BLOGS
This NBC series has been sitting around collecting dust for the past year, which might've been the best and worst thing to happen to it. Instead of premiering amid a sea of other relationship shows, it's got the genre to itself in the summertime, when everyone's standards are lower and viewers are more likely to have time to check out something new. But on the other hand, when a show is all alone in the scripted rom-com landscape, mediocrity really stands out. And with its poorly executed storylines, Love Bites has plenty it should want to hide from the public.
The series is split into three vignettes that loosely tie together, focusing on the particular problems in different couples' relationships. The cast of characters will supposedly change from episode to episode, though there are a few regulars, like Constance Zimmer, Greg Grunberg and Becki Newton. But mostly, the show consists of vaguely familiar faces inserted into scenes, which is where the concept really falls flat. I like Newton and Grunberg but it's hard to really care about them when just as much screen time is spent on Kyle Howard and Lindsay Price in the first episode. Which characters am I supposed to be investing in here? And when the most likable character in the first three vignettes is Krysten Ritter and she's not a regular, it's even harder to muster much enthusiasm. Plus, with only 20 minutes to spend on each couple, by the time the set-up is established, the rest of their respective storylines are basically rushed through.
For instance, we spent a good five minutes of Howard and Price's segment watching Kyle at work with his buddy, worrying about losing his job, before we saw him come home to hear his soon-to-be wife having a screaming orgasm - which turned out to be courtesy of a vibrator that she had received in a separate vignette, instead of another man. The remaining ten minutes in this storyline didn't give us much of a reason for why should like these two as a couple, focusing instead on him trying to outdo the machine. But since they're both guest stars that we may never see again, what's the point?
But it's not like the show's regulars fare much better. Grunberg plays a married guy with Jennifer Love Hewitt on his "Celebrities It's Okay to Sleep With" list who has a close encounter of the intimate kind with JLH herself during a plane trip (she's trying to make her ex-boyfriend jealous). Yet it's Hewitt and another guest star, The Office's Craig Robinson, who get the best moments during the segment - Greg can't even catch a break on what's ostensibly his show. (It didn't help that he was just playing yet another variation on his usual goofy-yet-charming persona; after the second season of Heroes, I can't give him a free pass anymore, no matter how much I loved him on Felicity and Alias.)
The brightest spot in this premiere was the first segment, featuring Newton as a pregnant surrogate for her unseen sister who ends up being the wing-woman for her pal Ritter. Krysten decides that she's tired of Newton's baby-bump getting all the attention, so she tells a cute guy at the bar that she's a virgin. A comedy of errors ensues, ending with she being honest with the guy, who was also lying about his occupation. The story was well written and pretty snappy, and it didn't hurt that Ritter was infused with personality because of her love of Battlestar Galactica. It instantly gave what could've been a generic meet-cute a different twist, which I really appreciated. If only we could've followed these characters for the full hour - as it was, I would've preferred to spend that time rewatching BSG myself. Or, really, almost anything else.
What are people saying about your favorite shows and stars right now? Find out with Talk Without Pity, the social media site for real TV fans. See Tweets and Facebook comments in real time and add your own -- all without leaving TWoP. Join the conversation now!
Sponsored Links
25 Comments
Add a comment
MOST RECENT POSTS
Five Reasons Why The Pirates! Band of Misfits is Worth Seeing
TWoP 10: Celebs We Want Back on Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars
The Raven: Quoth the Audience, Nevermore
The Most Heinous Person on Reality TV This Week
Community: Law & Disorder
The Five-Year Engagement: Five Sitcoms, One Movie
Friday, April 27, 2012: With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story
Parks and Recreation: Who Made the Comedy Grade Last Night?
BLOG ARCHIVES
The Telefile
April 2012
67 Entries
March 2012
68 Entries
February 2012
64 Entries
January 2012
78 Entries
December 2011
49 Entries
November 2011
56 Entries
October 2011
74 Entries
September 2011
78 Entries
August 2011
61 Entries
July 2011
56 Entries
June 2011
57 Entries
May 2011
57 Entries
April 2011
78 Entries
March 2011
73 Entries
February 2011
57 Entries
January 2011
65 Entries
December 2010
39 Entries
November 2010
45 Entries
October 2010
46 Entries
September 2010
62 Entries
August 2010
55 Entries
July 2010
53 Entries
June 2010
65 Entries
May 2010
59 Entries
April 2010
57 Entries
March 2010
67 Entries
February 2010
53 Entries
January 2010
59 Entries
December 2009
32 Entries
November 2009
47 Entries
October 2009
65 Entries
September 2009
66 Entries
August 2009
58 Entries
July 2009
72 Entries
June 2009
71 Entries
May 2009
50 Entries
April 2009
57 Entries
March 2009
66 Entries
February 2009
52 Entries
January 2009
56 Entries
December 2008
51 Entries
November 2008
71 Entries
October 2008
88 Entries
September 2008
86 Entries
August 2008
120 Entries
July 2008
115 Entries
June 2008
90 Entries
May 2008
44 Entries
April 2008
30 Entries
March 2008
26 Entries
February 2008
30 Entries
January 2008
44 Entries
December 2007
31 Entries
November 2007
66 Entries
Television Without Pity • © 2012 Bravo Media LLC • A Division of NBCUniversal •
Actor Vincent Martella from Everybody Hates Chris and the voice of disneys world wide Hit Phineas & Ferb!
He is all grown up and a funny young man! Watch to see
Any show that can make Krysten Ritter likeable can't be all bad. Usually she irritates the hell out of me with her weird kewpie doll looks and her penchant for playing obnoxious hags. And Becki Newton is always a pleasure. Though I do agree that Grunberg is not bringing his A-game here. And I thought Jordana Spiro was a regular on this show too. Or am I thinking of another romantic comedy anthology show that was shelved?
I thought the Krysten Ritter segment was lame; I much preferred Becki Newton's plot. The second was awful, who cared about that boring couple and the vibrator?
Rick, Jordana Spiro was supposed to be on this show, but she dropped out.
Jordana Spiro was cast in the pilot but had to exit because of My Boys.
Nina, thanks for the lowdown on Jordana Spiro. And the second story was pretty lame. Notable only for featuring Spiro's castmate from My Boys, whose name I can't remember(though for reasons I can't explain, I do know he dates Lauren Conrad) and that show-killer extroardinaire Lindsay Price. In fact, the instant I saw Price in the first vignette, as a minor player in Krysten Ritter's story, I knew why this show got dumped to the summer wasteland.
I didn't hate it. It had cute moments, if few and far between. And it's something to do on Thursdays before The Daily Show. Love that Becki got grabbed up for something.
I loved the show. So far TWOP and I are 0-2 this week as I was also entertained by Franklin and Bash. My standards for my summer shows are lower. But this made me laugh multiple times and I enjoyed the cast. Surprised the reviewer didn't even mention the difficult-to-pull-off anthology format, but chose to refer to it as a "scripted rom-com." I'm gonna keep watching to see what they come up with. If nothing else, it's not the same as every other show out there, and has an endearing cast. I actually like Lindsay Prince and was disappointed to learn she isn't a series regular.
BTW Constance Zimmer got the part that Jordano Spiro had been cast in, but it was played by yet another actor in the pilot.
I guess I'm the odd man out. I started this review before I watched it, but now that I've seen it, I think it's cute and the writing is witty. GG is GG, and maybe because I'd bowed out of Felicty and never watched Alias or Heros, I'm not over- saturated with his adorableness. He is one of the few, if not the only, plus-sized actors who could believably charm the pants (literally) off of a sex symbol. Like the above poster, I'm a little bit confused about the change in cast. I thought Jordana Spiro would at least be in the pilot (but maybe it was reshot?). I also thought Constance Zimmer was playing GG's wife, but it was actually Pamela Adlon (who I prefer).
I admit that I haven't tuned into the other Ro-Cos of this past midseason, so I can't compare it to them. The genre of romantic anthology series does not have a promising history, but I would definitely put the 1st episode up with charming, short-lived shows like Grapevine and Love, American-Style.
I didn't watch the show, so I have no idea how things were executed. However, the idea that this kind of thing is just impossible and the very concept is flawed makes me wonder how old this reviewer is. Has this person never seen Love, American Style? Same format and it was quite successful.
Love, American Style was approximately eight billion years ago. I think it's fair to assume the TV landscape has evolved since then.
I actually liked it. I think it's a cute summer show to kill time AND it made me laugh out loud several times..."you had me at fat kid." And it was nice to see Bobby from My Boys for a minute since they cancelled that one.
"Love, American Style was approximately eight billion years ago. I think it's fair to assume the TV landscape has evolved since then."
TV has evolved in the 40 years sinc Love, American Style roamed the airwaves. But in many respects, it hasn't changed at all. This could have been an episode of Love, American Style!. You wouldn't even have to change the script all that much. Tone down the raunch, the Twitter references and have everyone dressed up in 70's era garb and bam, instant episode of Love, American Style! Seriously, the plots were no doubt used back then. Girl lies to get a guy she's attracted to. Engaged couple have problems with their love life. Guy considers cheating on his wife with his dream girl. Been there, done that. All that's changed is that it is done for the audience of 2011, not 1971. What counts is the execution. In this case it ain't bad, but it ain't anything to get excited about either.
I think this reviewer is crazy. My husband and I love this show, including the format! It's fresh, witty and always makes us laugh. It's one of our favorite shows right now and we look forward to it every week.
Seriously? I lvoe this show. i like how each segment relates to one another at the end and ties it all together. i love the characters. And i laugh from the minute it starts to the minute it ends nad cant wait forr the next week to roll around.
If you're still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you'll know which is right for you.
Good reading, might have more about this here. enjoy. It is good also to learn about Tibia and what it does to you. Thank you!
301 Moved Permanently I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You're incredible! Thanks! your article about 301 Moved PermanentlyBest Regards Veronica
I’m just beginning to play so tips like this really is good.
301 Moved Permanently I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my trouble. You are incredible! Thanks! your article about 301 Moved PermanentlyBest Regards Cindy
Thank you, I’ve just been searching for info about this subject for a long time and yours will be the very best I've discovered till now. But, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you positive about the source?
Truly good site thank you so much for your time in writing the posts for all of us to learn about.
If God wants people to suffer, he sends them too much understanding. - Yiddish
A man in a passion, rides a mad horse. - Ben Franklin
The most useful piece of learning for the uses of life is to unlearn what is untrue. - Antisthenes
I'm reading this article post also it seems to be fantastic! I like your writing style and you've got mentioned some fantastic things with this issue.