The Grubbs

The Grubbs was an unaired American sitcom television series. Based on the British sitcom the Grimleys, it starred Michael Cera as Mitchell Grubb, Randy Quaid as his father, and Carol Kane as his mother.[1] It would have premiered on November 3, 2002, but was cancelled two days before its planned premiere.

The Grubbs
GenreSitcom
Based onThe Grimleys
by Granada Television
Developed byMarcy Ross
StarringCarol Kane
Michael Cera
Randy Quaid
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producersJoshua Sternin
Jeffrey Ventimilia
Production companiesGranada Entertainment USA
20th Century Fox Television
Release
Original networkFox

History

The Grubbs was announced by Fox in May 2002, and was intended to premiere on November 3 of that year in Fox's 9:30 PM Sunday time slot, right after Malcolm in the Middle.[2][3] The series was co-produced by Granada Entertainment USA and 20th Century Fox Television, in a partnership with Universal Television.[2] In a statement when the series was originally announced, Granada Entertainment USA president Antony Root said, "With vivid characters, sharp writing and irreverent humour, The Grubbs has all the makings of a great success for Fox."[4] But although Fox had originally ordered thirteen episodes of the series, in September 2002 they announced this would be reduced to eight,[3] and the series ended up being cancelled in November 2002, two days before the show would have premiered. As of now, there are no plans for the series to ever air at all.[5][6]

Although no episodes of the Grubbs were ever aired, the series did help Cera land an audition for the sitcom Arrested Development, in which he played George Michael Bluth.[7] The Grubbs also served as Cera's debut playing a role on American network television.[8]

Plot

Like The Grimleys, The Grubbs revolved around an underachieving, blue-collar family. But while The Grimleys was set in Dudley, West Midlands, England in the 1970s, The Grubbs was set in the present day in the fictitious American town of Hackville.[1][2] Joshua Sternin, the Grubbs' executive producer, said that Hackville is located in America's "Steel Belt". He also said that Hackville was inspired by the western part of Pennsylvania and by the state's city of Allentown.[1]

Cast
ActorCharacter in the GrubbsOriginal character in the Grimleys
Michael CeraMitchell GrubbGordon Grimley
Randy QuaidMac GrubbBaz Grimley
Carol KaneSophie GrubbN/A
Lori RomMiss KrenetskyMiss Titley

Critical response

Critical response to the Grubbs was highly negative. David Bianculli, writing for the New York Daily News, described it as "live-action "Simpsons," but without the wit and warmth".[5] It was ranked the worst new fall series of 2002 in a Daily Variety poll of television critics.[3] In a July 29, 2002 San Francisco Chronicle column, Tim Goodman wrote that the series "...did unite critical consensus: It's probably the worst show of the season. Maybe several seasons."[9] Similarly, Scott D. Pierce of Deseret News described the series as "incredibly awful" and "painfully unfunny".[10]

References
  1. Owen, Rob (2002-07-25). "Slackers welcome: Fox says The Grubbs are underachievers with a heart". The Blade. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  2. Deans, Jason (2002-05-21). "The Grimleys go west". The Guardian. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  3. Adalian, Michael Schneider,Josef (2002-09-27). "'Grubbs' gets smaller meal". Variety. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  4. "Grimleys travel to America". BBC News. 2002-05-21. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  5. Bianculli, David (2002-11-01). "BEFORE SHOW CAN AIR, FOX SCRUBS 'GRUBBS'". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  6. Harris, Will (2012-02-20). "The unseen: 24 TV shows produced but never properly aired". TV Club. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  7. Male, Andrew (2007-09-15). "Interview: Michael Cera". The Guardian. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  8. Crook, John (2005-08-28). "Michael Cera". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  9. Goodman, Tim (2002-07-29). "In the face of thrill-free TV, we make snarky comments". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  10. Pierce, Scott D. (2002-11-01). "'The Grubbs' Exterminated". Deseret News. Archived from the original on 2018-04-18. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
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