Cougar Town

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.

Cougartown is a brand new show starring Courtney Cox as a newly-single over-40 mom ready to start dating a bunch of young guys!! ... fast forward a few episodes Here's the deal. The whole "cougar" idea really didn't work for this show. They wanted a show about a hot 40-something dating young guys, and stumbled upon some genuinely likable characters ready for a sitcom. So while the title remains, the show is actually about the life and friends of Courtney's character, Jules, as she struggles to rediscover herself when she thought she was past the age of new discoveries.

Just when you think the show is getting predictable, it pokes fun at itself. Once you get tired of Jules chugging wine every single episode, there's a show about her trying to quit drinking. As soon as you get tired of her meddling in the affairs of her friends, there's a show to see if she can go a day without prying. The show is very self-aware and unpretentious.

The characters are hilarious. Andy has the guy-love obsession with Jules' ex husband. Grayson was a superficial jerk until we found out he worked better as a damaged, but ultimately likable guy with intimacy issues. Jules' two best friends couldn't be more different, and the conflict stays refreshing. The son is hilarious, and provides some great sarcasm and a constant reminder that this nut-case main character is still a mom who is trying to raise a teenage son.

The bottom line is this: The show is no longer about it's title. I don't care what you decide to call it, Cougar Town is relaxing, funny, and a flat out easy watch.

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.

Well, I see no one else likes it. Oh well. I think its hilarious. Maybe a little much for basic television, but on cable it would be awesome. I think it's really funny. I don't think it's offensive at all. Just because we don't feel like we relate to a character doesn't mean that they are offensive. I'm from Texas. Have you ever seen how they portray us on television. They act like we are all how do I put this, "Big ol' country bumpkins that say ya'll every other word and wear cowboy hats and belt buckles as large as our state, and that every word we say has to have some southern twang to it". It's a television show. It's funny. For once can we just let one show survive at least one season. I've already lost Lipstick Jungle and Samantha Who.

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.