Life on a Stick

OK, OK...here's my claim to fame. I would like to coin a new phrase to describe this show's delivery style. It has a bizarre and perhaps refreshing way of using one-liners or zingers as a way of displaying or developing a story or scene by the sole use of one-liners or "zingers".

The "action" is developed almost exclusively by setting up an endless array of punchlines into one long, connected line. The characters reveal their sardonic personalities by minimalist snippets.

You might think it is one-liner heaven or hell. It's a matter of opinion. The whole feeling is surreal, post-modern and a panoply of pastiches and almost stifling to experience.

After 30 minutes, one comes away with the feeling that we've just seen 10 hours of one-liners in virtual time.

Not sure if it will work with most people because one might become weary because of it continually peaking.

You decide....if this "Zing-Com" is worth the time.

Life on a Stick was a short-lived multicamera comedy on FOX. Only five episodes aired before cancellation though the full 13 episode order was eventually shown in a number of countries. The show was one of many failed attempts by FOX at extending the family comedy brand established by That '70s Show and while it featured a number of veterans behind the scenes it can easily be seen as by-the-numbers at best.

The major plot line revolved around the romance of Laz and Lily, two young out-of-high-school workers at a mall food court hot dog counter/restaurant. It's not a case of will they/won't they, it's fairly telegraphed like the Eric/Donna romance on That '70s Show. Instead the conflict comes from Laz wanting a relationship while Lily wants something casual.

Laz's best friend Fred also works at the restaurant and is your typical "wacky" guy. Laz is the oldest sibling in a family where the mother and father each have a child from their previous marriages as well as one child together. Laz is the child Rick, the father, while the middle sister, Molly, comes from the mother Michelle's previous marriage. The shared child is Gus who doesn't figure much in the show.

As with Laz/Lily, Molly has a romance runner with Jasper, the boy she likes but who is dating at the time they meet but she stays close as a friend hoping things change. Many plots also revolve around the parents seeking approval from her or her being embarrassed by them.

You would expect pranks and hijinks around the hot dog setting, and there are some, but mostly it's a wasted opportunity. Perhaps the episode where a competing mall food court establishment sings to attract customers and annoys the gang enough to want to fight back shows where they could have gone more to distinguish the sitcom setup. However the show sticks more to the relationship comedy formula.

In the end it's a very throwaway show. Laz is played by Zachary Knighton, nowadays known best from Happy Endings, and some of the other actors are of the "where do I remember that guy from?" type. If there's any breakout actor/character it is Rachelle Lefevre as Lily, but that's not saying much given the general blandness of the comedy.

Laz (Zachary Knighton) and the dim-witted Fred (Charlie Finn) are best friends out of high school and working at the mall food court under the mean-spirited Mr. Hut. Laz is in love with fellow worker Lily (Rachelle Lefevre). His father Rick Lackerson is married to his step mom Michelle (Amy Yasbeck). His angry stepsister Molly (Saige Thompson) likes Jasper but he already has a girlfriend.

I like Laz, his idiot friend and Lily. They're a marginally funny trio. Being in the pretzel booth is funny. Laz's parents are distractingly unfunny. It's like Amy Yasbeck is trying too hard. Also this should try to be more of a teen show. Comedic parents get into the way. Molly is adorable angry cute teen but it's a struggle to keep her connected with the trio. She ends up sitting at the food court for unnaturally extended amount of time. It's an uneven marginally funny sitcom.

I loathe- absolutely cannot endure- teen 'comedy' crass. I actually cringe when I change the channel and something like That 70's Show, According to Jim, or My Wife and Kids comes up. It has always shocked me that one genre can be so absolutely void of creativity, wit and intellect. Honestly, they are so predictable and weak it's a wonder they thrive the way they do.

So when my inability to go to sleep at a respectable time has me surfing late night television- though my expectations aren't high- I shudder when I land on what I immediately identify as teen crass. The well lit, obviously-a-set set, attractive young adults, and slight overacting; it's all there. I linger to hear and gauge the next punchline, to see whether it's worth my late night infomercial time.

I only had to wait a minute before realising that this show *actually* incredibly funny and intelligent; the responses to situations were so creative. The plot progressions were interesting, mature and quirky-- things only a week ago I would have died before associating with teen sitcoms.

This was the most original show of it's kind, and actually accessible to common youths. This is why I was appalled to see it get a pathetic 4.5 on this site-- oh my god, are you all insane? THAT 70'S SHOW HAS 8.4. That's EIGHT POINT FOUR. There is no way its stupid, bland humor can compare to the wit and intelligence of Life on a Stick. (Just for perspective, The Matrix has a rating of 8.6!) I know I couldn't write with the creativity and freshness of LoaS, and that's why I like it- it's a new experience.

The show was amazing, but it is more what it represented that had me so excited. A slap in the face to the commercial media that every day underestimates its audiences with the unintelligible crap it spews forth.

I can't believe it was axed. Cheap formulas. Unprovoking. Unchanging. Stagnation. I weep for our youth.

I love this show. Amy Yasbeck and Matthew Glave turn in solid performances as the parents, Rachelle LaFevre is a decent female lead, Charlie Finn is a funny sidekick, Maz Jobrani is a hilarious supporting actor as Mr Hut, and Zachary Knighton and Paige Thompson are brilliant stepsiblings.

The lines are brilliant, and Laz (Knighton) and Molly (Thompson) are easy to care about. This is a funny, sympathetic show that shows what a not-quite-adult comedy should be like. People compliment That 70s Show and Saved By The Bell as the apogee of that genre, but, especially for a show only having had one season, this blows them away.

If the humour is graduate meta humour, so be it, I loved this show. Very, very, VERY impressive.