to remain relevant and worthwhile. All three characters’ storylines are chugging along at an accelerated pace, but the question of whether they’re actually interesting has yet to be answered. Perhaps the most accessible and at the same time the least interesting of the three stories is that of Owen, whose continual inability to stand up for himself for the first three quarters of the episode and subsequent satisfying power play is just obnoxious. Most of all it’s a shame to see the incredibly talented Andre Braugher wasting himself on such a role. The other two haven’t quite found their funk either, but they seem to be doing work that fits their abilities. Joe’s efforts to reconcile with his wife by judging her response to his question about seeing other people are evidently poorly conceived and executed, but Ray Romano does a good job of playing the sad sack trying desperately to determine what he should bring to a party. His flagrant denial of his gambling addiction is a more serious undertone to the show that will likely not be explored since the other two don’t seem overly intent on doing something about it. Terry’s exploits are a bit tiresome but also quite entertaining, and seeing Scott Bakula run from a huge guy about to beat him up is pretty funny.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Pilot Review: Men of a Certain Age
Men of a Certain Age (TNT)
Premiered December 7 at 10pm
This show is a first for TNT. It doesn’t fit in with any of the other programs the network airs. It’s not a medical show, cop series, or legal drama. That said, it doesn’t seem quite sure exactly what it is. These men of a certain age are three actors who haven’t really been seen in a while since each starring in a long-running 90s series. It’s certainly a bizarre trio culled from radically different backgrounds. Ray Romano was the loveable but dorky Raymond in CBS’ popular “Everybody Loves Raymond,” whose comic charm came mostly from his unenthusiastic mutterings and bird-like appearance. Scott Bakula is experienced in light-hearted sci-fi, headlining both NBC’s “Quantum Leap” and UPN’s latest “Star Trek” series, “Enterprise.” Andre Braugher starred in NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” and briefly anchored FX’s short-lived but spectacular “Thief.” Romano and Bakula are decent actors for their respective parts, but this work is well below the capabilities of a skilled performer like Braugher. His role best echoes that, as a man who struggles to live up to his father and can’t seem to do it despite his best efforts. Braugher can do so much more, and seeing him stranded in this role is a shame. There’s some humor in this show, most of which comes from the bantering between the three leads. The more awkward moments come from Romano, and there’s a lot that still needs to be worked out. These men are stuck in the middle of their lives, and there’s not necessarily anything too interesting going on. I’m willing to give it another go, but I’m not sure this one can live long.
How will it work as a series? Having three leads means that the show can devote energy to three different threads, some of which may be better than others. This was only the pilot, and presumably coming episodes will have a clearer focus on where the show is ultimately heading. If supporting characters like wives, children, and ex-girlfriends become more prominent than co-workers, the show might do well. It’s still too early to tell, and this pilot hardly seems indicative of what the show will actually be like, and if it is, I think it won’t be terribly exciting but overall relatively harmless.
How long will it last? TNT has been fairly kind to its series recently, and even the axed “Raising the Bar” got two seasons before it got cancelled. Launching the show behind “The Closer” is a smart idea, though in three weeks it will be all by itself, airing during the holidays when most other shows aren’t airing. The pedigree of the three stars combined together should help it do well, and I imagine that, in cable tradition, it will be swiftly renewed for a second season. We’ll have to see how the show does creatively in the next couple of weeks, though.
Pilot grade: B-
Premiered December 7 at 10pm
This show is a first for TNT. It doesn’t fit in with any of the other programs the network airs. It’s not a medical show, cop series, or legal drama. That said, it doesn’t seem quite sure exactly what it is. These men of a certain age are three actors who haven’t really been seen in a while since each starring in a long-running 90s series. It’s certainly a bizarre trio culled from radically different backgrounds. Ray Romano was the loveable but dorky Raymond in CBS’ popular “Everybody Loves Raymond,” whose comic charm came mostly from his unenthusiastic mutterings and bird-like appearance. Scott Bakula is experienced in light-hearted sci-fi, headlining both NBC’s “Quantum Leap” and UPN’s latest “Star Trek” series, “Enterprise.” Andre Braugher starred in NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” and briefly anchored FX’s short-lived but spectacular “Thief.” Romano and Bakula are decent actors for their respective parts, but this work is well below the capabilities of a skilled performer like Braugher. His role best echoes that, as a man who struggles to live up to his father and can’t seem to do it despite his best efforts. Braugher can do so much more, and seeing him stranded in this role is a shame. There’s some humor in this show, most of which comes from the bantering between the three leads. The more awkward moments come from Romano, and there’s a lot that still needs to be worked out. These men are stuck in the middle of their lives, and there’s not necessarily anything too interesting going on. I’m willing to give it another go, but I’m not sure this one can live long.
How will it work as a series? Having three leads means that the show can devote energy to three different threads, some of which may be better than others. This was only the pilot, and presumably coming episodes will have a clearer focus on where the show is ultimately heading. If supporting characters like wives, children, and ex-girlfriends become more prominent than co-workers, the show might do well. It’s still too early to tell, and this pilot hardly seems indicative of what the show will actually be like, and if it is, I think it won’t be terribly exciting but overall relatively harmless.
How long will it last? TNT has been fairly kind to its series recently, and even the axed “Raising the Bar” got two seasons before it got cancelled. Launching the show behind “The Closer” is a smart idea, though in three weeks it will be all by itself, airing during the holidays when most other shows aren’t airing. The pedigree of the three stars combined together should help it do well, and I imagine that, in cable tradition, it will be swiftly renewed for a second season. We’ll have to see how the show does creatively in the next couple of weeks, though.
Pilot grade: B-
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