Bob Patterson (TV series)
| Bob Patterson | |
|---|---|
| Created by |
Jason Alexander Michael Markowitz Peter Tilden |
| Starring |
Jason Alexander Chandra Wilson Jennifer Aspen Robert Klein James Guidice |
| Composer(s) | Michael Skloff |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 (5 unaired) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Ira Steven Behr |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Angel Ark Productions 20th Century Fox Television Touchstone Television |
| Distributor | Buena Vista Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | October 2 – October 31, 2001 |
Bob Patterson is a 2001 television sitcom starring Jason Alexander, produced by Ira Steven Behr. It was directed by Robby Benson and Barnet Kellman. The show debuted on ABC on October 2, 2001 and the final episode aired October 31 of that year. The show was cancelled after five episodes aired.
Synopsis
The show revolves around fictitious motivational speaker Bob Patterson, "America's #3 Self Help Guru," who is popular with millions of people across America, thanks to his books I Know More Than You, I Still Know More Than You and the To the Top! franchise. Friction between his job and family occurs due in part to Bob's self-absorbed but insecure nature and complete lack of self-awareness, ironic qualities for someone whose job is supposed to be selflessly motivating others to improve their lives.
After the show's cancellation, Alexander used the concept behind Patterson to create a similar fictional character named Donny Clay, "America's #4 Self Help Guru." Alexander has toured the United States in character as Clay.[1]
Cast
- Jason Alexander (Bob Patterson)
- Robert Klein (Landau)
- Phil Buckman (Vic)
- Jennifer Aspen (Janet Patterson)
- Chandra Wilson (Claudia)
- James Guidice (Jeffrey Patterson)
Response
The show received poor reviews and ratings were disappointing. A New York Times critic wrote that "the series may be the season's biggest disappointment...Robert Klein yells while Mr. Alexander screeches."[2]
In a one-and-a-half-star review for USA Today, Robert Bianco called Chandra Wilson "the only person in the show you can imagine wanting to see again."[3]
A Los Angeles Times reviewer wrote: "The only character here that's amusingly written is Bob's new assistant, Claudia (Chandra Wilson)."[4]
Episodes
- "Pilot" (10/2/01)
- "Honest Bob" (10/9/01)
- "Naked Bob" (10/16/01)
- "Awards Bob" (10/24/01)
- "Bathroom Bob" (10/31/01)
- "Family Bob" (UNAIRED)
- "Paranoid Bob" (UNAIRED)
- "Clown Bob" (UNAIRED)
- "Mentor Bob" (UNAIRED)
- "Wheelchair Bob" (UNAIRED)
Catchphrases
- "No is only yes to a different question."
- "The only thing between you and your goals is you.......and your goals."
- "You are the U in the Universe."
- "To the top!"
Ratings
Premiere: 9.8 million
Last episode: 7.8 million [5]
References
- ↑ Donny Clay coming to Chautauqua Archived January 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.. The Post-Journal. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/02/arts/television-reviews-a-hopeless-and-helpless-self-help-specialist.html
- ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/tv/2001-10-02-bob-patterson-review.htm
- ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/2001/oct/02/entertainment/ca-52221
- ↑ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E02E6DE1630F935A15750C0A9609C8B63