Romantically Challenged: Comically Charming

Posted by Tommy Geraci Reviews Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Romantically Challenged is a new comedy airing on ABC on Mondays at 9:30pm, EST.  It stars TV and sitcom veteran  Alyssa Milano, Kelly Stables, Kyle Bornheimer, and Josh Lawson.  It is written by Ricky Blitt and James Burrows, who is also the director.  The story revolves around Alyssa’s character, Rebecca Thomas, who is recently divorced after being married for the past 15 years. Rebecca is a bit out of practice when it comes to dating but luckily she has the support of her friends, who are (unfortunately for her) a bit romantically challenged themselves.

The reasons you should be watching this show are: The incredible cast, talented writers, amazing director, and the endearing, uber talented Alyssa Milano.   The real challenge they face as a show will be to get renewed for next season among all the reality shows that are sure to creep their way onto the schedule. After seeing the first episode, I truly hope they get a fair shot at a good run.  The characters are likable and even endearing.  The situations are all too familiar and easy to relate to.

As I stated, the show revolves around 4 friends who have difficulty in love and that is an understatement.  Kelly Stables is hysterical as Lisa,  Rebecca’s (Alyssa’s character’s) younger sister.  At times she seems clueless but then you realize she has more experience than most.  Kyle Bornheimer plays Perry Gill, who seems to be baffled by the world of dating and the opposite sex.  Josh Lawson plays Shawn Goldwater in such a playfully crazy way that you can’t help laughing at his actions and lines whenever he is on screen.

Rebecca also has a son, to complicate her dating life even more and make for so many funny situations.  In this first episode she wasn’t sure whether or not to tell the guy she was dating that she was a lawyer with a 15 year old son.  Of course, her sister and Shawn tell her that she should say her son is 7 so it doesn’t make her seem so old and they also warn her not to tell him she is a lawyer for fear of intimidating him.  After struggling with it, she decides to let him know about being a lawyer and he is okay with it.  However, when her teenage son walks into the diner to let her know his teacher wants to meet with her, the poor guy runs off.  Of course Alyssa plays her character with such sweetness that you can sympathize with  her frustration at being so out of the loop with the dating scene.

Some of the funniest scenes in this episode were those between Lisa and Perry.  Perry meets a girl in cooking class but on their date she wants him to spank her.  He can’t bring himself to do this so he enlists the help of Lisa, who coaches him in the art of playful punishment.  She tells him to think of someone that ticks him off and the only thing he comes up with is Darth Vader.  When he is on his next date and things head to the bedroom, he can’t go through with it so he calls Lisa, who proceeds to do a Darth Vader impression for him over the phone.  Then when Lisa is not available, Shawn offers to help out by going in and spanking her since she is already blind folded.

This is truly a “Friends for the Facebook generation,” as Alyssa has stated.  I haven’t laughed so much since my favorite sitcom, Will and Grace went off the air.  Kelly’s and Josh’s characters remind me of the scene stealers Karen and Jack from Will and Grace.  It has edgy topic matter with hysterical lines and situations.

Get Romantically Challenged on Monday nights, I am sure you will enjoy the ride!

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