Episodes

How did I miss this first time round??! Thank god for being able to watch 5 seasons in 2 days on Netflix!!

I've never seen Matt Le Blanc in anything other than friends so I didn't know what to expect from this comedy series, but I loved it.

Subtle humour throughout, but some great one liners that really made me laugh out loud.

I watched the first episode of Episodes and was not knocked out but saw that it had some potential. Matt Le Blanc really makes this show with a satirical take on himself and "stars" generally. I am now on the fourth episode and it has just gotten better and better. Most sitcoms are like this - they rarely hit their stride right out of the traps - though Frasier and Friends manage to buck that trend. I have never been a fan of Tamsin Greig or Stephen Mangan but I am beginning to appreciate their talents in this. Episodes is a great concept and is well written and performed. It benefits from having no laugh track or studio audience. Lots of reviewers here have written this off after the pilot episode but it is their loss - I really like this show and hope it works in the US as well as the UK. Added 22/02/11 Just watched the final episode of series 1 and I have grown to love this series-I just hope they recommission it. Matt Le Blanc should be lauded for the kind of bravery in acting that US stars usually forgo. He was terrific in this. Almost the end of December 2012 and I have just gotten around to watching series 2 in it's entirety in one afternoon! Series 1 was good but this is even better - the situation did not seem like a second series was on but how wrong I was. Matt warmed to his portrayal of himself and Tamsin and Stephen were terrific in it. I look forward to series 3.

I don't understand why this show hasn't generated more buzz! It's extremely well-written, the cast is terrific, and, perhaps most importantly, the show is FUNNY! I didn't have much respect for Matt LeBlanc's acting abilities prior to this show, but he is surprisingly excellent here! Granted, he is supposed to be playing "himself", but don't let that fool you. He's playing a character, and he does it well. It's just like any other acting job, except you happen to have a character with your same name. The supporting cast is equally terrific; great collection of characters (and, if you live in Los Angeles, as I do, you've likely met many of these same types of people!) I'm glad the show will be filming a second season, and I can only hope the audience grows. Seriously, one of the best-written comedies on TV right now!

I don't know what the other reviewer was thinking, it's the perfect blend of American and British comedy that the Office couldn't achieve - they have British people doing British humour. And yes, it is only the first two episodes but it has shown great promise. I think it is a perfect mix of British and American humour because they don't mix them together to form some weird half-breed, but they separate them and have them interact as two different entities. Matt LeBlanc is hilarious, and they way he pokes fun at Joey is something we haven't seen since Julia Roberts in Oceans 13.

Give this show a chance, you'll probably like it!

After watching the first 3 shows, I'm impressed, will be a great show if this level of writing can be sustained. "Episodes" is a cross between "Entourage" (minus the glorification of wealth and conspicuous consumption), "Curb your Enthusiasm" (minus bad acting), and "Extras" (minus cameos, and bits that sucked of which there were many).

I don't know why there are so many negative reviews (as of 1/25/2011) - perhaps Americans are having trouble relating to the lead British couple? In any case, seeing the inner workings of Hollywood's entertainment industrial complex through their down-to-earth eyes is a great premise, casting Matt LeBlanc was a genius touch, and I hope this gem continues for a lot more 'episodes'.