“The Odd Couple” is one of CBS’s spring comedies that was released February 19. Starring Matthew Perry (“Friends”) as Oscar Madison and Thomas Lennon (“Reno 911!”) as Felix Unger, the sitcom’s pilot is the story of two unlikely post-divorce bachelors who end up living together.
“The Odd Couple” marks Perry’s third attempt in four years to create a successful sitcom. Although he himself produced it, this show is a far cry from the quality of the original 1968 play by Neil Simon. The play has gone through a cycle of production, through TV series and eventually movies, and this one might be the worst.
The audience’s first introduction is to Oscar. Oscar gives off a perpetual bachelor vibe, surrounded by his own filth and courting the prettier, younger women who live in his apartment, like Casey (Leslie Bibb, “Iron Man”). As a former sports star turned sports-radio-junkie, his personality is one part crass and the other promiscuity. When a blubbering, newly-separated Felix comes to visit his old college pal, Oscar decides to let him stay. Tension invariably ensues as the two’s dramatically different lifestyles clash. Their emotional approaches to divorce, the “sports-TV” wall in Oscar’s apartment and everything else in between are points for contention.
The contrast between the two is anything but subtle, as Felix attempts to join in on the men’s football night by cleaning the entire apartment and making a full vegan snack plate. As the metrosexual persona might suggest, several of Oscar’s macho friends crack jokes at Felix’s sexuality. Oscar backs his uppity friend up, however, but jokes at his sexuality will surely appear in later episodes. Unfortunately, the acting is about as natural and wholesome as Cheez Whiz. Perry’s awkward facial freezes coupled with unruly grey hair make him seem like more of a Santa-that-fell-off-the-wagon than charming Chandler from “Friends.” “All she wanted was sex with no feelings,” he exclaims in one poignant moment, “That’s my skillset!”
Lennon’s Felix is slightly below sub-par as well. As a tense, stiff-upper-lip “borderline gay,” his character is as ridiculous and exaggerated as his perpetual costume of sweater vest and tie. From the excess lycra during his morning yoga to his lint-rolling habit, we see entirely too much of his overinflated formality.
Despite the cast’s obvious potential, “The Odd Couple” should take a cue from Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin and participate in “conscious uncoupling.” “The Odd Couple” airs on Thursdays at 8:30/7:30c on CBS.
