Out of Practice

[bytrsuite]

This show is on CBS and features a lesbian character played by Paula Marshall. It was pretty amusing. I really enjoyed the cast, they seem to work well together. It also features Stockard Channing, Henry Winkler and Jennifer Tilly. Good times.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460666/

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/out_of_practice/

[Warduke]

I just watched and it it was great. Funny and smart. Great cast. I hope the ratings are good. It was the best new show of the night.

And Paula Marshall

[xita]

I loved this show, and Paula Marhsall A booze loving dyke, gosh, why would I like this character. She was awesome, Stockard Channing and Jennifer Tilly? I love the cast. And there was sophisticated humor without the need of annoying laugh tracks. I loved the lesbian jokes and was surprised they used the word dyke, yet it didn't bother me. It shows a family very comfortable with a memeber's sexuality. And I laughed, so I am watching it next week!

[urnofosiris]

Just saw it for myself and I gotta agree that it is pretty good. I like the premise of the show, a whole family of doctors, what a disaster waiting to happen. It had some really clever and funny lines and the actors delivered them perfectly. I was thinking Stockard Channing is too young to be the mother of that plastic surgeon guy (I thought he looked the oldest of the three, but to my surprise Paula Marshall is the oldest in real life), so I did a quicky google and it turns out she is old enough to be their mom. Man, she is amazingly well preserved.
Anyway, I look forward to the next episodes.

[Gatito Grande]

Yeah, for the Frasier producers working w/ Niles Crane all those years, how delightful for them to have a character who's actually OUT.

GG This show oughta play for years: great stuff. Fantastic cast! Out

[Warduke]

After the second episode, I can safely say, I love this show.

Stockard Channing is awesome. I love Jennifer Tilly. And Paula Marshall, well she's just...damn!

[Gatito Grande]

Isn't it amazing how (this side of The L Word) a female character can forthrightly lust after other women?

GG May we have many more such characters . . . and then put them together! Out

I loved Stockard's "I hate you, you nurturing bastard!"

[Am I nuts---don't answer that---or is Jennifer Tilly not billed on this show?]

[xita]

This show was even funnier this week. And yes where else can you find a woman lusting after women. I just love her character And she's hot, I won't mind watching this one bit.

I didn't even know Jennifer Tilly was in this for a while, they finally started including her in the promotion. I hope her character is more involved as the season goes along.

I really enjoy all the characters and the show is really funny and yet when they get all mushy I don't mind because I already buy the relationships.

[urnofosiris]

This week was funnier than last week. Stockard Channing was bloody brilliant and I really am amazed at how good she looks, especially compared to Fonzie. Jennifer Tilly did not get to do much, but she was amusing too, like last week. It is early days, but is this show doing well in ratings and such?

[runnerbird]

I've been watching this for the past two weeks and I really like it, but I have a soft spot for both Henry Winkler and Stockard Channing so I would watch them read a phone book in Yiddish.

I think Paula Marshall is just a hoot. Her facial expressions and body language in this scene just make me smile:

(Crystal is Regina's father's new, younger girlfriend)
Crystal: I may need some help with the buckles.
Regina: (about to follow Crystal of the room) Right behind you...
Mom: YOU, SIT DOWN YOUNG LADY!

As for the ratings, the official story is this:

CBS took the lead at 9 p.m. with "Two and a Half Men," 9.7/14, and "Out of Practice," 8.1/12. "Monday Night Football" delivered a way-below-average 8.8/13 for the hour. NBC's "Las Vegas," 7.9/12, improved on its lead-in but remained in third. "Prison Break" also lifted FOX, coming in at 5.4/8. UPN moved into fifth with "Girlfriends" and "Half & Half," beating "Just Legal" on The WB.

Sounds good, right, but what really matters in the network biz is how much of a viewing audience is retained show-to-show. Monday nights on CBS, it's all about "Two and a Half Men" and it looks like "Out of Practice" isn't retaining the audience from that show. The ratings dropped from a 9.7 share to a 8.1 share. Furthermore, the show was DOWN in both households (6.90%) and adults 18-49 (15.91%) from its debut (households: 8.7/13; adults 18-49: 4.4 on 9/19/05)... which is what execs really care about. Most TV insiders are predicting the demise of this show already. Just read the following from Entertainment Weekly:

Which new show will be next to go?

Fox guillotined Head Cases last week after just two episodes, but that's not the only new series in danger of a quick cancellation. In an article in the upcoming issue of Entertainment Weekly, Lynette Rice cites four other new shows whose low ratings could earn them a swift execution: Fox's Kitchen Confidential, The WB's Just Legal, NBC's Inconceivable, and CBS' Out of Practice. Anyone want to speak out on behalf of one or more of these shows, or will they die unmourned?

.. in other words... enjoy the show while it lasts!

[Warduke]

Funniest episode so far. Stockard owned this one. Very funny stuff

[bytrsuite]

Damn, lol, I love this show. Jennifer Tilly is great. I actually like all the characters. Such a nice change.

[HalfCamel]

I saw the last ten minutes of last weeks episode and I was cracking up. So I made it a point to watch this week's episode and it was really funny. I was laughing throughout the entire thing. I like all the characters, except for Oliver. I hope the show sticks around.

[dorksrcool]

Thanks to all of you I watched this show tonight and I was not disappointed. It is very funny! All the characters are very likeable and Stockard Channing is brilliant. I really hope it doesn't get cancelled. It's so much better than a lot of other sitcoms I've seen this season.

Thanks to the folks in this thread for giving me the heads up!

[xita]

I love the cast really, Jeniffer Tilly is just awesome. And Stockard Channing is very amusing. I actually like the relationship with her husband. It's nice to see them as friends, even though they pretend they don't like each other. It's very refreshing.

And Paula Marshall, gosh ... sigh

And this week it held the same rating so maybe they can see this one has stabalized with a loyal audience.

[Kajun]

I love this show! I’ve been taping Aly’s show but not this one and now it’s like Grrr.. cause I didn’t realize how excellent this was going to be. Oh yes, Paula Marshall is adorable!! The whole cast is fantastic. I’m hooked. Please, please stay on!!

[xita]

Hey Kajun, if you can do torrents, you can get some of the older episodes if you want to keep them. PM me if you want the links. They're still working.

[Kajun]

Xita, sending you a PM.. Thank you so much!

[maudmac]

I like this show. The cast is excellent. Great chemistry between them all. The writing is smart and funny.

I didn't even know there was going to be a gay character. That was a pleasant surprise. I just knew Stockard Channing and Jennifer Tilly were in it and I couldn't miss that. I love that Regina's sexuality is out in the open, but isn't any particular issue. The show's not treating her differently from the rest of the (straight) characters.

[urnofosiris]

Excellent episode. The way Stockard Channing reacted to "Kurt the manwhore" was reason enough to watch. Jennifer Tilly´s character cracks me up too, she just keeps turning up at the worst possible moments, which is perfect of course.

[Warduke]

Yet another great episode.

Stockard Channing and Henry Winkler were awesome tonight. They have such great chemistry together. And the scenes with Henry and his tiny cell phone and the ringtone he had for his ex-wife

Regina and Oliver's sibling rivalry was hilarious.

And Paula Marshall was so hot in this episode, just

Actually something was missing from this episode though...no Jennifer Tilly

[Tiggrscorpio]

This show gets better and better every week. It's consistently funny. Stockard Channing was a riot tonight. The whole cellphone ring tone bit was wonderful. The jokes feel very fresh and the chemistry just keeps building among all the characters. Paula Marshall just gets hotter and hotter looking each week, too.

I'm not sure how the ratings are at this point, but I hope the network gives this a chance to make it. I think it can definitely find a loyal audience.

[runnerbird]

"Don't make me call the dog!"

The smug looks exchanged by Regina and her brother at how many women they've dated and Ben's exasperated, "THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING!" Despite myself, I really like this show even though it's normally something I wouldn't.

It is also refreshing to see a lesbian on TV who isn't obsessed with nesting or having a baby and is sort of a commitment-phobic type.

[xita]

Yeah, I am not a sitcom person and I will admit to watching at first for the lesbian angle, but heck lesbian isn't enough to keep me watching. The show is funny and Paula is hot. The bit with the ringtone, very funny, lol. I mean it was obvious but it was done so quickly that I didn't have time to anticipate the tune.

And yeah, the look between the two of them was precious. It's really lovely to see a lesbian that is different, I actually think she seems like most lesbians I know. She's not an uber femme, she seems like a dyke. And I am still not offended by the use of the word. I think this show has plenty of space to improve. It's starting to think of the characters independently as the whole crew was not on screen at once.

Did I mention Paula is hot? Cargo pants.. sigh.

[sheila wt]

I too am enjoying this show a lot. Much more than "How I Met Your Mother" in fact (of course, Aly is always a bonus, no matter what!). Each episode seems funnier than the last one and it makes me like the characters more. I couldn't believe when I saw Jennifer Tilly in the first ep! And, yes, Paula is hot!!!

Unfortunately, things don't look that good on the ratings...

[blockquote]
From Mediaweek's Programming Insider:
http://www.mediaweek.com
CBS continues to lose Monday steam, meanwhile, with its combination of King of Queens, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, Out of Practice and CSI: Miami. Take a look:

CBS/Monday

8:00 p.m. King of Queens
Overnights: 7.0/10 (#2), Viewers: 10.58 million (#3), A18-49: 3.5/ 9 (#3)
Percent Change from Still Standing on Year-Ago Evening (Oct. 11, 2004)
Overnights: - 4, Viewers: - 2, A18-49: - 8
-----
8:30 p.m. How I Met Your Mother
Overnights: 6.4/ 9 (#4), Viewers: 9.70 million (#4), A18-49: 3.3/ 8 (#4)
Percent Change from Listen Up on Year-Ago Evening (Oct. 11, 2004)
Overnights: -10, Viewers: - 1, A18-49: no change
-----
9:00 p.m. Two and a Half Men
Overnights: 10.7/15 (#1), Viewers: 15.05 million (#2), A18-49: 4.9/11 (#2)
Percent Change from Everybody Loves Raymond on Year-Ago Evening (Oct. 11, 2004)
Overnights: -19, Viewers: -16, A18-49: -21
-----
9:30 p.m. Out of Practice
Overnights: 8.3/12 (#4), Viewers: 12.35 million (#3), A18-49: 4.1/ 9 (#4)
Percent Change from Two and a Half Men on Year-Ago Evening (Oct. 11, 2004)
Overnights: -27, Viewers: -28, A18-49: -32
-----
10:00 p.m. CSI: Miami
Overnights: 12.4/18 (#1), Viewers: 17.82 million (#1), A18-49: 5.9/14 (#1)
Percent Change from Year-Ago Evening (Oct. 11, 2004)
Overnights: -19, Viewers: -19, A18-49: -26

Given erosion for Out of Practice out of Two and a Half Men was 22 percent in the overnights, 18 percent in total viewers and 16 percent among adults 18-49, I think it's safe to predict that the cancellation clock is ticking on the freshman comedy.

**********************************************************

Primetime Series Scorecard: 2005-06 Recap

In the event you can't keep up with the status of the freshman class of fall
2005, here is a recap to-date of what is happening with the 31 new primetime entries this season:

ABC
Commander in Chief: shoo-in for a full-season renewal.
Freddie: debuting tomorrow.
Hot Properties: too soon to tell.
Invasion: expected full season pick-up.
Night Stalker: the axe could swing before November.

CBS
Close To Home: too soon to tell.
Criminal Minds: shoo-in for a full-season renewal.
Ghost Whisperer: shoo-in for a full-season renewal.
How I Met Your Mother: on the fence.
Out Of Practice: waiting for the axe to swing.
Threshold: expected full season pick-up.

NBC
The Apprentice: Martha Stewart: one season failure.
E-Ring: on the fence.
Inconceivable: canceled.
My Name Is Earl: full season renewal.
Surface: on the fence.
Three Wishes: on the fence.

FOX
Bones: shoo-in for a full-season renewal.
Head Cases: canceled.
Killer Instinct: growth out of lead-in Malcolm in the Middle offers minor
hope.
Kitchen Confidential: the axe could swing before November.
Prison Break: full season renewal.
Reunion: on the fence.
The War at Home: expected full season pick-up.

UPN
Everybody Hates Chris: full season renewal.
Love, Inc.: on the fence.
Sex, Love & Secrets: canceled.

WB
Just Legal: canceled.
Related: too soon to tell.
Supernatural: full season renewal.
Twins: on the fence.
[/blockquote]

[Gatito Grande]

THIS IS NUTS!!! (the ratings)

This show is head-n-shoulders BETTER than any other sitcom on TV (OK, I haven't seen the Chris Rock one), and they're thinking of cancelling it? WTF???

GG I mean, this show would be worth watching for Stockard's double-takes alone, nevermind how well written and acted it is . . . Out

[xita]

I was about to rant too about the ratings because from what I was looking at, HIMYM was losing its audience but Out of Practice was actually picking it up and it had always been higher rated.

I just read this in the HIMYM thread


CBS
-Close To Home: too soon to tell.
-Criminal Minds: shoo-in for a full-season renewal.
-Ghost Whisperer: shoo-in for a full-season renewal.
-How I Met Your Mother: waiting for the axe to swing.
-Out Of Practice: on the fence.
-Threshold: expected full season pick-up.

in other news:

Channing Pleads No Contest to DUI
(Tuesday, October 11 03:43 PM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) Emmy winner Stockard Channing has pleaded no contest to a DUI charge stemming from a freeway incident late last year.

The actress, currently starring in the CBS sitcom "Out of Practice," entered her plea last week, according to several news reports. She was fined $390, given three years' probation and ordered to attend an alcohol education class.

Channing was arrested on Dec. 14 of last year after being pulled over for driving on the shoulder of the Hollywood Freeway in Los Angeles. Police reports said lanes were closed following the breakdown of a tractor-trailer, and Channing swung onto the shoulder to pass the stopped traffic.
The 61-year-old star of "The West Wing" and "Six Degrees of Separation" failed a breath test at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of DUI. She spent a few hours in custody and was released without bail.

Channing won two Emmys in 2002 -- one for her portrayal of first lady Abby Bartlet on "The West Wing" and another for her role in the NBC movie "The Matthew Shepard Story." She's been nominated numerous other times in her career and also has an Oscar nomination for "Six Degrees of Separation" to her credit.

[umgaynow]

Sad but true, my experience with television is that the more sophisticated and urbane and genuinely funny a show is, the less likely it is to get picked up for another season...the general public likes the same thing recycled again and again...fat/skinny, stupid/dorky/perpetually horny guy with hot wife and wise ass kids with totally predictable plot and no edge whatsoever...I have seen some really great shows go bye bye after one season if that...then things like Everybody Loves Raymond and Yes, Dear and King of Queens and worst of all Rodney, go on and on...sad to say "the great unwashed American public" really is...after all, we are talking about the country that re-elected Dubya...although how you can re-elect someone who wasn't elected the first time I couldn't say
Here's hoping the predictions are wrong...

Sandi

[urnofosiris]

Well at least they can´t take away what we have gotten so far and for me one episode of this is worth seasons full of episodes of otherwise decent comedies. This episode was fantastic, too many great moments to sum up really but I especially love the one where Oliver and Regina smugly acknowledge to the amount of women they have slept with in the last 7 years.

[Incarnadine]

Out of Practice is safe for the moment. While it hasn't been picked up for a full season yet this little bit was included in the same CBS announcement that "How I Met Your Mother" was being picked up:

"CBS also has demonstrated a measure of faith in two other fall newcomers, the Friday drama "Threshold" and the 9:30 p.m. Monday comedy "Out of Practice," by ordering three additional scripts for both shows."