So there were two television series I was really looking forward to last Fall that didn't show up until this past month. One, THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES was the new sitcom by GILMORE GIRLS genius Amy Sherman Palladino. The other starred my favorite contemporary comedienne, Judy Greer (known to some as Kitty "Say goodbye to these!" Sanchez, MISS GUIDED.
I had high hopes for JEZEBEL, what with Sherman Palladino and Parker Posey teaming up. Throw in the invulnerable Miss Lauren Ambrose and you have yourself a contender for best show ever. And then it aired. What seems like it ought to be a perfect combination- Sherman Palladino's quickfire banter with Parker Posey's manic hyperactivity- somehow manages not to work at all. Like, not even a little. The only thing worth watching in the two episodes that aired was Ambrose as Posey's slacker sister. The story was interesting (Posey played a book editor who was unable to concieve and asked her sister to carry her baby) and the dialogue definitely had it's moments, but none of it worked in the end. Normally I'd be grumbling about FOX once again letting a show air two times before pulling the plug like impatient bastards. And, yeah, it does seem a little unfair. But I'm sorry to say this (and it truly hurts me to say it as a fan of all of the women involved), it is one show that I think deserved the axe.
When it comes to MISS GUIDED, I was excited about seeing Judy Greer, knowing that she is gold in anything she does. (She made the whole ELIZABETHTOWN experience hurt a little less, even!) I didn't really know what to expect from the show, which is about a former high school geek who grows up to be the adorable high school guidance counselor, who has a crush on the oh-so-hot-former-auto-shop-teacher-who-now-teaches-Spanish. Of course the hot bitch she went to school with also returns as a teacher/cheerleading coach. Greer absolutely conquers again, proving herself to be in the same league as Mary Tyler Moore, which is like the pinnacle of sitcom goddesses as far as I'm concerned. What surprised me is that there is more about MISS GUIDED than just the lovely Miss G. The show is actually REALLY funny. Like, funnier than any other sitcom (barring of course THE OFFICE) currently on the screen. (Yes, editor lily, even funnier than SAMANTHA WHO?).
The question is: Will it last? With only a handful of episodes to air (most of which already have- the remainder will air on April 3rd), has MISS GUIDED made enough of an impression to make a return in next Fall? I hope so. It's worthy of a comeback. Please, please, PLEASE tune in next Thursday to catch it!
