Miss Guided

STUDIO: ABC
PREMIERE: March 18, 2008
STARRING: Judy Greer, Kristoffer Polaha, Brooke Burns, Earl Billings, and Chris Parnell
CREATED BY: Caroline Williams

Judy Greer has made a film career of being the best thing about several of her choices - Cursed, 13 Going on 30, 27 Dresses - and stealing scenes from incredibly talented comedians in shows like Arrested Development and Two and a Half Men. She's that rare comedienne who has absolutely perfect comic timing and also happens to be traditionally pretty enough to carry a movie or a show, but she seemed to be relegated to the "best friend" role. It looked like Greer might never break through to the fame that her acting ability merited. But then it was announced that Judy would get her own ABC comedy and that it would be a single-camera affair. Could she finally get a breakthrough show and have the success her talent deserved? After seeing the first two episodes of Miss Guided, I'm sorry to say that it's still too soon to tell either way. Greer brings her all to the show and she doesn't miss a comedic beat, but it's hard to shake that feeling that she will once again be the best thing about the project.

Miss Guided is another comedy set at a high school but this one's more about the faculty than the students. As we all know, as much as things may change when you go from a hall pass to a mortgage payment, many things stay the same. Greer plays Becky Freeley, the socially awkward teenager who grew into the almost-as-awkward high school guidance counselor. Becky has a crush on Tim (Kristoffer Polaha), the former shop teacher turned not-so-good Spanish teacher, but she has a tough time showing it, especially after the most popular girl from when Becky went to school, Lisa (Brooke Burns), joins the faculty and Becky's feelings of teenage inadequacy come back. The cast is rounded out by Earl Billings and the show-stealing Chris Parnell as the Principal and Vice Principal, respectively. The second episode (the first two air back-to-back on Tuesday night) also features guest turns from Ashton Kutcher and Jamie Lynn Spears. Let's hope this isn't a trend - a different guest star stopping by the school every week. If Ashlee Simpson is in episode three, I'm out.

After only two episodes, this comedy student has yet to earn a passing or failing grade. Like Christina Applegate propels Samantha Who?, it's easy to see audiences tuning in every week just for Greer, but, except for a few hilarious bits with Parnell, that's all they'll get for now. The rest of the show just doesn't seem as developed. The pacing is awkward at times and there's a very annoying technique where the characters break the fourth wall and speak directly to the camera, as if they were filming a documentary. Demolishing the fourth wall works for shows like The Office because it's part of the concept of the show, but even that series uses it sparingly and only when necessary. Miss Guided seems to use it to fill time. The material not shot directly to the camera is much stronger, but even that feels like it needed another rewrite. You'll enjoy Miss Guided but there aren't enough laugh-out-loud moments to make it memorable in a world of 500 channels.

Can Miss Guided evolve into an A student? Absolutely. Greer, Parnell, and even the rest of the ensemble are good enough to warrant repeat viewing, but it's just further proof that everything in television comedy relies on good writing. With some very clever bits balanced out by an at-least-equal amount of predictable jokes, the writing on Miss Guided is just okay. For now, mark this one down as an "incomplete."