The newest show I’ve recently picked up on is ABC’s Happy Endings. I’ve been able to catch up since Season 1 and am now currently following it’s season two continuation that started two weeks ago. And I admit that I’ve loved every moment of it. The show and its characters are well developed, the writing is fairly solid, and it’s legitimately funny without becoming too cheesy. And out of the other romantic sitcoms that have tried to find a place in America’s heart [see examples like Perfect Couples], this one seems to be the one standing after all the rubble has settled. And while the shows is clever and its characters are growing to become more and more likable with each episode, it had a rough start and can even be slapped on the hand for treading far too close to the relationship sitcom champion that coincidentally is about 6 very different ‘Friends’. Read below about how I’ve reacted to Happy Endings at first and how I’ve seen in grow.
Happy Endings is a show about how a group of friends react to two of their own breaking off a marriage at the last minute. The first season follows close to the fact that the group of friends has to split up their loyalties while maintaining their friendships. Along the way, they each get into their own shenanigans which consequently leads to humorous punchlines. The six friends include: 1) Alex, a beautiful but mentally hollow boutique store owner, 2) Dave, her goofy fiance that was left at the alter 3) Jane, Alex’s neurotic and driven sister 4) Brad, Jane’s metro sexual husband 5) Max, a gay slouch and 6) Penny, a quirky promiscuous single lady trying to find her Prince Charming.
I was born in 1992 and two years later, David Crane and Marta Kauffman created a show that would forever change the 90s generation and last all the way until 2004. The show, more commonly known as ‘Friends’, is about the lives of 6 friends that get into shenanigans which consequently leads to humorous punchlines. The six friends include: 1) Rachel, a beautiful but mentally hollow fashion designer, 2) Ross, Rachel’s nerdy on-again-off-again boyfriend/husband 3) Monica, Ross’s neurotic and driven sister 4) Chandler, Monica’s quick witted fairly metrosexual husband 5) Joey, a mentally hollow actor and 6) Phoebe, a quirky promiscuous single lady. Whether or not I have twisted a couple of the words to parallel the previous description, it’s almost undeniable how close these characterizations are. And that’s where the show’s biggest bump in the road lies.
Some have labeled Happy Endings a ‘Friends clone’ and in all honesty, they have every right to do so. These parallels are too close and to say it isn’t is a statement of ignorance. While there’s nothing wrong with clones, especially because that more than one show has tried to replicate the greatness of Friends, I don’t like it when people glorify a series when they know nothing of the material that inspired it. And with Happy Endings finally picking up some speed, I’m simply trying to educate my readers that the show’s genius is not completely original. I’ll only dole out credit where it’s due.
Like I said earlier, I was only 2 years old when the series first came out, and I admit I never actually watched the show while it aired on television. I have, however, seen all ten seasons within the past year [It was a long week and a half that I crushed those 10 seasons]. And with all ten seasons still fairly fresh in my head, it was fairly easy for me to see how close these shows are. So I see where they’re coming from because I’ve had experience with an older generation crushing Happy Endings for it’s obvious Friends cloning plot lines and characters. On the other hand, I have had experience with people my age claiming the show’s genius and originality. I personally am in the medium, and I invite both parties, young and old, to join me.
For the defense of the older generation: In the first season of Happy Endings, I admit, the show was very weak and the whole Friends clone aspect was almost off putting and obnoxious. Along with the older generation, I too, see why this show was condemned. Penny = Phoebe, Max = Joey, Monica = Jane, Brad = Chandler, Ross and Rachel = Dave and Alex, C’mon, if you didn’t see this, you’re as blind as a bat. Put these 6 friends into classic sitcom situations, and you’ve got yourself a hashed down crappy remake that literally ‘spit in the face’ of a beloved series. The tastelessness of some of the episodes have people claiming to any old episode of friends is better than the first season of Happy Endings. But even though it tried to replicate the immense success of Friends, it wasn’t putting up enough numbers to be stable, which even drove one of its cast members, Damon Wayans Jr., to look for other work. But since the second season, Happy Endings has really grown into its own.
For the defense of the newer generation: The biggest thing that separates this series from Friends probably really has nothing to do with the series themselves, but more of the time it is set in. I’ve told you earlier that I sat through all 10 seasons of Friends last year, and the biggest eye opener is that it started in the 90s. Seeing as I was only born in the 90s, I wasn’t able to fully absorb the culture of my surroundings and watching Friends season 1-5 is simply like walking into a time machine. It takes a little longer for me to fully get all the jokes and pop culture references. Which brings me to why it’s okay for the newer generation to be okay with Happy Endings. Being set in a time where the popular culture is easily absorbed by the target audience, 18-25, there’s a lot of appeal and understanding when the references are more contemporary. Another big difference is the lack of laugh track. The writing allows quick witted dialogue to be flung around and if you’re not paying attention, you’ll likely miss some of the more memorable one liners. Which might I add are some of the best reasons to watch this show.
Maybe I’m over analyzing a show and trying to fight for its defense is completely unnecessary. Obviously we all have very different tastes in TV and whether you not enjoy this show really isn’t my problem. I’m simply trying to enlighten you in what I consider this generation’s six group of friends that make me laugh every single week.
Let the backlash commence.
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