The One and Only A Minute with Stan Hooper thread

bob_barron · October 29, 2003

Tonight is the premiere of Norm Macdonald's new sitcom 'A Minute with Stan Hooper'.

Here's the plot-

Norm plays Stan Hooper who every week hosts the highly rated segment 'A Minute with Stan Hooper' where he talks about small town life. Stan then realises he shouldn't be talking about small town life if he lives in New York City and him and his wife move to Wisconsin only to find out that small town life isn't what it seems.

Here are some reviews-

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/re...an-hooper_x.htm

http://www.tricityherald.com/24hour/entert...p-6925688c.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/s...1p-117502c.html

The show looks really really funny and has a nice pedigree. Norm is the funniest man alive, Barry Kemp (Newhart, Coach) is the producer and Fred Willard is a co-star.

So tonight at 8:30, after That 70s Show, before the OC- spend a Minute (and 21 other minutes) with A Minute with Stan Hooper.

And post about it here.

treble · October 29, 2003

I'll probably watch. I hope it's good, as Global's Wednesday night line-up of That 70s Show, Stan Hooper, and then Gilmore Girls will be a good way to kill 2 hours.

Cable, who needs it?

Your Paragon of Virtue · October 29, 2003

Season 1 as in six episodes right?

Seriously though, most of what I've seen in various newspapers have indicated that it's act is stale and tired. I won't be watching.

bob_barron · October 29, 2003

It's been getting mostly good reviews. I've read some poor ones in the NY Times and the Toronto Star but the show seems like something Norm has never done before.

USA Today has been raving about it and giving it a lot of press so I have hopes for it.

TV Guide named it as a show to watch.

October 29, 2003

USA TODAY AND TV GUIDE are great sources for criticisms. They know what common people want...

I could care less what NYTIMES thinks anyways...

I'll give this one a look if only because it's on before the OC and nothing else is on.

I still think they should have just stuck Hooper and 70's Show on Tuesday before 24...put OC at 8 and follow that up with SKIN at Nine.

Put TRU Calling out of his death slot at Thursday on Monday instead and then have your fucking precious Joe Millionaire 2 at Nine...

God, It's sad I can run a network better then FOX can.

bob_barron · October 29, 2003

More Stan Hooper reviews-

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ion_hooper_dc_1

and from the AP-

Norm Macdonald stars in a new sitcom, "A Minute with Stan Hooper," premiering 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on Fox. The former "Saturday Night Live (news - Y! TV)" star plays a TV essayist who, with his wife (the sparkling Penelope Ann Miller (news)), moves from New York to Wisconsin to be closer to the regular folks he reports on. But the locals are loco, and Macdonald milks buckets of laughs from the looniness around him (and wouldn't you know, he's lactose intolerant!). "Minute" may not be the cream of TV sitcoms, but it's a step up from the usual cheese.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/rosenthal/c...ftr-phil29.html

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...29/DD188927.DTL

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution-

A MINUTE WITH STAN HOOPER"

When it's on: 8:30 p.m. on Fox (starts Oct. 29).

What it's about: A New York TV news personality (Norm Macdonald) moves to a small Wisconsin town in search of old-fashioned values. He may be the only one surprised to find an "America" quite different from the one he's always waxing poetically about it.

Does it work? Better than you'd think. The characters are goofily complex, including the omnipresent butler Hooper doesn't want and a pair of brothers-who-aren't-really-brothers. Fred Willard is the big man about the small town, who may not be as gosh-darn ingenuous as he seems.

Will it last? Creator Barry Kemp was a writer and executive producer on the late, great "Newhart," and if "Hooper" can consistently capture that same quirky vibe, it's got a shot. Fox will have to be patient, though, and let it gradually find its audience.

http://www.freep.com/entertainment/tvandra...29_20031029.htm

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertain...ion/7127240.htm

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/pla...23536249661.xml

From St. Petersburgh Times-

Tonight

8, That '70s Show; 8:30, A Minute With Stan Hooper; 9, The O.C.

ODDS FOR SUCCESS: 5 to 1.

THE LOWDOWN: The success of an early run of The O.C., launched in August as a summer series, prompted Fox to kick The Bernie Mac Show to Sunday and bump Cedric the Entertainer's lame-o sketch comedy show off the schedule, vacating the 9 p.m. hour. Still, Wednesday is the big leagues. The O.C., a drama about a poor, at-risk teen brought to wealthy Orange County, Calif., will fight for young viewers with the WB's Angel, for wealthy viewers with NBC's The West Wing and for female viewers with ABC's The Bachelor. Earlier in the night, the only meaningful competition for Saturday Night Live alum Norm Macdonald's turn as an Andy Rooney-style TV commentator in A Minute With Stan Hooper is ABC's middling comedy It's All Relative at 8:30 and NBC's hour-long Ed at 8.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertain...s+for+Wednesday

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/ent...lum/7113863.htm

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/7116460.htm

http://www.nola.com/living/t-p/index.ssf?/...08857259920.xml

Edited October 29, 2003 by bob_barron

October 29, 2003

Actually, I can't dig the name at all...I bet come mid-season FOX will shorten it to Stan Hooper because they will bring more people in!

bob_barron · October 29, 2003

I hope not- the title of the show has become a running gag between me and my friends.

October 30, 2003

Not quite feeling it yet..

The intro was too 80's for my taste.

October 30, 2003

The Butler works but the kids are too annoying and the Father's Act like everything else he does will grow old and weary...Fred Willard is a sure sign for impending doom for any sitcom.

Roseane went down the shitter when he became a cast member.

October 30, 2003

Shows Over.

I'll give it the introductory curve and grade it a C.

They introduced a potentially good show with alot of possibilites but already made me hate Three characters and Norm wasn't that special tonight.

bob_barron · October 30, 2003

Fred Willard isn't a regular cast member Choken. He's just a reoccuring guest star.

Fred Willard is HILARIOUS. The guy is awesome.

I loved the show tonight- I'm gonna write a more in-depth review now

Ravenbomb · October 30, 2003

I give it 1/2 a season

TheOriginalOrangeGoblin · October 30, 2003

I enjoyed it for the most part. The kid/father subplot was annoying and eveyrone moving in etc. didn't do it for me.

The butler is DEFINETELY the best part of the show.

October 30, 2003

As Long as I'ts not a regular.

Willard is funny indeed but in small doses because the act gets tired and annoying after a while.

Youth N Asia · October 30, 2003

It was alright...but the butler is more annoying then funny. I don't know if I could watch a seasons worth of that

October 30, 2003

you wont have to...it'll be moved to thursday with a KOTH rerun and canceled by December.

Bruiser Chong · October 30, 2003

I'm a fan of Norm, too, but this show was pretty bland. Funny in some parts, but nowhere near as good as Norm was and that got cancelled, so I don't see a bright future for this one. My main complaint was that they went totally crazy on the canned laughter. I felt like I was watching Full House or something. Norm: Hi. *crowd laughs*

*edit* Obviously I was thinking of another show when I mentioned Norm was cancelled twice. Maybe the fact that they "modified" it after a season or two is what threw me off.

Edited October 30, 2003 by Bruiser Chong

razazteca · October 30, 2003

I give the show 3 episodes before it gets cancelled. Not even Fred Willard could make this funny.

October 30, 2003

I really wanted to like it, especially after looking at it in Bob's sig for 2 months. I really didn't think it was that special. Hopefully some better episodes are coming though. The butler was funny, but Norm didn't seem that special.

bob_barron · October 30, 2003

A Minute with Stan Hooper:

I want more minutes!

When I heard the plot of A Minute with Stan Hooper- I was a little bit sceptical. I had trouble seeing how Norm Macdonald could play his usual character under the context of a TV newsman. Then when I found out that Norm was playing someone completely different I began to have faith in Stan Hooper. Artie Lange assured me that it was really funny. I think that Norm himself is worried about alienating his fanbase with the show- when I talked to Norm on the phone he said I hoped I wouldn’t be disappointed and that I would enjoy the show.

Well one episode in and I’m already sold. I enjoyed the show’s style of humour- it wasn’t cute one liner after one cute liner- the jokes seemed to work for the most part and I’m already enjoying some of the characters. A show like Stan Hooper takes a bit of time to find its comedic peak. With an ensemble piece like that it’s hard for every character to find their voice in one episode. The show did a great job of establishing everyone and giving the audience a peak to their comedic potential. The only one I’m not feeling so far is Chelsea.

Norm was perfect in his role. I liked how he just watched the action unfold and filled in the blanks with his comments. It’s a different Norm then what we’re used to but he was just fine as Stan Hooper. Watching him react to the actions of the small town will be a lot of fun to watch in the coming weeks. I admire Norm for taking on something different instead of playing a sarcastic idiot.

Penelope Ann Miller didn’t really have much to do but she played the wife just fine. She seems to be Stan’s conscious and moral centre. I’d like to see her get more funny lines but I’m enjoying her interactions with the butler.

I’m really enjoying Eric Lively so far. Having him get to share a lot of his scenes with Fred Willard and Norm should really help him go places. His character had the down home small town thing down pat.

Daniel Roebuck is fantastic and was the best non-Norm or Fred part. I loved his voice, his mannerisms- everything about him had me laughing my ass off. This character could really be the breakout of the show.

Garrett Dillahunt was very funny but too underused. His character has a lot of potential and I’m very interested to see how the show plays up the gay thing.

Brian Howe just screams breakout potential and Norm knows this. I just hope he isn’t overused and shoved down our throats like other sitcoms will be. He needs to be used sparingly- whenever you just need a scene of laughter- use the butler. If he’s used too much he’ll just wear thin.

Fred Willard was terrific. I’m disappointed that he’s only a guest star since the show is immediately lifted by his presence. I think Norm didn’t think the father-son conflict would work for 22 episodes so having him there sparingly to lighten up the mood a bit.

I liked how the show got right to the point. Most sitcoms would stretch out Norm wanting to leave New York and live in a small town- but like the premiere of Ed- it got right to the point. No meandering bullshit- the synopsis of the show was done in 15 seconds.

I loved the premiere episode and a show like this can only get better. It takes a long time to flesh out and establish all the characters so Stan Hooper will take some time before it finds it comedic peak.

I look forward to seeing where the storylines flesh out and what happens next.

Thumbs Way Up

October 30, 2003

Aren't you biased, though, bob?

bob_barron · October 30, 2003

A lot of people are thinking the show will be cancelled- but it's got an awesome time slot and weak competition. FOX has a lot of faith in it as it tested very well with audiences. The show needs time to mature and grow.

It was alright...but the butler is more annoying then funny. I don't know if I could watch a seasons worth of that

They have to be very careful with how they handle the butler. Norm's smart about stuff like that- so I have high hopes for Gary.

I'm a fan of Norm, too, but this show was pretty bland. Funny in some parts, but nowhere near as good as Norm was and that got cancelled, so I don't see a bright future for this one. My main complaint was that they went totally crazy on the canned laughter. I felt like I was watching Full House or something. Norm: Hi. *crowd laughs*

Norm had a very easy set up and was Norm just being Norm with a laugh track. Stan Hooper is a different show. Episode 1 was meant to introduce you to Waterford Falls and try to get some laughs along the way. Once they get everyone settled- the show should be smooth.

Norm got canceleld because ABC is a bunch of morons. The show was a ratings hit as the lead out for Drew Carey. So ABC moved it to before Drew. The show still did fine ratings and then for some reason- ABC moved it to Friday. Of course it's gonna die there. I'm just happy that the show did manage to wrap up all it storylines.

I didn't notice the overuse of the laugh track too much- I guess I'm used to it.

I think a lot of people were setting themselves up for Norm being Norm Macdonald the sarcastic smartass. He's not doing that this series. If you're looking for the Norm of 'Norm' and 'Dirty Work' you will be dissapointed. Norm is the star of the show. Everything revolves around him and he just comments on the craziness that he find himself in.

I knew going in I was getting a different Norm- and I was prepared for it. I think some people went in with different expectations and got a different Norm.

bob_barron · October 30, 2003

Aren't you biased, though, bob?

I probably am but the show was funny. Norm did have a better pilot but like I said- it's an easier show to set up.

I do think the girl has got to go though- She serves no purpose

Bruiser Chong · October 30, 2003

Norm was the start of Norm and he was the smartass guy he always was. I don't expect him to be here, but I'll bet shades of it will be showing soon enough.

How did Norm wrap up, then? It was just gone all of a sudden to me, although I didn't keep very strong tabs on it because it kept being moved around.

bob_barron · October 30, 2003

I think this is a totally different guy though- That's not who Stan Hooper is. We'll have to wait to decide.

Norm basically moved twice during its run- that's not too much.

At the end he ended up getting off his community service so he didn't have to be a social worker anymore but he ended up staying. He also turned the tables on Shelly and finally made it so she had the hots for him.

Youth N Asia · October 30, 2003

I really liked Norm. Just messing with his boss was worth watching the show for

1234-5678 · October 30, 2003

I'm a big Norm fan, and "Dirty Work" material finds it's way into at least one conversation a day with me. I am sorry to say I never watched "Norm" just because I hate most sitcoms. I gave "Hooper" a shot tonight, wasn't that impressed, but I understand it was the debut episode. Once the storylines get going and the characters fill out a little bit, I am sure it will b e a decent show. I just hope FOX gives Norm a chance.

Mecha Mummy · October 30, 2003

Watched it last night. It was decent, I guess, but nothing special.

bob_barron · October 30, 2003

Primetime Metered Market Wednesday Ratings: NBC Wins; CBS Above Average

1 hour, 38 minutes ago

-Percent Change From the Year Ago Night (Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002):

WB: +25, CBS: +23, Fox: +20, ABC: - 3, NBC: -12, UPN: -20

-Yesterday's Winners:

60 Minutes II (CBS), That'70s Show (Fox), Smallville (WB), It's All Relative (ABC), The Bachelor (ABC), The West Wing (news - web sites) (NBC), King of Queens (CBS), Law & Order (NBC)

-Honorable Mention:

The O.C. (Fox)

-Yesterday's Losers:

A Minute With Stan Hooper (Fox), Jake 2.0 (UPN), Karen Sisco (ABC)

-Ratings Breakdown:

Although NBC remains the network to beat thanks to Law & Order (#1 for the night: 14.0/22 at 10 p.m.), one of the best programming maneuvers this season was CBS moving King of Queens to Wednesday. With a third place 9.0/13 at 9 p.m., not only was King of Queens competitive, comparably it was up a considerable 58 percent from Amazing Race 3 in the year ago time period (5.7/ 8 on Oct. 30, 2002). Based on the fast nationals, a 4.0/10 among adults 18-49 is also an improvement worth noting. For a listing of other established series successfully moving to other time periods, see Primetime at a Glance in the next section.

As long as we're crowing about King of Queens, also worthy of a positive mention was lead-out Becker at an improved 7.7/11 at 9:30 p.m. Earlier in the evening CBS's older skewing 60 Minutes II opened with an above average (and time period winning) 8.8/13.

On Fox's season premiering Wednesday, the good news was the sixth year opener of That'70s Show (yes -- time flies) with a second place 7.5/11 in the overnights and a first place 5.1/14 among adults 18-49 based on the fast nationals at 8 p.m. Comparatively, That'70s Show was 17 percent above former time period occupant Bernie Mac (news) on the year ago night in the overnights (6.4/10 on Oct. 30, 2002). Less successful was the series premiere of A Minute With Stan Hooper at a fifth place 5.5/ 8 at 8:30 p.m. (and a second place 3.7/10 among adults 18-49). Versus lead-in That'70s Show, Stan Hooper was off by 27 percent in both the overnights and adults 18-49. Comparably, the sitcom was also eight percent below Cedric the Entertainer Presents on the year ago night (6.0/ 9).

Fox's The O.C., which moved to Wednesday at 9 p.m., perked up to a 6.5/ 9 in the overnights (18 percent above lead-in Stan Hooper) with a third place 4.2/10 among adults 18-49 (14 percent above Stan Hooper). Versus failed drama Fastlane (4.6/ 6 on Oct. 30, 2002), the 90210-like drama was up by a hefty 41 percent.

Proof positive there is room for more than one (or two) successful shows in a time period was 9-10 p.m. occupants The West Wing on NBC (#1: 11.2/16) and ABC's The Bachelor (#2: 9.4/13 -- so long, Meredith). Among adults 18-49, The Bachelor as the top rated show of the night with a 6.4/16.

Earlier in the evening, ABC's combination of My Wife and Kids (#2: 7.7/12) and It's All Relative (#3: 6.8/10) remained consistent while NBC's still warm and fuzzy Ed was above average with a 6.6/10. Of note for It's All Relative was first place 4.1/11 among adults 18-49 at 8:30 p.m. -- one-tenth of a rating point above second place My Wife and Kids (4.0/11).

On the WB, the relocated Smallville (5.9/ 9) bested UPN's fading Star Trek: Enterprise (news - web sites) (3.9/ 6) by a considerable 51 percent. Year-to-year, Enterprise was off by 22 percent (5.0/ 7 to 3.9/ 6) while Smallville was up 47 percent from former occupant Dawson's Creek (news - Y! TV) (4.0/ 6).

Sticking with the WB and UPN, the frog net's Angel at 9 p.m. (4.1/ 6) outdelivered UPN's struggling Jake 2.0 (2.6/ 4) by 58 percent.

In the battle of audience leftovers at 10 p.m., CBS's 48 Hours Investigates in place of The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire perked up a bit to a 6.6/10 while ABC's struggling Karen Sisco (6.0/ 9) was off by a too extensive 36 percent from lead-in The Bachelor (and 50 percent among adults 18-49). Combined, Law & Order beat 48 Hours and Karen Sisco by 11 percent.

Wednesday 10/29/03

HH

Rtg/Shr

NBC 10.6/16

CBS 7.9/12

ABC 7.5/11

Fox 6.5/ 9

WB 5.0/ 7

UPN 3.2/ 5

----------

CABLE Overnights

(With percent change versus the comparable year ago night in parentheses)

Entertainment:

TNT: 2.2 (- 8), USA: 1.6 (+23), Lifetime: 1.3 (-32), TBS: 1.1 (-27), Spike TV: 0.5 (-17), FX: 0.4 (-33)

News:

Fox News: 1.7 (+ 6), CNN: 1.0 (- 9), MSNBC: 0.4 (no change), CNBC: 0.2 (-33), HLN: 0.2 (no change)

Source: Nielsen Media Research

-- Marc Berman

Well dang- Let's hope it can keep pace with 70s show and its audience doesn't fall off

The One and Only A Minute with Stan Hooper thread

Recommended Posts

bob_barron 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

treble 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Your Paragon of Virtue 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

bob_barron 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest Choken One

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

bob_barron 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest Choken One

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

bob_barron 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest Choken One

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest Choken One

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest Choken One

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

bob_barron 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Ravenbomb 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest Choken One

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Youth N Asia 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest Choken One

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Bruiser Chong 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

razazteca 0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest The Old Me

Share this post