This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on March 15, 2015.
Could we BE any more excited?
Chandler Bing, also known as Matthew Perry, is back on TV.
The actor has been part of many failed TV shows since “Friends” ended in 2004, but “The Odd Couple,” a new winter TV show airing on CBS, has a good chance of making it past season 1.
It helps that it’s a funny show.
Moments of the first two episodes made me laugh out loud, which is a major success for the show. And Perry’s comedic timing is excellent.
That doesn’t mean it’s a groundbreaking show, but “The Odd Couple” is based on the 1960s play of the same name, so you can’t expect it to stretch the boundaries of plotlines.
The comedy also stars Thomas Lennon of “Reno 911!” fame. Fun facts: Perry and Lennon were both in “17 Again,” and Lennon guest-starred on an episode of “Friends.”
Dave Foley, Lindsay Sloane, Yvette Nicole Brown and Leslie Bibb have also made appearances in the first two episodes.
Do I think “The Odd Couple” is the best comedy I’ve ever seen? No. But it’s definitely an improvement over some of the new shows of the 2014-15 season.
Now, for those of you desperate to see Chandler again, you’re out of luck.
But that’s part of the fun of the show.
Perry’s character, Oscar Madison, isn’t the nicest guy. He’s messy, uncaring and, at times, mean. He’s critical of his new roommate, Felix Unger (Lennon), who’s just trying to figure out his life after his wife leaves him.
“Lovable” is not a word to describe Oscar. But “growing” might be. A major point of the show’s makeup is Oscar and Felix’s friendship, which survives many disagreements. It’s obvious that both characters will grow during the show’s run.
And if you’ve ever had a roommate or lived in a dorm, you’ll probably find some of Oscar and Felix’s spats relatable.
I’ll admit I haven’t seen the play, so I’m not sure if/when the show will surpass the play’s resolution.
But I am sure that I’ll keep watching “The Odd Couple,” even if I’m not watching an older version of Chandler Bing on TV.
“The Odd Couple” airs at 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, following “The Big Bang Theory.”