Running Wilde

I love Running Wilde, it's certainly not Arrested Development but I don't mean that in any slight. Both are brilliant but Running Wilde's humour has a slightly softer edge but leads to no less mirth.

For me, the hit character is Wilde's best friend Fa'ad, played by Peter Serafinowicz. He's also seen in the brilliant 'Look Around You' and brings his brand of no-nonsense nonsensical humour as a brilliant foil to Will Arnett's already well honed portrayal of a richly detached nice guy.

Arrested Development fans should be chuffed with the jokes in jokes in jokes that characterised much of its intelligently paced humour, as well as the return of David Cross - though I can only say I'd like to see more of him.

Puddle is no Maybe, but that role's portrayal also grew as time went on and I'm expecting the same here.

"Running Wilde" is not, and will not ever be groundbreaking television.

That said, it was a funny show with heartwarming moments and some good how-did-they- get-that-past-the-censors gags. Its story showed promise, and while the opposites-attract idea is an overused trope, the idea of a wealthy oil heir who's infatuated with a dyed in the wool environmental activist is a very relevant concept.

Except, you wouldn't know any of this if I hadn't just told you, because Fox did a horrific job of advertising this show.

I am an avid television viewer, and I watch many shows on the Fox channel. How is it then, that I had zero idea as to what this show was actually about? All I knew was that it starred Will Arnett and Keri Russell. That's it. The advertisements for this show never gave me a reason to tune in. Fox showers GOOD ads on "Glee" and "American Idol," but the fact of the matter is that those two have solid fan bases. I mean, really, is Fox THAT worried about "American Idol" losing viewership? They've completely retooled the show twice now, and they still have viewerships in the teens-to-twenties million. Everyone already knows what those shows are about--they are, frankly, overexposed.

Just like with "Arrested Development," which is widely regarded as one of the best shows in television history, Fox screwed the ad pooch and basically condemned its own to eternal damnation in Cancellation Land. To boot, of all the new comedies that debuted last season and were subsequently cancelled, e.g. "Outsourced," "$#*! My Dad Says," "Perfect Couples," et al., this show was actually tolerable. In fact, compared to those listed above, it was Shakespearean.

So do not judge this show based on Fox's egregiously subpar treatment of a decent program. See for yourself and be pleasantly surprised.

This show comes very close to pure gold in terms of its premise and casting. Unfortunately it is lacking in fulfilling its own promise. The characters are interesting and well-acted.

The most conspicuously absent part of the show is an anchoring "straight man" a la Jack Lemon or Dean Martin. The zany characters are no good without an accomplished and mature actor capable of acting as a stand-in for the audience. My guess is that the writers intended for this to be Puddle, and while Stefania LaVie Owen is a good child actress, she has not yet developed the nuance and complexity of facial expression and voice intonation to make her more than the show's cute kid.

Another problem that will eventually become evident is that the show can only do so many episodes before its audience loses interest in whether or not Emmy and Steve sack out together. There is only so far that this show can go, and I'm not certain that it will get there.

I love Will Arnett, and really want him to have a stellar show, and maybe if there is room for a sympathetic character along the lines of Michael Bluth in Arrested Development, then these lovable (though not likable) characters will shine and the audience will gain an appreciation for their quirks and a sense of familiarity that is currently lacking. In the meantime, though, I feel like some writers and producers just tried to cram a bunch of far out characters into one show without any hope of development or perspective.

If you like 30 Rock, you'll like Running Wilde - simple! Will Arnett is superb in his niche role of wealthy fop, delivering some laugh-out-loud lines; Keri Russell is a Cutey McFeisty™ providing banter between the two main characters. Peter Serafinowicz is absolutely hilarious too, and every one of the cast is very funny in their own way. The only gripe is that the story lines follow very similar paths week-to-week, being Emmy and Steve trying to out-bluff each other - but hey, it works for House, right? This is the type of show that is perhaps too subtle for the masses to enjoy and thus gets cancelled - so in a time when clever comedies are few and far between, I would urge you to watch it! Highly recommended.

"Running Wilde" ran hysterically wild in our house last night! Who knew Keri Russell could carry off such quick, yet dim, witted ripostes to Will Arnett's naturally sardonic but quickly contrite remarks towards her. Again and again, she surprised me. And the little girl, Puddle (Stephania Owen), only ever seen before in "The Lovely Bones", is a scene-stealer. This child doesn't have to use words to communicate her opinions in order to garner our laughs. Mel Rodgriguez, as Wildes hired best friend/paid slave has been around for a while, but I have a feeling he will make his mark for his comedic chops in this series. His character has experienced the rich and crazy life of the Wilde family since he was very young which, in turn, has influenced his own very unique disposition. The writers, Arnett among them, have done a brilliant job with cast and script. I will look forward to this program each week and hopefully for seasons to come. 10/06/2010