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Carol's Second Act

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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61

USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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3.5

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3.5	Your Score
3.5	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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Carol's Second Act

Series Details & Credits

CBS | Release Date: September 26, 2019

Summary: With her two children grown and newly divorced, Carol Kenney (Patricia Heaton) retires from teaching and begins pursuing her dream to become a doctor as a 50-years-old in this comedy from Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins.

Creator: Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern and Emily Halpern

Genre(s): Comedy

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Recent Episodes

tbd
S1:E18. R.I.P. Dr. Herman
Air Date: March 12, 2020
tbd
S1:E17. Plus Ones
Air Date: March 5, 2020
tbd
S1:E17. Plus Ones
Air Date: March 5, 2020

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

61

Positive:

5

Mixed:

4

Negative:

1

Critic Reviews

91

Sioux City Journal

Bruce Miller

Sep 23, 2019

Season 1 Review: Heaton brings a giddy charm to the “what if” role and gets great support from a cast just waiting to break out. Read full review

80

Los Angeles Times

Robert Lloyd

Sep 26, 2019

Season 1 Review: It stars Patricia Heaton, late of “The Middle,” in a role that takes the energy of her character there and shapes it into something different and fresh. ... If you aren’t ready to turn up your nose at any multi-camera comedy created in this century — and really, kids, there is life in that form beyond “Friends” and “Seinfeld” — you’ll find a fine addition to the canon: a completely conventional, entirely satisfying sitcom that breaks absolutely no new ground even as it sets off its star to good advantage. Read full review

75

Newsday

Verne Gay

Sep 24, 2019

Season 1 Review: Heaton nails the role because she's had so much practice at this, but "Carol's Second Act" does her — and the trope — one better, by ever-so-slightly inverting our Heaton expectations. ... Heaton is back in another "family" sitcom. As expected, a good one. Read full review

60

Reason.com

Glenn Garvin

Sep 29, 2019

Season 1 Review: Carol's Second Act could use more punchlines and less impassioned wisdom. Read full review

52

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Rob Owen

Sep 23, 2019

Season 1 Review: The age jokes are in the CBS wheelhouse, and some of the gags are occasionally funny, but the whole endeavor seems predictably rote, from the cold, aloof chief resident to the uber-confident intern (Jean-Luc Bilodeau, “Kyle XY”). Read full review

50

The New York Times

Mike Hale

Sep 25, 2019

Season 1 Review: It’s a pretty decent act, and Heaton presents it with the same practiced, self-effacing charm. But the show around her isn’t nearly as funny. ... There’s also something retrograde, in the first two episodes, about the show’s portrayal of Carol. The age jokes are a given, but they’re accompanied by a tendency to celebrate her not for her medical ability but for the human touch that her age (and, implicitly, her gender) give her. Read full review

25

Time

Judy Berman

Sep 23, 2019

Season 1 Review: Unfortunately, the writing is terrible. One-liners like “Turns out Caleb’s not a woke bae” are only legible as jokes once the laugh track kicks in. It’s all especially disappointing coming from co-creator Sarah Haskins and Emily Halpern, the team behind ABC’s underrated one-season wonder Trophy Wife. Even the always-welcome presence of Kyle MacLachlan, as Heaton’s love interest, can’t save this mess. Read full review

SEE ALL 10 REVIEWS

Write a Review

3.5

User Reviews

9

nataliasbrt

Sep 26, 2019

Smart and funny! I thinks its a great storyline concept and cant wait for the next episode.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

5

Iamcritical86

Jan 24, 2021

Nice to see Patricia Heaton back in action, but I actually think this show is beneath her. She's almost too strong of a presence against a sitcom that spawns too many weaknesses. The humor seems forced and the episodes in general appear to be a little too over rehearsed for my liking. ItNice to see Patricia Heaton back in action, but I actually think this show is beneath her. She's almost too strong of a presence against a sitcom that spawns too many weaknesses. The humor seems forced and the episodes in general appear to be a little too over rehearsed for my liking. It just got boring after a few episodes, which signifies a grim future for this show, in my opinion. It's also incredibly unrealistic. People don't act like that in a hospital, trust me, I've been in a few!!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

3

jimmygoo

Oct 25, 2019

I've watched each episode so far in order to give it a fair chance. I really want to like it but haven't been able to find enough reasons to. Heaton is pretty good and a refreshing change of pace from her previous roles. However the supporting cast, especially the other interns, areI've watched each episode so far in order to give it a fair chance. I really want to like it but haven't been able to find enough reasons to. Heaton is pretty good and a refreshing change of pace from her previous roles. However the supporting cast, especially the other interns, are unimpressive. The one liners are weak but the worst thing of all is the horrendous laugh track....ruins the show for me. One highlight is Dennis, the nurse, and I think they would make major improvements by adjusting the rest of the supporting cast and getting rid of the laugh track. I'll watch through a few more episodes to see if it improves but I don't have high expectations it will at this rate.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

1

iffythecat1

Oct 9, 2019

Not good. Unfunny, laugh track is terrible, jokes about old people, they have an older doctor there who seems to do nothing but be a love interest for the old doctor. Sterotypical cast. Nothing funny. Too much competition from cable for this to be even remotely interesting. Too bad.Not good. Unfunny, laugh track is terrible, jokes about old people, they have an older doctor there who seems to do nothing but be a love interest for the old doctor. Sterotypical cast. Nothing funny. Too much competition from cable for this to be even remotely interesting. Too bad. Heaton was great in THE MIDDLE.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

1

champaignbob

Oct 10, 2019

The writing is horrible. The humor is forced and lacks even the slightest bit of subtlety. The acting is over the top, the characters are caricatures. There is nothing entertaining about this pathetic attempt to be funny. It would be more effective if the actors squirted each other withThe writing is horrible. The humor is forced and lacks even the slightest bit of subtlety. The acting is over the top, the characters are caricatures. There is nothing entertaining about this pathetic attempt to be funny. It would be more effective if the actors squirted each other with seltzer and threw pies while falling to the ground. Any possible talent is completely wasted reading a script that is less than sophomoric.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

1

NotchFilter

Oct 27, 2019

I wanted to watch another couple episodes after I saw the pilot. As bad as the pilot was, the subsequent episodes I watched were worse. The writing is poor, the premise is worse, and even Ms Heaton can't make up for that. No matter how hard she tries. It is difficult to determine whetherI wanted to watch another couple episodes after I saw the pilot. As bad as the pilot was, the subsequent episodes I watched were worse. The writing is poor, the premise is worse, and even Ms Heaton can't make up for that. No matter how hard she tries. It is difficult to determine whether the supporting characters are suitable for the roles they play, as they seem to be over-acting to make up for the poor writing. If the producers really think this show is as funny as they try to project via the laugh track, then I'd say that someone might as well seek an alternate career opportunity.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

1

Nursenanny

Oct 26, 2019

I have watched all episodes so far I was so wanting this to be good. I think the story line could be funny. From Patricia Heaven to Lucas NeFF and especially Jean luc Bilodeau do not know how to deliver funny lines they are forced and predictable. I wanted this to be good but it’s not, theI have watched all episodes so far I was so wanting this to be good. I think the story line could be funny. From Patricia Heaven to Lucas NeFF and especially Jean luc Bilodeau do not know how to deliver funny lines they are forced and predictable. I wanted this to be good but it’s not, the only bright spot is the one actress I didn’t know before now Ito Aghayere. I think her character comes across believable and smooth her arrogance seems genuine to the show. Am very disappointed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Seasons & Episodes

61

Series Overview
Season 1

61
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 26, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E18. R.I.P. Dr. Herman
  Air Date: March 12, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E17. Plus Ones
  Air Date: March 5, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E17. Plus Ones
  Air Date: March 5, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E16. Carol's Crush
  Air Date: February 20, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E16. Carol's Crush
  Air Date: February 20, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E15. Secrets
  Air Date: February 6, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E15. Top of the List
  Air Date: February 13, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E15. Top of the List
  Air Date: February 13, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E14. Night Lemons
  Air Date: January 30, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E14. Secrets
  Air Date: February 6, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E14. Secrets
  Air Date: February 6, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E13. Peer Evaluations
  Air Date: January 16, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E13. Night Lemons
  Air Date: January 30, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E12. Blocking
  Air Date: January 9, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E12. Peer Evaluations
  Air Date: January 16, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E11. Merry December 19th
  Air Date: December 12, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E11. Blocking
  Air Date: January 9, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E10. Therapy Dogs
  Air Date: December 10, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E10. Merry December 19th
  Air Date: December 12, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E9. Therapy Dogs
  Air Date: December 5, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E8. Sick and Retired
  Air Date: November 21, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E7. Game Changer
  Air Date: November 7, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E7. Dr. Mom
  Air Date: November 14, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E6. The Nightfloat
  Air Date: October 24, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E6. Game Changer
  Air Date: November 7, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E5. The Nightfloat
  Air Date: October 24, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E4. Marathon Day
  Air Date: October 17, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E3. The Zebra
  Air Date: October 10, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E2. You Give Me Fever
  Air Date: October 3, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: September 26, 2019