• Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 2, 2007
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
37

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 23
  2. Negative: 10 out of 23

Critic Reviews

  1. From what I can tell, it’s going to be the same show every show.
  2. 50
    Carpoolers isn’t terrible; it’s tolerable and even mildly funny at times.
  3. 50
    Carpoolers has a certain loopy cuteness to it, but the show lacks a beating heart, some strong central figure to care about and root for.
  4. 50
    The show doesn't aim very high. It's only a little bit more than just another network sitcom about marital conflict and about how men will be men.
  5. 50
    At first, this new comedy about four mostly wimpy dudes seems just stupid, but some of it is decent.
  6. 50
    A decent, potentially appealing cast -- one that includes Fred Goss ("Sons and Daughters"), Faith Ford and Jerry O'Connell--has to make do with ho-hum storylines and writing that lacks anything resembling real snap and imagination.
  7. It could develop (its creator is Bruce McCulloch from "Kids in the Hall"), but right now, it's only so-so.
  8. The best thing in the show's favor is its single-camera style and a cast that knows its way around a punchline, though these are few and far between. In general, stories are contrived and exaggerated, and they fail to deliver even a mild comedy payoff.
  9. 40
    The carpoolers are funniest when they just sing along with the radio--not a good sign.
  10. There's little that's surprising let alone interesting about Carpoolers despite the best efforts of an enthusiastic cast, most notably O'Connell.
  11. 40
    Carpoolers, are at least amusing even if equally socially maladroit. Carpoolers is a genially oddball comedy.
  12. There's some amusing material on the margins of the show--the guys use OnStar to settle a debate about the lyrics to a song on the radio, Dougie admits his marriage isn't perfect and his wife "sometimes she gets up in the middle of the night and bakes in her sleep"--but outside of Jerry Minor's winning performance as the overextended but always cheerful Aubrey, it's completely forgettable.
  13. Unless the writers figure out a way to step away from the car without stepping away from the funny, I'm not sure how long the show can stay there before it's pulled over.
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 51 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 51
  3. Negative: 5 out of 51
  1. DanLampert
    Mar 10, 2008
    10
    Marmaduke is the funniest character on TV.
  2. SuzyQ
    Mar 3, 2008
    10
    Love it! It's FUNNY! Jerry O'Connell is hilarious (and the only Actor on the show who's work I'm familiar with; AND the Love it! It's FUNNY! Jerry O'Connell is hilarious (and the only Actor on the show who's work I'm familiar with; AND the reason I first tuned in) - he seems to be having a lot of fun with his 'bad boy' role. ;) The show has a lot of laughs and a lot of potential for more laughs to come; I don't miss an episode. It's a breath of fresh air, amidst all the daily comedy re-runs that play all week long at my house! (Still watch Cheers, Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, According to Jim, Friends, Two and a Half Men, Still Standing, Maude, etc. re-runs for that second layer of comedy - the one you catch the next time you watch the same episode.) Keep authorizing more episodes, ABC - it's the ONLY reason I tune in to your station Tuesday Night. Full Review »
  3. RobertB.
    Feb 21, 2008
    8
    Pretty funny and seems to be getting better week to week!