One Big Happy premieres on
Tuesday, March 17 on NBC at 9:30/8:30c. The showrunner is Liz Feldman and the show is produced by Ellen DeGeneres. I was a big fan of Ellen’s own sitcom even before her talk show, so I was very much looking forward to this sitcom. The first episode hardly breaks new ground, however, and really feels like an updated
Three’s Company. Last year’s cancelled
New Normal from Ryan Murphy while annoying was fresher.
Elisha Cuthbert plays lesbian Lizzy. Cuthbert is perhaps best known for playing Jack Bauer’s daughter Kim on
24. She’s already demonstrated her comedy abilities on
Happy Endings. She does the best she can with a tired script and concept, and a pretty stereotypical character. Nick Zano plays Luke, her best friend and potential baby-daddy. Zano is also a
Happy Endings alum and his other credits include
2 Broke Girls and
90210. Zano is somewhat saddled with the stereotypical cute but dumb guy role. The final main character is Kelly Brook who plays Prudence. Brook’s credits include
Lemon La Vida Loca,
Skins, and
Smallville. Brook is subjected to numerous jokes about her ample bosom.
The cast is rounded out by the usual quirky friends played by Rebecca Corry, Chris Williams, and Brandon Mychal Smith. Like any Pilot, the episode is bogged down by setting up the backstory and setting the stage for the action going forward. There is a particularly intrusive laugh track, and the show is almost too politically correct, which is an interesting juxtaposition to how many times our attention is drawn to Brook’s breasts.
The action is mostly split between the apartment that Lizzy and Luke share and The Bowl Hole. In addition to being a budding science fiction novelist, Luke owns The Bowl Hole – a bowling alley. Lizzy’s big issue is that while Luke is the artsy laid back one, she is the borderline OCD one. Prudence is the wild card thrown into their close friendship and plans to share parenthood.
My favorite line of the entire episode? “Luke is the father. No, Lizzy, Darth Vader is the father.”
The characters are likeable enough and the acting is fine. However, the writing really needs to improve for this show to really succeed. The
Three’s Company,
Odd Couple formulas are tried and true, but also pretty tired. I hope that the writers can bring something fresher to subsequent episodes. Don’t take my word for it, however. You can check out
One Big Happy, this Tuesday on NBC at 9:30/8:30c.
About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.
I watched all the promos but it really didn't capture. I like Nick and Elisha but this all looks like been there done that. Will check out the first couple of eps but NBC shows usually aren't my thing.
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to this show. I hope Undateable and One Big Happy pair well for NBC because they need some comedy hits. I love Undateable and hopefully I will love this too.
ReplyDeleteI searched for an article like this, and luckily found here. Filmes Online Grátis
ReplyDeleteI am actually semi willing to give this a try but I haven't been eager for it because it feels somehow tired to me as well, so I can understand where you are coming from in the preview. This being said, if the show ends up being renewed (and that is a tremendous if, which I doubt happens), I will check it out, especially for Elisha but also because I generally like the concept. So I am mildly rooting for this one to make it and to pair well with Undateable, which I really like.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of sad for Elisha she proved just how funny she could be in Happy Endings but this looks dated and unfunny.
ReplyDeleteLove Ellen! Loved her show! Hasn't gotten where I am yet; but hope to check it out!
ReplyDeleteI heard it has a Happy Endings vibe to it. Well... we'll see that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the preview, I'm going to give this a sample and hope that it will fare better than the other recent HE alum's efforts that didn't keep me... I do like EC and she really surprised me with her comedy chops in HE, and I hope that the show writing will improve past the initial pilot character intro and set up to give us a better idea about the show..
ReplyDeleteUgh, how much I wish Elisha could get a well-written part that isn't for a comedy! She showed she has acting chops from the early seasons of 24; I prefer watching her in dramatic roles.
ReplyDeleteBased on promos and early reviews, this show looks painful.
ReplyDeleteI get why NBC greentilit it in the first place, Ellen is a strong name and people (me included) love her, it presumably has broad appeal, something NBC is looking for in its comedies (only to see them getting embarrassing ratings). However, I can't feel anything but sad for seeing NBC passing on niche-appealing comedies like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Mission Control (a show that had the same six-episode order but got canceled before the premiere) for it or Undateable, a summer burn-off.
Bright side, Casey Wilson, Eliza Coupe and Elisha can do a Happy Endings reunion, find a channel/streaming service and make it happen, Sony.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the entire season of UKS on Netflix, I believe it was a mistake for NBC to license it to Netflix.
UKS was better than any new comedy NBC aired on their network this season, and it had potential to be a relative hit for NBC (i.e. stay above a 1.2).
It's their loss in the end because they will be missing out on the awards and recognition they would have received from shows like Mission Control and UKS, and instead they will receive middling ratings for highly panned comedies.
Ironically enough, selling UKS to Netflix is probably one of the most logical NBC decisions for the longest time. UKS is too niche and "too cable" to find broad appeal for broadcast. Its better off with Netflix.
ReplyDeleteRight now, it looks NBC is trying too hard to seek for that broad audience (Friends) with their comedies that isn't too smart (30 Rock) or too meta (Community) or too "dry" (The Office). I think NBC just needs a comedy that simply makes you laugh period and they can't find success with shows like One Big Happy and Undatable when they look like rejected CBS pilots.