A Man. And His Blog.

Here we go. This was a good episode, because it focused on Connie (Judy Greer) and Larry (Tyler Labine) and even took a lot of time to set up the storyline. As if Julia (Brittany Snow) was only written into this episode, so that the writers could bring the booty call gag in the second half. And boy, did it work.

Julia was not just Kate’s sister, instead she was a story device for Larry and Connie, and one of their usual fights. And the writers really took time for the actual story of the episode, instead developing some sisterly hate between Julia and Kate (Sarah Chalke). So, the first half was all about Kate, who thinks her sister is still a child, while the second half did deliver all the funny things I always wanted to see in this show. With it, the first half was character-based, with wishes from me that the writers would continue the little story between the two sisters, because it was the only interesting part of the episode.

I loved the situation with Larry and Julia in bed though, and how both Julia and Connie tried to keep the story of Larry and Connie alive, so that Julia doesn’t get mad. There were quite a few hilarious moments during that scene, beginning with Larry not giving a crap about what just happened and instead throwing a party, because he had “sex with Kate’s sister” (imagine a fist bump). I just imagined there would be more hate coming from Kate, when she realized the true scenery, and that she would hate everybody a bit more, since they’ve all lied to her. But instead the story probably has no repercussions for all three of them, and at the end even Kate and Julia got their little happy end, closing the story and focusing on a complete different story in the next episode. That’s the reason why I still wish for sitcoms to be somewhat serialized in their seasons. It’s just getting boring to always see the same stories happening in the same sitcoms. Everybody wants to create the new FRIENDS, but everybody fails to take over what FRIENDS made good over the best years: story, development, heart, and realistic storylines within sometimes surreal comedy.

All in all, a good episode, and finally a sitcom I can laugh with, in comparison to TVLand’s efforts of creating their new sitcoms. But then again, I needed quite a while to figure out if I’m actually interested enough in following this show, especially after it was cancelled after I watched this episode. So, before I waste my time with useless shows and comedies, which are nothing but simple-minded comedies without real effort in it, I rather stop watching and might go back to it, when I wanna see more Sarah Chalke. For now, this show is cancelled. 7/10

Little sister hangs herself

Wait, what? Sex?!?

Back to the usual average stuff. Not really an entertaining and funny episode, though I’m getting warm with the characters. The fights and awkward moments between Larry (Tyler Labine) and Connie (Judy Greer) are definitely carrying the show, and I’m already waiting for the first moment for one of the two to realize that there might be some real feelings between them. Since they were already making out during a costume party, there must be some fire in the mix. Unfortunately, the chemistry between Ben (Jason Biggs) and Kate (Sarah Chalke) is still not visible, and I have difficulties in believing their affection for each other. Maybe the two would do better, if they got better material from the writers…

The episode was not that exciting. The birthday planning was boring, and despite all the moments, when Connie was supposed to be pissed about something not working for the big party, I surely didn’t see any of it. (Again, the writers could have given Judy Greer a really crazy scene to live out her funny side for a moment). Instead, Kate was re-enacting her, which was even worse: Why giving another character the comedy bit, when it was clearly supposed to be Connie’s bit? I don’t know if I can count that one off as a writing mistake.

The search for the perfect birthday gift was lame as well. The King Kong poster… Well, I clearly rolled my eyes on that one. How can a man in New York think about giving his new girlfriend a King Kong poster for her birthday, just because the Empire State building is on it? At least the last part of the episode somewhat copied FRIENDS here, and gave Ben and Kate a nice moment in the planetarium. Yes, ladies and germs, Kate’s birthday present very much reminded me of Ross’ and Rachel’s first date in FRIENDS -both kinda similar, just that in this show, the newly couple brought along their friends.

Charming were the flashbacks, especially the girls’ ones. Sure, it wasn’t funny at all, when they were sitting in “detention”, but somehow it was a sweet moment. Please more of that. 5.5/10

Mad face

Not a mad party

See? This episode was clearly better than the pilot. The chemistry is working (though still not believable), the humor is better (though still not on FRIENDS levels), and like in every CBS sitcom, the episode arc is told with a hurry, yet with a bit of charm to enjoy the show. Though MAD LOVE is still not there where it should be: being on the good-show road.

Somehow it seems that all new romance comedies must have their first date stories in the second episode, and it must take the whole episode and a lot of obstacles to have a perfect date. It is an old cliché already, and it is getting more boring, as often as I see it (I think the last time was MIKE & MOLLY). At the end the first date was charming, but only for one reason: The obstacles were damn hilarious. I have to say that the chemistry between Larry (Tyler Labine) and Connie (Judy Greer) is much better than between Ben (Jason Biggs) and Kate (Sarah Chalke). Maybe it’s just because of my masochistic way of seeing people fight, but there’s something between the two fight-birds and I can’t take my eyes on them. Now I’m asking myself through all the episodes, when the two are making out for the first time – when they fight each other every minute, when they see each other, they must be some mad love (ha ha, I quoted the series’ title) behind it.

The first date itself was filled with the usual clichés. They can’t make it at first, but then they find time to do it at home. Everything goes unplanned, and the two end in a complete different place for their date. Everything was predictable, but at least it was funny. Jason Biggs does have some difficulties though to be funny – he is the weakest actor in the cast, and not even the comedy proven Sarah Chalke (somehow her character is the grownup version of Elliot Reed) can save him from the dark realms of the comedy. The whole story of Ben and Kate dating is basically saved by Larry and Connie fighting. So, the next episode should be all about Connie and Larry fighting. 7/10

Something just happened, and Connie is not amused

Some dirty smile Ben has here...

I don’t know why, but before I started the show I always thought it would be a singlecam-comedy. But it was on CBS, and it is a sitcom, and it is a cancelled one, and it aired on CBS, and CBS and so on… How could I think this was not a multicam sitcom? No wonder why I was brought back to reality to the first couple of minutes, when the set looked like a cheap soundstage with a virtual audience behind the camera. But I still was hoping to get a potential solid sitcom with MAD LOVE. After all, Tyler Labine can be a funny guy, when he wants to, and during the first two seasons of SCRUBS, I’ve had a crush on Sarah Chalke, while Jason Biggs and Judy Greer are solid actors, and enough to follow their careers. What can go bad with this little show?

Well, it can fail to deliver an interesting pilot for instance. Not that it was bad and all, but it was everything but a good pilot. I couldn’t buy the crush between Kate and Ben (with those character names, it’s clear that the show didn’t even have a clear voice from the beginning) for one single second, the setup was the most lamest the writers could have found for a sitcom, and somehow literally all clichés were served with this episode, including the annoying best friends. The twist (and it was a good one) the pilot had was that the annoying friends got a story as well and are part of the series’ arc: While their friends start to fall for each other, the annoying friends stay annoying and annoy each other. And that is the only reason why I’m still interested in MAD LOVE after the pilot, because the hook looks interesting – and with hook I mean a love story on the left side and a continuous verbal fight on the right side. As long as those two stories are perfectly connected with each other, it can be a fun show.

Fortunately for MAD LOVE, it had at least some real comic moments. All thanks to Tyler Labine, who shows he wants to have a great chemistry with Judy Greer. The problem I’ve had with her: she is miscast. First I thought she would be an alcoholic rocker bitch, but then she is a nanny, who is annoyed of the bearded fat guy from the second she laid eyes on him? The transition didn’t work at all. But maybe I just think that because Judy Greer looks so completely different in this role than I used to adore her in MISS/GUIDED – this role seems so completely wrong for her, and hopefully I’m getting used to it.

All in all, not really a good pilot, thanks to the bad setup, but it is a … well, solid episode. Unfortunately I’m starting to lose the crush I have on Sarah now, and Jason Biggs was the most forgettable actor in these 21 minutes. 5.5/10

Definitely no romance here

Some romance is definitely hidden here