Having “Two and a half Dudes” signing out of, CBS will attempt to fill the latest emptiness by shrinking new formula cambodian wife service so you’re able to two undoubtedly extremely familiar dudes, named Felix and you may Oscar. Matthew Perry finishes his probably dubious post-“Friends” hat secret – with starred in comedies to have NBC and you may ABC as well – with this particular restart off “Brand new Unusual Couples,” a beloved series you to definitely nevertheless comes some stop away from Neil Simon’s blueprint, as well as seems specifically old inside day and age, what having Felix since the nonsexual spouse, essentially, to Oscar’s slovenly husband. An effective casting will bring specific guarantee, but this nevertheless seems oh-so-twentieth century.
Not absolutely all contours away from Simon’s totally new allow on the pilot, nevertheless they promote a spiritual link to the cause. As well, Garry Marshall, exactly who adjusted the newest show to help you Television, functions as a representative, with Bob Every day, an enthusiastic alum from “Frasier” and you may “Desperate Housewives,” because the showrunner.
Thomas Lennon, at the same time, seeks somewhat vainly to differentiate himself off Tony Randall’s accept Felix, whose hypersensitive reactions and quirks – off cooking in order to an obsession with neatness – clash having Perry’s disheveled maleness just like the Oscar, raised out of sportswriter on role out-of football talkradio server as the, as we know, print is actually for saps and losers. Absurdly, Oscar have his own clips wall to keep track of games, and that need to set your somewhere in Hurry Limbaugh’s taxation class.
Once more, the experience gets choosing Felix having been booted by the their partner, temporarily taking up home to your divorced Oscar, who is busily trying to get busy which have an excellent comely neighbors (Leslie Bibb, from inside the a merely repeated role). Giving a way of starting said neighbor’s neurotic aunt, Emily, starred of the Lindsay Sloane, just who represents a sort-away from female version of Felix, offering him individuals having who so you can bond. Therefore, the a couple of ladies are siblings, not of Cuckoo Pigeon variety.
Usually “Brand new Odd Few” might have been an extremely strong layout on-stage and you will display screen, whether rewritten for women or just fooled. But that it nevertheless feels, sooner or later, one another conceptually defective and an examination away from simply how much goodwill Perry – who offers writing credit toward premiere having Danny Jacobson and you will Joe Keenan – provides leftover given that Chandler Bing recedes further with the buttocks-take a look at reflect.
In one of the few modern flourishes, if you find yourself are gay was not an element of the conversation on 1968 motion picture, it’s handled overtly here, out-of Emily’s husband that have remaining their to possess a guy in order to Oscar claiming regarding the Felix, “The guy seems very gay, but he isn’t.” Not too discover some thing wrong with that.
The product quality supporting participants have Wendell Enter (apparently recycled regarding their part inside “The fresh Michael J. Fox Reveal”) and you will invitees Dave Foley while the Oscar’s web based poker company, as there are that undoubtedly laugh-out-loud eyes fun within opener’s extremely stop, even if you to probably will come too-late to help you spraying adequate heavens freshener more than it restoration to cause Felix to help you honk and wheeze.
Television Comment: ‘The latest Strange Couple’
To have CBS, “Men’s” get-off hastens the sense out of necessity to replenish its comedy arsenal, that has too often appeared – ratings-smart, and to some degree, qualitatively – such as for instance “The major Shag Concept” surrounded by dwarf a-listers. This new community has considering the inform you throughout the because felicitous a launch platform as it can certainly offer to possess sampling motives, sandwiched anywhere between CBS’ megahit and you will “Men’s” one-hour finale.
Perhaps “The fresh new Weird Pair” will start that reloading techniques. However, considering exactly how tired brand new tell you feels already, if the cumulative impulse on more youthful audience the newest community covets are signed “FU,” for once, that really might not imply Felix Unger.
Television Comment: ‘This new Strange Couple’
- Production: Shot for the Los angeles of the CBS Tv Studios.
- Crew: Government suppliers, Bob Every day, Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Matthew Perry; director, Draw Cendrowski; writers, Perry, Danny Jacobson, Joe Keenan; according to “New Weird Pair” because of the Neil Simon; camera, Mikel Neiers; manufacturing designer, John Shaffner; editor, Pat Barnett; tunes, Bruce Miller, Jason T. Miller; brand spanking new motif, Neal Hefti; casting, Collin Daniel, Brett Greenstein. 29 Min.
- Cast: Matthew Perry, Thomas Lennon, Lindsay Sloane, Wendell Pierce, Yvette Nicole Brown
