28 Comments

I'm still a sitcom fan and think that "Ghosts" deserves more recognition and that Annie Potts is great on "Young Sheldon". Yes, those weren't cool opinions.

Expand full comment
author

Got no beef with those opinions. But those are single-cam shows (shot on film, no laughtrack). I'm talking about multi-cam (shot on a stage in front of a studio audience, like I Love Lucy, Friends, or Big Bang Theory. Or, well, like Night Court and That 70s Show)

Expand full comment

I forgot that Sheldon is a single-cam. Thanks.

Expand full comment

Yeah, Annie Potts is great on that show. I also think the actors who play Georgie and Missy are good, too. In fact, Georgie's story has become my favorite part of the show, largely because he is such a charming actor.

Young Sheldon is one of the few remaining network scripted shows I'm watching.

Expand full comment

Just jumping in to say that while it doesn't get much praise/discussion in any of the TV communities I frequent, my wife and I watch Home Economics and Grace is still a fantastic generator of laughs in that one. So yeah I assume his appearance in That 90s Show is just out of obligation to the people and show that started his career.

Expand full comment
author

But Home Ec (which I admittedly have never seen) is single-cam, and the rhythms and style of performance demanded are very different.

Expand full comment

I’ve been watching Home Economics more or less since it started, because it has kind of a killer cast. Curious if it’ll be renewed.

It can work, but lost me this season because the characters acted pretty stupid for several episodes. It sort of played like a parody of network sitcoms. But definitely has its charms.

Expand full comment

I was starting to get attached to Nico Parker's character (Sarah Miller), but the writer had other plans.

Expand full comment

Yes! That was part of what made the pilot so great to me. They do such a good job with Sarah's character in such little time, that you actually start to care about it and it is still a gut-wrenching moment when she dies, even though she's barely been in the show. But her death is so important to Joel's character in the show, she almost HAS to die lol.

Expand full comment

I have to say, seeing the promos for That 90's Show and the second (!) season of How I Met Your Father did not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Expand full comment

How does the night court revival compare to 30 rock’s fantastic night court reunion?

Expand full comment
author

Completely different kind of thing. Couldn't really compare, for a variety of reasons.

Expand full comment

I was absolutely blown away by The Last of Us pilot. It's my favorite pilot in a while. I immediately wanted to watch it the next day. If that was the episode you were the lEast impressed with - watch out. Excited for a new one tonight!

Expand full comment
Jan 20, 2023·edited Jan 20, 2023

I, for one, hope that multi-cam sitcoms and standalone episode shows (I think this is what Poker Face is?) make a comeback.

Serialized shows can become a bit of a slog for me at times. Sometimes dragging a major plot out for 8 episodes in season 3 of a series can get a little exhausting for me.

I'm so glad that OG CSI and OG Law & Order are back. Sometimes I just want a show that lasts an hour, with no cliffhangers.

Expand full comment

I agree there’s a place for mystery of the week shows. I don’t mind greater serialization as long as it is something they simply return to from time to time. What I don’t like is when a character seems to have some real development and then completely reverts the next episode. I will gladly watch a show with characters I like with no serialization as long as they do not completely ignore character development.

Expand full comment

I get some good laughs out of "The Neighborhood" even though the blond wife and the kid are absolutely unfunny.

Expand full comment

Season one of Night Court TOS are pretty shaky too. I recently rewatched the first three seasons, and it got better over the course, because once up a time, shows were allowed to do that.

I enjoyed the first two episodes of Night Court TNG. The first was a bit shaky, and the timing felt a bit off, but the second one made me laugh frequently, and that's really all I need a show like Night Court to do.

Expand full comment

Hi Alan, I realize it's probably annoying when people ask "have you watched/review show x." But I'm curious if you have any thoughts on Kaleidoscope on Netflix. Seems like something worth reviewing for its unique structure, and Giancarlo Esposito's first big role post-BB/BCS. I'll take my question off the air.

Expand full comment
author

Watched a couple, found the gimmick really annoying in a way that made the show worse rather than better, didn't watch more.

Expand full comment

My wife asked to watch it, and I agree with this take. It forces a certain structure to the episodes that makes for a worse product - and I love heist stuff. You think like 'oh maybe its more episodic' but not really because there are episodes that set up the backstory and emotional stakes. If you watch certain episodes too early you don't even know who certain characters are at that point.

We have both already sort of stopped bringing it up as something to watch I kinda doubt we ever finish it.

Expand full comment

Yeah, I have to agree. I watched an episode with the gf because she'd seen a couple of them, and the gimmick just doesn't work. It also felt a bit amateur-ish in both execution and writing.

Expand full comment

Very fair! I've only seen the first episode so far, but can see that being the case.

Expand full comment

While I often hate to be “that guy” — I can’t help myself in this instance:

So….exactly what version of THE SHINING takes place after the fall of civilization? Because I must’ve missed THAT one…

Expand full comment
author

See response to Joe's comment.

Expand full comment

The Shining?

Expand full comment
author

Dammit, mixed up my King adaptations. I meant The Stand. M-O-O-N, that spells typo!

Expand full comment

I know how it is. All work, no play, etc.

Expand full comment

If we're doing corrections... I think you mean "the least impressed" in the second paragraph, not "the last impressed". Happens to the best of us, yada yada.

Expand full comment