I wanted to like it. I really, really wanted to like it. I graduated high school with the co-creators, Mike Bernier and Chris Pappas, and this week's guest star was a high school buddy of mine (Hi Jeff!).
But what has gone from a show with promise has developed some traits that could send it right to the dumpster. Read on for my lists of reasons why Unhitched could sizzle, and why it may fizzle.
Reasons Unhitched could sizzle
1. The episodes that the creators wrote were funny. No, I am not biased because we went to high school together. The first two episodes really were the funniest ones. You know you loved Kate's dates -- the Celtics mascot and the air guitar champion -- and I know I need say no more than "shrimp." Although the subsequent episodes each had some funny situations, overall, they just fell flat. So Mike and Chris, keep writing and your show has a better chance of succeeding.
2. We've seen the formula work before. Call it the Seinfeld formula: A somewhat odd group of friends get themselves into bizarre, if not annoying, situations and the laughs just keep coming. Irreverence (reminiscent of other Farrelly brothers gigs) to animal rights, the disabled and children have already appeared in Unhitched, and the catch phrases (see 'shrimp' above) could really catch on.
3. The camaraderie among the friends. They joke, they bar hop and they just plain hang. It is a formula we all like in How I Met Your Mother and even Seinfeld and Friends.
4. It's another great show set in Boston. You know you love the backdrop of Beantown, from the decade-long comedy of Cheers, the goofy Ally McBeal and the outrageous Boston Legal. Unhitched uses the Boston connection to the fullest, going to trendy Boston clubs and even using a map of Boston during the scene breaks to show where the characters are in the city for the next scene.
5. Pat Finn. Although only a small recurring role in a few episodes, this wanna-be-single-guy shows up in inappropriate situations with his baby in tow, licking buffalo wing sauce off said child's head, whacking the baby into a light fixture and the like. It's hilarious to this mom and avid baby-wearer, so I want to see more.
6. Seinfeld was terrible the first season and I hated the pilot of Friends. It took Seinfeld a long while to find its groove and to have the characters interacting in a way that was not awkward. I also found the pilot of Friends to be awkward, uninteresting and typical. Hopefully the Unhitched gang will find their groove sooner than later.
7. It is dirty like Two and a Half Men. Now there's with longevity and fairly consistent writing. They push the envelope on the sex jokes and Unhitched has this element too.
Now, my optimism ends. While all of those elements may come together for Unhitched and make a successful show, I worry that this one won't last, as it has all but lost me. The direction and interaction of the cast members is not clicking and the jokes often fall flat. I am even thinking some canned laugh tracks would help cue the viewers and fill the awkward silences, and I am not a fan of the fake guffaws.
Will I keep watching? I am not sure. For all of the above reasons, I want to keep giving it a chance, but I am not sure there is enough to persuade me.
How do you feel about the future of Unhitched? Do you vote sizzle or fizzle?
Giveaways reminder: Office, Eli Stone, Supernatural, South Park
Giveaway Thursday: Tickets to the New York Television Festival ... all of it!
I miss the media-friendly John McCain - VIDEOS
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-01-2008 @ 3:21PM
GigG said...
It's all about chemisty among the actors. It is almost always there from the start on a good show even if the first episodes suck.
It isn't here.
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4-01-2008 @ 3:23PM
Peanut said...
I watch it, but only because it kind of reminds me of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
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4-01-2008 @ 5:42PM
dt3 said...
BLASPHEMER!!!!
4-01-2008 @ 7:33PM
Peanut said...
Hey, I said "kind of."
4-01-2008 @ 3:24PM
Alicia said...
You said "shrimp" I giggled.
I wish I could for the last couple of episodes... unfortunatly... I just don't see that happening
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4-01-2008 @ 3:25PM
kickit said...
Good points you made. I've really been enjoying this show.
Isn't the season over though? When I did an "info" on my guide for Sunday's episode, it said it was the season finale. Any idea if this has been picked up for another season, or is this article trying to figure that out?
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4-01-2008 @ 3:37PM
MJBUtah said...
I really like this show, I watched it almost by accident the first night and was really hooked. Oh, and the licking the baby's head was the most awesome thing every. The look on the baby's face is what made it!
It did seem a little slower this week, but I thought it was just me because I was distracted. I really hope it makes it, because I swore I wasn't going to watch any new shows anymore since everything I love gets cancelled (goodbye, sweet Journeyman) so I hope I don't get burned again.
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4-01-2008 @ 3:44PM
Jennifer said...
I'm with MJBUtah, everything I seem to love gets canceled too. Just look at Passions (sniff, tear). My downside tho is this show is funny in kinda predictable sort of way, which may or may not help it. I haven't decided on which yet...
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4-01-2008 @ 4:08PM
Galley said...
I've been watching it because of Rashida Jones. Apart from her, (and Pat Finn), there's not much to enjoy.
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4-01-2008 @ 5:15PM
lucyfan62 said...
I watched the first episode and it was really not funny (I only laughed at the cigarette lighting sight gag). I used to like Craig Bierko, but he looks like he's melting now! That's a pass for me.
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4-01-2008 @ 5:23PM
Jeff said...
My wife and I like the show so far. (They didn't do the map thing last episode, and I really missed it.)
Frequently, shows become really good once they outgrow their gimmick. If we can get a good funny script that doesn't hinge on the regulars' awful dating experiences, I'll really be impressed, and hopeful for the show's future. I think the characters and relationships are there, ready to develop further, and that's what will keep the show going.
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4-01-2008 @ 5:26PM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
If I remember correctly Friends had terrible ratings for the first 2 seasons, then they moved it to Thursday and its ratings went way up. Seinfeld wasnt very good show-wise or ratings-wise until year 2. They need to give it a chance. There are so few sit-coms left. They should give all shows 2 years. This show has alot of potential and a good cast.
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4-01-2008 @ 6:31PM
Derek said...
I love Rashida Jones, but I can't believe she would leave The Office to make this crap. I feel like I gave the show an honest shot, but I just don't believe that there's a series worth continuing. I'm a big fan of "cringe comedy", and even Seinfeld & It's Always Sunny with their egotistical and unrepentant characters, but I hate the gang in Unhitched more so than any other caricatures I've seen this year.
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4-01-2008 @ 7:31PM
hessian said...
I am certain you WON'T be watching it. The season (more likely SERIES) finale only pulled a 4 share.
This thing is toast.
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4-01-2008 @ 8:15PM
Ras Thavas said...
Well, I found it funny. At least three times every episode I lol'd enough to scare my cat.
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4-01-2008 @ 10:25PM
Bash said...
I liked "Friends" from the get-go. I don't like "It's always Sunny in Philadelphia". I can understand that there are people out there who might like this show but I'd rather see more episodes of "My Boys". That show is going nowhere either but it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside while "Unhitched" seems like a show about self-loving people. The very last episode of "Unhitched" for me was unbearable. "You are a divorce lawyer? I can not live with that!" - How stupid is that? And how shallow is it to act as if you care about animals and then have your friend buy you the shampoo you know has been extensively been tested on animals, expecting to boink that chick in the near future, and then have your friend hand-deliver it to you. What was he going to do, wash his hair and then right afterwards get rid of the smell and lie about what his shampoo was if he got asked? And don't get me started about the "learning how to drive" thing. Sitting your friend in the car and then getting out as if you were teaching him to ride a bike. Ha... ha... NOT. I am not a three year old. Even "According to Jim" has more thought-out jokes.
Too many plot devices, unoriginal and un-funny. It's toast.
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4-02-2008 @ 1:00AM
Riley said...
I love this show!
The "shrimp" episode, the boxing episode and the wheelchair guy episodes were funny and smart.
The cast is great and the show can only keep getting better and better.
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