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A former newspaper columnist would have to sympathize with Andrew, the lead character in the new CBS comedy, “How to Be a Gentleman,” that premieres at 8:30 tonight on Channel 4.
The magazine advice columnist is being told to reinvent himself to appeal to a younger audience that doesn’t care about manners or else be fired by a middle-aged editor Jerry (played by Dave Foley) who has sold out to stay employed.
Andrew (David Hornsby) also is verbally abused by his sister Janet (played by Mary Lynn Rajskub, seen above when she played Chloe on “24”). And things are so bad that Andrew has to seek out his macho high school nemesis, a health club trainer, Bert (played by Kevin Dillon, getting much too much screen time while reprising his “Entourage” attitude), for advice on how to be more of a real man. Goodness knows Andrew couldn’t get that advice from his British brother-in-law, Mike (Rhys Darby), who lets Andrew’s sister walk all over him.
You’ll Like It If: Can’t think of a thing. Unless you’re likely to enjoy a comedy with an obvious message about how low society and media standards have become.
You’ll Hate It If: You expect sitcoms to be funny and don’t think the lowered standards for society (or comedy) are very funny.
Outlook: After “The Big Bang Theory,” the second-most popular CBS comedy, the worst comedy of the season will get a huge opening night audience. My advice: Stay away. Reading Miss Manners every day is funnier. I’d say something even harsher, but I was brought up to have good manners.
Rating: 1 stars out of 4
Speaking of classy, Channel 4 reporter Lorey Schultz praised the younger generation of reporters and anchors at her station Wednesday when talking about her decision to leave the station in two weeks to become the director of marketing and communications in Mayor Brown’s administration.
While noting the business has gone away from the writing she loves to do in favor of quicker, shorter stories, Schultz noted the young broadcasters “do it very well.”
I would also be remiss if I didn’t note that Schultz realized that journalists try to avoid revealing their political party affiliation after she told me that she is a Republican. But to her credit as a journalist, she didn’t try and take it back. She also added that her husband, former Channel 4 operations manager Tom Garlick, is a Democrat so they live “in a split (political) household.”
To those who asked: ABC’s lame remake of “Charlie’s Angels” didn’t make much of a splash in Buffalo for last week’s premiere. It averaged a 4.7 rating, but at least beat NBC’s “Community” for third place in its 8 p.m. time slot. Things are unlikely to improve for tonight’s second episode now that viewers realize that this series starring Minka Kelly and two other beautiful women is a dog.
Fox announced late Wednesday that it has ordered an additional 11 episodes of the Zooey Deschanel comedy “New Girl” to give it a full-season order ot 24 episodes. It opened to strong ratings and even stronger reviews.
Alan Pergament was the television critic for The Buffalo News for 28 years. He currently is an adjunct professor at Buffalo State College and Medaille College, teaching courses in communications. He also writes a monthly column on the media for Buffalo Spree magazine.
Heard a radio ad for “How to Be a Gentleman” this afternoon at work. I could’ve sworn the more slovenly one said a certain four-letter word that starts with “s.” (And I don’t mean “snow.”) Turns out he said “show,” but the implication was pretty clear.
There’s dirty/blue humor, and then there’s the gutter.
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