Inside Television with Alan Sepinwall

'Perfect Couples' - 'Perfect Tens': Don't let the bedbugs bite!

What did everybody think of the sitcom's sneak preview?

By Alan Sepinwall Tuesday, Dec 21, 2010 7:00 AM

Hayes MacArthur, Olivia Munn and David Walton on "Perfect Couples."

Credit: NBC

A quick thought or three on the sneak preview of "Perfect Couples" coming up just as soon as I sit here and rhyme things with "labia"...

The risk in writing a review of a show without having seen the episode that's going to air that night, even if you've seen later ones, is that the first one could be significantly better or worse than the ones you've seen, and then your opinion seems out of whack with what everyone else is seeing.

"Perfect Tens" wasn't wildly divergent from the series pilot and the other episode NBC sent out for review(*), but it was clearly the weakest of the three I've seen. It's an uneven show, and "Perfect Tens" seemed to feature more of the parts that don't work than the parts that do. (In particular, there wasn't nearly enough Mary Elizabeth Ellis in this one compared to the other two.) I laughed out loud several times at the other two, not at all at this one.

(*) Though, again, in a sign of how rushed this whole process was, the DVDs that were sent out late last week featured Kings of Leon's "Taper Jean Girl" as the theme song, whereas the finished product had what I believe was a brand-new song by A.C. Newman.

But what did you guys think? And based on this preview - and/or its position in a timeslot after "Community" (and where the only other comedy competition is "Feces My Dad Says") - do you plan to watch again when it comes back on January 20?

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Alan Sepinwall
Sr. Editor, What's Alan Watching

Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com

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Pennywise

I actually didn't think it was too bad- wonder if that's a factor of not having seen the other two eps. Although I think I might just have been laughing because the whole Italian accent/vespa/ciao bit reminded me of Eddie Izzard. Either way I'll have no problem leaving the tv on NBC until 10:30 on Thursdays
December 21, 2010 at 8:13AM EST Reply to Comment
Razorback

It was better than I expected. And after reading about how awful Munn would be, I guess my expectations were low because I enjoyed her character (though, she had the least to do). I will be checking out more episodes.
December 21, 2010 at 8:17AM EST Reply to Comment
K

I won't turn it off, but I don't think I'm going out of my way to watch it. I was pleasantly surprised by Munn, who usually can't get out of her Attack of the Show-style yelling at the camera.
December 21, 2010 at 8:30AM EST Reply to Comment
NYOBSERVER

Will definitely watch. Good acting, smart writing and plenty of material to mine. I think it will fit right in on Thursday which will again be an oasis (looking forward to Parks & Recreation being back too) in the wasteland. Don't think advertisers really want the audience that prefers a warmed over American Idol and its predictability (and now completely revolting mosh pit of a judging panel)
December 21, 2010 at 8:37AM EST Reply to Comment
Baroness

This show is garbage. All of the Z-list male leads are desperately unattractive (Captain Huge Forehead, Lieutenant Pig Mask, and Commander Schlub reporting for duty!) and the writing is completely stale and pitiful. The music stings between scenes are straight out of 1992. Olivia Munn cannot act her way out of a paper bag; she defaults to her blank-eyed half sneer whenever someone else is talking, then realizes that it's her turn to act and blurts out her lines. It won't last the season, and anyone who enjoys crap like this is complicit in the dumbing down of America. Keep eating Cheetos and shopping at Wal-Mart, folks!
December 21, 2010 at 8:59AM EST Reply to Comment
- You're trying entirely too hard to insult entirely too many people in a small amount of space for no discernible reason.
  December 21, 2010 at 9:06AM EST
- Bryan Wow - sounds like somebody's still upset at Olivia for leaving Attack of the Show. Simmer down B - ha
  December 21, 2010 at 9:58AM EST
- echos myron Baroness is a great band.
  December 21, 2010 at 10:48AM EST
- Wow. Rips into all of the guys on show; personally rips into Munn; and then goes right on along and rips Americans, who I'm going to assume includes the first four post above her's. Ouch. Keep it real though Baroness. I can't wait for your future comments on a show you obviously can't stand. Cheers!
  December 21, 2010 at 10:52AM EST
- Joseph Why you hatin' on Cheetos?
  December 21, 2010 at 2:33PM EST
- Eldritch Baroness is right. The show is awful. This episode was so dull and lackluster that I couldn't watch past the half way point. And Munn's performance was awful. The tone of her performance was out of sync with the rest of the cast.
  December 21, 2010 at 4:43PM EST
Paul

I didn't check it out because it looked like a pretty bland formula. Other than Munn's Asian heritage, it's a bunch of white, straight folks. Yawn.
December 21, 2010 at 9:32AM EST Reply to Comment
- Bobo That's kind of racist.
  December 22, 2010 at 9:09PM EST
Dean Winchester

Alan, nice call on AC Newman! I had thought maybe it was a New Porno song I hadn't heard before.

December 21, 2010 at 9:44AM EST Reply to Comment
- echos myron A.C. Newman, along with singing for the New Pornographers, has two solo albums out, and previously sang for Zumpano and Superconductor. He's been active in the Canadian music scene for almost 20 years. You really should check out Dan Bejar's band Destroyer, too.
  December 21, 2010 at 10:51AM EST
Jon88

Meh. A couple of moments, nothing more. Munn did seem to be able to play a human being (except in the bar scene, but then, since all she had to work with there was non-human-joke-machine material, I don't blame her).
December 21, 2010 at 9:46AM EST Reply to Comment
I'm pleasantly surprised by your opinion of this one as "clearly the weakest" of the three eps you've seen. It wasn't groundbreaking and its not on the level of Community, 30 Rock or even still The Office, in my opinion, but I liked Prefect Couples much better than Outsourced, which I gave up on long ago, and will have no problem having Thursdays be the only night my TV stays tuned to the Peacock. At least, as Pennywise pointed out, until 10:30.
December 21, 2010 at 9:57AM EST Reply to Comment
Bryan

I was very pleasantly surprised. Munn wasn't great but the problem I had with her had more to do with her character than her. I mean nobody would be able to deliver that God awful I don't go number 2 line.

I'll most likely watch it just because of the time slot - don't know that I'd add another sitcom night for it
December 21, 2010 at 10:03AM EST Reply to Comment
Ricardo

I actually thought it was pretty good. Not Community good or Parks and Recreation good, but still pretty good.
December 21, 2010 at 10:04AM EST Reply to Comment
It was okay. Not good, not great, just okay. Not so bad that I won't give it another shot, but not so good that I'll set my DVR.
December 21, 2010 at 10:18AM EST Reply to Comment
Col Bat Guano

I'll watch it because of the time slot, but if it was swapped with 30 Rock, I wouldn't bother with it. Nothing terrible, but nothing outstanding either. Being better than Outsourced is hardly a high bar to clear.
December 21, 2010 at 10:42AM EST Reply to Comment
Dan

It was BTE - better than expected. The cast is too white and too similar, but I actually laughed three or four times, particularly at the dude who looks like James Franco
December 21, 2010 at 11:20AM EST Reply to Comment
DonBoy

I just thought I'd admit that I once pushed a doomed relationship completely off the cliff with, essentially, "Wow, you sure were pretty." Also I liked the response to "There's diet [soda], you know" -- the guy sort of putting-down-the-soda-no-pick-it-up-no-should-I-say-something-ah-hell.

I would never have recognized that woman from FlashForward at all if I hadn't known. Funnily, after being reassured that you don't need any knowledge of the characters (at least for the ones that Alan had seen), I did keep wondering what job she has that makes her need to be a "10" all day. Does she work at that college, fundraising, maybe?
December 21, 2010 at 11:29AM EST Reply to Comment
texgecko

I enjoyed it and would keep watching. LOVE Mary Elizabeth!
December 21, 2010 at 11:41AM EST Reply to Comment
Liz

I just don't think these characters are very likeable. To me, the best comedies have some heart, although the characters may do some goofball things, we still have reasons to care about them. Here, the show had its moments but I really thought the characters were lacking warmth.
December 21, 2010 at 11:49AM EST Reply to Comment
LJA

It was fairly entertaining, there were some decent lines, and I'll definitely watch again. Damn, it's getting a pimp spot on the schedule, at least for a Community addict like me!
December 21, 2010 at 12:14PM EST Reply to Comment
Greta Luisa

Well if this was the worst episode then I am definitely looking forward to future installments! I laughed out loud quite a bit :)
December 21, 2010 at 12:55PM EST Reply to Comment
sepinwall

Ratings were awful:

http://www.hitfix.com/articles/tv-ratings-sing-off-finale-pushes-nbc-to-a-monday-split

Looks like the benefits of The Sing-Off lead-in were outweighed by the minimal promotion they could give it once they rushed it onto the air.
December 21, 2010 at 1:12PM EST Reply to Comment
- Interesting. Any idea how many eps. they've already shot or ordered Alan?
  December 21, 2010 at 2:14PM EST
- Joseph Yeah, I didn't even know it was airing already until I read your post yesterday, then I promptly forgot about it.
  December 21, 2010 at 2:35PM EST
- belinda It's really odd they premiered the show days before christmas. I thought this show would premiere in january along with returning shows, and promptly missed it.
  December 25, 2010 at 5:03AM EST
r1pvanw1nkl3

I didn't hate it. If I don't find anything else to watch at 10:30 I'll probably end up watching this.

I laughed out loud once, at the Vespa thing.
December 21, 2010 at 1:57PM EST Reply to Comment
- Ed W I'm fairly sure it will be on at 8:30 eastern when it returns. In the slot currently occupied by 30 Rock.
  December 21, 2010 at 3:13PM EST
- r1pvanw1nkl3 Yes, of course, I knew that. Brainfart.
  
  But yeah, nothing else that I will want to watch will be on at 8:30 so I suppose it's this or nothing.
  December 21, 2010 at 6:01PM EST
Zoe

This episode was terrible. The writing was mostly awful, or maybe the acting and the timing, but only three of the actors - the couple with the chick from flash forward and the blond chick - were any good. When I think about how good and fully developed the first episodes of Community and Modern Family were I find it hard to believe this even aired.
December 21, 2010 at 4:46PM EST Reply to Comment
The one time I'm happy Community has bad ratings so that it as a lead-in can kill this show.
December 21, 2010 at 11:54PM EST Reply to Comment
The Noble Robot

The show was fine. It's like Friends, I guess (although I never watched Friends).

Until a few days ago I thought Munn left ATOS only for the Daily Show, so I checked the preview to she if she was any good. I don't think she was terrible, but maybe that's because I've seen her when she's being herself, and she really acts (pun!) that way. I hope she uses her moment of mainsteam attention wisely and doesn't end up doing auto shows in 2012.

Really, I'm just updset that they didn't give Munn's old job to Alison Haislip.
December 22, 2010 at 5:36AM EST Reply to Comment
I might be the only one who has this objection, but the entire premise of the A-plot episode was just dumb. I like women in sweatpants and T-shirts. Causal is sexy. If they are going to be naked shortly, why would their clothes matter?
December 22, 2010 at 8:05AM EST Reply to Comment
erika_herzog

Write a comment...
December 23, 2010 at 12:08AM EST Reply to Comment
erika_herzog

Ugh, it was TERRIBLE. A waste of what little talent there was in the acting abilities, the casting just seemed really off and there was a shocking lack of chemistry.

I am all for a nice enjoyable 30 minute show but it needs to be more enjoyable, with characters I care about.
December 23, 2010 at 12:10AM EST Reply to Comment

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'Perfect Couples' - 'Perfect Tens': Don't let the bedbugs bite!

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Comments

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Razorback It was better than I expected. And after reading about how awful Munn would be, I guess my expectations were low because I enjoyed her character (though, she had the least to do). I will be checking out more episodes.

K I won't turn it off, but I don't think I'm going out of my way to watch it. I was pleasantly surprised by Munn, who usually can't get out of her Attack of the Show-style yelling at the camera.

You're trying entirely too hard to insult entirely too many people in a small amount of space for no discernible reason.

Bryan Wow - sounds like somebody's still upset at Olivia for leaving Attack of the Show. Simmer down B - ha

echos myron Baroness is a great band.

Joseph Why you hatin' on Cheetos?

Eldritch Baroness is right. The show is awful. This episode was so dull and lackluster that I couldn't watch past the half way point. And Munn's performance was awful. The tone of her performance was out of sync with the rest of the cast.

Paul I didn't check it out because it looked like a pretty bland formula. Other than Munn's Asian heritage, it's a bunch of white, straight folks. Yawn.

Bobo That's kind of racist.

Dean Winchester Alan, nice call on AC Newman! I had thought maybe it was a New Porno song I hadn't heard before.

echos myron A.C. Newman, along with singing for the New Pornographers, has two solo albums out, and previously sang for Zumpano and Superconductor. He's been active in the Canadian music scene for almost 20 years. You really should check out Dan Bejar's band Destroyer, too.

Jon88 Meh. A couple of moments, nothing more. Munn did seem to be able to play a human being (except in the bar scene, but then, since all she had to work with there was non-human-joke-machine material, I don't blame her).

Ricardo I actually thought it was pretty good. Not Community good or Parks and Recreation good, but still pretty good.

It was okay. Not good, not great, just okay. Not so bad that I won't give it another shot, but not so good that I'll set my DVR.

Col Bat Guano I'll watch it because of the time slot, but if it was swapped with 30 Rock, I wouldn't bother with it. Nothing terrible, but nothing outstanding either. Being better than Outsourced is hardly a high bar to clear.

Dan It was BTE - better than expected. The cast is too white and too similar, but I actually laughed three or four times, particularly at the dude who looks like James Franco

texgecko I enjoyed it and would keep watching. LOVE Mary Elizabeth!

Liz I just don't think these characters are very likeable. To me, the best comedies have some heart, although the characters may do some goofball things, we still have reasons to care about them. Here, the show had its moments but I really thought the characters were lacking warmth.

LJA It was fairly entertaining, there were some decent lines, and I'll definitely watch again. Damn, it's getting a pimp spot on the schedule, at least for a Community addict like me!

Greta Luisa Well if this was the worst episode then I am definitely looking forward to future installments! I laughed out loud quite a bit :)

sepinwall Ratings were awful: http://www.hitfix.com/articles/tv-ratings-sing-off-finale-pushes-nbc-to-a-monday-splitLooks like the benefits of The Sing-Off lead-in were outweighed by the minimal promotion they could give it once they rushed it onto the air.

Interesting. Any idea how many eps. they've already shot or ordered Alan?

Joseph Yeah, I didn't even know it was airing already until I read your post yesterday, then I promptly forgot about it.

belinda It's really odd they premiered the show days before christmas. I thought this show would premiere in january along with returning shows, and promptly missed it.

r1pvanw1nkl3 I didn't hate it. If I don't find anything else to watch at 10:30 I'll probably end up watching this.I laughed out loud once, at the Vespa thing.

Ed W I'm fairly sure it will be on at 8:30 eastern when it returns. In the slot currently occupied by 30 Rock.

r1pvanw1nkl3 Yes, of course, I knew that. Brainfart.But yeah, nothing else that I will want to watch will be on at 8:30 so I suppose it's this or nothing.

The one time I'm happy Community has bad ratings so that it as a lead-in can kill this show.

I might be the only one who has this objection, but the entire premise of the A-plot episode was just dumb. I like women in sweatpants and T-shirts. Causal is sexy. If they are going to be naked shortly, why would their clothes matter?

erika_herzog Write a comment...

erika_herzog Ugh, it was TERRIBLE. A waste of what little talent there was in the acting abilities, the casting just seemed really off and there was a shocking lack of chemistry. I am all for a nice enjoyable 30 minute show but it needs to be more enjoyable, with characters I care about.

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Razorback

It was better than I expected. And after reading about how awful Munn would be, I guess my expectations were low because I enjoyed her character (though, she had the least to do). I will be checking out more episodes.

K

I won't turn it off, but I don't think I'm going out of my way to watch it. I was pleasantly surprised by Munn, who usually can't get out of her Attack of the Show-style yelling at the camera.

Paul

I didn't check it out because it looked like a pretty bland formula. Other than Munn's Asian heritage, it's a bunch of white, straight folks. Yawn.

Dean Winchester

Alan, nice call on AC Newman! I had thought maybe it was a New Porno song I hadn't heard before.

Jon88

Meh. A couple of moments, nothing more. Munn did seem to be able to play a human being (except in the bar scene, but then, since all she had to work with there was non-human-joke-machine material, I don't blame her).

Ricardo

I actually thought it was pretty good. Not Community good or Parks and Recreation good, but still pretty good.

Col Bat Guano

I'll watch it because of the time slot, but if it was swapped with 30 Rock, I wouldn't bother with it. Nothing terrible, but nothing outstanding either. Being better than Outsourced is hardly a high bar to clear.

Dan

It was BTE - better than expected. The cast is too white and too similar, but I actually laughed three or four times, particularly at the dude who looks like James Franco

texgecko

I enjoyed it and would keep watching. LOVE Mary Elizabeth!

Liz

I just don't think these characters are very likeable. To me, the best comedies have some heart, although the characters may do some goofball things, we still have reasons to care about them. Here, the show had its moments but I really thought the characters were lacking warmth.

LJA

It was fairly entertaining, there were some decent lines, and I'll definitely watch again. Damn, it's getting a pimp spot on the schedule, at least for a Community addict like me!

Greta Luisa

Well if this was the worst episode then I am definitely looking forward to future installments! I laughed out loud quite a bit :)

sepinwall

Ratings were awful:

http://www.hitfix.com/articles/tv-ratings-sing-off-finale-pushes-nbc-to-a-monday-split

Looks like the benefits of The Sing-Off lead-in were outweighed by the minimal promotion they could give it once they rushed it onto the air.

r1pvanw1nkl3

I didn't hate it. If I don't find anything else to watch at 10:30 I'll probably end up watching this.

I laughed out loud once, at the Vespa thing.

r1pvanw1nkl3 Yes, of course, I knew that. Brainfart.

But yeah, nothing else that I will want to watch will be on at 8:30 so I suppose it's this or nothing.

erika_herzog

Write a comment...

erika_herzog

Ugh, it was TERRIBLE. A waste of what little talent there was in the acting abilities, the casting just seemed really off and there was a shocking lack of chemistry.

I am all for a nice enjoyable 30 minute show but it needs to be more enjoyable, with characters I care about.

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