WHO: Jenna Elfman, Ashley Jensen, Jon Foster, Grant Show, Lennon Parham, Nicolas Wright, and exec producer Claudia Lonow.
PREMISE: Knocked Up for TV. With half the laughs.
2:34 pm/PST: CBS handed out bowls of condoms prior to the session. And Skittles. Still debating which one I’m going to tear into first. Decisions, decisions…
2:35 pm: Elfman says the show is not a rip-off of Knocked Up. Rather, it’s a rip-off of based on a book called Accidentally on Purpose.
2:38 pm: Ashley Jensen’s real-life pregnancy will not be written into the show. On leaving the New York-based Ugly Betty for the L.A.-based Accidentally on Purpose, Jensen says, “I’m not getting as many air miles.”
2:41 pm: Regarding her numerous failed attempts to find sitcom success after Dharma & Greg, Elfman says, “I love comedy so much. And I was bound and determined to find another great show.” Wait, she’s already lined up another project after Accidentally?
2:44 pm: Opted to go with the condoms. Now comes the fun part: Deciding which critic I’m going to have sex with tonight. [Scanning the room] No. No. Maybe with a blindfold. No. Ew. Changed my mind. I’m going with the Skittles.
2:48 pm: Grant Show won’t rule out a guest appearance on The CW’s Melrose Place reboot. “We’ve been talking, but there’s nothing solid yet,” he says. “I’m not opposed to it.” Says if it happens, it’ll probably be in season 2.
2:53 pm: Jensen concedes that A.O.P. is “much more conventional than Extras,” her late, great showbiz farce with Ricky Gervais.
2:54 pm: Assuming the show will last nine whole months, Elfman’s character will eventually have the baby, insists exec producer Claudia Lonow (a former Knots Landing actress).
3:01 pm: Wait a second, are we allowed to have sex with the folks on the panel?!
3:02 pm: A CBS page informs me that no, the condoms can only be used for consensual sex with a fellow critic. Curses.
3:03 pm: Session’s over! Time for “sundaes on Monday” snack break!
3:20 pm: CBS is trying every means possible — the soothing sounds of a xylophone, free swine flu vaccines, cold hard cash — to lure us upstairs to The Diplomat room for The Doctors press conference. Nothing’s working.
3:22 pm: The show’s publicist is now reminding folks that the show “is Emmy nominated.” Still no takers.
3:26 pm: Publicist just returned to announce that The Doctors is “the No. 1 new show in syndication.” Crickets.
Comments (1-14) of 14 Add your comment
would love to see Grant Shoe back on Melrose!
Knot’s Landing’s Claudia Lonow??? Wow.
Michael, the sex comment is just awkward. Can sex be taboo again?
Don’t listen to James, Michael. I thought that was the funniest part. You’re freakin hilarious.
So… lame, huh? I was kind of hoping it would be good. I like rooting for alumni of Life As We Know It (in this case, Jon Foster).
If the show is as bad as you insinuate, Elfman should fire her reps and find people who can find a good project for her. Her history of duds (D&G excepted) with TV show she has no idea what a good comedy looks like.
I’m not only not watching it, I’m rooting for it to fail miserably. Elfman can rot for all I care.
I agree! I really cannot stand Jenna Elfman. She’s so annoying, like innately, fundamentally irritating. When I think of her, I picture a brat, who thinks she’s cute, on drums banging nonstop with a big goofy grin on her face. There is absolutely nothing appealing about this woman. At. All.
Another CBS comedy FAIL(they seem to have one of these every two years). Grant Show should’ve just done Melrose Place.
I love Jon Foster, but I am not betting on this being a good show. Too bad. Hopefully he finds success with the next one.
Looks like a pretty bad tv show
The book is actually really good and not at all like Knocked Up. Anyway, it’s not like Knocked Up is the first story about an unplanned pregnancy.
“Accidentally on Purpose” is the cheesiest title ever.
I loved Jenna Elfman on Dharma & Greg. This show should seems pretty funnt. I hope it does well