In Case of Emergency

Network: ABC; Genre: Comedy; Content Rating: TV-PG (for strong suggested sexual content); Perspective: Contemporary (star range: 1 - 4);

Seasons Reviewed: Series (1 season)

Any summery I could give for "In Case of Emergency", ABC's latest edition to the glossy single-camera stupid comedy, would pale in comparison to the vigorous way that Jonathan Silverman talks through it on the show's "previously on" segments; many of which are original to each episode instead of the usual narration and clips. Looking like he is just thrilled to be working, Silverman's boundless energy, goofy faces and mad-capped performance is the single best thing going for "Emergency". If only the rest of the show could match his cartoon-like enthusiasm.

Then again, at least it isn't "The Class". Despite both built around high school friends forced back together as adults, the shows are quite different technically, in tone, sense of humor and aspirations. "Emergency" has a familiar cast. In addition to Silverman we have Kelly Hu, David Arquette and Greg Germann as the former classmates thrust into Silverman's house by circumstance. We also have Lori Loughlin as the object of the Arquette character's desire.

By God, this show is so fast, lively and superficially fun to look at that it takes a few episodes to really sink in that almost nothing here is really funny. Sherman (Germann) sulks in a lawn chair at the bottom of his empty pool because his ex-wife took everything- even the water. Hu works at an Oriental Massage parlor that Loughlin visits thinking she will just get a massage. Ho, ho, laughing yet? Like "Scrubs", "Malcolm in the Middle" and many other single-camera comedies, "Emergency" runs on the idea that if we just set up a situation that appears like it could be funny and don't give it a laugh track then people will hunt around and find a laugh in it without any of the jokes ever having to connect. If only to spite that damn laugh track.

"Emergency" is relatively inoffensive and highly watchable. If you can stomach the 80s music it endlessly pours onto us you can certainly do a lot worse. The first episode is the best. It captures a sense of chaos that is so purely entertaining it does not have to be clever. But as the show rolls out it gets slower and more character driven, which given the stencil shaping of the characters keeps it from ever hitting that fun high again. It quickly becomes a Best of the 80s album set to video.

All the characters speak with pretty much one voice and nobody really as any chemistry. "Emergency" feels dated and has an "every-show" quality to it. Silverman gets the ex-wife jokes and the unrequited love jokes, Germann gets the fat jokes, the momma's boy jokes and the ex-wife jokes, Hu gets the hooker jokes and Arquette is handed the slapstick (which he is actually pretty good at) and, worse, the central relationship, yet another impossible TV relationship at that. I wonder if this show really is funny and I just can't get past the premise that an engaged Lori Loughlin would be won over by David Arquette to see it. They have to get together at some point don't they? It is a TV show after all. That fall-back on cliché is really one of the most unforgivable things about "Emergency".

* * / 4

"In Case of Emergency" which started earlier this year on ABC, seems to be doing well, it looked good from the previews and I just started watching it I've seen the last two episodes and I'm impressed to say the least. It centers around four friends in their 30's in L.A. that have the you guessed it relationships and just everyday problems of life, but yet this program has plenty of humor and sexy scenes and doesn't try to take things serious. The cast is all A list TV veterans and B list movie veterans, you have David Arquette as a ex business man who's now an emergency room assistant who's love struck on a cute doctor played just fine by Lori Loughlin. The Arquette character has two friends both depressed and just trying to figure out the world as Greg Germann and Jonathan Silverman as corporate guys needing new loves. Also spice and everything nice is added by a female friend from high school who was a brain, but now works in a full-release massage parlor, and wow Kelly Hu is just fabulous as this character. So far the first two episodes have been hot and steamy with sexy love scenes thanks to ageless and sexy goddess Jane Seymour. I just love the story with Seymour guest starring as the mother of Arquette's character who's seducing his younger friend the Silverman character. It's nice to see Jane back at work hopefully she becomes a regular on this series, her stay could make this a hit and make ABC keep it. "In Case of Emergency" is a new show that's very good and young audiences should watch because of the humor and sexy relationships, showing that humor can help friends get over their problems, and that everyday life doesn't have to be so serious.

While it's 30-minutes long (with ads), it was no sitcom. The 4 main characters are all sad sack whiners that we don't really care about - it's hard to argue too much about Kelly Hu since she was saddled with a racist role. There are no jokes - if they are, its poorly written and poorly executed. The showrunner/creator must have had clout to get this sitcom okayed as clearly no one writing this show/producing it or approved this series should not be working in TV. Hopefully this was the last show anyone working on the "creative" side of this show. This series and the fact it aired is the reason most people have stopped watching network TV. It's one thing to swing and miss - everyone is entitled to a project that just doesn't work but this one - everyone just took the cash.

Loved the scene in the massage parlor where he realizes the masseuse is trying to give him a happy ending, and he realizes it's the smartest girl from his high school.