One of the shows I'd been looking forward to the most this season was 'Episodes', the show about a British couple who pack up and leave for the US to do an adaptation of their show. I'd seen from very early promos last summer that it would feature Matt LeBlanc, and I was very eager to see what LeBlanc does to try and shake the 'Joey' image (and yes, that includes the largely awful spin-off which most have forgotten about but I never will).Though LeBlanc wasn't actually in the first episode (other than a completely tacky 'in media res' opening that was supposed to make us wonder how everything got so manic), I find myself struggling with how I'll be able to sit through another episode to find out how he does.
Because the first episode of 'Episodes' was so devoid of humour, so completely lacking in any enjoyable characters, that I don't know if I really want to waste another half hour of my time just to see if Matt LeBlanc does any good. Honestly, David Crane? What's happened to you?
The premise - that Sean and Beverly Lincoln (played by Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan, of 'Green Wing' fame) were two successful BAFTA winning writers who are offered to do a big network adaptation of their series in the states, is essentially a rehashing of the 'creative compromise' storylines that shows like 'Extras' and '30 Rock' have done much, much better. The Lincolns themselves are intolerable people - so arrogant and adamant that their work is perfect and should remain as it is. Clearly, Julian Bullard would not have been suitable for an American adaptation - surely that would just mean they were making the same show again?
I hate, hate, hated the network employees that revolved around a one note joke (she's a comedy head but she's completely rigid! We-hey!). They're the sort of character you put up with when you know they're only around for an episode, but I can see they're in the main cast, so I can expect them to be around for a while.
I'll watch next week's episode, partially because I really want this show to live up to my expectations, and partially because I want to see Matt LeBlanc, who I really like as an actor and have always thought he did well to keep those extra layers to Joey even when the lazy writing towards Friends' later seasons tended to try and make him as one-note as the network staff. I'm probably being a little harsh on this show too - I do try not to over hype shows but maybe I'm just looking at this on too high a pedestal.
Ho hum. I usually try and round off a bad review with something positive to say. Problem is, the only thing I can think of to say here is.. surely it can't get worse?
What did everyone else think?
I agree completely, I had high expectations, and it might have some potential. After reading Ausiello's comment that from episode 3 is will get funnier, I decided to sit it out and wait until the comedy kicks in. If it doesn't get any better soon, I doubt I will make it past episode 5. A shame, because again I think Matt LeBlanc is a great actor and we've all seen what he can do with comedy.
ReplyDeleteCouldnt agree more. The female lead is so wooden, unattractive, unfunny and annoying. The comedy crew are awful too and look like they'll only get worse. The male lead looks like he could have some comedy potential if given a better character to work with, which is why I shall wait to see just how much Matt Le Blanc changes it.
ReplyDeleteHmm, from a Brits perspective (and remember this is screening in the UK too), we are used to slow burning characters and plots. That is giving a show a few episodes (sic) to get into there stride. Plus,just how many great shows have us Brits seen go bad on US conversion?
ReplyDeleteThere is certainly an element of poor (obvious) plotting, but doesn't good acting count for anything on your side of the pond?
Anyway - this certainly seems like Art imitating Life imitating Art - I guess we'll be seeing a "salt 'n' pepper" haired Matt in a lot more serious roles after this.
Andy, I'm a Brit myself, I watched this on BBC Two. I love a good slow burning plot - Mad Men and Breaking Bad are two prime examples of where US TV does it as good as we do (if not more so).
ReplyDeleteAnd while I agree there have been some really dire conversions, a lot of those have been ones that didn't adapt successfully - look at the first episode of the US 'Office'. It was a carbon copy of the first episode and it's dreadful. But season two of the US Office is better than just about all of the original.
Mm-hm. If Ausiello says it gets better, I'm inclined to trust him.
ReplyDeleteI thought the acting was pretty poor too - even Richard Griffiths was having a tough time working that 'audition', but I like Mangan and Greig a lot and I'd already given the show enough of a thrashing as it is.
ReplyDeleteFrom another British PoV. It was fairly dire. Lots of one note jokes that got stretched out to long in the episode, the really annoying camera angles, tamsin griegs grey hair, the "britishness" of it all. etc. Also have your star in the show in the episode for more than a minute! I really doubt I could sit through another episode of that. Its a shame though Green Wing was awesome, maybe they should ditch this and go and make Series 3 of Green Wing instead!
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