Reasons To/Not To Watch "Jake in Progress"

REASONS TO WATCH "JAKE IN PROGRESS"

• Great supporting characters (Ian Gomez and Rick Hoffman)
• People make fun of John Stamos (calling him things like “that guy from Menudo” and “Chachi”)
• Chuckle-provoking writing (Ian Gomez talking about being a parent: “Do you know what my daughter just put in the washing machine? My son!”)
• The return of Wendie Malick (loved her ever since "Dream On")

So there you have it, right? A great review of the new ABC comedy "Jake in Progress," starring the always attractive Blackie Uncle Jesse John Stamos.

Hold on just a sec there, folks. The news isn't all good. Scroll down for the negative side....

REASONS NOT TO WATCH "JAKE IN PROGRESS"

• It’s so clearly a rip-off of Sex and the City, from the advertising campaign (“Different sex. Same city”) right down to the quirky theme music, that it's insulting
• Jake is not, so far, at all likable; he dates randomly and carelessly without impunity, and is just another good-looking schmoozer who has people at his beck and call to do his will
• He seems to only date women who are built like Rebecca Romijn(-Stamos)
• Show makes fun of fat women and gay men and utilized one weird joke about a character in a long skirt looking "like a Chasidic Jew on her first trip to the mall"
• Storylines progress predictably and conflicts are only moderately conflicting (Oh! His date has slept with him before, and he doesn’t remember! Oh! The gay guy’s not really gay…)
• Special preview of the show aired instead of a new episode of "Desperate Housewives" (will I even remember what Wisteria Lane is like once there are finally fresh eps of that show? or will I care?)

I can't really give this show a thumb in either direction. If it's on again and I'm not busy, I'll keep it on in the background while I write my next column. But appointment television, it ain't. Or at least, it ain't yet.

Did you see it? What did you think?

Comments

[candy girl]

if it's not a thumbs up, it's a thumbs-down. the logic of limited time in a day dictates that the rules for prime-time and the rules for shopping are the same.

unfortunately, that doesn't stop me from spending $40 on a tank top because i'm too lazy to go downtown to nordstrom rack (true story), or from watching the finale of celebrity fit club, which didn't inspire me to do a single push up (also a true story). that's an extra $33 and 2 hours i'll never get back. so i'm voting no on jake in progress too. :)

[Stephen Silver]

Actually, it's a rip-off of "The L-Word"'s marketing campaign- "Same Sex, Different City."

[Norma]

I won't be much help in settling this. I only see these things if they make it to Nick at Nite where his Uncle Jesse show is currently. I've never seen the Sex thing show. Did I miss something?

[Tamara]

I thought Ian Gomez's and Wendy Malick's characters were close to stepping over the line on being just as offensive and stereotypical as Stamos' character. I did laugh occasionally though, but the music, gah! it was awful and overdone.

if it's on, I won't change the channel, but not making time for it in my schedule.

[Janice]

Who cares about "Jake" the New Yorker? What's really important to this New Yorker is that Mario Vasquez has dropped out of "American Idol." Now even American Idol is no longer worth watching :-(

[Lyss]

Great minds think alike.
:)

[writersbloc gal]

so basically, this guy is a Modelizer, is that what you're trying to say? ;) i hear SATC ripoff.

[wajee]

does anyone know the name of the theme song they play in the JIP commercials? thanks!

[Janet]

Jake In Progress is hilarious. I was a huge skeptic, but it won me over.

No, it's not perfect, but the wry humor is delightful. I rarely watch a sitcom where I find myself laughing out loud. The Desperate Houseguy episode had me laughing all the way through.

John Stamos makes it funny, exactly because he is so gorgeous. When he spits out the birthday cake, it's unexpectedly hilarious... when he falls down with his nuts in the puddle...laughed so hard my husband ran in to see if I was ok. A lot of funny stuff would get missed by people not having this particular sense of humor. It's not a fru-fru humor - it's a dry, sarcastic humor.

It's so much better than most of the sitcoms on these days...let us have our fun.

[Jackie]

Thumbs up for Jake in Progress!

I didn't want to like it, but hey....it was funny. No....it was extremely funny and when the cast was not funny they were interesting.

It's nothing like "Sex in the City". They cast actors that look normal. I'm sick of seeing perfect faces on the television.

Yes I agree with wajee about the dry humor, but it was a mixed bag.

I am going to KEEP WATCHING...and we are a Nielson Ratings Household!

[Dave]

Give me a break. For once a show that hillariously portrays the male side of dating by men in their 30's. Stamos has a great quirky character, which demonstrates his background in stage. I think this show has a lot of potential for male viewers if it keeps up its writing.

[Dave]

Give me a break. For once a show that hillariously portrays the male side of dating by men in their 30's. Stamos has a great quirky character, which demonstrates his background in stage. I think this show has a lot of potential for male viewers if it keeps up its writing.

[Probir]

It's a good show - funny & intelligent. I'm sure it is already or soon will be beating Joey in the ratings, they're on at the same time. John Stamos has redeemed himself for that awful show about the family with those weird looking twins.

[Meg]

Please KEEP This show It's great!

[steph]

"Jake in Progress" is a great show! It's different, funny and quirky. Jake is adorable and lovable and the supporting characters are well developed, down to Caitlyn. It's interesting to watch and I still think John Stamos is adorable! I have it in my TiVo season's pass and I haven't missed an episode since the first. I think it's great and everyone should give it a chance. It's a great alternative to the boring, same old same old sitcoms on. I can't believe nobody likes it! I really hope it stays on!

[G]

I think Jake in Progress is a great show. It may not have all the catchy phrases that Carrie Bradshaw came up with, but it has interesting characters, silly premises (with the Publicity firm - I mean Henry Porter - that's good stuff) and the David Blaine wanta be just cracks me up. I agree he only dates the hot ones, but thats who I want him to date. The dry humor is right on and can be extremely sarcastic. Hope the show stays on for at least a couple seasons...

[A fan of Jake]

Its nice to see other people think the theme music is very much like the SATC music. Just a little to close for comfort. I personally don't like all the hispanic-sounding music in commercial background music either. The SATC music always sounding a little to hispanic for me, and Jake does too.

I love every single character on the show except for the newborn baby. I think they shouldve left her pregnant for awhile longer. Babys always seem to be a downer on a show. They don't have personalities and thus are boring.

Jake is hot! and I Love seeing the Bowling-Alley-Show chic back on TV. I loved "Ed" and was bummed when they took it off. I loe the David Blaine wanna be. He is funny in every scene. I hope they keep this show on the air.

[Christine]

I hope Jake in Progress comes back for a 2nd season. It captivates an audience that truly embarks on the journey of finding a soul mate. What better character than John Stamos to play the part) he's cute funny and greek)

Christine

[Diana]

Someone is my company heard that the latest episode of "Jake in Progress" on 4/21 (maybe?) makes mention of one of the characters being so successful that he owns a waterfree urinal company.

My company IS a waterfree urinal company, and we are extremely anxious to see what this was and was wondering if there is any way to see the broadcast or if there is any way to at least see that particular clip.

If you've taped that episode, we'd love to hear from you. Thanks!

~Diana Turner~
Sales & Marketing Coordinator
Falcon Waterfree Technologies
www.falconwaterfree.com
info@falconwaterfree.com

[Melanie]

John Stamos is my father

[Dave]

Love the show. I think it's more like Seinfeld than anything else. Let's see, cool, quirky main character, chubby bald guy, tall weird guy ... ok so Wendy Malick is nothing like Elaine.

I have high hopes for this show. Wry humor, no laugh track ... I'll never watch Joey again.

[Eric]

Hey, I really hate most sitcoms. Only Seinfeld makes me laugh compared to all the other blah blah shows like...Friends....Everyone Loves Raymond. OK, this show is a male version of "Sex in the City", but don't men deserve their say. The supporting cast is incredible, and my girlfriend and I are hooked on this show. If you have relationship issues, skip this show, it might upset you. On the other hand, if you have a twisted sense of humor, and can roll with the punches, you will love this show. There was even an episode where I was ashamed of what Jake was doing, and I told my girlfriend I don't agree. Atleast it sparks conversation on the treachery of dating. Two Thumbs way up!!!!!!!!!!

[Michelle]

Has anyone reading this ever seen either of the movies "Phone Booth" or "Jerry McGuire"? "Jake" reminds me of both of the main characters in these movies SO much.

[Michelle]

Has anyone reading this ever seen either of the movies "Phone Booth" or "Jerry McGuire"? "Jake" reminds me of both of the main characters in these movies SO much.

[Neal]

I thought it was good. If Im watching TV and I flip to it Ill usually ride it till its over.