I watched the first three episodes, trying to find a reason to keep tuning in the next week, and occasionally finding a few nuggets of gold among the mud. It just didn’t hook me, though, much as I wanted it to, and these days I find I’m too busy to stick with a complex, multicharacter, hourlong comedy-drama that fails to engage me.
For any Dopers who’ve kept watching, has it gotten better? Have the ratings improved? Has it yet - or will it ever - find its footing?
I think it has improved. In fact, during a recent show, there was a sketch with sufficient comedic promise that I was really quite irked when they cut away from it; most of the previous sketches had me wishing and hoping that they would cut away as soon as possible.
On the other hand, the air of self-importance is still pretty much intact. And there has still been no evidence offered that Harriet Hayes is the comedic genius we have repeatedly been assured that she is.
As for the ratings, according to the Wikipedia entry, the number of viewers declined each week through the ninth show, but have slightly rebounded since then.
I actually liked the Christmas episode quite a bit and I agree that later episodes have improved. But chances are that they still haven’t improved enough for you to slog through all the character inconsistencies, the convoluted, non-sensical storylines (Nevada Day II, anyone?) and the not-so-funny sketch bits in between.
And before anyone asks me why I keep watching…I like the cast. Especially Matthew Perry (who I usually detest in anything, so I was surprised) and for some ungodly reason also Bradley Whitford. That, and the lighting is kind of nice.
Also, it lets you enjoy all those little side-jabs of 30 Rock (“They think they’re artists! Like Joyce or Strindberg!”). I (heart) 30 Rock.
Why not. It’s not going to kill you.
I enjoy it,and can’t wait for it to get back on the air withh new episodes.
IMHO it took about 6 to 8 episodes for it to find it’s footing. Took 8 episodes for Mark McKinney (from Kids In The Hall) to join the writing team and the cast…
When I first watched it I had the first 4 episodes taped and watched them all at once. Yes they did suck. A few episodes later they sort of got off the “Matt + Harriet” story line and got on with things and it got better.
Still not the best show on TV but much better than the episodes you’ve already seen.
I’ll agree with the above. Much improved. Still not great. Possibly worth another shot depending on how much you disliked what you saw (if you only marginally disliked it, then you’ll probably enjoy it now, if you absolutely hated it, you likely still won’t like it).
Anyone know when it’s coming back?
Jan 22nd. 10/9c
There’s a little edit war going on over on Wikipedia regarding the last name of Lucy the writer. Currently the side that believes it’s Lucy Kenworthy has made the most recent edit, but it may be reverted to Lucy Kenwright any day!
Without knowing the real answer, I hope it’s Kenworthy. Because naming a writer “Kenwright” (as in “can write”) is the HEIGHT of lame. If it is Kenwright, then I look forward to the impending introduction of new stars Bob Reallyfunny and Joe Awesomecomic.
Another viewer chiming in - the show started out weak and improved as the season moved along. It’s still not great but you might find it enjoyable now even if you hated the early episodes.
Well, wait until the guy with all the injured relatives shows up.
Although I think it has improved a little since those first episodes, I still think it consists of a “few nuggets of gold among the mud.” I continue watching only because of family politics, and the occasional stab of hope that some day it’s going to deliver on its promise.