Wasted Cast becuz of bad script. The pilot is actually not too bad, but then it all went down hill from there.
8 Reviews
Wasted
harrison-yhchen15 December 2020
fun
SnoopyStyle5 December 2019
Stacey (Alexis Bledel) is a small town girl from Dillsburg, PA. She has a first date with email friend Gavin (Jason Ritter) who lives in NYC. They bring along their outrageous best friends Nessa (Ashlie Atkinson) and Archie (Dustin Ybarra). It's the start of a long distance relationship, at least a four hours drive apart. Gavin and Archie lives in the first floor apartment under his parents (Kurt Fuller, Jane Kaczmarek). Stacey lives with her widower mother Gwen (Kerri Kenney) who often hangs out with her brother-in-law Uncle Brian (Michael Ian Black).
This is a British import adapted from Gavin & Stacey created by James Corden and Ruth Jones. It never made it on the air. It's surprisingly fun if not that original. I don't know anything about Gavin & Stacey. That probably works to my advantage. I have no expectations for the show to fulfill. The first obvious problem is the title. Friends & Family is much better although I don't know why it couldn't be called Gavin & Stacey. Us & Them sucks. Basically, this all depends on the cast. As a network TV sitcom, this is mostly standard with a bit of heart. The cast has good chemistry and this has a solid mix. The only questionable one is Bledel. Stacey should be a country gal and she needs to be goofier. In the comedy to drama range, Bledel leans more towards drama. In a simple comedic move, Stacey should be doing shadow boxing as she and Archie get into a girlie fight. Also, is it weird to be dating a mother and then the daughter? That's Hollyweird for you. This is better than most failed network shows. I don't know the behind-the-scene reasons for not getting on network TV. It's too bad that it didn't even get a chance.
This is a British import adapted from Gavin & Stacey created by James Corden and Ruth Jones. It never made it on the air. It's surprisingly fun if not that original. I don't know anything about Gavin & Stacey. That probably works to my advantage. I have no expectations for the show to fulfill. The first obvious problem is the title. Friends & Family is much better although I don't know why it couldn't be called Gavin & Stacey. Us & Them sucks. Basically, this all depends on the cast. As a network TV sitcom, this is mostly standard with a bit of heart. The cast has good chemistry and this has a solid mix. The only questionable one is Bledel. Stacey should be a country gal and she needs to be goofier. In the comedy to drama range, Bledel leans more towards drama. In a simple comedic move, Stacey should be doing shadow boxing as she and Archie get into a girlie fight. Also, is it weird to be dating a mother and then the daughter? That's Hollyweird for you. This is better than most failed network shows. I don't know the behind-the-scene reasons for not getting on network TV. It's too bad that it didn't even get a chance.
Ohhhh!!!!
herrtonyc9 June 2019
I have seen more than my share of UK comedies translated to the US. For every Steptoe and Son (Sanford and Son) there's a Coupling. For every The Office, there's a The Inbetweeners. I thought I had seen the worst that could be done... until just now. I found this monstrosity by accident today and there's not enough mind-bleach in the world to take it away again. Gavin and Stacey was a beautiful, gentle, hilarious comedy. This? This has taken the basic conceit and stripped away everything that made it work. Was this some condition of taking James Corden off our hands? "Jimmy, come over, do a late night talk show, we love you - one thing though, we want you to agree to us destroying what you love most. Just sign here." It's taken us over fifty years to forgive Dick Van Dyke for his accent in Mary Poppins; this may take millennia.
So...
pompeymatt23 December 2019
So first off I am one of the biggest Gavin and Stacey fans out there. My partner and I watch it on repeat throughout the year and even more so at Xmas. I can't remember how I heard about Us and Them but thought I'd check it out, even after all of the reviews on here.
I found it strange that they changed some of the names but not all and the fact that they didn't change Gwen was even stranger. Unfortunately she just isn't funny nor sincere. Gwen West was loving, caring and funny without meaning to be. This one just feels like a non character.
Archie is no Smithy but he is still funny and I found him entertaining.
I think we can agree that Matthew Horne is the only thing that lets the the original show down and Jason Ritter is 100% better, but he just seems.... boring.
Stacey is hot. Hot hot hot. And brings a different type of humour than Stacey West, my favourite scene still the bar fight in E03, but like Gavin, she's just boring.
Nessa is great. She's entertaining and funny without trying too hard.
No one could ever better Rob Brydon's Bryn, but I think Brian did Bryn a solid and is a solid character who could easily earn his own spin off.
My favourite part of the show is definitely Gavin's parents; Michael and Pam. They are are by no means Larry and Alison but are original and hilarious. They deserve their own spinoff or they should relaunch this show as Michael and Pam.
If you accept this show for what it is and do not try and compare it to the original, it's still worth a watch, as a GnS fan or not. Definitely no where near as bad as I expected and still pretty funny. I ended the 5th and last episode with a hunger for more. Shame.
7/10
I found it strange that they changed some of the names but not all and the fact that they didn't change Gwen was even stranger. Unfortunately she just isn't funny nor sincere. Gwen West was loving, caring and funny without meaning to be. This one just feels like a non character.
Archie is no Smithy but he is still funny and I found him entertaining.
I think we can agree that Matthew Horne is the only thing that lets the the original show down and Jason Ritter is 100% better, but he just seems.... boring.
Stacey is hot. Hot hot hot. And brings a different type of humour than Stacey West, my favourite scene still the bar fight in E03, but like Gavin, she's just boring.
Nessa is great. She's entertaining and funny without trying too hard.
No one could ever better Rob Brydon's Bryn, but I think Brian did Bryn a solid and is a solid character who could easily earn his own spin off.
My favourite part of the show is definitely Gavin's parents; Michael and Pam. They are are by no means Larry and Alison but are original and hilarious. They deserve their own spinoff or they should relaunch this show as Michael and Pam.
If you accept this show for what it is and do not try and compare it to the original, it's still worth a watch, as a GnS fan or not. Definitely no where near as bad as I expected and still pretty funny. I ended the 5th and last episode with a hunger for more. Shame.
7/10
Good, funny, entertaining show with a great cast.
hthbrr230 December 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This show surprised me, it was supposed to air on FOX, but never did. However I did find the first 3 episodes posted on You Tube, odd. But I am a comedy fan and saw good actors were attached to this and gave it a try.
I was not disappointed. I'm guessing that FOX did not air this show since it was not sexist enough for them. You know FOX, sexist central. One of the things I like about this show is how the main female character Stacey, played by the lovely and talented Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls), is so independent.
I like her wacky family, as well as the wacky family of the main male character Gavin, played by the equally handsome and talented Jason Ritter (Joan of Arcadia). I like how they don't pretend to be these perfect families. Sure it is a comedy and they push things a bit for laughs. But remember it IS a TV show, it does not have to be 100% realistic.
I actually find it refreshing how they just lay it all out there, this is life. I like how they handle the silliness of family life and dating. Their families are overly protective and warn their kids of random dangers as if they are a given. Like giving the girl a rape alarm, and warning the guy of creatures that will travel up their urine! LOL Even though the two are pretty well antiquated, and educated.
This is our new society, people are more free to discuss their life. Like how Gavin's parents discuss their sex life so openly. And how Stacey's family bluntly state how they love karaoke and crafting.
Also the production value of the show is great and it's shot well. It takes place between Pennsylvania (Stacey's residence) and New York (Gavin's residence). Great shots of the city and country life. Amazing variety. Again they keep it real they don't over romanticize these cities or make them overly gritty. It's just life, really well done.
I look forward to this show, if fox has the good sense to continue it. Or at least air in one way or another the episodes that they have already made. I want to find out what happens to these characters. The show has an all star cast of comedy actors! Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle), Kerri Kenney (Reno 911!), Michael Ian Black (Wet Hot American Summer), Kurt Fuller (Anger Management), Dustin Ybarra (Date and Switch). Even all the lesser known actors are fantastic.
The one complaint I have is that the show shows random incidents that happen in that ep at the very start. A bit of strange editing. As it is confusing. It does not really spoil things, but just when you show scenes of out order you get a bit lost. But after watching it's growing on me. I would not mind if they got rid of this and just showed the ep, perhaps put a short intro instead not sure.
But otherwise this is a great show. Sometimes I wounder how some shows made it and others failed. This show is better than most shows on TV right now. Give it a chance people! It's like a rom-com movie spread out into a TV show. The two main characters have great chemistry. The rest of the cast work well together and are each unique well formed characters. Will Stacey and Gavin work out, will their families ever get on the same page, what more wacky adventures will they get on? This show keeps you wanting more.
I was not disappointed. I'm guessing that FOX did not air this show since it was not sexist enough for them. You know FOX, sexist central. One of the things I like about this show is how the main female character Stacey, played by the lovely and talented Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls), is so independent.
I like her wacky family, as well as the wacky family of the main male character Gavin, played by the equally handsome and talented Jason Ritter (Joan of Arcadia). I like how they don't pretend to be these perfect families. Sure it is a comedy and they push things a bit for laughs. But remember it IS a TV show, it does not have to be 100% realistic.
I actually find it refreshing how they just lay it all out there, this is life. I like how they handle the silliness of family life and dating. Their families are overly protective and warn their kids of random dangers as if they are a given. Like giving the girl a rape alarm, and warning the guy of creatures that will travel up their urine! LOL Even though the two are pretty well antiquated, and educated.
This is our new society, people are more free to discuss their life. Like how Gavin's parents discuss their sex life so openly. And how Stacey's family bluntly state how they love karaoke and crafting.
Also the production value of the show is great and it's shot well. It takes place between Pennsylvania (Stacey's residence) and New York (Gavin's residence). Great shots of the city and country life. Amazing variety. Again they keep it real they don't over romanticize these cities or make them overly gritty. It's just life, really well done.
I look forward to this show, if fox has the good sense to continue it. Or at least air in one way or another the episodes that they have already made. I want to find out what happens to these characters. The show has an all star cast of comedy actors! Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle), Kerri Kenney (Reno 911!), Michael Ian Black (Wet Hot American Summer), Kurt Fuller (Anger Management), Dustin Ybarra (Date and Switch). Even all the lesser known actors are fantastic.
The one complaint I have is that the show shows random incidents that happen in that ep at the very start. A bit of strange editing. As it is confusing. It does not really spoil things, but just when you show scenes of out order you get a bit lost. But after watching it's growing on me. I would not mind if they got rid of this and just showed the ep, perhaps put a short intro instead not sure.
But otherwise this is a great show. Sometimes I wounder how some shows made it and others failed. This show is better than most shows on TV right now. Give it a chance people! It's like a rom-com movie spread out into a TV show. The two main characters have great chemistry. The rest of the cast work well together and are each unique well formed characters. Will Stacey and Gavin work out, will their families ever get on the same page, what more wacky adventures will they get on? This show keeps you wanting more.
Don't waste your time
wilgarris14 January 2017
Don't waste your time with this robotic remake of a very good U.K. show. Go to the original. I really don't have more to say about this show because I don't want to give anything away. I've read the other reviews and you can clearly tell that some are written by people with a vested interest in the show. I can't stand poor remakes and transparent reviews. Apparently I need more lines but I really don't want to give anything away in the show but I can tell you that if you watch the original you have to take into account that it is a U.K. show so a lot of the jokes are geared to a British audience. Again they want more lines so I have to fill space. I'm sorry about all the filler but in order to warn you about the horrors of a bad remake and U.S. copycat shows I have to make up something.
Stop stealing from the UK
miaka_tohru10 September 2022
You yanks need to leave the U. K. stuff alone! Do you really have nothing better to do than recreate amazing comedies? Come up with her own ideas! You obviously have no more of your own.
I mean seriously if you're going to create something at least come up with an original script!! What's the point of recreating something you could just Watch in its glory!
American remakes have no originality, as well as being wooden i'm not actually getting the reason for the comedy! The reason Gavin and Stacey is funny it's because of its origin!
I swear to God you Yanks just ruin everything!
People don't waste your time just watch Gavin and Stacey!
I mean seriously if you're going to create something at least come up with an original script!! What's the point of recreating something you could just Watch in its glory!
American remakes have no originality, as well as being wooden i'm not actually getting the reason for the comedy! The reason Gavin and Stacey is funny it's because of its origin!
I swear to God you Yanks just ruin everything!
People don't waste your time just watch Gavin and Stacey!
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