Network: CBS; Genre: Family Sitcom; Rating: TV-G; Perspective: Contemporary (star range: 1 4);
Seasons Reviewed: Complete Series (1 season)
"Listen Up" is the weirdest freaking' thing. A family sitcom based on the life of Tony Kornhiesher, host of the currently running ESPN debate show "Pardon the Interruption". Having never seen Kornheiser or "PTI", I'm left to wonder why in the world the guy would want or allow his life to be gutted and presented as another in the gluttonous assembly line of CBS family sitcoms.
"Listen" has all those familiar family sitcom clichés that families in the audience supposedly cling to like a security blanket for fear that venturing out of them will lead them to Hollywood filth. All these shows are the same, the only difference is the cast a network can plug into the roles, and "Listen" does have a halfway decent one. In its corner is Jason Alexander as Tony Kleinman (Kornheisher), Malcolm Jamal-Warner as his cool, popular on-air partner and Wendy Makkena ("The Job") in the "I'm the real boss around here" wife role. Like all of these shows Makkena's part is to emasculate and embarrass her inept, portly, balding husband in front of their kids and the world whenever possible. As you may have guessed, the show within the show is called "Listen Up".
Frankly, I don't know what else to say about this show that you haven't already heard about "The King of Queens", "Yes, Dear", "Still Standing" or any other family sitcom. We've seen this show before and as long as CBS pumps out these clones for the sake of familiarity we will continue to see the same thing.
The draw here is undeniably Jason Alexander. I've always said that it's easy to be good in a good product, but to be good in a bad product that's talent. I wanted to enjoy him in it. Alexander could have easily run rings around this show and instead lowers himself to the mediocrity of the material given to him. Alexander is a logical fit for the role. Kleinman's character is not that unlike the put-upon George Costanza which allows Alexander to sleepwalk through it, collect the paycheck and still fit the part perfectly and get a few laughs. But why would the actor, supposedly trying to distance himself from being type-cast go for these similar roles over and over. There is still time for Alexander to get back into the spotlight. The best advice somebody could give him would be to find a juicy supporting role in an ensemble series, maybe a drama or Dramedy. He wouldn't be the star, but it would do more for him than another lame leading role.
* ½ / 4
Seasons Reviewed: Complete Series (1 season)
"Listen Up" is the weirdest freaking' thing. A family sitcom based on the life of Tony Kornhiesher, host of the currently running ESPN debate show "Pardon the Interruption". Having never seen Kornheiser or "PTI", I'm left to wonder why in the world the guy would want or allow his life to be gutted and presented as another in the gluttonous assembly line of CBS family sitcoms.
"Listen" has all those familiar family sitcom clichés that families in the audience supposedly cling to like a security blanket for fear that venturing out of them will lead them to Hollywood filth. All these shows are the same, the only difference is the cast a network can plug into the roles, and "Listen" does have a halfway decent one. In its corner is Jason Alexander as Tony Kleinman (Kornheisher), Malcolm Jamal-Warner as his cool, popular on-air partner and Wendy Makkena ("The Job") in the "I'm the real boss around here" wife role. Like all of these shows Makkena's part is to emasculate and embarrass her inept, portly, balding husband in front of their kids and the world whenever possible. As you may have guessed, the show within the show is called "Listen Up".
Frankly, I don't know what else to say about this show that you haven't already heard about "The King of Queens", "Yes, Dear", "Still Standing" or any other family sitcom. We've seen this show before and as long as CBS pumps out these clones for the sake of familiarity we will continue to see the same thing.
The draw here is undeniably Jason Alexander. I've always said that it's easy to be good in a good product, but to be good in a bad product that's talent. I wanted to enjoy him in it. Alexander could have easily run rings around this show and instead lowers himself to the mediocrity of the material given to him. Alexander is a logical fit for the role. Kleinman's character is not that unlike the put-upon George Costanza which allows Alexander to sleepwalk through it, collect the paycheck and still fit the part perfectly and get a few laughs. But why would the actor, supposedly trying to distance himself from being type-cast go for these similar roles over and over. There is still time for Alexander to get back into the spotlight. The best advice somebody could give him would be to find a juicy supporting role in an ensemble series, maybe a drama or Dramedy. He wouldn't be the star, but it would do more for him than another lame leading role.
* ½ / 4