The summer misses keep on coming as NBC rolls out the disappointing sitcom "Undateable" (9 and 9:30 tonight, WPXI), which some viewers will no doubt find unwatchable (sorry, the title begged for it).
Hipper-than-thou, sound effects-spewing Danny (Chris D'Elia, "Whitney") lords his prowess with women over his nerdier friends who hang out in a bar owned by his roommate, awkward Justin (Brent Morin), whose attempt to ask out a woman devolves into him simulating her murder through strangulation.
It's another multi-camera sitcom that feels like a refugee from NBC's 1990s hammock-slot Thursday night lineup, the type of show that would air between "Friends" and "Seinfeld."
Mr. D'Elia's mugging and sound effects are especially tiresome.
"Change is hard, baby bird," Danny tells Justin condescendingly. "But I'm gonna help you mend those broken wings. I'm gonna be the father bird and just feed you."
Then he starts making regurgitation sounds while flapping his arms like a bird.
Danny's sound effects diminish after the pilot episode, but his eyebrow acting knows no bounds. Mr. D'Elia's arching eyebrow is almost a performer all its own. Someday it would be fantastic to see him cast opposite Jason Momoa for an eyebrow-off.
Beyond Danny and Justin, the other friends are poorly developed -- there's Glasses and Tubby British Gay Guy -- although odd Shelly (comedian Ron Funches) makes an impression thanks to Mr. Funches' soft-voiced, teddy bear-like self-presentation.
Executive produced by Bill Lawrence ("Scrubs"), whose shows usually hold more appeal, and Adam Sztykiel ("Made of Honor"), "Undateable" probably isn't a show many sitcom fans will want to make a standing date to watch.
First Published: May 29, 2014, 4:00 a.m.
