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New Parents, New Show
Up All Night (http://www.nbc.com/up-all-night) mixes a dream-team cast with a promising premise for a refreshing new series. Will it survive its stars' history of low-rated, quickly-canceled shows?
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The Set-Up
Ambitious new mom Reagan (Christina Applegate) is returning to her high-pressure job as the producer of a talk show hosted by her sassy and eccentric friend Ava (Maya Rudolph), while her husband Chris (Will Arnett) takes on the role of stay-at-home dad while attempting to maintain his own sanity. I know it sounds like you've seen shows like this before, but it's worth watching.
We're Doing A Cleanse!
On her first day back at work, things are running less than smoothly. Ava, who constantly shifts from commanding to psychotic, swings from near-catatonic cake-eating sessions in her office to ordering her entire staff to do a hip new cleanse. (This does not end well.) Rudolph and Applegate are hilarious together: I get why they restructured the show to emphasize Ava more.
Stay-at-Home Lad
Meanwhile, Chris seems bent on raising baby Amy on hockey and video games. He's befriended another stay-at-home "dad" (I have my suspicions about that gender designation) at the park, and he's accidentally buying fancy cheeses at the grocery store. But minor gaffes aside, the so-far-lovable Chris seems to have avoided major disasters.
Hitting the Town
When Reagan and Chris's anniversary plans get derailed by unpleasant side effects of Ava's cleanse, the bickering couple (later joined by Ava) decide to go out drinking, karaoke-ing, drinking, dancing and drinking. Seeing Arnett, Applegate and Rudolph play off each other in these scenes is incredible: I could watch 30 minutes of just THIS!
Positive First Impression
Thank goodness comedy powerhouses Rudolph and Applegate have such brash, witty, and goofy roles: anyone else might have brought a whole mess of working-mom clichés to the table. Childish but well-meaning Chris is a refreshing change from Will Arnett's typically pompous (but hilarious) characters. Thanks, NBC! We love loving Will Arnett!
Was it a good idea to expand Maya Rudolph's role on the show after Bridesmaids became such a hit? Or should the show focus on Reagan and Chris at home? And what's with this new "dad" Chris is making friends with?
At Home #1:
"You know what? We should probably cool it on the cussing."
-Reagan realizes that swearing while describing her new baby may not be a great idea
At Home #2:
"Babe, worry, I can't totally do this."
-Chris makes a Freudian slip while telling Reagan to relax and go to work.
At Home #3:
"Yeah, because raising a human is no work at all."
-Chris, when Reagan complains that at least he doesn't have to work all day
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