What About Joan

The episode with the father in law where she's flipping out behind the couch was one of the funniest things I ever saw on TV, with the father in law's punch line something like, "impolite is one thing but this broad's just rude." I only saw it that one time, so I forget some of it, but I remember the tears in my eyes, and how it went to commercial after that and I was still laughing when it came back. Oh, man! Too bad she's selling phones or something, instead of making more comedy like that. That show is up there with the Frasier "Buttons And Bows" scene, Sanford And Son in the traffic court, and some great Taxis and Odd Couples, among other programs and episodes that will come to me later. If someone remembers more of that one, post it here, or tell me if someone has a DVD of it.

Joan Gallagher (Joan Cusack) is a Chicago high school teacher. She is shocked when her banker boyfriend Jake Evans (Kyle Chandler) surprises her with a marriage proposal. Her fellow teachers friends Betsy Morgan (Jessica Hecht) and Mark Ludlow (Wallace Langham) are secretly dating. She befriends new teacher Alice Adams (Kellie Shanygne Williams). Her other best friend Dr. Ruby Stern (Donna Murphy) is an expert therapist. The second season loses Betsy and gains Steinie (Jeff Garlin) who owns Jake's favorite bar.

I don't remember this and there's a good reason for that. The first season is actually fine. I always like Joan Cusack. Normal single gal network sitcoms usually have a super cute girl who can't find a boyfriend for some unfathomable reason. Joan has never been the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. While she does Manic, mostly she's the quirky best friend. There are other minor issues but it's a fine network sitcom. The second season falters with some of the changes. Most of all, the network threw it out there less than a month after 9-11. I remember those times as being very trying. Comedy had a tough time and standard sitcoms became even more disposable. What About Joan came and went without making a mark.

I wish Joan had more time as a single gal. She's missing the will they or won't they part of the romance. Kyle Chandler is good as usual and they have some fun chemistry. She even gets her real sister Ann Cusack an episode to play with. There is an issue with Ruby Stern. She has no natural direct connection to Joan other than being a friend. They don't hang out in a repeated spot. She's not a teacher so she can't hang out at the school. At the very least, Joan could be living in her spare bedroom so they have natural time together. The show tries to make Steinie's bar as the hangout spot in the second season. I don't think it works. The teachers' lounge is great but that's the only repeated spot that works. It's questionable whether Joan Cusack is a good lead at this type of network sitcom and the aftermath of 9-11 finished this off.

Normally I wouldn't waste my time reviewing such a shoddy show, but "What About Joan" is just so overwhelmingly awful that I feel behoven to warn potential viewers.

First, let me be clear that I have enjoyed Joan Cusack's previous roles. In the right environment, she is a fine actress and can provide a quirky and fun disjoint.

Unfortunately in this travesty, it's ALL about Joan. The whole show revolves around her character. The tiny problem is that her character is simply vile. She is neurotic, self absorbed, ungenerous, aggravating without being in the least bit charming, and thoroughly unattractive in every sense of the word.

It might seem cruel, but it's really fair comment that Joan looks every day of her 39 years. If fact, truth to be told, she looks closer to 50 than 40, even given the liberal over use of smart-soft-focus to try and hide the worst of the wrinkles. Given that she is acting like a spoiled teenager, and that her unbelievably tolerant but bland cookie-cutter friends keep referring to her as a "young woman", this is frankly embarrasing and insulting.

Content wise, there isn't any. Take any whiny two page ego piece from any 30-something woman's magazine, replace the self important heroine with Joan, and you're there. Shouldn't a comedy have, well, comedy in it?

Even given all of this, an actress of Joan Cusack's talent could have rescued this. I want to believe that at least. Unfortunately, she has chosen (or has been obliged) to take the low road of shameless mugging and over emoting. She spends most of her time with her face wrinkled into an indefinable grimace that makes me want to perform a Heimlich manouver on her. Actually, after watching half an hour of this tripe, I rather wish someone would perform one on me.

Contrary to the other reviewer, I found the show quite enjoyable. While it wasn't perfect, it was loads better than the typical mindless crap that makes it on network television. See also other shows networks have killed without giving them enough time to find their audience: Covington Cross, The Geena Davis Show, Bette, The Ellen Show, Good Sports, The Book of Daniel, and soon to be Commander In Chief.

Kyle Chandler was (and is)adorable, and no one makes awkwardness better than Joan Cusack. The supporting cast was stellar. I'm still sad that this show isn't still being produced.

Please! Somebody put this out on DVD!

This show could really have been something. It has got good actors/actresses, especially Joan Cusack and Kyle Chandler, but the writing is lousy! I didn't laugh a single time when I watched an episode of this show. Sure, you might think that it is too early to decide about a show after one episode, but I'm telling you, I won't watch another episode without a fat paycheck. Don't waste your time on this one!