I've been waiting for someone to pick up the 'Drop Dead Fred' idea and give it life again...but, ironically, the imaginary friend Mary seems almost like an afterthought in this premise. And the show's biggest crime - WHY is she animated? Wouldn't it be better to have an actual in-the-flesh actor playing the role (just like Drop Dead Fred?), rather than Jenna Elfman reacting to what is, essentially, empty space? Rachel Dratch would be perfect as a non-animated Mary...in fact, ANYONE would be better in the role over a weird, moldy cartoon Chia Pet.
I think Elfman is trying hard, and I like her performance, even though the character seems paper-thin. I also found the kid characters annoying - they're basically a stew of all the worst things about the millennial generation. Yeah, they're realistic, I guess...but do we like them? Empathize with their whiny problems? Do we want to spend half an hour watching them instead of less-grating kids on less-lazy shows? It made me wonder why Alice even wants to get to know these kids (and isn't that the premise of the show, at least so far?). The guy doesn't seem worth it, especially as he seems to have no problem letting his throat-punch-deserving kids treat Alice like garbage.
I think Elfman is trying hard, and I like her performance, even though the character seems paper-thin. I also found the kid characters annoying - they're basically a stew of all the worst things about the millennial generation. Yeah, they're realistic, I guess...but do we like them? Empathize with their whiny problems? Do we want to spend half an hour watching them instead of less-grating kids on less-lazy shows? It made me wonder why Alice even wants to get to know these kids (and isn't that the premise of the show, at least so far?). The guy doesn't seem worth it, especially as he seems to have no problem letting his throat-punch-deserving kids treat Alice like garbage.