Partners

I love Kelsey Grammer and I "like" Martin Lawrence so when I friend recommended this show to me I had to check it out. Never heard of it before now. It's not the most fantastic writing ever but I chuckled a few time and enjoyed it enough to watch all 10 episodes. I'm sad that it only lasted one season as it is better than so many other shows that seem to linger way too long. Telma Hopkins is a bonus on this show as well.

Chicago lawyers from vastly different backgrounds develop a partnership after they unexpectedly meet in court.

The concept is better than the first episode delivers, that said its still fun. Partners feels clichéd, punchline driven, the production looks cheap and cheerful yet every cliché is its strength as it channels a typical 80's/90's American sitcom complete with awful canned laughter. But that's what's good about it, it's familiarity gives a nostalgia feel. It's Cheers meets Will & Grace and a poor mans Boston Legal to name a few. Kelsey Grammar is perfect as the lawyer you love to hate and Martin Lawrence gives a good performance as the well liked counterpart.

Partners is like comfort food - no matter how bad, you can't help but enjoy it.

Basically, what do you expect, a reinvention of the wheel?

OK - bugbears for the downside. It's multicamera, it's got canned laughter , it's copycat formulaic of the oddcouple/buddy/fish out of water clichés. It's got one absolute dog of a character (the stepdaughter, who is like Lindsay Lohan stamping on Hilary Banks' comedic memory). Typical family scenario and ridiculously convoluted family situation, etc etc.

Watch it anyway. It's Kelsey goddamn grammar doing a sitcom again. He still has it. Secondly this character of his is essentially just a hard ass version of Frasier Crane. Martin Lawrence is absolutely foil in this show apparently centred around him, plot wise, but this is all about Grammar. The two have undoubtedly shown promise in some of their opening exchanges.

If the show is extended, and the budget and production values go up, as well as crass jokes about things like suicide in the week of Robin Williams' death being cut by someone who aims to show they understand the job description over at the 'Quality Control' department this could have legs.

It's better than two and a half men....... and it's not a 5.4 . I've given it an 8 or potential, but it's really a 7. Just fighting the power maaaaan

After reading the reviews I was pretty much expecting the worst show ever. And, to be honest, it has some deep holes to fill.

The canned laughter is as ad as they get. The photography/filter is poor and sends a less than high quality feeling through the screen. It seems they're on a tight budget and is rushing this out (which they may be) and it creates a dim filter for the audience.

But let's focus on the upsides. Here we have two comedic talents, in which Kelsey Grammar is one of the all time greatest, and a situation that creates a lot of comedic energy. Two lawyers, two different personalities and a good back story.

This is actually a show that would benefit from a FX/Charlie Sheen deal, that if it makes 20 or so episodes, it will continue for another hundred. Because the idea is to good to mishandle the was it has. If the writing doesn't improve, the series will be canceled like the last Kelsey Grammar shows have. He's a great comedic actor and shows his full range in this series, but even perfect timing can't save a flat line.

Martin and Kelsey are hilarious and play off each other superbly. I am shocked this didn't last several seasons instead of just one. Really enjoyable team up with classic sitcom vibe and smart writing.