new show review: Miss Guided
When the very first image on the screen featured a mascot bunny rabbit in a fist fight, I was hopeful.
The premise behind Miss Guided is strong. Becky Freely, who was horribly awkward in high school, returns as an adult to her same school, now in the role of guidance counselor. Smart idea, and fleshing out the concept from there is strong afterwards as well. Our protagonist has a crush on a hunky Spanish teacher, but the new English teacher (who just happened to be Homecoming Queen in the guidance counselor’s senior year) is turning heads. Miss Freely is back in high school, and her new world comes with all the same dynamics as when she was a student.
Judy Greer is excellent as Becky Freely, and the writing is quality. The world of the show is enjoyable, as we watch teachers who are not a bit qualified for their jobs struggle with their daily lives. However, overall the first episode’s virtue is more its potential than it’s comedic virtuosity; all the elements are in the right place, except the laughs are few and far between.
Best aspect: The jokes you saw in the promos. Yep. All the jokes can be found there.
Worst aspect: The first episode’s use of Chris Parnell. He seems shoehorned in, with a particularly unfunny subplot.
Verdict: I will watch another.
Odds of success: ABC has managed only one successful sitcom launch in the last several years, and it was Samantha Who? Much like, SW, MG is a quirky, female-driven half-hour with a strong premise. Both shows are more to be smiled at than laughed at, but you don’t dislike them for it. ABC is wisely using Dancing with the Stars to launch MG, just as it did SW. Desperate as they are for successful comedy, I’ll say that MG has a strong probability for longevity, if only because of the extreme likelihood that next year ABC will pair their two chick sitcoms.
jane on