IT'S `FRIENDS' -- WITH A DOUBLE DOSE OF CYNICISM.Byline: David Kronke Television Critic David Crane David Crane may refer to:
For his new show, ``The Class'' (created with partner Jeffrey Klarik), Crane digs a little deeper, creating characters with more fully imagined -- even melancholy -- back stories. Yet the show doesn't skimp skimp v. skimped, skimp·ing, skimps v.tr. 1. To deal with hastily, carelessly, or with poor material: concentrated on reelection, skimping other matters. 2. on shtick shtick also schtick or shtik n. Slang 1. A characteristic attribute, talent, or trait that is helpful in securing recognition or attention: or snappy one-liners; it's a win-win for viewers both superficial and soured on life. ``The Class'' employs as its springboard a fairly unlikely premise: Ethan (Jason Ritter), hoping to surprise his fianc(hrt)e, invites members of the third-grade class in which they met to a party. His one-and-only has a surprise for him: She wants nothing further to do with him. Nonetheless, it's an opportunity for a group of 20-somethings, who last met when life boasted nothing but promise, to reconnect when those bright futures have seemingly ebbed from view. Among those who have graduated into reality: Kat (Lizzy Caplan), whose cynicism is matched only by her withering wit; her hopeful yet hangdog hang·dog adj. 1. Shamefaced or guilty. 2. Downcast; intimidated. n. A sneaky or despicable person. hangdog Adjective sister Lina (Heather Goldenhersh), who falls for the suicidal Richie (Jesse Tyler Ferguson Jesse Tyler Ferguson (born 1975 in Missoula, Montana) is an American actor, most widely know for his role as Richie Velch in the CBS sitcom The Class. At age eight, Ferguson decided to become an actor. ), even after he practically cripples her; Duncan (Jon Bernthal), who has descended into abject slackerdom while his true love Nicole (Andrea Anders) has married a wealthy, if hardly attentive, athlete. ``The Class,'' like ``Friends,'' boasts clever performances (Caplan and Goldenhersh both play their laughs for all they're worth), as well as its fair share of pithy pith·y adj. pith·i·er, pith·i·est 1. Precisely meaningful; forceful and brief: a pithy comment. 2. Consisting of or resembling pith. one-liners, but many of them connect on a more visceral level. Still, it's hardly above sheer silliness: Episode three offers a gleefully glee·ful adj. Full of jubilant delight; joyful. glee  ful·ly adv.glee goofy take on TV reporters covering hurricanes. This series veers from Richie pondering whether to pick up the phone while his mouth's full of sleeping pills to high-strung news reporter Holly (Lucy Punch) getting thwacked in the head by a wind-blown stop sign. The show has also found the perfectly wry way to keep viewers updated on the romantic roundelays: Each top-of-the-show recap ends with an arch narrator's insistence: ``And that's all you need to know.'' And that is all you need to know. David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke(at)dailynews.com THE CLASS - Three stars What: ``Friends'' on Zoloft: Members of a third-grade class reconnect after experiencing many life disappointments. Where: CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. (Channel 2.) When: 8 tonight. In a nutshell: From ``Friends''' co-creator, this series is more reflective, yet consistently amusing. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: A group of 20-somethings who shared the same third-grade class reconnect in CBS' ``The Class,'' premiering tonight at 8. |
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