It’s hard to believe that a sitcom as funny as The New Adventures of Old Christine doesn’t get more notice. Yes, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has won a 2006 Emmy for her work on the show, which last night had an episode that somehow managed to wring fresh laughs out of familiar sitcoms subjects such as child-birth (New Christine’s a mom: it’s a girl, Dakota) and the old male-stripper-dressed-as-a-cop bit (except he wasn’t a stripper, he was actually a policeman looking for a neighborhood intruder).
But Louis-Dreyfus has had to endure indignities both small (such as having her name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame misspelled two days ago) and large: CBS is so uncommitted to this show, my colleague Michael Ausiello had to characterize Old Christine‘s chances of renewal as “could go either way” on his Renewal Scorecard.
As it proved once again last night, Old Christine remains both extremely amusing and distinctive. Louis-Dreyfus’ Christine Campbell is a suburban wreck — a wine-guzzling, under-achiever who can never seem to get it together. Last night, she mistook that cop for a stripper (side-note: he was played by Josh Randall, who used to be the best-pal on Ed, remember?), one of many embarrassments Christine by now endures with comic exasperation.
The subplots included New Christine (the wonderfully blank-faced Emily Ruthurfurd) giving birth to her child with Christine’s ex, Richard (Clark Gregg, with his magnificently smarmy smile). Also, Christine’s brother, Matthew (Hamish Linklater gives him a grave intelligence), having struggled to move out of Christine’s house, found himself being pulled back into her loser-orbit.
The series, created by Kari Lizer, is a sustained portrait of a middle-aged woman at loose ends, plus slapstick. It’s like no other sitcom on the air.
Hey, I love Modern Family and 30 Rock, too. But don’t you think The New Adventures of Old Christine deserves some attention and praise, too?
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Yes! Well said, Ken. I was thinking the exact same things last night while watching the show – very underrated and very, very funny.
I have seen this show a couple of times and the reason I think its not too great is its centered around an extremely attractive woman who has trouble getting a man, life is a mess, etc. PLEASE, this is as ludicrous as that new Alyssa Milano show with the same premise – hot woman, but no man, boo hoo. I remember a Heather Locklear movie came out a couple years back with the same dumb premise. Gimme a break. If this premise is done, use an actress where it will be believable like Mayim Bialik, ie: someone who isn’t obviously physically attractive.
Zedd…etc, the point is not that Christine CAN’T get a man. She’s attracted plenty of very attractive men. It’s her demeanor, her personality, her bizarre neurosis. As soon as she meets people, she turns them off in extremely funny and yet realistically acted ways. If I met some hottie and immediately realized what a loser he was, I would NOT indulge that and date him. So, its done in a very hilarious fashion. So yes, she’s HOT. Dating is more than about physical appearance, NO??? I agree Ken. This show just doesn’t get the attention it deserves AND it SHOULD be on CBS’s Monday Block. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE RENEW IT, CBS.
To be fair, she doesn’t have any trouble getting a man. She’s just such a mess that she can’t keep one. Funny show.
I really like this show, it’s very funny and it’s a shame that ratings are so low. As per last night’s episode, how about that cop? He SHOULD be a stripper. Mmmm!
yes! Old Christine is great! it needs to be back on Monday nights where it belongs! Definately needs more respect, and more seasons released on DVD!
This! The show used to be on after Two and Half Men and it was a funny hour of TV. In both shows, the supporting cast is what makes everything so funny. I love New Christine and Richard.
Both Show are own by WB…there could have be/been a crossover.
Hmm. Old Christine-funny. 2.5 Men SO not funny.
Yeah, last night’s episode was hilarious, and I agree more seasons need to be on DVD. Is it really in that much danger of being cancelled? While most shows have dropped off in ratings this season, “Old Christine” has stayed pretty steady in the ratings, and even if CBS does cancel it, wouldn’t ABC just pick it up like it has announced it would do the past 2 seasons? It would be perfect on ABC at the same time because it would complete their Wednesday comedy block.
Looks like you spelled her name wrong as well…
i adore christine, and i’m also surprised that it has to struggle. it would do better on monday nights where there are anchors, and not wasting away all by its lonesome on wednesdays. if only cbs cared about christine a fraction as much as you and i do.
I agree completely with your thoughts. The show is good silly fun with a great cast. The only thing that bugs me is that Ritchie comes and goes. Last night he wasn’t at his mom’s house and he wasn’t at the hospital with his dad/step mom.
I’m with ya, Ken. It’s a funny, clever show that always makes me laugh…but each Spring, I’m afraid CBS will dump it. Also, I don’t know anyone else who even watches it.
CBS is clueless. Move the show over to ABC and put it on before the Middle. Then ABC really has comedy Wed: Christine, Middle, Modern Family and Cougar Town. That’s what most people watch on Wed anyway but I don’t have a nielsen box so my viewing doesn’t count.
+100 This is the real “Comedy Wednesday”
I also love Christine because it stars a FUNNY WOMAN. There have been so many sitcoms with boorish, stupid, funny men, but Julia plays Christine to that level, and is hilarious. What other actress would let us know her character’s couch “smells of f*rts?” CBS con’t be dumb, but if you are then ABC please nab this show!
To Long Live Christine:
Ironically, you don’t know anyone who watches it and i don’t know anyone who doesn’t. Friends, people at work, everyone always talks about Christine on Thursday to laugh about the episode. Julia and Wanda rock!
Yay Julia and Wanda.
Of course, none of the people I know have a nielsen box either so none of what we watch counts.
Come to think of it, who does have a nielsen box? I think its all a scam.
I thought just this week, I read somewhere that if CBS cancels it, ABC will take it for the Fall 2010 schedule…
My partner and i have just started watching this show after catching a Christine marathon on one hungover sunday afternoon – which sounds like something Christine herself would do….anyway – watching this hilariously acted and written episode, we kept saying to ourselves HOW have we missed this show for so many years??? It deserves a little more water cooler chit chat and a lot higher ratings….i think that last night along with a repeat of Big Bang Theory could really take off as must see Wednesday TV.
Brett, my thoughts exactly! CBS is so callous in its treatment of “Old Christine,” a delightdul show. It would be a great start and addition to the three Wednesday night ABC comedy winners. I so hope CBS renews “Christine” and doesn’t mess with it. Louis-Dreyfus and the cast are so funny. This show deserves more respect and deserves to thrive.
And I of course meant to write delightful! And I agree with Kevin–more seasons on DVD, please!!! I have the first two and want more!!!
I disagree with all of you. I watched it from the start, and I just think it’s gotten too dopey and hammy.
I agree with you, Mary. There are a few hilarious moments here and there (like when Christine’s hair appointment went awry a few weeks ago – I laughed so hard!) but overall, the show is a little “dopey” now. Christine was always a bit of a mess, but I feel that it’s too unbelievable now. The “getting trapped on the subway platform” is a good example.
I also used to watch it, but I don’t anymore. It got too preachy with the politics for me.
One thing threw me off last night was the implication Matthew and New Christine slept together. Did I miss something? The show is not must-see TV but I do enjoy it when I watch it.
The implication is they have a somewhat unhealthy attachment to each other. They do NOT sleep together as in have sex. The show really does push the boundaries as far as what behavior is acceptable between siblings and friends. They slept on the couch together because Christine drew him back into her orbit through her fear of the “prowler”.
Totally agree with everyone. Great show that CBS has bounced around on their schedule with little marketing support. And always at this time of the year when networks look towards their Fall schedules, CBS just about abandons it until a competitor shows interest. Dear CBS, let the show go so it can resurface on ABC and be given the respect it deserves. I would love to see it move over to fill out the ABC comedy block and then kill whatever CBS puts on at 8:00. Probably some lame Julie Chen POS.