# The Neighbors - did anybody watch this P.O.S? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 27, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043 "2012-09-27T17:24:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/1 "2012-09-27T17:24:48Z")
I watched the premiere of _The Neighbors_ because it was on after _Modern Family_ last night - ugh, what a horrible pile of dung. Not a laugh or drop of charisma to be found. The writing seemed like it was leftover from some '80s sitcom (the aliens named themselves after famous old sports figures - oh, my sides!), though being 2012 it did have crappy CGI. I can’t imagine this thing lasting to mid-season even with its strong lead-in. Anybody else have an opinion? I refuse to believe there’s someone who actually liked it, although the continuing popularity of _2 & 1/2 Men_ and _The Big Bang Theory_ proves I’m not in tune with what the public clamors for. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/2 "2012-09-27T18:17:39Z")
I’m slightly ashamed to admit that I did laugh a couple of times. I disliked it a lot, but not quite as much as I expected to. ---
**Author:** ![BigDadWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@BigDadWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDadWolf)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/3 "2012-09-27T18:41:21Z")
My wife and I watched it after Modern Family as well. It reminded me of the Coneheads; amusing bits with the alien’s not understanding earth culture and societal norms but worthy of a short skit on SNL, not a sitcom. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/4 "2012-09-27T19:01:40Z")
Because it was on after Modern Family, we watched it for approximately 4 minutes, then gave up on it as putrid and inane. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/5 "2012-09-27T19:06:43Z")
So not worth it then? I saw the commercials for it during Modern Family (which I was watching about 20 minutes late). When Modern Family was over, The Neighbors had about 5 minutes left so I told TiVo to grab it (it had the whole show in it’s memory). I was going to watch it tonight, but if it was that bad, maybe I’ll just wait until another day when I don’t have to wedge it into my schedule or just delete it altogether. Coneheads huh? They couldn’t have at least set the bar a little higher and shot for Third Rock from the Sun? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/6 "2012-09-27T20:54:51Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Coneheads huh? They couldn’t have at least set the bar a little higher and shot for Third Rock from the Sun? That pretty much sums up the problem. The concept and the execution both seem stale, and not 1990’s stale (like a warmed over 3rd Rock) but 1970’s stale (warmed over Coneheads.) Although I guess somewhere out there someone has been hoping for Jami Gertz to get another series, so at least they’ll be happy. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/7 "2012-09-27T21:47:28Z")
Yep, “Coneheads” was exactly what I said to my girlfriend about 5 minutes in. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/8 "2012-09-27T22:03:44Z")
I figured it would suck and it turns out that I was yet again, correct. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/9 "2012-09-27T22:34:12Z")
Stupid people need stuff to watch too. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/10 "2012-09-27T22:43:24Z")
The aliens reactions maybe made sense a day after arriving, but Ten years later? Truly sucked as a show. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/11 "2012-09-28T03:46:29Z")
This is on network TV? :eek: I saw a preview on the Disney channel, and thought it was just another one of their low-budget original sitcoms. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/12 "2012-09-28T04:07:26Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > That pretty much sums up the problem. The concept and the execution both seem stale, and not 1990’s stale (like a warmed over 3rd Rock) but 1970’s stale (warmed over Coneheads.) > > Although I guess somewhere out there someone has been hoping for Jami Gertz to get another series, so at least they’ll be happy. That would be me. I liked Jami Gertz in _Still Standing_, and I hoped this would be something funny. I haven’t watched it yet, but it’s on the DVR. I might have to give it a day in court. Maybe after a few drinks, of course. Just to possibly increase the haha factor. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/13 "2012-09-28T05:48:49Z")
We watched it - it was not great. We laughed a couple of times, but there were plenty of clunkers. Maybe it has to grow on you. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/14 "2013-03-28T01:02:07Z")
Sometimes I feel like the only person in the world that has been watching this show. It’s goofy and silly and I really like it. Tonight was the season finale with George Takei and Mark Hamill. Toast messaging! Love it! Has it been renewed? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/15 "2013-03-28T01:24:11Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > …Maybe it has to grow on you. Well it grew on me (& apparently alot of critics). I hope it get’s renewed and doesn’t end up another **Outsourced**. Especially given that cliffhanger; not like they haven’t been dropping hints about the Zabvronians’ real plans all season. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/16 "2013-03-28T01:53:10Z")
I don’t understand the reaction. I thought it was comic genius. Sure, the Coneheads came out a couple years earlier, and sure, it isn’t the greatest work in anyone’s repertoire, but still I think it holds its own. Maybe understanding the context is what helps — until then, Belushi had always played the gregarious character and Akroyd played the more staid one. ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/17 "2013-03-28T02:45:30Z")
I’m glad this was revived by people enjoying the show, because I wasn’t looking forward to being the first o praise it. I thought it was a really cute show, and I hope it gets another season (although if the older daughter gets shipped off to college, I wouldn’t complain. She’s been better in recent episodes, but the majority of the season the lines and the delivery were all cringe-inducing). ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/18 "2013-03-28T02:48:47Z")
It did get better. The first couple of episodes deserved to be panned- they were awful. They must have gotten better writers or something, because now it’s watchable. Still not as good as\* The Middle\*, _Modern Family_, or _Suburgatory_, but watchable. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/19 "2013-03-28T15:51:53Z")
I’m coming back to agree that it has improved over the course of the season, and I think they’ve struck a rich comedy vein with the Jackie character. But I agree with Alice that it’s way behind the other three ABC Wednesday sitcoms. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043/20 "2013-03-28T20:44:42Z")
I started watching The Neighbors and Suburgatory. I liked The Neighbors well enough but didn’t stick with it. It kept reminding me of Third Rock from the Sun, but it doesn’t compare well to that show. Suburgatory kinda grabbed me though, it’s a decent show and I find myself wanting to watch more. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neighbors-did-anybody-watch-this-p-o-s/636043.md?page=2)