Today’s Installment: A Salute To Those On The Chopping Block (Part 1):
Some we barely got to know, some we never wanted to know, and some we hoped would have been so much better. However we felt, they’re all dead as disco, baby…
Failed Attempts At Funny Bone Tickling – The Comedies
1. Back To You (Fox) - This one is probably the most surprising failure – there was plenty of talent on hand, with Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton in the leading roles. But talent can’t salvage a show with a premise that had been used up back when Frasier was still shouting “Norm” at the end of a bar. Still, I thought the fact that Fox can’t produce a popular non-cartoon comedy to save their lives might have changed their minds.2. Return of Jezebel James (Fox) – What was I just saying about Fox? Oh, and this wasn’t a cartoon? Right. The simple fact that this show was brought to us by Amy Sherman-Palladino (creator of the wonderful Gilmore Girls) was enough to make most want to jump for joy. But then Fox dumped it in the dreaded mid-season replacement slot – which is generally a sign that the show is dead weight. How could they?! Oh wait – it really does stink? Yeah, it seems that the frenetic dialogue pacing that Ms. Palladino likes to write didn’t work well for Parker Posey, who came off as an unlikable meth addict who wanted a kid. Posey won audiences over time and again with starring roles in many of the Christopher Guest mockumentaries - but we started to worry about her when she played a scary-for-all-the-wrong-reasons vampire in Blade: Trinity. It's too bad - Lauren Ambrose was cute as a butten as usual, and if they could have slowed things down a bit Jezebel might have had potential.
3. Cavemen (ABC) – Yes, from the Geico commercial. Yes, it was really as bad as you’d heard.4. Aliens In America (CW) – This was a fantastic show with loveable characters, great acting and fun plotlines. Yes, it seemed silly – a kid from Pakistan comes to stay with a Wisconsin family as an exchange student, cultural misunderstandings go awry and wackiness ensues – but isn’t that what a sitcom SHOULD BE? Canceling this charming story was a huge waste.
5. Miss/Guided (ABC) – Simple premise: Judy Greer plays a nerdy girl who comes back to her
old high school as a guidance counselor. She’s much prettier, more confident and still horribly awkward in social situations. As far as mid-season shows go, this was actually quite good – nice cast, Saturday Night Live alum (Chris Parnell), Ashton Kutcher producing/guest-starring. But with only 7 episodes shot, it hardly had time to find its way.5.5. Scrubs (NBC) – Not really cancelled, just moved to ABC (who already produces the show). NBC never gave this show enough credit, and it was on the verge of cancellation every season. The fact that the network was going to make them air their final episodes on DVD? Well, that was enough to make ABC step up to the plate and give them a final season worthy of this amazing comedy.
Up next for the chopping block: The Dramas. See you then...
(For a full rundown of what's new, canceled or brand spanking new, go here.)
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