Happy Thoughts on "Happy Endings"

For those of you who don’t know, Happy Endings is an ABC sitcom that premiered in April as a mid-season replacement. Thirteen episodes have aired to date, and the mysterious thirteenth episode, which has been disowned by season one (it reportedly will not be on the first season DVD release) and remains unclaimed by season two (the second season begins September 28th), premiered last night.

The show is about six Chicagoans whose friendship gets a little awkward after one of the friends (Alex) leaves another one (Dave) at the altar. Since Alex and Dave are no longer a couple, which is a big change in the group dynamic, their buddies have to figure out how to maintain a friendship with both of them, despite their bad history.

Brad (Damon Wayans, Jr.), Dave (Zachary Knighton), and Max (Adam Pally)

In the friends group, first we have Brad—a down-to-earth black guy who likes to romance his wife. He’s married to Alex’s high-strung sister, Jane, who has some control issues and a few obsessive compulsive tendencies. Max is a cynic who isn’t afraid to say exactly what’s on his mind. He’s also the world’s least effeminate gay man, an irony that is often joked about on the show. And then there’s Penny, a nice girl who’s hunting for a husband and will do almost anything to find one.

Most of the first-season episodes were stand-alones (as in, nothing in the plot carried over into the next episode), but with one notable exception—the Dave and Alex story. Throughout the show, Dave’s main concern is building a new life where his longtime girlfriend is now just a friend. We see him moving out of her apartment, going on dates with other girls, and even agreeing to be Alex’s wingman at one point. And in the twelfth episode, we get a hint that Alex is regretting breaking up with Dave. I have a feeling this tension will be a mainstay throughout the run of the series. Will they or won’t they get back together? We’re dying to know!

Overall, the show is just fun. The plots, for one, are ludicrous. There’s an episode where Penny meets a terrific guy but is disappointed to find out his last name is Hitler. Wacky misunderstandings ensue. In another episode, Dave and Max don’t realize that a bum has moved into their attic and is stealing their food. In another, Penny wears a mismatched outfit to the laundromat (since all of her clothes are dirty) and hits it off with a hipster, who she later finds out dresses weird all the time, on purpose.

Watch Happy Endings Wednesdays on ABC

In addition to the silly plotlines, the actors have great chemistry. According to Adam Pally (Max), they improvise a lot. And it shows! The humor is natural, and with the actors being so comfortable together, it makes the characters’ friendships a lot more believable. When you watch, you feel like part of the clique, and you get sucked in to their world and their problems.

Happy Endings isn’t out there to teach us any big lessons about life; it’s just there to entertain. And it succeeds. Keep it in mind next time you need a good laugh.

Watch the season two premiere Wednesday, September 28th at 9:30 EST on ABC. You can also buy the complete first season on DVD Tuesday, September 20th.

(P.S. I recommend watching at least five episodes before voting yea or nay. This show needs time to grow on you.)