Undateable is an American drama television series. It is airing midseason on NBC as part of the 2013–14 American television season and premiered on May 29, 2014.
The multi-camera comedy was created by Adam Sztykiel and is based on the book Undateable: 311 Things Guys Do That Guarantee They Won't Be Dating Or Having Sex by Ellen Rakieten and Anne Coyle.
The modest twist, such as it is, is that the series follows a
semi-serialized story as its sort-of spine, in which bar owner Justin
(comic Brett Morin, in his first role) has an unspoken but very obvious
crush on his alluring bartender Maddie (“Ground Floor’s” Briga Heelan),
which he expresses childishly — for instance, by repeatedly pretending
to bump into her as they cross the room.
His new roommate, meanwhile, Danny (Chris D’Elia, late of “Whitney,”
and generally the best thing in the bad sitcoms he’s been in), has sort
of run out of friends as they gradually pair off and settle down; still,
he steadfastly refuses to change his ways, and takes it upon himself to
provide lothario guidance to Justin, who he somewhat obnoxiously refers
to as “Baby Bird.”
Justin’s trio of nerdy friends (Ron Funches, Rick Glassman, David
Fynn) and Danny’s desperate-for-a-date, single-mom sister (Bianca
Kajlich) round out the company, giving rise to all manner of silliness.
Yet Justin’s quest to woo Maddie at least offers the show a touch of
cohesion, though it doesn’t provide her with much of an arc, other than
being the object (understandably) of his attention.
The friends are an obvious device, but a decidedly well-worn one, and
it’s not like there’s a shortage of socially awkward dweebs running
around TV, many of them with actual characters in more fully fleshed out
programs.
Mostly, the show functions best, when it functions at all, as a
vehicle for D’Elia, who, like “Boy’s” David Walton, appears to be one of
those actors NBC – and indeed, the extended sitcom world – is convinced
will break out if afforded enough opportunities.
They might very well be right, but “Undateable’s” at-best
intermittent charms — dumped, without much ceremony, with back-to-back
episodes post-Memorial Day — don’t seem like the most hospitable
environment to forge such a love connection.
Source: wikipedia and variety.com
