My quick first impressions of the new show Up All Night...
Laughing right off the bat! A good sign. Watching the easy, exasperated chemistry between Christina Applegate and Will Arnett was a total pleasure. Actually, as far as I'm aware, this is the first time Will Arnett has gotten to play a character who was not just a variation on GOB, and he pulls it off. Breathe easy, Will Arnett fans, for he is not a one-trick pony!
My concern for the show is this - the baby stuff was funny. Really, REALLY funny. The workplace stuff was...ok. I found myself noticing very consciously what had been reshot from the original pilot (they rewrote chunks of it to give Maya Rudolph a more interesting role), and without a doubt, the grainier, "original" footage was invariably funnier than the talk show stuff. It was also tonally very different. A little grittier, more realistic and less sitcom-y.
I have faith, though, since the tease for next week looks to keep the focus squarely on the baby, and it will all be shot as a whole, so it won't feel like two shows written at two times and sewn together.
As of right now, I'm keeping this on my slate, and looking forward to more episodes. Also looking forward to sharing this with my friends who are new parents to hear what they think!
I love Maya Rudolph. Have you seen 'Away We Go'?
ReplyDeleteI haven't, but I love Maya Rudolph, too. My concern is less about Rudolph, who is very funny, but more about reconciling two very different-feeling settings.
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