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Fall TV Preview

NBC's 2011-12 new comedies, first impressions: Old school vs. new school

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May 16, 2011 7:09 PM ET

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up-all-night-320.jpgMost of the new comedies NBC ordered for next season look like the comedies that have aired on the network in recent years: They're laugh track-free, single-camera shows in the vein of "30 Rock" or "Community."

But not all of them. The fall show "Whitney" and the midseason series "Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea" care cut from the old-school sitcom mold -- a live audience you can hear laughing, multiple cameras and setup-punchline rhythms reminiscent of shows from NBC's comedy heyday in the '80s and '90s.

Formal differences aside, though, what matters with any comedy is whether it's funny. Here are our first impressions of NBC's comedy offerings for 2011-12.

The fall comedies:

"Free Agents" (watch clips)

The show is based on a British series about two co-workers (Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn), both of whom are coming off failed relationships, who sleep together, regret it to varying degrees and then try to figure out what their relationship should be going forward. We like Azaria quite a bit and are thrilled to see Hahn get the leading role she's deserved for some time, but the trailer we saw was pretty light on actual laughs. Still, the dynamic between Azaria and Hahn -- and the presence of "Buffy" veteran Anthony Head as their boss -- looked strong enough to make us want a second look.

"Up All Night" (watch clips)

This show had us halfway in just by virtue of its core cast: Christina Applegate, Will Arnett and Maya Rudolph. We're very close to all-in after seeing the trailer, with new parents Applegate and Arnett trying to balance their responsibilities with their desire to hold on to their former, less responsible lives. Rudolph is Applegate's co-worker/friend, who's not exactly on board the baby train. The chemistry is there and the writing feels sharp -- so we're there.

"Whitney" (watch clips)

Whitney (comedian Whitney Cummings) and her long-time boyfriend Alex (Chris D'Elia) are feeling the pressure to get married -- mostly because everyone they know seems to be. In some ways this feels like a throwback to NBC's relationship comedies of the 1990s, and what we saw was hit-and-miss. But we were kind of surprised, given Cummings' often very adult stand-up comedy, at how soft a heart the show seems to have.

The midseason comedies:

"Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea" (watch clips)

Your response to this comedy is likely going to have a direct relationship to how much you like Chelsea Handler, on whose book the show is based (she also co-stars, though not as herself). Yours truly? Not a huge fan, so it didn't do a whole lot for me. But writers Dottie Dartland Zicklin and Julie Ann Larson, both sitcom veterans, do seem to have a pretty good grasp on Handler's comic voice, and Laura Prepon (who plays Chelsea) has comedy chops. So there's that.

"Bent" (watch clips)

It's an opposites-attract romantic comedy -- she's a busy lawyer and single mom! He's a laid-back contractor/surfer who likes the ladies! -- so it's going to rise and fall on the chemistry between stars Amanda Peet and David Walton. And though we've enjoyed both actors' work in the past (as well as that of Jeffrey Tambor, who plays Walton's dad), the couple minutes of footage didn't sell us on Peet and Walton as a couple. Also, what happens after he finishes remodeling her kitchen?

"BFF" (watch clips)

The couple with the best chemistry on all of NBC's comedies may be Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair, who've been writing and improv partners for years before co-creating and starring in this pilot. Their characters are incredibly close, to the point of it being a little odd, but the oddness also creates some good, squirmy comedy, particularly when Lennon's live-in boyfriend becomes the third wheel. (The boyfriend role will have to be recast; Adam Pally played him in the pilot but is continuing with ABC's "Happy Endings.")

What looks good to you among NBC's new comedies?
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 |  Comments (11)

Only like Free Agents and Whitney, all though the need to tone down all the fake laughter on Whitney... I hate the dubbed in Laughed, just let me laugh when I want to and not be told when to.

Mike K | May 16, 2011 7:10 PM

WOW! Last place once again.

Teddy | May 16, 2011 7:40 PM

Old school sitcoms are much better usually. Community and The Office suck, an 30 Rock is OK.

TJ Spyke | May 16, 2011 8:00 PM

Community is hilarious. My absolute favorite show on television.

jesse | May 17, 2011 1:41 AM

Most of these at least sound promising, but Whitney would have to get rave reviews for me to bother with it. For a comedian, she has absolutely NO comic timing, so she just makes up for it by being nasty. Take away that part of her persona and what's left?

KevyB | May 17, 2011 1:56 AM


I watch twice as many shows on NBC than any other network. The fact that they are in fourth place speaks to how impossibly dumb the general public is. Have you seen what ABC is putting on the air this upcoming season??!!! They cancelled the only intelligent comedy on their air (Mr. Sunshine) and went with a load of gendertastic MEN are from mars, WOMEN are from venus and look at how funny it is when they act manly or womanly in stupid situations shows. It is so unbelievably bad and offensive. Not to mention that show where the father gets UPSET at finding condoms in his SIXTEEN year old's bedroom?!?!?! My parents gave me condoms when I was 14. It is all such offensive BS...


AT least on NBC the characters approach being real human beings. I will be watching:


Chuck
The Office
Parks and Recreation
Community
30 Rock
Awake
Free Agents
Bent
Up All Night
and maybe Smash
not to mention Sunday Night Football


All in all NBC has by far the best schedule. I wish America would get their collective head out of its *** and watch some good television.

NBC#1 | May 20, 2011 1:23 AM


I watch twice as many shows on NBC than any other network. The fact that they are in fourth place speaks to how impossibly dumb the general public is. Have you seen what ABC is putting on the air this upcoming season??!!! They cancelled the only intelligent comedy on their air (Mr. Sunshine) and went with a load of gendertastic MEN are from mars, WOMEN are from venus and look at how funny it is when they act manly or womanly in stupid situations shows. It is so unbelievably bad and offensive. Not to mention that show where the father gets UPSET at finding condoms in his SIXTEEN year old's bedroom?!?!?! My parents gave me condoms when I was 14. It is all such offensive BS...


AT least on NBC the characters approach being real human beings. I will be watching:


Chuck
The Office
Parks and Recreation
Community
30 Rock
Awake
Free Agents
Bent
Up All Night
and maybe Smash
not to mention Sunday Night Football


All in all NBC has by far the best schedule. I wish America would get their collective head out of its @ss and watch some good television.

NBC#1 | May 20, 2011 1:24 AM

I watch twice as many shows on NBC than any other network. The fact that they are in fourth place speaks to how impossibly dumb the general public is. Have you seen what ABC is putting on the air this upcoming season??!!! They cancelled the only intelligent comedy on their air (Mr. Sunshine) and went with a load of gendertastic MEN are from mars, WOMEN are from venus and look at how funny it is when they act manly or womanly in stupid situations shows. It is so unbelievably bad and offensive. Not to mention that show where the father gets UPSET at finding condoms in his SIXTEEN year old's bedroom?!?!?! My parents gave me condoms when I was 14. It is all such offensive BS...


AT least on NBC the characters approach being real human beings. I will be watching:


Chuck
The Office
Parks and Recreation
Community
30 Rock
Awake
Free Agents
Bent
Up All Night
and maybe Smash
not to mention Sunday Night Football


All in all NBC has by far the best schedule. I wish America would get their collective head out of its @ss and watch some good television.

Anonymous | May 20, 2011 1:25 AM

I watch twice as many shows on NBC than any other network. The fact that they are in fourth place speaks to how impossibly dumb the general public is. Have you seen what ABC is putting on the air this upcoming season??!!! They cancelled the only intelligent comedy on their air (Mr. Sunshine) and went with a load of gendertastic MEN are from mars, WOMEN are from venus and look at how funny it is when they act manly or womanly in stupid situations shows. It is so unbelievably bad and offensive. Not to mention that show where the father gets UPSET at finding condoms in his SIXTEEN year old's bedroom?!?!?! My parents gave me condoms when I was 14. It is all such offensive BS...


AT least on NBC the characters approach being real human beings. I will be watching:


Chuck
The Office
Parks and Recreation
Community
30 Rock
Awake
Free Agents
Bent
Up All Night
and maybe Smash
not to mention Sunday Night Football


All in all NBC has by far the best schedule. I wish America would get their collective head out of its @$$ and watch some good television.

NBC=#1 | May 20, 2011 1:26 AM

The censored word above (***) is @$$

sigh | May 20, 2011 1:34 AM
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