Review: Rob Schneider in CBS' terrible 'Rob'
'SNL' alum marries into a Mexican-American family in lame new sitcom
On "Rob," Rob Schneider and new wife Claudia Bassols talk to his new father-in-law Cheech Marin.
Credit: CBS
Of his generation of "SNL" stars, Rob Schneider's post-show career has certainly been helped by being friends with the others. (In particular, Adam Sander, who has produced most of Schenider's movies.) But there's also a complete lack of shame - a willingness to try any concept, no matter how dumb(*), and to make himself look as ridiculous as possible in doing it - that's helped him get jobs that actors with more self-consciousness might have passed on.
(*) Schneider was victim of one of the more devastating "South Park" career assessments ever, in an episode where the boys kept seeing trailers for terrible-looking Schneider movies where he turned into a stapler, a carrot and, eventually, Kenny. One of the last trailers abandoned any pretense of intelligence and had a gibberish narration, including the title "Da Derp Dee Derp Da Teetley Derpee Derpee Dumb."
And while Schneider has to participate in a few mortifying moments on his new CBS sitcom "Rob" (tonight at 8:30 p.m.) - notably a scene where he's involved in consecutive misunderstandings involving shrine desecration, masturbation and rape - for the most part it's a less ridiculous vehicle for him than most.
It's not good, mind you. If anything, it suggests Schneider is probably better off playing an animal, a teenage girl, or a stapler.
Schneider plays Rob, newly-married to the much younger and more attractive Maggie (Claudia Bassols) after a whirlwind courtship. Where Rob barely sees his own family at all, Maggie is part of a large, close-knit Mexican-American clan, headed by her father Fernando (Cheech Marin) and mother Rosa (Diana Maria Riva), who are none too pleased to meet the clown who married their daughter without telling them first.
Essentially, it's every sitcom you've ever seen about an annoying, schlubby guy inexplicably married to an understanding hot chick(**), mixed with a bunch of clumsy, borderline-offensive jokes about Rob's misunderstanding of his in-laws' culture.
(**) Not to be confused with "The Hot Chick," where Schneider swapped bodies with a then-unknown Rachel McAdams. In hindsight, they'd probably center that movie more around her.
When Rob meets a few dozen members of Maggie's family at the same time, he awkwardly breaks the ice by joking, "Now I know what's going on during all those siestas, huh?" When that bombs, he more sincerely suggests, "This is a big family because you're all Catholic, right?" And by the time Maggie has pulled him away for his own good, he's complaining that the number of people makes him "feel like I'm at a Julio Iglesias concert."
The writing for the in-law characters is a bit more shaded, at least. Fernando is an immigrant himself but is in favor of erecting a wall along the border, while at the same time happily admits that most of the workers at his car wash chain are undocumented. ("Between a hundred of them, I think they have three Social Security numbers.") And Rosa's objection to Rob has much less to do with him being a gringo than with him being, well, Rob Schneider - and also with the aforementioned desecration/masturbation/rape trifecta.
Outside of that sequence - which at least gets points for going for it and being memorable, even if I wanted to bleach my eyeballs by the end of it(***) - "Rob" the show and Rob the character make very little impression. There are a few jokes early on about Rob suffering from OCD, for instance, but nothing ever comes of it, and Schneider is mainly asked to look nervous and confused around Maggie's family.
(***) A better-structured show could actually go to town on a sequence like that - Larry David has often been involved in situations about as disgusting as that on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" - but on a show this simple and hacky, it's just cringe-inducing without the funny.
The one actor who stands out at least a little is the Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez as Maggie's Uncle Hector, a shady, weird moocher who immediately decides that he will be Rob's new best friend - provided Rob gives him $7200 first. It's a very broad, clichéd character, but Derbez has fun with it and has excellent comic timing. As I said earlier this week about Lauren Lapkus on NBC's otherwise-terrible "Are You There, Chelsea?," he's good enough here that I'd like to see him on a show with better material.
And that's the shame of "Rob," in a way. Primetime television needs to be more diverse than it is, and here comes a show with a predominantly Latino cast, and that in theory deals with issues relevant to a community that is woefully underrepresented in English-language programming - only it's lame and tin-eared. If it fails, that makes it harder for the next comedy revolving around minority characters; if it succeeds, it suggests (like the Tyler Perry sitcoms on TBS) that the underserved audience is happy with whatever swill you serve them.
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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January 12, 2012 at 10:27AM EST Reply to CommentAlan Sepinwall, makin' copieeeees!
Or is it, la realización de copias?
Rick Dees "Sting-a-ling-a-ding-ding-ding!"
January 12, 2012 at 10:42PM ESTMakin' copieeeees!
Sepinwall, is it worse than Whitney?
Ken Raining
January 12, 2012 at 11:23AM EST Reply to CommentEvery time I think about Rob Schneider (which, admittedly isn't often) I always think about that South Park parody, though I'd forgotten about the "Derp de derp" part. It's amazing that Schneider's career has lasted this long despite being loathed by seemingly everyone.
Jack
January 12, 2012 at 11:50AM EST Reply to CommentI have to admit I passed on "Rob" but was very interested to read your review. Actually, I enjoy all your reviews whether I watch the shows or not. Guess I don't like insult, anger, ethnic slur, or awkward moment humor so I passed on "3 Broke Girls" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" as well. Maybe I have a comedic tin ear. I'd be interested if you would do a column explaining what sets the 3 shows apart. For example, ethnic slurs--sounds to me like it works on one show but not on another. I'd love to understand the difference.
LDP in Cincinnati
January 12, 2012 at 12:31PM EST Reply to CommentWhy did CBS pick up this show? Has there been a public clamor for more Rob Schneider?
Daggor
January 12, 2012 at 12:46PM EST Reply to CommentWait... why does television NEED to be diverse? Univision isn't going out of it's way to be diverse, and I certainly don't want to watch a show about a bunch of Latinos dealing with a white idiot. No thank you, or: "No me gusta."
DB Cooper Univision is a Spanish-language network.
January 12, 2012 at 2:43PM ESTIt actually has a very diverse range of Spanish speaking talent.
January 12, 2012 at 4:40PM ESTNetwork TV should be at least reflect the real world in terms of diversity.
Greg
January 12, 2012 at 12:55PM EST Reply to CommentC-? So it's better than Chelsea?
sepinwall Slightly, yes. Mainly because of Eugenio Derbez.
January 12, 2012 at 1:00PM EST
January 13, 2012 at 3:13AM ESTThe only laugh-out-loud moment I had in the entire half hour was when Rob was "apologizing" for not being who they wanted him to be, and Eugenio did the BestBuds sing with his hands, simply hilarious. As Alan said, he has a perfect comedy timing.
Chrissy
January 12, 2012 at 1:05PM EST Reply to CommentThere are so many Arrested Development jokes I want to make right now, I'm paralyzed with indecision.
lztouchthedream Heeeeey, hermano!
January 12, 2012 at 6:48PM ESTblinky
January 12, 2012 at 1:45PM EST Reply to CommentI think they had the choice of running Rob as a Republican candidate for president or giving him a new show where he has Cheech Marin as a father-in-law. I think they just tossed a coin and went with the show.
War Chief Shake Zula
January 12, 2012 at 2:07PM EST Reply to CommentNote to self: Fight to the death to prevent the addition of this to our primetime viewing schedule in the slot formerly held by DVRed Community.
jake
January 12, 2012 at 2:21PM EST Reply to CommentTwo reasons this show could succeed:
1. It is on CBS.
2. Anyone who remembers Felipe Esparza winning Season 7 of Last Comic Standing (by telling nothing but lame, obvious Latino-stereotype jokes) knows that there is clearly a market for this type of humor.
JR
January 12, 2012 at 4:25PM EST Reply to CommentFirst Work It, then Are You There Chelsea? and now Rob. Are the networks competing to see who had the worst new sitcom of the season?
Niickk
January 12, 2012 at 6:46PM EST Reply to CommentOut of curiosity, what was the last new multi-cam sitcom you enjoyed? It seems like this format has a hard time connecting with you.
sepinwall I enjoy Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother (which isn't shot like a multi-cam show but is presented as one), though not as much as I have in seasons past.
January 12, 2012 at 11:07PM ESTMy favorite comedy of all time is Cheers, and I still laugh when I watch those repeats on Netflix.
The format isn't the issue; it's that nobody has done anything great with it in a while.
Deuce Bigalow
January 12, 2012 at 10:13PM EST Reply to CommentSo Sepinwall, did you like it or not?
Nazo, the Italian Delivery Man
January 12, 2012 at 10:17PM EST Reply to CommentI wonder what Michael Patrick thinks of this show?
Nick
January 13, 2012 at 1:05AM EST Reply to CommentFully enjoyed the show! Laughed a lot and thought it was good silly humor! I season passes it and hope it continues! Love how you people bash before even watching it!
Rico
January 13, 2012 at 1:10AM EST Reply to CommentThey should write rob off and center the show around Eugenio Derbez.. He is awsome funny and fresh.
January 13, 2012 at 3:14AM ESTCoyer Actually not a bad idea! It's even kind of obvious after watching a few episodes... Hope somebody listens to you, that would make me give that show a second chance... So far, its plain stupid.
May 29, 2012 at 11:28AM ESTRico
January 13, 2012 at 1:11AM EST Reply to CommentThe show should write off rob and center the show on Eugenio Derbez. He is frsh and funny
Norma
January 13, 2012 at 2:47AM EST Reply to CommentI watched it because Eugenio Derbez. He's the best comic actor in Mexico and his characters are very popular there. It is a shame he ended on this horrible show.
gary
January 13, 2012 at 5:46AM EST Reply to Commenti really wanted to like this show. I really did. However its just terrible. they took off the less terrible Rules of engagement for this?
Coyer Rules of Engagement was great! I loved it! I also liked Gary Unmarried, is it off too?
May 29, 2012 at 11:30AM ESTCraig Ranapia
January 13, 2012 at 8:15AM EST Reply to CommentWouldn't be be awesome if, just once, an actor walked into writer's room and said "You know what, guys, rape isn't funny and I'm not going to do this".
NJMark No one was being raped.
January 14, 2012 at 2:26PM ESTA It doesn't matter; it still contributes to rape culture.
January 16, 2012 at 5:51PM ESTMark in Omaha
January 13, 2012 at 3:07PM EST Reply to CommentRob Schneider, least funny person ever.
MentalSwag.com
January 13, 2012 at 3:47PM EST Reply to CommentTHE 'ROB' SHOW, DON'T TELL
The writers on the Rob show could use a little refresher course on the elements of good storytelling. Screenwriting teachers have been advising students for decades, to show, don’t tell. Especially, during key moments of the plot.
Whereas within the first minute of this sitcom, we learn that ‘Rob’ (Rob Schneider) just married (Claudia Bassols) a girl he barely knows on a whim in Las Vegas, and he has major OCD issues. Wow! That’s a lot of info, and I haven’t even checked the other channels to find out what else is on. www.mentalswag.com
MentalSwag.com
January 13, 2012 at 3:50PM EST Reply to CommentTHE 'ROB' SHOW, DON'T TELL
The writers on the Rob show could use a little refresher course on the elements of good storytelling. Screenwriting teachers have been advising students for decades, to show, don’t tell. Especially, during key moments of the plot.
Whereas within the first minute of this sitcom, we learn that ‘Rob’ (Rob Schneider) just married (Claudia Bassols) a girl he barely knows on a whim in Las Vegas, and he has major OCD issues. Wow! That’s a lot of info, and I haven’t even checked the other channels to find out what else is on.
Tedd
January 14, 2012 at 7:30AM EST Reply to CommentAlan, how could you talk about an Uncle Hector without referencing Tio? For shame.
*Ding*
Mojo10
February 17, 2012 at 5:32AM EST Reply to CommentRob is bringing the show down the program would be much better off without him. The jokes are gear 4 white america to get laughs hence the racial jokes. However I realize seeing Mexicans not hispanic or latin but yes pure "Mexican" view point of life is very interesting. It's about time there is an all Mexican cast program, it's long over do people. Personally I am tired of all the "Black" programs and upper westside white shows,Rob must go!! and leave everyone eles on the show
Coyer I agree on the -not funny at all- Black sitcoms. I am not sure though if I would enjoy a full Mexican-American show.
May 29, 2012 at 11:36AM ESTDGO
February 22, 2012 at 5:21AM EST Reply to CommentIm latin but i really enjoy the american humor, i saw this show when i saw Eugenio was going to act in it. I totally enjoyed the sitcom! never saw racial jokes, actually i laughed about a lot of them cause its true that we act like that sometimes. I see how this people try to speak and think that telling that was offensive jokes they gonna recieve support they wrong because the show was pretty descent and i expect to watch more
PD: Sorry for my bad english xD
wildbill2225
March 1, 2012 at 9:52PM EST Reply to CommentWatched it enough to know that the acting SUCKS, the stories are juvenile, and the premise is just plain racial comedy that isn't even GOOD racial comedy! Needs to die a quick(er) death!!!!
BRIAN
March 2, 2012 at 12:02PM EST Reply to CommentI LOVE THIS SHOW. ALL THE PLAYERS ARE GREAT AND HAVE THE CHEMISTRY NEEDED FOR A VERY GOOD COMEDY.
I HOPE THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING CRAZY AND DROP IT.
FUNNY STUFF.
Maureen
May 9, 2012 at 12:39AM EST Reply to CommentEugenido Derbez = HILARIOUS!
Rob Schneider = Not Funny that all!!!
Stephanie vasquez
September 10, 2012 at 11:21PM EST Reply to CommentI love this show!! It was hillarious... " best friends" my husband & say this to each bcuz of this show... When does the nxt season starts..