What is it? The Exes, Seasons 1-2, 22 episodes on three discs from Paramount Home Entertainment
When? Now
How much? $29.98
What's the story? Stuart (David Alan Basche) is a newly divorced dentist having trouble adjusting to life as a singleton. He didn't really want the divorce.
No worries, though, because his divorce lawyer, Holly (Kristen Johnston), is more than a divorce lawyer. She's also a self-styled life coach. And a landlord.
She moves Stuart right into an apartment (which she owns, of course) already shared by two of her clients: womanizing sports agent Phil (Donald Faison) and Haskell (Wayne Knight), a shady guy who makes a living selling things online.
This isn't some sort of money-making real estate scheme for her, though. She's a big-hearted woman, and as far as she's concerned, her role doesn't end when the ink dries. She's a lawyer who gets very involved in her clients' lives, and since she lives across the hall, she's perfectly positioned to stay involved.
Of course, Holly needs the men's help as well. Her love life is borderline hopeless.
Along with Holly's bouncy assistant Eden (Kelly Stables), the members of the group form a little dysfunctional family.
Some of those names sound familiar. They should. This is one of those TV Land series (such as Hot in Cleveland) that brings familiar sitcom vets together in an old-style multi-camera show. In this case, they have Johnston from 3rd Rock From the Sun, Knight from Seinfeld and 3rd Rock and Faison from Scrubs.
Is it any good? Well, that would depend on what you're looking for. If old-fashioned, multi-camera sitcoms with loud laugh tracks are your thing, then this is a show for you.
There's something to be said for the "old" way of doing things. And it's great to see some familiar faces from the 1990s and 2000s on the small screen again.
However, would it be asking too much for the show to be funny?
The cast members are all pros doing their best, and they certainly seem to be having fun. But the writing really lets them down. The jokes just fall flat. Most are so old anyone who has watched a comedy in the last 30 years can anticipate the punch line. Even the ones that aren't as old as the hills hit with a resounding thud.
As for the plots, they're stories that have been done (and done better) many, many times before.
The result of all this is a show that toggles between awkward and dull, which is a shame because it's a talented cast.
Are there extras? A long list of light-hearted interviews (the longest is just under 2 minutes) with cast, director and producer.
New this week: Archer, Season 5; Girls, Season 3; Glee, Season 5; Married ... With Children, Seasons 7-8; Midsomer Murders, Seasons 12-13; Party of Five, Season 2.
Next week: Boardwalk Empire, Season 5; The Bridge, Season 2; Dallas, Season 3; Episodes, Season 3; The Facts of Life, Complete Series; House of Lies, Season 3; Lovejoy, Season 4; NYPD Blue, Season 8.
Style on 01/04/2015