For Matthew Perry, 2002 must feel like an eternity ago.
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Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.Mr.
These werent terrible shows.
I actually mildly enjoyedGo On, as background noise and in a barely-watching sort of way.
But even inGo On, Laura Benanti was more electric.
All of these shows arguably had room to grow, but were all cut down early.
Was it Perry, or something else entirely?
Is he unlucky, or simply unhireable?
The Odd Couples dynamic resonates through the modern day…so why not try yet another remake?
But when the reviews forThe Odd Couplestarted rolling in, it wasnt the least bit surprising, was it?
IGNsaid: InThe Odd Couple, Perry plays [against] punch in as the unkempt, easy-going Oscar.
(After playing Chandler Bing for so long, one might think hed make a better Felix.)
Deadline, forgetting Perrys involvement inStudio 60, noted that after two post-Friendscomedic flame-outs withMr.
SunshineandGo On, this newOdd Coupleis Perrys baby.
The overwhelming majority of reviews are negative, and deservedly so: this ones a stinker.
Put your booties on!)
feel as quickly constructed as the crews set design:Get it guys?!
See the tie on his apartment wall?!
See how he drinks beer when Felix drinks tea?!
Do you get it?!
Another is that when Felix moves in with Oscar, Lennondespite all oddsbegins to shine.
Admittedly, Wendell Pierce as Teddy, and Dave Foley as Roy also sparkle, but theyre seasoned scene-stealers.
But for the naysayers who blame a poor script for the problems?
His constant wide-eyed delivery on all of Oscars lines screams bombastic caricature.
Perry may have found a steady paycheck, but will he ever elude the shadow of Chandler Bing?
The head-bobbling, holier-than-thou Mr. Bing haunts Perry with a Heisenbergian lust.
Not one review Ive come across forThe Odd Couplefails to mentionFriendsor Chandler.
Understandably so, given theFriendscasts gargantuan salaries.
