Since the heyday of Friends, ...
Question: Since the heyday of
Friends,
Seinfeld,
Will & Grace,
Frasier (or even going back further to
The Cosby Show,
Mad About You,
Cheers and many others), the sitcom format has become nearly obsolete and the networks have clearly reached a point of desperation. In the last few years, only
The Simpsons,
Scrubs,
Arrested Development and
Family Guy have succeeded in making people laugh while watching network TV. HBO has a distinct advantage due to its lack of censorship. This year, however, the networks seem to be improving with the additions of
Kitchen Confidential and the close-to-being-very-funny
How I Met Your Mother. Once
Mother finds its true voice (Ted and Robin are simply not funny) and NBC brings
Scrubs back from its inexplicable hiatus, we might finally be able to enjoy a few amusing comedies. Notwithstanding the dissertation above, my question is about
Freddie. In my not-so-humble opinion,
Freddie Prinze Jr. is not funny. His family on the show is not funny. The concept of the show is not funny. However,
Brian Austin Green is hysterical. And I know that my feelings are shared by many others (or at least the other 12 people who watch this show). Is it possible that the producers will either give David Silver (played by B.A.G.) his own spin-off or would they simply alter the show's concept to eliminate the deadweight, including its titular character?
Answer: After all those classic titles, you ask about
Freddie? Seriously, though, if you've seen the ABC promos, you get the sense that the network agrees with you. Freddie and B.A.G. are clearly the selling points here. And while I agree with you about the mediocrity of the show in general and of its main star (however likable) in particular, I doubt we'll be seeing a spin-off anytime soon. The show is doing just well enough — in that ABC-comedy way of coasting along with little buzz or purpose — to be renewed. But I'll be surprised if the show doesn't evolve into even more of a buddy comedy than it already is. The family angle (with the possible exception of the subtitled granny) is beyond tired.
