The networks have announced their Fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? This Summer, as the networks release their pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. A lot can change before a show makes it to air — especially this year, when the writers' strike severely gummed up the production of pilots — so consider these just some quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: CBS's Worst Week, which is set to anchor the Monday night comedy lineup.
What's it about? A guy, Sam, turns into a bumbling idiot anytime he's around his girlfriend's parents.
Who's in it? Kyle Bornheimer, Erinn Hayes, Kurtwood Smith, Nancy Lenehan
The good: It's interesting to see the most traditional network try a half-hour comedy without a laugh track. If you like slapstick, there's a lot of physical comedy in this episode. The actors do their best to sell some ridiculous situations, and there's a great cameo from Aziz Ansari, who was recently cast in The Office spinoff.
The bad: The funniest moment in your pilot shouldn't come from a guest star. It's hard to feel sorry for Sam when he does so many idiotic things; I like the idea of a guy becoming a human disaster around the people he's trying hardest to impress, but Sam chooses the least-logical option time and time again. I wanted to slap him, not laugh at him. The chain of disasters is assembled well, but it's also pretty predictable. I can't see the show being anything but that, week after week — and considering it's called Worst Week (as opposed to, say, month or year), it's as though CBS already knows its limitations.
Will I watch? Doubtful. I'm curious to see if later episodes change the format, though.
To see a gallery of photos and watch a preview, just read more.
Photos and video courtesy of CBS
Charlotte Olympia
Goldsmiths
Labour Of Love
I feel like I already saw this show. In movie form. . .wasn't it called 'Meet The Parents'?!
1Based on what I just saw, I think I'll pass.
2I think it's a copy of a Brit com called the worst week of my life which starred the woman who played susan in the british version of coupling. The show in britain was actually not all that horrible but not one of my faves. I don't think it will hold up well to the american translation. Like so many other imports it just doesn't play as well here. I'm not sure why that is because most of them are not just based on's as with Three's company and British counter part Man about the house, they have the same stories and dialogue as the original series' they are ripping off. For example I think the BBC version of coupling is one of the smartest funniest relationship comedies in TV history, but the American version didn't even make me laugh.
3bransugar — you're right, it is a remake of that British show. How long did that show go on? I could see it working for a short time but not necessarily the 22-23 episode, 2-5 season runs of a lot of US shows!
4I think it was one for a couple of seasons. I'm not really sure because I just have re runs on BBC America. I know that it ran through the couple's engagement to at least after the honey moon from the episodes I've seen but other than that I couldn't tell you for sure. It was a little tiresome after a while because the guy did some horribly stupid stuff, and he also got a lot of crap for something that weren't that bad.
5I might give it a try. I like the premise.
6This show was just awful. I love meet the parents, but this guy never got a break. It seemed to get worse and worse. Not funny, and a total waste of my time. As CBS was planning, I stuck around to watch after HIMYM and Two and Half Men. I should have just gone to sleep early. This is just my opinion, but my husband didn't like it either.
7Oh, and what 7 week pregnant women would go diving into a sofa to get the phone?!?!
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