photo: abc
Up All Night
Pilot
Original Air Date: Sep 14, 2011
Caitlin – Associate Staff Writer
caitlin@thetwocentscorp.com
Welcome to the new fall season and to one of its first new shows- Up All Night! I’ll be covering it this season, and apologize for the delay in this review- I was just able to watch the pilot tonight, but should catch all future episodes live. For now, let’s get things rolling.
In the first scene of the series, a couple anxiously waits for the results of their pregnancy test (Or two tests, actually). Seeing as how the entire show is based on them as new parents, I’m going to let you take your own wild guesses as to the results.
Skip to Reagan and Chris at home with their new baby. Him more than her- he’ll be staying with their daughter while she goes back to work. Work is a daytime television show hosted by her friend Ava and named,aptly, Ava. Both show and friend have been going to pieces without Reagan. Chris, meanwhile, is also getting out of control without his wife’s help. But at least baby Amy will be very familiar with hockey. And grocery stores.
By the name Reagan arrives home, Chris has a new dad friend and has been planning their anniversary. Between those plans and Ava’s arrival approximately five seconds later with “gifts for Amy” that include wine, we get the feeling that responsibility is somewhat new to everyone on the show. Exhaustion sets in quickly for our new parents, and then a work crisis cancels “Anniversary Times”. Chris says he’s fine, but anyone who’s ever been in a relationship or turned on a television show can sense looming tension.
Sure enough, nobody’s very happy later on, but at least both Reagan and Chris are too sweet and awkward for him to hold a grudge. With just a bit of time left in the day, they hire a late-night babysitter, go to a late-night restaurant, and…have a late night. Result? Caring for a baby is hard. Caring for a baby while hungover is still harder. But in the fashion of sitcom pilots, everything turns out okay, and our little family is happy- even if the ones who can speak are still quite foul-mouthed.
It was the cast more than anything else that drew me to this show. With Christina Applegate, Will Arnett and Maya Rudolph, I was optimistic about the quality, and so far, so good. I particularly liked the (for lack of a better word) unconventional parenting style and the way it doesn’t stop Reagan and Chris from actually being good parents. The daytime show is also spot-on to what I’ve always imagined it would be like backstage on The View. I’ll admit I never dreamt up killer cleanses, though.
I am a bit worried about future storylines. Just watching Reagan and Chris care for Amy doesn’t offer a lot of dramatic potential, however adorable Amy is. Work obviously offers more room for plot twists, but I don’t want Chris to lose screen time. Still, from what I’ve seen, I’m trusting the writers to do a good job. What did you think of the pilot? Was it good enough to make you turn back in for episode two?
TheTwoCents 
I watched the show and wanted to like it because I, like you, loved the cast. But I didn’t like it at all. It felt forced and went by slow, wasn’t funny. Although “Ava” felt like a jab at Tyra, which made me laugh for a second.