HAPPILY DIVORCED
JUNE 15, 2011-FEBRUARY 13, 2013
Happily Divorced has a great format to build from and give comedy set-ups a platform to write themselves. Fran Drescher and Peter Marc Jacobson have a long history with an 18 year marriage and a 6 year run of their successful sitcom, The Nanny. During The Nanny, they based characters and episodes on their friends and life scenarios. Then, taking all that, they absorbed it all and blew it up to be larger than life, then incorporated it into the show. When you use what you know and amplify it with a twist of humor the audience will respond with laughter.
So when the concept of Happily Divorced first hit the commercial rotation of TVLand, everyone felt that it was an in-the-bag hit. The clips previewing were funny and in conjunction with Hot in Cleveland, anticipation grew. The ads were in full-throttle as the premier date grew closer. Having been a staunch supporter of Hot In Cleveland, the date of June 15, 2011 could not get here any faster. TV Land allowed no time between the end of the first episode of the new season of Hot In Cleveland and the opening scene of Happily Divorced. The scene was all the viewers needed to establish the setting of the show. Drescher was in comedic mode as she delivered her subtle response to her husband, Peter (John Michael Higgins) coming out. "What?" Then holding the audience for another "what?" was a classic Fran-style reply.
They quickly introduce the main cast with bits of humorous scenarios and establishing their individual connection to Fran. Mom, Dori (Rita Moreno), and dad, Glen (Robert Walden) are in complete contrast to Fran Fine's parents on The Nanny. Her best friend, Judi, (Tichina Arnold) is going to be a much-needed character for Fran to relieve the thoughts that will swirl around her new lifestyle of living with her ex-husband who is now openly gay while inviting a new man into this world. Cesar (Valente Rodriguez), is an employee in the flower shop owned by Fran and will most likely be the one to bring laugh-out-loud lines to life. Hopefully his role will increase as the show goes through an early growth period. The love interest for Fran is Elliott (D. W. Moffett), who will have to make the most concessions in this scenario.
The infrastructure has potential to rise above the level of The Nanny but it seems like the writers are putting forth weak dialogue. Inside each scene is a line or two that is the moment of high that should be the beginning of the uphill climb. Yet, they seem to let the potential momentum slip into obscurity. Now that the first episode has passed, it is time to bring in a writing team that can produce at the level that this show should achieve. Drescher and Jacobson will have time to make script adjustments as they see the direction of the characters heading down a certain path. The live audience feel will also add to dialogue changes and drive the standard to higher achievements.
The Nanny was not a big hit right out of the gate, but in time the writing got better and everyone realized what physical comedic timing Drescher had. The writers began to write to their strength. Jacobson and Drescher have a strong hand in everything about the show, which often makes for little changes. Critical appeal is often an unwelcome feature, as everyone is too afraid to speak their peace for the better of the show. This is not to say that the show is a complete wash because if anything the opposite is true. A little puffing of the scripts could give Hot in Cleveland a run for it’s money.
Most fans of TV Land appreciate the old school sitcoms that keep the storyline moving while busting out the humor at the highest level. With a little fine-tuning and a quicker pace, TV Land could have another hit on their hands. After the airing of the pilot, we can only hope that they have more up their sleeve for the remainder of the season.
RUSTY
6/15/11
