S01.E01: Bye, George

[Snazzy Daisy]

Quote

Bunny, Jerry and Arthur reunite at the funeral of their long-time friend, George, which inspires Bunny to invite Jerry and Arthur to live with him and his mother, Sybil, in his Palm Springs home. 

Air Date: Mar 28, 2025

 

[txhorns79]

I'm not sure what to think of this show.  I feel like everything is being played at 100, when some things would work much better at maybe a 50.     

I also think Matt Bomer's casting might be a mistake.  I don't know that his character makes much sense within the context of this show.  He's too young to really be looking at his second stage of life.  I think if the idea is to have people looking out for you as you age and society moves on from you, his friends are probably going to be dead (or otherwise not in a position to help) before that's an issue for him.                     

[anniebird]

Is there going to be a laugh track in every episode? I suppose it's to go along with the "mid-century" theme but I can't stand it. What were they thinking?

[Sarah 103]

8 hours ago, txhorns79 said:

I also think Matt Bomer's casting might be a mistake.  I don't know that his character makes much sense within the context of this show.  He's too young to really be looking at his second stage of life.  I think if the idea is to have people looking out for you as you age and society moves on from you, his friends are probably going to be dead (or otherwise not in a position to help) before that's an issue for him.                     

Yes but it's possible/probable Jerry's not thinking that far ahead. Also, he's still working so that gives him a potential network of people and the opportunity to meet new people before he has to deal with that phase of his life. 

(PS, I'm totally okay with overthinking a TV show. It's why many of us are here). 

Also, I would be curious if the character was always written as someone slightly younger than the other two or if they were really impressed with Matt Bomer and decided to rewrite the character to fit a younger actor. 

Edited March 29 by Sarah 103

[txhorns79]

46 minutes ago, Sarah 103 said:

Also, I would be curious if the character was always written as someone slightly younger than the other two or if they were really impressed with Matt Bomer and decided to rewrite the character to fit a younger actor. 

I think Ryan Murphy has involvement in this show, and Matt Bomer starred in a season of American Horror Story a number of years ago.  I wouldn't be surprised if that played a role in his casting.  And he isn't slightly younger than Nathan Lane.  He's almost 25 years younger than him.  He's closer in age to the actor who plays Arthur, who is 56 in real life.

And I know it's just a sitcom, so they'll do whatever they want, but he really did feel off in comparison to the other characters.      

[AnimeMania]

4 hours ago, anniebird said:

Is there going to be a laugh track in every episode? I suppose it's to go along with the "mid-century" theme but I can't stand it. What were they thinking?

I really think that is a live studio audience.

[anniebird]

9 hours ago, AnimeMania said:

I really think that is a live studio audience.

One review I read referred to it as "canned laughter" and another one said it was filmed in front of a live audience so you're probably right but I still can't deal with it - it's so distracting.

 

[EtheltoTillie]

12 minutes ago, anniebird said:

One review I read referred to it as "canned laughter" and another one said it was filmed in front of a live audience so you're probably right but I still can't deal with it - it's so distracting.

 

It sounds canned. Probably sweetened the audience reaction. 

[AnimeMania]

Here is an account from someone in the audience when they taped episode 3.

[Blakeston]

The Matt Bomer character isn't working for me at all, and I think the casting is a significant part of it.

I'm guessing that there are three reasons why he's there:

1. He's one of the few out gay actors who's a "name."

2. There's an assumption that audiences won't tune in unless there's eye candy.

3. The makers of the show may have felt that a character being this naive and ditzy is more believable/palatable if they're younger.

Obviously Betty White played a very ditzy, childlike character very believably in her sixties. But I think this show is really giving me a sense of just how much talent it took to pull off that balancing act, for both Betty and the Golden Girls writers.

[wendyg]

When even Linda Lavin isn't funny, you know it's the writing.

[chaifan]

Oh, my.  This is bad.  I love Matt Bomer, I love Nathan Lane.  I was looking forward to this show.  And this was just so sad to watch.  They are both so much better than what this show is giving them.  (I don't know Nathan Lee Graham's work, so I don't have anything to compare him in this to.)  It's the writing and directing - as was said before, everything is just so forced.  I don't believe for a moment that this is not canned laughter.  The only thing that I like about this show is the set design.  

I find it odd when really good actors end up in such bad shows.  You'd think that someone like Nathan Lane would have the clout to put his foot down and demand better writing or better directing, or whatever it would take to make this show not so painful to watch.

 

 

[lovett1979]

I'm sad at all the negative reactions here. I am loving this show (about to watch the final episode). It did take me a little bit to get used to the sit-com-ness of it (they just don't make shows like this anymore, and it has a rhythm and artifice you have to get past). But I found it to be sweet, funny, and original. I hope you all will give it another episode or 2.

[joanne3482]

12 hours ago, lovett1979 said:

I'm sad at all the negative reactions here. I am loving this show (about to watch the final episode). It did take me a little bit to get used to the sit-com-ness of it (they just don't make shows like this anymore, and it has a rhythm and artifice you have to get past). But I found it to be sweet, funny, and original. I hope you all will give it another episode or 2.

I second this. I started it over the weekend and the first episode felt so stereotyped and cliched. But as I watched more than the pilot I started to like it and get it more. 

[Snazzy Daisy]

Quote

“What’s sad is his laptop was open to a Google search… So… specific.”

😂😂😂

Always make sure you clear your browsing history, peeps!

[chediavolo]

I was so looking forward to this, and it was awful. Some of the lines were just cringe worthy.

[kaygeeret]

I love Nathan Lane and have enjoyed Matt Bomer.  I am not as familiar with the third actor.

I so wanted this to be good, but, as has been stated, it was awful...particularly considering the talent on the screen.

And the laugh track almost made me throw my shoe thru the tv screen.  PHONEY

I will watch a couple more, but unless they get better fast I am out!

PS. Given the onscreen talent I think the writers either had no time or they didn't have a clear vision to do a decent job.

[ItCouldBeWorse]

On 3/28/2025 at 9:43 PM, Sarah 103 said:

Also, I would be curious if the character was always written as someone slightly younger than the other two or if they were really impressed with Matt Bomer and decided to rewrite the character to fit a younger actor. 

On 3/28/2025 at 10:39 PM, txhorns79 said:

And I know it's just a sitcom, so they'll do whatever they want, but he really did feel off in comparison to the other characters.

He was called a "child bride" to the deceased George, so they did acknowledge that he was significantly younger.  Plus, they said that he never ages, so maybe he's supposed to be older than matt Bomer's actual age.

On 3/29/2025 at 9:41 PM, chaifan said:

(I don't know Nathan Lee Graham's work, so I don't have anything to compare him in this to.)

I know him from a one-season show called LA to Vegas, starring Dylan McDermott, which I enjoyed a lot.

I really don't think this is a spoiler, but for those who watched LA to Vegas, 

Spoiler

episode 3 of this show has what could be called a callback.

 

On 3/30/2025 at 10:18 PM, lovett1979 said:

I'm sad at all the negative reactions here. I am loving this show (about to watch the final episode). It did take me a little bit to get used to the sit-com-ness of it (they just don't make shows like this anymore, and it has a rhythm and artifice you have to get past). But I found it to be sweet, funny, and original. I hope you all will give it another episode or 2.

It's definitely reminiscent of a sitcom from the not-so-recent past.

Edited Tuesday at 03:00 AM by ItCouldBeWorse

[Harvey]

Wow, this show is a breath of fresh air. It reminds me of "Mom" a bit, with the set and lighting and style of humor, which is my favorite series of all time, so I am happy. It feels like a comedy that was made in 2007 and I LOVE that. I can't wait to see more, although looking at the reactions here I guess it will be a 1 season only series.😥

[AnimeMania]

5 hours ago, Harvey said:

I can't wait to see more, although looking at the reactions here I guess it will be a 1 season only series.😥

I wouldn't say that, Ryan Murphy is involved and he has several projects with ABC/Hulu, so they will give him more leeway than others. The reviews that I have seen have been a little more positive than the opinions in this thread. My thoughts, it was OK, although I am probably not the target audience, my favorite was episode 3, followed by episode 10. It was very easy to binge watch and I went through it fast.

[DrSpaceman73]

The pilot is awful. I wouldn't continue if not for the cast and reading the jmdb reviews it seems to get better.