First Impressions - Love Monkey

If I had put together a list of most anticipated Midseason Shows, Love Monkey would have been on the top of the list. It would have also topped the lamest show name list too, but that’s a different story. The main reason is that the show follows around a record executive who just got booted from one of the major labels and now works at an indie so that means there will be a lot of up and coming artist that will be highlighted on the show as well as established act including Ben Folds and Aimee Man who’ve already been booked. And next week there is a cameo by LeAnn Rimes.

Another reason is the main character is portrayed by Tom Cavanagh who was also the title character on Ed which is my favorite show this decade not named Veronica Mars, so expectation for the show were high. Granted things were brought down a little with such a horrible name in Love Monkey but Buffy the Vampire Slayer overcame a horrible name and worse movie so there is hope. Plus it's good to see a show on CBS that isn't about finding killers, although I have a feeling Love Monkey will be relaced in the fall by CSI: Cleveland.

The show doesn’t solely follow Cavanaugh’s character, Tom Farrell, around the music business but also spends much time with his personal life. Unfortunately Tom doesn’t hang out with anyone as interesting as Ed did so there is no Phil, Warren, or even a Dr. Jerome but Tom does play basketball with his buddies much like he did with Mike. The closest is what basically boils down to a black version of Doogie Howser from How I Met Your Mother but instead of the Lemon Law there’s Grant’s Law (think Hugh, not the tomb guy). The black Doogie is played by Larenz Tate who has appeared in many “urban” movies so naturally, this is the first time I’ve seen him in anything (okay, I’m not big of a racist, I did see Menace II Society and Dead Presidents, I just don’t remember him).

Also filling in the other buddy roles are the guy from Beverly Hills 90210 who wasn’t Dylan, who just happens to the husband of Tom’s very pregnant sister. There’s also former baseball star who gave the biggest shock of the episode in a montage at the end of the episode where he’s standing in front of a door with flowers and a dude opens the door. This is shocking because the other buddies seem to regard him as a man’s man. Hopefully the whole in the closet storyline ends quickly because I’m already weary of it.

Playing the role of Carol Vessey is Judy Greer, last seen as the Bluth’s discarded secretary with a lazy eye and a penchant for flashing people on Arrested Development. The only problem is that it doesn’t seem that Tom figured out that she’s the one just yet although it seems as if Greer’s Brandy, or Bran as she’s referred to for some reason, has an inkling.

As for the music aspect, Tom is fired after giving an inspired speech about how it should be about the music except his boss much prefers money so Tom has to let go. So Tom decides to start up a music label of his own in hopes to sign his latest find, Wayne, out from under his former employee. Neither end up getting Wayne as he signs with an independent label who just so happens to hire Tom on. Wayne is actually played by a singer, Teddy Geiger, basically a John Mayer rip-off. This is a problem considering not even John Mayer wants to bite his old style. And a look Geiger IMDB page shows that he was a finalist for the lame VH1 Partridge Family reality show. This really isn’t a good start for his career, but if you’re interested look for his CD, Underage Thinking, to drop in March. (Apperently the show really helped, yesterday the album was ranked 33,195 on Amazon but today it's up to 412.)

If there is one glaring problem is the narration. I’ve lost count of the amount of new shows that use the devise this year. The great thing about Ed it that he over thought everything and was more than happy to express these feelings to other people. Tom instead has all these pent up emotions that he only feels obligated to tell the audience. I would have no problem if the narration magically disappears in the near future.

Verdict: Not as entertaining as Ed but could grow into something as good. Plus I love all the musical references as I constantly do the same in my own life. And when Tom’s girlfriend quoted Sting when breaking up with him was brilliant.




Since I didn't have room for her in the review, above is apperently Tom's first love on the show before he eventually ends up with Brandy. Lucky dog, or lucky monkey I guess. They really need to change the name of the show.