Turn Up Charlie

As a vehicle for Elba-as-funny-guy, Turn Up Charlie does its job.

Idris Elba is a star. The least his TV show can do is reflect that.

While the show is breezy and mildly pleasant, in a less profligate streaming-TV environment the logical move would have been to turn down "Charlie."

There’s a dozen better versions of Turn Up Charlie, and, for all it offers its star, the one that exists simply isn’t worth hearing.

Turn Up Charlie isn’t good, but it at least makes plausible the idea of a funnier or more laid-back Elba than we’re used to seeing.

Turn Up Charlie isn't [a watchable series], mostly because of all the ridiculous conceits added to the premise, which effectively shift the lead of the series to a child actress written to be insanely annoying and who delivers on that in every scene she's in.

Like a garage remix of Nick Hornby’s About a Boy, feckless Charlie and friendless Gabby begin to bond, learn from each other and become (pass the sick bucket) better people. Unfortunately, the early episodes are so unremittingly awful that surely only masochists or Elba family members will make it that far.