TiVo Community Forums Archives - My first casualty--Bonnie Hunt

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My first casualty--Bonnie Hunt
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Posted by: Lori

My season pass for this show didn't even survive the first episode. I'm bummed, because I really like Bonnie Hunt but I didn't laugh once--bad sign for a comedy. :(

Posted by: AndyK

I saw the trailer as part of the Hotline2 Hollywood thing and promptly canceled the pilot record. Thanks Hotline! :)

I also canceled MD, but I kept the John Ritter series mainly because....thongs :) So far, I've yet to see anything this season that seems worth an sp.

Posted by: harvscar

I would much rather they give Bonnie Hunt a "Morning Chicago" style show of her own than do a sitcom send-up of it. She is too talented for this dreck. After watching the show, I really do think she could do a good light talk show.

Posted by: Lori

quote:
Originally posted by AndyK
I saw the trailer as part of the Hotline2 Hollywood thing and promptly canceled the pilot record. Thanks Hotline! :)

I also canceled MD, but I kept the John Ritter series mainly because....thongs :) So far, I've yet to see anything this season that seems worth an sp.

I kept the John Ritter series because John Ritter can make breathing funny.

Posted by: innocentfreak

quote:
Originally posted by AndyK
I saw the trailer as part of the Hotline2 Hollywood thing and promptly canceled the pilot record. Thanks Hotline! :)

I also canceled MD, but I kept the John Ritter series mainly because....thongs :) So far, I've yet to see anything this season that seems worth an sp.

I did the same here, and so far the things:) are disappointing since the editing was horrible. This may make it as a backup season pass, but Life with bonnie is officially gone.

Posted by: Graymalkin

Except for a few snippets during the "Morning Chicago" show, this was a piece of drek.

The situation comedy has become a black hole that swallows talented comics like so much space dust and gives back... well, nothing.

Posted by: jamesbobo

I didn't even make it through the first episode, I deleted it at the halfway point. My daily newspaper called this the best new comedy of the season. This must be a very bad season.
Too bad for David Allen Grier. I saw his stand up act in person and he is very funny.

Posted by: Pan Chun

Hated it...and she even DIRECTED it. She needs to be directed by someone ELSE who can recognize her strengths and capitalize on them. The show was HORRID. (But like I said in the other thread, I actually found the 8 Things... pilot fairly entertaining.)

quote:
Originally posted by Lori
I kept the John Ritter series because John Ritter can make breathing funny.

Well, I won't go quite THAT far...but some of my all-time favorite guilty-pleasure movies star Ritter...and while I'm not a huge Three's Company fan, Ritter himself is much better than far too many give him credit. (And I KNOW Lori liked him as "Ted"! ;) )

Posted by: murgatroyd

Okay, I just saw the teaser Bonnie's show, and I can't say there was anything there to make me rush out and watch the show.

But I am curious. There's a black actor (one of the producers on her talk show) who asks her if she's wearing a pajama top, and when she says "Yes", yells "Wardrobe"!

Who is that actor? Reminds me of Tim Reid from "Sister, Sister."

Jan

Posted by: Pan Chun

It's David Allen Grier, best known for his work on In Living Color, but seen MANY times in VARIOUS productions since then.

Posted by: ClutchBrake

I saw about two minutes of the show while flipping channels. Holy God, I didn't know Bonnie Hunt was capable of doing something that bad.

Posted by: dthmj

You people are just warped... Y'all are probably the ones that liked the Rerun Show...

I thought Life with Bonnie was great - thought 8 Simple Rules was boring, contrived and well stupid. John Ritter's breathing was about the only funny thing in that show.

Posted by: Satchel

The being late opening was about 5 MINUTES too long and the rest of the show totally sucked.
Bonnie gets one more episode because I like her, but HOLY CRAP was the pilot awful.

satch

Posted by: justapixel

Oh lord, after watching this I have a headache. I used to love sitcoms. What the heck happened? Were they always this bad, or did something click on in my brain?

I did like the John Ritter show, purely because of John Ritter, as Lori said. He's just plain funny. I'll keep that for a while.

But this....this...atrocity...this monstrocity of a show. What a waste of Bonnie Hunt. What a waste of air time. What a waste of my recording space. The local television critic in my town, who oddly enough agrees with me nearly all the time, kinda sorta liked this show. He said the parts with the family were formulaic, but the parts with her at work were good.

He must have been confused. Maybe had a Cheers moment or something. Could there be anything unfunnier and more done than a bad makeup artist, two Italian chefs getting drunk in the morning and .....well, I can't remember the rest. My mind shut off in self defense.

I'll get rid of this SP quicker than I did the one of Anna Nicole. I don't even WANT to give this a second chance.

Posted by: RGM1138

quote:
Originally posted by justapixel

I'll get rid of this SP quicker than I did the one of Anna Nicole. I don't even WANT to give this a second chance.

You had a SP for ANS? I saw a short clip of her show, (and her little dog, too), on a talk show recently. I wouldn't let that dreck stain my hard drives.

It was like watching Real World in the trailer park. Or, Hee Haw meets the Beverly Hillbillies. Only, not as sophisticated. :) :)

Bob

Posted by: DaveLessnau

I watched about 2 minutes of the show and just couldn't relate to why the people were doing what they were doing. It just made no sense. I left, but the wife watched it through. She gave it a Thumb Up but didn't set up an SP for it. I guess she considers it a tolerable show, but not one that's worth watching. I might sneak in today and change the rating to a Thumb Down :) .

Posted by: TomK

I was watching and squirming during the first scene where the whole household was in a mad morning rush like I've never seen before. Who lives like that? I couldn't stand to watch any more after that.

Posted by: Maniacal1

I'll give Bonnie a second chance because I do enjoy her work. I'm hoping maybe the critics' good reviews are based on subsequent episodes they've seen. Surely, they can't be based on that awful pilot.

I'll give John Ritter a second chance, too, but my tolerance for him is lower than for Bonnie.

Where did both of these shows manage to find such annoying children anyway?

Posted by: mwhip

With all these bad shows on are you sure we are not in the middle of a writer's strike?

Both shows are truly awful. We have these shows instead of Sports Night, Undeclared, and probably a million better things.

Thank God for HBO and Showtime. Even Arliss is more tolerable than this stuff.

Posted by: grecorj

Wow, looks like I'm in the minority here, too.

8 Simple Rules... was just average. John Ritter was pretty good. But I just can't even begin to imagine how they'll get 24 episodes out of this concept. That said, The Facts of Life ran for like 12 years, so I guess anything is possible.

Life with Bonnie was above average, especially for a pilot. They set up a lot of ongoing gags (kids doing the work for the maid, she being perpetually late, etc.). The cooking segment was very funny -- more so if you realize it was unscripted. I'm looking forward to David Duchovny's appearance as weatherman turned filmmaker Johnny Volcano (he was in Return to Me, which Bonnie Hunt directed and acted in).

For now, I'm keeping both, although I can't see 8 Simple Rules... finding an audience and lasting.

Posted by: Graymalkin

I've got room for Bonnie on my third TiVo, so I'll give her two more episodes.

I'll have to see Hidden Hills first before I decide whether to put that or Eight Rules on TiVo #3. My guess is that they'll be equally bad. Justin Louis is no John Ritter, but I'd rather look at Paula Marshall than Katie Sagal.

Posted by: grins

Larry Miller gives some potential to 8, as do the thongs, and Katey Sagal, and John Ritter...but the premise is so empty. I know I'm a perv, but even I feel dirty at Larry's leering and the ass closeups...at least a little. ;)

Bonnie does seem forced. She claimed on Dinner for 5 (on IFC; SP it!) that her last show (The Building, I think?) took 30 minutes to tape...start three cameras, start at the beginning, and never, ever stop. It's interesting to me that she so forcefully rejects standard practices, but it does yield odd shows. For me, the shows grow on you...unlike the kids on her new show. Did they just cast the kids for their hair? The red head's pretty painful to watch.

Posted by: Graymalkin

I didn't find out until now that "8 Rules," "Life W/ Bonnie," and "That Was Then" are being repurposed to ABC Family on Saturday night. I'll SP them then and give them all 3 bites at the apple.

Posted by: murgatroyd

quote:
Originally posted by Pan Chun
It's David Allen Grier, best known for his work on In Living Color, but seen MANY times in VARIOUS productions since then.

Thanks, Pan.

Now I can find him somewhere else if necessary.

Of course it won't be the first time ABC has stuck a funny actor in a non-funny supporting role. Look at Julius Carry in the oft-renamed Pizza Place show -- or better yet, don't, because he had far better things to do on Doctor, Doctor and on Brisco County.

Always a bummer when you find a favorite actor, you hear he's got work on a new show, you tune in, and the show is an absolute dog that wastes the work of the person you tuned in for....

Jan

Posted by: Pan Chun

quote:
Originally posted by grins
Larry Miller gives some potential to 8...

Heh...I just made mention of him over in the OTHER thread! Love the guy. How would a show with him and Norm McDonald be? :eek: :)

Posted by: rbird

The Ritter Show (sorry, the actual title is just too darn long) was pretty decent. My wife enjoyed it though, so we'll watch it just because she doesn't like that many shows in general. The household review of Bonnie was more mixed. The only thing that saved it from being trashed by me was the cooking scene. My wife (who has to have things "in order") was disturbed by the constant chaos in the story, but again she liked the show, so it'll stay a while longer. I'm glad the two are repeating on ABCFAM, though, because our two Tivos are already full on Tuesdays (Buffy and 70's Show/Grounded).

Bob

Posted by: TomK

On the Ritter show, it was sort of weird seeing Katey Sagal as a normal mom and not as the unforgettable Peg Bundy. I miss Peg. :)

Posted by: JEbbesen

Did we watch the same shows - I laughed many times watching both Life with Bonnie and 8 Simple Rules.

To each their own but I'm glad to say I watched them both.

Posted by: betativoII

I like Bonnie Hunt. LOVED "Return to Me". HATED "Life with Bonnie".

But I have to say, because it IS BH, I hope it gets a few more chances. That first episode was like they took the first dress rehearsal and decided to air it.

Nothing made sense:

One minute her talk show was the "Rosie O'Donnell Show" (when she started singing), the next (the cooking segment) was David Letterman. In fact, before I even watched it, I wondered if it was a Worldwide Pants production. She and Letterman are good buddies in real life.

Also, out of no where, they cut to her side kick talking on a cell phone??? :confused:

I have a feeling that much of that episode ended up on the "cutting room floor." It was just too choppy.

I'll give it a couple more shots. I REALLY want her to do well...

Posted by: Dusty

Didn't laugh during Bonnie, but haven't cancelled it yet. I really would like it to do well, as much as I like her.

8 did make me laugh, but I don't know if it will last. Seems like it's kind of cookie cutter. But I love John Ritter, so it stays for now, too.

Posted by: grins

The second Bonnie really improved, I thought. Johnny Volcano was awesome! It seems like the TV show is there for the special guest wide open improv.

It's got to be hard to improv with the child actors, although little red seems to be willing to jump in. The cast does seem to step on lines; I'm assuming they'll get their timing down soon.

I know the 'company's coming--frantically clean up' is a sit-com cliche, but I liked the payoff and nanny obviously just circling and screaming without doing anything helpful ;-)

Posted by: Mabes

quote:
Originally posted by grins

I know the 'company's coming--frantically clean up' is a sit-com cliche

Standard sitcom plot number 10. Some of the others:

1. Guy has date with two women at the same time.
2. The boss is coming to dinner.
3. Competition between the girls and boys of the family (the girls always win).
4. Two friends in love with the same person.
5. Kid gets his first job (and the father ends up delivering the papers in his car).
6. Husband insists he can get the kids off to school and make dinner by himself.
7. Wife insists she can be in show business (OK, it was only one show but it happened about a hundred times).
8. A celebrity guest stars as themselves.
9. Friend saves life of friend, who then proceeds to drive him crazy with gratitude.
11. Friend thinks he hears his friend proclaiming his love for someone other than his SO.
12. The kids must get rid of their pet.
13. The bully at school.
14. The birds and the bees talk.

Others?

Posted by: Maui

quote:
Originally posted by rbird
The Ritter Show (sorry, the actual title is just too darn long) was pretty decent. My wife enjoyed it though, so we'll watch it just because she doesn't like that many shows in general. The household review of Bonnie was more mixed. The only thing that saved it from being trashed by me was the cooking scene. My wife (who has to have things "in order") was disturbed by the constant chaos in the story, but again she liked the show, so it'll stay a while longer. I'm glad the two are repeating on ABCFAM, though, because our two Tivos are already full on Tuesdays (Buffy and 70's Show/Grounded).

Bob

thanks for letting me know the two shows are being reaired on Sat nights. I gave up on them already because of the conflicts on Tues with Buffy and 24 (when it starts)

I was not recording anything on Sat so this helps a lot!

Posted by: GatorDeb

I usually like EVERYTHING (Dude, Where's My Car and Full House and The Brady Bunch come to mind), but this was awful! I deleted the SP before I even finished the ep, because instead of watching it I was trying to escape the pain by playing Freecell on the computer :D

Posted by: GatorDeb

By the way, you want to see awesome child actors? They're on my favorite "new" series, "Everwood." The son can act!

Posted by: ronsch

Bonnie just became my first casualty after the cough syrup episode. It had it's funny parts but I have too many other shows that I like a lot better.

Also, 86'ed According to Jim after a one episode tryout. Didn't watch it last year.

On the Bubble, Do Over and That was Then. Not too bad but see explanation for Life with Bonnie. Have only seen 1 of each so far.

Pleasantly surprised by Firefly. I was thinking SF Western and thinking Ugh.

Best new show - CSI: Miami. They would have had to try awfully hard to screw it up. Let's hope Caruso learned something from NYPD Blue.

First Runner Up - John Doe. A friend says it's just a rehash of The Pretender but I never watched that show!;)

Posted by: Graymalkin

Looks like Bonnie agrees with those among us who thought the writing on her show stunk. She's fired all the writers and will do the writing herself along with her fellow exec producer.

Posted by: dmaneyapanda

actually, in the article i read it explained that she never wanted writers other than her and her partner (they were there at network insistence), and that all the episodes seen to date were written by her - none of the writer's episodes have been produced yet (nor are they likely to be).

moreover, it said that bonnie has been picked up for the season and has been having decent ratings (coming in second).

i should disclaim and say that i find i enjoy the show and laugh a lot, and i was expecting NOT to because of the feedback here. I don't recall seeing her in any of the previous shows she was on. (though i did get some background on her from dinner for five on IFC).

dinesh

Posted by: Pan Chun

I always thought Hunt would have been a great Molly on Ed. (Not that the current actress doesn't do a good enough job...it just seems like a perfect role for Bonnie.)

Posted by: chloejackson

Interesting, I don't see Bonnie as Molly as the back story is that Carol and Ed and Molly all went to high school together. Molly had a crush on Ed, still does. I always thought of Bonnie Hunt as a good fifteen years old than Tom Cavanaugh (Ed) and was surprised to read that in real life, she only just turned 38 and he is 34. I really thought she was in her late 40s.

I don't think that big dyed blonde hair do she is sporting on LWB flatters her at all, she used to look a lot quirkier and cuter IMHO.:) Maybe because she played Charles Grodin's wife in Beethoven I thought she was older. 38?:) LOL Not so sure about that.

I do like her, but I absolutely hate the show's premise. She is so overextended that she does a disservice to her children and a disservice to her job with her half ass running around at both home and work. I think it is a terrible portrayal of the modern working mother. I find it all rather sad, esp the scenes with her kids, esp where she treats her baby like it's nothing more than a sack of groceries.

Posted by: dthmj

quote:
Originally posted by chloejackson
to read that in real life, she only just turned 38 and he is 34. I really thought she was in her late 40s.

According to this site, she is a bit older - not late forties, but older than 38.

She does look older - I would have thought late 40's too.

Posted by: JYoung

FYI,
ABC has picked up both Life with Bonnie and 8 Rules for a full 22 episodes this season.
They seem to be getting behind both.....

Posted by: Fofer

quote:
Originally posted by dmaneyapanda
I don't recall seeing her in any of the previous shows she was on. (though i did get some background on her from dinner for five on IFC).

Yeah, I saw her on Dinner for 5 as well... she mentioned that she'd actually written 20-25 <?> of the episodes before they even shot the first one. (This surprised Kevin James and Ray Romano.)

After seeing the pilot and *half* of the 2nd episode, it seemed obviously sloppy and rushed to me. She should have taken more time writing! What a disappointing stinker.

Posted by: ronsch

quote:
Originally posted by dmaneyapanda
moreover, it said that bonnie has been picked up for the season and has been having decent ratings (coming in second).

dinesh

The only problem is the decent ratings were when it was on at 8:30. It will be interesting to see how it does against Frasier.

Posted by: dmaneyapanda

quote:
Originally posted by Fofer
Yeah, I saw her on Dinner for 5 as well... she mentioned that she'd actually written 20-25 <?> of the episodes before they even shot the first one.

My recollection is that she was talking in the past tense about one of her previous shows, like perhaps the bonnie hunt show, not LWB. I'm probably wrong, though.

dinesh