MovieChat Forums > The Crazy Ones (2013) Discussion > HONESTLY, I tried...

HONESTLY, I tried...

posted 11 years ago by robjrob2
29 replies | jump to latest

I've watched all four episodes of this show and have come to the disappointing conclusion that this show is just awful. There are several major things that I think have already sunk this show:

1. The LACK of Comedy/Chemistry: The ONLY comedian on the show is Robin WIlliams. If you look at the best comedies on TV right now, (Modern Family, Veep, Parks & Rec) you can see that they are chalk full of actors with proven comedic ability and casts that share a lot of chemistry. Robin Williams being the only comedian on this show wouldn't be a problem if he had obvious chemistry with the rest of the cast. Unfortunately, I don't see anything even remotely close to chemistry amongst this cast. I don't have anything against SMG, but so far her interactions with Robin have been anything but funny or entertaining. However, I blame most of this on the writing. SMG hasn't really been given any funny lines and her character just seems like a wall for Robin to bounce his one-liners off of. This leads me to another problem I have with this show...Robin Williams himself.

2. Robin Williams going off Script/Rifting: There has been a lot of discussion in reviews of this show about how the producers essentially give Robin free range to ad-lib on the spot. This idea might actually work if Robin was surrounded by other comedians, but as I've already pointed out, he isn't. There have been so many scenes already in this show where Robin WIlliams is obviously off script and when he does do it, instead of it coming off as funny/entertaining, he comes off as MANIC and ridiculous. Every time he does it it's like 20 seconds of obnoxious drivel that I can't wait to end.

3. The WRITING: There is absolutely no depth/development for any of the characters. All we know about is that Robin WIlliam's character isn't a great father and that Zach (James Wolk) is some type of playboy, Sydney is desperate to please her father, and Hamish's character is a pushover whom is overly competitive with Zach.

[–] freemanpatrick7 10 years ago

Problems #2 & #3 address themselves. How is a writer supposed to write a coherent script involving character development, in a 30 minute show, if the star is allowed to do whatever the hell he wants to?

[–] lovelyweather 10 years ago

I just finished watching the entire season, and I do agree there is something lacking in chemistry. I find myself liking characters in stand alone scenes (like if a main character is interacting with a minor character). Each actor is clearly talented but something about the mix is a little off. They aren't horrible - the group just is not quite gelling together. Certain interactions (Sydney/Andrew's love tension comes to mind) do not work as much as they want to. But most of the actors, particularly SMG, seem to be trying to do the best with the material they are giving which makes me want to like the show even more.

In regards to Robin Williams, since this is a character specifically made for him, I thought he was fine. He seems to start out strong at the start of the season (more expressive/hyper acting) and later seems to tone it down. Don't get me wrong, Williams was a strong actor even when doing more calming work. But something in Willaims' performance as Simon seems missing in this. I guess I expect this to be a character written to have crazier erratic or eccentric moments. I'm surprised to read from the OP that he was given free range to improv, cause I would of thought otherwise. (in case you didn't know, but on Mork & Mindy the writers would do the same thing as the writers on TCO - there would be parts of the script tailored to allow Williams to go off and improv within the dialogue).

I do agree the writing can fall flat. The show wasn't always laugh out funny, which was disappointing. But there were definitely some really funny lines or scenes. And yeah the character development wasn't quite there, but it was a first season comedy with light humor. There are definitely worst shows that are still on tv (Two and a Half Men!!!! grrrrr). I think if it got at least a second season the writing would smooth itself out a bit. Despite not having anything too new or crazy in the writing (ironic cause it is "the crazy ones"), the show did have potential.

I had read a rumor somewhere that maybe the show just got too expensive cause of the stars' salary? I can't imagine RW or SMG being cheap.