Two Broke Girls?
... Very Similar.
shareIn some ways, the shows are similar. But they're entirely different at the same time.
Most notably, 2BG is filmed in front of a live audience. Apt 23 has no laugh track since it's single-cam.
Both series have similar characters: Max and Chloe are both dark haired, snarky realists. June and Caroline are blonde, hyper optimists. Chloe is a total sociopath, but Max is more of a bitch. Both blondes are the moral compass in each series.
The character backstories are also similar. Overall, the writing in Apt 23 is much sharper and exciting. 2BG is lackluster in actual comedy, progressively worsening as the show ages.
Since CBS looks for the multi-cam workhorse, 2BG is a good fit for the network and so it keeps going. When ABC ordered Apt 23 to series after FOX passed, it was a slow pitfall into cancellation. Despite how good Apt 23 is as a sitcom, ABC is owned by Disney, so they cater to more "family oriented" programming. Apt 23 was simply too racy and brash for them. While nearly all FOX sitcoms fail relatively quickly, it would have been a better fit for that network since it has more cartoonish elements. Shock humor (which this series used a lot) appeals to a much smaller demo, and so it's perfectly logical why the show failed on ABC. It was bad timing for both 2BG and Apt 23 to premiere around the same time since viewers were going to choose one or the other. Unless you have an appreciation for this style of comedy, Chloe is downright despicable to the average viewer. 2BG has more appeal to the masses, which was especially true in its earlier days (prior to Season 3).
Better Off Ted also had flawless writing and is a hysterical show, but it got cancelled after two seasons. Aside from ABC never knowing what to do with the show in terms of scheduling, it bore similarities to The Big Bang Theory, which premiered right around the same time. Both shows have their pros and cons, but BBT got far more recognition than BoT, so it's obvious what viewers chose.
I loved Apt 23. I liked BOT. I have enjoyed 2BG on occasion -- I don't really think it's a good show, but the leads are appealing and it IS funny.
My question:
Did you also like Andy Richter Controls the Universe?
ARCTU and Apt 23 are probably my 2 favourite comedies that were cancelled far too soon.
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