  L-R: Lee Mack, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Paul F. Tompkins, Kaitlin Olsen, Malcolm Barrett star in the fast-paced comedy series Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show, premiering Sunday, March 13 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. |
March continues to come in like a lion as far as new TV shows are concerned. This weekend alone there are two network comedy premieres: KELSEY GRAMMER PRESENTS: THE SKETCH SHOW: (Tomorrow night at 9:30 p.m. on Global and Fox) is that rarest of modern sketch shows -- it's funny!
Grammer, who is branching out as a producer post-Frasier (besides Girlfriends, he's one of the executive producers of Medium), picks up a check for ducking into one or two opening sketches per episode. He's effective, too, but its the tight young cast who really shines: Kaitlin Olsen, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Paul F. Tompkins, Malcolm Barrett and Lee Mack.
Rasjskub, in particular, is a comedy revelation if you only know her as the put-upon CTU worker from 24. Mack, who has shone for two seasons on the original UK version of The Sketch Show, steals every scene he's in here. Together, the ensemble has the kind of energy and zest not seen on American TV since the heyday of Laugh-In.
Most of the skits are of the quick, black-out variety. An astronaut hears the door clang shut on the old Apollo landing module and realizes he forgot his keys. A cyclist on the front of a long bicycle pauses and says, "Windy back there" -- and then realizes the other passengers were all blown away.
Some gags work on speed (up to 30 vignettes are packed into each half-hour). Some are clever funny, like the family of British beefeaters who snap photos with civilians.
Canadians, who have long feasted on Monty Python as well as Saturday Night Live, should be the first to get this unique British/American hybrid. It is so much funnier than SNL that you have to get used to the laughing out loud part. Trust me, you'll get used to it, fast.
JAKE IN PROGRESS: (Premiering tomorrow night at 9 p.m. on ABC before moving to Thursdays at 8 p.m.). Like Arrested Development's Jason Bateman, John Stamos is trying to put his lame sitcom past behind him. The former Full House uncle stars here as Jake Phillips, a Manhattan babe hound publicist-to-the-stars.
A male Samantha from Sex And The City (the series this one-camera comedy attempts to clone), this dude has bedded so many women he can't keep track. Stamos manages to somehow make the guy sympathetic. Jake is trying to change his evil ways.
Egging him on is his married dentist pal Adrien (Felicity's Ian Gomez), who lives vicariously through Mr. Happy Pants. Wendy Malick (Just Shoot Me), plays his bossy boss Naomi, yet another of Malick's wisecracking office divas.
Rick Hoffman (The $treet, Philly) plays the loopiest (and most annoying) character, a David Blaine wannabe who stumbles into Jake's life while stalking a former girlfriend. She just happens to be Naomi's younger sister Kylie (Twin Peaks' Madchen Amick), set up on a blind date with Jake. Naturally, he doesn't remember bedding her before. Awkward? Yes. Confusing? A little. Funny? In fits.
The premise is ripe for parody, especially all the star pampering that goes on at the PR house. Among Jake's clients is a member of the "Three Gaymigos," a Queer Eye clone. The dude's awkward PR problem: Being outed as a straight man.
Stamos plays light comedy well and seems ready to carry a show without any help from the Olsen twins. ABC is certainly giving him a head start by launching the series in the Desperate Housewives slot. Do I wish it was funnier? Yes, but remember it's called Jake In Progress. I'd cut it some slack just on title honesty alone.
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