This series just isn't that good despite the incredibly gifted Patty Heaton. Two hits out of three aren't bad though. Maybe they can corral the writing and production teams for 'The Middle', one of the best and most unappreciated comedies in recent television history, to come up with an appropriate sitcom (no laugh track please) deserving of Patty's amazing flair for comedy.
128 Reviews
Oh Dear
prylands-389-56748020 March 2020
Patricia Heaton is sooo likeable but that is the only reason to watch this - it is unfortunately cliched and corny. There is the occasional nice line but largely you will have seen this done before and done far better.
It is one-dimensional fare - there is no depth to it, no real craft and the laughter track will eventually irritate you into looking elsewhere for some entertainment...
A pity but this is not v good.
It is one-dimensional fare - there is no depth to it, no real craft and the laughter track will eventually irritate you into looking elsewhere for some entertainment...
A pity but this is not v good.
Show stinks and I'm tired of Debra
billmelville-2811213 October 2019
Show will not last first season; really, really bad! I loved Heaton all throughout Everyone Loves Raymond. Debra was a great character supported by a talented cast. Frankie was good for first few years of The Middle, and again a great supporting cast. But I started to get tired of Debra, a character she just can't seem to shake. The new show should be called Debra's Third Chance. But this time, she has a terrible supporting cast and lousy writers. Unfortunately, Heaton is collateral damage from two long running shows as the same character. Maybe she should consider a serious role.
silly premise
SnoopyStyle7 May 2020
Carol Kenney (Patricia Heaton) is starting a new life as an intern doctor. Her previous life was as a mother and a teacher. Caleb Sommers, arrogant Daniel Kutcher, and gay Lexie Gilani are his fellow interns. Dr. Maya Jacobs is the ruthless Chief Resident. Dr. Stephen Frost (Kyle MacLachlan) is the Senior Attending Physician and Caleb's family friend. Carol's daughter Jenny (Ashley Tisdale) is a pharmaceutical rep. Dennis (Cedric Yarbrough) is the head nurse.
The premise is silly. This sitcom has nothing new. Heaton is a fine lead and the show does have good actors. It's a relatively safe network show which overcomes the silly premise for the most part. It lasted one season and didn't deserve more with or without the virus.
The premise is silly. This sitcom has nothing new. Heaton is a fine lead and the show does have good actors. It's a relatively safe network show which overcomes the silly premise for the most part. It lasted one season and didn't deserve more with or without the virus.
"Scrubs" did it better
GreenInkBrigade28 September 2019
First, get rid of the laugh track.
Second, make the characters people, not archetypes.
Third, let a character besides Heaton have some wisdom.
Fourth, get rid of the laugh track.
"Scrubs" did the medical interns-over-their-heads story better. Unfortunately, I don't see a lot of potential for this show to rise above its mediocre opening without a major overhaul.
"Scrubs" did the medical interns-over-their-heads story better. Unfortunately, I don't see a lot of potential for this show to rise above its mediocre opening without a major overhaul.
cute, good clean family fun
iamjamalwhite1 October 2019
Pretty darn good comedy set in a hospital setting.
Bronco4612 October 2019
I only looked in on this new series because Patricia Heaton was a part of it. And I was surprised to find it's a pretty well researched effort. I wouldn't have expected a sit-com to be this well done. I'm a retired RN who worked critical care for a number of years and ER on the Eastside of Detroit. And I especially like the character portrayed by Cedric Yarbrough. On many units in most hospitals there is one RN that unofficially "runs" the unit, someone that others turn too. I've known several Nurse Dennis's, but we never called them Nurse anything, nurse is typically not a prefix anymore. But I think they do that to assure that people understand what his position is. The first few episodes have been entertaining and not as far-fetched as you might think. Interns do come in bewildered and worried. Usually they are people that went right from highschool to a four year undergrad program, then completed four years of medical school. After that they released into hospital training programs to learn the actual nuts and bolts of taking care of human being. Some have never treat a living human being for any length of time if at all. So them come nervous and unsure. They have a ton of knowledge and have to learn to use it in the field with no instructors around acting as safety nets. It's very competitive. And it means a great deal to their future. There is a lot of humor amongst people working in hospitals, its a defense mechanism. It's necessary to make it possible to keep coming in everyday. You have days where you think, "I can't keep doing this". But your scheduled to be there, so you come back because you can't let your friends down, and you can't stop doing the best you can for patients.
So so-far, I'm enjoying this show. The first episodes of most new series, especially sit-coms or dramadies start off shakey but get better. If you doubt that, look at the first episodes of shows like Friends, Frasier and Cheers.
It's a show that follows a few recent medical school graduates as they get used to be interns in a hospital that's not part of their medical, and on their own. Worth a look to see if it's your cup of tee.
Just plain awful
vintagegeek30 September 2019
Cheap and nasty old school style sitcom.
Sleeper-Cell27 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
From the first second there is just a cheap feel to it all. The cast look awkward and the writing is shocking. Patricia Heaton exits the elevator and the canned applause starts Happy Days style.She hasn't done or said anything yet, obviously we are meant to be excited that she has arrived! I lost what was left of my interest at that point.
I'm out.
I'm out.
1st couple of episodes was rocky, but it gets better & better
mbems29 February 2020
Yes, the laugh track is annoying but I find the sax music the most annoying. The first couple of episodes were corny and I rolled my eyes a couple of times but I decided to continue to watch to see where it would go.
And it did get better, tackling real issues with medicine (care of patients), work relationships, insurance problems, and emotions that I'm sure doctors and nurses have to deal with all the time.
A couple of episodes brought tears to my eyes.
Keeping my fingers crossed for a lot more seasons to come!
Seen this before
ramneekhora2 October 2019
Silly
debmalley-424-32229127 September 2019
Why didn't she just stay on The Middle?
ChRiS-80317 October 2019
I don't get it.
Patricia Heaton had a hit with The Middle and it was her decision to end the show at nine seasons. Her decision.
She ended it and lazily recycles one of the storyline's from that show - remember when Frankie had a second act and went to dental school? Same thing here. Absolutely lazy thinking and writing.
The cast are all wasted bad too. CBS axed Life in Pieces for this?
Again why couldn't she pump a few more seasons of The Middle if she wanted to Keep working?
She ended it and lazily recycles one of the storyline's from that show - remember when Frankie had a second act and went to dental school? Same thing here. Absolutely lazy thinking and writing.
The cast are all wasted bad too. CBS axed Life in Pieces for this?
Again why couldn't she pump a few more seasons of The Middle if she wanted to Keep working?
Started slow but gaining momentum
opusdirect24 December 2019
This show, as noted in all the other reviews, started very slowly. The comedy was not up to par at the beginning, but it has begun to get its stride. Finding it better written, more funny, and less like caricatures with each show. Give it a chance. It's getting better.
Sorry, but I like this show
crosswayzconsulting19 October 2019
What a waste of talent
cockezville25 October 2019
Oh I so wanted to like this show but the sophomoric writing and the inept characterization is horrifying. The premise of the show is endearing and Patricia Heaton tries hard with what she has to work with. The other residents are fillers and add nada to the show. Lesbian jokes in 2019- outdated and tacky. Replace the 3 residents and the daughter and bring in a better cast. And replace the writers. This show could be saved if revamped .
Case in point that great writers mean everything
scwalker-14 October 2019
I will give it a few more episodes to try and keep me. Thank goodness they have a self proclaimed "queer" as an intern just like every other series on TV. Truly ground breaking stuff. They do more yapping than doctoring. This is terrible. Sorry, Patti.
Good show.
nokissfan-0636922 April 2020
Fact checks
sexykmd18 October 2019
Forget worthless reviews and hang in there for better episodes.
danieldeaseweitzelwalker24 February 2020
Patricia Heaton (Carol Kenney) and Patrick Fabian (Dr. Lewis) are currently the glue holding this new, fragile series together with many less-experienced actors and what appears to be a lack of direction until more recent episodes (EP11+).
Some difficulties are clear by obvious cues and interjections that are likely to be ironed out as fellow actors become increasingly comfortable in their roles.
While the show needs work, unlike some ridiculous and seriously worthless reviews after having watched just 1-2 episodes, the series is thankfully still uncovering its canvass and beginning to come together. The vague direction and single-star in Heaton's character starts to share the stage with her fellow actors as the ensemble cast begins to shine in their own roles.
While many aspects of this series are plagued by a politically-correct range of race and sexuality - much like "The Conners" - this is the result of our era; this political bowel movement we have found ourselves in and such negative comments aimed towards the legitimacy of the series should be ignored, rather than spoil entertainment.
Accept Carol's Second Act at face value and allow it to mature. After all, M*A*S*H was slated to be canceled in its first season first season by hastey critics. Don't stomp out potential before it has a chance - this one is just clearing its throat.
Some difficulties are clear by obvious cues and interjections that are likely to be ironed out as fellow actors become increasingly comfortable in their roles.
While the show needs work, unlike some ridiculous and seriously worthless reviews after having watched just 1-2 episodes, the series is thankfully still uncovering its canvass and beginning to come together. The vague direction and single-star in Heaton's character starts to share the stage with her fellow actors as the ensemble cast begins to shine in their own roles.
While many aspects of this series are plagued by a politically-correct range of race and sexuality - much like "The Conners" - this is the result of our era; this political bowel movement we have found ourselves in and such negative comments aimed towards the legitimacy of the series should be ignored, rather than spoil entertainment.
Accept Carol's Second Act at face value and allow it to mature. After all, M*A*S*H was slated to be canceled in its first season first season by hastey critics. Don't stomp out potential before it has a chance - this one is just clearing its throat.
Truly Terrible
gregberne113 October 2019
This show is absolute trash. The writing is some of the worst I've ever seen in a sitcom and I've always liked Patricia Heaton but she has nothing to work with here, including the script but also perhaps the worst supporting cast of all time. Truly horribly bad. This show has to get 110% better just to get a passing grade. That's right, it's currently at negative 60%
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