[Stuart Sweet]

As many of us are watching the Olympics, I'm sure that even DVR users have noticed how heavily NBC is promoting Kath and Kim.

Evidently this is a more or less traditional situation comedy form, with Molly Shannon as a mother whose daughter moves back in. And then, as they used to say, hilarity ensues.

I was once a fan of Ms. Shannon's. Even though I thought most of her stock characters on Saturday Night Live were more disturbing than funny, I saw a lot of potential for her if someone else was writing the sketch. Now I must wonder if I was right. She's been seen here and there since leaving SNL and now... her own show.

My first rule of television of movies is that if you're sick of the commercial, you probably won't like the show. I am very, very sick of the commercial. NBC is struggling, pinning a lot of hopes on this show, and I have to wonder why. It seems very common, very traditional. Of course, so was Home Improvement and Everybody Loves Raymond, but for every comfort-tv hit, there are twenty that are canceled in the first season.

Honestly I have to wonder if the commercials for this show will last longer than the show itself.

At least NBC isn't taking up half of the screen on the Olympic coverage to promote it... yet.

Your thoughts?

 

[Koz]

I'm also very annoyed with the commercials. I don't think Molly Shannon has the range to play a character with any depth at all. The show looks like it could have about one or two SNL skits worth of material, but won't have enough for a whole episode, much less a full season.

 

[Rob-NovA]

Well, this was an Australian show (and pretty popular from what I gather), but I'm skeptical of NBC's ability to translate it to the US market. They struck out swinging when they tried to do "Coupling" (an absolutely hilarous BBC show) and hit gold with "The Office" (which, I could never get into with Ricky Gervais, go figure).

I'll probably give it an epsiode or two. The casting looks interesting, to say the least.

 

[Stuart Sweet]

My point exactly, Rob... is this going to be another All in the Family, The Office, or American Idol , or is it going to be another Coupling?

NBC assembled what turned out to be an incredible cast for The Office, but I don't know that Kath and Kim has the same talent pool.

 

[jodyguercio]

Stuart,

I don't think Molly Shannon can carry a show on her own, just like I don't think Will Ferrell can pull of a movie on his own. They were both great players on SNL and worked well in that format. Does anyone remember Superstar? Thats all I'm saying.

 

[Tigerman73]

It doesn't help that Molly Shannon like most of the SNL players since about 1992 aren't very funny nor are they able to build or develop characters w/ any depth or charm to them nor do they have any ability to act. Everything is ramped up to 20 on the obnoxious and loud scale and that is used to hide the fact the characters and the actors portraying them aren't very good nor funny.

 

[Tigerman73]

Stuart,

I don't think Molly Shannon can carry a show on her own, just like I don't think Will Ferrell can pull of a movie on his own. They were both great players on SNL and worked well in that format. Does anyone remember Superstar? Thats all I'm saying.

Will Ferrell has made a career playing the same character. Molly Shannon isn't even that good.

 

[Sharkie_Fan]

From the NBC Website:

Kath Day is the mom. She's a foxy, 40-something divorcée who finally has time for herself and her valiant search for love. Kim Day is the daughter. She's a self-absorbed princess, recently separated from her husband, who finds consolation in stuffing her face.

Foxy? Molly Shannon? I can't say I've ever thought Molly Shannon was foxy....

I don't know if this will be any good or not... I like Selma Blair, and John Michael Higgins is a pretty good actor.

Although I'm in the minority here, I guess, I like Molly Shannon. However, I'm smart enough to realize that the things I've seen her in that I enjoyed the most are ones where she's in a supporting role. I have to admit, the sentiments earlier in the thread are probably right - she's just not good enough to carry a show on her own.

 

[Drew2k]

I'll give it a try.

 

[MizzouTiger]

I don't think I can bring myself to watch this new series when it comes out this fall. I was a big fan of the original Australian series which Sundance Channel used to show. It was very hilarious. But, just from the previews, it looks like they did the same thing they did with Coupling - totally missed on casting the characters. I tried to watch an episode of Coupling when they tried it, but I couldn't even make it through one episode. We have the orgininal BBC versions on DVD (at least through the episodes until Jeff left - it went down hill after that) and once in a while just have to throw one into the DVD player for a good laugh.

 

[hdtvfan0001]

Based on the premise of the show, not to mention the annoying over-promoting....my guess it will be either the hit of the year or the flop of the year...nothing in between.

 

[Jimmy 440]

I saw the show a few times when I was down in Australia in 2005.Some of it was funny,but many parts I found really stupid.Maybe it will fare better here with the US version ? My guess is three shows & out.

 

[njblackberry]

Agree with Jimmy; wife and I both decided to give this a pass. I'm guessing we've seen all the "funny parts" in the commercials. And we decided that it was annoying - not funny...

 

[Rob-NovA]

We have the orgininal BBC versions on DVD (at least through the episodes until Jeff left - it went down hill after that) and once in a while just have to throw one into the DVD player for a good laugh.

The Spiderman episode (one with the dance) is one of the top 5 funniest things I have ever seen in my life. It cracks my wife and I up every time we see it.

I do agree, once Jeff left the show, it was never the same.

 

[MizzouTiger]

The Spiderman episode (one with the dance) is one of the top 5 funniest things I have ever seen in my life. It cracks my wife and I up every time we see it.

I do agree, once Jeff left the show, it was never the same.

Actually, I think my favorite episode is the one where Jeff "has too many legs". I'm laughing now just thinking about it.:lol: :lol: