"Listen Up" (2004) TV series 2004-2005

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Creator:

Jeff Martin

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

20 September 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

He may be the first word in sports, but his family gets the last word at home.

Plot:

Tiny, O-shaped Tony Kleinman and his mate, former professional jock Bernie Widman, still a popular womanizer...

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Will Rothhaar	...	Mickey Kleinman (22 episodes, 2004-2005)
Jason Alexander	...	Tony Kleinman (22 episodes, 2004-2005)
Malcolm-Jamal Warner	...	Bernie Widmer (22 episodes, 2004-2005)
Daniella Monet	...	Megan Kleinman (22 episodes, 2004-2005)
Wendy Makkena	...	Dana Kleinman / ... (18 episodes, 2004-2005)

Also Known As:

Shut Up and Listen (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Regency Television

Trivia:

Mark Harmon had been in contention for the role of Tony. However, he was deemed "way too good looking" for the role. Tony Kornheiser, whose life was the basis of the show, was asked to read for the role. But the sportswriter turned the offer down stating he did not want to move to Los Angeles.

Quotes:

Paul: Can I get a what-what?
Bernie Widmer: What?
Tony Kleinman: What?

Off to a rocky start but, I think, improving rapidly

Did you ever watch the very earliest episodes of Seinfeld back in 1990? I can remember seeing them when they were new, and thinking that the show was nothing to get excited about. It improved at an almost imperceptible rate, until I eventually realized I was watching something inspired. I think this show, too, has shown gradual improvement in the quality of its scripts and the interaction of its cast. The show is really built around its star, Jason Alexander, and as an old Seinfeld fan I have a lot of good will toward Alexander and am willing to give any project of his a fair chance. Is there a certain amount of George Costanza in the role of Tony Kleinman? Undoubtedly, but it's a shtick that I still enjoy.

You can't go far wrong with Malcolm-Jamal Warner, a seasoned sitcom veteran and just plain likable guy. The interaction between him and Alexander is fun to watch, and they make a good team.

I know almost nothing about sports, and absolutely nothing about Tony Kornheiser, so that element of the project means nothing to me. To me it's not important, anyway, because as an earlier commentator pointed out, the show isn't about sports in the slightest. Although every once in a while a sports figure is trotted on to add a bit of color to the show, these scenes are just brief distractions.

I will admit, though, that the very tired sitcom stereotype of "smart wife and kids, dumb dad" is a little grating at times, and I'd appreciate it if this formula was not quite so overstressed in the show. One kink in that formula, though, is Will Rothhaar as Tony's son Mickey. This character started out as a cipher because of the scant amount of lines and screen time accorded him (the earliest plots seemed to be dominated by the relationship between Tony and his fairly obnoxious daughter). But Rothhaar, a highly experienced young actor, seems to bring a much-needed element of calm and softness amidst the more grating personalities of the other characters. The delivery of his lines are never overdone in the slightest but always note-perfect, and always get a laugh out of me. He turns what could be a cartoonish stereotype of a simple-minded slacker kid into an interesting, likable, and funny character, and I get a big kick out of the scenes where he's intimidated by his harpy sister.

I hope this show is given a chance to continue to grow and improve. I like its progress.