Wed, November 3, 2004

Center of the Universe

(CBS, 9:30 Wednesdays)

It's hard to explain this show. The title seems to refer to the fact that the John Goodman character is caught in the middle of the family drama swirling around him, but that could refer to Raymond or pretty much any other TV sitcom dad. Watching it, it's as much of a bad idea as it looked like in the promotions. The one line in the ads is cute, when Goodman and Jean Smart are arguing and he declares that he forbids something. They both burst into laughter and he draws this comparison: "It's like I ran out of bullets and threw the gun at you!" It's a funny line; no wonder they run it non-stop in the commercials.

It isn't in the pilot, though. The pilot focuses on Goodman's 20th anniversary bid to renew his vows with Smart. Silly family antics keep taking the focus off the special day and creating sitcom-level hilarity. Chief among these hijinks: his parents (Ed Asner and Olympia Dukakis, both looking positively embalmed) are bickering over some new herbal virility pills that Asner has been taking, making their sex life a strain on Dukakis. Hey! Old people's sex lives! Ha! That's new ground for a sitcom! Ugh. If I wanted to watch Ed Asner squeeze Olympia Dukakis's ass, I'd download their too-hot-for-Cinemax thriller "Centrum Nights," thank you very much.

I'd call it a shame, but it's really not. John Goodman's as great as ever – and twice as enormous! – but he signed on for this, and as much as I like him I think he got what he deserved. His often spectacular delivery elevates a few of the lame jokes to nearly acceptable levels of lameness, but ultimately the show wallows in it. I never could figure out how Jean Smart managed to get hired on Designing Women, and I've been even more mystified that she managed to parlay it into a career in television since. On Center of the Universe, she couldn't look more bedraggled. She was almost acceptable in In-Laws with Dennis Farina. Too bad that one didn't last.

Returning Shows

I still love The King of Queens. I always will. Kevin James fits so perfectly in his character, and in sitcomdom in general. His repertoire of "takes" is deliciously versatile and layered. His presentation is unique and hilarious, and his obligatory sitcom-husband stoogery is good-humored and lovable. And his supporting cast is pretty great, too. Leah Remini has come into her own as wife Carrie, and Jerry Stiller is terrific as father-in-law Arthur. What began as a rehash of his Frank Costanza character has evolved into something more unique and interesting. And you'll never hear me complaining about Oswalt.
The King of Queens

Premiering This Week

King of the Hill: Fox, Sunday at 7:00
Malcolm in the Middle: Fox, Sunday at 7:30
The Simpsons: Fox, Sunday at 8:00
Arrested Development: Fox, Sunday at 8:30 (Omigod! Omigod! Omigod!)

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