NBC's 'Good Morning, Miami' needs a bit more sophistication
Set in a morning television show's newsroom, NBC's new romantic comedy "Good Morning, Miami" goes beyond workplace humor to focus on the new producer's infatuation with the show's hairstylist.
Jake Silver's (Mark Feuerstein) career as a television producer is quickly taking off. A number of stations across the country are courting him. Jake decides to check out a morning show in sunny Miami because it gives him a reason to visit his feisty grandmother, played by the delightful Suzanne Pleshette.
Within minutes of watching the show, Jake knows the job would be a disaster. The anchors do not get along and make that clear on the air. Gavin Stone (Matt Letscher) is a former network hotshot who hit bottom after his drinking got in the way of him being a decent guy.
His co-host is the attractive and dim-witted Lucia Rojas-Klein (Tessie Santiago). She's a hot-tempered Latina who knows that 60 percent of the audience is Hispanic males who watch the show just for her. She never knows what to say to guests and often just repeats what Gavin says. Her only close friend on the set is her pug dog, Stewey; and she keeps trying to get him camera time.
The station manager is an office dweeb named Frank (Jere Burns). His black-rimmed classes and cheap ties reveal that he doesn't have the guts to be a boss.
"Do you know what's amazing about you?" Frank asks Jake. "You're not afraid of anyone."
Then there is Sister Brenda (Brooke Dillman), better known as the show's weather nun. She often thanks the "big guy" when the clouds go away. She's open to any suggestions, as long as she gets to keep her job.
"Whatever you want," she tells Jake. "I'm a nun with a mortgage."
Jake is ready to walk away from this pathetic show until he meets Dylan (Ashley Williams). One smile from her and Jake's heart melts. He's willing to sacrifice his career advancement so he can stay close to her.
He accepts the producing job, only to discover that Dylan is dating the pompous Gavin.
"I made a mistake," Jake tells his grandmother. "I was on a path and I got off it because some girl touched my hair."
"That's love," replies grandmother.
The deal is sealed when Dylan expresses her admiration for Jake. "I'm impressed with you. A lot of people would look at this situation as a lost cause. You see what we can be."
There is potential for "Good Morning, Miami." Most of the characters are written to be incredibly annoying, but Feuerstein and Williams promise to hold the show together. Pleshette, who is not like most grandmothers, promises to do her part to keep things interesting.
If the sitcom can get past the crass sexual jokes and try a bit more sophistication, "Good Morning, Miami" may be a nice addition to Thursday nights.
"Good Morning Miami" airs at 9:30 p.m. Tonight, NBC
