Premiere Date and Time: Tuesday, October 2, 8:30pm
Network: ABC
Time Slot Competition: The Biggest Loser,
NCIS,
Bones,
Beauty and the Geek
Cast: Faith Ford, Fred Goss, TJ Miller, Jerry O'Connell, Allison Munn, Jerry Minor, Tim Peper
Carpoolers tries to break the comedy mold with an original, refreshing concept. The premise is simple, involving four suburban men who live very different lives and carpool together to work every day. While traveling to and from work every day, things get complicated as they laugh, have fun, argue, and sort through their problems. Their motto is: "What happens in the carpool lane, stays in the carpool lane." The show gives us situations we can all relate to from, playing air drums to Phil Collins while driving to sharking the best parking spot after arriving at your destination.
The cast is made up of some comedy veterans, most notably Faith Ford (
Murphy Brown,
Hope and Faith). She has the best track record, having been consistently on television since the late '80s. Perhaps the most recognizable star of the show is Jerry O'Connell, who has been on our radar since appearing in the film
Stand by Me. Though he's had successful appearances on dramas such as
Crossing Jordan and
Las Vegas, his comedy stints in television and movies have been hit or miss. However, given the right script and direction, he can bring a lot to the table in a sitcom.
The remaining members of the
Carpoolers cast include Jerry Minor who has been seen on
The Daily Show and
Arrested Development as well as Fred Goss who wrote, directed, and produced the short-lived sitcom
Sons & Daughters. Television and movie actress Alison Miner may be most recognizable to fans as Caroline from
That 70s Show, Fez's girlfriend.
The writing and development team was enough to sell me, comprised of Bruce McCulloch (
The Kids in the Hall) and Anthony and Joe Russo, the Emmy-award winning directing brothers of
Arrested Development. Perhaps
Carpoolers will follow in the steps of
The Kids in the Hall and
Arrested Development and become a show that maybe not everyone will get but develop a strong cult following.
Get all the scoop and features on the Fall 2007 new and returning shows at BuddyTV's Fall TV Guide >>
- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV
(Photo courtesy of ABC)