Do Not Watch 'Do Not Disturb'
Niecy Nash is a funny woman. Anyone who has seen Reno 911! knows that.
Jerry O'Connell is a funny guy. You need to look no further than his on-line spoof of Tom Cruise.
How they both ended up on an awful comedy like Do Not Disturb (Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. on FOX) completely baffles and depresses me. I've actually had the opportunity to interview both of them over the years and I can tell you they are both naturally funny. But this comedy sucks their innate sense of humor and charm right out of them.
They both deserve to be on hit shows, and Do Not Disturb clearly isn't it. The show, about the people who work at a trendy New York hotel, is terrible, terrible, terrible. The cliché is dying is easy, it's comedy that's hard. But I'm beginning to think that comedy is beyond hard -- that it's become nearly impossible to put a funny four camera comedy on TV these days. (Unless, of course, you're CBS). And a bad comedy I think is so much more glaring than a bad drama. Like I would much rather sit through the entire season of Raising the Bar than have to watch another episode of Do Not Disturb.
In tonight's premiere, Rhoda (Nash), who is the head of Human Resources, is appalled to find out that someone has written a tell all article about romances at the hotel. She thinks it's general manager Neal (O'Connell) that has gotten them all into trouble. Because it seems Neal hasn't met a guest or an employee he doesn't want to hit on. Sexual harassment at work! It's hilarious isn't it? FOX is billing the show as a "workplace comedy" but it is a workplace comedy where nobody actually has to work.
Sure I could go on to talk about the offensive jokes about being fat and being gay but that will depress me even more. It just saddens me to see O'Connell and Nash having to deal with such bad material. I'm going to click my remote three times and try to pretend this never happened.
The only thing I take some small comfort in is that FOX is rather trigger happy when it comes to canceling it shows. So with any luck, Do Not Disturb will be gone in a couple of weeks. No stars.
After you watch Do Not Disturb, let me know what you think? Also what do you think is the worst comedy you've ever seen? Talk about it below.
Where Have I Seen Them Before
Stewart and Missy were the first to recognize Sarah Drew as Salvatore Romano's wife Kitty on Mad Men. We saw her in the spring as Angelica Huston's daughter Cynthia on Medium and she was, of course, Hannah on Everwood. We'll see Drew on both Privileged and Private Practice this season. Melinda Paige Hamilton was the woman in Don's flashback who told him he wasn't Don Draper. She was Sister Mary Bernard, the nun who gave Gabby so much trouble, on Desperate Housewives.
David Barerra was the Commandante Martin Vasquez from Tijuana on The Closer. He was just seen as Gunnery Sgt. Ray Griego on Generation Kill and I will always remember him as Dr. Victor Carreras, Bobby Simone's doctor on NYPD Blue. That's when I officially put him in my "deserves his own show file."
Jeff Kober was the father who didn't believe his athlete son had a drug addiction on The Cleaner. Many of us remember Kober when he played Rack on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Anne Ramsay was the principal who called in William Banks to help. I remember her best as Jamie's sister Lisa on Mad About You. She was also Robin on The L Word and Sally on Tell Me You Love Me.
Michelle recognized several familiar faces on Sons of Anarchy. Maggie Siff was Dr. Tara Knowles. She was the department store owner Rachel Menken who had an affair with Don Draper on Mad Men. Ryan Hurst, who plays Opie, was Allison's brother on Medium and Jimmy on Wanted.
Doug recognized that Ryan Eggold, who plays teacher Ryan Matthews on 90210, also plays one of Johnny Chase's fictional brothers on his hit TV series on Entourage. You might also remember Eggold for playing Farber Kauffman on Dirt.
Jen recognized that James Patrick Stuart plays Naomi's dad on 90210. He was the D.A. on The Closer, Perry on Still Standing, Keith on Andy Richter Controls the Universe, and Jen remembered him most as Will on All My Children.
That's all for today. I'm back on Friday with quotes of the week and to check in on how we are feeling about Bones. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Talk to you on Friday.


I know some people don't care, but I'm dying to know what you thought of last night's 90210! I loved last week, but thought this week was pretty dull. Though I always enjoy a Jackie Taylor meltdown.
Gotta say, still loving Bones, Amy! I disagree with the somewhat indifferent or negative review of the season premiere that you gave some weeks back. I was laughing, a lot! And I don't miss Zack that much, Sweets makes up for it somewhat.
Sorry gang. The "Where Have I Seen Them..." is pure proof that we will never have a "90210"-free column...EVER.
Jeff Kober also played Dodger on the to early cancelled China Beach.
Jeff Kober also played Dodger on the to early cancelled China Beach.
I'm interested in what everyone thought of the Fringe Premiere. Did you think that the female lead looked and talked a lot like Poppy Montgomery from Without a Trace? I found that a bit distracting. But I loved the show - can't wait for more!
James Patrick Stuart played Will Cortlandt on "All My Children", not Justin. I met him years ago when he was on AMC -- WHAT A NICE GUY!
I LOVED Fringe! From the opening sequence (it was, dare I say, "jaw dropping" heehee!) on the plane, to the final scene which shows the formation of the team, it was brilliant! Def has a the "feel" of Lost, but not so much that it detracts from what it is, and that's a great new sci-fi show that will be keeping me entertained for quite some time, hopefully!
Yes, cs2win! I was about halfway through Fringe and I suddenly thought, "Jeez, Anna Torv and Poppy Montgomery should play sisters!" I'm glad somebody else saw that.
I've seen three different reviews on separate publications all stating how horrible "Do Not Disturb" is. Now, I'm really curious about it. I think I may watch it.