TV Review: 'Love Monkey'

Very very watchable!

Published on January 19, 2006 By singrdave In TV Shows

I try not to get involved with new TV shows. Mostly because I don't want to make the time investment that will happen over a show that I actually like. One hour a week becomes five hours a week before you know it. I especially try to avoid mid-season replacements, since their lifespans are notoriously short-lived and hard to predict.

But Tuesday night at 10 EST/PST (9 Central) on CBS, I watched a show that was totally worth the time investment:
"Love Monkey".

The show stars Tom Cavanagh and Jason Priestley. Cavanagh, fresh from his starring role in the quirky and very entertaining "Ed", is still in form here as a likable single A&R rep in the recording industry named Tom Farrell. Farrell is like the Jerry Maguire of the record biz, fired for being too idealistic and not driven by corporate profits.

At the beginning of the episode, Tom is dating a flighty and self-obsessed vegan folk singer who claims that she doesn't believe in marriage but then breaks up with him because he won't pop the question. His descent into single-hood and unemployment is cushioned by his frank and sometimes brutal circle of friends. They include Priestley's "Mike Freed" and Mike's wife (also Tom's sister) Karen (played by the rather cute Katherine LaNasa). Tom's best friend is Brandy "Bran" Lowenstein, played by goofy Judy Greer, who is better known as the breast-baring Kitty Sanchez on "Arrested Development". Bran and Tom have some good but slightly contrived sexual chemistry; though they are best friends, I don't see that level of relationship lasting through the midway point of the shortened season's run.

The show introduced the characters nicely, showing Tom's idealistic music executive character in its best, most endearing light. He tries to sign a young artist by appealing to the rock history of New York City. Taking him to the haunts of CBGB and other rock venues, Tom tries to show 1. how cool and in touch he is, and 2. that deep in every artist's heart is art, not money.

Excellent theme music, too, "Someone Who's Cool" by an obscure band named The Odds. I happened to see them live, opening for Barenaked Ladies in 1996. Flipped when I heard that song come on at the beginning of the show. Nice surprise.
Good show, worth the time investment, and comes highly recommended. Hopefully it will not go the way of most mid-season replacement shows. And look for cameos from recording artists in every episode. Apparently the next episode features LeAnn Rimes and Ben Folds. (Considering Priestley and Cavanagh are both Canadian, expect BNL, too!)

Comments

singrdave

on Jan 19, 2006

I look forward to a whole half-season with this show, at least. Hopefully they'll get picked up.

InBloom

on Jan 19, 2006

My boyfriend told me this show has gotten several good reviews...we have it taped, so we'll be checking it out soon.

foreverserenity

on Jan 19, 2006

You forgot Cooper Shooter played by Larenz Tate, who I was pleased to see. The show is about four best friends. I like the show too and I believe it will be worth watching!

singrdave

on Jan 20, 2006

You forgot Cooper Shooter played by Larenz Tate, who I was pleased to see. The show is about four best friends. I like the show too and I believe it will be worth watching!

I really don't know the career of Larenz Tate, but I did like Cooper on the show. He really didn't play an integral part of this week's plot, but I'm sure he will figure more prominently in later episodes. That is why I didn't mention him. But to give him "equal time", as it were...

From his bio on CBS.com, he was in the films "Crash" (haven't seen) and "Ray" (want to see). Nice, I look forward to seeing his work in future episodes.

singrdave

on Jan 20, 2006

I also didn't mention the closeted(?)-gay ex-pro athlete friend, but again he didn't play that big a role and I look forward to them fleshing out his character.

Texas Wahine

on Jan 21, 2006

Interesting. We've seen the ads for it, but my hubby is a bit of a gamer and we don't watch a lot of TV, haha.

After reading your positive review and seeing the pic in post #4 (whatta hottie!), I might have to tune in next Tuesday.

singrdave

on Apr 23, 2006

It's back, on VH1 for the rest of its season. The powers that be at Viacom (CBS and VH1's parent company) decided to air the music-oriented show on the music channel.

Hopefully it will live to see another season... excellent show.

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