"What About Joan" (2001) TV series 2001-2002

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Ed. Weinberger

Writers:

Paige Bernhardt (writer)
Chris Downey (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

27 March 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Joan Gallagher is a high school teacher who depends on the daily support, counsel, and friendship of her two best friends Ruby...

Plot Keywords:

Chicago Illinois | Irish American | Character Name In Title | Actor Shares First Name With Character

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Joan Cusack	...	Joan Gallagher (9 episodes, 2001)
Jessica Lynn		(9 episodes, 2001)
Bruce Jarchow	...	Bob (4 episodes, 2001)
Lora Starkman	...	Waitress (4 episodes, 2001)
Maia Madison	...	Jennifer (3 episodes, 2001)
Weston Mueller	...	Daniel / ... (3 episodes, 2001)
Micah Shane Ballinger	...	High School Student #1 (2 episodes, 2001)
Megan Frances	...	Student / ... (2 episodes, 2001)
Aaron Himelstein	...	Doug (2 episodes, 2001)
Rick Touhy	...	Cab Driver / ... (2 episodes, 2001)
Paul Vato	...	Michael (2 episodes, 2001)

Runtime:

30 min (19 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Chicago Studio City - 5660 W. Taylor Street, Austin, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Columbia TriStar Television

Trivia:

One of _Joan Cusack_'s conditions for starring in this show was that it had to be produced in Chicago so she would not have to leave her family.

Too much all about Joan

Normally I wouldn't waste my time reviewing such a shoddy show, but "What About Joan" is just so overwhelmingly awful that I feel behoven to warn potential viewers.

First, let me be clear that I have enjoyed Joan Cusack's previous roles. In the right environment, she is a fine actress and can provide a quirky and fun disjoint.

Unfortunately in this travesty, it's ALL about Joan. The whole show revolves around her character. The tiny problem is that her character is simply vile. She is neurotic, self absorbed, ungenerous, aggravating without being in the least bit charming, and thoroughly unattractive in every sense of the word.

It might seem cruel, but it's really fair comment that Joan looks every day of her 39 years. If fact, truth to be told, she looks closer to 50 than 40, even given the liberal over use of smart-soft-focus to try and hide the worst of the wrinkles. Given that she is acting like a spoiled teenager, and that her unbelievably tolerant but bland cookie-cutter friends keep referring to her as a "young woman", this is frankly embarrasing and insulting.

Content wise, there isn't any. Take any whiny two page ego piece from any 30-something woman's magazine, replace the self important heroine with Joan, and you're there. Shouldn't a comedy have, well, comedy in it?

Even given all of this, an actress of Joan Cusack's talent could have rescued this. I want to believe that at least. Unfortunately, she has chosen (or has been obliged) to take the low road of shameless mugging and over emoting. She spends most of her time with her face wrinkled into an indefinable grimace that makes me want to perform a Heimlich manouver on her. Actually, after watching half an hour of this tripe, I rather wish someone would perform one on me.