The Crazy Ones

[The Crazy Ones and The Michael J. Fox Show] have great, always likable stars heading up solid ensemble casts in well-written and mostly plausible shows. Who could ask for anything more?

They [Robin Williams and James Wolk] seem to be having a blast playing off one another, and their comedic energy is infectious.

You'd be hard-pressed to find better actors than Crazy has gathered, and despite their show's abrupt shifts from frantic to torpid, there are moments when they make the relationships work. What they're less likely to do is make you laugh.

Kelley is no stranger to writing comedy, even if it’s traditionally been in service of hourlong shows, and between his gifts as a wordsmith and Williams’ frenetic energy (best displayed in a closing-credits outtake sequence), The Crazy Ones has potential beyond what the pilot demonstrates.

The result is a mostly wan workplace sitcom hamstrung by the premise of yoking Williams to a wet-blanket daughter as business partner (Sarah Michelle Gellar, not exactly in her element). The co-star who really pops is James Wolk.

You hope for a laugh, pray for one, then give up. To be fair, tonight's pilot runs fast (19 minutes) and feels more like a "sizzle reel" than a fully formed show. Williams, at least, is a genius, and maybe he'll get the time to turn this into something worth watching.

The whole thing is so poorly conceived and executed.... It’s a misfire for an undeniable TV talent.