Breckin Meyer is a likeable actor. Really, he is. He’s funny, charming and attractive in a kind of goofy way. So why he keeps ending up in one crappy project after another, who knows?
The latest in his long line of duds is Inside Schwartz, a new sports-themed comedy from NBC. Meyer stars as the down-on-his-luck Adam Schwartz, a well-meaning guy who just can’t seem to catch a break.
He works as a sports announcer for a minor league team, gets dumped by his long-term girlfriend, only to be set-up on a blind date with the perfect woman — who turns out to be a prostitute. All these wonders occur in the first episode alone, and not one of them is as funny on screen as they might seem in print.
For starters, while Meyer turns in a fine performance as the bumbling, titular character, his entire supporting cast is untalented and deeply annoying.
Worst of the lot is Miriam Shor, who portrays his best friend, Julie. An irritating performer at best, Shor manages to drown every line in sarcasm and ill-attempted wit. She is, of course, Schwartz’s true love in disguise, only he’s too dumb to see it.
However, she’s so plain and irksome, one can’t even begin to hope for a union between her and Meyer’s character.
Lastly, this show can’t be mentioned without going into what is its true “niche.” You see, what makes Inside Schwartz different from other comedies is that Schwartz’s life unspools via commentaries from famous sports figures, like Dick Butkus.
It’s supposed to be cute and funny, but it’s just one more distraction in this mess.
Grade: C-
Whoever came up with the bright idea to give Emeril a TV show, should go ahead and retire. Loosely based on reality, Emeril chronicles the laid-back chef’s struggles to maintain a family life while starring in a hit cooking show.
This show-within-a-show better shape up, or ship out.
Emeril, while engaging as a chef, just isn’t all that interesting to watch on screen. He winds up seeming rather cardboard-ish, never fully getting into his acting.
His sidekicks steal the show at every turn (though they often border on annoying). The whole show, in fact, has a phony feel to it. It’s ridiculously self-aware, and tries to hard to be “with the times.” One pop culture joke after another is thrown out (the characters dish on Survivor, The Mole and The Weakest Link).
But perhaps the truest line of all comes when Emeril’s savvy coworker bemoans how easily television shows get the ax. “They cancelled Bette after half a season!” she cries.
Emeril will be lucky to make it that long.
Grade: D
