Cougar Town: 40 ist das neue 20

When I first started watching this show, I did it only because of Courtney Cox. I'm a huge "Friends" fan, so it was nice seeing her again. But the show started as a disaster, there were no other topics in it but relationships and they were whining all the time. Actually after watching 13 episodes I stopped watching the show for a really long time. Then after a couple of years someone talked me into resuming the show because not far from where I stopped watching it, it transforms into kinda like Friends - no wonder the show was almost renamed to "Friends with Beverages". Not as good as "Friends" but watchable, I just really don't like Josh Hopkins and I'm not ever sure why.

Since IMDb cancel the discuss board for some reason I don't know, I can't figure out what is the real feeling of most people for this show. I have to say I was not interested in this show at first. Even I know there is Monica here. Still I started to watch it because Abed from "community". And it turns an amusing experience I didn't expect.

I like it!

No, I don't appreciate most life style of the characters. I don't love it as my favorite "community" or my love "friends", "HIMYM" either. But it's a warm, touched, comedy actually.

I really wonder why people feel so different about it. Almost 50% love and 50% hate it. I guess maybe I haven't seen sitcom much. Or maybe people feel it's too girly. Anyway I like it. It may not classic, however it's definitely above the average.

I began this show thinking there'd be lots of cougars prowling for young men, but it was actually only about one woman, the naive and exuberant Jules, well-played by Courteney Cox. And even that stopped after about half a season, when she found Grayson, not-so-well played by Josh Hopkins.

I expected the show to die off slowly then, but amazingly, it's now halfway through season 5 and I'm still watching. While there is no more 'cougaring', there are other characters that keep the show interesting: her ex-husband Bobby and his couldn't-care-less mode of living, her best friend neighbour Ellie (brilliantly played by Christa Miller) and her killer sense of deadpan humor, and Ellie's husband, the indefatigable and one-man-Bobby-fanclub Andy, also brilliantly played Ian Gomez. And each episode usually contains its own self-contained plot that is generally resolved at the end of 20 minutes. For the most part, those plots are engaging enough to keep you watching, especially when Ellie deploys her unique brand of humor.

And one more thing that seems insignificant yet adds interest to the show: those title cards. I'm always anticipating them with the start of each episode.

Cougar town may be a chick show but that doesn't change the fact that it's still really good. It's 22 minutes of irrational normalcy that is somewhat believable but extreme. Some people may think it's too far fetched but everybody knows at least one person who is always the "dramatic attention seeking type". So I buy the craziness and I can even relate to a lot of their issues. In fact I wish I had such a tight knit crazy group of friends like they have. It looks like fun.

Aside from the craziness, the episodes focus on real life issues but with a comedic edge. It's not without its flaws but overall Cougar Town is really entertaining.

Just rewatched the series and really enjoyed it. Funny, smart, and plenty of heartfelt moments. They do drink a lot of wine, but they have some great ideas and conversations while doing it. I have to admit that plenty of the episodes had me tearing up as well. Can't be compared with friends, but why should you?