The best sitcoms aren't the ones which announce their arrival by flaunting self congratulatory phrases on TV or in the print media. The funnier shows aren't that high concept, often start slow, with a few shaky jokes/episodes while the writers flesh out the characters and story lines. I've never seen any of these shows from their pilot episode, in fact I've usually been looking the wrong way.
You hear about shows like 'Two and a Half Men', 'Seinfeld' and 'Arrested Development' from your friends or on message boards online, check out an episode or two on TV and get drawn into it. Last weekend I rented the first two seasons on DVD to give this show a fair go, and I was quite pleased with the results. While not packing in as many jokes/gags per minute as 'Arrested Development' and not as iconic as 'Seinfeld's - no hugging no learning no-thing philosophy', this is still quite an entertaining show. Some of the jokes miss, and the laugh track seems irritating at times.
Raunchy jokes are funny. Raunchy jokes in front of impressionable kids are funnier. I'd find it harder to believe that a kid wouldn't be hearing some particularly non-PC comments in a house with 2 guys. Yet the funniest episodes by far seem to focus predominantly on Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer (sorry Angus, but you get some great one-liners). Two standout episodes include Charlie and Alan pretending to be a gay couple at a party (it sounds clichéd, but Jon's flame-out is hilarious) and Chris O'Donnell's appearance as Charlie's ex-girlfriend with a sex change operation (You are now forgiven for Batman & Robin). Supporting cast is wonderful as well, with genuinely funny performances by Melanie Lynskey as Rose, the lovable psychopath, and Holland Taylor as the boys insufferable mother.
I'd like to close, by reiterating what was said by another reviewer on this site. One of the reason why this show works for me at least, is that writers never go out of their way to lobotomize Charlie on the show simply because he's living with his nephew. Unlike other shows, which are 'family-themed', here the inclusion of a child actor doesn't 'rock someone's world' thereby resulting in dramatic changes about which the character complains throughout the show before learning to live with them. It's enjoyable seeing Charlie treat Jake as an adult and not compromise on his own philandering lifestyle at the same time. Add Jon Cryer's neurotic Allen now trying to restart his love life, throw in sex jokes a pinch of physical comedy, and you get a laid back show that entertains - which is all I ever wanted from a sitcom to begin with.
You hear about shows like 'Two and a Half Men', 'Seinfeld' and 'Arrested Development' from your friends or on message boards online, check out an episode or two on TV and get drawn into it. Last weekend I rented the first two seasons on DVD to give this show a fair go, and I was quite pleased with the results. While not packing in as many jokes/gags per minute as 'Arrested Development' and not as iconic as 'Seinfeld's - no hugging no learning no-thing philosophy', this is still quite an entertaining show. Some of the jokes miss, and the laugh track seems irritating at times.
Raunchy jokes are funny. Raunchy jokes in front of impressionable kids are funnier. I'd find it harder to believe that a kid wouldn't be hearing some particularly non-PC comments in a house with 2 guys. Yet the funniest episodes by far seem to focus predominantly on Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer (sorry Angus, but you get some great one-liners). Two standout episodes include Charlie and Alan pretending to be a gay couple at a party (it sounds clichéd, but Jon's flame-out is hilarious) and Chris O'Donnell's appearance as Charlie's ex-girlfriend with a sex change operation (You are now forgiven for Batman & Robin). Supporting cast is wonderful as well, with genuinely funny performances by Melanie Lynskey as Rose, the lovable psychopath, and Holland Taylor as the boys insufferable mother.
I'd like to close, by reiterating what was said by another reviewer on this site. One of the reason why this show works for me at least, is that writers never go out of their way to lobotomize Charlie on the show simply because he's living with his nephew. Unlike other shows, which are 'family-themed', here the inclusion of a child actor doesn't 'rock someone's world' thereby resulting in dramatic changes about which the character complains throughout the show before learning to live with them. It's enjoyable seeing Charlie treat Jake as an adult and not compromise on his own philandering lifestyle at the same time. Add Jon Cryer's neurotic Allen now trying to restart his love life, throw in sex jokes a pinch of physical comedy, and you get a laid back show that entertains - which is all I ever wanted from a sitcom to begin with.