Miss/Guided (1.6 & 1.7)

Thursday, April 3, 2008 @ 8pm

Miss/Guided – Season 1, Episode 6 – “High School Musical”

A short-sighted Bruce (Chris Parnell) assigns Becky (Judy Greer), who is the least creative faculty member on campus, to direct the school's high school musical.

Miss/Guided – Season 1, Episode 7 – “Frenemies”

Unaware that Becky has eyes for Tim (Kristoffer Polaha), Lisa (Brooke Burns) confides in Becky that her divorce is final and seeks her advice about dating. Meanwhile, Becky intervenes in an unconventional manner when Bruce fives a rebellious student (guest starring Rumer Willis as Shawna) six months' detention for pulling the fire alarm.

Get her, Ray! (ABC)

Marmot: If this show doesn't come back, I'll be sad.

Manatee: Me too. I'm not really sure I liked the 2nd of last night's episodes as a season finale... not sure if that was part strike related or just mid season scheduling. I could use some more Miss Guided!

Marmot: It was a little odd. The musical episode would have been a better season finale. I think this is a great show for ABC, and television could definitely use more quality comedies.

Manatee: All next season's comedies will be BBC remakes, so I like the idea of ABC having as trong original comedy with a FANTASTIC lead actress.

Marmot: She is that indeed. Since we obviously yield power over the television (we did destroy The Return of Jezebel James), shall we formally invite ABC to bring Miss/Guided back in the fall, with a full 22 episode order?

Manatee: Yes.

Miss/Guided 1.4 & 1.5

Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 8pm

Miss/Guided, Season 1, Episode 4 - "Rebel Yell" & Episode 5 - "Pool Party"

ABC

She's doing exactly what it looks like she's doing. (ABC)

Marmot: I like Miss/Guided

Manatee: I really Like Miss/Guided

Marmot: It's a pretty good show. A little cutesy, but it has a lot of charm. And it's funny.

Manatee: The characters are really growing on me except maybe Brooke Burns, she annoys me a bit. Judy Greer is awesome!

Marmot: She is a little one-dimensional. Although I think it's hilarious that she's an English teacher and her last name is Germain. And Judy Greer is awesome. I could watch a whole series based on her Arrested Development character.

Manatee: I was just thinking that! That was a great role. Perhaps Fox should think "spin-off." I loved the Breakfast Club scene. that brings the retro feel to the show again. I'm sure some of the younger audience members don't remember that movie, but I was so excited the sec it started!

Marmot: It took me a second before I caught the reference, since I haven't seen that movie in years. I think this is probably the best of the mid-seasons.

Manatee: I would agree with that. It's too bad they are burning the episodes up with back to back airings. I think next week is the last week.

Marmot: That's a shame. I really hope they bring it back. It would be a good partner to Samantha Who?

Manatee: That would be a nice pairing. It's hard to find decent comedies. I find the multi-camera sitcom to be too silly and over the top for my tastes.

Marmot: I would like to see ABC have a decent comedy night, like NBC, CBS and FOX do. Even though FOX's are all animated. Maybe those 2 with Pushing Daisies on Wednesday? Although rumor has it that Pushing Daisies is going darker next season.

Miss/Guided (1.2 & 1.3)

Thursday, March 20th, 2008 at 8 & 8:30 PM

ABC

Miss/Guided, Season 1 - Episode #2- "Hot Sub" & Episode #3 - "The List"

ABC

Marmot: I'll be the man who will fight for your honor, I'll be the hero that you're dreaming of... Best reuse of a cheesy 80s song goes to Miss/Guided. Sorry – TWO cheesy 80s songs!

Manatee: And cheesy 80s/Forever 21 clothing!

Marmot: That's one thing I love about this show: retro feel with a modern sensibility.

Manatee: I find myself wanting to hate this show, but I can't. I thought that the Ashton Kutcher guest role would be a cheap way of getting the audience to tune in, but I actually liked him on the show (though it was a way to draw the audience). He was pretty fun. The show overall is very delightful.

Marmot: I thought his performance was great. The character was nothing I haven't seen before, but that's pretty much all of them. Chris Parnell is growing on me a little, though.

Manatee: I was going to ask you that. I felt better about him this week too. But I could have done without the back to back Spears. First you get the terrible Jamie Lynn Spears (she's almost too "celebrity" now for that kind of role) and then the remake of the infamous Britney crotch shot.

Marmot: It's funny you say that about Jamie Lynn Spears, because I didn't know who she was. Until the credits. The shows definitely pulls a lot of inspiration from pop culture. But then some of the jokes feel really dated. I guess that's part of the Retro sensibility.

Manatee: I guess I read too many gossip rags, so I know who JL Spears is! And you're right, I did notice a lot of pop culture reference, like who gets plastic surgery in high school! I guess at least they didn't when I was a young manatee. Nor did they have blogs about HS gossip!

Marmot: But they did make reference to a slam book, which is funny because I had never heard of one before I saw Mean Girls. People were generally nice at East Marmot High.

Manatee: I still don't know what a Slam Book is! But I do love Gossip Girl, so I know all about the blogosphere, if you will. Rich Manhattan teens getting drunk and horning and having it posted on the WWW.

Marmot: Where is here school supposed to be? I know it says Glen Ellen, but that could be anywhere, including Encino, where it's shot.

Manatee: I'm going say it has to be in Cali. Who else would let their 16 year old daughter get plastic surgery?!

Marmot: Did she get plastic surgery? I wasn't clear on that. I thought she may have actually had something like a deviated septum that was operated on.

Manatee: That's possible. I thought maybe I missed it. But Chris Parnell sure had a laugh out of it! Perhaps it was just a routine nose operation.

Marmot: I feel like Chris Parnell gets a laugh out of a lot.

Manatee: Including his little butler and then the "non-gay" Village People photos!

Marmot: The only thing I worry about is where the show is going. Or where it could go. I feel like they've almost written themselves into a corner.

Manatee: Perhaps that is why they are burning up all the episodes - they have it on back to back each Thursday till April.

Miss/Guided (1.1)

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 at 10:30 PM

ABC

Miss/Guided, Season 1 - Pilot

ABC

Manatee: Miss Guided... Your thoughts Marmot?

Marmot: I thought it was funny. Judy Greer is amazing in everything she does, so it's not surprising. The supporting cast is so-so.

Manatee: I'm a big fan of Chris Parnell too (SNL). He was funny on the show, but I thought under used

Marmot: Chris Parnell is always a little over the top for me. If he dialed it back about 10%, he'd be much better.

Manatee: At first I was a little nervous about Judy Greer. The character seemed a little too silly for me. I found myself asking, "Does she even have a degree to be doing this?" She was dancing and over the top, but I liked it by the end. She was cute, and endearing, basically everything that Tim said she was.

Marmot: I'm curious to see where it goes. There was a lot going on in this first episode, so I'm not really sure how everything is going to pan out. Like the Brooke Burns character. Overall, I thought it was pretty well written, except for one thing.

Manatee: What was that?

Marmot: The interviews. I don't get what they're supposed to be. On The Office, they're motivated; there's a documentary crew there with them. But these aren't clear. Why are they talking into the camera? Who are they talking to? Do the extras notice?

Manatee: I was not a fan of that either. If it was only the main character, I'd get it, but almost all the characters had a little speech. Show don't tell.

Marmot: This is the exact opposite of that. It's just a gimmick, and it's not one used to great effect here. I'm curious to see if they're going to phase it out.

Manatee: I was thinking that. Maybe it was a pilot thing, and they will get rid of it in the next few weeks.

Marmot: Or tomorrow… when they air 2 more.

Manatee: All the networks seem to be burning up their mid Season episodes. I liked the actor you played Tim (Kristoffer Polaha) - reminds me of Mark Ruffalo.

Marmot: Like a middle-class man's Mark Ruffalo.

Manatee: What did you think of that quick cut to the Spanish speaking janitor?!

Marmot: The funniest shot of the whole show. That was probably the funniest moment. That and the kid asking to touch her boob in the bushes.