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Since the end of Friends the main cast have been looking for their next big star vehicle. Seeing as pregnancy ruled her out of the starring role of Susan Mayer in dramedy stalwart Desperate Housewives, Courtney Cox-Arquette has since been licking her wounds and seeking a show on her own terms. This culminated in the vastly underrated drama Dirt with Cox playing magazine editor Lucy Spiller. Alas, this was quickly cancelled after one and a half seasons, so with her new series Cougar Town, could this show be her last chance saloon?
The fact that Cougar Town has become a much-nominated series and had its season renewed very quickly are probably good signs that she may have finally found a show that can aid the continued presence of Courtney Cox-Arquette as a household name. However, in the light of her previous failed series should Cougar Town have succeeded where Dirt failed? OK, that’s an unfair question as these are vastly different shows, and as such will appeal to a completely different demographic. But this is a question that warrants asking.
Cougar Town in essence is one of these new genres of shows where we see a woman in her late-thirties to early-forties who has somehow found herself as a single parent. With this comes the new trials and tribulations of earning a wage, coping with the hypocrisy of a society that boasts equal rights, and then the ratings-puller of having to find her a new husband. This has become an obsession with American television since the debut of the incredibly successful series Weeds on HBO five years ago; it was given the great twist of turning recent-widow Nancy Botwin into a drug-dealer (which, to be honest, was a fantastic idea).
However, with Cougar Town comes the feeling that this has ended up the brainchild of a television fanatic who has spliced a sitcom together from their favourite DVDs. As series go it is absolutely crammed full of stock characters and clichés which may be appealing to those who haven’t seen the same ideas executed a thousand times before. If you wanted a sure fire hit with Middle America there are certain things you need to include:
So does this series contain the kooky neighbour? Is there a geeky child? Also is there a misogynistic neighbour who will undoubtedly soften as time goes along and clearly form the primary will-they-won’t-they plot for the series? Check, check, checkaroonie!
With Cougar Town premiering on Living it is fair to say that it will not exactly exert a large effect on the UK public consciousness, which probably shows how terrestrial channels have discerned that while this may garner ratings in America, it's not something the British public will exactly jump upon. In truth, when compared to fellow newcomers Modern Family and The Good Wife, this series falls short of greatness. However, if you are looking for mindless television for the purposes of nursing a hangover, then look no further.
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