PILOT REVIEW: The Crazy Ones

THE CRAZY ONES

Starring: Robin Williams, Sarah Michelle Gellar, James Wolk, Hamish Linklater, Amanda Setton

Created by David E. Kelley
Written by David E. Kelley, Directed by Jason Winer

The Crazy Ones is a new sitcom from David E. Kelley that brings Robin Williams back to TV more than thirty years after Mork & Mindy. In this show, Williams plays Chicago advertising executive Simon Roberts. The free spirited Simon now oversees Roberts & Roberts alongside his type-A daughter Sydney (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and in the pilot they have to work together to save their biggest client, McDonalds. Rounding out the main cast is another gifted salesman, Zach Cropper (James Wolk), ditsy secretary Lauren (Amanda Setton), and art director Andrew (Hamish Linklater).

THE GOOD: Let's get this straight right away: love him or hate him, Robin Williams is exactly what you expect him to be. For me, I typically enjoy Williams and I found him funny on the show. That being said, I like him more when he's a bit more subtle and he actually was in the pilot. He still had his spastic moments that are very typical Williams but they were blended nicely with a more sophisticated performance. If the writers and Williams can continue to strike that balance, he will shine here. Williams has good chemistry with Sarah Michelle Gellar but he really plays well with James Wolk. The two of them trying to come up with a McDonalds sex song for guest star Kelly Clarkson was the highlight of the pilot and it showed fantastic comedic chemistry between Williams and Wolk. Finally, aside from Mad Men, it feels like it's been awhile since we've had a show set in the advertising world so that's a fun element to this show.

THE BAD: I know that David E. Kelley and the writers were trying to provide a contrast between Williams and Gellar but it almost goes too far. Williams is fun and energetic but Gellar's character seems almost too wound up even with the restaurant scene where she puts herself out there. She needs to be more likable and I think it's partly the writing and partly her portrayal. This pilot also seemed to rush by things so McDonalds giving them another chance and Sydney actually getting Kelly Clarkson seemed almost too easy. I think this would have benefited from an hour long pilot or a two part episode because I felt like there was too much plot to happen in a short time along with the exposition they needed to do.

BOTTOM LINE: The Crazy Ones is a fun show and I think it has real potential. There are some major questions going forward though with the two biggest: can Gellar become more likable? And will Robin Williams continue to rein himself in enough to make the show enjoyable? I don't think all the pieces were there in the pilot but there's definitely a show here filled with good people in front of and behind the camera.