Everybody's got something to hide except for me and my monkey.....

UPDATE: The whole family watched Love Monkey and, given the expectations, came away disheartened. We did feel, however, (with the exception of JFK who thought it completely sucked) the show had enough promise to give it time to mature - but it had better pick up the pace quickly! The dialogue tries WAY too hard to be 'throwaway' witty, hip (or inept, when required) and comes off forced (one exchange between the married buddy/bro-in-law and the three single conquistadors regarding the merits of marriage was torture). And did they have to insert EVERY imaginable stereotype into one series (ONE close black friend and, Jesus, ANOTHER gay ex-jock!)? Axe those buddies, just shoot them and start over with new friends. Or maybe everyone can just relax a tad now that we've all been introduced. The setting in the NYC music industry, the cameo appearances (who is Teddy Geiger?) and the frequent throwaway artist/album references buy the Monkey a second look.

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I don't watch television series anymore, just too much commitment, but I am curious about Love Monkey, a new show on CBS that debuts Tuesday. "The series is about four male friends at different stages of life and love as told through the eyes of a single, thirtysomething record executive." The story line, adapted from the Kyle Smith book, is set in NYC, stars Tom Cavanaugh (the 'Ed' guy) and features cameos from musicians. Yeah, I know, a guy version of Sex and the City, but if we can only get them to have Lucinda Williams, Tom Waits or .....hmmmmmm, let me think....Sarah Borges (who plays at the Rodeo Bar in NYC next Saturday)...on the show, we'd really have a story!

While the pre-game buzz from the media has been generally favorable, television critic Kevin McDonough at unitedmedia.com feels that 'nice guy' Cavanaugh is seriously miscast as the lead. "It's as if 'Ed' were on his way to an audition for a Dockers commercial but found himself marooned in the East Village and asked to give a lecture on the history of punk rock."

NY Times piece on Monkey
Episode Guide
tvguide.com review by Matt Rouch
Love Monkey novel by Kyle Smith, reviewed by Edward Champion