Hackneyed comedic material haunts "Hot in Cleveland"
Posted: Tuesday, August 31, 2010
by Gerry Charbonneau
http://nibblednews.typepad.com
"Hot in Cleveland", the latest sitcom series to hit the airwaves this past summer , is at best an embarassing remake of the classic Golden Girls series of years gone by. Much to my chagrin I chose to watch a few episodes of this show on my computer on a quiet Saturday evening.
All I saw was a cloistered group of stringbean, neurotically obsessed females wearing high hemlined miniskirts being shepherded by an at times glowering Betty White. So that's entertainment huh?
It seemed to me as I sat there at my desk trying to appreciate the comedic nuances the series comedy writing team was hoping to obtain that the writers, directors, producers of the series and the all important advertising sponsors were hoping that members of the televison audience would have short term memories and not remember the now cliche material that had been humorous decades ago.
A straight laced and often time camera mugging Betty White, now possibly replacing the Estelle Getty character from the aformentioned show, is the matured matriarch who tries to balance the egos and libidinal insecurities and impulses of three 40-or-something friends. The friends themselves, who also mug for the camera a lot, are rejects from other once popular comedy shows possibly seeking a second chance at stardom.
Valerie Bertinelli, a 50-year-old walking advertisement for Jenny Craig, still attempts to psychologically portray that sarcastically naive One Day At A Time character she played years ago. Bonnie Franklin would be appalled to see what her TV daughter has now become. Ms Bertinelli should choose her scripts a bit more judiciously. Afterall, the weight loss industry giant might be depending on her for more future endorsements.
The one television icon I found searching for a character to portray was Hal Linden ( TV's former Barney Miller). In this particular episode he portrayed a one time theatircal great now reduced by the shifting sands of time to become a mere Viagara popping lothario putting the moves on anything in a skirt. He must be watching studio reruns of Charlie Sheen's sitcom Two and a Half Men.
The character he portrayed in this one particular episode was ready to boink any female that happened to be in the vicinity, He even put the moves on Betty White! It is saddening to realize that Linden, who once portrayed Barney Miller on the television series of the same name, would be forced to accept roles that do not effectively project his dramatic personna in a better light.
Hot in Cleveland is at times a clever, formulaic genre of comedy. There are really no major surprises in the plot or character development. It is a classic comedy filled with perfect timing, character and tone. The characters wait for their cues, deliver their lines and then wait for the audience laugh track to fill in the voids.
Admittedly at times the show is funny, haughty, a little naughty and good for the funny bone. This type of format offers bored reality show viewers the chance to let their hair done and get somewhat real. But tickling the funny bone is not a major consideration to ensure a shows success.
New episodes of Hot in Cleveland are scheduled to be televised in January 2011 . It can only be hoped that the formerly successful executive staff members of the show will take the time to reflect on their past efforts and successes and begin to produce new episodes that reflect a more creative and less cliched approach to comedy.
We all love it when a plan comes together. In this instance the overall game plan was half baked and the material badly Xeroxed. Better luck next season team.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I haven't seen the show, but it seems you did a good job of critiquing it. Now I won't have to bother with checking it out. :)Thank you for writing Joyce. Much appreciated.This opinion was my knee jerk reaction to comedy show writers stereotyping seniors, divorcees and other aspects of life in order to get a cheap laugh at the expense of us all.Betty White did a fine job of acting but she is a seasoned veteran and can probably fake her true sentiments about the show and its subject matter.Take care. Enjoy the day.
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