Comedies hope to be
our new ‘Friends’

The new fall comedies are led by a goofy actor who loves sandwiches and "Baywatch." Matt LeBlanc's Joey Tribbiani characters has moved from the New York City of "Friends" to L.A. to star in "Joey," and fans of the Fab Six are hoping the laughs moved with him.

Fans of John Goodman should also have a happy fall: The "Roseanne" alumni is starring in "Center of the Universe" and also voicing a daddy lion in the animated "Father of the Pride."

Perhaps the most cursed new comedy so far is "Commando Nanny," the sitcom based on the real life of "Survivor" and "Apprentice" honcho Mark Burnett, himself once a British paratrooper who later took a nanny job in LA. First, the show had to temporarily replace star Philip Winchester, who broke his foot. Then, actor Gerald McRaney, who plays the Beverly Hills dad who hires the Commando Nanny, underwent surgery for lung cancer. (McRaney is expected to fully recover.) Sometimes even the sitcom world just isn't that funny.

"American Dad"
Seth MacFarlane should be well qualified to make an animated spy spoof, considering the most unique character on his "Family Guy" show is Stewie, the evil baby genius with naptime dreams of world domination.

FREE VIDEO Daddy dearest ‘American Dad’ may look familiar to ‘Family Guy’ fans. FOX

But on "American Dad" (premieres January 2005, Sundays at 9:30 p.m. ET on FOX), Stan Smith, CIA agent, won't be facing a rogues' gallery of cartoon villains, since his most prominent character traits are unfounded paranoia and a hyperactive trigger finger. Instead, we get a household oddly similar to "Family Guy's," with a somewhat generic wife, a nerdy son, and a liberal teenage daughter (she wears a peace sign medallion, unsubtle and outdated). Two other household characters promise some absurdity. One is a goldfish who not only speaks with a German accent (secret experiment gone weird) but lusts after Mrs. Smith (a scene where Klaus the Fish sits in a bowl on the floor looking up her dress is just creepy). The other, Roger, is a fugitive alien (Martian, not Mexican) who's trying to enjoy his time hiding out in the Smiths' home (any comparison to "Alf" would just embarrass both of them).

By its January premiere, "American Dad" could be overwhelmed by real-world events. An actual terrorist attack would make Smith's security paranoia hopelessly tasteless, and a running joke about trying to impress President Bush makes certain assumptions about the November election. But nearly every episode of "Family Guy" has had lines and scenes excised by Fox, including several airplane hijacking jokes after 9/11, and why should "American Dad" be any different?    —Wendell Wittler

"Center of the Universe"
As John Barnett, quasi-title character of CBS's "Center of the Universe," (premieres Sept. 22, 9:30 p.m. ET), John Goodman is a comfortably warm sun around which a cast of mostly-familiar actors orbit irregularly, never really risking cosmic (or comic) catastrophe.

FREE VIDEO Black hole John Goodman lives in the ‘Center of the Universe.’ CBS Entertainment

Olympia Dukakis, best known for "Tales of the City," and Ed Asner, forever known as Lou Grant, play his parents, seventysomethings not acting their age, to John's embarassment. Deidrich Bader of "The Drew Carey Show" is his forever-slacking little brother (and the only family member who slightly resembles Goodman). The less-familiar Melinda McGraw is his sister, a professional therapist whose own life is a mess. Jean Smart, the least memorable of the "Designing Women," is a far cry from Roseanne as John's wife Kate, who, lacking close relatives herself, enjoys John's family's antics more than he does. And the only representative of the younger generation is tween-ager Spencer Breslin, a son whose search for his own identity leads him in definately dorky directions.

We are introduced to these characters at a specific point in time: John and Kate's twentieth anniversary, where they stage a ceremony to renew their vows. The event is interrupted by family problems most sitcoms would shrug off with a quick laugh while preparing for much bigger, and funnier, crises. John's restraint in reacting to his family's more out-there antics occasionally had me yelling at the screen the snarky comments he should've made.

If you want a sitcom that is warm and likeable, you'll gravitate to the "Center of the Universe," but if you want something edgy or fall-down funny, avoid it like a black hole.    —Wendell Wittler

“Commando Nanny”

FREE VIDEO Going ‘Commando’ ‘Commando Nanny’ is based on the life of Mark Burnett of ‘Survivor’ fame. WB Television Network

It's a challenge to come up with a new twist on the fish-out-of-water-nanny tale, and The WB's "Commando Nanny" (premieres Sept. 17, 8:30 p.m. ET, The WB) — produced by "Survivor" guru Mark Burnett and based on his real-life experiences — doesn't quite pull it off.

The show smartly riffs on past masters of pop culture nannydom like "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "The Sound of Music," but the premise (former British commando has nowhere to live, in desperation applies for nanny position with blended family) isn't terribly fresh.

Except for patriarch Ben Winter, who gets most of the good lines, the characters don't pop, either.  Gerald McRaney, late of "Major Dad," digs into the role with relish, but even if it's done well, we've seen "gruff but good-hearted dad" before. The titular role, Miles, is written so flatly that it almost disappears when viewed from the side; he functions mostly as a straight man for jokes that fall flat -- except for the jokes he cracks about British cooking, which ditto.

Miles's sidekick is obnoxious.  Never mind that the horn-dog best friend is stolen from "Charles in Charge" in this context -- Miles's "mate" Nick (Adam Campbell) is a twerp who consistently steps on his own "punchlines."

The role of Miles was recast at the last minute, Owain Yeoman takes over the part from Philip Winchester, who recently broke his foot.

But McRaney can carry the show until it finds its legs; Beatrice Rosen as princessy teenage daughter Katie looks 30, but handles corny material with style; obligatory cute moppet Seth (Max Wolf Burkholder) isn't too cute.  The last-minute recasting of the lead doesn't bode well, but hope is not dead.    —Sarah D. Bunting

"Complete Savages"

FREE VIDEO The Gibson Bunch ‘Complete Savages’ is based on Mel Gibson’s family. ABC Television Network

Loosely based on producer Mel Gibson’s experiences raising a gaggle of boys, “Complete Savages” (premieres Sept. 24, Fridays, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC) captures the manic testosterone, rampant bodily functions, aw-shucks schoolboy crushes, and begrudging respect that come with a houseful of brothers.

Gibson himself directed the pilot, and, let’s be honest, “The Passion of the Christ,” it ain’t. There’s plenty of burping, talking with mouths full and wrestling — yet there’s something about this newest addition to ABC’s “TGIF” lineup that actually works. It may find a comfy home on Friday nights, particularly for viewers looking for conventional family entertainment in the spirit of former TGIF entries “Full House” or “Just the Ten of Us.” But “Savages” comes with a bit more of an edge than most of its predecessors.

Single dad and firefighter Keith Carradine’s efforts to control his five sons — and to impart Important Lessons to them — often veer into sitcom cliché-land. (One son’s a lovesick geek! One’s a lunkheaded jock!) But sprinkled among the “we’re-all-a-family-so-deal-with-it” moments are occasional glimmers of cheekiness that may actually elicit a chuckle now and then. That’s likely thanks to executive producers Mike Scully and Julie Thacker-Scully, who cut their comedic teeth writing for two other irreverent TV families — last season’s “The Pitts,” and, infinitely more noteworthy, “The Simpsons.”    —Brian Bellmont

"Father of the Pride"

FREE VIDEO Lion around ‘Father of the Pride’ is based on Siegfried & Roy's menagerie. NBC Entertainment

After Roy Horn's mauling, most people thought "Father of the Pride," (premieres Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 9 p.m. on NBC), the animated comedy about life in Siegfried & Roy's Las Vegas menagerie, would never make it to the air. But it has, and it avoids being the cringing-est show on television by using a magician's oldest method: misdirection. There are way too many things going on to give you much of a chance to think about maulings.

The 3-D computer animation is almost Shrek-quality (better on the animals than the human characters). Viewers get a second weekly dose of John Goodman as a TV dad (his other show, "Center of the Universe", is definitely less furry). The animals' world is populated with interesting characters, many with familiar voices, such as Lisa Kudrow and Andy Richter as neurotic pandas, and John O'Hurley and Wendie Malick as snobbish tigers.

By comparison, most of the main characters disappear seamlessly into their roles, especially Carl Reiner's grumpy old father-in-law lion. The cartoon versions of Siegfried and Roy are fabulously absurd and, for the record, it's Siegfried, not tha wounded Roy, who's subjected to most of the slapstick, including a scene where he carelessly sprays himself with pheromones and gets pounced on by a chimp.

Some pop-culture references are dragged out into full-blown plug-fests (including a "Today Show"-themed episode with way too much Matt Lauer). And parents should be warned that watching "Father of the Pride" with your younger children will be followed by another half-hour trying to explain the show's frequently bawdy humor (or if you have teenagers, they'll explain it to you).    —W.W.

“Joey”

FREE VIDEO How you doin'? ‘Joey’ wants to be our new Friend NBC

Rachel and Ross are back together. Chandler and Monica now have twins and are living in the suburbs. Phoebe is married to Mike. As these “Friends” stories come to an end, the life and times of Joey Tribbiani continue with “Joey” (premieres Sept. 9, 8 p.m. ET on NBC). Matt LeBlanc reprises his role as the lovable dolt Joey in this “Friends” spinoff.

Aspiring actor Joey decides it’s time to try his luck in Los Angeles, so he heads west to reunite with his sister Gina (played by Drea de Matteo, recently whacked on “The Sopranos”) and her genius 20-year-old son Michael (Paulo Costanzo).

Armed with a new shark agent, Bobby (played by Jennifer Coolidge), Joey lands two offers, turning down one (“My fans are used to seeing me as a brain surgeon. They won’t accept me as a nurse.”) to star as a cop in another. But typical Joey luck strikes again and he is forced to join the ranks of L.A.’s unemployed actors.

After 10 years, LeBlanc has Joey down cold and de Matteo, Costanzo and Coolidge are strong foils for TV’s favorite fool. As long as the writing remains sharp, there’s no reason why Joey can’t find a home at NBC for another 10 seasons.    —Denise Hazlick

"Kelsey Grammer Presents The Sketch Show"
The first question anybody asks about “Kelsey Grammer Presents The Sketch Show” (premieres January 2005, Sundays at 7 p.m. ET on FOX) is why, after 11 years of “Frasier,” Grammer is starting up another series so soon. My personal theory was that it would give him a chance to play the Frasier Crane character in one sketch every few weeks and still keep his 20-year streak alive.

FREE VIDEO Sketch pad ‘The Kelsey Grammer Sketch Show’ is based on a British show. FOX

Well, don’t expect to see Frasier on “The Sketch Show,” because Grammer and producer Dan Patterson (of both the US and UK versions of “Whose Line Is It Anyway”) are importing the format of a successful British series of the same name, along with some writers and one of the performers (he’s the one with the British accent).

What sets “The Sketch Show” apart from other sketch shows ("Saturday Night Live," "Carol Burnett," "In Living Color") is its unrelenting string of unrelated bits, most of which are one joke long. Their goal is 30 “sketches” per half-hour-minus-commercials show. The tone varies from Monty Python to Benny Hill (or, in the case of a cricket match at a nudist colony interrupted by a fully-clothed streaker, both). But in Grammer’s own words: “If you don’t like the sketch you’re watching, you’ll be into the next one before you knew it.”

Don’t expect to see that much of Grammer himself; he describes his own role as to “present rather than participate.” But the mostly unknown cast distinguishes themselves as well as they can in the show’s short shots, and “The Sketch Show” provides a valuable respite for remote-jockeys who otherwise would change shows 30 times per half-hour themselves.    —W.W.

"Listen Up"

FREE VIDEO ‘Listen Up’ ‘Listen Up’: George Costanza and Theo Huxtable are back. CBS Entertainment

It's Jason Alexander's turn to try to break the "Seinfeld" curse.  In CBS's "Listen Up!" (premieres Sept. 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, CBS), Alexander plays Tony Clineman, a successful writer and TV personality, who is still as insecure, obsessive, ego-driven and prone to embarassing outbursts as George Costanza ever was. When Clineman moves from sportswriting to a lifestyle column, he expresses his writer's block with the familiar cry: "I got nothin'!"

Created by author and sportswriter Tony Kornheiser based on his own life, Clineman's professional work is as intentionally funny as his personal life is unintentionally funny. Tony's wife is a little too understanding, even when his temper sabotages her own work, his teenage son overly easygoing (his sport of choice is golf), but his 14-year-old daughter, who is more embarassed by her father's antics than anyone, has enough attitude to earn a seat at Jerry's table at Monk's Restaurant. Meanwhile, his only visible TV colleague, grown-up Cosby kid Malcolm-Jamal Warner as an ex-athlete sportscaster, is almost Seinfeldian in his friendly but often disdainful relationship with George — I mean, Tony.

Surprisingly, no DNA tests are planned to determine if Kornheiser and Larry David were seperated at birth. And while no challenge to his previous prime-time incarnation (and I don't mean "Bob Patterson"), Alexander's character is an above-average addition to CBS’s schedule between "Still Standing" and "Raymond" on the Night of a Thousand Dumb Dads.    —W.W.

Mall rats

FREE VIDEO We are ‘Family’ ‘Related by Family’ features a group of mall rats. Fox

Hearing that Victor Fresco, creator of "Andy Richter Controls the Universe," was creating a new sitcom pilot for a FOX midseason debut gave hope to all those who watched his first critically-acclaimed but ill-fated sitcom. But "Related by Family" (midseason debut, Wednesdays, 8:30 ET) lacks the surreal charm of "Richter."

"Related by Family" presents viewers with a stereotypically wacky blended family. Oldest teen Laz (short for Lazarus?) is a philosophical slacker, a caricature only topped by his stepsister Molly, the downbeat sarcasmatron. Laz's father and Molly's mother have produced one offspring together, eight-year-old Gus, who is a font of wisdom to his older stepsiblings and doted upon by his parents.

Dim-witted Laz and his even dumber friend Fred work at a fast food restaurant in the mall, where Laz lusts after his co-worker Lily. The mall food-court setup has potential — think "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" — but instead devolves into silly potshots at their angry boss, including one unfortunate Hitler joke.

Many a limply written sitcom has been rescued by funny or charismatic actors, but this cast doesn't have standouts. It tries hard to be "That '70s Show" minus the '70s, but without  Topher Grace or an Ashton Kutcher, "Family" just comes off as a bunch of not-so-bright teenagers hanging out at a mall. Most Americans can see that without ever turning on the television.    —Kim Reed

"Rodney"

FREE VIDEO Working-class hero Rodney Carrington brings his stand-up act to ‘Rodney.’ ABC Television Network

Obviously designed to follow in the working-class footsteps of Tim Allen, Roseanne and Brett Butler, “Rodney” (premieres Sept. 21, Tuesdays, 9:30 p.m. ET, on ABC) is basically a 30-minute excuse to let southern-fried comedian-turned-actor Rodney Carrington launch into snippets of his stand-up act. And launch he does, no matter how blatantly forced the segues seem.

Rodney is surrounded by a bland bunch of friends and family, likely orchestrated to help Carrington, and his low-key acting style, stand out. The show’s single stab at quirkiness, “Caroline in the City”’s Amy Pietz as Rodney’s sister-in-law, quickly buckles under the multitude of clichés piled on her ordinarily solid second-banana shoulders. She’s an affront to self-respecting sitcom characters everywhere — even the most hackneyed.

If there’s a redeeming characteristic to this show, it’s that the lead character actually desires something. The series kicks off when Rodney quits his job at a fiberglass plant to follow his dream of becoming a comedian. Count the number of other family sitcoms where the dad just wants to be left alone, or simply hopes to passively survive his kids’ adolescence, and you’ll appreciate that, on paper at least, “Rodney” is built around a little nugget of humanity — a desire to be pursued.

In implementation, though, it’s weak as watered-down moonshine. “Rodney” is an appropriate companion piece to “According to Jim,” the show it follows. And that’s not exactly a compliment.    —B.B.

“Second Time Around”
Ever get stuck on an airplane with one of those really happy couples who can’t wait to tell you about how they found their own truth and now their love is extra special? Yeah, imagine 30 minutes of that. With a laughtrack.

FREE VIDEO Take two Can a marriage work the ‘Second Time Around’? UPN

“Second Time Around” (premieres Sept. 20, 9:30pm ET on UPN) focuses on Ryan (Nicole Parker) and Jackson (Boris Kodjoe), who have just gotten married for the second time after a disastrous first marriage to each other ended years earlier. They’re determined not to repeat their mistakes — and equally determined to bore you to tears about it. The show takes itself so seriously that I actually had to get up and double-check that it’s intended to be a half-hour comedy. It apparently is — it just seemed longer.

Parker and Kodjoe (both of “Soul Food”)  aren’t as bad as the writing, they’re just very, very bland. A couple offscreen as well, the two are unfortunately the latest example of how real-life romance often fizzles in front of the camera: They have almost no chemistry onscreen.

Danielle Nicolet offers a few signs of life as the snobbish future in-law, but even she seems mostly to be channeling Jasmine Guy.

Everyone’s very pretty, though, and if you hit mute, you can entertain yourself imagining what the show would be like with a different concept and better writers.    —Lori Smith

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