This week, “Will & Grace” star Sean Hayes returns to a lead television role for the first time since the critically acclaimed show went off the air in 2006. “Sean Saves the World,” which premiered on NBC on Oct. 3, centers around the character of Sean, a divorced gay father with a successful but time-consuming job. His life takes a dramatic turn when his 14-year-old daughter Ellie, played by Hollywood newbie Samantha Isler, moves in. Not one to do things halfway, Sean must balance raising a teenage daughter with the ever-increasing demands of work. On the surface, the show seems to be a new take on the traditional sitcom, but the cast of characters is anything but revolutionary.
The series was created by Victor Fresco, known for shows like “Better Off Ted” and “Andy Richter Controls the Universe,” both of which debuted to low ratings and quick cancellations despite being well received by critics. “Sean Saves the World” itself is a throwback to typical 1990s multi-camera, laugh track sitcoms that are so familiar to veteran director, James Burrows, who also directed “Will & Grace.”
Fans of “Will & Grace” should expect to see many familiar themes, as Hayes played a single gay father with a teenage child on that show as well. Given the recent strides that gay rights have made in the past few years, “Sean Saves the World” has a chance to show the intricacies of a gay parent raising a rebellious, yet ultimately curious teenager.
Sean’s mother Lorna, played by Linda Lavin (“Alice”), is a brusque, unmotherly character who reminds viewers of Charlie’s mother, Evelyn, from “Two and a Half Men.” Sean’s friends, Liz, played by “Smash” star Megan Hilty, and Hunter, “Ben and Kate’s” Echo Kellum, play stereotypical sitcom co-workers who are trying to cope with their terrible new boss, Max, played by “Reno 911’s” Thomas Lennon.
The show does a good job of portraying the single parent-child relationship, complete with awkward personal moments and at times over-zealous parenting, though Isler’s character can, at times, seem too aware of what that dynamic should be. The scenes featuring Sean and Ellie are relatable and real, but just are not as funny as the workplace scenes, which could spell trouble as they are ostensibly the main focus of the show. Isler’s lack of experience is buoyed by her ability to play, essentially, herself, a teenage girl. While Sean’s mother provides an additional comic character at home, Lavin and Hayes’ characters seem to constantly try and outdo each other, which leads to some of the jokes falling flat. The most amusing times come when Sean’s desire to be closer to his daughter is juxtaposed with his utter lack of desire to be close with his own mother.
While the show features a large amount of comedic talent, including “Chuck’s” Vik Sahay, the competing storylines from Sean’s personal and professional lives leave the pilot feeling disjointed. Introducing all the characters from both settings in just a 20 minute pilot might be the only reason for this, and more focused episodes could allow for the cast’s natural talent to bring the show from an average sitcom to something more.
In all, “Sean Saves the World” is a good option for those with comedy in mind and twenty minutes to kill, but not something one should plan a night around. It remains to be seen if future episodes can bring together the show’s all-star cast for a true comedy gem. While not perfect, it certainly has potential. “Sean Saves the World” airs Thursdays on NBC.
