My name is Tara Shrodes. And I am a Friendsaholic. I freely admit it. I’ve tried to fight it, yet you’ll still find 25 episodes stored in my DVR. Episodes I’ve seen eleventy hundred times and still will watch when the mood strikes me. (Just in case you’re wondering, “The One With the Embryos” is my favorite.) Sure. I take abuse for it. Some have called me shallow. Silly. Unwilling to let go of the past. All that’s true. But in my own defense, it makes me laugh. Out loud. Every time. The writers were fantastic, the characters were lovable and quirky, the ensemble worked together like a machine, and the timing and direction were perfect. (Lots of times this was thanks to Robby Benson. No lie!)
I always guffawed hardest at Ross. I think it was my early exposure to Jerry Lewis movies, but c’mon! When he gets caught in his leather pants because of excessive sweating, and then the baby powder! I literally peed the first time I saw it. That’s right. I did. And I want a show that’s so funny, I pee again. Is that asking so much?
Yep. In the case of Mr. Sunshine, I only peed during a commercial because I drank too much hot chocolate. Matthew. Matthew! He’s the writer, executive producer, and creator of this thing. He knows his way around a successful sitcom. So WTH?
First of all, the pilot didn’t work for me because not only is Ben, the main character unlikable, most of the cast is unlikable! I think he’s trying to create a 30 Rock -ish atmosphere here. But even though Alec Baldwin (the boss) is a jerk, we can root for Tina Fey’s character. Here, Matthew’s boss Crystal (Allison Janney) is a clueless bigot, but Ben (Matthew) is an egomaniac admittedly uncaring bastard. So. What am I to do?
I guess I’ll have to be on the side of the minor characters like the fat guy from Lost, who plays a stagehand, or Crystal’s not-so-bright son. And how does that make sense?
To be fair, Ben says he’s “trying to change.” But that’s usually followed by a horribly self-indulgent or rude comment. So I’m perplexed.
If you look back in the history of sitcoms, there’s always a bad guy and a good guy/girl main character for us to love. Or in the case of Friends six different characters to identify with.
Huh. That’s all for right now. Just. Huh. And as it is six degrees here and my sister just mailed me a Snuggie, I guess I’ll just think about this tomorrow.
Clacked by Tara Shrodes
on Feb 10, 2011 @ 07:58 EST5EDT
I think they tried to cram alot in the first episode, will be interesting to see how it develops, as it does have a good cast.
I think he’s trying really hard to NOT be Chandler. I’m going to give it a few more tries – I thought it had some potential.
I enjoyed it, it was entertaining and I laughed and that’s all I need from a comedy. The fact someone who is insane about Friends doesn’t like it doesn’t surprise me at all. I’ll be sticking with it.
I’m with you; I enjoyed it, I laughed and that was enough. Now, I was insane about Friends when it was on the air, but I’ve never really re-watched any sitcom no matter how much I liked it.
Tara, I was under the impression that “the fat guy from Lost” (Jorge Garcia is probably a less insulting way of putting it, though) was just a cameo. He’s been cast in J. J. Abrams’ drama pilot “Alcatraz” so I don’t think we’ll be seeing any more of him in the arena.
I liked it better when it was Better Off Ted.
Agreed, Sid. … Sort of …
But the similarities stop with the poor execution of a toxic workplace filled with quirky characters and the inclusion of Andrea Anders.
Still, it is new and shiny, and since none of the other new comedies this year earned a place on my DVR …
Bomb and I’m being kind! For me the high point of the program was Allison Janney throwing the kid at the pack of Clowns, but nothing, and I mean nothing, else appealed to me.
Hope it improves quickly or I’ll be watching my DVR recordings of Bob’s Burgers
Yes, this does suck; truly truly sucks. We’ve watched it twice now, right after great episodes of The Big Bang Theory. Then we sat there and stared at each other is disbelief that Mr. Sunshine has not one funny aspect about it whatsoever. Damn, if this show lasts to episode four we’ll be shocked. Simply a moronic show with a very poor, incompatible writing staff.