WITLESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.Byline: David Kronke TV Critic MOST SITCOMS are content to have but one really dumb guy as a comedic foil. But ``A.U.S.A.'' proudly proffers two - our protagonist, assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Sullivan (Scott Foley Scott Kellerman Foley (born July 15, 1972) is an American actor. He is best known for his screen roles on Felicity, A.U.S.A., Scream 3, and The Unit. ), is saddled not only with an idiotic roommate (Eddie McClintock Eddie McClintock (born May 27, 1967 in North Canton, Ohio) is an American actor who has starred and guest starred in numerous television shows. He was once a former wrestler and then a production assistant, and he was nearly 30 before moving into major actor roles. ) who's irreparably and indiscriminately babe-crazy, but an imbecilic im·be·cile n. 1. A stupid or silly person; a dolt. 2. A person whose mental acumen is well below par. 3. paralegal (John Ross Bowie) as well, who somehow hasn't figured out precisely how staplers operate (it feels as if this might be the character that network executives related to). But then, most comedies wouldn't posit as their set piece an inane bit in which the protagonist, having wet himself at a urinal urinal /uri·nal/ (u?ri-n'l) a receptacle for urine. u·ri·nal n. A vessel into which urine is passed. , would then be caught trying to dry his trousers with a men's-room electric dryer, so that it looks as though he's pleasuring himself with said device. The Rowan Atkinson movie ``Bean'' attempted the same stratagem STRATAGEM. A deception either by words or actions, in times of war, in order to obtain an advantage over an enemy. 2. Such stratagems, though contrary to morality, have been justified, unless they have been accompanied by perfidy, injurious to the rights of , and though it was a hit overseas, it was a decided failure on these shores, which bodes ill for ``A.U.S.A.'' Poor Adam can't win. Though he's grabbed a prestigious job, he somehow remains the same loser he's apparently always been - witness the abject rejection he receives from his longtime unrequited love, Susan Rakoff (Amanda Detmer), who is now a defense attorney. Susan is fairly appalled by his antics, and though he tries to make amends - tonight, he learns too late he's attempting to convict a war hero - we can't help but empathize em·pa·thize v. To feel empathy in relation to another person. with her. Though viewers are supposed to want Adam to somehow impress Susan, the show might be somewhat better were we to feel for her instead, having to contend with his pathetic efforts to win her over. Still, the lousy dialogue and plotting ensure that few will be won over, regardless of this middling sitcom's point of view. A.U.S.A. - Two stars What: Assistant United States Attorneys - we're told it's a comedy. Where: NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. (Channel 4). When: 9:30 tonight. In a nutshell: Jokes? They don't need no stinkin' jokes! Oh, wait a minute - yes, they do. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Scott Foley plays a harried U.S. Attorney in ``A.U.S.A.'' |
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