Ground Floor

There are many shows that I like for very different reasons. For example, the reasons I like The Big Bang Theory are dissimilar to the reasons I like Parks and Rec, or Modern Family, or even The Neighbors. I found this to be true for Ground Floor as well.

I've read all the reviews on IMDb, and if you read a review where someone rates this show a 1/10, then you know that person is just being rude and cynical for their own perverted pleasure and nothing more. They think it's cool or hip to undermine a show. It's not, however it is sad.

My reasoning for giving this show a 8/10 is very simple, I enjoyed the story. Is Ground Floor some new paradigm shifting show that'll transform the world of situational comedies in the 21st century? No, but then again, its not trying to be.

Many of the shows out there today are just copies of copies. This can be said for about 85 percent of the new sitcoms that aired this Fall on network TV. But even the very worse show on TV doesn't deserve a 1/10. This snarky new fad of putting every thing down is pathetic.

The fact is, I enjoyed the show. I laughed at the jokes, enjoyed the characters, reveled at the chemistry of the love interests and felt a sense of nostalgia for a few cast members. What more can I ask for from a show? People, we have a Big Bang Theory and a Modern Family, and now, we have a Ground Floor, a little show with a big heart. And I predict it'll only get better as it matures.

So Give this show a chance and see if its for you because chances are, you're looking for a little heart with your laughs.

OK. I have almost forgot about Ground Floor. Who is in it? Never mind! And I'm totally confusing it with Cristela, another sitcom with a working environment where the Boss is rich and almighty and with his office a few meters ...left of the screen. (note: Cristela came out later.)

Anyway. This is a comedy and it's all about how funny it is and about the chemistry of the actors.

So...this is a fun comedy. I won't bash it or anything. There is a romance and some hidden feelings between the boss and his best employees for a dime's worth emotions. There are some quirky characters to add to the laugh.

Well...it's OK.

Overall: Check it out. Classic sitcom with the usual fake laugh track. It doesn't bother me to watch it.

Maybe it's my bias for John McGinley and his talent or maybe it's because of Skylar Astin's John Cusack's likable underdog persona, but I want this show to be good. My concern is that my subjectivity for these actors is blurring my objectivity for the artistic and comedic reality of the show. I'm worried that the show has started off in a direction that will suspend it in mediocrity.

Although there is minimal content to work from at this moment, only 2 episodes, it is concerning when the writers take a fairly cookie cutter approach with the characters, concept and writing. There is talent in this cast, and i am hoping that the writing will take advantage of that soon- for who knows how long the half-life is for new sitcoms in today's audience.

Initially I find a lack of depth in the characters. They have easily discernible, rigid roles that define the standard sitcom world- protagonist, love interest, demanding boss- and it can easily lead to one dimensional, bounded characters. Take Harvard, through two episodes he has been established as a pseudo antagonist to Brody, and that's it. Every scene is the same jealous angle from him. Couple this with too many scripted jokes and obvious punch lines and you get a muddled experience from your initial viewing. There was just too much obviousness, low level wit. But there were moments, in McGinley's style and Astin's delivery, that offer promise and should give you a reason to give this show a look.

Today's audience is more intelligent and more demanding than ever. There has to be more than what's directly written and seen for them to want to tune back in. Subtlety in humor, interwoven story arcs that cross paths later in an episode to give it depth, intelligence and curiosity about what will develop. I didn't get that so far from this show, but I want to. The lead characters have the ability to make this show more than what people saw so far. I just hope the writers quickly take the training wheels off and let the characters develop and create a more organic, believable, witty world from the Ground Floor on up. 72 / 100

This show appears to be an example what happens when one party appears to no longer be trying and another party is trying WAAAAYYY to hard to salvage what is being filmed. This is far from Bill Lawrence's strongest effort. Writing wise, it just isn't there. I take it as a bad sign when I'm watching a comedy when I find myself waiting to actually laugh. I have to honestly ask myself if this was a dare that he had to perform in order to get another season of Cougar Town, or if he is doing this to protest some of TBS' programing decisions where they renew barely watchable shows ("Sullivan and Son" and "Men at Work") and not renewing watchable and likable shows (Wedding Band).

John McGinley is totally wasted on this show. His performance is that of a person that senses that he is involved in some weak sauce and is trying way to hard to make it watchable.

It's a show from Bill Lawrence and co-stars John C. McGinley so it's no surprise that the show is pretty damn funny. (Scrubs was amazing). Sklar Astin's Brody periodically acts a little like JD from Scrubs and John's character is much like a softer Dr. Cox. Which is never a bad thing. There aren't a whole lot of sitcoms or shows in general that can be this good this early on. The chemistry between the stars is pitch perfect(ha), the writing is sharp as a whip, and its just so much fun to watch. HATE the laugh track but its not as synthetic sounding as with most other programs. I've only seen a couple episodes but I have high hopes for Ground Floor. This. Is. The. One. To. Watch. Very funny.