Below is an extended promo for CBS’s newest sitcom, “Mad Love,” which premieres on Valentine’s Day (*pistol in mouth*). It stars Jason Biggs and Sarah Chalke as two people who instantly fall in love, and Tyler Labine (“Reaper”) and Judy Greer as their best friends who hate each other. Not the worst concept, but here’s the problem:
Jason Biggs. Not only do I not like Biggs, I hate the character he plays. It’s a character we see way too often on TV: the emotional, romantic, sweet guy with middling self-confidence. He’s a 21st century mutation of the Woody Allen archetype, and he’s NEVER funny unless he’s the butt of the joke. He fails as a protagonist, and here’s why:
Too many writers insert a version of themselves into the story (in this case, a TV show) as the protagonist. And because writers are generally introverted pussies with grand notions of winning unattainable girls, they craft the protagonist to be some stuttering emo twat like Biggs or Ted Mosby on “How I Met Your Mother.” Who’s the most popular character on “How I Met”? Neil Patrick Harris’s supremely confident ladykiller, Barney Stinson.
That’s because what TV viewers actually crave are confident men: Jeff Winger on “Community,” Ron Swanson on “Parks and Recreation,” and Sterling Archer on “Archer” all have invincible confidence in themselves, and they’re funnier than any wuss on TV. In fact, of those three shows, the only meek or timid males (the Dean on “Community” and Chris Parnell’s Cyril on “Archer”) provide laughs because the more confident and self-assured characters walk all over them. (This extends beyond the stereotype of the alpha male: Jim Parsons’s Sheldon Cooper on “the Big Bang Theory” may be a geek, but he’s not timid or shy.)
None of this is to say that confident men can’t have feelings — Nathan Fillion’s likable Richard Castle is a self-assured and talented millionaire who suppresses his love for Detective Becket in “Castle,” after all. But TV should reflect the real world: confident men should be emulated, and weenies should be ground underfoot. Grow up, boys.
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I grow tired of all the Ted Mosby hate on this site.
This looks like a clone of the cast of Bored to Death.
I grow tired of all the Ted Mosby hate on this site.
Maybe Ted Mosby could help out by growing a pair.
If anyone should get hate on that show, it should be Marshall and Robins lack of attempting to look hott. What the hell happened there?
Another show to add to my list of “Shows I’ll Never Watch”.
Also, I would add Phil from Modern Family to that list of confident guys. It’s his confidence that gets him in trouble and makes his character funny.
I don’t come here to be criticized!
Obiwan, I’m a regular on this site and this MIGHT be the 2nd time Ted Mosby has ever been mentioned. You might be confusing him with Charlie Sheen.
Man. From “Reaper” to “Sons of Tuscon” to this dreck. Tyler Labine needs to throw his agent through a window.
Well said, Matt. Writer wish fulfillment is one of the reasons that Californication always bugged me – it seemed like an exercise in the very worst of creating a character that says all the things they’re too chickenshit to say, then paying nubile young actresses to take their clothes off and rub up against an actor portraying an idealized version themselves.
/wishes I had enough money to pay nubile young actresses to rub up against me.
@UU, make that “Shows I’ll Never Watch But Will Be Inexplicably and Painfully Successful.”
great article – nail on head with “introverted pussies”
how can i get on job on this site???
@UU, make that “Shows I’ll Never Watch But Will Be Inexplicably and Painfully Successful.”
That’s too unwieldy. We need a simple acronym, like “CBS” or something.
“Who’s the most popular character on “How I Met”? Neil Patrick Harris’s supremely confident ladykiller, Barney Stinson.”
Make that “Who’s the only watchable character…”
This show actually looks like it would be really good if it wasn’t for Biggs and Chalke. I can’t stand that girl. She’ll never be the real Becky!
Aw, I miss Reaper.
But, even with Labine and Geeer, there is no way this won’t be terrible.
“..how can i get on job on this site???”
Thai hookers and scotch always make for a nice ice breaker.
No, wait… I was thinking of how to get a guest spot on “Two and a Half Men.”
Looks at Biggs’ resume: horny piefucker in American Pie, pathetic dork in Loser, and now emo d-bag on this stillborn sitcom.
And all along, I thought that Seann William Scott was the American Pie alum most often typecast.
My big genitals won’t allow me to root for guys with no confidence. Alpha males, such as myself are leaders of the pack and people will follow us to be a part of our adventures.
Now if you excuse me I have to go make a fresh pot of coffee for my boss or else he might shit in my mouth.
CBS’s aging audience will see themselves in this. The only one I can’t imagine in an adult diaper is probably Judy Greer.
(and she’s the only one I want to)
“Tyler Labine (“Reaper”) and Judy Greer as their best friends who hate each other. ”
WILL THEY OR WON’T THEY???? Tune in and watch!!!
One reason why I love 30 Rock, is they could have done the same easy route and made Jack and Liz have a relationship, but instead they seem to openly mock that lazy plot device.
@zack–agree completely. Californication is egregious writer wish fulfillment. Lot of that in the Stieg Larsson books too. I think that’s what killed him.
Modern Family rules because *all* the men are overconfident. Especially the great Manny. Worst beta males ever–Zach Braff, David Schwimmer. We need some Israeli motherfuckers up in this bitch. Plenty of Jews with testicles.
Lenny, it’s scary how many 30 Rock fans seriously want Jack and Liz to fall in love. I’m like, “Are we watching the same show?!”
Oh Judy Greer, you deserve better than this.
I grow tired of all the Ted Mosby hate on this site.
Maybe Ted Mosby could help out by growing a pair.
Or hurrying the eff up and meeting his kid’s mother… those little shits can’t stay up late for another three seasons waiting to hear how the story ends.
SPOILER: The Mosby children make Andy Reid’s kids look like Rod and Todd Flanders.
@Patty that’s what I hate so much about TV now. Every show is about “will they, won’t they” rather than just enjoying the show. Every time I read some spoiler chat it’s someone asking about Dwight and Angela or Barney and Robin some bullshit like that. Enjoy the funny. If you’re desperate for couples to cling to, watch the soaps.
I liked Reaper, and Judy Greer just does something for me..so does Sarah Chalke. Maybe with the mute on I can learn to like this show.
“two people who instantly fall in love, and…their best friends who hate each other”
yeah, this has been done before. it was called Martin. though I’m not shocked to see CBS fail to acknowledge the existence of a show starring black people.
I grow tired of all the Ted Mosby hate on this site.
Ted Mosby has ruined the entire show.
Here’s how to fix it:
Kill Ted. Personally Id prefer a slow painful death but that’s just me.
Deport Robin. Yeah. Youre Canadian. Awesome.
Divorce Willow. Booo-urns.
Make the show about Barney and Marshall getting shitfaced hammered drunk and pounding tail. Have them high fiving.
Profit.
oh, wow. that.. made perfect sense! and not a word about boobs. it’s like i dont know you at all, matt.
But TV should reflect the real world: confident men should be emulated, and weenies should be ground underfoot. Grow up, boys.
Join the Marine Corps!
I’d like to trump the underconfident male=no laughs rule with two words:George Costanza. An extension of Larry David,to be sure,but this timid loser of a man got laughs because he was also a real asshole.He took so many bold chances that just blew up in his face it was impossible not to laugh,unless you hate Seinfeld in which case I feel sorry for you.
I find both Jason Biggs and Woody Allen off-putting.
That said, in the Woody Allen movie Jason Biggs was in with Christina “Did a scene in a white tanktop with no bra before getting her boobs cut off” Ricci, he told her that the scratches on his back from an affair happened when he “fell on his comb.”
I can, to this day, explain every scratch on my body to my wife by saying “I fell on my comb” and she will chuckle and not ask any followup questions.
This was a good post Matt. But if I were more like you, I’d say – “Oh this is the same thing Vince at Filmdrunk posted about movies where bitter, smarmy, unlikeable nerds are the “hero” of the movie because they represent the writer’s suppressed social experience as an introvert (I Love You Beth Cooper). Been said before, just an idea stolen off the internet hahaha!” We are born original but we die as copies.
looks like something I won’t watch.. and that’s not only because of Jason Biggs..
I fairly certain I can already predict all the jokes..
Who watches shows with laugh tracks anymore these days?
There’s a fine line between “confident” and “assholish”, with few guys being able to discern it and even fewer girls. (*that’s totally something a complete pussy would say, bro*) SHUT UP, BRAIN!
Also, Jason Biggs gets a pass from me for this short: [www.funnyordie.com]
The trailer video blocked for my country’s region by CBS?!?!? The trailer for this bullcrap. I was gonna download teh show anyway
btw F*CK YOU CBS
Of course Cyril has a 12 inch dong…
Not to mention that even the DESIGNERS phoned this one in and just ripped off a 5 year old design from “A Lot Like Love” … [www.imdb.com]
Oh look, the “slob” friend, with his “retro” flannel shirt army jacket and carfully calculated messy fauxhawk. I hope he gets a bullet in the head. in real life.
From your description, this sounds exactly like Gavin & Stacey. the 2 boring idiots fall for each other and their 2 best friends cant stand each other but probably fall for each other anyway. Let’s see if Labine & Greer get pregnant before the end of the first season despite their “hatred.” P.S. I actually really liked Gavin & Stacey. A a show, not as characters.