Welcome back to our TV Preview series! We’re here to check out TV’s midseason offerings (which we highlighted in our TV Preview: Midseason Shows post) and voice our opinions on what’s good, what’s bad, what’s meh, and what you can avoid at all costs.
Warning! Possible spoilers ahead.
Premiered: Feb. 19 on NBC (Watch online.)
Twitter Pitch
Another remake. Another missed opportunity for Matthew Perry. #RIPFriends #RIPMrSunshine #RIPGoOn
Familiar Faces
Matthew Perry as Oscar Madison
Yvette Nicole Brown as Dani
Leslie Bibb as Casey
Thomas Lennon as Felix Unger
Wendell Pierce as Teddy
Dave Foley as Roy
Lindsay Sloane as Emily
Redeeming Qualities
Emily: Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon. I like them individually, and I think they have good chemistry together. Also, I know it's a set, but that apartment and view are amazing! I just want to watch the show to pretend I live there.
Mandy: I do enjoy Matthew Perry (I actually really enjoyed his last shows, the short-lived Mr. Sunshine and Go On.) The show also has a really stylish intro; the minimalist look is something I dig.
It's Not Me, It's You
Emily: Did anyone else have trouble hearing the dialogue over the volume of the laugh track? I don't watch many shows that have laugh tracks, but it was extremely noticeable, especially since I wasn't really laughing. Maybe that's why it felt like Matthew Perry was yelling all of his lines.
Mandy: The laugh track, the awkward interactions, the really obvious “I’m making a joke now” lines that weren’t funny. There are so many things I could bring up that I didn’t enjoy about this show. Also: Gay jokes? Really?
Let's Do This Again
Emily: I don't currently watch any CBS comedies, and I don't think this is going to make me start. I'm guessing this is pretty on par with how the others started out, and I really hope it does well for both of their careers. It's just not for me.
Mandy: I never watched the original The Odd Couple, but I’m pretty sure this remake would not make the original creators nor stars proud. The whole episode seemed forced and poorly acted, and I know the people in it can do so much better. I’m not going to bother with this one again.
Did you watch The Odd Couple? If so, let us know your thoughts below!