Abby's

The strong cast deserves better material, but Abby's was created by Superstore co-EP Josh Malmuth. [29 Mar 2019, p.47]

It’s not a wildly funny show--I laughed out loud only a handful of times--but the jokes feel less important than the chance to spend time each week in the company of some appealing goofballs. Fortunately, it’s a likable enough group--Morales and Flynn in particular--to compensate for the mild humor.

The three episodes made available for review have plenty of confidence, and an identity all their own. The problem is, there’s not much humor beyond that wrung from dehydrated, microwaved writing by the solid supporting cast. The vibe works; the jokes are rocky.

Congenial sitcom set in the great outdoors where everything--even or especially a sitcom--seems just a little bit better.

Early wobbliness aside, Abby’s is not a show to dismiss. There is so much potential in its creators and cast (Neil Flynn is so good as Fred), and even though its experiment doesn’t seem to have come together quite yet, there is a well-established history of comedies like this that have taken some time to find themselves.

Abby's is the latest NBC comedy to premiere with a decent premise, a terrific cast and, at least through the opening episodes sent to critics, almost no actual laughs.

I didn’t laugh even once; instead, I cringed over and over at the bland repartee and the way each character has one primary quality, which he or she telegraphs to us at every chance.