Imaginary Mary

I do not usually have much to say about live-action film and TV because I can remember what I see in animation easier, but I will say what I can about this. Imaginary Mary had a very cool and creative idea - a live action-CGI animation hybrid where Alice's imaginary friend returns from her childhood to help her date a divorced dad of three kids. I am disappointed that so many people didn't like this show in its inception. It was nowhere near the worst sitcom I ever saw, but ABC had so little faith in this show that they cut its original 13-episode order down to 9. I think I know why, though. I always liked Imaginary Mary, but one problem I always had with it, one problem that made it hard for me to remember what actually happened in the episodes, was that I can't remember what Mary actually contributed to the plot in each episode. Mary only gets a few scenes in each episode, and every so often she comes up to give Alice some dating advice or other stuff that leads to the conflict or solves it. Mary was funny in most scenes that she had, but now I do not blame ABC for wanting to get rid of this show so quickly if the plots didn't need Mary at all. It is hard to find a good execution for this strange kind of stuff. When the 2015 book The Rest Of Us Just Live Here doesn't know how to make a story about the non-magic kids in a magic world interesting, you realize why no one else does it. Actually, Powerless knew how to make that interesting: by having the DC superheroes or supervillains affect the plots of the "Powerless" people, and that worked out pretty well, so I don't know why that show didn't take off either, but at least I know what makes it better than Imaginary Mary. I do not know where I can find episodes of Imaginary Mary or Powerless nowadays, since it was nearly three years since the last time Imaginary Mary was reviewed here and they are far from the 52-episode syndication minimum, but I really would love to see both of them again to see if they are worthy of becoming a cult classic. Speaking of cult classics, I am very sorry Freaks and Geeks did not work out for NBC. Trying to be a full-hour drama with a comedic setup did not mix.

Cute idea but needs better writers and directors! Was looking forward to the show because I love Jenna Elfman but it goes beyond funny to stupid/ridiculous. I believe it could work with more imaginative writers. Doubt it lasts. I may watch one more episode just to see if they get it together but from what I've seen so far(one episode), not optimistic. I was even disappointed with Jenna's over the top silliness. Even Mary could be more "human". Although she is the title character she hardly seems relevant since her advice is usually bad or ignored... so what's the point? As it is, TWO THUMBS DOWN!

If this had been made in the 1990s, it would be right at home on TGIF between Step by Step and Boy Meets World. Jenna Elfman is the QUEEN of physical comedy (and Stephen Schneider is no slouch either). My favorite characters have to be the kids though, especially Andy. The kid that plays him is HILARIOUS. (Teenage me would have been super in love with him, for sure.) Rachel Dratch as Mary is super fun too and she is used just the right amount, not overwhelmingly so.

Imaginary Mary is just one of those sitcoms with a simple, well executed premise that the whole family can enjoy. It really has so much potential, hopefully ABC thinks so too.

I was watching TV one night and saw the preview of this show and I was interested in the previews and I gotta say that I was not disappointed in the least with the show it's hilarious and heartwarming Mary is terrific and hilarious I gotta say though I wouldn't recommend the show to super small children due to the fact that Mary can be a bad influence she curses and uses sexual jokes but I consider her bad behaviour hilarious just watch with impressionable kids and you should be fine it's hilarious

I love Jenna Elfman, she's a very talented physical comedienne and often very affecting in dramatic roles. The 3 kids were funny and clever, too. BUT - I would pay to watch an episode in which she immolated that stupid fugly stuffed thing on a hibachi while basting it with Wild Turkey and stabbing it to death with a barbecue fork.