Going through withdrawal! We won't hear from True Blood, Season 5 until June of 2012, the second season of American Horror Story doesn't premier until.... we don't know, they haven't started filming yet, The Walking Dead doesn't return for its 3rd season until February 12th 2012 (I believe), and Dexter just ended its sixth season (which was "meh" however the finale was AWESOME). Still have Modern Family, Community plus a few others yet I felt something was missing due to my series-watching reduction. If you initially offered me another comedy, I wouldn't necessarily be that excited as I'm watching a few already however, never judge until you at least check it out and I'm glad I did...
You NEED to be introduced to this new series, Happy Endings, which airs on ABC Wednesdays at 9:30. Currently in its second season, it is a comedy about six friends... wait wait! I know, your initial comparison, naturally, will be to the hugely popular series Friends, however, simply because there are six friends who have/had some sort of relationship between them and remain friends does not then entail that it's a duplicate. Don't numerous sets of friends maintain (or evolve) a friendship that involves a derivation of a relationship between varying parties? That certainly does not mean that each set of friends is like the other! Before we find out what's unique about this series, check out the first season's promo:
We are introduced to the set of friends by discovering that Dave Rose (played by Zachary Knighton) is left at the alter abruptly by his bride, Alex Kerkovish (played by Elisha Cuthbert). He is completely torn and his set of friends, also friends to Alex, assume that all six of them will no longer be able to hang out. Dave & Alex insist this is not the case... and so we have just one piece of the fun drama all will encounter along the way. Alex is a fun loving, sometimes very simple girl who, although flighty, maintains a business of her own. Her sister, Jane Kerkovich-Williams, (played by Eliza Coupe), is quite the opposite as an OCD-type, super achiever and is married to Brad Williams (played be Damon Wayans Jr. Yes, Damon Wayans' son, there's no denying the stark resemblance), a whipped hubby however, also a pun-throwing businessman. Their exchanges tend to be quite sweet but as Brad is married to a control freak, the need for him to exert his independence arises. Typical to this type of series, we have to have the friends who either date like there's no tomorrow and/or have to be single struggling through the fun and not-so-fun aspects of not having a companion and so we have Max Blum (played by Adam Pally), the non stereotypical gay guy as he likes sports, is a bit chunky, doesn't care much for responsibility as he simply wants to have fun. Lastly there's Penny Hartz (played by Casey Wilson), an eager to please gal who must always be at the center of attention.
Here's a pic of Damon Wayan's Jr by the way, yeah.....
The premise given could certainly fail (good plots can be bombed by bad writing or a poorly chosen cast) yet this set of "friends" cannot! The hilarious competitions, exchanges, quips and goofiness given by the whole cast is, even if cliche, laugh out loud. Ugh, I said it but it's true. In particular, Eliza Coupe, Damon Wayans Jr., Adam Pally and Casey Wilson win every time they appear. Timing is perfect, depiction of the character is more than believable, and the quick witted back an forth is on point. Example: I intended only to watch one or two episodes to give it a shot. I ended up watching seven, and the only reason I couldn't continue was because I'm old and needed to sleep.
I screeched a few times out of glee and pure entertainment - this show is brilliant. I am still catching up on all the episodes - out of the 11 or 12 that I've seen, I give this fun series a 4.5 out of 5 frames!
Go watch some episodes online and then tune in. Everyone needs to have a great laugh and this series will do it!!
Danae signing off... ;)
sources: youtube.com, wikepedia,com, imdb.com, abc.com
