How to Be a Gentleman

The notion that decent guys need to learn how to be "real men" from macho jerks is a little silly, even for a sitcom. But the pilot does serve up some laughs, especially when Flight of the Conchords vet Rhys Darby is on screen.

This is a comedy with a solid core group of characters and a chance to go the distance.

On top of having a dated premise, it just feels tired.

How to Be a Gentleman feels as if it comes from someone who knows a fair amount about constructing a sitcom but not quite enough about being funny.

It seems to have an awful lot in common with a group of shows that never [found themselves], the generic and unfunny fodder that NBC threw up between its popular comedies back when it ruled Thursday nights with Friends, Seinfeld, Frasier, and Will and Grace.

I hope Andrew (David Hornsby) has penned an etiquette column on how a gentleman handles getting canceled by a network, because he's going to need it.

Welcome to this year's "$#!* My Dad Says."