# Any love for the new CBS comedy, Mad Love? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-love-for-the-new-cbs-comedy-mad-love/578193 "2011-04-13T03:04:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-love-for-the-new-cbs-comedy-mad-love/578193/1 "2011-04-13T03:04:05Z")
It’s growing on me. At first, I thought it was a clone of _How I Met Your Mother_, with a standard Male-Female couple, a rascally single guy who hits on chicks and the single female friend. They all like to hang out in a New York bar. But the show is hitting its stride, with the addition of Chris Parnell (adding a fifth male to round out the _Met Mother_ formulaic quintet). _Archer_ fans will note there are now two Archer voice actors in the cast, although it is unclear if Parnell will stick around. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-love-for-the-new-cbs-comedy-mad-love/578193/2 "2011-04-13T03:16:23Z")
I like it quite a lot, but entirely for the main characters’ best friends (who are from Reaper/Dead Last/Invasion and Mis-Guided). Oh, I like the clueless mom friend as well. I’m sorry to tell you, though, that it won’t be renewed because I’m watching the first season. No sitcom I’ve ever watched the first season of as it aired has ever had even a full second season. Sorry ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-love-for-the-new-cbs-comedy-mad-love/578193/3 "2011-04-13T12:56:29Z")
I’m watching because my wife likes it; I probably would have given up by now otherwise. The main reason it’s not grabbing me is Jason Biggs. He’s dull. He has no appeal as a romantic lead. Comparing him to Josh Radnor of the far superior _HIMYM_, there’s no comparison. A lot of people don’t like the character of Ted, and they have a point, but at least Radnor has some comic timing and can convey emotion believably. Biggs is just… blah. And since he’s the lynchpin for the whole premise, it affects everything. I really like the rest of the cast, but having to play off Biggs drags them all down. The best scenes are those with only Tyler Labine and Judy Greer, but unfortunately the show isn’t about them. I guess I’ll continue to follow it (with a crossword puzzle handy) as long as Mrs. Wheelz wants to keep watching, but I don’t have high hopes that I’ll change my mind about it. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-love-for-the-new-cbs-comedy-mad-love/578193/4 "2011-04-13T13:01:46Z")
Nope. It’s another terrible Chuck Lorre production, complete with actors practically cueing the audience to laugh at the assigned spots. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-love-for-the-new-cbs-comedy-mad-love/578193/5 "2011-04-13T13:46:55Z")
Love, no. Like, yes. If Chalke and Greer got naked, then it would move into love territory. Moderately funny and the friends steal the show. It’s a Chuck Lorre show, which means I’m going to watch it and probably laugh. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-love-for-the-new-cbs-comedy-mad-love/578193/6 "2011-04-13T15:36:22Z")
I didn’t know Chuck Lorre was involved, although he did have a hand in several other CBS comedies like Two and a Half Men, Big Bang Theory and Mike & Molly. I found the Wiki article on casting the show to be interesting. Lizzy Caplan would have made a pretty good Connie. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-love-for-the-new-cbs-comedy-mad-love/578193/7 "2011-04-13T16:11:32Z")
As far as I can tell, Chuck Lorre has nothing to do with this show. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-love-for-the-new-cbs-comedy-mad-love/578193/8 "2011-04-13T17:46:54Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > As far as I can tell, Chuck Lorre has nothing to do with this show. Stupid facts… I guess it just felt like another crappy Lorre production, right down to the main character seemingly looking to the audience after each joke for approval. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-love-for-the-new-cbs-comedy-mad-love/578193/9 "2011-04-13T17:47:50Z")
I think this is a single season show. Now that they have introduced/admitted that the best friends are also interested in one another, I can’t really see where it could go. There is not enough history for viewers to know that they are better without one another. I think the only way the show could survive is if Bigg and Chalke split but Greer and Reaper-sidekick and then Bigg is replaced by Barney as the roommate (I’m only half joking). ---
**Author:** ![Curious3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Curious3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curious3d)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-love-for-the-new-cbs-comedy-mad-love/578193/10 "2011-04-14T00:02:25Z")
I find Chalke irritating in that role, and Bigg is completely milquetoast. I like the secondary relationship (Greer/Labine) much better, but it can’t last. I like the other new entry, Traffic Light, MUCH better.