The show was sitting on a possible goldmine with its introduction of Grandma Pageants. I'd watch the hell out of older ladies learning to belly dance and training for these things. Is there some sort of pageant consultant? Is there a mean lady that screams at them to practice harder? Do elderly ladies have to wear flippers, or are dentures the same thing? How many hair extensions do they have? Do wrinkles help or hinder them when it comes to judging? What do the rules say about fake boobs? These are the burning questions that I would like to know the answers to... Perhaps I've just been watching too much Toddlers and Tiaras.

They also could have focused on the fact that Marina and her husband own a Russian nightclub called Rasputin (according to her, the most famous Russian nightclub in the world). They do events and parties, and I really want to see what those look like. Getting an inside peek at Russian nightlife in America, and how Marina caters to their clientele could have been interesting -- in a Jersey Shore sort of way. Do Russian-Americans fist-pump?

The most interesting aspect of the premiere was how Diana (who is 23) and her friends are all struggling to date and find good Russian guys because their parents disapprove of non-Russians when it comes to marrying. There could have been a whole show built around these hot girls trying desperately to find their husbands, with a focus on all the maintenance they have to do to catch the attention of attractive men. These young girls are trying to live an American life, without giving up Russian traditions, and have an interesting perspective on what they'd like their lives to be like, but instead, most of the first episode (which is only 30 minutes long) was focused on Marina's impatience and desire to buy expensive jewelry.

I might give Russian Dolls another chance but I feel little hope that it will ever be a cohesive show. It seems all over the place with these personalities who have seemingly little to do with each other, and isn't devoting any time to the issues that I really want to see explored.

It's Tubey time! Make sure that your favorite shows, actors, reality stars and characters get the recognition they deserve by voting in our annual Tubey awards. It's where fans have total control over what rates as the best and worst of the past year in a variety of categories. Vote now!