From the Happiness is a Warm TV blog, staff writer Adrienne Johnson Martin previewed TV One's first original scripted sitcom, "Love That Girl," which debuted Tuesday night. The series stars Tatyana Ali and Phil Morris. Martin Lawrence is executive producer. Soul singer Raphael Saadiq provides the theme song. Here is what Martin wrote:
Oh how I wish I liked it.
But I did not. "Love That Girl" is one of those broad comedies that try to mine laughs out of stereotypes and outlandish characters.
Ali plays Tyana Jones (was she intentionally named for Disney's black princess?), a divorcee who gets her real estate license and joins her father Delroy Jones (Morris) in his small, backward (the man still uses a typewriter) real estate office. Also in on the fun is her brother, Latrell (Alphonso McAuley), who's a bit of a bum and a Jimmie "J.J." Walker-esque clown, although a better actor. She also has a best friend, Nefertiti (Kendyl Joi), who owns a hair salon.
The broad stuff comes out most acutely with the next-door neighbors: two gay men. Two flamboyantly gay men. The kind who come over in pink silk pajamas carrying a Chihuahua. And then there's the round-the-way girl who works as the receptionist at Delroy's office. Door knocker earrings, cutting eyes, on the phone with her girlfriend all day. Sigh.
If that added up to funny, I'd excuse it, but it doesn't. There are even bathroom jokes.
It's a shame too. Ali, I think, has a nice quality, a charm that indeed makes her an updated "That Girl" and a solid lead. Morris, too, is a pro. It's clear these two can handle quality material. If they got it.
According to a story in the Washington Post, this is TV One's attempt to get ahead of BET, which has failed at creating an original sitcom and turned down this one. TV One execs, the article says, hope it will be a good lead in to episodes of "Martin."
Hmm.
"Martin" is probably the broadest show the network airs, but even Martin has some depth to it. "Love That Girl," at least the pilot, is just silly.
Fingers crossed that it gets better. Toes and eyes too.
Read the Happiness is a Warm TV blog at blogs.newsobserver.com/tv.
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