Partners: SKIP IT
There are always a few shows that make TV viewers question who greenlit the production. Partners is one of those comedies that has everyone asking how-the-heck-did-this-make-it-to-the-air? Everything about the CBS sitcom is derivative—from the writing to the premise of an odd couple partnership. We expected a lot more from the creators of Will and Grace than a cheesy retread of a gay/straight friendship show.
Ben and Kate: TUNE IN
This FOX sitcom about a free-spirited brother and his responsible sister doesn’t exactly scream innovative, but the acting in this series provides a funny, oftentimes heartwarming take on sibling relationships. The casting for Ben and Kate is spot on—from Lucy Punch (Dinner for Schmucks) as a hilarious British waitress who offers consistently bad advice to the utterly adorable Maggie Elizabeth Jones (We Bought a Zoo) who can deliver a punch line like even the funniest of adult actors.
The Mindy Project: TUNE IN
Mindy Kaling, best known for her role on The Office, has been getting a lot of advance press about her new show on FOX—which she created, stars in, writes, and executive produces. Luckily, her show lives up to the hype. Kaling has created a memorable, smart, funny (and unique) character as a dysfunctional doctor looking for love. She makes mistakes, but is still relatable. This series shows that this multi-hyphenate has proven herself to be one of the best comedy writers out there.
Animal Practice: SKIP IT
NBC was hoping to build an audience for this sitcom by premiering it during the Olympics. Unfortunately, even the most determined press campaign cannot save this show. Basically, you know a show is doomed when the funniest character is a monkey. The actors in this show are stuck delivering some of the worst lines on television right now. Tyler Labine (hilarious on the cult favorite Reaper) and Justin Kirk (Weeds) should be praying this show gets cancelled pronto, so they can sign on for other, less disastrous comedies.
Every show that you mention outside of Partners is on my Hopper DVR, waiting for me at home. I’m really excited for Ben and Kate, because I’m a huge Nat Faxon fan—his talent really shined in The Descendants. My best friend that I work with at DISH said that The Mindy Project is promising, and it sounds like Kaling scored big. Wouldn’t it be awesome to write and star in your own show? I might end up watching multiple episodes of Animal Practice, because my Hopper auto-records PrimeTime. It’s a neat feature to have when you constantly forget timers, too. At the very least, I’ll have Crystal the monkey on for background noise this fall season—or until they axe the show.