Ok, so that was a thing. Not a bad thing, and in fact featuring many good things, but altogether . . . a rather weakly put together thing. It was fun, but I don't see any kind of driving action that would make a watcher impatient for the next episode. The pilot was like a Whopper. Sweet tasting, but within seconds the core collapses in on itself and you've got about a third of the candy you thought you did when you put it in your mouth.
I will say, one of the things I most enjoyed about the pilot is that Sean Hayes is not a stupid father. He knows when he's being manipulated, he knows his daughter is a generally good kid, but that kids will lie and break rules for their immediate gain. Watching him try to handle that in his hyper, overblown way was pretty pleasant. And the daughter! You might have noticed here, here, and especially here that Mary has a hard time not wanting to smash in the faces of children and teenagers on the glowy screen. But this daughter is absolutely remarkable for her lack of suckiness. I could actually enjoy their interactions instead of wishing Sean could somehow escape the hellhole that is parenting.
The ensemble of characters that Sean works with are equal parts delightful (particularly the ridiculous ramblings of the black man) and absurd (boss.), but I feel like they belong in a different show. In the end, despite it's pleasant parts, it just isn't something I'm attached to, and not because I'm emotionally closed off--it just isn't there, it didn't become greater than the elements that construct it.
Also, Sean's mother is just terrifying to look at.
I will say, one of the things I most enjoyed about the pilot is that Sean Hayes is not a stupid father. He knows when he's being manipulated, he knows his daughter is a generally good kid, but that kids will lie and break rules for their immediate gain. Watching him try to handle that in his hyper, overblown way was pretty pleasant. And the daughter! You might have noticed here, here, and especially here that Mary has a hard time not wanting to smash in the faces of children and teenagers on the glowy screen. But this daughter is absolutely remarkable for her lack of suckiness. I could actually enjoy their interactions instead of wishing Sean could somehow escape the hellhole that is parenting.
The ensemble of characters that Sean works with are equal parts delightful (particularly the ridiculous ramblings of the black man) and absurd (boss.), but I feel like they belong in a different show. In the end, despite it's pleasant parts, it just isn't something I'm attached to, and not because I'm emotionally closed off--it just isn't there, it didn't become greater than the elements that construct it.
Also, Sean's mother is just terrifying to look at.