David Spade hearts money, obv, and Puddy's back
February 2, 2007
BY DOUG ELFMAN
Chicago Sun-Times
When David Spade's comedy "Just Shoot Me" went off the air, Howard Stern asked his friend how he was feeling. Spade said he was feeling like someone just chopped down the money tree growing in his backyard.
Spade is a sensitive artiste.
A new potential money tree is sprouting on CBS for Spade. It's the sitcom "Rules of Engagement," which debuts Monday and will be promoted over and over on Super Bowl Sunday. Once more, Spade is playing the man who wants to acquaint himself with many ladies' parts. This isn't a stretch, since Spade befriended, ahem, Heather Locklear last year.
If you like Spade (I do), he is reliably amusing on "Rules." But if he wants to grow cash on branches, this sitcom has more of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree feel to it. Then again, what do I know? "Two and a Half Men" seems even more creatively wilted, and it's flourishing on the same network.
"Rules of Engagement" actually seems patterned after a ratings-struggling sitcom on Fox called " 'Til Death," starring funny Brad Garrett. "Rules" presents an older couple that has "wrapped up the sex portion of the marriage," so they befriend (not sexually) a younger and friskier neighbor couple.
Just like in " 'Til Death," the older husband of "Rules" advises his younger male neighbor not to get too excited about marriage, because (news flash!) marriage sucks.
The one difference between the two shows is "Rules" features Spade playing a fifth-wheel playboy (a playboy named Russell?) who will tell the two married-type guys how dumb they are for getting stuck in relationships, while he picks up hot chicks in front of them.
"Rules" and "'Til Death" bear exactly the same ups and downs. The ups: essentially a good cast, plus sporadic funny lines. The downs: many un-funny lines, plus rehashed storylines from a thousand episodes of married-life sitcoms dating all the way back to "The Honeymooners."
Why are " 'Til Death" and "Rules" similarly troubled? Probably because they aim for middle America and successfully strike that watered-down target.
Your wife messes up your joint-checkbook balance? Ho-ho, you don't say! Your husband spent $105 on a robot dog? Whoa, that is rich!
The highlight of "Rules" is Patrick (Puddy from "Seinfeld") Warburton, playing the older husband, Jeff. Good old Puddy, we missed you.
The younger husband Adam (Oliver Hudson) asks Puddy, I mean Jeff, why he lets his wife wear the pants in the family. Warburton -- as deadpan and intense as " 'Til Death's" Garrett -- alludes to the cause, which is his wife owns a vagina. His delivery is perfecto.
To be honest, all these ball-and-chain sitcoms do a fair job of cutting to the quick of the stupid little things that stink up relationships. Unfortunately, the topics have been re-trod often, so it's hard for the idea to be fresh, which may be why NBC has moved to comedies focusing on new subjects, because NBC is smart.
Or maybe CBS is smart. The network is killing NBC in the ratings.
Either way, it's clear from watching "Rules of Engagement" and " 'Til Death" that Spade's Russell has the right idea, if marriage really is this sort of death grip.
What I read between the lines is that people get engaged only because they're jealous types who want to constrain their lovers. Or they become too worn out by chatty one-night stands and shaving below the knee to keep dating. The correct reason to wed or stay married certainly is not to share a checking account, duh.
BY DOUG ELFMAN
Chicago Sun-Times
When David Spade's comedy "Just Shoot Me" went off the air, Howard Stern asked his friend how he was feeling. Spade said he was feeling like someone just chopped down the money tree growing in his backyard.
Spade is a sensitive artiste.
A new potential money tree is sprouting on CBS for Spade. It's the sitcom "Rules of Engagement," which debuts Monday and will be promoted over and over on Super Bowl Sunday. Once more, Spade is playing the man who wants to acquaint himself with many ladies' parts. This isn't a stretch, since Spade befriended, ahem, Heather Locklear last year.
If you like Spade (I do), he is reliably amusing on "Rules." But if he wants to grow cash on branches, this sitcom has more of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree feel to it. Then again, what do I know? "Two and a Half Men" seems even more creatively wilted, and it's flourishing on the same network.
"Rules of Engagement" actually seems patterned after a ratings-struggling sitcom on Fox called " 'Til Death," starring funny Brad Garrett. "Rules" presents an older couple that has "wrapped up the sex portion of the marriage," so they befriend (not sexually) a younger and friskier neighbor couple.
Just like in " 'Til Death," the older husband of "Rules" advises his younger male neighbor not to get too excited about marriage, because (news flash!) marriage sucks.
The one difference between the two shows is "Rules" features Spade playing a fifth-wheel playboy (a playboy named Russell?) who will tell the two married-type guys how dumb they are for getting stuck in relationships, while he picks up hot chicks in front of them.
"Rules" and "'Til Death" bear exactly the same ups and downs. The ups: essentially a good cast, plus sporadic funny lines. The downs: many un-funny lines, plus rehashed storylines from a thousand episodes of married-life sitcoms dating all the way back to "The Honeymooners."
Why are " 'Til Death" and "Rules" similarly troubled? Probably because they aim for middle America and successfully strike that watered-down target.
Your wife messes up your joint-checkbook balance? Ho-ho, you don't say! Your husband spent $105 on a robot dog? Whoa, that is rich!
The highlight of "Rules" is Patrick (Puddy from "Seinfeld") Warburton, playing the older husband, Jeff. Good old Puddy, we missed you.
The younger husband Adam (Oliver Hudson) asks Puddy, I mean Jeff, why he lets his wife wear the pants in the family. Warburton -- as deadpan and intense as " 'Til Death's" Garrett -- alludes to the cause, which is his wife owns a vagina. His delivery is perfecto.
To be honest, all these ball-and-chain sitcoms do a fair job of cutting to the quick of the stupid little things that stink up relationships. Unfortunately, the topics have been re-trod often, so it's hard for the idea to be fresh, which may be why NBC has moved to comedies focusing on new subjects, because NBC is smart.
Or maybe CBS is smart. The network is killing NBC in the ratings.
Either way, it's clear from watching "Rules of Engagement" and " 'Til Death" that Spade's Russell has the right idea, if marriage really is this sort of death grip.
What I read between the lines is that people get engaged only because they're jealous types who want to constrain their lovers. Or they become too worn out by chatty one-night stands and shaving below the knee to keep dating. The correct reason to wed or stay married certainly is not to share a checking account, duh.
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