LOOKING FOR A MAN IN `MY BOYS'.Byline: David Kronke Television Critic We've all heard baseball used as a metaphor for life so many times that the next person who tries it probably deserves a bat upside the head. But we'll grant temporary dispensation DISPENSATION. A relaxation of law for the benefit or advantage of an individual. In the United States, no power exists, except in the legislature, to dispense with law, and then it is not so much a dispensation as a change of the law. to TBS' new sitcom, ``My Boys,'' which employs it only as a metaphor for dating. ``My Boys,'' premiering Tuesday, is a much milder ``Sex and the City'' hoping to lure more male viewers. Jordana Spiro brings a freshly scrubbed appeal to P.J. Franklin, a Chicago Cubs beat writer who's one of the guys in the press box and is desperately searching for a guy outside it. She yearns for a relationship with the firm ground rules of baseball. In ``Sex/City''-style voice-over narration, she muses, ``Can you imagine what it would be like if the foul lines were always moving or if sometimes it was two strikes and you're out? If you've ever tried to date someone, you probably can.'' You'd think she wouldn't have that much trouble, given that most of her closest friends are guys, albeit dysfunctional ones in the tried-and-true way of sitcoms: Brendan (Reid Scott For the actor named Reid Scott, see . Reid Scott (born October 23, 1926) is a retired lawyer and provincial judge and a former New Democratic Party of Canada Member of Parliament for the Toronto riding of Danforth from 1962 to 1968, leaving federal politics when his riding ), who can't extricate himself from a bad relationship; her brother Andy (Jim Gaffigan James Christopher Gaffigan (born July 7, 1966 in Chesterton, Indiana) is an American stand-up comic and an actor. His comedy routines are known for being deadpan, and often include him doing funny high-pitched and feminine voices, such as that of a supposed audience member ), stuck in a henpecked hen·peck tr.v. hen·pecked, hen·peck·ing, hen·pecks Informal To dominate or harass (one's husband) with persistent nagging. marriage; loser Kenny (Michael Bunin Michael Louis Bunin is an American actor perhaps best known for playing the role of "Kenny" on the TBS sitcom My Boys. A prolific and highly successful commercial actor during the early part of his career, starring in at least 50 national commercials, the transition to ); commitment-phobic ladies man Mike (Jamie Kaler Jamie Kaler is an American stand up comedian who has appeared on such talk shows as the Late Late Show and had a recurring role on Will and Grace. Kaler also lends his voice to the show Robot Chicken, as the suicidal blooper host. ); and Bobby (Kyle Howard), a new sportswriter sports·writ·er n. A person who writes about sports, especially for a newspaper or magazine. sports to whom she's attracted, but they can't seem to get on the same page romantically. Pal Stephanie (Kellee Stewart), who's also looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. love (sitcom rule No. 1: Characters are forbidden to be in a stable, happy relationship), commiserates as her romantic confidante con·fi·dante n. 1. A woman to whom secrets or private matters are disclosed. 2. A woman character in a drama or fiction, such as a trusted friend or servant, who serves as a device for revealing the inner thoughts or intentions . ``My Boys'' is affable and refreshingly likes its characters a lot. But it sure could stand to be a lot funnier: The dialogue is plenty quippy, though less frequently clever. But, unlike other single-camera shows, it feels like there are pauses for laughs in the dialogue, although the show doesn't have a laugh track. This makes the show feel flatter than it actually is. Through five episodes, I was able to acclimate to the show's rhythms, and eventually so should viewers -- if, that is, they don't find it too awkward initially and tune out early. Attention, shoppers TBS introduces another new comedy tonight: ``10 Items or Less,'' starring John Lehr (who co-created the show) as Leslie Pool, the optimistic if buffoonish manager of a small, struggling grocery store. His employees are the usual assortment of idiots; his competition, the mega-chain Super Value Mart, is just across the street and run with fierce determination by his high-school crush Amy (Jennifer Elise Cox, Jan Brady in the ``Brady Bunch'' movies). ``10 Items'' is improvised, and a little too often it shows. Though Lehr has an inspired riff in next week's episode, where Pool tries to kick Girl Scouts Girl Scouts, recreational and service organization founded (1912) in Savannah, Ga., by Mrs. Juliette Gordon Low (1860–1927). It was originally modeled after the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, organizations created in Great Britain by Sir Robert Baden-Powell during out of his store because customers aren't patronizing his cookie aisle (``Do you want a merit badge for Bleeding the Little Guy Dry?''), often, there seems to be a bit of a disconnect in the dialogue between the characters. Also next week, Pool tries to profit off a wall stain that looks like Jesus. FX's far funnier ``It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'' managed to make that plot line wickedly funny; here it's handled fairly benignly. As is the whole show; it's like Lehr and his collaborators have cheerfully and conveniently forgotten that all the characters are stuck in dead-end jobs. David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke@dailynews.com MY BOYS - Three stars What: Jordana Spiro stars as a Chicago sportswriter surrounded by male friends but no one to date. Where: TBS. When: 10 and 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, thereafter 10 p.m. Mondays. In a nutshell: Plenty affable; could be funnier. 10 ITEMS OR LESS - Two and one half stars What: Improvised sitcom Improvised sitcoms are a recent television phenomenon in which there is no definite script for the actors and actresses. Rather, the actors/actresses use the process of retroscripting in which there are rough outlines of themes and stories, but the dialogue is up for the set in a struggling grocery store. Where: TBS. When: 11 tonight. In a nutshell: Benign, with a few laughs here and there. |
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