The new TV season is rapidly landing upon us and as reported in the London Comedy Writers Newsletter the hot new theme for this year is the comedy gold topic of divorce. First horse out is soft comedy Happily Divorced from the throwback channel TV Land.
Happily Divorced
So here is the premise, Fran is happily married until late one night Peter, her husband of 18 years, confesses that he is gay. Rather than dwelling on the crisis of a man dealing with his newly found sexuality it becomes a “comedy” about a couple divorcing – except the economic crisis means they can’t afford to physically separate and he moves into the den. We pick up 6 months later where Fran is now a fully fledged fag hag, he now a stereotypical metrosexual with a gym membership, shaven chest and regular at sing along a Sound of Music. The horribly stereotypical Mexican delicvery boy still hangs around doing his best to be as offensive as possible, (on side note check out this video about a similar role in Seinfeld) and in an effort tick every box we have Fran’s best friend a black woman with attitude. Anyway Fran starts dating again and goes to fancy restaurant where a stuck up French waiter ruins the night when he has an allergic reaction to as a truffle. But alls well that ends well and they make up. Peteris fine with his ex-wife dating and she finds a real man (he rides a motorbike and wears a leather jacket – he is basically an ageing Fonze.)
Shockingly filled with sterotypes, I was quite surprised to learn that the series is based on co-creators Fran Drescher and Peter Marc Jacobson, who had been high school sweethearts and then married in 1978. They divorced in 1999. Jacobson later came out as gay to Drescher and the two remained friends. Sadly this in no way translates to the screen, a series of poor one-liners, leads to a show that is predictable and forgettable. With 10 episodes order I would not be surprised to see it end there.
Created / Written by: Fran Drescher, Peter Marc Jacobson
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel
Starring: Fran Drescher, John Michael Higgins, Tichina Arnold, Rita Moreno, Valente Rodriguez, Robert Walden
Date premièred: 15th June 2011 (TV Land)
UK Details: TBC
is about a call centre manager sent to India in order to manage the jobs that have been outsourced. But enough the 2008 ITV comedy, this is about the fresh ideas that roll around in America’s week of pilots. Outsourced is a totally different sitcom in that was based on a 2006 
of the same name.
. Nothing new here, except a depressing reality check.
and the Emmy award winning 
making it the only traditional multi-camera sitcom in the 2 hour line up of Wednesday night comedy (the fourth was show is another hit from last year 
and the 20 / 30 something angst is transferred over here only now it feels tired and overdone. While watching Better With You it can feel like watching a show from 90s, it is tame, predictable, bland and packed with characters we have seen a dozen times before. The weak jokes are based on characters being too stupid to exist, for example the older sister telling the boyfriend of her younger sister that she doesn’t want to get married until her social security becomes insolvent – this requires all three to be stupid – the boyfriend belives it, the girlfriend doesn’t question it and sister thinks this titbit will delay the engagement. I know this is a comedy and not a serious drama and perhaps I could let this go if the script wasn’t packed so many more clunkers. It is bad writing on the one episode that has to stand up stronger than all the others.
and 
failed). $h*! My Dad Says while not totally horrible (especially when compared to other odd couple offering 
stands out as one of the funniest and creative sitcoms in recent years, so when it was canned after three series it left a gap that needed to be refilled. Last year creator Mitch Hurwitz introduced “Sit Down – Shut Up” an animated series that reunited Will Arnett and Jason Bateman, it failed to get much attention and the promised Arrested Development movie is still languishing in development hell. Running Wilde is Mitch Hurwitz new comedy that brings Will Arnett to the forefront.
has Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon – it might seem like a funny idea to have Tracy Mogan take centre stage, but it limits what stories you can tell because these types of characters are so simple. Running Wilde does have Emmy’s daughter Puddle (Stefania Lavie Owen) as the solo sane voice (literally as she does not speak and we only hear her through voice over), she explains all the back story and presents the only genuine vulnerability in the show. Easy jokes come from crazy characters, but memorable stories come from characters who well rounded and identifiable. Running Wilde is sitting on a fine line, the characters are different enough that the dynamics between are going to be interesting to see play out, although most cases the plots will probably revolve around Steve trying to do something nice, but is a total disaster, he then has to look at himself and do things right.
and 
), so his name on a new project is going to get attention. Mike and Molly sets out to make their mark with the often recycled plot line of the misadventures of a new couple and their circle of zanny friends. The twist? They’re fat.
, she didn’t but I got a few laughs out of the show. Then as I grew, she grew up with me, maturing to the slightly more grown up 
and sure that got dragged out through university when she did a Maxim photoshoot, all was looking good, but then we parted ways. I started to work for living and she stopped. Now our paths cross again as Melissa makes a return to TV in her new multi camera sitcom Melissa and Joey (Yes that Joey is the floppy haired (now shaven headed) brother to 
.
, it is isn’t subtle, clever or funny (check out this 
, when the series was cancelled in 1992 the stars struggled to find other memorable roles and then over the past couple of years three of them gave up completely and shuffled off this mortal coil. Betty White however has fast became a Facebook sensation when a group asking for her to host 
picked up over half a million fans. At 88 she was the oldest person to host the iconic show and gained the highest in ratings in two years. Hot in Cleveland sees her return to sitcom, although only intended to be in the pilot the producers were so pleased with her performance she is to become a series regular.
(1976), 
(2007) and now in 2009 he gives us Brothers. On paper this could be a worthwhile sitcom, we have Daryl Mitchell, former American footballer Michael Strahan, Carl ‘Apollo Creed’ Weathers and the fabulous CCH Pounder. In reality we have an overwhelmingly weak and predictable sitcom that will be lucky last far past the two episodes that have already aired.
, you would think she could spot a good script, but their precious little for her to work with here.
, but since 
and 
, it stars Courtney Cox (
) the show is certainly packing some veteran talent, even relative new comer Dan Byrd (Aliens in America) delivers a confident performance.
