Paul Reiser's New Show Yanked by NBC After Only Two Episodes

By Christine Fenno Posted Apr 23rd 2011 12:09PM

Did you blink and miss Paul Reiser's big TV comeback on his old 'Mad About You' network? After airing just two episodes, as reported by EW.com, NBC has pulled 'The Paul Reiser Show' off the air.

Reiser played himself on the primetime series, which premiered April 14 to less than 3.5 million viewers. It was added to the Thursday night lineup, following 'Community,' as a replacement for the recently canceled 'Perfect Couples.'

The premise was a reality-sitcom hybrid on which the chatty star conversed casually with people in his life (some real celebs, and some actors portraying his friends -- a formula that spelled success for 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'), but the final product was not well-received by critics.

Larry David and reality megaproducer Mark Burnett ('Survivor') were two of the guests who played themselves.

Reiser, 54, co-created 'Mad About You,' the NBC hit series co-starring Helen Hunt (who won four consecutive Emmys for her performance as Jamie Buchman). The sitcom ran 1992-1999 and made both of its stars household names.

The new show attempted to capture Reiser, now a very rich dad with too much time on his hands, interacting with friends and family. The former standup comic documented one of his parenting moments for Huffington Post last year, defending Jay Leno in a piece about how he explained the NBC vs. Conan fiasco to his befuddled son.

Tags: nbc, paul reiser

Comments

(83)

Saturday 23 April

By Binky

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It Stunk

By martin

Only NBC would have put Paul in a time slot opposite AMERICAN IDOL for godsakes! Not content with being bottom of 4 networks they are trying for the #5 spot!!

By Imaginethat

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I NEVER liked Reiser at all, going all the way back to "Diner" nearly three decades ago. He just isn't funny in and he always seems very opinionated.

By Catamaran

Reiser is a total has-been and he "has been" for some time now. I never understood what his talent was. He was never funny at all in my opinion. I thought "Mad About You" really stunk and only watched one episode. Thus, I never had any interest in his current show and I guess no one else did either. He seems smug and acts like he's better than everyone else.

By Lucy

Wow.... he got old

By azaunt

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I watched the first episode and thought it was prettty bad but decided to give it another try. I have to say the second episode was much better. However, I did have a hard time with Paul raising his preteen children, the guy is 54 for heavens sake. Maybe if his kids were in their late teens or early 20's it might have been more believable.

By Great!

I am so glad, I don't like this guy anyway...and he's not even funny! YEA!!!

By Celebritard

Why would they give him a show? He's NEVER been funny. Neither has the idiot woman that played his wife back then.

By Ron

I really enjoyed it. I thought it was better than Mad About You.

By tuckervistadel

Saw it. It stank worse than Amy Winehouse's breath and pits. Reiser's trying to blame the Network but their not the problem. Bad idea, bad acting and terrible writing were to blame.

Hey Reiser! Ya' show stank. Stop blaming others and OWN it!

By d-ray

are you sure it was on,? paul reiser is ok with me. i didn't know the show was on, i watched office and parks and rec. the past 2 weeks because will ferrell was on the office., but Nobody is watching NBC. there is something wrong with marketing and promotions over at NBC, do they watch other channels to see what people want to see..?????

By Hey Tom

no one wanted to see that has-been...he waited to long..to get back in to it...

By Stelios

These old horses have smelled the money and they are trying their hands on it. Unfortunately, thee youmg public whi have no idea who they were they don't buy it. Some more of yhese retreads will soon be cancelled.

By Crisco

I could not even sit through the first 15 minutes of this show. It was so boring and corny. I was shocked because I like him, and I tried, but can't say I'm sorry to see it go......

By amo1661545

I caught maybe 5 minutes of the later part of the second show, and in my mind within like a minute i said wow this is really really bad. Curb your enthusiasm wanna be. Who greenlighted this project? absolute garbage, even his tv wife looked like Larry davids tv wife. Best part about Reiser is when the Alien kills him.

By Phil

How does NBC expect to develop any show after just two episodes? Did they not learn anything with Seinfeld (bad ratings at first also). Speaking of Seinfeld, sorry Paul but borrowing that premise and not being nearly as funny will get you nowhere and being almost as neurotic as Richard Lewis makes you just as annoying, at least Richard does his bit for 10 minutes on stage max, but 22 minutes Paul? That's too much. The show was badly put together, Paul's friends were not well developed to be believable, too quirky to be funny, the humor was little low brow. I expected more oput of Paul and NBC, let's face the writers were bad and NBC deserves to be in last place. Hey NBC, FIRE your programme director!!! I'm available!!!

By Kristine

I watched both shows and thought they were funny. I am disappointed that no shows are allowed to find their niche anymore. 2 weeks and that's it? Many shows don't hit their stride until later in the first season, or even the second season. That said, I laughed and I hope they bring it back, because we could all use a little gentle laughter. Thanks to those who put their hard work into the show.

By will

This guy is about as un funny as David Spade. How do these people have careers? They stink!

By roger

Yes, a super-rich dad with too much time on his hands, because that is the norm in America right now......NOT!

By Chris

That's too bad. I saw part of the show the other night. I was really funny. But,until I had stumbled upon it, I had no idea the show was on. Great job promoting, NBC.

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