Ellen (TV Series) A Deer Head for Joe (1996) User Reviews

All good fun with Ellen

[studioAT · 3/10 · 2 December 2019]

'Ellen' goes a little surreal on us in this fun episode, that features Bruce Campbell in a guest role.

Not all the jokes land, and Ellen very much dwarfs the other characters as she's the only one the writers have developed, but there's a lot of fun to be had here.

Shades of what's to come and the birth of pontificating Ellen

[imdb-25288 · 2/10 · 23 June 2021]

Well, it was a good run. Now, the slippery slide towards the show's downfall officially starts. If Paige aggravates me like no other (Joely is completely unfunny and more annoying than Clea's Audrey), every new character is worse than the previous one. I cringed when Joe and his nasty attitude joined the cast. He kinda grew on me. Audrey was a terrible addition but at least, it she was wearing some clothes. Joely's Paige I instantly detested. The bald guy, I instantly loathed but little did I know I would despise the bookstore manager even worse than all of them put together plus the original bookstore manager whose departure I was glad for. This character is the worst. But be forewarned: it's downhill from there and when you see the characters mid-season 4 and the ones from S5, you will beg for these nasty, loathsome, narcissistic characters played without a shred of humor. (Piven, Joely, Clea = completely unfunny and so is the new manager!)

And he brings out the worst in Ellen. If you're wondering who is this nasty, whinny, pontificating Ellen and what has she done with the original one, then I'm not the only one! Shades of what's to come! K. D. Lang poster hanging in Ellen's bedroom. This, in addition to her new, butch cut and her wardrobe also took a major nosedive.

They went and got rid of the good looking cop. Why? Was Ellen so attracted to him that she had to X him? The relationship between Paige and Spence is so unbelievable, it borders on the obscene, with their every kissing scene. Ellen has lost her charm and her funny. There is nothing left to watch here, it's like a train wreck. If you thought that Charlie's Angels S5 was unwatchable, if you can't stand to watch Darrin #2, if you think The Nanny getting married to Sheffield was ridiculous (and it was!) you have seen nothing yet in the sense of character assassination. I'm not sure that I can continue watching: I keep pausing this one and taking breaks. Why oh why did she ever have to ruin this show?! Couldn't she have had two sitcoms and ruin the other and leave this one undisturbed?! If only!