By Maariya Rahman
The closing of the popular television show “Friends” was emotional for many people, least of all co-creator Marta Kauffman, who said, “It’s somewhere between getting a divorce from someone you’re still in love with and losing someone.” For fans that could not deal with the departure of “Friends” cold turkey, never fear, “Joey” is here to ease you “Friends”-lovers through the process. The spin-off debuted on Sept. 9 on NBC in the same time slot as its predecessor.
“Joey” is about Matt LeBlanc’s character, Joey Tribbiani’s decision to move to Los Angeles to further his acting career. The show’s other two main characters are Joey’s younger hairdresser sister Gina (played by recent Emmy Award winner Drea de Matteo) and his 20-year-old, rocket scientist nephew Michael (played by Paulo Costanzo).
The show is laugh out loud funny. It is definitely enjoyable, even to viewers who did not follow “Friends.” Fans are sure to maintain a loyal following to “Joey.” However, the show seems to be relying too much on the stupidity of Joey Tribbiani as it’s game plan, and viewers wonder how long the writers can keep the show fresh. Will it be axed by mid season? Will NBC give it at least a complete season out courtesy to their legendary show, “Friends”?
Fans are keeping the faith since the show has the same writers and three of the same producers that spun out the smash hit parent show. Maybe since the show is taped on the same set as its predecessor, it will bring it the same luck.
From the creators of the “West Wing” and “Everwood” comes “Jack & Bobby,” which premiered on Sept. 12. This is the wild card show of the WB network’s freshman class of shows.
This show has potential and can become the surprise hit of the season, just like one of its parent shows, “Everwood,” did back in the fall of 2002. However, it can also be pulled off of the air just as fast for its inconsistencies and lack of plot lines. This could be the show that the second season of “Summerland” is set to replace at mid-season. Could a show really be that fun to watch when they already tell you what ends up happening before they show it?
The show is set in Missouri and revolves around two brothers: Jack, the elder, and Bobby, the younger. They live with their single mother (played by Christine Lahti) who is a college professor. Jack (played by Matt Long) is in high school, and pretty much sacrifices his livelihood to make sure his younger, middle-school-aged brother (played by Logan Lerman) has a bright future. The show flashes back and forth to the future, 2041, to be exact, when Bobby is elected President. In other words, the basic premise of the show is a documentary about the upbringing of a future president. This show will probably stay alive for a while due the country’s current upsurge of interest in politics (i.e. the upcoming Presidential election). “Jack & Bobby” airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m.
The producers of “The O.C.” managed to create the alter ego to the popular FOX show in the new WB series, “The Mountain,” which premiered on Sept. 22. “The Mountain” is like “Everwood” meets “One Tree Hill,” with a hint of “Melrose Place.” The show is about free-spirited, extreme sports enthusiast, David Carver (played by Oliver Hudson), who ends up inheriting a Colorado ski resort after his grandfather dies in an avalanche. The bitter rivals to the Carver family, the Dowlings, are not giving up in trying to grab the ski resort from under the Carvers; even if it means exploiting their own daughter/sister Max (played by Elizabeth Bogush) into sleeping with David Carver to help coerce him into selling the resort to the Dowling family. However, Max never expects to eventually fall in love with David.
The show has a decorated cast, which includes Alana de La Garza from “All My Children,” Mitch Pileggi from the “X-Files” and Penn Badgley from the short-lived WB show, “Do Over.” Though many fans of “Do Over” still feel that show was never given a chance (blaming the inaccuracy of the Nielsen ratings scoring system), they will maintain a loyal following to “The Mountain” to see the attractive and talented 17-year-old Badgley, who certainly has a promising career ahead
of him.
If ever “The Mountain” lacks any substance, it is chock full of enough sex, fist fights and slow motion extreme sports to keep the average viewer from giving in to their short attention span. This show seems to have the energy to survive a few rounds. “The Mountain” airs Wednesday nights at 9 p.m.
Nobody expected the cast from the VH1 debut season of the “Surreal Life,” which began on Sept. 9, to become household names. The basic premise of the show is putting six celebrities who have passed their career primes in the same house in the Hollywood hills and see what unfolds. What did VH1 do right that the WB network could not? They cast the perfect characters: Charo, Flavor Flav, Jordan Knight, Dave Coulier, Bridgette Nielsen and Ryan Starr.
Charo (often referred to as Mrs. “Cuchi Cuchi”) is most well known for her guest appearances on the television series “The Love Boat.” Flavor Flav is most well known for his rap group Public Enemy. Jordan Knight was one of the New Kids on the Block. Bridgette Nielsen was briefly married to Sylvester Stallone; she later became a Danish model and an actress. Dave Coulier was the resident funny man, Joey Gladstone, on the popular 1980s sitcom “Full House.” Ryan Starr was a runner-up in the first season of “American Idol.”
Apparently the cast has amazing chemistry together, keeping the viewers at the edge of their seats-there’s never a dull moment. Will Nielsen ever keep her clothes on? Will anyone ever understand what Charo is saying? Will Knight ever quit putting his foot in his mouth?
Knight received a lot of criticism from viewers for a comment about the Olsen twins . The fact that he said it right to Dave Coulier’s face was the icing on the cake. The new “Surreal Life” commercials zoom in on his comment about the twins and further, saying the same to
Ryan Starr.
Move over Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey: it’s all about Bridgette Nielsen and Flava Flav now-fans can’t seem to get enough of them. What’s the appeal, you might ask? How odd the two of them look together! Viewers are joining “Mr. F” (as Nielsen likes to call him) in randomly shouting “Flavor Flav!” If you have to see it to believe it, the “Surreal Life” airs Sunday nights at 10 p.m. n
Ciara • Dec 23, 2022 at 12:24 pm
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