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Art And Moving Pictures: The MiddleMan

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    • CommentAuthorIsaacSher
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2008
     (3300.1)
    If you are not watching THE MIDDLEMAN, a "spy-fi" comedy series on the ABC Family network, then you are missing out.

    Now, if you haven't heard of this show, I know what you're thinking. "ABC Family? A network that seems to play nothing but Digimon reruns, Power Rangers, and Disney drek like 'That's So Raven'? Come on." But I'm totally serious here. This is the only show on TV right now that makes me laugh until my sides hurt. And unfortunately, their 13-episode season is being cut short to 12, and unless their ratings get a big improvement, they're very likely not going to be renewed. And that would be a real shame.

    The show is based on an independant comic, and the show's producer is the comic's creator/writer, Javier Grillo-Marxuach. He's reported that ABC Family has allowed him complete freedom on the show, letting him tell the story the way he wants to, with no editorial interference from above.

    The basic idea is not unlike Men In Black -- a secret-agent sorta guy whose job it is to combat and cover up the antics of aliens, super villains, zombie apocalypses, and legions of malevolent luchadores. That sorta stuff. In the first episode, the eponymous male lead recuits one Wendy Watson, an unemployed artist who is a pleasantly fresh blend of geek, cool, and coming across as someone you might actually know. Wendy starts her training to be a new Middleman herself, assisting her boss on various cases while managing her own personal life.

    Let's put it this way -- one episode deals with Wendy being introduced to "Sensei Ping", the greatest warrior in the world, the only man who has mastered the dreaded Wu-Han Thumb, who will teach Wendy how to fight. Sensei Ping is played by Mark Dacascos, a personal favorite actor, who is clearly glad that the role calls for him to wear a Luchadore mask at all times, because it's obvious that he's having so much fun being in the show that he's grinning from ear to ear under that mask.

    If you identify as a geek in any way shape or form, then you NEED to see this show. And even if you don't, you should watch it anyway because of how funny and smart it is in general. Goofy, fun dialogue, never smug, never pretentious, and never a dull moment.

    Oh, and the robot helper IDA, whose bodyshape is stuck in "Grouchy Schoolteacher template 2.0" is a real gem, and the show's worth watching just for her, even if everything else in the show wasn't so awesome.

    Also, while I'm on the subject of TV that I love, I feel the need to give a mournful shout-out to a cartoon, several years gone now, called "FILLMORE!", a middle-school hall-monitor procedural that pays loving homage to Every Cop Show Ever. And the best chase scenes since Castle of Cagliostro, in every episode. It too, only lasted a short time. And if they ever put it out on DVD, I WILL OWN IT.
    • CommentAuthorScottS
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2008
     (3300.2)
    I've watched The Middleman a few times and I've enjoyed it each time. The biggest problem is I can never remember when it's on. I always find it 'by accident'. I do like what I've seen of it though.
    •  
      CommentAuthorFerburton
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2008
     (3300.3)
    I watch it every week. Normally online since I'm usually at work when it airs or something like that.

    Great show.
  4.  (3300.4)
    I was a tad baffled at first but have enjoyed every episode so far, seemingly filled with references to film / tv and comics alike. Kevin Sorbo camped it up rather well in the latest episode.
    • CommentAuthorpi8you
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2008
     (3300.5)
    I've been enjoying it as well, when I can manage to catch it, and plan on picking up the collected trade of the initial comics that is supposedly coming out this week.
  6.  (3300.6)
    This show has easily become my summer television guilty pleasure. They won me over in the episode with the mobster ape and Gorilla Grodd jokes.

    It is suprsingly subversive with its occasional casual references to pot smoking and the sex lives of the characters. While it is not even close to being offensive to all but the most sensitive, it is not something one usually sees on "The Family Channel" (one of the homes of Pat Robertson on cable). Glad to see they slipped this under the radar of the Disney folks.
  7.  (3300.7)
    The entire cast has some of the best chemistry on television - they really do seem like they've known each other for a long time and actually like each other. One of my favorite things this summer
    • CommentAuthorKosmopolit
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2008
     (3300.8)
    "Sensei Ping" with the rising intonation is the latest catchphrase at my palce of employment.

    Honestly, if this show were simply about Wendy and her housemates, I'd still watch it.

    Does anyone know how this is rating?

    Normally when I like a show this much its a sure sign it's doomed.
    • CommentAuthorIdiot
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2008
     (3300.9)
    It's OK. It's almost too nerdy for its own good.
  10.  (3300.10)
    Wendy reads Fell. She said so in the first episode, if I remember right.

    I feel guilty enjoying this show so much. My brain knows how dumb everything is but the rest of me tells it to shut up and go sit in a corner. The Middleman is a ton of fun, and I especially like the way it's slowly building its world and cast as it progresses. Plus it's got mad scientists, which is always a major plus.
  11.  (3300.11)
    it is "elegance in it's simplicity"
    • CommentAuthorcjstevens
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2008
     (3300.12)
    I'm sure this is based on a comic by Xavier Grillo Marxauch that I was trying to get hold of.
    • CommentAuthorcjstevens
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2008
     (3300.13)
    Oh sorry you already knew that!
  14.  (3300.14)
    After talking with a tv-oriented friend of mine I'm not too worried about Middleman getting a series 2. Apparently it's ratings suck for network tv, but as a cable show it's doing fine. ABC Family has renewed more expensive shows with less audience, and the positive buzz Middleman is generating combines with its solid (for cable) ratings to all but guarantee a second season. Additionally, a little research shows that the reason Season 1 is cut down to 12 episodes is so they could fold the budget for episode 13 into 12, making for a giant-sized season finale. There's too many spoilers out there to read Middleman articles in-depth, but I'm feeling good we'll be seeing a season 2.
    • CommentAuthorzebaslam
    • CommentTimeAug 23rd 2008
     (3300.15)
    @James Cunnigham: Cool. I hope you're right. I've been enjoying the series quite a bit. It's nice to have a guilty pleasure that hits all your geek fanboy centres while still maintaining enough distance so as to not outright caricature them.

    Fun series. Can't wait to see season 2.
  16.  (3300.16)
    I haven't seen an episode, but I hope it succeeds, because Javi Grillo-Marxuach is such a nice guy. I believe I blurbed one of the books, way back when.
  17.  (3300.17)
    If the network is thinking ahead - and is cable like James mentioned, then it should be making sure it's got plenty of extras for the DVDs.
    A show like this will live on DVD. And if there's to be a season 2, then it makes me a happy soul.
    •  
      CommentAuthorm1k3y
    • CommentTimeAug 23rd 2008
     (3300.18)
    <3 this show.. worth it for the banter and lol-titles (that's subtitles that make you lol, btw)
    • CommentAuthorSolario
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2008
     (3300.19)
    Noser is my favorite.
    • CommentAuthorjohnplatt
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2008
     (3300.20)
    And unfortunately, their 13-episode season is being cut short to 12, and unless their ratings get a big improvement, they're very likely not going to be renewed


    Aw crap! This is just about my favorite show on TV! Tremendously fun writing.

    Watch it, people!

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