Connecting... (TV Series 2020) Poster

(2020)

User Reviews

Review this title
34 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
6/10
A decent start, but can it get better?
cartoonnewsCP11 October 2020
I thought it was okay, actually, and definitely don't think it is as bad as other people say it is.

Whoever plays Pradeep is incredibly funny. I love his acting. Preacher Lawson is pretty good, and I do like that they have a lot of diversity on the show. Only one of the main cast members is white, which we need in television nowadays, especially as the leads. While this show won't have many background characters based on its premise and format, it will be interesting and fun to see how these characters navigate through their struggles. Although we are reminded of terrible times through COVID-19, I could see this show being something viewed many years later down the road when people of younger generations want to get a glimpse of how we had it back then. Sure, we could tell future generations, but this show is more of a visual experience.

This show, actually, can work. The jokes are okay, especially the parents/kids one, but I will continue to watch in hopes that the characters build. With only seven characters, the writers have plenty of time to flesh them all out. There's a possible storyline that, even outplayed as it is with someone really being into the other, but wants to express their true feelings and can't, is interesting to see with different characters because the situations and reactions can be totally different. This is why Bob's Burgers, despite being a generic animated sitcom, works so well. While it has the poor family aspect like the Simpsons, and the 3 kids and parents vibe, each character is clearly different, which brings different situations, character dynamics, and reactions.

We have to remember other hit sitcom shows like Brooklyn 99, The Office, Community, Modern Family, Bob's Burgers, and Parks and Recreation didn't start off well either, and considering that this show shows promise is a plus. Episodes about people just talking have been proven to work. Bojack Horseman's "Free Churro" and Family Guy's "Brian and Stewie" have just a few characters sitting down to talk for the whole episode. And these are considered the best of those said shows.

While Connecting has more characters in the first episode than those two examples, I just genuinely like episodes with raw emotions and dry humor. You can do a lot with just having to sit down and talk. It really brings a lot to the characters and that's a plus in my book. Connecting really does well with that, and that's its biggest strength. I hope there's more to the show than COVID-19 though because that will make it really come out on top against its "shows about coronavirus" competition. The concept is unique, and pretty original, even if a lot of people don't want this now. Sure we don't need to be reminded COVID sucks, but I'm sure people will appreciate this down the road. The show has already been renewed for a second season, so this is at least worth an investment in hopes that it finds its legs by the end of season 1, leaving the viewer wanting more.
9 out of 20 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
gets tiresome
SnoopyStyle18 November 2020
A group of friends stay connected during the pandemic by using a Zoom-like internet app. Annie is the hot gal obsessed with the TV show Cheers. Ben is the hot guy and they secretly like to date. Pradeep is hiding from his kids. Ellis is trans. Garrett and Ben's sister Michelle are a couple who likes quarantining. Rufus is overly concerned with conspiracy theory.

I like this group of actors and their characters. The premise and the filming structure is intriguing. I'm willing to give this a shot. The problem is its relentless obsession with present day social commentary. It needs to be tone that down for a network sitcom show. It's possible to do a once-in-awhile-very-special-episode but this one insists on making it the central theme of every episode. It gets tiresome.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Innovative idea on paper, odd execution
minutolo10 November 2020
It's okay. The pandemic has given NBC a decent enough sitcom with a funny enough cast to last a season or two. I can see this show go past the pandemic with minor adjustments. Love to see this show continue.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Absolutely Garbage
viihwhbu11 October 2020
In a time when all people want is to escape the hell that is reality, some idiot decided to make a show that was an even more tedious and obnoxious version of that very same hell.
21 out of 38 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
A pilotless pilot
gdump10 October 2020
Wow. This thing has to be the lowest budget effort any network has ever backed. It could literally have been produced by having people talking in front of a green screen. Everything is static and oh, so boring. You could get the same effect by going to any low budget coffee shop and listening to the customers. I gave it 2 stars even though it's a one-star effort. The extra star is for having the hutzpah to actually con a network into making a pilot.
15 out of 32 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
This is only big cause it is our life
bigchris-2209910 October 2020
Okay so I'll say I was impressed with this show for sure but I get a odd feeling that half the reason it's good is it's our new life day to day though I do recommend due to humorous moments I say it's only funny cause it's true to life
16 out of 28 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Maybe the script abs the acting had covid
igoinsane6712 October 2020
What was the point of this. Are the actors this bad or is the script this bad? If I had to place a safe wager, I'd bet on both. The story never got off and the characters are highly unlikeable. If this is what covid is giving us, the viewers, give me a library of books to fill my television time.
12 out of 27 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
wow who knew a comedy make me cry.
andreaandrada10 October 2020
As soon as the nurse showed. I started to cry. All the emotion of working through the summer came pouring out. Great show. Laughing and crying. Wish I had friends to face time with.
21 out of 37 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
A decent attempt to apply the sitcom format to screenlife
IonicBreezeMachine9 October 2020
Connecting is an unusual show in that it's format hasn't really been used for comedy before. For those familiar with the emerging "screenlife" in films such as Searching or the Unfriended series produced Timur Bekmambetov, indie film The Den, and Nacho Vigalondo's Open Windows, you;ll notice this format is typically utilized for horror/thriller films. The attempt at using the storytelling framework for a sitcom is respectable, but it doesn't lend itself to humor as well as other formats and still needs some adjustment.

In terms of the characters, I think they're all likable and played by charismatic actors who have good chemistry with each other. In terms of the overall format I'm skeptical as to whether or not it's capable of maintaining it's premise for 13 episodes and beyond, but the show how a decent enough pilot that I am willing to stick with it for a few more episodes to see where it goes.
9 out of 17 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Please Make It Stop
shawnpeek16 October 2020
I stumbled upon this, and couldn't stumble away fast enough. Gawd. It is awful. It's like watching a community college acting exercise over a Zoom meeting, it's only enjoyed by the people participating.
10 out of 23 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
AWESOME
johnnierushing-243299 October 2020
I just love it. It's new, refreshing,honest. It shows its ok to laugh even in these times of turmoil. I would love to see this take off like a shot. We need funny right now.
18 out of 33 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Original, but
AsianTalentHollywood9 October 2020
This is original and it's "nice" finding humor in all the chaos of 2020. That said, the humor is on and off and the refreshing aspect of this show is unlikely to last after COVID.
11 out of 22 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Why?
sbill-9987930 October 2020
It's less entertaining than my girlfriend's Zoom work meetings. I was wondering how many 2020 cliches they could fit in the first 10 minutes. I thought someone would be filming a Tik Tok in the background.
5 out of 15 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
This is thrown together, bad TV at it's finest
dmarquart-7145621 October 2020
Poor acting all in an effort to make the characters feel like our friends. Like we are "going through this together" when in reality it's the equivalent of watching the news you DVRed from six months ago. You know how the story plays out from a societal perspective and they've done nothing to make you feel connected to the characters so you want to see how they handle it.
4 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Stupid!
saddieprettylady16 October 2020
The single most stupid show I've ever seen! I just watched an episode and realized I had a cringed look on my face the whole time! Ben is hot and the only decent actor. I like the concept of an online format, but the characters are over the top and ridiculous! Not at all enjoyable.
5 out of 17 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Not New
jupton-962449 October 2020
There is a short series in Australia called Retrograde that ran earlier this year. Retrograde seemed a little fresher, maybe because it was first.
5 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Terrible Idea during these times.
GD_Marq28 October 2020
So someone came up with the idea that we would also like to watch our television shows with this concept. It's bad enough that I have to communicate with work by zoom or have school classes the same way. Nobody wants to be reminded what reality is. We want to escape and hope that things will get better. Not to mention that this is so low budget. Nice try! I watched 3 episodes because I wanted to be fair. The writing has to be incredible if there are no visuals to distract the viewer. So writing falls short... way short. I'd be surprised if the network finished airing the rest of the episodes.
4 out of 13 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Hilariously Refreshing!
Saying02 November 2020
Favorite TV show at present. The cast is a perfect group of excellent actors. The show has a theater vibe, watchng actors enter on stage only they are on a computer screen. That form feels grounded, human, real entertainment. I've watched twice so far. I hope the show lasts forever.
5 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Seriously?
rds_email7 November 2020
Why cannot there be a zero rating? Drech, pure drech!
1 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Good Show
aliyahrocks3 November 2020
Interesting take on the 2020 pandemic. This show isn't that bad. It's cute and funny.
5 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
How did this get approved ?
Xavier_Stone7 November 2020
I'm guessing the conversation went something like this. Brendan Gall : I'd like to propose a new tv show NBC Exec : Hmmm it's not a good time for comedy shows right now BG: We could do a comedy about zoom calls, and people won't even have to be in the same room Exec: Sounds lame. I hate zoom calls. BG: But EVERYONE is doing zoom calls. It's relatable. Plus I can add online shopping and Black Lives Matter in Eps 5. It's so organic. Exec: I don't know... BG: It'll only cost you $1,400/episode as all the actors are out of work extras in their own homes and there are no sets and I can edit it myself. Exec: SOLD !!
1 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Unwatchable
aryndar-622-4375030 October 2020
Ugh, just stop. Show just is horrible... Characters are cookie cutter, no imagination on dialog.
1 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Wanted to like this but no...
km-8528017 November 2020
I kind of knew what I was getting into once I watched the first episode. I wanted to like it but no I just can't it's just way too in your face far left wing nonsense sure there's a lot of people who feel the way these characters feel but there's a lot of us who don't. Find a way to through every current event out there as a major issue to draw in the crowd you are playing too. When a character stated one of the reasons they wanted to move to Portugal was because RBG died.....turned it off deleted season pass...was the last straw of a lot of propoganda.
0 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Absolutely fine show
tvdirekt17 November 2020
Laughing here and there and generally well done show, considering how it is being filmed (screens only)
2 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Funny
cdowdell-6741819 November 2020
I appreciate the show and how it takes on a different approach to this year. I laughed and cried. It is important to stay in touch with your friends and family. This show how we can get through this together.
2 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
An error has occured. Please try again.

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed