I love sitcoms. I really do. Both single-camera like Arrested Development, Community, 30 Rock, Modern Family, etc. and Multi-camera like Seinfeld, Mad about You, Friends, Frasier, Cheers, etc. The fact that there were only five multi-cam sitcoms with audiences this past season was sad. The fact that the latest entry, 100 Questions, was supposed to be a comedy was even more sad to me.
The show is primarily and deeply unfunny. There were a couple bits at the end that elicited a small chuckle, but I had to wait almost 22 minutes into a comedy to have a mild laugh. That's bad. The lead is completely unlikeable. There seems to be the thought that as long as she has a British accent, she will be charming is a misnomer. This actress, in this role, is charmless. I can't speak for her in other roles, because I have never seen her before. I cannot comment on the other actors because now, less than 24 hours after having watched it, I cannot remember them at all. That is a bad sign for the producers of this show.
The dialogue was trite, predictable and snore-inducing. Seriously, how did this script get the green-light? The overly sweetened laughter is a massive red-flag. If the audience doesn't laugh when it's performed right in front of them, it won't be more funny if you add canned laughter. How I Met Your Mother has no audience even though it is show multi-cam style, yet it doesn't feel like canned laughter. You guys need to ask them how they do that. Really. Go now.
NBC - you can do much better. MUCH! Have higher standards with scripts, huh? Unlike what some others think, yours is not a dying brand. It WAS a dying brand, but by keeping quality shows like CHUCK, Community, 30 Rock, and The Office even though the ratings aren't super, you are regrowing your brand in the right direction. Keep THAT up - Don't drag it down with this crap.
The show is primarily and deeply unfunny. There were a couple bits at the end that elicited a small chuckle, but I had to wait almost 22 minutes into a comedy to have a mild laugh. That's bad. The lead is completely unlikeable. There seems to be the thought that as long as she has a British accent, she will be charming is a misnomer. This actress, in this role, is charmless. I can't speak for her in other roles, because I have never seen her before. I cannot comment on the other actors because now, less than 24 hours after having watched it, I cannot remember them at all. That is a bad sign for the producers of this show.
The dialogue was trite, predictable and snore-inducing. Seriously, how did this script get the green-light? The overly sweetened laughter is a massive red-flag. If the audience doesn't laugh when it's performed right in front of them, it won't be more funny if you add canned laughter. How I Met Your Mother has no audience even though it is show multi-cam style, yet it doesn't feel like canned laughter. You guys need to ask them how they do that. Really. Go now.
NBC - you can do much better. MUCH! Have higher standards with scripts, huh? Unlike what some others think, yours is not a dying brand. It WAS a dying brand, but by keeping quality shows like CHUCK, Community, 30 Rock, and The Office even though the ratings aren't super, you are regrowing your brand in the right direction. Keep THAT up - Don't drag it down with this crap.